SigEx Ventures : Investors are becoming increasingly interested in green technologyby Corina Ciubotaru

As climate change becomes a reality we are all responsible for, and governments start raising awareness, venture capital investors seem to be increasingly attracted to clean tech. In 2006, $2.9 billion were invested in this field in the US, compared to $1.6 billion in 2005, and a big part of this money went into energy-related ventures. This figure increased by nearly 60% in the first quarter of 2007 making the clean tech venture market the third most significant after biotechnology and software. GE was a big investor in clean tech in recent times; in the beginning of the year, they invested in a company that researches batteries for hybrid vehicles, and the American giant probably won’t stop here, aiming to invest $4 billion in renewable energy by 2010. Other companies have also announced they want to join the race: Citigroup is willing to invest $50 billion in the next ten years in companies that address climate change issues, while Bank of America intends to invest $20 billion in the same area. In Europe, the level of investment is significantly lower and it’s decreased in 2006 compared to the previous year. What should concern European leaders even more is that not only are they significantly behind the US when it comes to investments, but that the Americans have invested more in European ventures than the actual people benefiting from them. Part of this problem is due to insufficient state involvement in the issue, but some potential investors consider that there aren’t enough opportunities for them in Europe.

related story: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070606-clean-tech-investments-pull-in-10-percent-of-us-venture-capital.html

by Corina Ciubotaru for SigEx Ventures (http://sigexventures.com)

SigEx Ventures's matrix of properties are quickly becoming leaders in digital telebroadcasting, free content delivery allowing people to easily talk, view, upload and share through free online TV broadcasting, free unlimited global calls, video blogs and SMS. SigEx Ventures invests in projects deploying "free" to add-on royalty revenue models

SigEx Ventures : Private equity companies going publicby Ioana Madalina Tantareanu

As a result of the tech-bubble bear market, most asset classes outside of U.S. large cap stocks, U.S. government securities, and municipal debt have been deemed "non-traditional" or "alternative" in some way.One of the biggest beneficiaries of this trend was private equity and the investors have flooded firms such as Blackstone and KKR with cash.Opportunities in the marketplace are researched by private equity. They are different from the standard stock analysis,which tends to focus on relatively arbitrary quarterly earnings per share estimates, because they analyze companies to determine whether the lines of business are worth more together or apart and they try to find unexploited opportunities. Richard Gere's character in "Pretty woman movie" would be the personification of today's "private equity." There are many options in having and managing a company. Sometimes it`s the best thing to do to tear the company apart and sell it, but sometimes you may leave it whole and shake up the business model.Going public doesn't necessarily take away these company`a flexibility.Warren Buffet's company Berkshire Hathaway has as it`s core business insurances.Geico and General Re are some of the primary lines of business.This hasn`t stopped Berkshire Hathaway from investing in, or acquiring, a host of other companies, like companies from high-tech electronics to making candy. Investors buy shares of the holding company, not the private equity subsidiary, refering to taking the private out of private equity.These will be publicly traded companies who engage in private equity portfolio management as their primary line of business, in order to cash in on the recent boom and successes and to provide liquidity for the firm's shareholders.

by Ioana Madalina Tantareanu for SigEx Ventures (http://sigexventures.com)

SigEx Ventures's matrix of properties are quickly becoming leaders in digital telebroadcasting, free content delivery allowing people to easily talk, view, upload and share through free online TV broadcasting, free unlimited global calls, video blogs and SMS. SigEx Ventures invests in projects deploying "free" to add-on royalty revenue models

SigEx Ventures : Private equity picking up steamby Delia Cruceru

Although market commentators said that New Zealand’s global buyout is going down, in here the private equity activity is blooming. This year the many deals regarding private equity firms like Yellow Pages and MediaWorks have been transacted. Corporate raider Carl Icahn said “the global boom has reached its peaked” and Blackstone Group, Kravis, Kohlberg, Roberts (KKR) and Carlyle Group capable of paying high prices are waiting for better offers and deals. Paul Chrystal, head of private equity from Goldman Sachs JBWere said that in New Zealand assets are becoming very expensive: “not all people paying high prices are overpaying, but if they are, there's always more risk that they will have a difficult time later. I don't think there's any serious investors in the private equity market who haven't felt the pressure of prices, are worried by it, and are probably more cautious." AMP Capital Investor’s boss says "base interest rates and risk spreads are rising. While we'd seen private equity interest, we hadn't seen transactions on the smaller part of the market. That's clearly changed with Tourism Holdings and MediaWorks.” Chief economist and head of investment strategy of AMP Capital Investors says the boom in the private equity takeover activity will get bigger and will have positive effects.

related story: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10451724

by Delia Cruceru for SigEx Ventures (http://sigexventures.com)

SigEx Ventures's matrix of properties are quickly becoming leaders in digital telebroadcasting, free content delivery allowing people to easily talk, view, upload and share through free online TV broadcasting, free unlimited global calls, video blogs and SMS. SigEx Ventures invests in projects deploying "free" to add-on royalty revenue models

CANTELL TV SETS OUT TO CONQUER GLOBAL DIGITAL BROADCASTING

PARIS, FRANCE – 1 March, 2007 – Cantell TV is entering the digital broadcasting era, offering today the newest and hippest digital broadcasting systems. Cantell TV skillfully combines an array of amazing technological breakthroughs: revolutionary broadcasting services coupled with enhanced video communication capacity, including video-rooms, four-way video-conferencing, integrated phone services, SMS communications and many more – powered by marketing partner SigEx Telecom.
“We are pleased to offer our end-users to finally be in full control. Not only they will control entertainment offered by the outside channels, but also have a strong hold on their own digital content: videos, music, and photos. Our end-users will have infinite choices of “what”, “where” and “when” and will be able to share and broadcast this content throughout our network,” says Christopher M. Cantell, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Cantell TV.
Cantell TV ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a TV broadcasting company, completely redefining the notion of digital entertainment.
The element that primordially distinguishes Cantell TV from its competition stems from the revolutionary user interface it delivers. It is based on a large multi-option display and innovative new software that lets you control everything at the tips of your fingers. The concept that Cantell TV brings to the public has been created with a fluid stream of innovation: you can view your favorite selection of TV shows, video-chat to your pals about the latest Martha Stewart scandal or yesterday’s NYSE slump; simultaneously upload your home-video footage taken in Tahiti and SMS you cousin in Iceland to take a look at it on his own Cantell TV LivingSpace. The multimedia universe that this digital broadcasting company is bringing to its consumers is bound to raise the bar of digital entertainment industry. With more and more end-user rejoicing over this high-tech wonder, a question looms in the shade: Will the competitors deal with it?
About Cantell TV
Cantell TV is the fastest growing provider of digital broadcasting coupled with enhanced communications, allowing people to easily control, view, upload and share digital content through proprietary interface. Cantell TV has relationships with a growing network of international clients delivering millions of videos per day with more than 50,000 new videos uploaded and 200 hours of new TV shows broadcasted daily to a wide range of viewers, from 5 to 7 year olds of LiveCartoons; to 16 to 24 year old active social users of MyJumps; to fortune 50 corporate clients utilizing enhanced broadcasting services. Cantell TV is committed to delivering infinite choices to your world of entertainment at the tip of your fingers.
About SigEx Telecom
SigEx Telecom is quickly becoming the leading telebroadcasting communications provider allowing people to easily talk, view, upload and share video clips through free online TV broadcasting, free unlimited global calls, websites, blogs, video-mails and SMS. SigEx Telecom captures many add-on services for its clients generating royalties and fees in a broad spectrum of marketing services including public relations and promotions.
About the Founder
Chris Cantell brings more than 18 years of experience and ownership of diverse companies in technology licensing, recruiting and international corporate structuring with expertise in areas ranging from software development, public relations and advertising, to finance on a global basis, including United States, Europe, Canada, and a five year stint in South America (Brazil). Chris has a proven track record developing new business, researching and securing existing structures to solve complex problems, and recruiting best practices to deliver superior results. He works closely with industry leaders to develop deep relationships, usually measured in years, to create sustainable structures.

Our Favorite SigEx Foundry blogs by Silvia Baldin

Our Favorite SigEx Foundry blogs

Here is a list of our top ten blog sites. They all relate to SigEx Ventures, the Foundry School and the founders Chris Cantell and Frederic Artru. We invite you to visit them as well for news on other Sigex Ventures companies and SigEx Foundry projects.

1. http://frederic-artru.blogspot.com
2. http://sigexventures-sigexfoundry.blogspot.com
3. http://sigexventureseurofund.blogspot.com
4. http://silviasigexfoundry.blogspot.com
5. http://diana-sigex.livejournal.com
6. http://sigexventures-avenirdesmedias.blogspot.com
7. http://sigexventures-futureofmedia.blogspot.com
8. http://sigexventures-beapartofit.blogspot.com
9. http://sigexventures-nanodata.blogspot.com
10. http://sigextogo.blogspot.com

by Silvia Baldin