Eric Toone
InvestorGeneral Partner at BEV · General Partner at oneworld BEV · 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
488 people in our graph share verified history with Eric — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
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
From Eric's professional profile.
Investments
Board seats
Investor
LydianVerdox
Sources: SEC Form D filings · curated public sources.
Colleagues at BEV
Network5
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 General Partner at BEV.
- What check size does Eric Toone write?
- Eric Toone typically writes checks of $500K – $50M.
- What boards does Eric Toone sit on?
- Eric Toone holds tracked board seats at Valanbio Therapeutics.
- What companies has Eric Toone invested in?
- Investments tracked here include Lydian, Verdox.
- 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
+ 1,994 more
Also attended University of Toronto726
+ 720 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Duke University187
+ 181 more
Also worked at U.S. Department of Energy74
+ 68 more






























