In 2009, a solar-panel manufacturer developed a technology so promising they received a $535 million loan guarantee from the Department of Energy.
That was a major milestone for Solyndra. With the guarantee, they graduated from the ranks of a start-up company to a well-funded, growing member of the “cleantech” industry.
While not all our portfolio companies get government backing, the outcome is similar. Over the last 21 years, we’ve helped more than 15 energy and materials companies to develop a myriad of scientific applications – from cleaner bio-fuels, to long-lasting lithium batteries, to molecular nuclear power technology.
Our role is to guide companies through critical milestones and take them to the next level of funding. That can only happen when the venture firm you’re working with has a command of the deep science behind the idea and the street-smarts derived from building companies for over two decades.
- Portfolio Companies:
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A123Systems
A123Systems develops and manufactures advanced lithium-ion batteries and battery systems for the transportation, electric grid services and portable power markets. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Massachusetts, A123Systems’ proprietary nanoscale electrode technology is built on initial developments from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
www.a123systems.com -
Biolight Harvesting
Biolight Harvesting is developing photosynthetic bacteria as part of an integrated production platform for making renewable fuels and chemicals.
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CNano Technology
CNano is a leading nano-material company that manufactures and develops carbon nanotubes for advanced energy, especially Li-ion battery, conductive plastic and structural applications.
www.cnanotechnology.com -
Codexis
Codexis Inc. is a clean technology company. The company develops industrial biocatalysts, including enzymes and microbes. Codexis technology is used in the energy industry to enable advanced, non-food biofuels and by global pharmaceutical companies for cost-effective manufacturing of human therapeutics. Future commercial applications include carbon management, water treatment and chemical manufacturing.
www.codexis.com -
Contour Energy Systems
Contour Energy Systems is a leading innovator of advanced battery technologies leveraging materials science breakthroughs and patented manufacturing processes for the development of next-generation primary and rechargeable battery systems.
www.contourenergy.com -
Danotek Motion Technologies
Danotek Motion Technologies, Inc. (Danotek) is a clean technology company that develops high efficiency energy conversion systems for the energy and transportation markets. The company has patents pending on several high energy efficiency products: Permanent Magnet (PM) Generators, electronics integrated pumps, variable speed fans, electric vehicle steering systems, for EV/HEV, fuel-cell, wind turbine, and combined heat and power industries. Danotek was founded in 2001 by an experienced former GE, automotive engineering and management team. Danotek is based in Ann Arbor, Mich.
www.danotekmotion.com -
Ultra-low cost flexible photovoltaic cells.
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Draths Corporation
Draths Corporation is a next generation chemical company focused on manufacturing bio-based materials used in everyday products. The company’s products, rooted in its platform technology, enable nylons, plastics, paints, resins, and other materials currently made from petroleum-based chemicals to be manufactured from renewable feedstocks.
www.drathscorporation.com -
Foro Energy
Drilling technology company.
www.foroenergy.com -
Intermolecular, Inc
Intermolecular, Inc. delivers High Productivity Combinatorial™ (HPC) technology products and services that enable customers to maximize semiconductor R&D ROI. The company’s Tempus™ HPC™ Platform offers chipmakers, materials suppliers and equipment manufacturers integrated processing, characterization and informatics systems that exponentially accelerate learning in materials discovery, process development and IC device integration.
Customers apply Intermolecular’s technologies in their R&D projects through Collaborative Development Programs (CDPs) with Intermolecular’s multidisciplinary team, or through purchase of Tempus systems, or by licensing of IP developed and qualified by Intermolecular. By leveraging HPC technologies to quickly develop, integrate and electrically test multiple alternative solutions, at minimum cost and risk, customers obtain unique IP and time-to-market advantage.
Founded in 2004, Intermolecular is based in San Jose, California. A more detailed description of the Tempus HPC platform and information about customer projects are available here.
www.intermolecular.com -
Inventure Chemical
Inventure Chemical has developed processes for the direct, efficient production of industrial bio-chemicals and fuels from materials such as algae, agricultural by-products and waste biomass.
www.inventurechem.com -
Luminus Devices, Inc.
Luminus Devices, Inc. develops and manufactures high performance solid-state light sources – PhlatLight LEDs – for the general illumination-lighting, projection display, and UV curing market segments. Holder of extensive intellectual property and over 150 issued and pending worldwide patents for big chip LED technology, Luminus Devices headquarters is located in Billerica, MA with domestic manufacturing also in Billerica and Woburn, MA, and global manufacturing in Taiwan and Thailand.
www.luminus.com -
NuScale Power
NuScale Power is helping to meet the need for clean energy through the development of a modular, scalable, inherently safe nuclear power plant, with all equipment manufactured in the US.
www.nuscalepower.com -
Solaria Corporation
Solaria Corporation designs, manufactures and markets silicon photovoltaic modules to solar project developers and electric utilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Based on its patented low-cost technology, Solaria’s modules provide reliable performance while matching form, fit and performance of conventional PV modules. Solaria is headquartered in California with European offices in Germany.
www.solaria.com -
Solyndra
Solyndra designs and manufactures photovoltaic systems, comprised of panels and mounting hardware, for the commercial rooftop market. Solyndra employs high-volume manufacturing based on proven technologies and processes to meet the needs of the global solar market. Using proprietary cylindrical modules and thin-film technology, Solyndra systems are designed to provide the lowest installed cost per system and the highest solar electrical energy output for typical low slope commercial rooftops. Headquartered in Fremont, CA, Solyndra operates a state-of-the-art 300,000-square-foot fully automated manufacturing complex.
www.solyndra.com -
Wildcat Discovery Technologies, Inc.
A start-up company focused on the discovery of advanced materials for clean energy technology applications, Wildcat Discovery Technologies, Inc. has developed high-throughput synthesis and screening platforms for rapid evaluation and discovery of complex materials. Wildcat is currently investigating materials for lithium-ion battery electrodes, hydrogen storage, gas separations, and additional programs under evaluation.
www.wildcatdiscovery.com