Speaker > Biography
John K. Balbach is Managing Partner of the Cleantech Group™, LLC worldwide and heads the Cleantech Group’s Silicon Valley office.
Prior to joining the Cleantech Group, John served as a venture capitalist, entrepreneur, advisor to world leaders, founder of international nonprofits and senior policymaker in Washington, D.C. John’s responsibilities have included managing US national security allocations exceeding $12 billion, launching 18 earlystage companies and raising or advising on the placement of $350 million in capital for private and public companies.
In Silicon Valley, John served on the founding team of Blueprint Ventures, a venture capital firm with $200 million under management, and was a pioneer of the global build out of broadband wireless networks which now serve millions of customers globally.
In the public arena, John served as a Senior Aide to US Senator Gordon Humphrey and to the Foreign Relations, Armed Services and Intelligence Committees, with responsibilities spanning international environment, trade, military policy and conflicts including flashpoints Afghanistan, Angola, Nicaragua and Sudan. He was cofounder of the State of the World Forum, a multiyear summit providing common ground during the postCold War era. The State of the World Forums brought together leaders from 80 countries, including Presidents Mikhail Gorbachev, George Bush, Vicente Fox, Oscar Arias, Thabo Mbeki and Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher, Benazir Bhutto and Hau PeiTsun.
John has lived in North America, Europe and Asia and his work has taken him to over 70 countries. He currently serves on the board of the Global Footprint Network, the Mayor of San Francisco’s Cleantech Counsel, and is a member of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. He holds a BA in International Affairs from George Washington University. John speaks often to audiences and media worldwide about clean technologies and he has have been widely published on issues including technology, venture finance and international human and ecological rights.
