Leading venture blog SiliconBeat is facinated by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers role in influencing policymakers. Today, they report that the Bush SOU "end-oil-addiction" line was pushed by Kleiner partner Floyd Kvamme. Kvamme also serves as co-chair on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
The rest of the post highlights Kleiner's most high-profile partner John Doerr's clean-tech work (he says he is spending half of his time in this arena) and how the firm is creating a virtuous cycle of advocacy, innovation and environmentally friendly solutions. SiliconBeat also notes how quick and how big clean tech is growing. We agree. See more posts from The 463 on this topic. Also remember that the likely inclusion of the Clean Alternative Energy Act on the November California ballot will likely mean that clean tech hits a national media coverage tipping point.
And while, Floyd Kvamme only got one line in the SiliconBeat piece (he would probably prefer none), he is easily one of the most unsung heroes of Silicon Valley tech policy. The man has been leading industry efforts on a variety of issues since the 1960s (Kvamme was one of five founders of National Semiconductor in 1967). When the book is written on the history of tech policy, Kvamme will be seen as one of the very few key threads between the past and present.
(P.S. Kvamme is also one of the most humble and generous men you'll ever meet in Silicon Valley).
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