E8 WELCOMES NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND PLANS EXPANDED IMPACT FOR CLEANTECH ENTREPRENEURS AND ANGELS
E8, an angel investor community committed to investing in cleantech in support of both profit and ecological sustainability, is pleased to welcome Mike Rea as its new Executive Director.
This addition comes at an important time, given the pace of cleantech innovation, the urgency of climate change, and signature policy efforts underway such as the pending Washington Clean Fuel Standard.
Mike joins with E8 Directors, Members, entrepreneurs, sponsors and partners to accelerate our community’s impact during this time of great need and opportunity.
Mike succeeds Kristi Growdon, ED since 2014 who helped grow the E8 investor community to what it is today: more than 70 members, 81 portfolio companies and a community responsible for $34M+ in investment in early stage cleantech companies. Please peruse our portfolio to learn more.
“This is an exciting time for the E8 community,” said Board of Directors Co-Chair, Eric Berman. “We are grateful for all that Kristi has accomplished with E8, and we are thrilled to have Mike’s energy to expand our network of like-minded investors and promising entrepreneurs who share our urgency for developing cleantech solutions with real-world results.”
Mike brings to E8 a background in philanthropic investing, social entrepreneurship and community engagement at organizations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Give2Asia, Bank of America and Tourism Cares.
Led by the Board of Directors, E8 will take this chance to refresh its strategy. In conjunction with E8 Members and others we will look anew at innovation, capacity and partnerships to drive ever greater success for high potential cleantech ventures.
Stay tuned for more on this summer’s strategy refresh process and opportunities for adding your input, including member and entrepreneur surveys. To prioritize community engagement, we will postpone this summer’s Showcase in favor of smaller listening and brainstorming meetings with Members.
Thank you for your commitment to the mission and community of E8, and please reach out to Board Co-Chairs Eric Berman or Charlie Curtis, or to Mike (mike@e8angels.com), with your ideas, questions and comments!