Mark Austin

Mark Austin creates impact to accelerate growth, boost profitability and realize value for cleantech, renewable energy and other technology-based companies. Focusing on core drivers of strategy, marketing, intellectual property, business planning, finance and technology commercialization, he helps ventures and growth companies get traction, build momentum and secure sustainable competitive advantage.

Mr. Austin is a seasoned executive, serial entrepreneur and venture development consultant with over 25 years of experience. For the last 15 years, as Managing Director of Chandler Reed LLC, he has provided insight with implementation to the CEOs, Boards and senior management of his clients. With deep cross-functional expertise, and breadth of industry experience, he combines the talents of a creative strategic thinker and a hands-on executive to deliver practical plans and follow-through.

His work in the cleantech and renewable energy sector includes fuel cells, solar, energy efficiency, green building, composites/advanced materials, biomass, biofuels, waste to energy, gasification, water, hazardous waste detoxification, and sustainability. Clients range from start-ups and VC-funded ventures, to public and private growth companies, investment banks, divisions of global multinationals, and UN agencies (such as the Sustainable Energy and Environment Division – SEED, of UNDP).

As a market developer, Mr. Austin has conducted market research in the US and Japan; identified new product opportunities; formed strategic alliances; and provided thought leadership at numerous conferences. Business plans and prospectuses he built for clients have been used to raise over $300 million in equity capital. As an intellectual property strategist, technologist and innovator, he has licensed technologies (in and out); grown IP portfolios; managed Contract Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) with universities and government labs; been granted patents in 36 countries; and won international product awards. International assignments have taken him to China, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. Mr. Austin has a BA degree from Williams College and did graduate work at the New School for Social Research.