Fundraising Fox

Chris Ariante

Founder

Founder at Nira Energy

San Diego, California, United States

FoundedNira Energy · YC

About

Chris Ariante is the CEO of Nira Energy. He previously worked at another grid-focused startup where he developed a substantial pipeline of utility and renewable energy projects, and consulted with major U.S. utilities and renewable developers.

Founder at Nira EnergyYC W22

Intro paths

YC

Chris went through Y Combinator (Winter 2022) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.

GP

Their group partner at YC was Gustaf Alstromer — the partner who ran Nira Energy's batch and knows the company first-hand. YC profile ↗

→

In turn, Chris can intro founders to Nira Energy's investors below.

Nira Energy's investors · 2

Energize CapitalChicago · $10M – $20M checks · since 2025Y CombinatorSan Francisco · $500K checks · since 2022

Co-founders at Nira Energy

ACAndy Chen
Andy ChenFounder
AMAndrew Martin
Andrew MartinFounder

Experience

  1. Nira EnergyCo - Founder & CEOcurrent2021 — present
  2. Smart Wires Inc.Director, Strategy and Project Development2018 — 2021San Francisco Bay Area
  3. Smart Wires Inc.Strategy & Engineering Associate2018San Francisco Bay Area
  4. Clean Energy Leadership InstituteCELI Fellow2019
  5. ExxonMobilRevenue Management Advisor2016 — 2018Houston, Texas Area
  6. ExxonMobilUtilities Engineer2014 — 2016Houston, TX

Skills & more

Project Management3Greenfield Development2Design Engineering2Economic Modeling2Financial Analysis2Data Analytics2Energy2Utilities2Interpersonal Relationships2Project Planning1Microsoft Office2Data Analysis3
+3 moreEngineeringMechanical EngineeringAnalysis

From Chris's professional profile.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Chris Ariante?
Chris Ariante is the CEO of Nira Energy. He previously worked at another grid-focused startup where he developed a substantial pipeline of utility and renewable energy projects, and consulted with major U.S. utilities and renewable developers.
Where does Chris Ariante work?
Chris Ariante is Founder of Nira Energy.
What companies did Chris Ariante found?
Chris Ariante founded Nira Energy.
Where did Chris Ariante go to school?
Chris Ariante studied at Stevens Institute of Technology (Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering).

Founder mafias

Y Combinator mafia8,773

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Sam AltmanPresidentFounded Tools for Humanity +3Jessica LivingstonCo-founderFounded Y CombinatorAlexis OhanianYC Summer 2005Founded RedditFred EhrsamYC Summer 2012Founded Nudge +1Matt HuangYC Winter 2011Founded HotspotsTrae StephensYC Winter 2022Founded Pursuit +1

+ 8,766 more

Stevens Institute of Technology mafia12

Also came through, then founded or led a company.

Douglas E. RogersBEFounded DubPrime +1Al SistoBachelor of EngineeringFounded Phoenix TechnologiesBill BarhydtBachelor of ScienceFounded AbraRahul MahidaChemical-BiologyFounded DaivergentMark RothBEFounded Connected LivingMykel PereiraComputer ScienceFounded Haywheel

+ 5 more

Same school

Also attended Stevens Institute of Technology24

Srinivas RaoInvestor at Phoenix Venture PartnersDaniella KranjacInvestor at Avant BioLindsay GoeddelInvestor at Constellation Technology VenturesNikos VogiatzisPartner at Corallia VenturesMiriam Moreno-HerediaOperations Associate at Accial CapitalGarry TurkingtonInvestor at CapitalT

+ 18 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Nira Energy4

Tyler LancasterPartner — Co-Head of Ventures at Energize VenturesMark TomasovicPrincipal — Ventures at Energize VenturesAndy ChenFounder at Nira EnergyAndrew MartinFounder at Nira Energy

Also worked at Smart Wires Inc.4

Neal DikemanPartner at Energy Transition VenturesDavid NiebauerGeneral Counsel at Energy Transition VenturesGregg RotenbergOperating Partner at DCVC (Data Collective)Andrew MartinFounder at Nira Energy

Also worked at Clean Energy Leadership Institute15

Nicholas AdeyiInvestor at Congruent VenturesEdward YangSenior Associate at Prelude VenturesEmma McDonaghPartner & COO at Overture ClimateNikhil BhambiVenture Associate at Press On VenturesMary KingVice President at Aligned Climate CapitalMaya HassaPrincipal at Circular Innovation Fund

+ 9 more

Also worked at ExxonMobil55

Sarah AlfaddaAssociate General Counsel at Sapphire VenturesJane CommerfordOperations at 8VCAna Cristina Gadala-MariaPrincipal at QED InvestorsAlex DulinChief Operating Officer at The Innovation SpaceMark TomasovicPrincipal — Ventures at Energize VenturesWill MorrisonPrincipal at DFJ

+ 49 more