Clean Energy Ventures Welcomes Matt Cohen as our newest Investment Principal

As Clean Energy Ventures continues to grow our footprint in North America and beyond, we are happy to officially announce another strategic hire to join our world-class climate tech investment team.

Welcome to our newest Investment Principal, Matt Cohen, who will provide invaluable support to our growing portfolio of world-changing climate tech startups working to slash gigatons of carbon emissions. A seasoned climate investor, Matt will help drive investments from start to finish, from technology evaluation for potential investment to post-investment portfolio company support.

Matt Cohen, Principal, at the NREL Industry Growth Forum on his first day at Clean Energy Ventures. Joined by Investors Micha Ben-Naim (r) and Wynston Reed (l).

“Our goal at CEV is to shepherd the most impactful climate solutions from concept to commercialization, and Matt’s experience in deep technical assessment of hardware technologies will serve as an asset for our team,” said Clean Energy Ventures Managing Partner Temple Fennell. “On behalf of the entire CEV team, we’re looking forward to working together to continue to invest in and scale the gamechangers tackling climate change today.”

With more than a decade in climate tech investing, Matt has guided dozens of hardtech startups from laboratory to commercialization. Bolstered by hands-on experience at startups, Matt understands the unique challenges facing early-stage companies that are looking to fundraise, scale, and break into new markets. His time on the operational and investment sides will be crucial in guiding CEV’s 20+ portfolio companies (and counting) as the firm works to shape the next generation of climate tech companies across transportation, renewable energy production, carbon-to-value, energy efficiency, energy storage, and more.  

Prior to joining CEV, Matt served as Director of Technology at Pangaea Ventures, an impact-focused venture capital firm. At Pangaea, Matt played a key role in directing the firm’s technology scouting and evaluation activities, while also helping to develop quantifiable impact assessment methodologies for portfolio companies and potential investments. Before his transition into venture capital, Matt was one of the first employees at a nanotechnology startup, PChem Associates, where he supported fundraising efforts with angel investors, VCs and regional economic development programs.

“In this era of climate urgency, I’m thrilled to be joining a team of veteran early stage climate investors to help find, fund, and scale the most impactful climate innovations moving the needle on the climate crisis once and for all,” said Matt.

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