GreatPoint Ventures
Andrew Pearlman (Founder)
History
GreatPoint Ventures (GPV) is a venture capital firm that invests in companies that are developing innovative solutions for energy and environmental challenges. The firm was founded in 2003 by Andrew Perlman and David Waxman.
In its early years, GPV focused primarily on investing in companies in the clean energy sector. The firm's first major investment was in the natural gas technology company GreatPoint Energy, which developed a proprietary process for converting coal into natural gas. This investment proved to be highly successful, and GreatPoint Energy was later acquired by a larger energy company.
Over the years, GPV has continued to invest in companies in the energy and environmental sectors, with a particular focus on technologies that reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability. Some of the firm's notable investments include the battery storage company Stem, the electric vehicle charging company ChargePoint, and the renewable energy company Sunnova.
In addition to its investments, GPV has also been active in promoting innovation and collaboration in the energy industry. The firm has sponsored research initiatives, hosted conferences, and worked closely with universities and research institutions to support the development of new technologies.
Today, GPV is one of the leading venture capital firms in the energy and environmental sectors, with a strong track record of successful investments and a deep commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Investment criteria
- GPV's investment criteria can be broadly divided into four key areas: technology, market potential, team, and financials.
- Technology: GPV looks for companies that have developed or are developing cutting-edge technology that can address energy and environmental challenges. The firm is particularly interested in technologies that reduce carbon emissions, promote energy efficiency, and enable the use of renewable energy sources.
- Market potential: GPV invests in companies that have the potential to create significant value in their respective markets. The firm looks for companies that are addressing large and growing markets, and that has the potential to disrupt established industries.
- Team: GPV invests in companies that have strong and experienced management teams. The firm looks for teams that have a track record of success in their industry, and that have the technical, operational, and strategic expertise to execute on their business plan.
- Financials: GPV looks for companies that have a solid financial foundation, with a clear path to profitability and a plan for sustainable growth. The firm evaluates the company's financial metrics, such as revenue, gross margin, and burn rate, as well as its funding needs and potential sources of capital.
In addition to these criteria, GPV also looks for companies that are aligned with its mission of promoting sustainability and addressing climate change. The firm is committed to investing in companies that are developing solutions to the world's most pressing environmental challenges, and that have the potential to make a positive impact on society and the planet.
Values
- Sustainability: GPV is committed to promoting sustainability and addressing climate change through its investments. The firm believes that sustainable business practices are essential for long-term success and that investing in companies that are focused on sustainability is critical for creating a more sustainable future.
- Innovation: GPV believes that innovation is key to solving the world's most pressing environmental challenges. The firm is committed to investing in companies that are developing cutting-edge technologies and solutions that can help reduce carbon emissions, promote energy efficiency, and enable the use of renewable energy sources.
- Collaboration: GPV believes that collaboration is essential for driving progress in the energy and environmental sectors. The firm works closely with its portfolio companies, as well as with universities, research institutions, and other industry stakeholders, to support the development and adoption of innovative technologies.
- Integrity: GPV is committed to conducting its business with integrity and transparency. The firm operates with the highest ethical standards and expects the same from its portfolio companies.
- Impact: GPV is committed to making a positive impact on society and the planet through its investments. The firm believes that investing in companies that are developing solutions to energy and environmental challenges is not only good business but also a way to create a better world for future generations.
Mission
GPV's mission is based on three key pillars:
- Investing in the future: GPV believes that investing in companies that are developing innovative technologies and solutions for energy and environmental challenges is critical for creating a more sustainable future. The firm's mission is to support these companies by providing capital, expertise, and resources to help them grow and succeed.
- Promoting sustainability: GPV is committed to promoting sustainability in all aspects of its business. The firm believes that sustainable business practices are essential for long-term success and that investing in companies that are focused on sustainability is critical for creating a more sustainable future.
- Addressing climate change: GPV is committed to addressing climate change through its investments. The firm believes that climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing the world today, and that investing in companies that are developing solutions to reduce carbon emissions, promote energy efficiency, and enable the use of renewable energy sources is critical for addressing this challenge.
Portfolio
The firm's portfolio spans a range of sectors, including renewable energy, energy storage, carbon capture and utilization, and sustainable agriculture.
Here are some of the companies in GPV's portfolio:
- Carbon Clean Solutions: Carbon Clean Solutions is a company that develops and commercializes carbon capture and utilization technology. The company's technology captures CO2 emissions from industrial processes and converts them into valuable chemicals and materials.
- Energy Vault: Energy Vault is a company that develops advanced energy storage systems using gravity and advanced software. The company's technology uses renewable energy sources to lift and store heavy weights, which can then be released to generate electricity.
- Pivot Bio: Pivot Bio is a company that develops sustainable agriculture solutions to reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers. The company's technology uses microbes to provide crops with nitrogen, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and increasing crop yields.
- Natron Energy: Natron Energy is a company that develops high-performance, low-cost energy storage systems for industrial applications. The company's technology uses sodium-ion batteries, which are more affordable and more environmentally friendly than traditional lithium-ion batteries.
- CarbonCure Technologies: CarbonCure Technologies is a company that develops carbon capture and utilization technology for the concrete industry. The company's technology injects CO2 emissions into concrete during production, reducing the carbon footprint of concrete and making it more sustainable.
References
https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/aluxion-labs
https://www.linkedin.com/company/greatpoint-ventures
https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/0860519D:US
https://pitchbook.com/profiles/investor/51254-02
https://www.visualvisitor.com/companies/6393552/greatpoint-ventures
https://www.lusha.com/business/3590a531f833c6f4/
https://www.cbinsights.com/investor/greatpoint-ventures
https://golden.com/wiki/GreatPoint_Ventures-63AAJVD
https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/investor_page/greatpoint-ventures
Andrew Pearlman (Founder)