About
Operator in critical materials and industrial technologies; co-founder and former COO of Phoenix Tailings.
Experience
- Self-employedIndependent Advisorcurrent2025 — present
- Phoenix TailingsAdvisor2025 — 2026
- Phoenix TailingsCo-Founder & COO2020 — 2025Burlington, Massachusetts, United States
- MarkforgedTechnical Product Manager2019Watertown, Massachusetts, United States
- MarkforgedMaterials Engineer2017 — 2019Watertown, Massachusetts, United States
- Martin Trust Center for MIT EntrepreneurshipProtoworks Guardian2016 — 2017
- Voxel8: 3D Printing Electronics (Now Kornit Digital)Materials Intern2015Somerville Ma
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)Researcher2014Department of Chemical Engineering
- University of HoustonResearcher2011 — 2013Chemistry Department
Education
- Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyBachelor's Degree, Materials Science and Engineering
Skills & more
Product ManagementResearch and Development (R&D)2Materials Science2Composites2CAD2
Languages Chinese · English · Spanish
From Michelle's professional profile.
Colleagues at Clean Energy Venture
Adam De Sola Pool
Investor at Clean Energy Venture
Amy Davidsen
Investor at Clean Energy Venture
Anne Slaughter Andrew
Investor at Clean Energy Venture
Bengt Karlsson
Investor at Clean Energy Venture
Bob Place
Investor at Clean Energy Venture
Cara Tobin
Investor at Clean Energy Venture
Coleman Adams
Investor at Clean Energy Venture
Deb Kemper
Investor at Clean Energy Venture
Frequently asked questions
- Where does Michelle Chao work?
- Michelle Chao is at Clean Energy Venture.
Founder mafias
Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia521
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Elad GilPhDFounded Brain Co.Hemant TanejaM.Eng.Founded CommureNat FriedmanBachelor of ScienceFounded XamarinMatt HuangB.S.Founded HotspotsDelian AsparouhovDropoutFounded Nightingale +1Noubar AfeyanPhDFounded ProFound Therapeutics +12
+ 514 more
Techstars mafia223
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
David CummingsTechstars Boulder Accelerator 2012Founded Undaunted +4Jeremy AchinCloud Class 2013Founded Neo Cybernetica +2Spencer RascoffMentorFounded HeyLibby +2Sanjiv SanghaviTechstars New York City Accelerator 2012Founded Texture +2Brandon PatonMentorFounded Glider +2Weiting LiuMentorFounded Everyday.me +2
+ 216 more
Plug and Play Ventures mafia13
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Mike SigalPlug and PlayFounded Fanvestor +2Sebastian FischmeisterPlug and PlayFounded Labforge Inc +2Fan WenSenior AssociateFounded AvocadoAndreas StryzPlug and PlayFounded FinnVicky BindraPlug and PlayFounded TruliooBeyang LiuPlug and PlayFounded Sourcegraph
+ 6 more
Clean Energy Venture mafia6
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Same school
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,280
Fred WilsonCo-founder & Partner at Union Square VenturesElad GilSolo general partner investing through Gil CapitalAileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystNat FriedmanCo-lead of Meta Superintelligence Labs; co-founder of NFDGBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and Techstars
+ 1,274 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Phoenix Tailings13
Avantika DaingFounding Partner at Plum Alley InvestmentsMitch JuneauFellow, Materials at Prime Movers LabKasper SageManaging Partner at BMW i VenturesScott WalbrunPrincipal at BMW i VenturesNichola EliovitsManaging Partner at Olive Tree CapitalIgor BuchatskiyVenture Partner at TA Ventures
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+ 7 more
Also worked at Markforged4
Also worked at Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship16
Scott MaxwellInvestor at OpenView Venture PartnersRhie LimPartner, Global Strategy at One Way VenturesMichal Gilon-YanaiPartner at Two Lanterns Venture PartnersElaine ChenAdvisor at Cybernetix VenturesGleb ChuvpiloManaging Partner at Thundermark CapitalWill SanchezVenture Partner at Thundermark Capital
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+ 10 more
Also worked at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)441
Aileen LeeFounder & Managing Partner of Cowboy VenturesMatt HuangCo-founder and Managing Partner at ParadigmScott BillerInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Noubar AfeyanInvestor at Flagship PioneeringVyas RamananVenture Partner at Third Rock VenturesRhie LimPartner, Global Strategy at One Way Ventures
+ 435 more