CEO, Business Development, Sales

Keith Raab, CEO & Co-Founder,

CleanTech Connections

Since January 2012, Keith Raab has served as the CEO and

Co-Founder of CleanTech Connections LLC., a firm with a

dedicated focus on serving economic development

agencies, helps its clients gain global exposure and

recognition through; market intelligence and positioning,

connections to the entire cleantech ecosystem, streamlined

access to entrepreneurs, investors and global thought

leaders, and positioning at our industry relevant events

(branded as CleanTech Future Conferences). With our

experiences, relationships, and resources in the clean

technology sector, CleanTech Connections is uniquely

positioned to help its clients navigate cleantech markets,

assess future challenges, take advantage of emerging

opportunities and ultimately grow communities, create

smart cities, assist with sustainable urban development best

practices and accelerate the creation of green collar jobs.

Keith created CleanTech Connections with no start-up funding of any type and has been able to

provide a proper income for himself, his partner and one employee from just about day one of its

formation. This was accomplished through the establishment of long term relationships, unrelenting

passion and an unwavering and tireless work ethic.

Prior to forming CleanTech Connections, Keith co-founded the Cleantech Group, introduced the

cleantech concept in 2002, created the taxonomy for the industry that is still widely used today, and

has helped build it as a viable investment category. Keith served as the company’s CEO from 2002 to

2009 and as its VP of Business Development (sales) from 2009 to December 2011. As the CEO, Keith

built the company from $0 to $8M in revenues, raised multiple rounds of capital (start-up, venture and

growth) in difficult times and took the company to profitability while building out offices in San

Francisco, London and Beijing. During the entire time, Mr. Raab remained the leading salesperson for

the company with responsibility for $5,000 memberships as well as $250,000 contracts. During his

last year with the company, he was able to pre-sell in excess of $1M in confirmed contracts for the

following year. Mr. Raab served on the Cleantech Group’s board of directors from company

formation to March 2012 (resigned 3 months after departing from Cleantech Group). He remains a

shareholder in the company.

Cleantech Group (the industry’s leading data, research and advisor services firm in the cleantech

sector) helps business leaders make smarter, more strategic decisions involving cleantech innovation.

Its i3 Platform provides web-based, comprehensive, up-to-date information and insights into

companies, investors and relationships across the clean technology ecosystem including the smart grid,

energy efficiency, energy storage, smart water, and green transportation sectors. Cleantech Group also

produced the premier Cleantech Forum (the highly acclaimed and longest running events in the clean

technology space) and Focus conferences worldwide. Since 2002, the Cleantech Group has been

providing Fortune 1000 global corporations, investors, entrepreneurs and policy-makers with the latest

industry market intelligence through subscription-based research, global industry networking events,

and world-class custom research services. By focusing entirely on the companies innovating in clean

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technology, Cleantech Group helps its clients make critical business decisions that foster growth,

reduce cost, and meet consumer and government demands for improved environmental quality.

Prior to creating Cleantech Group, Keith served as Manager of Investor Relations for the

Environmental Capital Network (ECN), a 501c (non-profit) organization whose purpose was to

facilitate the finance of companies commercializing energy and environmentally beneficial

technologies, products and services. At ECN, Keith ran the day to day activities and was responsible

for organizing 11 national venture capital forums and analyzing hundreds of business plans for

participation consideration for national venture capital conferences. He also built strategic relationships

with investors and was responsible for working with entrepreneurs to identify and direct them to

various capital sources that fit their needs and stage of business development.

Prior to joining ECN in 1998, Keith was the Founder and Managing Director of Echos LLC, an

investor-backed, early-stage venture developing and commercializing a wastewater recycling and

irrigation system. Keith was able to raise $200,000 in start-up capital from angel investors with only a

business school business plan to showcase. Much of the work with this company revolved around

filtration research and development.

Prior to that, Keith undertook consulting work for CID Equity Partners; one of the largest venture

capital firms in the Midwest. He has also independently advised a number of early stage companies on

business planning, strategy and capital formation.

Keith started his career as a nuclear test engineer for the Department of the U.S. Navy. There he

worked in the propulsion plant of nuclear powered aircraft carriers doing fluid system testing, repair

and maintenance on the nuclear side of the power plant. Before leaving the shipyard, Keith received a

letter of commendation for highlighting millions of dollars in annual savings that could be easily re-

captured in the shipyard’s nuclear waste disposal and storage practices.

Keith has an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Indiana University (1996; GPA 3.7), a

Masters of Engineering in Gas Dynamics from the University of Michigan (1991; GPA 3.6) and a

Bachelors of Engineering in Aerospace from the University of Michigan (1990; GPA 3.5). Keith

taught engineering classes while at the University of Michigan to help pay for his Master’s Degree and

then again computer application courses while at Indian University to help pay for his MBA. While

earning his MBA, Keith also did some consulting work for both Childcraft Furniture (manufacturing

and operations) and also Koch Industries (new channels to market).

Keith currently serves as an advisor for the Carbon Zero Institute, Arizona Innovation Challenge, and

Pace Controls. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona with his wife and 17 year old son.

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