Green building events focus on equity, investment connections

Photo by Shades of Green

Prosper Portland was proud to co-sponsor and participate in Shades of Green on Wednesday, September 12, a conference designed to explore the state of diversity within the energy industry, as well as diversity best practices, strategies and actions. Executive Director Kimberly Branam introduced the opening session, “View From the C-Suite: The Importance of Diversity.”

Diversity was also a theme later in the month when the agency once again co-sponsored, with VertueLab (formerly Oregon BEST) Eco-Capital Connections, an event designed to build business development, improve access to capital and ensure that access is equitable for small/minority/women-owned firms. The networking and matchmaking event connects local clean tech innovators with venture capital and corporate investors and drew small businesses from across the Northwest. Over the past four years Prosper Portland staff has arranged more than 500 meetings between local businesses and prospective investors as part of the Eco Capital event.