Trond Unneland, managing executive of Chevron's venture capital group, thinks he might have the best job in the company. He leads a team that invests in startup companies with innovative technologies that meet Chevron's needs in information technology, materials science, oil and gas technology, communications, renewable energy, and energy efficiency.
The group's portfolio has approximately 30 companies, and about one-third are in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Since the group formed in 1999, it has transferred technologies from its portfolio companies into Chevron more than 100 times.