Syllabus Paper Specifications
Environment 25 Writing Paper, Moonrock
50 lbs. basis weight
100% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber, 25% cotton, no coating
Syllabus Paper Specifications
Environment 25 Writing Paper, Moonrock
50 lbs. basis weight
100% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber, 25% cotton, no coating
Syllabus Paper Specifications
Environment 25 Writing Paper, Moonrock
50 lbs. basis weight
100% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber, 25% cotton, no coating
Syllabus Paper Specifications
Environment 25 Writing Paper, Moonrock
50 lbs. basis weight
100% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber, 25% cotton, no coating
Syllabus Paper Specifications
Environment 25 Writing Paper, Moonrock
50 lbs. basis weight
100% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber, 25% cotton, no coating
Syllabus Paper Specifications
Environment 25 Writing Paper, Moonrock
50 lbs. basis weight
100% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber, 25% cotton, no coating
Syllabus Paper Specifications
Environment 25 Writing Paper, Moonrock
50 lbs. basis weight
100% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber, 25% cotton, no coating
Syllabus Paper Specifications
Environment 25 Writing Paper, Moonrock
50 lbs. basis weight
100% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber, 25% cotton, no coating
Syllabus Paper Specifications
Environment 25 Writing Paper, Moonrock
50 lbs. basis weight
100% recycled, 30% post-consumer fiber, 25% cotton, no coating
The CleanTech Thought Leaders Series:
Venture Capital and Green Entrepreneurs(A BESR Community Forum)
Course Syllabus
Fall 2011
5120* Grainger Hall
Envir St 900, Sem 5
Gen Bus 765, Lect 2
Fridays (but not all Fridays), noon – 1:15 pm
Tom Eggert, Esq.
267-2761
5277 Grainger Hall
This program is part of the Wiscontrepreneur Initiative,
which is made possible in part by a grant from
the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
Additional support is provided by the WI Sustainable Business Council and the WI School of Business.
* On September 30 and October 21 we will meet in room 2080
Objectives:
This course is for students to learn from experts and to participate in the interaction of community members and our speakers. Over the course of 7 class meetings, we will hear from practitioners and experts in the area of cleantech, alternative energy and the development of new technologies. We will hear about trends, flows of money and future opportunities. We will hear how concepts of sustainability (or sustainable development) have been operationalized in the cleantech world.
Sustainability refers to balancing economic progress with environmental care and concern for the community. Increasingly, sustainability is being recognized as a driver of innovation and value creation in the private sector. Through this class, I hope to convince the community that funders and entrepreneursare critical parts of a sustainable society. Without the involvement of funders and entrepreneurs in reshaping how we think about our individual and collective responsibility to the earth and future generations, and in demonstrating ways to make money while acting on that responsibility, our chances of successfully navigating the very troubled waters ahead of us are slim.
This class brings together students with community members to dialogue on the relevance of sustainability in a focused and constructive way. It has been organized to give you better insights into how sustainability impacts the operation and development of start up companies. Though the class is only a one credit class, it is my hope that the lessons and knowledge that you will take from this class will rival that which you would take from a three credit class.
We are deeply indebted to the following sponsors that allow us to offer this community forum. Please let them know how much you appreciate their support! This program is part of the Wiscontrepreneur Initiative, which is made possible in part by a grant from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Additional support is provided by the WI Sustainable Business Council and the WI School of Business.
GROUND RULES: It is essential that you be present for each class. One absence will affect your grade, two absences will result in you not passing the class. In addition to the 7 community forums, we will also meet on September 9 and December 9. You must be present for these meetings also.
I do realize that emergencies arise. If you find that you must miss class, please let Tom know before class. Extra credit opportunities will be available if you are concerned about your grade.
This is not a course geared toward "passive learning". Your purpose for being in this class should not be to passively receive information from "experts", but rather to actively engage in your own inquiry and restructure your thoughts about, and your relationship with, the concept of CleanTechnology and Alternative Energy.
You will be asked to read one of three books (your choice) during the semester. I will need you to submit a one page (standard margins, single spaced and 10 point or 12 point font) response to the book by class on Dec 9ths. This response to the book may include brief comments, reflections or observations about the relationship of the book to something that one of the speakers talked about or that you are pursuing.
Many of you have already discovered the website for the class. That website is:
You will also be assigned one short writing assignment for the class. It is important to note that you will be graded on both the content and your writing skills. This means that your ability to distill out the important pieces of information from your interview are given equal weight with grammar, organization, development of an ideas, and other writing skills. Being able to say what you need to say clearly is an important skill to learn.
Your short paper will be an interview with an entrepreneur, an Angel Investor, a Venture Capitalist, or someone else that is funding entrepreneurs in the CleanTech or Alternative Energy area. It may be with one of our speakers. You should prepare your questions in advance and then use the questions that worked the best or got the best answers in your write-up. For your short paper to be graded highly, you will need to ask probing questions and record the answers that you get so that the answers are interesting, accurate and readable.
Additional information about sustainability and sustainable development is available on Tom’s website: This is a rich site for resources, ideas, books, jobs, and more.
GRADING
50% of your final grade will be based upon Citizenship - includes attendance, attitude, interest, appreciation, enthusiasm, active and productive participation in class and knowledge of topics.
25% of your final grade will be based upon your written response to the required book
25% of your final grade will be based upon your short paper.
In fairness to others in the class, late submissions of the written response to the book or the short paper will be penalized at a rate of 20% of the paper’s value per day (e.g., your short papers presented one day late will receive at most a weight of 24 out of the 30 points available).
Required Books (choose one of the following):
The Clean Tech Revolution: The Next Big Growth and Investment Opportunityby Ron Pernick and Clint Wilder, Collins Business, 2007 or
Sustainability, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship by Andrea Larson, Flat World Knowledge, 2010
The Power of Unreasonable People: How Social Entrepreneurs Create Markets That Change the Worldby John Elkington andJohn Elkington (Author)
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Pamela HartiganHarvardBusinessSchool Press, 2008 or
Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers by Alexander Osterwalder andAlexander Osterwalder (Author)
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Yves Pigneur, Wiley, 2010.
Class will meet only on the following dates: Sept. 9,2330; Oct. 14, 2128; Nov. 11; Dec. 29
September 9 -- Class introduction. Review syllabus, describe relationship of class to School of Business, Nelson Institute.
September 23–Pat James, Blue Planet Strategies
September 30–David Mead, Lucigen Corp
October 14–Lee Edwards, Virent
October 21–Judith Albert, NRDCCenter for Market Innovation and Executive Director of the Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) program
October 28 - Justin Hajny, I’m Organic
November 11 -- Scott Button, Venture Investors
December 2 -- Bruce Neumiller, Gearbox Express
December 9 -- Class wrap-up. Final assignments due.