The Freeing Energy team is helping crowdsource the definitive list of cleantech investment firms.

Cleantech, energy tech, and power tech investors

We are looking at firms through three successively narrow filters:

  • Cleantech (or as it is often spelled, “clean tech”) – organizations that look at the broad spectrum of sustainability and green programs. This would include agriculture, recycling, building technologies, waste management, as well as energy.
  • Energy tech – this is a narrower filter of organizations focused on energy: fuels and electricity. This could include green hydrogen, fracking technologies, algae to biodiesel and, of course, electricity.
  • Power tech – the term is not widely used but it is an apt description of the area Freeing Energy focuses on, electricity.  This could include: solar, wind, geothermal, storage, batteries, power electronics, and electric distribution.

This guide will focus primarily on Power Tech. Firms with a specific focus in this area will receive star rankings to help viewers quickly find the most relevant firms. Check out our deep dive on the taxonomy underlying cleantech investments and investors at A blueprint for cleantech investing.

Cleantech and power tech investment stages

In terms of stage, this list is agnostic. This list includes:

  • Incubators (very early stage)
  • Venture capital (early stage)
  • Private equity (late-stage)
  • Project finance (longer-term, debt and tax equity focused firms looking to build and/or own projects, rather than technologies)
FirmStage/TypeFocusEnergy Tech FocusURLRegionFund size:Energy Tech DealsDescCrunchbase link
1955 CapitalVenture CapitalSustainability✮✩✩✩✩San Francisco11955 Capital will invest in advanced technologies from the Americas and Europe to solve pressing problems in developing countries.https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/1955-capital
3x5 PartnersLate stage VCCleantech✮✮✩✩✩http://3x5fund.com/index.htmlMidwest US3x5 Special Opportunity Fund specializes in later-stage companies within the healthcare and clean-tech sectorshttps://www.crunchbase.com/organization/3x5-special-opportunity-fund
Activate Capital PartnersVenture CapitalDigital Industrialhttps://www.crunchbase.com/organization/activate-capitalSan Francisco2The world is undergoing transformational changes which are placing unprecedented stress on the cities and infrastructure we share. Scarce resources, urban density and fundamental shifts in how energy is generated and consumed are creating new economic and social challenges for the global community – and for individual communities across the globe. Our approach begins with a deep understanding of the mega-trends shaping the future of industrial economies and follows by identifying the technologies most likely to provide the solutions. With a specific focus on energy, mobility and industrial systems we provide growth equity to companies with proven technologies at a commercial inflection point. We back entrepreneurs who share our vision of building businesses of scale and impact.https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/activate-capital-partners
Advanced Technology VenturesVenture Capitalhttp://www.arcternventures.com/#launch-pageOntario5Founded in 2012, ArcTern Ventures is a venture capital fund that provides early-stage capital to cleantech companies.https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/arctern-ventures#section-overview
AltEnergyInvestor / OperatorCleantechhttps://altenergyllc.comNY and CT2Cleantech Investor and Operator
Amazon's Cleantech FundVenture CapitalClimatetechhttps://techcrunch.com/2020/06/23/amazon-announces-2-billion-climate-pledge-fund/
Arbor View CapitalSustainabilityhttp://www.arborviewcapital.com/MarylandSustainability focused
ArcTern VenturesVenture CapitalSustainability✮✮✮✮✩http://www.arcternventures.com/OntarioArcTern Ventures (formerly the MaRS Cleantech Fund) is a privately-backed venture capital fund that provides early-stage capital to companies developing breakthrough ideas in the cleantech sector. The Fund has developed a unique early-stage investment model through its partnership with MaRS, one of the largest innovation centres in world.
ARENA InvestmentsDebtClean energy projectshttp://www.arenafunds.com/Washington, DC
Braemer Energy VenturesVenture Capital
Breakthrough Energy VenturesVenture CapitalClean energy tech✮✮✮✮✮https://www.b-t.energy/ventures/Across USBreakthrough Energy Ventures is an investor-led fund focused on building the new, cutting-edge companies that will deliver on that promise. Our strategy links government-funded research to patient, risk-tolerant capital so that more transformative clean energy innovations get to market faster. The fund is famously founded by Bill Gates.
Capital EEarly stage VCCleantechhttp://cap-e.com/Washington, DC
Center ElectricVenture Capital
Chevron Future Energy Fund
Chrysalix Venture CapitalVenture CapitalVancouver
Clean Energy TrustIncubator
Clean Energy Venture FundVenture CapitalClean Energy TechEnergy VC
CleanTech OpenIncubatorIncubator
ClearSkyVenture CapitalClean Energyhttp://clear-sky.comFloridaEnergytech VC
Congruent VenturesVenture CapitalSustainability VCSustainability VC
ConsensysIncubatorEthereumEthereum incubator
Constellation Technology VenturesVenture CapitalVenture Capital
CREO SyndicateVC AdvisorVC Advisor
Cyclotron RoadIncubatorCaliforniaIncubator
DCVCVenture CapitalDeep techhttps://www.dcvc.com/CaliforniaBacking Brilliant Deep Tech Teams Solving the World’s Hardest Problems
Element PartnersGrowth EquityGrowth Equity
Emerald VenturesVenture CapitalIndustrial Innovation✮✮✮✮✩https://www.emerald-ventures.comSwitzerlandGlobally recognized as a pioneer and leader in industrial technology investments, since 2000 Emerald has backed more than 60 outstanding entrepreneurs, partnered with dozens of multinational corporations on open innovation and advised investment mandates and funds for investors and governments alike.
Energy Impact PartnersGrowth Capital✮✮✮✮✮https://www.energyimpactpartners.comNYC & San FranciscoVenture Capitalhttps://www.crunchbase.com/organization/energy-impact-partners
Energy Innovation CapitalGrowth EquityAll energyhttp://energyinnovationcapital.com/HoustonGrowth Equity
Enertech CapitalVenture CapitalEnergy TechEnergy focsed VC
FactorEVenture CapitalVenture Capital
Firelake Capital (shutdown)Venture CapitalCleantechSan FranciscoCleantech VC
Foundation CapitalVenture CapitalVenture Capital
FreeElectronsIncubatorIncubator
FutureShapeVenture CapitalDeep Techhttps://www.futureshapellc.com/Venture Capital firm founded by Nest creator, Tony Fadell
G2VPVenture CapitalSustainability VCSustainability VC
Generate CaptialGrowth EquityGrowth Equity
Green Chamber of the SouthIncubatorIncubator
Greentown LabsIncubatorBostonIncubator
Invenergy Future FundVenture CapitalVenture Capital
Khosla VenturesVenture CapitalMultiplehttps://www.khoslaventures.com/Menlo Park, CAVenture Capital
Lux CapitalVenture CapitalHard Sciencehttps://www.luxcapital.com/Menlo Park, CAVenture Capital
National GridVenture CapitalEnergy techhttps://ngpartners.com/San FranciscoVC arm of utility National Grid
Nth PowerVenture CapitalVenture Capital
Obvious VenturesVenture CapitalVenture Capital
Pangea VenturesVenture CapitalMaterialsMaterials focused VC
Pegasus Capital AdvisorsInvestment BankClean EnergyClean energy investment bank
PivaVenture CapitalEnergy and Infrastructurehttp://www.piva.vcSan FranciscoPiva operates as an independent VC firm with a dedicated team that makes big bets and has the perseverance to turn big ideas into reality. We look for cross-industry technological solutions with substantial deployment value and scalable market potential, managed by driven executive teams with high entrepreneurial drive. Piva is a VC firm on a mission to back visionary founders and emerging technology companies bringing new software and hardware solutions to the world’s industrial and energy markets. Founded in 2019 and backed by one of the world’s largest energy firms, we invest in early to growth stage companies across the globe.
PowerHouseIncubator & SeedClean Energy✮✮✮✮✮https://powerhouse.fundSan FranciscoPowerhouse backs the latest in digital technology and business model innovation to advance the future of clean energy.https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/powerhouse-solar
Prelude VenturesVenture CapitalVenture Capital
Renewal FundsEarly Stage VCSustainabilityhttp://www.renewalfunds.com/Vancouver, BC
RiseVenture CapitalClean Energy Finance
Rockport CapitalVenture CapitalCleantechhttps://www.crunchbase.com/organization/rockport-capital-partnersBostonClean investor
Stanley, Black an Decker VenturesVenture CapitalBatteriesVenture Capital
Statkraft VenturesVenture CapitalEnergyEnergy VC
Surge VenturesIncubatorIncubator
Techstars EnergyIncubatorEnergyhttps://www.techstars.com/programs/energy-program/Incubator
The EngineIncubatorMIT-based Finance & Incubator
Third DerivativeAcceleratorClimate Tech✮✮✮✮✮https://third-derivative.orgColorado21 as of 6-2020A joint venture of Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and New Energy Nexus, Third Derivative (D3) is a vertically integrated engine for climate innovation. We combine a next-generation accelerator, committed venture capital, a curated ecosystem of global corporations, and unparalleled market, regulatory, and policy insights. We are mission driven and market focused. Rising to the climate crisis challenge is a once-in-a-generation, trillion-dollar economic opportunity. That’s why we were founded with purpose: to find, fund, hone, and scale the most-promising technologies to achieve larger, faster reductions in global carbon emissions
Total Energy VenturesVenture CapitalVenture Capital
True North VenturesVenture CapitalCleantechCleantech VC
WTI Western Tech InvestmentInvestorEnergyBroad Energy Investor
Volta Energy TechnologiesVenture CapitalBatteries & Storage✮✮✮✮✮https://plusvolta.comChicagoVolta is a new model for investing in energy technology. Volta identifies and works with entrepreneurs and companies to solve their most important technical challenges while providing its strategic investors the opportunity to invest in and acquire the most promising of these technology companies. Volta serves investors from across sectors of the energy system, who have complementary strategic interests in identifying breakthrough energy storage-related technology that will enable ubiquitous adoption of both electric vehicles and renewable power generation. Volta works to validate transformative technologies and businesses through collaboration with leading institutions, including through its research agreement with Argonne National Laboratory. Volta’s focus is on technologies and businesses that impact applications in transportation, the electric grid, and portable electronics. Volta is designed to create strategic advantages for their corporate partners’ core businesses and deliver financial returns.https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/volta-energy-technologies
Zoma CapitalVenture CapitalVenture Capital

Crowdsourcing our list of cleantech investors

If you have any firms you believe should be included in this list or you want to update an existing firm’s information, please share it in the comments section at the bottom.

Other resources

5 thoughts on “The definitive list of cleantech investors”

  2. I have an idea for a new unit (ground up, new tech) that will harness wind energy and strengthen the environment around it. Who wants in?

    Reply

  3. We have developed and marketing a system ThemoGen which makes electricity from waste heat. Market is huge. We are working with many customers. We are looking for a late stage VC partner. R&D Dynamics Corp. Bloomfield, Connecticut http://www.rddynamics.com

    Reply

  5. Aversano Air has developed the electric aircraft Spectre! 4 seats powered by the new RR electric aircraft motor to produce speeds over 300 MPH.

    Reply

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