Oakland · Seed · 13 people tracked
Investment thesis
Powerhouse Ventures invests in seed-stage founding teams building the future power system across energy, infrastructure, and AI. The firm focuses on companies that are both seed-stage and market-ready, backing teams scaling proven technologies in established markets to accelerate energy abundance and grow enduring, high-growth businesses. Over roughly a decade, the firm has cultivated an extensive network of founders, corporate leaders, and investors in the sector, and it emphasizes long-term relationships and hands-on support across multiple financing rounds. It also convenes the industry through its New Dawn event focused on the future of clean energy.
Source: firm website, verified Aug 3, 2026.
Team · 13 people
from the firm's website & public directories
Founder mafia
2 people who came through Powerhouse went on to found or lead other companies.
What they invest in
from 3 of 4 portfolio companiesCleantech ×3Energy ×3AI & Machine Learning ×2SaaS ×2Climate Tech ×1Construction Tech ×1PropTech ×1
HQs:United States×2
Investments · 4 tracked
founders shown can be your intro pathMercury Computing operates a software platform and API connecting data centers and utilities, converting demand flexibility at data centers into usable grid capacity.
CleantechEnergySaaSBoulder, US
Co-investorsCrucible CapitalVirta Ventures
Accure offers a predictive battery analytics platform that uses AI and cloud computing to monitor Li-ion battery fleets across procurement, quality assurance, commissioning, operations, and augmentation.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechEnergy
Co-investors42CAPBlue Bear Capital PartnersCapnamicEnergize CapitalIncharge Capital PartnersPear VC
Rock Rabbit provides an AI-powered platform that simplifies the application, verification, and payment of energy efficiency incentives for contractors, installers, and equipment manufacturers.
AI & Machine LearningCleantechClimate TechConstruction TechEnergyPropTechSaaSPalo Alto, US
Aimee Gotway Bailey(Executive Officer)
BoardAnthony Oni(Director)inRiyad Muradov(Director)
Co-investorsBetter Ventures Central LlcEnergy Impact PartnersTechstarsBetter Ventures
Company scaling clean energy technology; supported by Powerhouse through three financing rounds (CEO Matt Campbell).
Frequently asked questions
- What stage does Powerhouse invest at?
- Powerhouse invests at the Seed stage.
- What is Powerhouse's typical check size?
- Powerhouse typically writes checks of $150K – $2M.
- What sectors does Powerhouse focus on?
- Powerhouse focuses on AI & Machine Learning, Cleantech, Climate Tech, Energy, Mobility & Transportation, SaaS.
- Where is Powerhouse located?
- Powerhouse is headquartered in Oakland, US.
- Does Powerhouse lead rounds?
- Powerhouse typically participates in rounds rather than leading them.
Media · Podcasts & interviews
featuring the teamVC Sunday School: startup investing in a down market + Emily Kirsch of Powerhouse Ventures | E1373
This Week in Startups · Emily Kirsch
Emily Kirsch of Powerhouse on fighting big oil & transforming energy sector to solar
This Week in Startups · Emily Kirsch
Ep 43: Emily Kirsch - Founder, Powerhouse
Energy Impact Center · Emily Kirsch
Zūm Founder and CEO Ritu Narayan
Powerhouse
ThinkLabs AI Founder and CEO Josh Wong
Powerhouse
Alex Honnold, Rock Climber & Founder, Honnold Foundation
Powerhouse
Images
Co-investors · 23
Energy Impact Partners is an investment firm that connects entrepreneurs with major corporate partners to help drive the transformation of the global economy toward a more sustainable future.
SV Angel is a firm that has backed startup founders since the 1990s, leveraging a large network of founders, industry leaders, and regulators to support portfolio companies.
First Round Capital is an early-stage venture firm that backs companies at their earliest moments, often before they are named, across enterprise, AI, consumer, healthcare, fintech and hardware sectors.
Everywhere Ventures is an early-stage venture firm, backed by a community of founders and operators as LPs, that writes early checks (including pre-seed) into startups across many sectors and geographies.
Union Square Ventures is a venture capital firm based in New York City that invests at the edge of large markets undergoing transformation from technological and societal pressures.
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.
Ulu Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm focused on finding and funding early-stage founder teams, emphasizing diversity and data-driven investment decisions.
Moxxie Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in companies focused on improving aspects of daily life and the workplace.
Giant Ventures is a venture capital firm investing in technology that transforms civilization's foundational systems across sectors including AI, energy, materials, industry, work, finance, biology and healthcare.
Convective Capital is an investment firm focused on companies building systems that make the world disaster-proof, spanning hardware, software and financial services that manage physical-world risk. It operates Updraft, a 10,000+ person resilience network connecting utilities, agencies, insurers and emergency services.
GFT Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on frontier technology, investing primarily in the US and Israel.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is Amazon's Seattle-based cloud computing division, offering more than 240 cloud and AI services to customers ranging from startups to large enterprises. Its infrastructure spans over 120 availability zones across dozens of geographic regions worldwide. It is a technology provider rather than an investment firm.
▶11 more co-investors
GE VenturesPrelude VenturesCerity Partners VenturesNorrsken VCSalica InvestmentsVerve VenturesData Point CapitalPale Blue DotActive Impact InvestmentsBuoyant Ventures Management, LlcVela Partners
Firms observed investing alongside Powerhouse, from public investor directories. Shared companies are the overlap with Powerhouse's recorded portfolio.
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