The Grass is "Greener"... on our side

Green Consumer Device: Solar to power our mobile device

If you want to understand what the future of consumer mobile will look like, you should turn to Apple.

And if you want to understand what Apple's future products will look like, you should turn to Apple's patent applications.

If you follow my blog, you may have read about this here (back in 2006), when Apple filed for new interface. This interface has since taken over the mobile world...

So what will the future of mobile consumer device hold, as Apple views it? Well, of course - the future is green, with sun light powering (or at least enhancing) the power of our mobile device:

From a recent patent filing by Apple, it seems the company wants to place solar cells under the LCD touch screen inside a range of portable devices such as iPods.

As claimed here, this is not simple to achieve, mainly due to the fact that the solar power in a panel is directly proportional to its surface area, and the screen areas in portable devices tend to be small. But as we know, the iPhone and iPod have large screens that occupy most of the front of these devices, allowing more solar cells to be stacked beneath the display. The power collection component of the system also has to be redesigned, to support partial shading, for example by users gripping the device.

Several attempts have been made at this previously, but as we've seen already, none have which had much success (costs, form factor, usability). But as we all know, if anyone can overcome these hurdles and make it happen, its Apple.

 

 

 

Technorati Tags: Solar Mobile Device,Apple,Patent

Oil "Super Spike" to reach $200...

Arjun Murti, the head of Goldman Sachs energy research team, is considered one of the best oil analysts out there.

He foresaw $100 oil prices when the market was at $50.

The group this week predicted that oil prices could reach $200 this year.

While some may look at such prediction with concern - its important to realize the huge boost high oil prices have in enabling alternative technologies to displace existing energy supplies:

"The ultimate benefit of going through an energy crisis is that while it's painful for a period of time because you are paying higher prices, you are going to end up with a world that uses less crude oil.

Higher prices would stimulate technological innovation in transportation and alternative energy, and encourage consumers to make more energy efficient choices", Murti said. He gave the example of a consumer choosing a fuel efficient hybrid vehicle instead of an SUV.
"All these things will reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil and help improve our environment," Murti said, "but it comes at the price of higher oil prices in the short term."

We all know that as demand grows for alternative energy technologies (such as hybrids), scale production will increase, driving costs down further, and increasing demand... creating a virtuous cycle that will significantly decrease dependence on oil...

And all the sudden - this doesn't seem like such a distant dream.

(Seeing the impact $4 per gallon gas prices has on people here in San Francisco (buying a hybrid is becoming an increasingly easy decision)... its not hard to imagine what will happen at $8 per barrel...)

 

Technorati Tags: Oil Price, Alternative energies, $200 Barrel, Hybrid

Apple Macbook Air - The Israeli Connection

There's no doubt that not many can beat Apple's Marketing.

The launch of the new Air included.

As part of this launch, a great commercial has been airing on US TV (below):

 

Great concept - the Manila envelope really substantiates the proportions.

But maybe even better - the commercial's soundtrack...

So I decided to look up who's behind the super catchy song ("A New Soul"). And guess what - its none other than a young, unknown Israeli singer named Yael Naim. (apparently well known in France)

Here's the full song clip... very cute...

Only thing left was to go out and get the CD.

So - Only question left open... How did the Apple marketing people find the song... (The Israeli connection?...)

Technorati Tags: Apple, Macbook Air, Yael Naim, Israeli singer

Becoming Carbon Neutral

 

Among other New Year's resolutions I've made this year, I've resolved that in 2008 I'll become carbon neutral!

One option is to:

• Stop driving (i.e. walk to work - which is actually easy when you live 500m from the office)
• Fly less (I'll be glad to stay in SF for some time actually)
• And turn off the TV (US cable TV is full of commercials anyway)

But then again... (from previous experience with New Year's resolutions) I'm not sure I'll be able to sustain this.

So there's another option:

A quick visit to the carbon offset calculator - Where one can pay for each pound of carbon created, which goes towards a carbon offset project (i.e. tree planting, renewable energy plant, energy conservation, etc). So basically - you pay for someone else to do the work for you (an option I've always favored).

A simple calculation of my usage, resulted in the following:

 

$614 (!)

Then again... (from previous experience with New Year's resolutions) - I'm not sure I'll be able to sustain this method as well...

So what's the conclusion?

I think both methods are great - but both don't really work (they are good for creating marketing hype, such as the one going on all around us).

I don't subscribe to the view that people will need to change their lifestyle (or pay up) in order to save the environment. Its just not sustainable (like New Year's Resolutions), and not scalable to the mass population.

Not to mention that consumer usage behavior is not the main component of the problem (see on the right an interesting graph on this topic)

I think the consumer side of the equation will be solved only through technologies & solutions that are environmentally friendly, yet do not compromise quality of life, and most importantly, are at cost parity with existing solutions.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Carbon, offset, neutral, New Year, Resolutions, carbon calculator

Israel Green Academia

As I mentioned in the past, Israel is home to some of the worlds leading research and academic institutions.

Today I was lucky enough to be hosted at Ben Gurion University (BGU) in the Negev. I met the team leading the university's technology transfer activities (i.e. taking technologies and IP from the academic world into the industry), and several of the people behind the University's Green research.

One of the more interesting people I met, was the head of the Zuckerberg water research institute (located in Sde Boker). The institute focuses on developments across the water domain, including desalination, water treatment, membrane technologies, hydro chemistry, environmental hydrology, etc. Their team has grown significantly over the last years and currently has 22 faculty members, 16 engineers, and 62 graduate students, who come from all over the world to the desert - to find the next water innovation.

Bridging the divide:

In Greentech, much more than core IT, there is a big divide between the stage of academic research, and the stage of exporting it into the industry. There are additional stages that have to take place after the researcher finishes his work , so that the entrepreneur can start to work on it (and the VC can start to invest).

I think that one of the more encouraging takeaways i had from the day was that not only is BGU a place with significant Green innovations, but its also unique in thinking (and acting) on how to bridge this divide. For example, going beyond the pen & paper theoretical stage, and building actual testing labs for projects / products (Two such have already been built).

The meetings today showed there is a  strong desire from the researchers to go beyond the "theory". To build the products, and  increase their  involvement with the industry.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Israel, Greentech, Ben Gurion, University, Water, Sde Boker

Tel Aviv Bars Turn "Green" (Smoke Free)

If you ever told me this would happen, I would have never believed you, but it did this week:

The no smoking law in Israel has been around for quite a while, but only this last week was it actually enforced in Tel Aviv bars and clubs (Big fines to the owners who don't enforce it, and even some fines on the smokers)

Last night I was out to a bar, and all of the sudden part of the group excused themselves to go  out and smoke. What a pleasant surprise :)

Finally I can stay in a bar for over 30 minutes without coughing, getting teary eyes, and reeking of smoke. Tel Aviv has finally seen the light.

And on a different topic of "new generation socializing" - It seems its really not what it used to be:

Next to me was a group of friends celebrating a birthday. The "socializing" actually included:

• Sending SMSs
• Posing for (digital) photos
• Viewing the photos (immediately thereafter)
• Discussing who's going to post what photo on facebook
• And starting over again

Over the course of one hour I estimate over 1,000 flashes went off (not exaggerating)... A bit dazed I walked out of the place.

Am I getting too old for this?

 

Technorati Tags: Tel Aviv, bars, clubs, no smoking, facebook, generation

Israel's Media Industry Looks into the Future

Breathing in the fresh mountain air, looking up at the clear blue skies, gazing out at the vast view of Mount Hermon... That's how I started my day at the annual Rosh Pina TV & Film Festival (which should actually be titled "Media Festival"-details below)  

The country's media gang (referred to as "Ha-Branja" in Hebrew) convened over the last weekend to socialize and discuss the Israeli media industry. This year's headline: 40 Years for Israeli TV.

But instead of discussing the past accomplishments, this year, everyone was interested in discussing the future of the Israeli media (as well as their own). Following the weekend discussions, my biggest takeaway is:

There is the huge gap between the current state of media in Israel (specifically TV - very outdated), to that of the country's potential: Talents, know how, and world class technological capabilities:

Israel's current state of the media:

 TV is only 40 years old in Israel, but it's much older (i.e. much more advanced) in other countries.

1. No HD. No IPTV. DVR services have only just started to appear.

2. Public Broadcasting: Israel public broadcasting is a very slow, low budget (but high cost) entity, that does not produce quality content, and is still operating in a late 1980's mode. Basically, a lot of people, doing very little work.

Contrast this with the UK (BBC), which has been able to lead the media to the next generation with world class productions, segmented content, mobile device broadcasts, digital radio, etc.

There is talk about restructuring in Israel - but with the way public entities operate here (and the comments I heard this weekend), it would be foolish to have high hopes for change.

3. Advertisers: The Israeli ad agencies seem to be living in a dream, and have yet to fully expand into the new media and new advertising channels. Although reluctant to embrace the progressing changes, they are aware and do have a real fear of the impending changes in the advertising world.  TV and print still have a very strong dominance in ad spending. Moreover, advertisers still practice some legally questionable practices (such as "double commissions" - i.e. there is no separation between the ad agency and the media buyers, enabling them to charge media "placement" commissions from the channels. This has long been out-ruled in most countries).

I'm not sure if regulation will change soon enough, but I am sure that new media (such as Google in Israel) will be a pleasant wake up call. At least for the consumers. Maybe not so much for the ad agencies.

 

In contrast  - Israel has world class potential:

1. The Israeli media personas possess world class content and consumer understanding

• Israel has developed TV show formats that have acclaimed global success: "The Vault" was sold around the world, Uri Geller's "The Heir" was acquired by NBC (to be called "Phenomenon"), Betipul was sold to HBO, "The Ex" was sold to Fox, and many more...
• Israeli film has seen a revival over the last years - most recently winning prizes at all top international film festivals: Bikur Hatismoret at Tokyo last week, Meduzot at Cannes, Beaufort - all in the last year.

2. Israel is home to some of the most advanced players in New Media

Several Israeli startups are providing solutions that cross the Media consumption chain. Below is a slide I put together with just a small sample.

Unfortunately, these companies need to go to other countries to Beta test their products (given the lack of advanced implementation within Israel's existing channels).

3. The local media community is starting to realize the potential of the media revolution. Some have already made a move (one such example is Uri Shinar, a leading media figure in Israel, who led a panel this weekend and created Aniboom).

Combining the understanding these people have (in consumer needs, behaviors, and content) together with cutting edge technologies - can create a real competitive advantage in the global markets.

 

And this, in essence, is the reason I was there (and the reason my fund sponsored the event):

 To meet more of the media community, which I believe will soon be the foundation for Israel's next generation of media ventures.

Images from Rosh Pina TV and Film Fest

Just got back - Here a short compilation. More insights in a bit

 

Technorati Tags: Israel, Rosh Pina, Film, TV, Festival, 2007

Gemini at Rosh Pina TV & Film Festival פסטיבל טלוויזיה וקולנוע ראש פינה

Those of you who have been following my blog might remember a year ago I wrote about the great experience I had at the Rosh Pina Film Festival.

The Event is taking place again this weekend (time flies...)

Following the positive experience last year and my funds focus on New Media, Gemini will be sponsoring this year's event. I'm really glad about this, since:

• There is great talent in Israel with knowledge in Media and Consumer - that is applicable for the investments we make in New Media
• This is another first for my fund - we'll be the only VC at the event (I managed to find this one piece in English)
• I had no small part in making this happen ;)

If you are interested in the future of media - or just want a great weekend up north with the "Branja"* (and a us VCs) you should plan to drive up north this weekend.

* Branja = Hebrew slang  for media Celebes

Technorati Tags: Israel, Rosh Pina, Film, TV, Festival, 2007

Israel Greentech - Innovation since the days of Moses

"Greentech" has become a highly discussed topic over the last years. But this is not new to Israel at all.

Given Israel's location on the globe, applying "Green" technologies (and engineering) has in fact always been a survival necessity:

• We have very little water
• A lot of sun...
• And absolutely no oil (in a neighborhood that is very rich with black gold - and will not willingly sell it to us)

 

 

 

In fact, if you go back far enough, you'll find the first Greentech entrepreneur in the Bible - Moses, being able to bring forth water from a rock in the desert... (although he did have a bit of venture help from God)

The Romans brought fascinating engineering capabilities into Israel for the distribution of water (anyone traveling the country will find several water aqueducts and water tunnels)

Today Israel boasts some impressive Greentech "world records":

• Israel is a World leader in waste water reuse  - 75% (!) of total consumption is re-used (second place is Spain with 12%)
• Israel has the worlds largest Desalination plant (located in Ashkelon)
• Ormat and Solel are world leaders in Geothermal, and solar thermal technologies and projects
• Israel boasts some of the top academic Greentech institutions, including BGU, Volcani Center, etc.
• and more...

But I think the real "Greentech" drive is just beginning in Israel:

• Entrepreneurs that have succeeded in "mainstream" tech are starting to take notice of the opportunities, and set up new ventures addressing the Energy and Water sectors
• The VC industries have taken notice - and all are looking to become active (I'm proud to say my fund is not only looking, but has actually already invested)
• Even key Israeli figures have "gone Green" over the last year:
  • Recently Shai Agassi announced he's launching a world leading electric vehicle project in Israel (in fact I hear he's already advancing very nicely with it)
  • Even our president (Shimon Peres) is Going Green (and this Hebrew announcement yesterday)

So it might come as a surprise to some, and not to others... but i can definitely say Israel Greentech holds tremendous potential to build global companies, and bring about significant global  environmental improvements.

More to come...