Fundraising Fox

Danny Cotter

Investor

Managing Partner at The Westly Group · Board director at Via Science

San Francisco Bay Area

Writes $5M – $15M checks · typically $10M

About

Danny Cotter leverages inside-the-utility experience at PG&E—where he evaluated pilots and co-led an advanced analytics build for multi-billion-dollar grid investments—to back grid, electrification, and energy-transition software with deep utility-to-market insight.

Contact· self-published, not guessed

Invests in

Climate TechCybersecurityEnergyMobility & TransportationPropTech

Board director at Via Science

Intro paths

→

In turn, Danny can intro founders to Via Science's investors below.

Via Science's investors · 2

BMW i VenturesMountain View · $10M checks · since 2025The Westly GroupMenlo Park · $500K – $15M checks

Co-founders at Via Science

CG
Colin GoundenExecutive Officer, Director

Experience

  1. The Westly GroupManaging Partnercurrent2024 — present
  2. The Westly GroupPartner2021 — 2024
  3. The Westly GroupPrincipal2018 — 2021
  4. EthosBoard Membercurrent2024 — present
  5. VIABoard Membercurrent2019 — presentGreater Boston Area
  6. Network PerceptionBoard Membercurrent2022 — presentChicago, Illinois, United States
  7. WeaveGridInvestor & Board Observercurrent2021 — present
  8. AwairBoard Membercurrent2020 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  9. FictivInvestor & Board Observer2022 — 2025
  10. Prelude VenturesSummer Associate2017San Francisco Bay Area
  11. Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyExpert Analyst - Smart Grid Technology Strategy2015 — 2016San Francisco
  12. Pacific Gas and Electric CompanySenior Risk Analyst2015San Francisco Bay Area
  13. Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyRisk Analyst2013 — 2014San Francisco Bay Area
  14. ZS AssociatesBusiness Operations Associate2012 — 2013New York
  15. Lockheed MartinIntern2009 — 2010

Skills & more

Matlab8Data Analysis11VBA3PowerPoint3Microsoft Excel3Research6Microsoft Office4SAS3Statistics3Access2Quantitative Analytics2Microsoft Word3
+10 moreProject ManagementAnalysisPythonSQLTeam LeadershipMarket ResearchAnalyticsFinancial AnalysisSmart GridInformation Technology

From Danny's professional profile.

Colleagues at The Westly Group

Bob Rowe
Venture Partner at The Westly Group
Dave Coglizer
Partner at The Westly Group
Emily Fritze
Partner at The Westly Group
Hannah Li
Associate at The Westly Group
Jamie Daudon
Principal at The Westly Group
Jason Kalira
Partner at The Westly Group
Jennifer Gunn
CFO at The Westly Group
Kelly McCarthy
Associate at The Westly Group

Network7

Matt EggersScout
Managing Director at Prelude Ventures
Sophie PurdomScout
Managing Partner at Planeteer Capital
Dave Coglizer
Partner at The Westly Group
Emily Fritze
Partner at The Westly Group
Hannah Li
Associate at The Westly Group
Jason Kalira
Partner at The Westly Group
Megan Cain
Principal at The Westly Group

Investors connected to Danny in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Danny Cotter?
Danny Cotter leverages inside-the-utility experience at PG&E—where he evaluated pilots and co-led an advanced analytics build for multi-billion-dollar grid investments—to back grid, electrification, and energy-transition software with deep utility-to-market insight.
Where does Danny Cotter work?
Danny Cotter is Managing Partner at The Westly Group and Board director at Via Science.
What does Danny Cotter invest in?
Danny Cotter invests in Climate Tech, Cybersecurity, Energy, Mobility & Transportation, PropTech.
What check size does Danny Cotter write?
Danny Cotter typically writes checks of $5M – $15M.
Where did Danny Cotter go to school?
Danny Cotter studied at Stanford University Graduate School of Business (Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.)); Columbia University (Masters of Science, Mechanical Engineering); UCLA (Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Mechanical Engineering).

Same school

Also attended Stanford University Graduate School of Business1,632

Roelof BothaAdvisor & former Steward at Sequoia Capital; SpaceX board memberPeter FentonGeneral Partner at BenchmarkSteve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesDavid SzeAdvisory Partner at GreylockKatherine BoyleGeneral Partner at Andreessen Horowitz (American Dynamism)Hunter WalkCo-founder & Partner at Homebrew

+ 1,626 more

Also attended Columbia University942

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzDoug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerChris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen HorowitzKai-Fu LeeChairman of Sinovation Ventures and CEO of 01.AIGabriella GiglioHR & Executive Talent at General CatalystScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)

+ 936 more

Also attended UCLA680

Ben HorowitzCo-founder & General Partner at Andreessen HorowitzRon ConwayFounder of SV AngelKirsten GreenFounder and Managing Partner at Forerunner VenturesVlad TenevCo-founder & CEO of RobinhoodRyan KingCo-founder of ChimePaul FieldingFinance & Operations at General Catalyst

+ 674 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Ethos5

Megan CainPrincipal at The Westly GroupJeff CroweSenior Managing Partner at Norwest Venture PartnersJocelyn KangFounder at KnowtexIan EdwardsFounder at ParleySasha SeymoreFounder at Ethos

Also worked at VIA6

Charles SvirkPartner at MassMutual VenturesKasper SageManaging Partner at BMW i VenturesScott WalbrunPrincipal at BMW i VenturesJeremy KranzManaging Partner at SENTINEL GLOBALAdam JacksonInvestor at Robert Bosch Venture CapitalHaojun LiManaging Partner at Granite Asia

Also worked at Network Perception2

Tansel IsmailVice President at Energy Impact PartnersDylan WalkerFounder at Lumona

Also worked at WeaveGrid7

Jeff PetersPartner at Ibex InvestorsMatt EggersManaging Director at Prelude VenturesGabriel KraManaging Director at Prelude VenturesClaudine EmeottPartner, Impact Fund at Salesforce VenturesKendall CodyMarketing & Communications Director at PowerhouseSila KiliccoteBreakthrough Energy Ventures at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

+ 1 more