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Aventurine Partners

Growth equity

Houston · Growth–Late Stage · 11 people tracked

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Investment thesis

Aventurine Partners invests across the energy, power, and industrial complex, anchoring its strategy in opportunities tied to the energy transition and industrial efficiency. Founded by experienced investors and entrepreneurs in partnership with Carnelian Energy Capital, the firm positions itself as a collaborative, value-add partner offering institutional experience, creativity, and strategic support. It leverages an extensive network of founders, executives, and advisors to deliver revenue opportunities and strategic relationships to portfolio companies. While rooted in energy and industrials, the firm will invest wherever its knowledge and network can drive disproportionate value creation, guided by core values of integrity, rigor, flexibility, and alignment.

Source: firm website, verified Aug 2, 2026.

Stage
Growth–Late Stage
HQ
Houston, US
Instruments
Equity
Tracked investments
9

Team · 11 people

from the firm's website
Markus Specks· Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Founder and CEO of Aventurine Partners, overseeing investment sourcing, deal negotiation and execution, portfolio monitoring, and firm strategy. Previously a Managing Director and head of Värde Partners' Houston office, and began his career in investment banking at Lazard. He holds a B.A. from Lawrence University.

Bryant Fulk· Managing Director – Head of Business Development

Bryant Fulk leads business development at Aventurine Partners, supporting deal origination, evaluation, and execution. He previously served as CEO of a PE-backed energy company and was a VP in Wells Fargo's energy investment banking division, and holds an MBA from Rice University plus geology degrees.

Patrick Atwood· Managing Director

Patrick Atwood is Managing Director at Aventurine Partners, focusing on transaction due diligence, execution, analytics, portfolio monitoring, and strategic initiatives. He previously spent four years at Carnelian Energy Capital Management on private equity in the energy sector and worked at RBC Richardson Barr on transaction advisory and capital markets for upstream oil & gas clients.

Alan Handley· Senior Advisor

Waste industry veteran who has been involved with over a dozen companies as leader, investor, and advisor, including roughly ten years as CEO and board director of LRS. He began his career in accounting at Price Waterhouse and KPMG, later served as CFO of the Aldridge Group, and previously served in the U.S. Marine Corps during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Andrew Adler· Advisory Board Member

Investor and entrepreneur with over twenty years of experience in the energy, power, and industrial sectors. Has held leadership and investment roles at Oaktree Capital Management's Power Opportunities fund, Pacific Generation Partners, Riverstone Holdings, and UBS Investment Bank; holds a B.S. from Georgetown and an M.B.A. from UCLA Anderson.

Andrew Dayton· Senior Advisor

Founder and CEO of the Constellation Fund, a Minnesota foundation focused on poverty mitigation, and co-founder of outdoor apparel company Askov Finlayson. He previously served as Deputy Legislative Director to former San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee and holds a B.A. from Yale and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Andrew Miller· Vice President

Andrew Miller is a Vice President at Aventurine Partners, focusing on transaction due diligence, execution, and analytics and monitoring of active portfolio investments. He previously worked as an investment banking and capital markets analyst at Credit Suisse in its Global Energy & Infrastructure group, and holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Callie Soltis· Chief of Staff

Callie Soltis serves as Chief of Staff at Aventurine, overseeing business operations, supporting portfolio companies and business development, and managing the firm's operational functions. She previously spent over a decade in land and commercial roles in the oil and gas industry at firms including Wayfinder Resources and Oasis Petroleum, and holds a B.A. in Journalism from Baylor University.

Chad Turben· Senior Advisor and Operating Partner

Chad Turben is Senior Advisor and Operating Partner at Aventurine Partners and CEO of Arcane Industries, a manufacturer of custom parts and products. He has over 30 years of experience in consumer product goods and manufacturing, holding leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies including Jadex, Cooper Tire, Newell Brands, Jarden, Masco, and Black & Decker.

John Tucker· Vice President

John Tucker is a Vice President at Aventurine Partners, working on transaction due diligence, execution, analytics, and monitoring of active portfolio investments. He previously was a Senior Associate at Main Street Capital underwriting private equity investments and began his career at FTI Consulting in bankruptcy and restructuring; he holds accounting and finance degrees from Trinity University and an M.P.A. in Accounting from UT Austin.

Varun Sivaram· Senior Advisor

Dr. Varun Sivaram is a Senior Advisor to Aventurine Partners and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, having served two years in the Biden-Harris Administration as Managing Director for Clean Energy under Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry. His career spans corporate, policy, and academic roles, including former Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Ørsted and CTO at ReNew Power, plus faculty positions at Columbia and Georgetown; he holds a PhD in condensed matter physics from Oxford.

Investments · 9 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path
Arcane Industries
D6
Fracsun
Infinitum
Lilac
Noveon
Solid Power
Teal Systems
Voltagrid

Frequently asked questions

What stage does Aventurine Partners invest at?
Aventurine Partners invests at the Growth, Late Stage stages.
What sectors does Aventurine Partners focus on?
Aventurine Partners focuses on Advanced Manufacturing, Circular Economy, Cleantech, Climate Tech, Construction Tech, Energy, New Materials.
Where is Aventurine Partners located?
Aventurine Partners is headquartered in Houston, US.

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