/Investor DB

CARNELIAN ENERGY CAPITAL

Private equityActively deploying

Houston · 19 people tracked

Also known as CARNELIAN ENERGY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP

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Investment thesis

Carnelian Energy Capital focuses on investing in the North American energy sector, specifically the upstream, midstream and oilfield services segments. With approximately $4.7 billion of cumulative capital commitments, the firm emphasizes value creation by partnering with leading businesses and strong management teams, bringing strategic expertise and a nimble, flexible approach to its investments.

Source: firm website, verified Oct 24, 2026.

HQ
Houston, US
Instruments
Equity
Founded
2015
AUM
$4.6B
VC funds
7
Tracked investments
21

Team · 19 people

from the firm's website & public directories
Thomas Ackerman· General Partner
Daniel Goodman· Partnerin

Daniel Goodman is a Co-Founder and Partner of Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he oversees investment sourcing, transaction negotiation and execution, portfolio company monitoring, and firm management and strategy. He was previously a Principal at Natural Gas Partners in Houston and earlier an Analyst in the Global Energy Group at UBS Investment Bank. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the Business Honors Program at The University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Dillon MacDonald· Managing Directorin

Dillon MacDonald is a Managing Director at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he works on transaction due diligence, analytics, execution, and monitoring of active portfolio companies. He previously held roles as a Director at Värde Partners, an Associate at Avista Capital Partners, and an Analyst in the Investment Banking Group at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Vanderbilt University and is a CFA charterholder.

Matt Kelly· Managing Directorin

Matt Kelly is a Managing Director at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he leads investment sourcing regions, transaction due diligence and execution, and monitoring of active portfolio companies. He previously worked as an analyst in the Energy & Power Investment Banking Group at Wells Fargo Securities, focusing on M&A, capital markets financings, and strategic advisory across the upstream, midstream, and oilfield services sectors. He holds a B.B.A. and an M.P.A. in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin.

Tomas Ackerman· Partnerin

Tomas Ackerman is a Co-Founder and Partner of Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he oversees investment sourcing, transaction negotiation and execution, portfolio company monitoring, and firm management and strategy. Before founding Carnelian, he was a Managing Director and Head of the Houston office at Natural Gas Partners. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance from the Business Honors Program at The University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

Ben Fowler· Senior Associatein

Ben Fowler is a Senior Associate at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he works on transaction due diligence, analytics, execution, and monitoring active portfolio companies. He previously worked as an Analyst in the Energy Investment Banking Group at Jefferies, handling mergers and acquisitions, capital markets financings, and strategic advisory work in the energy industry. He earned a B.B.A. in Finance from the Neeley School of Business at Texas Christian University.

Cade Peveto· Associatein

Cade Peveto is an Associate at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he works on transaction due diligence, analytics, execution, and monitoring of portfolio companies. He was previously an Analyst in the Energy Investment Banking Group at Jefferies, covering M&A, capital markets financings, and strategic advisory work in the energy industry. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Texas Christian University.

Craig Schecter· Vice Presidentin

Craig Schecter is a Vice President at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he works on transaction due diligence, analytics, execution, and monitoring of active portfolio companies. He previously worked as an analyst in the Investment Banking group at RBC Capital Markets, advising clients in the upstream and midstream sectors on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic assignments. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.

Galit Wolf· Vice President of Administration

Galit Wolf is Vice President of Administration at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where she handles administrative, personnel, marketing, and office-related matters. She previously worked as a Senior Tax Accountant and Director of Family Office Services at Miller Grossbard Advisors, LLP, a CPA firm in Houston, providing accounting services to individual, family office, and corporate clients. She holds a B.B.A. in Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin.

Jeffrey Gilbert· Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officerin

Jeffrey Gilbert is the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Legal Officer of Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., overseeing internal operations such as compliance, human resources, vendor selection, and community relations, as well as legal and strategic matters, and supporting Carnelian's portfolio companies. He previously worked as an attorney in the Houston office of Bracewell LLP. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism from The University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law.

Justin Chen· Controllerin

Justin Chen is a CPA serving as Controller at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he supports the firm's tax, accounting, finance, and reporting functions. He previously worked in the Partnership Tax Services practice at Grant Thornton Advisors, focusing on tax compliance and consulting for private equity and investment management clients, and began his career in Deloitte Tax's Multistate Tax Services practice. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master in Professional Accounting from The University of Texas at Austin.

Mary Kathryn Starr· Vice President of Accountingin

Mary Kathryn Starr is Vice President of Accounting at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where she works on the firm's accounting, finance, and reporting functions. She previously served as a Manager in the Audit Services practice at Grant Thornton LLP, overseeing audits of public and private oil and gas companies. She holds a B.B.A. in Accounting and a Master of Accountancy from The University of Georgia.

Matt Savage· General Counselin

Matt Savage is General Counsel of Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he oversees the legal function for the firm and its portfolio companies. Before joining Carnelian, he practiced law in the Houston office of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, representing exploration and production companies, midstream companies, private equity sponsors and financial institutions in corporate and transactional matters, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. He holds a B.A. in Government from The University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from The University of Houston Law Center.

Megan Liu· Associatein

Megan Liu is an Associate at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where she works on transaction due diligence, analytics, execution, and monitoring of active portfolio companies. She previously served as an Analyst in the Global Energy Investment Banking Group at Morgan Stanley, working on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets financings, and strategic advisory assignments in the energy industry. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Rice University.

Nick Christ· Head of Engineeringin

Nick Christ is Head of Engineering at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P. Before Carnelian, he was a Senior Vice President in the Energy Private Equity Group at Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors, and earlier worked as a Petroleum Engineer at Netherland Sewell & Associates and as a Senior Reservoir Engineer at a private equity-backed oil and gas company and at Range Resources Corporation. He holds a B.S. in Petroleum Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from Southern Methodist University.

Patrick Elder· Senior Associatein

Patrick Elder is a Senior Associate at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, where he works on transaction due diligence, analytics, execution, and monitoring active portfolio companies. He previously served as an Analyst in the Global Energy Investment Banking Group at Morgan Stanley, handling mergers and acquisitions, capital markets financings, and strategic advisory work for energy clients. He holds a B.S. in Management with concentrations in Finance and Accounting from Boston College.

Stephen Wedemeyer· Chief Financial Officerin

Stephen Wedemeyer, a CPA, is the Chief Financial Officer of Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he leads the firm's accounting, finance, and reporting functions. He previously served as Manager of Finance and Operations at Stellus Capital Management and began his career in the Assurance Services practice at Ernst & Young. He holds a BBA in Finance from The University of St. Thomas and a Master of Science in Accountancy from The University of Houston.

Wes Dooley· Vice Presidentin

Wes Dooley is a Vice President at Carnelian Energy Capital Management, L.P., where he works on transaction due diligence, analytics, execution, and monitoring active portfolio companies. Before joining Carnelian, he was an analyst in the Global Energy Investment Banking Group at Citi, working on mergers and acquisitions, capital markets financings, and strategic advisory for oil and gas clients. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin.

William Watson· Associatein

What they invest in

from 13 of 21 portfolio companies

Energy ×13Cleantech ×2Climate Tech ×2Enterprise Software ×1Fintech ×1Impact & Social Good ×1

HQs:United States×9Canada×2

Investments · 21 tracked

founders shown can be your intro path
Altamarenergyaltamarenergy.com✓ verified

Alta Mar Energy is an upstream oil and gas company that makes non-operated investments in offshore exploration, development, and production projects in the Gulf of Mexico.

EnergyHouston, US

Will Sims(Chief Executive Officer)Ben Heller(Chief Financial Officer)

Azulresourcesazulresources.com✓ verified

Azul Resources invests in natural gas production opportunities in the Haynesville Shale, focusing on responsible energy development.

EnergyTexas, US

Espadaenergyespadaenergy.com✓ verified

Espada Energy is an oil and gas company focused on acquiring and developing upstream assets across multiple basins in the United States.

EnergyHouston, US

Parallaxenergyparallaxenergy.ca✓ verified

Parallax Energy is an exploration and production company focused on acquiring and operating oil and gas assets in western Canada with an emphasis on sustainable operations and technology integration.

EnergyImpact & Social GoodCalgary, CA

Percussionpetroleumpercussionpetroleum.com✓ verified

An oil and gas company focused on acquisition and development of onshore assets in North American basins.

EnergyHouston, US

John Campbell III

Refractionenergyrefractionenergy.com✓ verified

Refraction Energy is an oil and gas company operating in the upstream energy sector, with a focus on unconventional plays in Canada such as the Duvernay and Montney formations.

EnergyCalgary, CA

Dustin Hoffman(Chief Executive Officer)Dan van Kessel(Chief Financial Officer)Tony Baffa(Chief Operating Officer)

Seleniteenergyseleniteenergy.com✓ verified

Selenite Energy Partners provides structured capital solutions—such as drilling joint ventures, royalty and mineral acquisitions, and bespoke financing—to public and private operators in the North American energy sector.

EnergyFintechOklahoma City, US

Mr. Heerwagen(Co-founder)Ms. Franks(Co-founder)Ms. McCarty(Co-founder)Paul Heerwagen IV(Managing Partner & CEO)Margaret Franks(Managing Partner & President)Lindsey McCarty(Managing Partner & COO)

Aventurine Partnersaventurinepartners.comin

Aventurine Partners is an investment firm focused on the energy transition and industrial efficiency sectors, providing institutional experience and strategic value-add to its portfolio companies.

CleantechClimate TechEnergyEnterprise Software

Markus Specks(Partner, CEO)in

Cogentrixcogentrix.com

Cogentrix is a power generation company that manages power plant operations and handles acquisitions, financings, and asset improvements for power plant investments.

Energy

Jeff Ingrahamin

Co-investorsCarlyle Group

OneEnergy Partnersoep.energy

OneEnergy Partners is a middle-market energy investing and operating firm that acquires and develops oil and natural gas working interests, mineral and royalty positions, and energy-transition assets across North America, with a focus on the Northern Delaware Basin in Southeastern New Mexico.

CleantechClimate TechEnergyHouston, US

Leo Slootsky(Co-founder & Chief Executive Officer)inAamir Amin(Executive Vice President, Business Development and Strategy)inAhmad Salman(Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer)

Verdeoperatingverdeoperating.com

Verde Operating Company is an oil and gas company pursuing assets across the Lower 48 United States.

EnergyHouston, US

Veritasenergyllcveritasenergyllc.com

Veritas Energy is an oil and gas exploration and production company that acquires, develops, and operates upstream and midstream assets primarily in U.S. onshore basins including the Permian and other major shale plays.

EnergyHouston, US

Hollis R. Sullivan(Founder / Co-CEO)Houston Sullivan(Co-CEO)

Other

Tracked investments with no reachable website or further public details — typically companies that wound down, renamed, or were absorbed.

Driftwood EnergyGrit Oil & GasHawthorne EnergyNexGrid TechnologiesRidgefield EnergySandpoint ResourcesSeleniteVeritas IIIVeritas Permian II

Fund performance · per public LP disclosures · 4

as of Jun 2025
FundVintageCommittedNet IRRTVPIDPI
Carnelian Energy Capital V, L.P.LPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Carnegie Corporation of New York2024—0.6%1.00x0.00x
Carnelian Energy Capital IV LPLPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Carnegie Corporation of New York2022—14.5%1.21x0.70x
Carnelian Energy Capital III LPLPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Carnegie Corporation of New York2019—19.4%1.61x0.90x
Carnelian Energy Capital II LPLPs: Florida State Board of Administration, Carnegie Corporation of New York, Rockefeller Foundation2017—20.3%1.82x1.53x

Source: public limited-partner disclosures (CalPERS, CalSTRS). Net IRR / TVPI / DPI as reported by the limited partner; a fund's early-year IRR is an interim estimate (J-curve).

Frequently asked questions

How many investments has CARNELIAN ENERGY CAPITAL made?
CARNELIAN ENERGY CAPITAL has 21 tracked investments.
What sectors does CARNELIAN ENERGY CAPITAL focus on?
CARNELIAN ENERGY CAPITAL focuses on Energy.
Where is CARNELIAN ENERGY CAPITAL located?
CARNELIAN ENERGY CAPITAL is headquartered in Houston, US.

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