Wal van Lierop
InvestorManaging Partner at Chrysalix · Board director at General Fusion
Vancouver, BC
Writes $2M – $15M checks · typically $3M
About
Wal van Lierop founded Chrysalix in 2001 and helped raise more than $350M for the firm while participating in over $3.5B in venture capital funding, focusing on cleantech and industrial innovation. Before Chrysalix, he served as VP of Strategy at Westcoast Energy and spent more than seven years with McKinsey & Company advising energy, chemicals and financial services companies. He was previously an associate professor of environmental economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and holds a PhD in Economics from that institution.
Contact· self-published, not guessed
Invests in
CleantechClimate TechEnergy
Board director at General Fusion
Intro paths
→
In turn, Wal can intro founders to General Fusion's investors below.
General Fusion's investors · 11
Braemar Energy VenturesNew York · $1M – $25M checksChrysalixDelft · $36.5K – $2.9M checks · since 2026Evolution VC PartnersNew YorkHelium-3 VenturesNew YorkJIMCOSt. HelierNew Ground VenturesWestportNorrsken VCStockholm · $1.1M – $3.2M checksPender Growth FundVancouver · $365K – $2.2M checksSET VenturesAmsterdam · $2M – $5M checksSprint VcBangalore · $300 checksWUTIF CapitalVancouver · $50K – $300K checks
Co-founders at General Fusion
ML
Michael LabergeExecutive Officer
Experience
- Chrysalix Venture CapitalFounding Partnercurrent2025 — presentVancouver, BC, Canada
- Chrysalix Venture CapitalFounding Partner2023 — 2024Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Chrysalix Venture CapitalFounding Partner and Executive Chair2020 — 2022Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Chrysalix Venture CapitalPresident & CEO2001 — 2020
- Vancouver Airport AuthorityMember YVR Energy Advisory Councilcurrent2024 — presentVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- General FusionMember Board Of Directorscurrent2018 — presentVancouver, Canada Area
- Inventys Inc.Member Board Of Directors as Observercurrent2015 — presentVancouver, Canada Area
- Axine Water TechnologiesMember Board Of Directorscurrent2012 — presentVancouver, Canada Area
- MineSense Technologies Ltd.Advisor to CEO and Boardcurrent2020 — presentVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- ForbesContent Contributorcurrent2018 — presentVancouver, Canada Area
- BC Cleantech Cluster InitiativeAdvisory Board Membercurrent2019 — presentVancouver, Canada Area
- SET VenturesCo-Founder and Member of the Investment Committee and GP Board of SET-1current2007 — presentAmsterdam, The Netherlands
- GAN SYSTEMSBoard Member2019 — 2023Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- EnbalaBoard Observer2019 — 2020North Vancouver, BC
- Liquid Light, Inc. (CO2-to-chemicals)Member Board Of Directors2013 — 2015
- Bridgelux, Inc.Board Observer2010 — 2015
- HydroPoint Data SystemsMember Board Of Directors2007 — 2013
- UBC (University of British Columbia)Adjunct Professor2002 — 2009Vancouver, Canada
- H2Gen Innovations, Inc.Member Board Of Directors and later Observer2001 — 2009
- Angstrom Power - micro fuel cellsDirector2001 — 2008Vancouver, Canada Area
- Day4 Energy Inc.Board Observer - and key negotiator for Chrysalix in the company's IPO2006 — 2007
- Epyondeal sourcing and due diligence for Chrysalix2005 — 2006Delft, South Holland, Netherlands
- Actenum CorporationBoard Member and Associate Founder2003 — 2006Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- H2scan CorporationMember Board Of Directors2002 — 2004California
- Simon Fraser UniversityAdjunct Professor1996 — 2003Vancouver, Canada Area
- Westcoast EnergyVice President Strategic Planning1995 — 2001Vancovuer, Canada
- McKinsey & CompanyEngagement Manager1988 — 1995Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)Senior Researcher/Associate Professor at the ESI (Institute for Economic and Social Analyis)1982 — 1988Amsterdam
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)Senior Researcher/Associate Prof Institute Environmental Studies and IIASA in Vienna1979 — 1982Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)Assitant Professor1978 — 1982Amsterdam
- Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)Research and Teaching Assistant1976 — 1978Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Koninklijke LandmachtData, coding and communications specialist1971 — 1972The Hague, South Holland, Netherlands
Skills & more
Cleantech62Venture Capital91Energy42Investments34Renewable Energy22SolarBusiness Strategy27Strategic Planning15Entrepreneurship31Energy Efficiency6Start-ups31Due Diligence14
+12 more
Change ManagementAlternative EnergyBusiness DevelopmentClean TechnologyManagement ConsultingPrivate EquityProduct DevelopmentSolar EnergyMergers & AcquisitionsStrategyManagementStrategic PartnershipsFrom Wal's professional profile.
Deals · 2
General FusionBoard seat
via Chrysalix · filed Jul 2026 · $107.7M raise
Axine Water Technologies Inc.Board seat
via Chrysalix · filed Nov 2024 · $9M raise
Attribution from SEC filings, press coverage, and firm rosters.
Other disclosed investments
Board seats
Axine Water TechnologiesGaN SystemsSvante
Sources: the firm's website · SEC Form D filings.
Colleagues at Chrysalix
Alfred Lam
Partner at Chrysalix
Alicia Lenis
Vice President at Chrysalix
Charles Haythornthwaite
Senior Partner at Chrysalix
Chris Hartshorn
Advisor at Chrysalix
Fred van Beuningen
Managing Partner at Chrysalix
Gene J.W. Kim
Venture Partner at Chrysalix
Gina Andre
Office Administrator at Chrysalix
Giuliana Unger
Analyst at Chrysalix
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Wal van Lierop?
- Wal van Lierop founded Chrysalix in 2001 and helped raise more than $350M for the firm while participating in over $3.5B in venture capital funding, focusing on cleantech and industrial innovation. Before Chrysalix, he served as VP of Strategy at Westcoast Energy and spent more than seven years with McKinsey & Company advising energy, chemicals and financial services companies. He was previously an associate professor of environmental economics at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and holds a PhD in Economics from that institution.
- Where does Wal van Lierop work?
- Wal van Lierop is Managing Partner at Chrysalix and Board director at General Fusion.
- What does Wal van Lierop invest in?
- Wal van Lierop invests in Cleantech, Climate Tech, Energy.
- What check size does Wal van Lierop write?
- Wal van Lierop typically writes checks of $2M – $15M.
- What boards does Wal van Lierop sit on?
- Wal van Lierop holds tracked board seats at Axine Water Technologies, Axine Water Technologies Inc., GaN Systems, General Fusion, General Fusion, Svante.
- Where did Wal van Lierop go to school?
- Wal van Lierop studied at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) (Doctor of Economics, Spatial Interaction Modelling and Residential Choice Analysis - published by Gower in 1986); Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Advanced course in "Probability Modelling"); MIT Sloan School of Management (Advanced Executive Course, Change Management).
Founder mafias
Massachusetts Institute of Technology mafia546
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Elad GilPhDFounded Brain Co.Nat FriedmanBachelor of ScienceFounded XamarinMatt HuangB.S.Founded HotspotsDelian AsparouhovDropoutFounded Nightingale +1Drew HoustonBSFounded Dropbox +1Arash FerdowsiComputer ScienceFounded Dropbox
+ 539 more
McKinsey & Company mafia337
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Elad GilConsultantFounded Brain Co.Tony XuBusiness AnalystFounded DoorDashAlexandre ProtAssociateFounded Smartven +1Inaki BerenguerAssociateFounded InfiniteWatch +2Ryan XueManagement ConsultantFounded Andco +2Max AhrensFellow InternFounded Maihem +2
+ 330 more
MIT Sloan School of Management mafia91
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Carmichael RobertsMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded Lyratherapeutics +1Vicky BindraMBAFounded Pine Labs +1Julián MeloInnovate the future - Executive programFounded Ubits +1Gleb ChuvpiloFinancial Technology Option (FTO)Founded Authy +1Ben BrittMaster of Business Administration (MBA)Founded Sundayhealth +1Surojit ChatterjeeMBAFounded Ema +1
+ 84 more
University of British Columbia mafia80
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Weiting LiuBachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.)Founded Everyday.me +2Tal ElyashivMBAFounded Exactor +1Alexander HarmsenBachelor of Applied ScienceFounded PortfolioPilot +1Alex SismanisBachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.)Founded L1 Advisors +1Will LawrenceBIEFounded Greenlite AI +1Moody AbdulBusiness and Economics TutorFounded Klarify +1
+ 73 more
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam) mafia12
Also came through, then founded or led a company.
Sebastian BrunemeierMasters of Business Management (joint MSc w UvA)Founded Cyclone Therapeutics +1Pascal VerloopBScFounded UnlJeroen RuttenBachelorFounded TablevibeDirkjan OchtmanBScFounded Instant LabsBryan OnelB.Sc.Founded OneleetDouwe OsingaMaster’s DegreeFounded Neptyne
+ 5 more
Same school
Also attended Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU Amsterdam)149
Brendan Bulik-SullivanInvestor at GV (Google Ventures)Kyang YungInvestor at DaphniJohann FriederichAssociate at Notion CapitalTies KlinkhamerJunior Associate at Keen Venture PartnersMercedes TuinPartner at Heran PartnersProf. Dr. Jan Peter BalkenendeVoorzitter at Noaber
+ 143 more
Also attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology1,387
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
+ 1,381 more
Also attended MIT Sloan School of Management518
Doug LeonePartner at Sequoia Capital; former Global Managing PartnerHemant TanejaCEO & Managing Director of General CatalystBrad FeldCo-founder of Foundry and TechstarsChris MorrisProcess Specialist, Exit Readiness at Mayfair Equity PartnersBirgitteInvestor at InvestinorOlaInvestor at Investinor
+ 512 more
Shared employers
Also worked at MineSense Technologies Ltd.7
Tim WoodwardManaging Director at Prelude VenturesAlicia LenisVice President at ChrysalixShirley SpeakmanManaging Partner at BDC Venture CapitalJoseph ReganSenior Managing Partner at BDC Venture CapitalMarty ReedPartner at Evok InnovationsLaurence Lavoie-AubuchonAnalyst at BDC Venture Capital
+ 1 more
