Breakthrough Energy

Breakthrough Energy, established in 2016 and headquartered in Kirkland, Washington, is an impact investment firm focused on combating climate change. It invests patiently over a 20-year period in cleantech and energy sectors, supporting companies from seed to commercialization stages. The firm's portfolio spans electricity generation and storage, transportation, industrial systems, agriculture, and energy efficiency, aiming to make power reliable, affordable, and climate-friendly. Breakthrough Energy Ventures, its investment arm, manages funds in the U.S. and Europe, with a goal to back 40 to 50 companies per fund.

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

Christian Garcia

Managing Director and Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Bill Gates

Founder

Mark Hartney Ph.D

Principal, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

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

Brian Mayers Ph.D

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Jeff Momplaisir

Director of Portfolio Analytics, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Christopher Poirier

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Juilia Reinaud

Senior Director

Cooper Rinzler

Investor

Christopher Rivest

Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Kyle Teamey

investor

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 Natural Resources

Mantle8

Seed Round in 2025
Mantle8 is a pioneering exploration company specializing in natural hydrogen. It leverages proprietary geological models and imaging technologies to precisely locate and evaluate natural hydrogen sources, offering unparalleled accuracy in the industry.

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.

KoBold Metals

Series C in 2024
KoBold Metals operates as an AI-powered mineral exploration company focused on discovering materials essential for the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors. The company utilizes advanced software that aggregates and structures extensive scientific datasets, including geochemical, geophysical, and geological information. By applying various analytical techniques such as ensemble machine learning and computer vision, KoBold predicts subsurface compositions in a statistically valid manner. This innovative approach enhances the exploration efficiency for mineral resources, particularly cobalt, which is crucial for the electric vehicle industry. By merging ore-deposit science with big data and scientific computing, KoBold Metals aims to identify new sources of cobalt and support the sustainable supply chain for emerging technologies.

KoBold Metals

Series B in 2023
KoBold Metals operates as an AI-powered mineral exploration company focused on discovering materials essential for the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors. The company utilizes advanced software that aggregates and structures extensive scientific datasets, including geochemical, geophysical, and geological information. By applying various analytical techniques such as ensemble machine learning and computer vision, KoBold predicts subsurface compositions in a statistically valid manner. This innovative approach enhances the exploration efficiency for mineral resources, particularly cobalt, which is crucial for the electric vehicle industry. By merging ore-deposit science with big data and scientific computing, KoBold Metals aims to identify new sources of cobalt and support the sustainable supply chain for emerging technologies.

Kodama Systems

Seed Round in 2022
Kodama Systems specializes in developing technology aimed at restoring forests and enhancing forest management practices. The company's innovative solutions are designed to streamline in-field operations and increase the resilience of forests, ultimately contributing to carbon sequestration. By employing a comprehensive approach, Kodama Systems improves productivity in forest thinning and facilitates greater access to labor. Their technology provides valuable feedback and insights through simulations, on-equipment functionality, teleoperation, and integration testing. This enables industries such as construction and mining to effectively tackle the climate challenges posed by wildfires and carbon emissions.

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.

Heirloom

Series A in 2022
Heirloom specializes in direct air capture technology aimed at enhancing the natural absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The company's innovative system accelerates the ability of limestone to capture CO2, allowing for its permanent storage underground. By operating on renewable energy, Heirloom's technology promotes carbon capture and utilization at a large scale, with the goal of removing significant amounts of atmospheric CO2. This approach not only minimizes secondary impacts but also supports clients in restoring the atmosphere through natural processes.

KoBold Metals

Series B in 2022
KoBold Metals operates as an AI-powered mineral exploration company focused on discovering materials essential for the electric vehicle and renewable energy sectors. The company utilizes advanced software that aggregates and structures extensive scientific datasets, including geochemical, geophysical, and geological information. By applying various analytical techniques such as ensemble machine learning and computer vision, KoBold predicts subsurface compositions in a statistically valid manner. This innovative approach enhances the exploration efficiency for mineral resources, particularly cobalt, which is crucial for the electric vehicle industry. By merging ore-deposit science with big data and scientific computing, KoBold Metals aims to identify new sources of cobalt and support the sustainable supply chain for emerging technologies.

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.

Heirloom

Pre Seed Round in 2021
Heirloom specializes in direct air capture technology aimed at enhancing the natural absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The company's innovative system accelerates the ability of limestone to capture CO2, allowing for its permanent storage underground. By operating on renewable energy, Heirloom's technology promotes carbon capture and utilization at a large scale, with the goal of removing significant amounts of atmospheric CO2. This approach not only minimizes secondary impacts but also supports clients in restoring the atmosphere through natural processes.

Pachama

Seed Round in 2020
Pachama is a company that utilizes artificial intelligence and satellite technology to facilitate investments in natural climate solutions. Its platform combines machine learning, satellite imaging, drones, and lidar technologies to monitor and verify carbon capture by forests. By providing continuous insights into forest health, carbon sequestration, wildlife protection, and community benefits, Pachama enables companies to identify high-quality conservation projects and track their environmental impact over time. Additionally, the company supports land stewards in developing carbon projects, thereby helping them secure funding while advancing reforestation and conservation efforts. This approach not only aids businesses in offsetting their carbon emissions but also contributes to the protection and restoration of vital forest ecosystems.
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