Merritt Group Partners with Plug and Play Tech Center to Promote Major Silicon Valley Clean Technology Conference
The conference will provide a forum for 20 early-stage clean tech start-ups to showcase emerging technologies to leading venture capitalists and angel investors.
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – June 23, 2009 – Merritt Group, Inc., a nationally recognized public relations firm that helps move markets for forward-thinking companies in the government, healthcare and technology sectors, today announced its sponsorship of Plug and Play Tech Center’s first annual CleanPlay Conference on June 25, 2009. The conference will provide a forum for 20 early-stage clean tech start-ups to showcase emerging technologies to leading venture capitalists and angel investors.
“At a time when the nation contemplates a new approach to energy policy, the economic stimulus package has dramatically increased overall investment in clean energy and related technologies. The CleanPlay Conference plays a central role in transforming cutting-edge research and development into reality,” said Ben Merritt, CEO of Merritt Group. “Meeting business needs while driving efficiency and environmentally responsible technology is the challenge of our time, and Merritt Group is eager to work with Plug and Play and these exciting new companies as they shape this growing market.”
CleanPlay’s presenting companies span across four areas of clean technology: Transportation, Energy Savings, Water and Government Policy. Mirrored after Plug and Play’s annual Plug and Play Expo, CleanPlay will allow each start-up the opportunity to present a two minute elevator pitch to attendees. In addition, the event will feature a variety of panel discussions from industry leaders such as Best Buy, Honda Ventures, Clean Tech Group, Khosla Ventures, Banyan Energy, Environmental Business Cluster, K&L Gates LLP and others.
According to “Towards a Global Green Recovery,” a report presented at the G20 Summit in London this year, approximately $400 billion of the $2.6 trillion in economic stimulus allocations announced by G20 nations is earmarked for clean technologies such as renewable energy, improved electrical grids and cleaner cars. Merritt Group has identified clean technology as a strategic focus area and will continue to work with Silicon Valley companies in the rapidly growing clean-tech industry to create awareness for their innovations in the marketplace.
About Plug and Play Tech Center
Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Plug and Play Tech Center is a community of over 200 technology startup companies in the areas of Web 2.0, software (SaaS), systems, semiconductor and telecomm verticals. Since its inception in January 2006 the center has helped the startups raise in excess of $400 million in venture funding. The start-up companies have created a cumulative value of 2 Billion Dollars.
Entrepreneur-centered with strong relationships with the most influential venture capital firms of Silicon Valley and Ivy League universities in the nation, Plug and Play Tech Center has become the ultimate place to launch and grow promising new technologies.
About Merritt Group
Since its founding in 1996, Merritt Group has helped companies drive awareness for their innovations through public relations, marketing and digital strategies. This includes a unique combination of market research, strategy, execution and measurement for established and emerging companies. Our expertise is focused in five practice areas - Enterprise Technology, Communications & Networking, Government IT, Security and Healthcare - each with a team dedicated to the issues, trends and influencers relevant to the industry segment. Merritt Group's offices are located in Reston, Virginia and San Francisco, California. For more information, please visit www.merrittgrp.com.