Stories by Tracy Elsen

This piece originally appeared on the New Ventures website. It was written with New Ventures intern Kevin Short.

The 2011 New Ventures China Investor Forum showcased the potential of environmental entrepreneurship on a larger scale than any previous forum in the program’s eight years of operations in China.

Ready to scale up, six environmental entrepreneurs from around the world make their case to investors in New York City.

With a new technique for reusing steam, a Chinese company helps industry save water and conserve energy.

Houses crudely constructed from sheets of cardboard and aluminum start to appear just south of the Mexico-United States border and stretch across the Mexican landscape. These homes, which are often overcrowded, unstable and made of dangerous materials, provide stark visual evidence of Mexico’s severe housing shortage.

A Mexican company uses microbes to reduce chemicals used in agriculture and water treatment.

A company selling refurbished photocopiers creates jobs while reducing electronic waste.

A renewable energy company provides clean electricity and job opportunities to India’s rural poor.

A company sourcing Brazil nuts creates both environmental benefits and solid profits.