Dominican's Venture Greenhouse accepting new clients

There will be an information session on January 11 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at VG's headquarters, 30 Castro Avenue in San Rafael.

To download a Venture Greenhouse application or for more information, log onto www.venturegreenhouse.org or email john@venturegreenhouse.org or call 415-234-0468.

Dominican President Mary B. Marcy and San Rafael Mayor Albert J. Boro formally opened Dominican’s VG during a ribbon-cutting ceremony October 5.  A keynote address by Lynelle Cameron, Director of Sustainability at Autodesk followed.

Inspired by Dominican University of California’s MBA in Sustainable Enterprise (the GreenMBA), the Venture Greenhouse is a business development accelerator for social and environmental entrepreneurs, a learning laboratory for the University’s business students, and a community resource for innovators and new ventures.

The Venture Greenhouse opened in February 2011 with four “beta” clients. An additional four clients joined the accelerator last summer and more clients moved in in early October. Clients remain in residence for a maximum of one year.

An accelerator is a form of business incubator with an intensive business development process that helps new ventures to achieve rapid growth and greater success in the marketplace.

Companies currently involved with the Venture Greenhouse focus on a wide variety of sustainable issues, including solar maintenance, biofuel, waste-to-energy, LED lighting, video production, employment coaching, and non-toxic lunchware.
Client companies pay a nominal monthly fee of $50 per person to help pay for utilities. Client companies can have a maximum of three people with offices in the facility. The Venture Greenhouse also may take equity stakes in client ventures. While some clients may continue to hold other jobs, their priority should be the creation of new employment for themselves and others with the launch of their enterprises. Selection criteria include companies focused on environmental and social impact and financial viability.

Venture Greenhouse was founded by John Stayton, Director of Venture Greenhouse, and Stuart Corvin, a local businessman who was formerly the owner of Cal Steam Supply.

In addition to being a year-long accelerator program, Venture Greenhouse’s mission is to help generate jobs for Marin County, provide a learning laboratory for the university’s business students, and serve as community resource for innovators and new ventures.

Venture Greenhouse has established working relationships with Keiretsu Forum, North Bay Angels, Sonoma Mountain Business Cluster, Marin Economic Forum and regional economic development offices.

Media Contact: Sarah Gardner, Director, Communications & Research, sarah.gardner@dominican.edu, 415-485-3239.