RMI opens office at CREED in Golden to expand cleantech program beyond Northern Colorado

By: InnovatioNews Friday August 2, 2013 0 comments Tags: cleantech, CREED, Doug Johnson, Fort Collins, Golden, NREL, Richard Adams, Rob Writz

FORT COLLINS/GOLDEN - Fort Collins-based Rocky Mountain Innosphere has launched a new office in Golden at the Colorado Center for Renewable Energy Economic Development (CREED) on the campus of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The new office will focus on expanding RMI's cleantech program throughout Colorado by supporting startups that provide the next generation of clean, renewable and efficient energy technologies, RMI said.

"Rocky Mountain Innosphere's presence at CREED is a valuable part of our cleantech ecosystem," said Richard Adams, NREL's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center manager.

"Innosphere will support NREL's efforts in providing business support for emerging cleantech companies as well as commercializing technologies."

"We really appreciate all the support from our current and new investors that allow us to expand our reach and serve more companies in the cleantech arena," said Doug Johnson, RMI's VP of capital access.


Johnson said RMI has support from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT); Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber and Schreck; the City of Golden; Jefferson County; NREL; the Canadian Consulate: Global Prairie; and Colorado Business Bank.

"They are all strong supporters of the cleantech industry and see the potential it has to create jobs," Johnson said.

"The space between being a cleantech entrepreneur and having a full-fledged company is full of both opportunities and pitfalls," said Rob Writz, RMI's director of clean technology programs.

"To help Colorado entrepreneurs bridge those gaps, Innosphere's cleantech program provides support to companies that are at their early stages of growth. I'm excited to be a part of an organization that enables a cleantech innovation ecosystem in Colorado."

"Innosphere has demonstrated a successful business model over the past 14 years and is now at a point where they can expand their cleantech program beyond Northern Colorado," Johnson said.

"Given the emerging technologies coming out of NREL, combined with the talent coming out of universities such as CU, CSU and Colorado School of Mines, this is an ideal time to incubate promising startups through Innosphere's proven incubator model that focuses on mentoring, capital, strategy and growth."

For more information, visit www.rmi2.org.