Fundraising Fox

John Tough

Investor

Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Member of Investment Committee at Energize Capital · Board Member at Contrarian Ventures

Chicago, Illinois

Writes $10M – $20M checks · typically $15M

About

The site belongs to Energize Capital, a multi-stage investor in asset-light software and services that advance the energy, climate, and industrial sectors. The firm was established in 2017 with founding investor Invenergy and is based in Chicago, deploying capital through two strategies: Ventures (earlier-stage) and Endurance (private equity). It manages $1.7B in assets across 35+ active portfolio companies. The named individual, John Tough, is not described anywhere in the provided site content.

Contact· published on John's own website

Experience

  1. Energize CapitalCo-Founder & Managing Partnercurrent2017 — presentGreater Chicago Area
  2. Handle.comBoard Membercurrent2026 — present
  3. 5Board Membercurrent2025 — presentDallas, Texas, United States
  4. SitetrackerBoard Membercurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco Bay Area
  5. PVcaseBoard Membercurrent2023 — presentVilniaus, Lithuania
  6. Matroid, Inc.Board Membercurrent2020 — presentPalo Alto, California, United States
  7. DroneDeployBoard Membercurrent2018 — presentSan Francisco, California
  8. Aurora SolarBoard Membercurrent2019 — presentSan Francisco, California
  9. ZEDEDA Inc.Board Observercurrent2019 — present
  10. Nozomi NetworksBoard Member2017 — 2026San Francisco, California
  11. Volta ChargingBoard Member2018 — 2023San Francisco
  12. SmartcarBoard Member2021 — 2023Mountain View, California, United States
  13. Jupiter IntelligenceBoard Member2019 — 2021San Mateo, California
  14. Chicago BlendBoard Member2018 — 2019Greater Chicago Area
  15. Choose EnergyInterim Chief Revenue Officer2017Greater Chicago Area
  16. Choose EnergyChief Revenue Officer2016 — 2017San Francisco Bay Area
  17. Choose EnergyVP of Business Development & Operations2014 — 2016San Francisco
  18. Choose EnergyDirector of Business Development2012 — 2014San Francisco
  19. Kleiner Perkins Caufield & ByersAssociate2011 — 2012Menlo Park, CA
  20. XMS Capital PartnersFinancial Analyst2009 — 2010Evanston, IL
  21. UBS Investment BankFinancial Analyst2007 — 2009

Skills & more

Mergers & Acquisitions19Due Diligence14Investments6Leadership8Angel Investing2Venture Capital43Valuation1Financial Modeling37Private Equity6Corporate Development4Start-ups30Entrepreneurship9
+12 moreCorporate FinanceEnergyInvestment BankingStrategyBusiness StrategyCapital RaisingM&A experienceStrategic PartnershipsMergersLBOFinanceEmerging Markets

From John's professional profile.

Deals · 3

Nozomi NetworksBoard seat

via Energize Capital · filed Aug 2021 · $73.8M raise

Volta IndustriesBoard seat

via Energize Capital · filed Jun 2019 · $20M raise

SiteTrakerBoard seat

via Energize Capital · filed Jun 2019 · $20M raise

Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.

Other disclosed investments

Board seats

Sitetracker

Per SEC Form D filings.

Colleagues at Energize Capital

Aaron Donenberg
Portfolio Finance Associate at Energize Ventures
Agustina Soriano Sergi
Senior Associate — Ventures at Energize Ventures
Alan Glass
Partner — Co-Head of Endurance at Energize Ventures
Ana Hugener
Principal — Ventures at Energize Ventures
Anson MacKinney
Senior Associate — Ventures at Energize Ventures
Becks Bondi
Director of Operations at Energize Ventures
Chloe Bierut
Community & Events Manager at Energize Ventures
Chris Bozzetti
Controller at Energize Ventures

Frequently asked questions

Who is John Tough?
The site belongs to Energize Capital, a multi-stage investor in asset-light software and services that advance the energy, climate, and industrial sectors. The firm was established in 2017 with founding investor Invenergy and is based in Chicago, deploying capital through two strategies: Ventures (earlier-stage) and Endurance (private equity). It manages $1.7B in assets across 35+ active portfolio companies. The named individual, John Tough, is not described anywhere in the provided site content.
Where does John Tough work?
John Tough is Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Member of Investment Committee at Energize Capital.
What check size does John Tough write?
John Tough typically writes checks of $10M – $20M.
What boards does John Tough sit on?
John Tough holds tracked board seats at Nozomi Networks, Sitetracker, Volta Industries.
Where did John Tough go to school?
John Tough studied at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business (MBA, Entrepreneurship); Duke University (BS, Biology); St. Mark's School of Texas.

Same school

Also attended The University of Chicago Booth School of Business706

Prashant ShahPartner at Monta Vista CapitalNoorPartner at Clear VenturesTinaInvestments & Portfolio Services Team Member at Clear VenturesKatrin GeyskensExecutive Director at Capricorn Venture PartnersBill PescatelloInvestor at LightbankGlebFounder and Managing Partner at iTech Capital

+ 700 more

Also attended Duke University678

Fred EhrsamCo-founder and Senior Advisor at Paradigm; founder of NudgeJeremy LevinePartner at Bessemer Venture PartnersZach PerretCo-founder & CEO of Plaid; co-founder of MischiefJulie YangVice President at InvestcorpScott RaneyManaging Director at Redpoint VenturesJack Bixby LucasGeneral Partner at Lucas Venture Group

+ 672 more

Also attended St. Mark's School of Texas20

Steve JurvetsonCo-founder of Future VenturesRoss Perot Jr.Chairman of The Perot Group at Perot JainDavid DelfassyInvestment Director at TDK VenturesMichael PerrinPartner at Next Level VenturesHenry WoramPrincipal at Palm Drive CapitalRobert NewmanAnalyst at Rhapsody Venture Partners

+ 14 more

Shared employers

Also worked at Sitetracker9

Ska Sijia DuPrincipal at Karma VenturesKatie McClainPartner & COO, Member of Investment Committee at Energize VenturesJuan MuldoonPartner — Co-Head of Ventures at Energize VenturesKevin StevensPartner — Co-Head of Endurance at Energize VenturesMeredith Breach BosPrincipal — Endurance at Energize VenturesKarine PetersVice President at T.Capital

+ 3 more

Also worked at Matroid, Inc.4

Pete SonsiniFounder and General Partner at Laude VenturesMichael DAngeloCo-Founder & CTO at ArthenaVishakh HegdeFounder and CTO at Inventive AIQiong Zhou HuangFounder at Lumona

Also worked at ZEDEDA Inc.6

Juan MuldoonPartner — Co-Head of Ventures at Energize VenturesRaymond LiaoManaging Director at Samsung NextLisa EdwardsOperations at Smith Point CapitalAbhishek ShuklaManaging Director at Prosperity7 VenturesBilal ZuberiFounder and Managing Partner at Red Glass VenturesMatthew ShangSenior Associate at Prosperity7 Ventures

Also worked at Volta Charging10

Paul BelkEntrepreneur in Residence at Kinetic Ventures, L.L.C.Juan MuldoonPartner — Co-Head of Ventures at Energize VenturesTyler LancasterPartner — Co-Head of Ventures at Energize VenturesJay ChongManaging Partner at Millennium New HorizonsBonita C. StewartCofounder and Managing Partner at BAG VenturesDeng MaoInvestment Manager at Yonjin Venture LLC

+ 4 more