Cleantech 50 To Watch Expert Panel

Laurie Menoud is a founding partner of At One Ventures, a San Francisco-based VC firm managing over $550 million in assets, with notable LPs including Temasek, WWF, and the MacArthur Foundation. At the firm, she invests in deep tech startups driving forward planet-positive industries. She is a board member of 13 companies and brings over a decade of experience in deep tech commercialization, company building, and venture capital. She spent several years in the chemical industry (Solvay, BASF) and built a dozen ventures from US Defense research programs (SRI International). She began her career in fundamental and applied research as a microbiologist. Laurie earned a Master's degree in biotechnology from the École Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de Luminy in France, focusing on genetic engineering, biochemistry, and microbiology. Additionally, she holds a Master's in Innovation from the EM Lyon Business School in France.

Djoann is the General Partner of The Atlas Capital, South East Asia’s first climate tech VC focused on cities’ adaptation to climate change. The Atlas Capital focuses funding on vital sustainability tech innovations to help the built environment (residential, commercial buildings, offices, hotels) become “climate-proof”. Djoann Fal is an international speaker covered in the New York Times, The Economist, Tatler, and Forbes. Previously he was the founding CEO of GetLinks Group, a multi-national tech company headquartered in Hong Kong funded by Alibaba, 500 startups, JobsDB, which he exited in 2020 before founding Atlas.

Miki has a background as a sustainability expert, consultant, startup operator, and impact investor. Her professional experience ranges from small startups and nonprofits to big multinational corporations and VCs, including Allianz, BMW Group, BCG, and UnternehmerTUM, UVC Partners, and AENU. ‍ To bridge tech-VC investing and impact entrepreneurship, Miki developed and launched RESPOND, today the impact accelerator of the BMW Foundation. During her time as Managing Director of the startup accelerator programs at UnternehmerTUM, she also co-created the Sustainability Playbooks with the sustainability consultancy akzente and UVC Partners. ‍ Today, in addition to managing Aurum Impact, Miki sits on the Board of the BDI Initiative Circular Economy, is a member of the advisory board of BÜFA, a medium-sized chemical company, and supports the entrepreneurship center UnternehmerTUM as a Sustainability Advisor.

Bennet is the Managing Director at RESPOND, a global climate-tech innovation program by the BMW Foundation. In addition, Bennet leads strategic initiatives in business, innovation, and technology at the BMW Foundation and contributes to the foundation’s investment team, managing international impact investments and advancing sustainable finance programs. Previously, Bennet worked at a leading Impact Venture Capital firm in Portugal

Ashley has spent the entirety of her nearly two-decade career working at the intersection of finance and climate innovation. Prior to joining Breakthrough Energy as a Vice President to lead the Breakthrough Energy Fellows program, she spent 15 years at Wells Fargo as a thought leader working across several business units, supporting overall ESG, Cleantech Commercial Banking, and Sustainable Finance strategies. At Wells she pioneered a $100 million impact fund the Innovation Incubator (IN2), focused on speeding up the path to market for early-stage clean technologies. IN2 program’s 72 portfolio companies have gone on to raise $2.3B in follow on funding from external sources. Today, Ashley leads the BE Discovery and Fellows efforts, continuing to immerse herself among the clean tech ecosystem - working alongside capital partners, entrepreneurs, universities, incubators and national labs. This early-stage, global platform focuses on funding pre venture stages of innovation, to fill critical scientific gaps where the discovery of new solutions can lead to significant impacts in the hardest to abate sectors. The program focuses specifically on innovations across 5 grand challenge themes including Agriculture, Manufacturing, Buildings, Electricity and Transportation. Grosh earned a B.A. degree in Economics and a Business minor from the University of Colorado at Boulder, as a student athlete on the CU NCAA Division One women’s soccer team. She holds a Certified Financial Planning certificate from DePaul University and a Renewable Energy Certificate from Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder. In 2017, Grosh was recognized as a ’40 Under 40’ winner in Colorado and also recognized that year as a ‘Top Women in Energy’ in the Denver Business Journal. Today, Ashley and her family reside in Chicago, Illinois.

Iain is Director of Innovation at the Carbon Trust, where he leads the organisation’s work on low carbon and clean technology innovation activities, working with start-ups and innovators, governments, corporates, development finance institutions, philanthropists around the world to help them lead the way to a net zero economy.

Mr. Schick has more than twenty years of experience as a technologist and investor. In his investing role at Clean Energy Ventures, Mr. Schick works with deal teams to source, screen and diligence new investments, as well as support portfolio companies on technology, markets, strategy and commercialization. Prior to joining Clean Energy Ventures, Mr. Schick was co-founder, partner and CTO at NewWorld Capital, and served as a Managing Director at Ritchie Capital. From 1997 to 2005, Mr. Schick held a variety of positions at General Electric’s Corporate Research and Energy groups. Mr. Schick facilitated GE’s entrance into both solar and wind energy, and led GE’s solid oxide fuel cell program. Mr. Schick was trained as a physicist and co-authored papers in accelerator physics, space physics, and biophysics as well as earning ten granted US patents. He holds a BS in Physics from Union College; an MS in Physics from Cornell University.

Anthony manages Cleantech Group’s research team, delivering critical insights on new cleantech innovation and opportunities for engagement to Cleantech Group’s clients in the industrial, investment, and policy communities. He is based in the U.S. Anthony joined Cleantech Group in late 2019 after over 8 years of work in US-China cross-border expansion consulting and start-up venture funding roles, including 5 years living in Shanghai. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from University of Rhode Island, a Masters in Sustainability from the Harvard Extension School, and an MBA at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Jason is President and CEO of Cleantech San Diego, a business organization that positions the greater San Diego region as a global leader in the cleantech economy. Cleantech San Diego’s members include more than 130 businesses, universities, governments, and nonprofits committed to advancing sustainable solutions for the benefit of the economy, the environment and all members of the community. In 2016, Cleantech San Diego launched the Southern California Energy Innovation Network with the support of the California Energy Commission. The program provides free resources through a consortium of regional partner organizations to help energy entrepreneurs successfully bring their innovations to market. Before joining Cleantech San Diego in 2010, Jason was Vice President of Business Development for the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Prior to joining EDC, Jason lived in Austin, Texas, where he worked in the State Capitol as a Legislative Director for a Texas State Senator. Jason holds a degree in Corporate Communications from the University of Texas in Austin. Jason serves on the boards of the San Diego Urban Sustainability Coalition, CONNECT, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative and Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender civil rights organization.

Sara is Co-Founder & Managing Director at Earth Foundry, an early-stage venture capital firm which has backed some of the most transformative energy and cleantech companies. Sara is the driving force of the firm, leading investment activity and actively building cutting edge companies including Advanced Diamond Technologies (acquired by SMIN), Azumo, e-Zinc, Intellihot, NanoGraf, Network Perception, Polystyvert, Tank Utility (acquired by Generac), and Volexion. Prior to Earth Foundry, Sara built a government advisory practice at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and helped climate tech startups raise $300M in non-dilutive funding. She also held roles with GE Energy and environmental consulting firm, GaiaTech. Sara earned an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and an undergraduate degree from Emory University. She is an advocate for the ecosystem and serves on the Investment Committee for accelerator Evergreen Climate Innovations, the Advisory Board for Chain Reaction Innovations, an incubator program at Argonne National Laboratory, and as an Executive-in-Residence at the Rustandy Center – Chicago Booth. Fortune recently recognized Sara as a Top Seed Stage Climate VC to watch, and in 2015 by Midwest Energy News “40 Under 40.” Sara currently sits on the board of Earth Foundry portfolio companies 3E Nano, Azumo, e-Zinc, Harvest Thermal, Polystyvert, and Volexion.

Tien Nguyen is the founding partner at Earth Venture Capital, a pioneering climate-tech VC firm with investments spanning 10 countries. He is an Eisenhower Fellow, who is selected for his contribution to modern climate innovation. Tien is an expert at the Rockefeller Foundation Asia, focusing on AI and climate action. Tien serves on the steering committee of Impact Investing Readiness Vietnam by IIX and Global Affairs Canada, and is a WE Funder at the International Finance Corporation (a member of the World Bank Group). As a fellow of the Irish Government, Tien actively contributes to promoting Irish business, investment, and culture in Southeast Asia under the “Team Ireland” initiative. His expertise in climate tech innovation and investment extends globally, where he mentors for Google for Startups.

Avina Sugiarto is a Partner at East Ventures. She has over 12 years of experience in investing across alternative assets including venture capital, private equity, private credit, and special situations across industries from technology, property, logistics, to financial services and consumers. Prior to joining East Ventures, Avina was a Senior Vice President at an asset management firm. She was responsible for deal sourcing, analysis, execution, and fundraising across the firm’s investment products. She was also a key member of an investment partnership with a global alternative investment firm headquartered in the United States. Avina leverages her extensive experiences to invest in seed to growth stage technology companies and drive sustainability and integration of ESG practices in East Ventures’ investments.

Yoachim Haynes is the Senior Vice President of Strategy for EIP’s European Fund where he leads research, innovation, commercialization as well as LP engagement. He works closely with EIP’s global portfolio. Yoachim has 10 years of experience working with startups, corporations and governments in the energy and climate space. He led the corporate innovation programs at Cleantech Group as a consulting manager where he developed the strategy for, launched, and operated multiple corporate venturing programs, including multi-stakeholder pilot project processes and CVCs. He also delivered clean technology market assessments, market entry strategy and other climate impact projects for governments and corporations. His clients in North America, Europe, and Asia operated across a diverse set of industries including heavy industry (e.g., steel, oil and gas, cement), power generation, real estate, agriculture, mobility and FMCG. He has a Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University (Cum Laude, C.P. Davis Scholar, Tau Beta Pi). He now lives in London but has spent most of his life in Trinidad and Tobago where he grew up.

Natharoun NGO SON is the Country Director of EnergyLab Cambodia and Regional Co-Director of EnergyLab Asia, a non-profit advancing clean energy across the region. He has over 25 years of experience in private sector, economic development, and climate change programs, with past roles at Ernst & Young, CapGemini, IFC, The Asia Foundation, and UNDP. Natharoun holds an MBA from Paris XII University and an MPA from Harvard Kennedy School. He is a member of the Asia Society.

Tony Dhaliwal is the Director of Acceleration at Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre, where he leads national programs and initiatives to foster innovation and scale-up within Canada’s cleantech ecosystem. With over a decade of experience across various cleantech sectors, Tony's leadership has been instrumental in accelerating the growth of numerous ventures through Foresight’s programs. A dedicated champion of sustainability and climate innovation, Tony continues to drive impactful change across the cleantech landscape. He also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for the University of the Fraser Valley's Alumni Association.

Cathal Hughes is Cleantech Start-Up Manager at Undaunted, Imperial College London’s climate innovation initiative. He leads engagement with Undaunted’s alumni community of more than 170 climate tech start-ups, building strategic partnerships with investors, corporates, and ecosystem organisations to accelerate their growth and impact.

Cam is CEO of Green Angel Ventures, the reference investor for early-stage UK climate innovation. Green Angel Ventures manages Green Angel Syndicate (a 350+ person network of specialists exclusively investing in climate innovation), and its EIS Climate Change Fund. Prior to joining Green Angel Ventures, Cam co-founded, jointly ran and raised two rounds of angel funding for a contact centre payments business, with an exit to AIM-listed Eckoh. Cam is an Aeronautical Engineer by training, and has experience in creating and commercialising new technology, with over 15 granted patents. Cam has invested in more than 40 startup companies.

Scott is President of Imagine H2O, a global organization that envisions and builds solutions with the world’s best water entrepreneurs. Since 2009, Imagine H2O’s water innovation accelerator programs have supported over 230 water startups which have collectively raised more than $1.3 billion in early-stage investment. In 2019, the organization launched Imagine H2O Asia, a Singapore-based accelerator program that bridges global innovation to cities and communities across Southeast Asia. In 2024, the organization launched the Water Innovation Pilot Fund to provide technical assistance and non-dilutive capital to innovation projects. Imagine H2O is supported by leading philanthropies, corporate partners, and public entities.

Tyler Hamilton is Senior Director of Climate at MaRS and guides all climate-specific activities for ventures, corporate partners and investors, including the flagship Mission from MaRS program. Previous to joining MaRS, Tyler spent two decades as a journalist and wrote extensively about Canada’s clean technology sector and global cleantech trends. Most recently he was editor-in-chief of business and sustainability magazine Corporate Knights. He also spent 13 years at the Toronto Star, where he reported on Canada’s energy sector and wrote a popular weekly column on clean energy technologies and trends. In 2011, Tyler authored Mad Like Tesla, a book that examines the various barriers to clean energy innovation and surveys the landscape of some potentially world-changing clean technologies. A recipient of the Cleantech Group’s “Pioneer” award for his early writings on the sector, Tyler was also recognized in 2016 on Canada’s “Clean50” list for his thought leadership on clean energy and climate issues.

Monali Mujumdar leads the startup relations at National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (IEC). In this role, she fosters relations with cleantech startups and provides relevant resources. In her program operations role, Monali assists with technical assistance programs at the IEC. In addition, she is part of the organization team for the Industry Growth Forum – a flagship annual event to connect innovators with investors. In her previous role, Monali worked for E Source, a research and consulting firm in Boulder, CO, as an analyst conducting research on emerging technologies suitable for the utility industry. Monali has a background in electrical engineering and completed her Ph.D. from the University of Wyoming.

Frederic Clerc is the interim Managing Director of the Urban Future Lab at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, NYC's longest-running innovation hub for climatetech startups. He also leads the Carbon to Value Initiative, an innovation program focused on supporting carbontech startups. In his past role with EnVertis, he worked with multinational corporations and governments to identify and evaluate low-carbon business models and technology opportunities, from pilot to commercial scale across various industries including forest-products, agriculture, chemicals and oil and gas in Canada, US, Brazil and Europe. Prior to that, Frederic managed large corporate transformation programs with BearingPoint, a leading European business and technology consultancy. He started his career as a product engineer with Assima, a growth-stage software startup. Frederic holds a Masters of Engineering in Energy and Sustainable Development from the Chemical Engineering department at Polytechnique Montreal, Canada (2016), as well as a graduate engineer degree from the National Institute of Applied Science in Rennes, France (2005).

Siti Nurul Narizah is the Chief Operating Officer at PETRONAS Ventures, with 20 years of experience in the energy sector. She is recognized for her leadership in corporate venturing and technology acceleration, having co-founded PETRONAS' venture capital initiatives. Siti has held various leadership roles in technical, transformation, strategy, and commercial functions, demonstrating her versatility and commitment to excellence. Siti holds a First-Class Honors degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from Loughborough University, UK and has completed executive education programs at prestigious institutions such as The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and Cambridge Institute of Sustainability Leadership. Recognized as a thought leader in corporate venture and innovation, she was named GCV's Top Emerging Leader for 2024 and currently serves on the boards of Piva Capital Inc. and PTV International Ventures Sdn. Bhd.

Gabriel is a Principal at Powerhouse Ventures where he is involved throughout the investment lifecycle, from sourcing and diligence to portfolio company support. Gabriel earned a JD/MBA from the University of Michigan and held roles in operations, law, finance, and strategy at Bosch, Orrick, ENGIE, and Anthesis Group, working across the U.S., Germany, Malaysia, and Japan. Gabriel grew up on an organic farm in Northern Michigan and has been passionate about nature and the environment from an early age. He enjoys skiing, making music, and going on adventures with his family.

Max is Managing Partner of Rockstart’s Energy Fund, offering early stage startups access to capital, market, expertise and community through a customized accelerator program and follow-on investments up to series B. Max is Dutch and based in Amsterdam. He has been active in renewable energy since 2003, when he helped Essent (currently EON) to establish their wind business in Germany. As Director at EWT, the largest Dutch wind turbine manufacturer, he was responsible for corporate finance, business development and strategy. Further, he was co-founder and CEO of e-kite, a Dutch start-up which developed kite power systems. Before entering the renewable energy sector, Max worked several years at McKinsey, as Engagement Manager. He holds MSc degrees in Chemical Engineering at Delft University of Technology, Business Administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam and an MBA from INSEAD.

Sabrina is a professional with 8+ year academic and international work experience within the environmental sector. She is a strategic and creative thinker, with an eye for the bigger picture and the end goal. She is also passionate about the role that business can play in creating a future that benefits all people and planet. At the Solar Impulse Foundation she leads the Operations team and she is in charge of defining and implementing the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label's scheme. Her focus is to ensure that the labeling process is applied consistently, with integrity, and to promote the global reputation and credibility of the Label. Sabrina holds a PhD in Environmental Science and Engineering from Cranfield University (UK), an MSc in Environmental Biotechnology from the University of Milano (IT) , a BSc in Biotechnology from the University of Modena e Reggio Emilia (IT), and a Professional MBA Essentials certification from London School of Economics & Political Science (UK).

Claude-Sébastien is an Investment Director for SNI3, the latest early-stage fund of Supernova Invest. His focus areas include advanced materials & manufacturing, as well as mobility. He also serves as a board director for 5 companies within Supernova Invest's portfolio (Vulkam, Ollow, Terakalis, Nanomakers and Isybot). Before joining Supernova Invest, Claude-Sébastien was an Investment Director at NOVA, the corporate venture arm of Saint-Gobain, from 2018 to 2024, where he was instrumental in structuring over 15 startup investments. His career also includes 9 years with Saint-Gobain Abrasives in China, where he held various management positions. Claude-Sébastien holds an MBA from the China Europe International Business School (CEIBS) and a degree from ESSEC Business School in France.

With a decade of experience forging startup ecosystems, Barbara is the Managing Partner at XPRENEURS, the high-tech accelerator within UnternehmerTUM—Europe’s largest Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She drives the accelerator's mission to scale early-stage startups by focusing on fundraising, program development, and strategic network growth. Her background in Psychology and Business has been instrumental in her B2B tech career, which includes facilitating technology transfer from renowned institutions like CERN and DLR. As an angel investor, Barbara is dedicated to advancing innovation within the cleantech sector.

Pippa is the Founding Partner of Zero Carbon Capital, investors in early-stage companies in the UK and Europe on a mission to fix climate change. ZCC supports deep science, hard-tech solutions that have the potential to make half gigaton-level reductions of CO2e at scale; and vision-aligned, ambitious teams to go with them. Pippa started angel investing in decarbonisation technologies in California seven years ago, where she was an active member of the impact investing ecosystem. Prior to that, she held a variety of roles in technology companies - general management, business analysis, and consumer-facing interactive user experience research and design. She holds a Masters degree in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Cambridge.