GreenScience Exchange

Jim Hurd is a consultant and co-founder to breakthrough start-up companies.
He also advises leading corporations that joint venture, license and buy disruptive start-ups.

Some examples of Jim's work:
- Jim is a Co-Founder and the Director of Strategic Alliances for GIVE Eco Energy - www.giveecoenergy.com - a leading biomass technology integrator based in New York City that is developing projects for Brazil, Panama, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Ghana. The company integrates projects that convert waste biomass crops to electricity. Jim works with the Chairman and Founder to set up and manage strategic relationships - with finance institutions, government agencies and engineering firms.

- Jim was hired to produce a report in the second half of 2011 for Mitsubishi Corporation on leading start-ups in several cleantech sectors and helped Mitsubishi begin discussions with some of these companies.

- Jim consults for the law and lobbying firm K&L Gates in Washington, DC for the last six years on strategic relationships with leading technology associations and start-up companies and how they partner with government agencies.

- Jim was on the 2010 Energy Faculty of Singularity University, based in Mountain View, CA - a leading technology graduate school led by Peter Diamandis, Founder of the X-Prize and Ray Kurzweill, famous author and inventor.

- Jim is working with a very successful venture capitalist in Silicon Valley in developing a major biochar start-up in the Pacific Northwest.

- Jim is an Advisor to the Water Innovations Alliance, a leading water technology association based in New York City, for strategic alliances and new member outreach.

- Jim was on the Steering Committee for Silicon Valley for "Cleantech for Obama" during the 2008 U.S. Presidential campaign. He participates in the Washington, DC and U.S. activities of the Clean Economy Network, (CEN), the follow-up organization to Cleantech for Obama after the '08 election. In the past, Jim attended receptions at the 2008, 2004 and 2000 Democratic Conventions. He works with Senators, Congressmen and their staffers on Capitol Hill to develop technology and innovation initiatives.

- Jim also founded the NanoScience Exchange, which was started in 2002. Jim worked with leaders in nanotechnology science and business to address key issues facing the commercialization and scale-up of nanotech products.

- Jim also consulted for the following start-ups:
- a leading nano lithium-ion battery company, based in Silicon Valley, assisting in strategic relationships and key hires as the company grew, and tracking industry developments that affect the company's technology leadership.
- for Apollo Diamond, a leader in producing flawless single-crystal diamond for gems and semiconductors - developing key strategic partnerships with leading corporations.
- for a breakthrough coal and biomass fuel cell company - putting together strategic alliances.
- for a roll-up of disruptive materials based in London and backed by Middle Eastern investors - with deal flow for investment and acquisition.
- for Natural Nano, a publicly traded nano-materials company using pleximers to develop breakthrough new solutions in industrial materials - putting together key strategic relationships, recruiting a Nobel Laureate as an advisor, and increasing the visibility of the company in major media.
- for Direct Methanol Fuel Cell Corporation, a subsidiary of Viaspace, in establishing strategic alliances.
- for Optiva, a leading nano-materials company in 2002 - 2003, helping the company to close a substantial part of a $30 million venture investment.
- Jim consulted for NOST - Netherlands Office of Science and Technology in 2007 - for two Dutch companies developing markets in the U.S.
- Jim worked with the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, DC to build relationships between several leading nanotechnology companies and a strategic pilot program in EPA. He has also put together industry think-tank events on nanotechnology commercialization in 2007 and 2004.
- Jim has been a first and second round judge for 2007, 2008 and 2009 World Bank Development Gateway Awards in Washington, DC. He participated in the United Nations Tech Tuesday events on scale-up of technology for developing countries held in 2003 and 2004. He has actively participated in the San Jose Tech Museum's Tech Awards for developing countries over the last seven years.

Jim has spoken at numerous events and conferences on "Realities of Start-up Commercialization" around the world including at the following events:
- at General Electric's R&D Facility in Shanghai, China.
- at the Micro-Nano Forum in Hainan, China.
- at the GreenScience Exchange think-tank session held in Beijing, China, 4/08.
- at the NanoBio Forum in New Delhi, India
- at the "Cleantech Demonstrations at the Upcoming 2010 Shanghai World Expo" in San Francisco, CA - put on by the GreenScience Exchange and KL Gates Feb, '10.
- at the "US-China Cleantech Reception" in San Francisco, CA - put on by the GreenScience Exchange and KL Gates July, '09.
- at the Clean Tech Institute in San Jose, CA.
- at the NanoColloquium in Austin, TX
- at the Emerging Markets Forum in Alexandria VA.

Jim grew up in Washington, DC, where his father worked for the US. State Department. He graduated from George Washington University.