What check size does Eric Toone write?

Eric Toone typically writes checks of $500K – $50M.

Where did Eric Toone go to school?

Eric Toone studied at Harvard University (Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chemistry); University of Toronto (Ph.D., Orgnaic Chemistry); University of Toronto (Master of Science (M.Sc.), Organic Chemistry).

Eric Toone

Investor

Chief Technical Officer, Breakthrough Energy; Managing Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Durham, North Carolina

Writes $500K – $50M checks · typically $25M

Find your path to Eric

421 people in our graph share verified history with Eric — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.

René KuijtenunlockedEric: together at Harvard University (1989)

×8Eric: together at Harvard University

×2Eric: together at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Eric: together at Energy

About

Oversees Breakthrough Energy's technological roadmap as CTO and is a Managing Partner of Breakthrough Energy Ventures. A former Duke University chemistry professor and Director of ARPA-E, he has authored nearly 300 publications, holds over 30 patents, and co-founded three pharmaceutical companies.

Beyond investing

Founded: Toone cofounded Aerie Pharmaceuticals, a life sciences company that eventually went public.
Education: Studied at University of Toronto (Ph.D., Chemistry) Studied at Harvard University (Postdoctoral work)
Communities: Toone spoke at the Bloomberg Green Festival.
More: Toone holds more than 30 patents as a scientist.

From published sources — common ground for a warm intro.

Experience

Breakthrough EnergyCTO, Breakthrough Energycurrent2022 — present
Breakthrough EnergyManaging Partner, Breakthrough Energy Venturescurrent2017 — present
Duke UniversityProfessor of Chemistry (Emeritus)current2018 — presentRaleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area
Duke UniversityProfessor of Chemistry and Professor of Biochemistry2002 — 2017Durham, NC
Duke UniversityVice Provost and Director, Innovation & Entreprenuership Initiative2013 — 2017Durham, NC
Duke UniversityAssociate Professor of Chemistry and Asscoiate Professor of Biochemistry1998 — 2001Durham, NC
Duke UniversityAssociate Professor of Chemistry and Associate Professor of Biochemistry1996 — 1997Durham, NC
Duke UniversityAssistnat Professor of Chemistry and Assistant Professor of Biochemistry1994 — 1996Durham, NC
Duke UniversityAssistant Professor of Chemistry1990 — 1994Durham, NC
U.S. Department of EnergyDeputy Director and Chief Technical Officer, Advanced Research Programs Agency - Energy2010 — 2012Washington, DC
U.S. Department of EnergyProgram Director, Advanced Research Programs Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)2009 — 2010Washington, DC

Skills & more

Higher Education1ScienceUniversity TeachingSpectroscopyTeaching2Student AffairsStudent DevelopmentBiochemistry1Research2Chemistry2NMRGrant Writing

From Eric's professional profile.

Colleagues at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Alice Jackson

Head of Grid Modeling at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Allegra Kowalewski-Ferreira

Investor at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Ben Gaddy

Breakthrough Energy Discovery at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Bhargavi Chevva

Investor at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Bill Gates

Co-founder of Microsoft; Chair of the Gates Foundation

Brenda Haendler

Breakthrough Energy Discovery at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Brian Mayers

Breakthrough Energy Ventures at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Carmichael Roberts

Investor at Material Impact

Network5

Adam Wallen

Investor at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Allegra Kowalewski-Ferreira

Investor at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Bhargavi Chevva

Investor at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Brian Mayers

Breakthrough Energy Ventures at Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Carmichael Roberts

Investor at Material Impact

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

Frequently asked questions

Who is Eric Toone?: Oversees Breakthrough Energy's technological roadmap as CTO and is a Managing Partner of Breakthrough Energy Ventures. A former Duke University chemistry professor and Director of ARPA-E, he has authored nearly 300 publications, holds over 30 patents, and co-founded three pharmaceutical companies.
Where does Eric Toone work?: Eric Toone is Chief Technical Officer, Breakthrough Energy; Managing Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures at Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
What check size does Eric Toone write?: Eric Toone typically writes checks of $500K – $50M.
Where did Eric Toone go to school?: Eric Toone studied at Harvard University (Postdoctoral Fellowship, Chemistry); University of Toronto (Ph.D., Orgnaic Chemistry); University of Toronto (Master of Science (M.Sc.), Organic Chemistry).

Same school

Also attended Harvard University2,000

Ron ConwayFounder of SV Angel Alfred LinPartner at Sequoia Capital Chris DixonFounder & Managing Partner of a16z crypto at Andreessen Horowitz Sarah TavelVenture Partner at Benchmark Danny RimerPartner at Index Ventures Laela SturdyManaging Partner at CapitalG

+ 1,994 more

Also attended University of Toronto594

Ilya SutskeverCo-founder of OpenAI; co-founder & CEO of Safe Superintelligence Nick FrosstCo-founder of Cohere Yasmin RazaviInvestor at Spark Capital Imran BashirFounding Partner, Chief Operating Officer at Extreme Venture Partners Karim GillaniGeneral Partner at Luge Capital Andrew MiklasGeneral Partner at Y Combinator

+ 588 more

Also attended University of Guelph67

Sarah WillsonPrincipal at Panache Ventures Brendan HusseyInvestor at JLS Daniel MuletPartner at Radical Ventures Joseph ReganSenior Managing Partner at BDC Venture Capital Jack FraserPartner at BDC Venture Capital Jennifer WilliamsCFO at Genesys Capital

+ 61 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Duke University153

Fred EhrsamCo-founder and Senior Advisor at Paradigm; founder of Nudge Pae WuGeneral Partner at SOSV Akshita IyerCorporate Insights Lead at Tech Square Ventures Michael BrannanSr. Associate at Volition Capital Paige MorschauserHead of Operations at Red Cell Incubation Evan HenleyAssociate, Investments at Capital One Ventures

+ 147 more

Also worked at U.S. Department of Energy57

Linda CuretonBoard Member at Maryland TEDCO Nico EnriquezEarly-stage venture capitalist at Future Ventures Jonathan BurbaumEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation Space Emily FritzePartner at The Westly Group Aniqua BokhariLegal Counsel at Red Cell Incubation Brandon HurlbutCo-Founder at Overture Climate

+ 51 more