Prelude Ventures

Prelude Ventures is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm established in 2013, dedicated to investing in early-stage startups that aim to address climate change. The firm focuses on sectors such as advanced energy, food and agriculture, transportation, logistics, advanced materials, manufacturing, and advanced computing. By supporting innovative businesses in these areas, Prelude Ventures seeks to foster the development of the next generation of companies that can significantly impact environmental sustainability and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Katie Clasen

Principal

Alexandra Harbour

Principal

Bryan Shill

Principal

Nathaniel Simons

Co-Founder

Past deals in Sustainability

Persefoni

Series C in 2025
Persefoni AI Inc., established in 2020 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-based platform for carbon footprint accounting and management. The company's core product, Persefoni, is a SaaS-based platform that measures, analyzes, plans, forecasts, and reports organizational and investment portfolio carbon footprints. It provides actionable insights, enabling businesses to manage carbon transactions and inventory with the same rigor as financial transactions. Persefoni caters to a wide range of stakeholders, including institutional investors, sustainability teams, CFOs, and business unit leaders, offering tools for carbon accounting, planning, forecasting, and sustainability reporting. The platform serves as a single source of carbon truth, automating compliance and sustainability reporting, and facilitating transparency and trust among enterprises, financial institutions, shareholders, and institutional investors.

Augmenta

Seed Round in 2025
Augmenta is motivated by the belief that generative methods enable a revolution in the way people function and approach. They provide the construction industry with the ability to design buildings more efficiently and at a lower cost, enabling a future of sustainable buildings, cities, and infrastructure. Their designs are NEC and customer specification compliant, use real parts, are fully constructible and optimized for prefabrication.

Vaulted Deep

Series A in 2024
Vaulted Deep specializes in permanent carbon removal through innovative technology solutions that enhance both environmental and community health. As a spin-off of Advantek Waste Management Services, the company focuses on biomass carbon removal and the geologic sequestration of organic wastes. Utilizing patented geologic slurry injection technology, Vaulted Deep aims to provide clients with cost-effective, large-scale carbon dioxide removal options, addressing the urgent need for sustainable waste management and climate action.

LevelTen Energy

Series D in 2024
LevelTen Energy, Inc. is a Seattle-based company founded in 2016 that operates a renewable energy transaction marketplace. This platform serves to connect corporate and industrial power buyers with power purchase agreements (PPAs) from utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. By facilitating access to a wide range of renewable energy options, LevelTen Energy enables clients to secure fixed-price renewable energy solutions and benefit economically from large-scale projects. The company's technology-driven marketplace enhances the efficiency of transactions, allowing buyers, advisors, and sellers to achieve better deals in a streamlined manner. Through its services, LevelTen Energy plays a significant role in advancing the adoption of renewable energy in the corporate sector.

Windfall Bio

Series A in 2024
Windfall Bio is a company focused on developing a sustainable technology that captures and transforms methane emissions into organic fertilizer, addressing significant environmental issues associated with methane and synthetic fertilizers. Founded in 2022 and based in San Mateo, California, Windfall Bio utilizes methane-eating microbes to convert methane from various sources, including agriculture, oil and gas, and waste management, into valuable soil nutrients. This innovative solution not only helps industries reduce their methane footprint but also enhances operational efficiency and profitability, benefiting the planet and consumers alike. The company is backed by prominent venture capital firms, demonstrating strong investor confidence in its mission to tackle climate change through nature-based agricultural technology.

Persefoni

Series C in 2023
Persefoni AI Inc., established in 2020 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-based platform for carbon footprint accounting and management. The company's core product, Persefoni, is a SaaS-based platform that measures, analyzes, plans, forecasts, and reports organizational and investment portfolio carbon footprints. It provides actionable insights, enabling businesses to manage carbon transactions and inventory with the same rigor as financial transactions. Persefoni caters to a wide range of stakeholders, including institutional investors, sustainability teams, CFOs, and business unit leaders, offering tools for carbon accounting, planning, forecasting, and sustainability reporting. The platform serves as a single source of carbon truth, automating compliance and sustainability reporting, and facilitating transparency and trust among enterprises, financial institutions, shareholders, and institutional investors.

Trove

Series E in 2023
Trove is a technology company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Brisbane, California. It operates two distinct businesses: a SaaS platform that uses AI to analyze teams' email connections, providing insights to help build and leverage professional networks; and a leading platform for branded resale and trade-in, enabling brands to launch, manage, and scale their resale programs efficiently. The latter offers advanced tools for in-store and digital trade-ins, returns processing, inventory management, resale site building, and analytics, serving prominent brands like Canada Goose, Carhartt, and Patagonia. Trove's resale platform aims to drive sustainability in retail by promoting a circular economy.

Ebb Carbon

Series A in 2023
Ebb Carbon specializes in carbon removal technology that focuses on capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide through a reverse electrochemical ocean deacidification process. By utilizing low-carbon electricity, the company pumps acid out of the ocean, enhancing its natural ability to safely store carbon dioxide while simultaneously reducing ocean acidity. This innovative approach aims to provide a safe, scalable, and cost-effective solution for removing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Ebb Carbon's method represents a promising advancement in addressing climate change and improving ocean health.

Rumin8

Seed Round in 2023
Rumin8 is focused on addressing methane emissions from livestock, a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The company has developed a technology that reduces methane emissions from cattle by up to 95% by transforming natural anti-methane compounds found in plants into dietary supplements for livestock. This innovation not only decreases emissions but also enhances the efficiency of animal digestion and provides more energy for growth. Rumin8 aims to decarbonize millions of cattle worldwide, thereby advancing the global food system towards a more sustainable and climate-friendly future.

Mill

Venture Round in 2023
Mill is a company focused on addressing food waste, a significant environmental challenge. It offers innovative kitchen bins that dry, shrink, and eliminate odors from leftover food, transforming waste into a compost-like material. These digitally connected bins can be rented, allowing users to efficiently manage their kitchen waste overnight. Additionally, Mill facilitates the shipping of the processed material to facilities that convert it into animal feed, thereby promoting a sustainable waste management system. Through its products and services, Mill aims to contribute to a healthier environment by providing practical solutions for reducing food waste at home.

Arable

Series C in 2022
Arable Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device equipped with advanced sensors for in-field crop monitoring. This technology allows farmers to digitize and optimize their agricultural decisions by providing critical data about the impact of weather and other factors on crop yield, quality, and harvest timing. Arable's integrated system combines unique spectral and thermal sensors with agronomic modeling and software tools, enabling users to monitor crop development and identify stressors such as water or nutrient deficiencies. The platform serves a diverse clientele, including farmers, agronomists, researchers, food processors, and agricultural enterprises, facilitating real-time insights and predictive analytics that enhance productivity and sustainability. Established in 2014, Arable is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Princeton, New Jersey. The company has received various accolades, highlighting its innovation in agricultural technology.

Rumin8

Seed Round in 2022
Rumin8 is focused on addressing methane emissions from livestock, a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for 3.7% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The company has developed a technology that reduces methane emissions from cattle by up to 95% by transforming natural anti-methane compounds found in plants into dietary supplements for livestock. This innovation not only decreases emissions but also enhances the efficiency of animal digestion and provides more energy for growth. Rumin8 aims to decarbonize millions of cattle worldwide, thereby advancing the global food system towards a more sustainable and climate-friendly future.

Mori

Series B in 2022
Mori, formerly known as Overlook Research, is a company that develops a natural biopolymer coating designed to extend the shelf life of perishable foods. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Mori's innovative coating is made from proteins extracted from natural silk using salt and water. This protective layer helps slow the spoiling process of various food items, including fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood, thereby reducing food waste. By focusing on sustainable and economical solutions, Mori aims to transform the food supply and enhance the efficiency of the food, agriculture, and packaging industries.

Living Carbon

Series A in 2022
Living Carbon is a biotechnology company founded in 2019 and based in San Francisco, California. The company aims to combat climate change by developing genetically engineered trees that enhance carbon dioxide capture and storage. By leveraging advanced biotechnology, Living Carbon focuses on improving photosynthesis, inhibiting photorespiration, and increasing growth rates while reducing the time required for trees to mature. In addition to its carbon capture initiatives, the company produces durable wood suitable for building and manufacturing applications. Living Carbon operates as a public benefit corporation, committed to restoring balance to the planet's metabolic processes through innovative solutions that harness the natural capabilities of plants.

Verdox

Venture Round in 2022
Verdox is dedicated to reversing climate change through the development and deployment of advanced technology. The company’s proprietary electro-swing process, developed at MIT, enables carbon dioxide and other acid gases to be captured with up to 80% less energy and 70% less cost than conventional approaches.

Mill

Series B in 2022
Mill is a company focused on addressing food waste, a significant environmental challenge. It offers innovative kitchen bins that dry, shrink, and eliminate odors from leftover food, transforming waste into a compost-like material. These digitally connected bins can be rented, allowing users to efficiently manage their kitchen waste overnight. Additionally, Mill facilitates the shipping of the processed material to facilities that convert it into animal feed, thereby promoting a sustainable waste management system. Through its products and services, Mill aims to contribute to a healthier environment by providing practical solutions for reducing food waste at home.

Persefoni

Series B in 2021
Persefoni AI Inc., established in 2020 and headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, specializes in developing an artificial intelligence-based platform for carbon footprint accounting and management. The company's core product, Persefoni, is a SaaS-based platform that measures, analyzes, plans, forecasts, and reports organizational and investment portfolio carbon footprints. It provides actionable insights, enabling businesses to manage carbon transactions and inventory with the same rigor as financial transactions. Persefoni caters to a wide range of stakeholders, including institutional investors, sustainability teams, CFOs, and business unit leaders, offering tools for carbon accounting, planning, forecasting, and sustainability reporting. The platform serves as a single source of carbon truth, automating compliance and sustainability reporting, and facilitating transparency and trust among enterprises, financial institutions, shareholders, and institutional investors.

LevelTen Energy

Series C in 2021
LevelTen Energy, Inc. is a Seattle-based company founded in 2016 that operates a renewable energy transaction marketplace. This platform serves to connect corporate and industrial power buyers with power purchase agreements (PPAs) from utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. By facilitating access to a wide range of renewable energy options, LevelTen Energy enables clients to secure fixed-price renewable energy solutions and benefit economically from large-scale projects. The company's technology-driven marketplace enhances the efficiency of transactions, allowing buyers, advisors, and sellers to achieve better deals in a streamlined manner. Through its services, LevelTen Energy plays a significant role in advancing the adoption of renewable energy in the corporate sector.

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.

Mori

Series B in 2021
Mori, formerly known as Overlook Research, is a company that develops a natural biopolymer coating designed to extend the shelf life of perishable foods. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Mori's innovative coating is made from proteins extracted from natural silk using salt and water. This protective layer helps slow the spoiling process of various food items, including fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood, thereby reducing food waste. By focusing on sustainable and economical solutions, Mori aims to transform the food supply and enhance the efficiency of the food, agriculture, and packaging industries.

Arable

Series B in 2020
Arable Labs, Inc. specializes in developing a solar-powered Internet of Things (IoT) device equipped with advanced sensors for in-field crop monitoring. This technology allows farmers to digitize and optimize their agricultural decisions by providing critical data about the impact of weather and other factors on crop yield, quality, and harvest timing. Arable's integrated system combines unique spectral and thermal sensors with agronomic modeling and software tools, enabling users to monitor crop development and identify stressors such as water or nutrient deficiencies. The platform serves a diverse clientele, including farmers, agronomists, researchers, food processors, and agricultural enterprises, facilitating real-time insights and predictive analytics that enhance productivity and sustainability. Established in 2014, Arable is headquartered in San Francisco, California, with an additional office in Princeton, New Jersey. The company has received various accolades, highlighting its innovation in agricultural technology.

Mori

Series A in 2020
Mori, formerly known as Overlook Research, is a company that develops a natural biopolymer coating designed to extend the shelf life of perishable foods. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Mori's innovative coating is made from proteins extracted from natural silk using salt and water. This protective layer helps slow the spoiling process of various food items, including fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood, thereby reducing food waste. By focusing on sustainable and economical solutions, Mori aims to transform the food supply and enhance the efficiency of the food, agriculture, and packaging industries.

SCiFi Foods

Venture Round in 2020
SCiFi Foods is a food technology company focused on producing cultivated meat that combines lab-grown beef cells with plant-based ingredients to create burgers that closely replicate the taste of traditional beef. The company aims to provide a sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional meat by utilizing bioengineering techniques to grow meat cells without relying on animal farming. SCiFi Foods has achieved significant advancements, including the successful growth of beef cells in suspension, which has the potential to drastically reduce production costs. Founded by CEO Joshua March and CTO Kasia Gora, PhD, the company has attracted $29 million in funding from prominent investors, positioning it for future growth in the alternative protein market.

Lime

Venture Round in 2020
Lime is a transportation company that focuses on providing sustainable solutions for urban mobility by offering electric scooters and bike-sharing services. The company partners with cities to deploy a fleet of electric bikes and scooters equipped with GPS and self-activating locks, which allows users to access affordable and reliable transportation options. Lime aims to address the first- and last-mile transportation challenges, promoting environmentally friendly alternatives that help reduce carbon footprints. By encouraging a shift in transportation behavior, Lime seeks to empower future generations to contribute to a more sustainable planet.

Trove

Series C in 2019
Trove is a technology company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Brisbane, California. It operates two distinct businesses: a SaaS platform that uses AI to analyze teams' email connections, providing insights to help build and leverage professional networks; and a leading platform for branded resale and trade-in, enabling brands to launch, manage, and scale their resale programs efficiently. The latter offers advanced tools for in-store and digital trade-ins, returns processing, inventory management, resale site building, and analytics, serving prominent brands like Canada Goose, Carhartt, and Patagonia. Trove's resale platform aims to drive sustainability in retail by promoting a circular economy.

Trove

Series C in 2019
Trove is a technology company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Brisbane, California. It operates two distinct businesses: a SaaS platform that uses AI to analyze teams' email connections, providing insights to help build and leverage professional networks; and a leading platform for branded resale and trade-in, enabling brands to launch, manage, and scale their resale programs efficiently. The latter offers advanced tools for in-store and digital trade-ins, returns processing, inventory management, resale site building, and analytics, serving prominent brands like Canada Goose, Carhartt, and Patagonia. Trove's resale platform aims to drive sustainability in retail by promoting a circular economy.

LevelTen Energy

Series B in 2019
LevelTen Energy, Inc. is a Seattle-based company founded in 2016 that operates a renewable energy transaction marketplace. This platform serves to connect corporate and industrial power buyers with power purchase agreements (PPAs) from utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. By facilitating access to a wide range of renewable energy options, LevelTen Energy enables clients to secure fixed-price renewable energy solutions and benefit economically from large-scale projects. The company's technology-driven marketplace enhances the efficiency of transactions, allowing buyers, advisors, and sellers to achieve better deals in a streamlined manner. Through its services, LevelTen Energy plays a significant role in advancing the adoption of renewable energy in the corporate sector.

unspun

Seed Round in 2019
Unspun, Inc., founded in 2015 and based in San Francisco, California, specializes in the development of a platform that creates customized jeans using advanced body scanning technology, fit algorithms, and additive manufacturing. The company aims to address environmental concerns by reducing global carbon emissions through automated and localized manufacturing processes. Unspun’s innovative approach not only eliminates pattern-cutting waste and unsold inventory but also allows for the production of jeans in under ten minutes in a zero-waste manner. Their technology is showcased through the unspun.io platform, which provides digital customization solutions for various apparel brands. With a mission to make fashion more sustainable, Unspun is positioned at the intersection of robotics and digital apparel, striving to transform the industry with its unique approach to on-demand manufacturing.

GreenLight Biosciences

Venture Round in 2019
GreenLight Biosciences, Inc. is a biotechnology company that specializes in developing RNA-based solutions for agricultural and pharmaceutical applications. Headquartered in Medford, Massachusetts, with an additional facility in North Carolina, the company focuses on producing high-quality RNA quickly and cost-effectively. GreenLight's technology platform facilitates the biological conversion of renewable substrates into valuable products, including chemicals and fuels. The company is actively involved in advancing vaccine development, particularly mRNA-based candidates aimed at preventing diseases such as SARS-CoV-2. Additionally, GreenLight engages in crop management and plant protection initiatives, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and supporting the health of pollinators. Through its innovative approaches, GreenLight Biosciences aims to address global challenges in food security and public health.

LevelTen Energy

Series A in 2017
LevelTen Energy, Inc. is a Seattle-based company founded in 2016 that operates a renewable energy transaction marketplace. This platform serves to connect corporate and industrial power buyers with power purchase agreements (PPAs) from utility-scale wind, solar, and storage projects. By facilitating access to a wide range of renewable energy options, LevelTen Energy enables clients to secure fixed-price renewable energy solutions and benefit economically from large-scale projects. The company's technology-driven marketplace enhances the efficiency of transactions, allowing buyers, advisors, and sellers to achieve better deals in a streamlined manner. Through its services, LevelTen Energy plays a significant role in advancing the adoption of renewable energy in the corporate sector.

Aquion Energy

Series E in 2014
Aquion Energy is a manufacturer of innovative energy storage solutions, specializing in sodium ion batteries designed for long-duration stationary energy storage. The company's proprietary Aqueous Hybrid Ion (AHIâ„¢) battery technology, developed from research by Carnegie Mellon University Professor Jay Whitacre, addresses the limitations of conventional energy storage systems. Aquion's batteries are safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly, utilizing non-toxic components such as saltwater, and they are free from heavy metals and toxic chemicals. These features make the AHI systems non-flammable and non-explosive, positioning them as a sustainable alternative for clients seeking to decrease reliance on fossil fuels. By optimizing existing grid-tied generation assets, Aquion Energy enhances the flexibility and efficiency of the electrical grid, facilitating the broader adoption of renewable energy technologies.

Trove

Series A in 2014
Trove is a technology company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Brisbane, California. It operates two distinct businesses: a SaaS platform that uses AI to analyze teams' email connections, providing insights to help build and leverage professional networks; and a leading platform for branded resale and trade-in, enabling brands to launch, manage, and scale their resale programs efficiently. The latter offers advanced tools for in-store and digital trade-ins, returns processing, inventory management, resale site building, and analytics, serving prominent brands like Canada Goose, Carhartt, and Patagonia. Trove's resale platform aims to drive sustainability in retail by promoting a circular economy.

Trove

Series A in 2014
Trove is a technology company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Brisbane, California. It operates two distinct businesses: a SaaS platform that uses AI to analyze teams' email connections, providing insights to help build and leverage professional networks; and a leading platform for branded resale and trade-in, enabling brands to launch, manage, and scale their resale programs efficiently. The latter offers advanced tools for in-store and digital trade-ins, returns processing, inventory management, resale site building, and analytics, serving prominent brands like Canada Goose, Carhartt, and Patagonia. Trove's resale platform aims to drive sustainability in retail by promoting a circular economy.

Trove

Series B in 2014
Trove is a technology company based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Brisbane, California. It operates two distinct businesses: a SaaS platform that uses AI to analyze teams' email connections, providing insights to help build and leverage professional networks; and a leading platform for branded resale and trade-in, enabling brands to launch, manage, and scale their resale programs efficiently. The latter offers advanced tools for in-store and digital trade-ins, returns processing, inventory management, resale site building, and analytics, serving prominent brands like Canada Goose, Carhartt, and Patagonia. Trove's resale platform aims to drive sustainability in retail by promoting a circular economy.

Project Frog

Series C in 2011
Project Frog, Inc., founded in 2006 and based in San Francisco, California, specializes in the development, construction, and delivery of energy-efficient component building structures. The company provides a versatile range of products designed for various architectural applications, including education, healthcare, community centers, retail, and more. By utilizing technology to enhance the building process, Project Frog offers a fast and cost-effective solution that results in aesthetically pleasing and sustainable structures. Their approach aims to address the inefficiencies of traditional construction, leading to greener and smarter buildings that foster healthier environments. Through this innovative model, Project Frog seeks to revolutionize the construction industry while creating spaces that promote better performance for their occupants.
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