David Danielson
InvestorBreakthrough Energy Ventures at Breakthrough Energy Ventures · Adjunct Professor at Stanford University · Board director at Electrasteel, Inc. · Board director at M2X Energy · Board director at Electric Hydrogen
Stanford, California
Writes $500K – $50M checks · typically $25M
Find your path to David
2,009 people in our graph share verified history with David — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
About
David Danielson, an ARPA‑E founding program director and former DOE Assistant Secretary who oversaw multibillion‑dollar efficiency and renewables portfolios, brings deep expertise decarbonizing cement and steel, bridging academia and VC.
Invests in
AgTechClimate TechDeep TechEnergyFoodTechHardwareMobility & Transportation
Board director at Electrasteel, Inc.
Intro paths
In turn, David can intro founders to Electrasteel, Inc.'s investors below.
Electrasteel, Inc.'s investors · 2
Co-founders at Electrasteel, Inc.
Board director at M2X Energy
Intro paths
In turn, David can intro founders to M2X Energy's investors below.
M2X Energy's investors · 3
Co-founders at M2X Energy
Board director at Electric Hydrogen
Intro paths
In turn, David can intro founders to Electric Hydrogen's investors below.
Electric Hydrogen's investors · 13
Co-founders at Electric Hydrogen
Experience
- Breakthrough Energy VenturesPartnercurrent2017 — present
- Fervo EnergyInvestorcurrent2018 — presentHouston, Texas, United States
- Redwood MaterialsInvestorcurrent2020 — presentCarson City, Nevada, United States
- KoBold MetalsInvestorcurrent2018 — presentOakland, CA
- Mariana MineralsInvestorcurrent2024 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
- Heron PowerInvestorcurrent2025 — presentScotts Valley, California, United States
- Form Energy, Inc.Investorcurrent2018 — presentSomerville, Massachusetts
- Molten IndustriesInvestorcurrent2024 — presentOakland, California, United States
- M2X Energy Inc.Investorcurrent2023 — presentRatledge, Florida
- Electric Hydrogen Co.Investorcurrent2021 — presentSan Jose, California, United States
- ElectraInvestorcurrent2020 — presentBoulder, Colorado, United States
- MillInvestorcurrent2020 — presentSan Bruno, California, United States
- Lilac Solutions, Inc.Investorcurrent2020 — presentOakland, California
- QuantumScapeInvestorcurrent2018 — presentSan Jose, California
- Equilibrium EnergyInvestorcurrent2021 — presentSan Francisco, California, United States
- Stanford UniversityAdjunct Professorcurrent2016 — presentStanford, California
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)Assistant Secretary of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE)2012 — 2016Washington, DC
- Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)Co-Founder/Employee #12009 — 2012Washington, DC
- General Catalyst PartnersSenior Associate2006 — 2009
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Skills & more
From David's professional profile.
Deals · 8
Lilac SolutionsBoard seat
via Breakthrough Energy Ventures · filed Jun 2026 · $46.7M raise
M2X EnergyBoard seat
via Breakthrough Energy Ventures · filed Mar 2026 · $50M raise
Heron Power Electronics CoBoard seat
via Breakthrough Energy Ventures · filed Feb 2026 · $140M raise
Electrasteel, Inc.Board seat
via Breakthrough Energy Ventures · filed Jan 2025 · $256.7M raise
Electric HydrogenBoard seat
via Breakthrough Energy Ventures · filed Oct 2023 · $750K raise
Redwood MaterialsBoard seat
via Breakthrough Energy Ventures · filed Dec 2022 · $154.7M raise
Fervo EnergyBoard seat
via Breakthrough Energy Ventures · filed Apr 2021 · $28.3M raise
Baseload RenewablesBoard seat
via Breakthrough Energy Ventures · filed May 2018 · $1.6M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Colleagues at Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Network5
Investors connected to David in public investor directories — a warm-intro map.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is David Danielson?
- David Danielson, an ARPA‑E founding program director and former DOE Assistant Secretary who oversaw multibillion‑dollar efficiency and renewables portfolios, brings deep expertise decarbonizing cement and steel, bridging academia and VC.
- Where does David Danielson work?
- David Danielson is Breakthrough Energy Ventures at Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Board director at Electrasteel, Inc. and Board director at M2X Energy and Board director at Electric Hydrogen.
- What does David Danielson invest in?
- David Danielson invests in AgTech, Climate Tech, Deep Tech, Energy, FoodTech, Hardware, Mobility & Transportation.
- What check size does David Danielson write?
- David Danielson typically writes checks of $500K – $50M.
- What boards does David Danielson sit on?
- David Danielson holds tracked board seats at Baseload Renewables, Electrasteel, Inc., Electric Hydrogen, Fervo Energy, Heron Power Electronics Co, Lilac Solutions, M2X Energy, Redwood Materials.
- Where did David Danielson go to school?
- David Danielson studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (PhD, Materials Science); University of California, Berkeley (Bachelor of Science - BS, Materials Science & Engineering).
Same school
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology2,000
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of California, Berkeley2,000
+ 1,994 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Redwood Materials5
Also worked at Mariana Minerals1
Also worked at Heron Power4
Also worked at Form Energy, Inc.13
+ 7 more