Breakthrough Energy

Breakthrough Energy is an impact investment firm based in Kirkland, Washington, established in 2016. The firm focuses on making minority investments in seed-stage, early-stage, and later-stage companies within the environmental services and cleantech sectors. Guided by scientific and technological expertise, Breakthrough Energy aims to support the development of innovative solutions that provide reliable and affordable power while addressing climate change. The firm is committed to investing patiently in transformative technologies that enhance the way people live, eat, travel, and build, ensuring that these advancements do not contribute to global warming.

Tara Bansal

Investment Principal and Company Builder, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Jim Cabot

Managing Director, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Priscilla Chan MD

Co-Founder, Breakthrough Energy Coalition

Quinn Cornelius

Senior Director, Strategic Investments

Christian Garcia

Managing Director and Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

William Gates Jr.

Co-Founder, Breakthrough Energy Coalition and Investor

Christina Karapataki

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Sila Kiliccote

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Allegra Kowalewski-Ferreira

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Phil Larochell

Principal

Phil Larochelle Ph.D

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Jack Ma

Founder and Investor

Brian Mayers Ph.D

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Christopher Poirier

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Juilia Reinaud

Senior Director

Cooper Rinzler Ph.D

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Christopher Rivest

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Eric Toone

Executive Managing Director

Libby Wayman

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Stefan Zlatev

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Julia Reinaud Ph.D

Senior Director, Europe

Past deals in Electric Grid

Mangrove Lithium

Venture Round in 2025
Mangrove Lithium, based in Vancouver, has developed a modular and scalable refining technology for the efficient production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and carbonate from a variety of input streams. This innovative platform allows for the direct conversion of lithium chloride and lithium sulfate into high-quality lithium products. The technology can be adapted to different capacities and is designed to be co-located with upstream lithium producers, as well as cathode and cell manufacturers. Additionally, Mangrove’s platform is being commercialized for the conversion of waste brines into valuable chemicals and desalinated water, contributing to more sustainable practices in the lithium supply chain.

ZeroAvia

Series C in 2024
ZeroAvia, Inc. is a company focused on developing zero-emission aircraft for commercial short-haul flights. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Hollister, California, with an office in Cranfield, United Kingdom, ZeroAvia specializes in hydrogen-electric propulsion systems. These systems are designed to eliminate aviation emissions while ensuring operational efficiency. The company aims to provide scalable technologies that can retrofit existing aircraft, thereby facilitating a transition to sustainable aviation. By collaborating with various stakeholders, ZeroAvia seeks to revolutionize the aviation industry through cleaner and more efficient flight options. Their powertrain utilizes a hydrogen fuel-cell system in limited-seat fixed-wing aircraft, which not only reduces emissions but also allows for the use of existing infrastructure, thus simplifying regulatory challenges and lowering both fuel and maintenance costs for aviation companies.

TS Conductor

Venture Round in 2024
TS Conductor focuses on high-performance conductors designed for modern power grids, utilizing innovative transmission technology that features a carbon-fiber-composite core instead of traditional steel. This advancement results in conductors that are both lighter and stronger, enabling them to carry greater electrical currents with reduced energy loss and enhanced efficiency. The company manufactures covered conductors with an aluminum encapsulation, which safeguards the composite core from damage and corrosion. This design not only increases the capacity and reliability of electricity transmission and distribution but also promotes sustainability within the energy sector in a cost-effective manner.

Malta

Venture Round in 2023
Malta is a provider of industrial-grade, grid-scale energy storage solutions. The Malta system collects and stores inexpensive and abundant renewable and fossil energy, and dispatches it as needed to the grid to enable the affordable and reliable delivery of electricity on demand. Incubated at X, the Moonshot Factory (formerly Google [x]), and funded by leading venture capital and commercial power industry companies

ZeroAvia

Series C in 2023
ZeroAvia, Inc. is a company focused on developing zero-emission aircraft for commercial short-haul flights. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Hollister, California, with an office in Cranfield, United Kingdom, ZeroAvia specializes in hydrogen-electric propulsion systems. These systems are designed to eliminate aviation emissions while ensuring operational efficiency. The company aims to provide scalable technologies that can retrofit existing aircraft, thereby facilitating a transition to sustainable aviation. By collaborating with various stakeholders, ZeroAvia seeks to revolutionize the aviation industry through cleaner and more efficient flight options. Their powertrain utilizes a hydrogen fuel-cell system in limited-seat fixed-wing aircraft, which not only reduces emissions but also allows for the use of existing infrastructure, thus simplifying regulatory challenges and lowering both fuel and maintenance costs for aviation companies.

Xcel Energy

Grant in 2023
Xcel Energy is an electric and natural gas utility company based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, founded in 1909. It serves approximately 3.8 million electric customers and 2.2 million natural gas customers across eight states. The company is involved in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity, utilizing a diverse mix of energy sources including coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydro, solar, biomass, oil, and wind. Xcel Energy is recognized as one of the largest suppliers of renewable energy in the United States, with over half of its electricity sales derived from carbon-free sources. Its operations are organized into five segments: electricity, natural gas, renewable energy, transmission, and innovation, which also includes the development and leasing of natural gas pipelines and related facilities.

Fervo Energy

Series C in 2022
Fervo Energy, founded in 2017 and based in San Francisco, California, specializes in the development and commercialization of next-generation geothermal power technology. The company focuses on owning, developing, and operating geothermal assets to generate clean, carbon-free energy in new locations. By leveraging innovations in geoscience, Fervo Energy aims to accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future, positioning itself as a key player in the evolution of the electric grid. Its proprietary technology serves as a dispatchable foundation for achieving a fully clean energy system, enabling clients to enhance productivity and scalability in energy production.

Mangrove Lithium

Series B in 2022
Mangrove Lithium, based in Vancouver, has developed a modular and scalable refining technology for the efficient production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and carbonate from a variety of input streams. This innovative platform allows for the direct conversion of lithium chloride and lithium sulfate into high-quality lithium products. The technology can be adapted to different capacities and is designed to be co-located with upstream lithium producers, as well as cathode and cell manufacturers. Additionally, Mangrove’s platform is being commercialized for the conversion of waste brines into valuable chemicals and desalinated water, contributing to more sustainable practices in the lithium supply chain.

ZeroAvia

Series B in 2021
ZeroAvia, Inc. is a company focused on developing zero-emission aircraft for commercial short-haul flights. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Hollister, California, with an office in Cranfield, United Kingdom, ZeroAvia specializes in hydrogen-electric propulsion systems. These systems are designed to eliminate aviation emissions while ensuring operational efficiency. The company aims to provide scalable technologies that can retrofit existing aircraft, thereby facilitating a transition to sustainable aviation. By collaborating with various stakeholders, ZeroAvia seeks to revolutionize the aviation industry through cleaner and more efficient flight options. Their powertrain utilizes a hydrogen fuel-cell system in limited-seat fixed-wing aircraft, which not only reduces emissions but also allows for the use of existing infrastructure, thus simplifying regulatory challenges and lowering both fuel and maintenance costs for aviation companies.

Mangrove Lithium

Series A in 2021
Mangrove Lithium, based in Vancouver, has developed a modular and scalable refining technology for the efficient production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and carbonate from a variety of input streams. This innovative platform allows for the direct conversion of lithium chloride and lithium sulfate into high-quality lithium products. The technology can be adapted to different capacities and is designed to be co-located with upstream lithium producers, as well as cathode and cell manufacturers. Additionally, Mangrove’s platform is being commercialized for the conversion of waste brines into valuable chemicals and desalinated water, contributing to more sustainable practices in the lithium supply chain.

TS Conductor

Series A in 2021
TS Conductor focuses on high-performance conductors designed for modern power grids, utilizing innovative transmission technology that features a carbon-fiber-composite core instead of traditional steel. This advancement results in conductors that are both lighter and stronger, enabling them to carry greater electrical currents with reduced energy loss and enhanced efficiency. The company manufactures covered conductors with an aluminum encapsulation, which safeguards the composite core from damage and corrosion. This design not only increases the capacity and reliability of electricity transmission and distribution but also promotes sustainability within the energy sector in a cost-effective manner.

ZeroAvia

Venture Round in 2021
ZeroAvia, Inc. is a company focused on developing zero-emission aircraft for commercial short-haul flights. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Hollister, California, with an office in Cranfield, United Kingdom, ZeroAvia specializes in hydrogen-electric propulsion systems. These systems are designed to eliminate aviation emissions while ensuring operational efficiency. The company aims to provide scalable technologies that can retrofit existing aircraft, thereby facilitating a transition to sustainable aviation. By collaborating with various stakeholders, ZeroAvia seeks to revolutionize the aviation industry through cleaner and more efficient flight options. Their powertrain utilizes a hydrogen fuel-cell system in limited-seat fixed-wing aircraft, which not only reduces emissions but also allows for the use of existing infrastructure, thus simplifying regulatory challenges and lowering both fuel and maintenance costs for aviation companies.

WeaveGrid

Series A in 2021
WeaveGrid is a company that focuses on facilitating the integration of electric vehicles (EV) with the electrical grid in collaboration with utilities and EV owners. Its software solution employs machine learning, optimization, and predictive analytics to address various challenges associated with EV-grid integration. By doing so, WeaveGrid enhances the ability of utilities to support the expansion of electric vehicles and the adoption of renewable energy resources. This approach not only promotes rapid decarbonization in the transportation and power sectors but also helps utility customers reduce their bills.

ZeroAvia

Series A in 2021
ZeroAvia, Inc. is a company focused on developing zero-emission aircraft for commercial short-haul flights. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Hollister, California, with an office in Cranfield, United Kingdom, ZeroAvia specializes in hydrogen-electric propulsion systems. These systems are designed to eliminate aviation emissions while ensuring operational efficiency. The company aims to provide scalable technologies that can retrofit existing aircraft, thereby facilitating a transition to sustainable aviation. By collaborating with various stakeholders, ZeroAvia seeks to revolutionize the aviation industry through cleaner and more efficient flight options. Their powertrain utilizes a hydrogen fuel-cell system in limited-seat fixed-wing aircraft, which not only reduces emissions but also allows for the use of existing infrastructure, thus simplifying regulatory challenges and lowering both fuel and maintenance costs for aviation companies.

Malta

Series B in 2021
Malta is a provider of industrial-grade, grid-scale energy storage solutions. The Malta system collects and stores inexpensive and abundant renewable and fossil energy, and dispatches it as needed to the grid to enable the affordable and reliable delivery of electricity on demand. Incubated at X, the Moonshot Factory (formerly Google [x]), and funded by leading venture capital and commercial power industry companies

ZeroAvia

Series A in 2020
ZeroAvia, Inc. is a company focused on developing zero-emission aircraft for commercial short-haul flights. Established in 2017 and headquartered in Hollister, California, with an office in Cranfield, United Kingdom, ZeroAvia specializes in hydrogen-electric propulsion systems. These systems are designed to eliminate aviation emissions while ensuring operational efficiency. The company aims to provide scalable technologies that can retrofit existing aircraft, thereby facilitating a transition to sustainable aviation. By collaborating with various stakeholders, ZeroAvia seeks to revolutionize the aviation industry through cleaner and more efficient flight options. Their powertrain utilizes a hydrogen fuel-cell system in limited-seat fixed-wing aircraft, which not only reduces emissions but also allows for the use of existing infrastructure, thus simplifying regulatory challenges and lowering both fuel and maintenance costs for aviation companies.

Malta

Series A in 2018
Malta is a provider of industrial-grade, grid-scale energy storage solutions. The Malta system collects and stores inexpensive and abundant renewable and fossil energy, and dispatches it as needed to the grid to enable the affordable and reliable delivery of electricity on demand. Incubated at X, the Moonshot Factory (formerly Google [x]), and funded by leading venture capital and commercial power industry companies
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