The Journey Begins...

Having just left my last gig of almost nine years as a founder/executive of Qumu, I have launched on a new journey to explore the intersection between Cleantech and Software. It seems pretty clear that this is an area that is only getting hotter.

(From what I have read so far, "Greentech" and "Cleantech" appear to be synonyms, with only personal preference determining one's choice. The G folk claim it's better because green also denotes money, whereas C types claim that greenness is not always a desireable quality, such as with air or water. Whatever -- I'm going with Cleantech.)

In any case, the field is quite broad, ranging from alternative/renewable energy sources to energy efficiency systems, pollution control devices, methods of producing less-toxic commodities, and so on. As I explore the field, I am starting to learn more about which of these have a significant need for software. Given my nearly 25 years of experience with software companies, I am focusing my attention on this particular intersection.

So far, I've stumbled onto a few distinct areas of Cleantech/Software:

• Smart Grids for monitoring and measuring electrical systems, including companies such as GridPoint and Trilliant.
• Wireless Sensor / Pervasive Computing for monitoring and controlling a broad range of things, leveraging standards like ZigBee and including platforms like those from Sentilla and Sun SPOT.
• Consumer Information sites like GoodGuide for tracking the chemicals in everyday products.
• Computer Energy Efficiency tools like Verdiem and initiatives like The Green Grid.

I'm sure I'm just scratching the surface, but I'd like to continue to expand this list into a map of the companies and technologies where significant software is required to implement a clean technology.

More to come...