‘Clean’ Generation

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Travis Putnam comes from a family that deals in steel. His grandfather founded Carson-based Crest Steel in the early 1960s and his father runs the company today.

But Putnam has decided to invest in newer technology with clean tech venture capital firm Navitas Capital. He said his background in the steel industry was an inspiration.

“It opened my eyes to the opportunity of developing technology in an industry that hasn’t changed in a long time,” he said.

Putnam, who had worked for Crest for a time as a consultant, founded Navitas in 2008 with partner Jim Pettit.

The Brentwood firm, which also has an office in Berkeley, only invests in companies that make the building sector more energy-efficient.

“We’re looking for businesses with a significant process or technology innovation that create a better, faster, cheaper solution,” Pettit said.

Navitas typically invests between $500,000 and $3 million per company.

In the last two years, Putnam and Pettit have invested in five clean tech companies, including Serious Materials, a Sunnyvale company that manufactures eco-friendly building materials, and Redwood City energy-efficient lighting company Lunera Lighting.

So does Putnam’s clean tech focus put him at odds with the family business?

“My dad’s excited about it,” Putnam said. “He sees a lot of opportunity for his own business in clean tech. A lot of the steel they’re selling is going into the solar sector.”

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