Last week, Fremont was the proud host of Cleantech Open’s 2013 Western Regional Awards. The event included two days of startup pitches, judging, networking, thought leadership, and awards. It exuded the energy and determination that only a competition of this type could. After all, these are entrepreneurs inventing the most promising technologies for addressing our world’s sustainability needs. Also in the audience were cleantech investors, who were fairly optimistic about the potential for future deals. So, you can imagine the great results an event like this produced and why Fremont, a cleantech hub, was thrilled to spend two days mixing and mingling with all the participants.

Here are some of the highlights:

1. The City of Fremont, Tesla Motors and the Fremont Marriott/Silicon Valley hosted an Entrepreneur and Investor Cocktail Reception at the Tesla Motors Factory on the evening of Wednesday, October 9th. Participants networked into the evening over hors d’oeuvres with Tesla’s next-generation Model-X on display in the background!

2. Kicking off the day on October 10th, companies demonstrated their technologies in a Technology Expo. More than 40 companies, including some of Fremont’s own cleantech companies, participated.

3. The morning keynote was delivered by Nancy Pfund of DBL Investors, a San Francisco-based investment firm with a “double bottom line” approach. Investing in cleantech giants such as Tesla Motors and SolarCity, Nancy stressed that cleantech’s investment potential is bright and that “reports of cleantech’s death are greatly exaggerated.”

4. The first of two panel discussions focused on policy and included Fremont’s own economic development director, Kelly Kline. The panel addressed pending legislation, how to successfully communicate with state/local government, and how government can actually partner with innovation companies, especially in the early stages.

5. The second panel, entitled “Cleantech Investment 2.0,” focused on the latest developments/trends, such as increased interest in demand-driven technologies and how the field is migrating away from the umbrella of “cleantech” and toward their own respective sub-categories, such as IT or energy efficiency.

6. Tom Steyer, renowned business leader and alternative energy advocate, delivered the afternoon keynote address. He emphasized that region matters when it comes to energy policy and that California will continue to be a model for the nation in creating markets for alternative energy.

7. Chevron Energy Solutions President James C. Davis closed the event with a discussion about Chevron’s approach to seeking out new energy technologies, which is why the company’s partnership with Cleantech Open is so valuable.

8. Out of 38 companies competing, four were named finalists and will go on to compete for the grand prize at Cleantech Open’s Global Forum in November. The finalists were Dragonfly Systems, Polymer Green, Pow Wow Energy and TylerCo, Inc. We wish them all good luck at next month’s competition!