Nick Rancis
InvestorInvestor at National Grid Partners
Boston / New England
Writes $100K – $5M checks · typically $1.5M
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
Education
- Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of BusinessMaster of Business Administration - MBA, Finance
- Colorado State UniversityMicrobiology, Molecular Biology
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
- 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.
Founder mafias
Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business mafia14
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Miguel Santo AmaroMaster's DegreeFounded Coverflex +1Jess LynchMasters of Science in AccountingFounded WishRouteMike SalgueroMBAFounded CustomMadePhil EdmundsonMBAFounded Corvus InsuranceRob AdamsMBAFounded Alumni VenturesNate BosshardMasters of Business AdministrationFounded Brand.ai
+ 7 more
Ginkgo Bioworks mafia10
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Reshma ShettyCo-founderFounded Ginkgo Bioworks +1Ankit GuptaHead of AIFounded Reverie LabsDavid BeyerInvestorFounded ChartioMichelle DetwilerBoard ObserverFounded BiospringNick GreenfieldVP of Product and Tech (Biosecurity)Founded One CodexJim DelaneyAutomation Engineer PadawanFounded Roin Technologies
+ 3 more
Colorado State University mafia7
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ginkgo Bioworks mafia7
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Ankit GuptaHead of AIFounded Reverie LabsReshma ShettyFounderFounded Ginkgo BioworksNick GreenfieldVP of Product and Tech (Biosecurity)Founded One CodexJim DelaneyAutomation Engineer PadawanFounded Roin TechnologiesJohan KersProgram DirectorFounded Birch BiosciencesWill CaoSenior Design EngineerFounded Pando Bioscience
Same school
Also attended Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business75
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)Jess LynchGeneral Partner at FoundersEdge
+ 69 more
Also attended Colorado State University34
Paul OsmundsonVice President Strategy & Innovation - ARUP Laboratories at EPIC VENTURESTim WeelborgGeneral Partner and co-founder of Homegrown CapitalRon KammerzellInvestor at Golden EagleAlbert J. RobichaudPartner at Cure VenturesLarry BurgessExecutives in Residence at GENERAL INCEPTIONSamantha GuinnAnalyst at Novartis Venture Fund
+ 28 more
Shared employers
Also worked at Ginkgo Bioworks, Inc.23
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
+ 17 more
Also worked at University of Colorado Boulder - Leeds School of Business5
Also worked at University of Colorado Boulder44
Sydney 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 VenturesDor SelaGrowth Strategist at Joyance Partners
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+ 38 more