Cool Climate Collective
Angel networkActively deployingSacramento · Pre-Seed–Seed · 2 people tracked
Find your way into Cool Climate Collective
1,339 people in our graph share verified history with the Cool Climate Collective team — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Investment thesis
Cool Climate Collective invests in early-stage climate technology companies at moments of inflection, focusing on teams with strong execution potential and early traction. The firm leverages its network of experienced operators and scientific/domain experts to support portfolio companies across four systemic areas: electrons, atoms, flows, and signals. Rather than traditional venture support, the collective provides IP guidance, go-to-market strategy, talent connections, and policy navigation drawn from founders who scaled major technology companies. Investment thesis emphasizes foresight-led approaches to market-making and systems-level climate solutions.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 6, 2026.
Team · 2 people
from public directories
What they invest in
from 39 of 69 portfolio companiesClimate Tech ×17Cleantech ×16Energy ×10Hardware ×8New Materials ×7AI & Machine Learning ×6Circular Economy ×6Advanced Manufacturing ×5
HQs:United States×29United Kingdom×2United Arab Emirates×1India×1Kenya×1
Who they back
founder profiles across 32 portfolio companiesFounding team size:solo founder×162 founders×134+ founders×3
Where their founders studiedfrom 40 founders with education data
Stanford University ×5University of California, Berkeley ×5Georgia Institute of Technology ×4Stanford University Graduate School of Business ×3Imperial College London ×2Massachusetts Institute of Technology ×2MIT Sloan School of Management ×2University of Cambridge ×2
Where their founders worked beforefrom 38 founders with career history
Massachusetts Institute of Technology ×3DeepMind ×2San Francisco State University ×2
Accelerator rootsportfolio companies that came through a program
9 founders hold a PhD · 5 hold an MBA (of 42 with degree data)
Investments · 69 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathBy year:2026 · 12025 · 22024 · 12022 · 12021 · 22018 · 18 dated
Ginkgo Bioworks builds autonomous labs that accelerate bioengineering for applications in pharmaceutical, agricultural, and industrial biotechnology.
AgTechAI & Machine LearningBiotechDeep TechHealthtechRoboticsBoston, US
Jason Kelly(Co-founder & CEO)inReshma Shetty(Co-founder, President & Chief Operations Officer)inBarry Canton(Foundry Technology Strategy & Direction)inAustin Che(Strategic Partnerships & Investments)inTom Knight(Founder, Ginkgo Fellow)
BoardReshma Sohoni
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investors11.2 CapitalAllen Institute for AI (AI2) IncubatorB3 HoldingCannage CapitalDCVC (Data Collective)Designer Fund+21 more
Aclima operates a network of mobile and stationary sensors that measure air pollution and greenhouse gases at block-by-block resolution, and offers analytics software (Aclima Pro) and a free consumer app (air.health) that turn these measurements into environmental data for governments, companies, and communities.
Climate TechData & InfrastructureGovTechIoTSan Francisco, US
Co-investorsKapor CapitalMPowerRadicle Impact
Alga Biosciences develops feed additives that reduce methane emissions from cattle — cutting cow burps to combat climate change.
Advanced ManufacturingAgTechBiotechClimate TechSan Francisco, US
Alex Brown(Co-founder and CEO)inDaria Balatsky(Founder)inCaroline McKeon(Founder)inAlexander Brown(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsY CombinatorDay One VenturesAngel Collective Opportunity FundCollaborative FundHelium-3 VenturesJetstream+4 more
Aquaporo manufactures drinking water directly from atmospheric humidity using proprietary ALMA technology, offering residential units (Droplet) and industrial modular systems (Stream) for on-site water production.
CleantechHardwareAnaheim, US
Kyle E. Cordova(Founder)in
BoardLindy Fishburne(Director)inKristopher H Gilman(Director)
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsHumba VenturesBreakout VenturesCerberus Ventures
Biome makes Taiga, a smart hydroponic living wall with onboard sensors, automated irrigation, and lighting that automates indoor plant care, along with the Halo grow light, plant supplements, and a companion app to monitor and control the system.
ConsumerHardwareIoTOakland, US
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Media & Entertainment
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsAdvance Venture PartnersAltorBeyond CapitalDesignXFirstCheck AfricaFootPrint Coalition+2 more
Cascade Biocatalysts develops engineered biocatalysts designed to be more cost efficient, reusable, and longer-lasting with a wider operating window and higher output.
BiotechCleantechDeep TechNew MaterialsDenver, US
James Weltz(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)inAlex Rosay(Founder)in
BoardJared Campbell(Director)
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsAmplify.LARange VCSpacecadet VenturesBoost VCTen VC
Ground-truth dataset for how America builds and electrifies
Dandelion Energy designs and installs geothermal heating and cooling systems for homes, positioning geothermal as a primary heating and cooling solution for both new and existing residential buildings.
CleantechClimate TechEnergyHardwarePalo Alto, US
Kathy Hannun(Founder & CTO)inRajeev James Quazi(Executive Officer, Director)Dan Yates(CEO)in
BoardCraig Shapiro(Director)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsBreakthrough Energy VenturesCollaborative FundComcast VenturesEnergy Transition VenturesGround Up VenturesNew Enterprise Associates (NEA)+4 more
DTE Materials produces carbon-negative bioaggregates and concrete blocks made from plant-based agriculture and forestry waste, using its patented ClearWash process to tailor bioaggregate properties.
Circular EconomyConstruction TechNew MaterialsFresno, US
Jose Urizar(CEO)inTanner Jolly(CFO and Secretary)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Ecovative grows whole-cut meat alternatives and leather-like materials from mycelium using its AirMycelium indoor cultivation platform, which integrates with existing mushroom farming infrastructure.
BiotechFoodTechNew Materials
Eben Bayer(Cofounder)Gavin McIntyre(Cofounder)
Co-investorsTrousdale Ventures
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Zero-emission freight proving electric trucking wins on cost, uptime, and service
Electric Fish builds products for a decentralized electric grid system to enable energy independence.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechDeep TechEnergyMobility & TransportationFremont, US
Anurag KamalinVince Wong(Founder)inLeonardo Mattiazzi(President)inFolasade Olanrewaju Ayoola(Director, Promoter)Nelio Batista(Director, Promoter)
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsTechstarsVoyager Partners
Reduces enteric methane from cattle to cut agricultural emissions
Focal develops heating technology focused on balancing communicative design, energy efficiency, operational simplicity, and integration to improve comfort.
CleantechEnergyHardwareSan Francisco, US
Rohan Pandya(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsBrainstorm VenturesMomentum CapitalDangerous Ventures
Glanris produces designer biochar (Biocarbon) made from rice waste for use as a soil amendment, a filler in materials like asphalt, concrete, and drywall, and as a water and air filtration medium.
AgTechCircular EconomyCleantechClimate TechNew MaterialsMemphis, US
Anastasia Eagle(CMO & Co-Founder)Andrew Forsdick(CFO (Fractional))Damian Russell(Head of Operations)inBryan M. Eagle III(CEO & Founder)Thomas W. Volinchak(Director)
BoardJan Bouten(Director)
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsEcho River CapitalInnova Memphis, Inc.Innova
Harvest Thermal makes an all-in-one home heating, cooling, and hot water system that pairs an air-to-water heat pump with an insulated thermal storage tank and optimization software to shift electricity use to cheaper, cleaner periods.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechClimate TechEnergyHardwareKensington, US
JanePierreKen Munson(Executive Officer, Director)inElisabeth Jane Melia(Executive Officer, Director)
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investors37 AngelsAstiaClimate Impact CapitalEarth FoundryEnergy FoundryPortfolia+4 more
Hayzel develops technology that captures wasted potential energy from HVAC expansion valves and converts it into electricity to power cooling systems, reducing energy consumption and carbon footprint for building owners.
CleantechEnergyEnterprise SoftwareHardware
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Heimdal manufactures direct air capture equipment that removes CO2 from the atmosphere and stores it permanently, operating facilities in the United States including the nation's largest low-cost capture plant.
Advanced ManufacturingClimate TechDenver, US
Marcus Lima(Founder & CEO)inErik Millar(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsBrighter CapitalBroom VenturesMetaplanetVoLo Earth VenturesY CombinatorCathexis Ventures+1 more
COP28 UAE was the United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted in the United Arab Emirates, focused on international climate action and negotiations.
Climate Tech
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
InventWood produces SUPERWOOD, a wood-based structural material engineered at the nanoscale to be stronger than steel while lighter, offering properties like fire resistance and transparency for use in construction and buildings.
Advanced ManufacturingCleantechConstruction TechNew MaterialsFrederick, US
Liangbing Hu(Founder)inALEXANDER LAU(CEO, President and Chairman)TIMOTHY KREBS(Secretary, Treasurer)
BoardKEVIN TIDWELL(Director)
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsBaruch Future VenturesPulse FundDangerous Ventures
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsAmerican Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social ImpactGreensoil PropTech VenturesLegacy Capital Ventures
Kaikaku builds Fusion, a back-of-house automation platform that uses AI and hardware to automate food preparation for restaurants.
AI & Machine LearningFoodTechRoboticsLondon, GB
Josef Chen(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investors7percent VenturesUnruly Capital
Kawa Project produces a cocoa powder alternative derived from processed coffee waste using food science and manufacturing techniques.
BiotechCircular EconomyFoodTechSouth Dakota, US
Aaron Feigelman
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Leafr is an on-demand marketplace that connects companies with vetted sustainability consultants across disciplines including carbon accounting, ESG reporting, supply chain sustainability, and climate transition planning.
Enterprise SoftwareImpact & Social GoodSaaS
Nick Valenzia(Founder)inGus Bartholomew(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsSyndicateRoom
Lingrove designs and manufactures Ekoa, a bio-based composite material made from flax and plant resins used as wall protection, wall coverings, ceilings, and millwork for hospitality, healthcare, and workplace interiors, as well as automotive interior applications.
CleantechConstruction TechNew MaterialsSan Rafael, US
Joseph Luttwak(Executive Officer, Director)in
BoardTalley Goodson(Director)Thomas Crow(Director)Stephen P. Welker(Director)
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsBoro CapitalDiamond Edge VenturesSoundboard Venture FundIndieBioLewis & Clark AgriFoodSOSV
Modern Energy develops energy storage solutions and seeks partnerships with end users, service companies, and manufacturing partners.
CleantechClimate TechEnergy
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Natrion develops solid-state battery materials, including a US-made ceramic-polymer "active separator" for lithium-ion and Li-metal cells.
EnergyAlbany, US
Thomas Rouffiac(Cofounder)inAlex Kosyakov(Cofounder)
BoardManas Gosavi(Director)Terry Howerton(Director)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsIllinois VenturesIU VenturesLG Technology VenturesTamarack GlobalUnruly CapitalTechNexus Venture Collaborative
Nevoya is a fully-electric trucking carrier that moves freight for shippers and third-party logistics providers, combining zero-emission vehicles with AI-driven operations.
CleantechClimate TechLogistics & Supply ChainMobility & TransportationColton, US
Sami Khan(Executive Officer, Director)inThomas Atwood(Founder)in
BoardJohn Verdon(Director)inTom Atwood(Director)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsFloating PointKeiki CapitalLMNT VenturesLOWERCARBONLowercarbon CapitalNecessary Ventures+4 more
New Farmers produces fresh-frozen spirulina pods delivered within 4 hours of harvest to preserve nutritional content.
ConsumerDirect to ConsumerFoodTechWellness & Fitness
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Notpla makes packaging products from seaweed and plants as an alternative to single-use plastic.
Circular EconomyClimate TechNew MaterialsLondon, GB
Pierre-Yves Paslier(Founder)in
Co-investorsAstanor VenturesBay Bridge Ventures ClimateHorizons VenturesNew Earth VenturesRadicle ImpactRegeneration.VC+2 more
Offstream provides compliance software to help organizations efficiently manage carbon reduction efforts and fund allocation within the energy transition sector.
Climate TechData & InfrastructureEnterprise SoftwareSaaSDenver, US
Varsha Ramesh Walsh(Founder)inZach Janicki(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsMission One CapitalY Combinator
Construction permit intelligence — the ground-truth dataset for how America actually builds and electrifies.
Phaidra develops an AI control platform that uses reinforcement learning to optimize energy efficiency and operational performance in data centers and AI factories.
AI & Machine LearningCloud ComputingDeep TechEnergySeattle, US
Jim Gao(Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Board Member)inVeda Panneershelvam(Co-Founder, Chief Technology Officer, Board Member)inKatie Hoffman(Co-Founder, President, Chief Operating Officer, Board Member)inVedavyas Panneershelvam(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsCollaborative FundEast Valley VenturesFlying Fish VenturesIncubate USIndex VenturesRoot and Shoot Ventures+8 more
PioneerAI is an AI tool that researches a user and their market to identify high-fit opportunities and build enriched outbound sales pipelines.
AI & Machine LearningSaaSSales Tech
Dimitar Simeonovin
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsBlue Bear Capital Partners
Converts portable sanitation into fertilizer, closing a nutrient loop
Praan develops technology to capture air pollution and greenhouse gases as part of an effort to reduce atmospheric carbon and improve air quality.
CleantechClimate TechDeep TechHardware
Angad Daryani(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsBetter CapitalSnow Leopard Technology VenturesAera VCSocial Impact CapitalWEH Ventures
Raya Power makes an integrated plug-in solar-and-battery system that provides backup power and electricity bill savings, aimed at renters and homeowners seeking a lower-cost alternative to rooftop solar.
CleantechEnergyHardware
Meghan Wood(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsSWAN Impact NetworkDangerous Ventures
Resilience deploys residential solar and storage, aggregating homes into a single dispatchable grid resource that supplies power to the AI/data center economy while lowering or eliminating energy costs for working families.
CleantechClimate TechEnergy
Jay Lipman(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsBlackhorn VenturesVirta Ventures
Sanivation provides hands-on consulting and support to help water utilities in secondary cities build sustainable, safely managed sanitation systems.
Circular EconomyCleantechClimate TechImpact & Social Good
Emily Woods(Cofounder)inAndrew Foote(Cofounder)in
Co-investorsFINCA VenturesSilicon Valley
Shovels provides a building permit and contractor data platform that uses AI to turn fragmented U.S. permit records into structured, searchable intelligence covering 164M+ permits across 2,450+ jurisdictions.
Construction TechData & InfrastructurePropTechLafayette, US
Ryan Buckley(Executive Officer, Director, Promoter)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsMission One CapitalVirta Ventures
Currence (Sightline Climate) offers a data platform that pairs an AI data engine with expert analysts to turn thousands of sources into proprietary data, models, and forecasts on energy and climate technology.
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechData & Infrastructure
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsMolten VenturesThe Westly GroupAccelr8Red Sea Ventures
Battery components built for domestic manufacturing and next-generation energy density
Hydropanels technology producing clean drinking water using only sunlight and air for global water access.
Scottsdale, US
CODY FRIESEN(Executive Officer, Director)inChristopher Mirick(Executive Officer)inAl-Hussein Dahya(Executive Officer)
BoardErik Snyder(Director)Carmichael Roberts(Director)inJim Matheson(Director)in
Co-investorsBaruch Future VenturesBreakthrough Energy VenturesMaterial ImpactR/GA VenturesThe Lightsmith GroupWIND Ventures
Sphere provides fossil-free, climate-friendly investment options that can be added to existing company 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans, letting employers offer values-aligned funds to employees.
Climate TechFintechImpact & Social Good
Alex Wright-Gladstein(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsSymphonic CapitalCoinbase VenturesKraken Ventures
Engineered wood stronger than steel, now entering mass production.
Wasted operates a portable toilet rental service with a focus on sustainable practices and environmental responsibility.
Circular EconomyBurlington, US
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsGratitude Railroad
Waterplan provides a platform that assesses water risk for industrial and consumer goods companies by combining operational data with satellite imagery, then recommends mitigation strategies ranging from infrastructure upgrades to ecosystem-based approaches.
AI & Machine LearningClimate TechEnterprise SoftwareSaaSSan Francisco, US
Jose Ignacio Galindo(Founder)inNicolas Wertheimer(Founder)in
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Co-investorsAngel Collective Opportunity FundCemex VenturesEcho River CapitalGiant Ventures Global LlpJetstreamSur Ventures+6 more
PartnerMehrad Yaghmai· solo GP
Exits · 1
IPOs and acquisitions across the tracked portfolioGinkgo BioworksNYSE: DNA
Portfolio news
latest coverage across their companies
Harvest · circlevilleherald.com · Aug 27, 2026
Sightline Climate · blog.mean.ceo · Aug 19, 2026
Pioneer · tipranks.com · Aug 18, 2026
Broadband Access · santafenewmexican.com · Aug 15, 2026
Sphere · ca.investing.com · Jul 31, 2026
Ginkgo Bioworks · ca.investing.com · Jul 17, 2026
Raya Power · pulse2.com · Jun 30, 2026
AquaPoro · intelligence360.news · Jun 30, 2026
Frequently asked questions
- How many investments has Cool Climate Collective made?
- Cool Climate Collective has 69 tracked investments, 1 of which have exited via acquisition or IPO, including 4 dated in the last 24 months.
- What stage does Cool Climate Collective invest at?
- Cool Climate Collective invests at the Pre-Seed, Seed stages.
- What is Cool Climate Collective's typical check size?
- Cool Climate Collective typically writes checks of $100K – $350K.
- What sectors does Cool Climate Collective focus on?
- Cool Climate Collective focuses on AgTech, Cleantech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Energy.
- Where is Cool Climate Collective located?
- Cool Climate Collective is headquartered in Sacramento, US.
- Does Cool Climate Collective lead rounds?
- Cool Climate Collective typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
- Who does Cool Climate Collective co-invest with?
- Cool Climate Collective most often shares deals with Y Combinator, Collaborative Fund, Unruly Capital, among 124 tracked co-investors.
Images
Co-investors · 4
Flybridge Capital Partners is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in entrepreneurs building companies with global reach. The firm focuses on supporting innovative ventures from their initial funding stages.
Red Beard Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm run by a team with operating and investing backgrounds, focused on enabling the Metaverse and developing frontier technology.
Saka Ventures is a New York based venture fund that backs resilient founders building products for large global markets. It supports startups with go-to-market, product, and strategy expertise.
Firms observed investing alongside Cool Climate Collective, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Cool Climate Collective's recorded portfolio.
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