Nick Rancis
InvestorInvestor at National Grid Partners
Boston / New England
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
Find your path to Nick
300 people in our graph share verified history with Nick — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
Sundeep PeechuunlockedNick: together at Ginkgo Bioworks (2020–2021)
Nick: together at University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business
Nick: together at University of Colorado Boulder
×7Nick: together at Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business
About
Nick Rancis is a venture builder and innovation leader with experience spanning the full commercialization cycle from founding scientist to corporate portfolio manager. He has held roles including co-founder and CTO at Clear Comfort Water, P&L leader for multiple spin-off companies at Ginkgo Bioworks, and Senior Innovation Manager at National Grid Partners, where he deployed technologies across energy, water, and advanced manufacturing sectors. His work focuses on scaling hard science technologies from laboratory development to market deployment within corporate and venture contexts, with a track record including patents, publications, and board service at Fraunhofer USA.
Experience
- National GridNational Grid Partners - Transformative Innovationcurrent2021 — presentBoston, MA
- Fraunhofer USA Inc.Member Board of Directorscurrent2023 — present
- Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.Director, Commercial Operations2020 — 2021Boston, MA
- Fraunhofer USA Inc.Director, TechBridge2017 — 2020Boston, MA
- Clear Comfort WaterCo-Founder, Chief Technical Officer, Advisor2014 — 2020Boulder, CO
- University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of BusinessMember of the Board of Directors, Deming Center for Entrepreneurship2014 — 2017Boulder, CO
- UCAR - The University Corporation for Atmospheric ResearchCommercialization Strategy Consultant2013 — 2014Boulder, CO
- University of Colorado BoulderInstructor2012 — 2013Boulder, CO
- BioVantage ResourcesFounding Team, Principal Scientist2008 — 2013Greater Denver Area
- Solix Algredients, IncFounding Team, Scientist2005 — 2008Fort Collins, Colorado Area
- Aspen Flyfishing IncFlyfishing Guide2002 — 2005Aspen, CO
Skills & more
Water18Management18Strategic Planning1Strategy1Patent Law1Emerging TechnologiesApplied Research1BiotechnologyProduct LaunchIntellectual PropertyOpen InnovationTechnology Scouting
+12 more
Commercial OperationWater TreatmentSynthetic BiologyProduct StrategyStart-upsEntrepreneurshipCleantechEnergyRenewable EnergyEnergy EfficiencyVenture CapitalMicrobiologyLanguages English · Spanish
From Nick's professional profile.
Colleagues at National Grid Partners
Crispin Maconick
Principal at National Grid Partners
Elizabeth Ramachandran
Venture Partner at National Grid Partners
Ian Cooper
Managing Director at National Grid Partners
Kristian Bodek
Investment Director at National Grid Partners
Marit Lyngbaek
Principal at National Grid Partners
Mark Karlson
Principal at National Grid Partners
Pradeep Tagare
Head of Investments at National Grid Partners
Sander Cohan
Investor at National Grid Partners
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Nick Rancis?
- Nick Rancis is a venture builder and innovation leader with experience spanning the full commercialization cycle from founding scientist to corporate portfolio manager. He has held roles including co-founder and CTO at Clear Comfort Water, P&L leader for multiple spin-off companies at Ginkgo Bioworks, and Senior Innovation Manager at National Grid Partners, where he deployed technologies across energy, water, and advanced manufacturing sectors. His work focuses on scaling hard science technologies from laboratory development to market deployment within corporate and venture contexts, with a track record including patents, publications, and board service at Fraunhofer USA.
- Where does Nick Rancis work?
- Nick Rancis is at National Grid Partners.
- What check size does Nick Rancis write?
- Nick Rancis typically writes checks of $100K – $5M.
- Where did Nick Rancis go to school?
- Nick Rancis studied at Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business (Master of Business Administration - MBA, Finance); Colorado State University (Microbiology, Molecular Biology).
Founder mafias
Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business mafia50
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Matthew BellowsMBAFounded BodesWell +2Miguel Santo AmaroMaster's DegreeFounded Coverflex +1Romney EvansMBAFounded Shoptrue +1Aleksandr MalashchenkoMaster of Business Administration - MBAFounded Revimo +1Tomás FroesMsc in ManagementFounded Kencko +1Jess LynchMasters of Science in AccountingFounded WishRoute
+ 43 more
Colorado State University mafia42
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Chris PetersenBachelor of Science (B.S.)Founded Radicl +1Jacob HartBachelor of Arts - BAFounded Hudu Technologies, Inc. +1Raj BainsMSFounded Prophecy +1Brian TaylorBachelor of ScienceFounded Lux Aeterna +1Laura MunkholmBAFounded Hellowalla +1Chris DiedrichB.S.Founded Covered +1
+ 35 more
Ginkgo Bioworks mafia15
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ankit GuptaHead of AIFounded Reverie LabsDavid BeyerInvestorFounded ChartioReshma ShettyCo-founderFounded Ginkgo BioworksCharlie PintoInvestorFounded SlidePayMichelle DetwilerBoard ObserverFounded BiospringNick GreenfieldVP of Product and Tech (Biosecurity)Founded One Codex
+ 8 more
Ginkgo Bioworks mafia10
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ankit GuptaHead of AIFounded Reverie LabsDavid BeyerInvestorFounded ChartioNick GreenfieldVP of Product and Tech (Biosecurity)Founded One CodexJim DelaneyAutomation Engineer PadawanFounded Roin TechnologiesJohan KersProgram DirectorFounded Birch BiosciencesWill CaoSenior Design EngineerFounded Pando Bioscience
+ 3 more
Same school
Also attended Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business147
Jeff DoranInvestor at Spark CapitalPierre-Eric LeiboviciInvestor at DaphniKevin MunnellyInvestor at Third Rock VenturesBrian DixonManaging Partner at Kapor CapitalMurat BicerGeneral Partner at CRV (Charles River Ventures)Jeremy CurleySenior Director at JMI Equity
+ 141 more
Also attended Colorado State University90
Paul OsmundsonVice President Strategy & Innovation - ARUP Laboratories at EPIC VENTURESTim WeelborgGeneral Partner and co-founder of Homegrown CapitalSophia SorensenOffice Coordinator at Sorenson VenturesRon KammerzellInvestor at Golden EagleBraden DeforgeWealth Management Associate at Goalvest VentureAlbert J. RobichaudPartner at Cure Ventures
+ 84 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.29
Sundeep PeechuGeneral Partner at Felicis VenturesSid ShenaiVenture partner at Madrona and co-founder and CEO of Proof DiagnosticsAnkit GuptaGeneral Partner at Y CombinatorDavid BeyerPartner at Amplify PartnersTyler AmesEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation SpacePaul WeinsteinGeneral Partner at Azure Capital Partners
+ 23 more
Also worked at Clear Comfort Water1
Also worked at University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business10
Nicole GlarosEntrepreneur, executive, investor, and board director focused on early-stage startupsRon SuberInvestor at Upper90Alex HoughtalinPrincipal at Access Venture PartnersScott FordManaging Director at OpenAir Equity PartnersWill PalametDirector, Trading at Clear Haven Capital ManagementJames MossVenture Partner at Zintinus
+ 4 more
Also worked at University of Colorado Boulder94
Ben PerryInvestor at MedicxiSydney EberhardtInvestor at True VenturesSamuel ArbesmanVenture Partner at Lux CapitalJaclyn Freeman HesterGeneral Partner at FoundryTodd WallachEntrepreneur-In-Residence at The Innovation SpaceKyle DuffyOperating Partner at Gradient who helps early-stage founders go from 0 to 1
+ 88 more