Cleantech Rebrands as ‘Smart City’ to Attract Venture Dollars

After years as a venture capital pariah, cleantech startups are rebranding themselves to capitalize on the quest to build a smart city.

Cleantech companies, whose missions are broadly linked to environmental improvement, are benefiting as municipalities around the world embrace smart cities—where internet-connected devices collect data that can be used to address challenges from energy efficiency to traffic, crime and public health.