Viridis Africa Confirms Panzaworx as Conference Presentor

Panzaworx, cc is pleased to announce that it has been selected as a participant in the prestigious Second Annual Viridis Africa Clean Technology business and investment matchmaking conference to be held at the exclusive Killarney Country Club in Lower Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa on the 16^th  and 17^th  October 2012.

PanzaWorx cc is a South African-based technology lean venture start up emerging from about four years’ internal bootstrap R&D activity based on IP developed and currently with International Patents pending. 

The technology was nominated as a Semi Finalist in the 2011 South African National Cleantech Competition, and was also selected as the most appropriate for rural electrification for a village in Zambia by the Energy and Environmental Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The technology is ideally suited for kinetic renewable energy recovery in hydro and in air stream applications as a Hydro Turbine and a Ram Air Turbine, and the company has identified three industry sectors with massive market penetration potential into which to launch the technology through licensing of its IP:

• Small hydro electricity generation
• Transport refrigeration, and
• Mine ventilation.

Having completed prototyping and engineering, the company plans to build and demonstrate one commercial unit in each of the three applications through a rapid development, “Skunk Works” environment over a five month period designed to introduce the technology initially in South Africa to potential licensees.

The company plans to earn revenues from the sale of IP and long life royalty revenue streams and is offering investors the opportunity to participate in the long term revenue streams in a Limited Partnership.

Visit http://Panzaworx.com for more information

Viridis Africa brings together the clean tech community to leverage knowledge and expertise from leading start-ups, universities, research labs, government agencies, utilities, corporations and cleantech investment funds through its annual clean technology business and investment matchmaking conference for the African continent where pre-screened presenters have the opportunity to showcase their ideas.

Founder Suza Adam has more than 20 years of professional public relations, investor relations, media liaison and event management experience. Her frame of reference includes IPO support, public relations and investor relations programme development, corporate repositioning, strategic message development, investment marketing, and an in-depth knowledge of the financial community and qualities the marketplace is seeking.

She has consulted on investor relations to the boards of more than 50 JSE listed companies, across South Africa. Suza's expertise lies in developing tailored public relations and investor relations strategies and implementing action plants that achieve demonstrable results and an enhanced return on investment. She has directed numerous investor relations programs that have resulted in millions of Rand of share value enhancement for both vendors and shareholders.

Viridis Africa invites clean tech company owners to submit a business plan or executive summary for evaluation, and to be included in the line-up of the event.

The following are some of the clean tech sub-sectors in which principals may consider their company, initiative being presented:

·    Wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, clean coal technologies

·    Fuel cells, advanced batteries, hybrid systems

·    Building efficiency, smart grids, waste heat recovery

·    Water treatment, water conservation, waste water treatment, desalination

·    Recycling, waste treatment, organic matter, plastics.

Presenters will have the opportunity to introduce their investment case to interested parties throughout the lifecycle of their business, i.e. from conceptual, early stage / start-up through to established business.

Visit www.viridisafrica.com for more information or mail suza@viridisafrica.com

AGAMA Biogas seeks investors at Viridis Africa Event

On the 16th & 17th October 2012 the second Clean Technology business and investment matchmaking conference for the African continent is to be held at the Killarney Country Club in Lower Houghton, Johannesburg, South Africa. Called “Viridis Africa”, the event is dedicated to entrepreneurs and corporates who are seeking funding to introduce clean technology solutions and services.

Principals who present their business opportunities at this event would have the audience of numerous local and foreign investors, stratified according to their interest and investment criteria. Investors would include venture capital, private equity, project and corporate finance outfits and others dedicated to the clean tech sector. They would also include funding agencies, major industrial conglomerates, technology specific investment funds and major companies who seek strategic alliance and acquisitions.

The company Agama Biogas (Pty) Ltd, runner up in the 2011 South African CleanTech Competition will be presenting a business case for investment at the event. It is the manufacturer of the BiogasPro range of prefabricated biogas digesters. 

The BiogasPro is a unique, patented system that is engineered, designed and manufactured in South Africa for African conditions. It is also the first small digester to achieve certification, in this instance by the South African Pipeline Gas Association.

In addition, BiogasPro is one of the contributors to The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design's, Green Good Design Award 2011 where it has been selected as an award winner for making a positive contribution in the area of more sustainable design and the environment.

BiogasPro’s offerings range from biogas digesters for schools that face inadequate and undignified sanitation for children and staff, to digesters handling animal manure and generating gas that removes the need for expensive and unreliable wood fuel and/or bottled gas for cooking. In a survey conducted in 2008 for the Dutch Government, AGAMA Biogas identified 300 000 energy poor households nationally that could immediately have access to clean energy through biogas.

AGAMA Biogas, together with People’s Power Africa supplied and installed two BiogasPro digesters within an integrated sanitation, waste, energy and food production system at the Three Crown Junior Secondary school, which was one of four schools just in that area that benefited from the BiogasPro technology. The integrated system won the school and People’s Power Africa 9 national and international awards recognising the project’s value.

In addition, AGAMA Biogas also extended further into the hospitality industry, where the company seeks to recycle the waste water from kitchens and hand wash basins, combining it in the digester with food waste from food preparation and plate scrapings. The gas is then used in the kitchens for cooking and the nutrient rich waste water from the digester is then ideal for irrigation of gardens. Prime examples of such sites are the student residence, Leo Marquard at the University of Cape Town and the digesters that have recently been installed at three upmarket bush camps in Botswana.

Viridis Africa invites clean tech company owners to submit a business plan or executive summary for evaluation, and to be included in the line-up of the event.

The following are some of the clean tech sub-sectors in which principals may consider their company, initiative being presented:

·         Wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, clean coal technologies

·         Fuel cells, advanced batteries, hybrid systems

·         Building efficiency, smart grids, waste heat recovery

·         Water treatment, water conservation, waste water treatment, desalination

·         Recycling, waste treatment, organic matter, plastics.

Please note that the deadline for business proposal submission is 30th of August 2012. 

Presenters will have the opportunity to introduce their investment case to interested parties throughout the lifecycle of their business, i.e. from conceptual, early stage / start-up through to established business.

Visit www.viridisafrica.com for more information

African Clean Technology Conference to focus on technologies that inhibit climate change

JOHANNESBURG - Viridis Africa, the clean technology business and investment conference presents a matchmaking platform for African renewable energy, waste management, water conservation, and recycling projects and initiatives on 16^th and 17^th October 2012 at the Killamey Country Club, Lower Houghton South Africa.

The event is dedicated to African business owners who seek funding to introduce clean technology solutions and services. African and foreign investors will be in attendance at the event, seeking to fund new commercial opportunities, strategic alliances, distribution partners and acquisitions. 

Viridis Africa challenges participants and business case presenters at the conference to present and discuss appropriate solutions to African climate change problems and to champion African economic growth.

The conference organizers are expecting that the Viridis Africa (which means “Green Africa” in Latin) event will in no small measure bring attention to the clean technology development efforts in Africa as one of the avenues by which socio-economic benefits could be derived i.e. lead to poverty reduction, disease prevention through such methods as improved waste management and water treatment technologies, and higher literacy levels due to access to electricity, and of course create employment.

Solutions to mitigate climate change will be articulated at the conference. Though Africa emits barely 3% of the world’s green house gases, the continent is most affected. Experts agree that Africa is the most vulnerable continent and least able to adapt to a new hurdle in the fight against extreme poverty and disease. For many sub-Saharan African countries, climate change means more frequent drought and floods, water scarcity, and increased health challenges such as under-nutrition. 

Global warming could cause temperature rises double those elsewhere. The consequence would be dramatic declines in rainfall and a fall in crops. There are likely to be severe water shortages in many parts of the African continent.

According to Suza Adam, managing director of Spindle Communications, and organizers of Viridis Africa, “it’s also imperative for those responsible for the emission of the greater percentage of green house gases to commit to reducing emission at home. The reluctance of greater emitters of green house gases to cutting down emission at home is questionable if we are all committed to global warming reduction.” 

Explains Adam, “buying emission rights abroad is good, but cutting down emission at home is better. And guess what, best is if you can do both.”

“We all have a responsibility to do research and come up with ways in which renewable energy can bring about sustainability to struggling communities. Since renewable energy applications most times takes power generation into the citizenry. It will help us lower our carbon footprint while gauging our energy barometer.”

Adam explains: “Our industries should be bolstered by sustainability initiatives and carbon finance should be used to scale up renewable energy and low-income household energy projects. It will amaze us if we sincerely cut our carbon emissions and implement strategies to adopt and mitigate the risk climate change has on the society.”

“We should undertake energy saving initiatives, e.g. replace our light bulbs with energy saving lights, install timers in various points and turn off all geysers, etc. 

“We should highlight how renewable energy can bring about poverty eradication and sustainable development; how it can bring about agricultural development, productivity and rural sustainability.

“Let’s be able to show the link between renewable energy and food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development. How renewable energy can bring about energy security, food security, quality and sovereignty.

 
Since the severe climatic impact foreseen for Africa is likely to be unavoidable, much focus is needed to mitigate the hardship that this climatic change would bring on to the shores and hinterland of this continent. In simple terms this means that novel technologies needed to be introduced to address the severe impact that negative climate change would have on the provision of food security, health, and wealth of the continent inhabitants.

Clean Technologies are being designed and produced in a most advanced fashion, incorporating the bleeding edge of scientific knowledge and application such as in material sciences – nano engineering, biotechnology - genetically modified organisms, chemistry - green industrial processes, etc.

The most important aspect of these technologies are that they are designed to bring about sustainable environmental and economical solutions. It is these solutions that if they were to be implemented in Africa, their impact will be the greatest.

Thus developed countries’ technologies and solutions would go a long way to alleviate the impact of severe weather patterns heading towards Africa. Such technology implementation ought to be done in a manner that is commercially viable so as to ensure the rapid and continued deployment of such initiatives. Simply said commercial initiative must be seemlessly integrated with socio-economic needs and replicated  most widely.

Viridis Africa is inviting entrepreneurs to submit a clean tech business plan or investment proposal to the organisers of the event. Participating in the event will allow clean technology business owners to raise capital for expansion, acquiring new technology, opening new markets and up scaling production. Business plans should be send to suza@viridisafrica.com before 30 August 2012.

For more info on how to take part, costs and presentation guidelines, please visit www.viridisafrica.com

Viridis Africa 2012, where entrepreneurs and innovators meet with green investors

Following on the success of the launch of Viridis Africa 2011, where more than 20 major investment opportunities were presented to prospective investors, Viridis Africa is now soliciting business plans in the clean tech industry from entrepreneurs seeking funding to turn their projects to account. 

Viridis Africa as its name suggests in Latin, is about investment into "green" sustainable technologies and projects, presented by entrepreneurs and corporates who are seeking funding to introduce clean technology solutions and services.

Principals who would present their business opportunities at this clean technology venture capital, private equity and debt financing event would have the audience of numerous local and foreign investors, stratified according to their sectoral interest and investment criteria.

This year Viridis Africa will introduce foreign companies who wish to deploy their technology solutions encapsulated into regional commercial ventures, seeking local business partners and co-investors.

It is expected that numerous parties from USA, Europe, China, and India will be attending the event to obtain a firsthand overview of clean tech opportunities in the region.

Investors would include venture capital, private equity, project and corporate finance outfits and private investors focused in environmental technologies. They would also include international funding agencies, major Asian industrial conglomerates, technology specific investment funds and major companies who seek strategic alliance and acquisitions.

The following are some of the clean tech sub-sectors in which principals may consider their company or clean tech initiative being presented:

·         Clean Energy Generation: Wind, solar, hydro, biofuels, geothermal, clean coal technologies

·         Storage: Fuel cells, advanced batteries, hybrid systems

·         Infrastructure: Management, transmission

·         Efficiency: Building efficiency, smart grids, waste heat recovery

·         Water & waste water: Water treatment, water conservation, waste water treatment, desalination

·         Recycling & waste: Recycling, waste treatment, organic matter, plastics

Presenters will have the opportunity to introduce their investment case to interested parties throughout the lifecycle of their business, i.e. from conceptual, early stage / startup through to established business.

The event will also introduce parties with complementary technologies and business models to one another to explore mutually beneficial opportunities.

In the main the conference and its exhibition will endeavour to bring about a vibrant “market platform” for entrepreneurs and corporates to propose and conclude investment deals with funders.  

Although the event is to be held once a year, it is designed to give the participants long term continuity vis a vis  the provision of web-based interaction platforms, inducing social networks such as the Sub-Saharan Africa Sustainable Energy group and Viridis Africa - investment in clean tech on Linkedin.

In addition it is intended to hold Viridis Africa within individual countries in Africa, as and when greater interest and support is gained in a particular country.

The deadline for business proposal submission is 30th of August 2012 and should be forwarded to suza@viridisafrica.com. 

An executive business summary of the proposed clean tech technology, project or company is required in order for the organiser, Spindle Communications, to match the business proposal with the appropriate theme and funders. Importantly participants need to indicate the funds they seek and the principal terms for investors’ participation. 

Visit www.viridisafrica.com for more information