1st Edition

Green Entrepreneur Handbook The Guide to Building and Growing a Green and Clean Business

By Eric Koester Copyright 2010
    460 Pages 83 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    460 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Written by a practicing business attorney with startup experience in the environmental and technology sectors, Green Entrepreneur Handbook: The Guide to Building and Growing a Green and Clean Business assists entrepreneurs in tackling the wide variety of opportunities to go green. It helps you incorporate clean technology, environmental practices, and green business approaches into your work environment.

    Part I
    The first section of the book lays the groundwork for any new entrepreneur to understand the history of the environmental and clean technology movements. The author explains the motivation of greentrepreneurs, the drivers of the green revolution into the future, and how to find the right market for your solution.

    Part II
    The next section takes a new business from initial idea to sales of the product or service. The book addresses where greentrepreneurs can find ideas around which to build a business; how to form a company to execute the business concept; how to find and retain founders, employees, advisors, and directors; how to raise money and make sales; and the importance of intellectual capital and assets.

    Part III
    Emphasizing aspects unique to the green business environment, the third part provides a sound understanding of utilities and energy generation and distribution and explores funding through project finance. It also looks at the players and process of selling to the government; the federal, state, and local regulatory impacts; government incentives and tax programs designed to spur clean technology development; and grants, loans, and other funds as sources of capital.

    Part IV
    In the fourth section, the author covers lessons learned and emerging challenges. He offers practical suggestions for going green that businesses can implement themselves and describes current green certifications. He also examines the role of venture capital and institutional investors in green innovation, international trends in green business, and the potential for exit events, such as public offerings, mergers, and acquisitions.

    Part V
    The final part focuses on lessons, tools, resources, and fundamentals essential to any entrepreneur. It discusses market research and business planning, details of forming a business, issues of employing people, smart intellectual property management, obstacles encountered in a difficult fundraising climate, and much more.

    A one-stop resource for green entrepreneurs, this comprehensive handbook equips you with the tools and knowledge to fully appreciate the unique challenges of developing a green business. Discussions of timely topics, advice, and additional resources are available at www.greentrepreneur.org

    The Great Green Opportunity
    Why Are We Going Green?
    Becoming a Greentrepreneur (a.k.a. Green Entrepreneur)
    Drivers of the Green Revolution
    Markets for Green Products

    The Green Startup
    Green Ideas, Inventions, and Businesses
    Forming and Founding
    Assembling Talent
    Raising Green (Money)
    Green Intellectual Property
    Making the Sale

    The Green Playing Field
    Understanding Utilities
    How Project Finance Works
    Working with the Government
    Laws, Regulations, Initiatives, and More
    Grants, Loans, and Other Green Government Funds
    Taxes and Incentive Programs

    Green Progress (So Far)
    Greening Your Business
    Green Certifications
    Venture Capital and Clean Technology
    International Landscape
    Growth Opportunities

    Green Business Fundamentals
    Market Research and Business Planning
    Forming the Business
    Founders
    Employees
    Securities
    Raising Money
    More about Fundraising
    Strategies for Managing Startup Intellectual Property
    Service Partners
    M&A and IPOs

    Appendix: Additional Resources

    References and Reading List

    Index

    Biography

    Eric Koester is general counsel of Appature Inc. and a former business attorney with Cooley LLP. He has started three businesses focused on environmental and technology consulting, website design, and mobile software. He is also the author of What Every Engineer Should Know About Starting a High-Tech Business Venture (CRC Press, 2009). Eric graduated from the business school at Marquette University and the George Washington University School of Law. All of the author's proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to Startup Weekend and Kiva. More information about these nonprofit organizations can be found at www.greentrepreneur.org