David Danielson
InvestorFounderManaging Director at Breakthrough Energy Ventures · Board director at Electrasteel, Inc. · Board director at M2X Energy · Board director at Electric Hydrogen
Stanford, California
Writes $500K – $50M checks · typically $25M
FoundedElectrasteel, Inc.Electric HydrogenFervo EnergyLilac SolutionsM2X EnergyRedwood Materials
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 · 2
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 · 9
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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Education
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyPhD, Materials Science2001 — 2007
- University of California, BerkeleyBachelor of Science - BS, Materials Science & Engineering1995 — 2001
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
- Where does David Danielson work?
- David Danielson is Managing Director at Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Founder at Electrasteel, Inc. and Founder at M2X Energy and Founder 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 companies did David Danielson found?
- David Danielson founded Electrasteel, Inc., Electric Hydrogen, Fervo Energy, Lilac Solutions, M2X Energy, Redwood Materials.
Same school
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,281
+ 1,275 more
Also attended University of California, Berkeley1,341
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+ 1,335 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Redwood Materials3
Also worked at Mariana Minerals1
Also worked at Heron Power2
Also worked at Form Energy, Inc.8
+ 2 more