Bay Area · Climate Finance
We connect small climate-tech businesses with the working capital they need to grow — and help lenders participate confidently in the clean energy economy.
Learn MoreOur Mission
As consultants focused on the small business space and the rapidly growing Climate Tech industry, our intent is to bridge the gap between climate-driven businesses seeking working capital and banks and other financiers interested in participating in the growing clean tech sector, and in support of business generally.
We are mission driven — committed to improving business access to the capital necessary for them to grow and prosper in challenging areas, and to scale ambitious technologies that can meaningfully improve quality of life for all. The Climate Tech sector is crucial for the future prosperity of our communities and our planet.
Featured Program
California IBank & Bay Area Air District
We have worked with the California IBank loan guarantee program for many years. It is a powerful tool that assists interested lenders by reducing their lending risk — empowering climate entrepreneurs to secure the capital critical for their growth and impact.
We led the unique partnership between the California IBank and the Bay Area Air District from its inception — opening new avenues of access to capital for Climate Tech businesses to improve community quality of life and to create sustainable jobs.
Climate Tech Finance · Our Story
The Climate Tech Finance Team bridges the proverbial financing “Valley of Death” in part by utilizing the state loan guarantee program to de-risk a bank lender’s risk level to manageable proportions. The guarantee program has been utilized independently by the Climate Tech Team Principals hundreds of times since 1988 to assist businesses requiring both this risk mitigation tool and the counsel to present their business in the most positive manner, identifying their strengths and weaknesses in a commercially acceptable fashion. The objective is to secure adequate “friendly” non-dilutive capital from commercial banks.
Our Impact
The Climate Tech Finance Team Principals have built a cadre of 20 commercial banks in California and nationally which are participating in the financing of our selected Climate Tech Firms.
The Team Principals have also developed a loan portfolio of $60 million over 29 early stage and startup borrowers while realizing a loss of only $600,000 in one borrower. In addition, the Team has developed a significant pipeline of Climate Tech and other projects both statewide and nationally requiring our specialized and focused financing approach. The technologies involved range from solar to wind, biomass, energy storage, microgrids and other impactful projects.
Future
The operating and financing results realized in this portfolio are very impressive and the loss record has been extraordinary. The success of the financing model utilized by the CTF Team is based on the years of financing and operational experience of the Firm’s Principals, and the assembly of the cadre of commercial banks involved is also a result of the relationships developed over their years of experience. A key element is to know the lenders and their institutional practices, their credit and business cultures, and their strategic business objectives.
It is our intent to expand both our Climate Tech Finance and our general commercial lending business in California and nationally as well. We invite all interested parties to contact us at our Principals’ email addresses shown below.
Team
Principal · Founder, Climate Tech Finance
Founder of Climate Tech Finance firm which has led the building, since inception, of a loan portfolio of $60 million to 29 early stage and startup Climate Technology firms. George is also an experienced private equity investor, former CEO of a startup commercial bank, and consultant to numerous for-profit and non-profit businesses.
Principal · Co-Founder, Meridian Commercial Finance Consultants
John Meredith is co-founder of Meridian Commercial Finance Consultants LLC, focused on assisting commercial banks and leasing companies with renewable energy project financing. In addition, MCFC also works with renewable energy investors to structure bankable financings which are presented to funding sources and tax equity investors.
What We Do
We guide climate-tech businesses through the landscape of grants, loan guarantees, and financing programs — building the strongest possible case for capital approval.
We work alongside banks and financiers to structure transactions that participate in the clean tech sector with confidence, leveraging guarantee programs to mitigate risk.
From the California IBank to the National CDFI Community and the Commercial Banking Community, we have deep working knowledge of the programs available — and the relationships to move things forward.
The Principals
Reach out directly to John or George to discuss how MCD Consulting can help your climate-tech business secure the financing it needs to grow.