Leveraging IP in Cleantech Innovation

Thursday, March 13, 2025
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, La Kretz Innovation Campus

NEW DATE: NOW THURSDAY, MARCH 13

In the race to combat climate change, intellectual property (IP) is a critical tool for scaling innovation, securing investment, and driving impact. Cleantech companies developing breakthrough solutions—from carbon capture to renewable energy and sustainable materials—must navigate complex IP strategies to protect their innovations and attract funding. As part of this program, we will explore how startups, investors, and legal experts can deploy IP to accelerate sustainable solutions, attract capital, and support long-term commercial success. Lawyers will gain insights into structuring IP-backed deals, licensing strategies, and navigating sustainability policy landscapes, while investors and founders will learn how to position IP as a strategic asset for growth.

PANELISTS

Lee Gordon, Pasadena Angels
Noah Perch-Ahern, Greenberg Glusker
Matthew Stotts, Cerulean Ventures
Josue Villalta, Knobbe Martens

AGENDA

5:00 pm: Sign in and Happy Hour
6:00 pm: Panel
7:00 pm: Networking

PRICING

LAIPLA Member: $30

LAIPLA Members - In House/Corporate: Complimentary

Non-Member: $40

Small business / Entrepreneur: Complimentary, please email office@laipla.net for your registration code

SPEAKERS

Lee Gordon, Pasadena Angels

Lee is an experienced legal professional and investor. He is a Board Member and the rising Chairman of the Pasadena Angels (part of TCA Venture Group). He obtained a JD from Harvard Law School and previously served as a partner at Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP.

Noah Perch-Ahern, Greenberg Glusker

Noah is an environmental attorney and has broad-based experience representing and counseling clients in many practice areas, including advising environmental and energy startups on intellectual property strategy.

Matthew Stotts, Cerulean Ventures

Matthew Stotts is an investor focused on global technology for climate change, environmental regeneration and sustainable communities. Before co-founding Cerulean Ventures, he was a general partner in Kano One (investing in blockchain) and co-founded an open-source NFT infrastructure project on the Solana blockchain.

Josue Villalta, Knobbe Martens

Josue’s practice includes global utility and design patent portfolio development, IP transfer agreements, due diligence, and competitive landscape analysis. Prior to his legal career, he was a senior mechanical engineer with General Electric’s Power Generation division.

SPEAKERS

Michael Brown, Fenwick & West

Michael guides world-class technology companies—ranging from early-stage startups to mature, publicly traded corporations—in a wide range of legal transactions, including venture and growth financings, mergers and acquisitions, initial and follow-on public offerings, debt financings, and corporate reorganizations. He obtained a JD from UCLA and is a partner in Fenwick’s Corporate group.

Shomik Dutta, Overture Climate VC

As the managing partner of Overture Climate VC, Shomik leverages 20 years of diverse experience across venture capital, climate, and the Obama White House. Before co-founding Overture, Shomik founded and ran Higher Ground Labs, an accelerator and venture fund. He began his career serving as Mid-Atlantic Finance Director in the Obama administration. He earned his MBA from Wharton Business School and has served as a Technology Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Lee Gordon, Pasadena Angels

Lee is an experienced legal professional and investor. He is a Board Member and the rising Chairman of the Pasadena Angels (part of TCA Venture Group). He obtained a JD from Harvard Law School and previously served as a partner at Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP.

Mike Lewis, BDT & MSD Partners

Mike is the Head of Sustainable Investing at BDT & MSD Partners. Previously, he was a member of Goldman Sach’s Sustainable Finance Group and an investor at Bain Capital, and he has an MBA from Stanford University.