Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Venture Capital Non-Profit Est. 2016

Also known as BE.

Website →
≈USD 3.31B
Est. FUM
Sum of 5 funds raised 2016–2024; preferred to the undated total from Tech Funding News
Type
Venture Capital
HQ
Kirkland, WA, United States
Founded
2016
Focus
Climate & Energy Transition

About

Breakthrough Energy Ventures backs new, cutting-edge companies that are developing clean energy innovations. Breakthrough Energy Ventures was created by the Breakthrough Energy Coalition, whose goal is to make sure that everyone on the planet can enjoy a good standard of living, including basic electricity, healthy food, comfortable buildings, and convenient transportation, without contributing to climate change. The Breakthrough Energy Coalition is backed by 28 global high net worth individuals including Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Marc Benioff, Richard Branson and Ray Dalio. We have four criteria. 1) We only invest in technologies with the potential to reduce at least half a gigaton of greenhouse gases every year, about 1 percent of projected 2050 global emissions. 2) We only invest in companies that will ultimately be able to attract additional investment from other investors. 3) We will only invest in projects that our technologists deem scientifically feasible at scale. 4) We target areas in cleantech being neglected currently by other investors. Our first investing principle is to leverage innovation as broadly as possible. We don't limit ourselves to early- or late-stage companies; to small, medium, or large enterprises; or to particular geographies or technologies. We have very long term investment horizons which allows us to incubate and develop technologies not targeted by traditional investors.

Strategies

Venture Capital
Sources

Profile sources

  1. 2023.breakthroughenergy.org — Climate & Energy Transition

Investment Criteria

Investment size
USD 500K - USD 50M

Reported investment size. Actual commitments may vary by stage, ownership and follow-on participation.

Investment Stages
Stages
Seed Series A Series B
Investment Geographies
Primary Markets
United States
Coverage
Global
Regions
North America

Coverage is a guide only.

Location

Headquarters
Kirkland, WA, United States
Office Presence
1 country
United States
1 known office
Kirkland, WA, United States (HQ)

Fundraising

Breakthrough Energy Ventures III
2024 - First close
USD 839M
source
Breakthrough Energy Ventures BEV Follow-On Fund I
2024
USD 105M
source
Breakthrough Energy Ventures II
2021
USD 1.3B
source
Breakthrough Energy Ventures Europe
2019
EUR 100M
source
Breakthrough Energy Ventures I
2016
USD 1B
source

Deals & Activity

Tracked Deals
1
Most common deal types
Unknown (1)
Recent tracked deals
Lydian
2026
$43M

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