Participated · Series E · Jun 2025

Insight M uses proprietary sensors mounted on aircraft to collect high-resolution data on fugitive methane emissions, enabling energy operators to identify, quantify, and remediate emitting infrastructure. The company aggregates an industry-leading methane emissions dataset that is leveraged for insights, benchmarks and rankings. Insight M serves energy operators in every producing region in the United States and in many regions globally through basin-wide aerial flyovers. Since inception the company says it has enabled the avoidance of more than 110 million metric tons of CO2e (GWP100), equivalent to planting 1.9 billion urban trees and letting them grow for 10 years. Management says the business delivers a commercially compelling balance between accuracy and cost-competitiveness and aims to advance operational success, public trust, and environmental stewardship. The recent funding is intended to accelerate deployment of its methane management solutions and expand its offerings to energy operators worldwide. Kairos Aerospace combines patented instruments and a proprietary data analysis pipeline to deliver high-frequency aerial methane detection and actionable leak-location information to energy-industry customers. Its aerial leak-detection service scans entire fields, enabling more frequent monitoring and faster identification, precise location, and repair of leaks, including from hard-to-access equipment. The company says its technology is already in widespread use across North America. Kairos intends to use proceeds from the fundraise to bring its methane-mitigation technology to customers. The company will rebrand as Insight M to align with its go-forward vision, with the change launching later in Q1. The article does not disclose revenue or user metrics. Kairos Aerospace provides large-scale aerial monitoring to detect and map methane leaks across oil and gas infrastructure using proprietary sensors and methane-detection algorithms. The company conducts basin-wide aerial surveys that fuse infrared data, GPS, and aerial photography to pinpoint leaks and deliver actionable insights to operators. In 2020 Kairos flew 288,000 miles across two countries and eight oilfield basins, surveying 12,000 square miles that included 96,000 active wells and 48,000 miles of pipelines. Kairos reports its data has enabled clients to eliminate 14.4 billion cubic feet of methane emissions, equivalent to removing 1.6 million vehicles from the road or reducing 7.3 million tons of CO2 emissions. The company will use the new funding to expand globally, grow its workforce and instrument fleet, and develop next-generation instruments to increase sensitivity and utility for customers. Kairos positions its service to address rising regulatory, investor, and public scrutiny around methane emissions and ESG expectations. Kairos Aerospace delivers basin-scale aerial surveys that identify the largest methane leaks using patented processes and infrared data combined with GPS and aerial photography. The company focuses on locating 'super emitters' that account for the bulk of methane emissions so customers can target the highest-impact reductions. Kairos says its technology is validated by Stanford researchers and is actionable for oil & gas operators. The company reported flying over 135,000 miles in the Permian Basin in 2019, grew its customer base by 71 percent, and used that work to prevent 3.9 billion cubic feet of methane emissions. Kairos positions its service as cost-effective and scalable and plans to expand operations and geographic coverage with new funding. The company was founded in 2014 and is headquartered in Mountain View, Calif.

Participated · Series D · Dec 2024

ConnectDER develops meter-socket hardware that accelerates interconnection of solar, battery storage, and EV charging by turning the meter socket into an all-in-one connection point. The company’s next-generation Meter Socket Adapter (MSA), the IslandDER™, enables seamless islanding of solar, batteries, EVs and other DERs to provide whole-home backup and resiliency. Its products install in minutes and are marketed as costing 10% or less than typical service-panel or utility interconnect upgrades, addressing an estimated U.S. market where 60 million homes lack capacity for solar or EV charging without costly upgrades. ConnectDER reports over 25,000 adapters in operation and approvals to sell in more than 20 states covering over 16 million households. The company has public endorsements from partners such as Blue Raven Solar and is positioning its offerings to simplify installations, reduce errors, and expand entry-level installer jobs. ConnectDER plans to use new capital to expand markets, scale manufacturing, and continue product innovation aimed at nationwide sales in the next few years. ConnectDER develops meter-collar technology that provides a low-cost, one-hour install in a single device to upgrade residential electric power systems for grid-ready solar photovoltaic integration regardless of a home’s age or amperage. The solution enables installations without complex and expensive upgrades to circuit-breaker panels or in-home wiring and without adding more amperage from the utility. ConnectDER’s product can be optimized to offer connections for electric vehicle chargers and backup power systems in the near future. Led by founder and CEO Whit Fulton and based in Philadelphia, the company is already operating in 17 states and has deployed over 15,000 units nationally to date. ConnectDER plans to use new funding to scale its existing solar adapter into new markets, launch a new EV product line, and develop a next-generation product suite for multi-asset electrification and integration. ConnectDER's flagship product, the Smart ConnectDER meter collar, turns the utility meter socket into a grid-ready, plug-and-play interface for residential solar, storage and EV charging. The meter collar enables rapid interconnection of grid-ready DERs, provides superior data to utilities, and offers a low-cost alternative to traditional wiring methods. The technology lowers installer costs while unlocking alternative tariff models and grid management capabilities for utilities. Utilities including Consolidated Edison, Arizona Public Service, Entergy, and Pennsylvania Power and Light deploy ConnectDER's solution. The company said it will use new capital to scale operations and supply chain and to enhance core solutions for energy storage and other fast-growing residential applications across North America. ConnectDER expects to launch several new products beginning with Smart ConnectDER Version 4 at DISTRIBUTECH. ConnectDER builds a meter collar hardware product that reduces upfront installation costs for rooftop solar and gives electric utilities real-time management over distributed energy assets. The device is designed to let residential solar connect to the grid cheaply, safely, and rapidly while avoiding home wall penetrations. The company says widespread deployment would cut greenhouse gas emissions, reduce environmental damage from fossil fuel extraction and combustion, and decrease reliance on government subsidies. ConnectDER’s solution also aims to enable highly managed distributed energy assets and boost grid resiliency. The company closed a $1.1M Series A, providing early-stage capital to advance commercialization and deployment. The funding was supported by a collaboration between PRIME Coalition and Investors' Circle and several philanthropic and impact-minded angel backers.

Participated · Equity · May 2024

Relectrify engineers CellSwitch™, a cell-level control electronics and software platform that manages individual battery cells to extract more energy and extend operational life by up to 30 percent. The technology can eliminate conventional inverters, lowering CAPEX and reducing failure and safety risks. Relectrify has completed industrial-scale rollouts and works with global customers, partners and battery manufacturers. Its IP is protected by over 30 granted and pending patents across the US, Canada, Europe, South Korea, China and Japan. The company is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and the new funding is intended to scale the CellSwitch technology into international battery storage markets. Clean Energy Finance Corporation has been a notable investor, with total commitments reported in the article. Relectrify has developed a cell-level battery management system that can produce a high-efficiency AC output directly from the battery pack, replacing a separate inverter. Its BMS+Inverter architecture reportedly extends battery lifetime by up to 30% while reducing electronics cost by around 30%. The solution supports new and second-life Li-ion and alternative chemistry batteries and has been demonstrated with customers including American Electric Power, Nissan North America and Counties Energy. The company commercialises both embedded implementations with BESS manufacturers and circular-economy second-life systems such as the ReVolve™, a 120 kWh / 36 kW BESS using repurposed Nissan Leaf cells. Relectrify is expanding its commercialisation team and forming partnerships in the US, EU and Asia while continuing R&D to extend its cell-based control technology. The company reports an increasing pipeline of commercial projects and multi-MWh rollouts of ReVolve™ systems. Relectrify builds battery and inverter systems that reuse second‑life electric vehicle battery packs, combining hardware and software in an advanced BMS+Inverter battery control technology. The company is launching a 36 kW / 120 kWh commercial-scale modular battery product roughly ten times the size of a Tesla Powerwall 2. Its technology, developed with ARENA support in 2018, is designed to boost battery lifetime and performance while reducing system costs. Relectrify is executing a $3.3 million project to finalise development, undertake certifications and roll out 20 battery units across commercial and industrial customer applications in Australia. The company will offer units to selected utilities, industry and community customers, both grid-connected and off-grid, for applications including solar integration, backup power for farms and microgrids, deferring network upgrades, and replacing diesel generators. ARENA has provided $1.49 million in funding from the Australian Government to advance the project. Relectrify develops technology to repurpose used electric-vehicle (EV) batteries for behind-the-meter household energy storage. Its system combines power-electronics hardware with battery-optimisation software to reduce repurposing costs while boosting performance and extending battery lifetime. The company notes that up to 80% of an EV battery’s storage capability can remain after it is no longer suitable for driving, and many cells can be charged and discharged a further 2,000 times. Relectrify plans to expand production and conduct commercial trials of second-life batteries with the aim of becoming a global leader. Financially, it secured a $750,000 early-stage equity investment from the Clean Energy Innovation Fund as part of a $1.5 million pre-Series A equity raise. Co-founded by Daniel Crowley and Valentin Muenzel in 2015, the Melbourne-based company is an alumnus of the University of Melbourne’s Melbourne Accelerator.

Led · Equity · Jan 2023

Orbital Sidekick operates a constellation-based hyperspectral sensing system and an in-house analytics platform called SIGMA to generate intelligence for pipeline and energy-asset monitoring. Its sensors collect more than 500 spectral channels and deliver roughly eight-meter spatial resolution to detect chemical fingerprints such as gas leaks. The company has flown a breadbox-sized hyperspectral demo on the ISS in 2018 and a 30-kg Aurora tech-demo satellite in June 2021, and it generates revenue today through aerial programs. Orbital Sidekick is planning initial commercial satellite launches (two on SpaceX’s Transporter-7, plus additional launches on Transporter-8 and -9) to build a six-satellite GHOSt constellation before winter. It is also developing defense applications and won a $16 million STRATFI contract from the U.S. Air Force, which the article describes as non-diluted capital that accelerated its plans. The founders, Dan Katz and Tushar Prabhakar, started the company in 2016 in San Francisco. Orbital Sidekick builds and deploys hyperspectral sensors on satellites to provide advanced monitoring solutions for the energy sector and other industries. The company has developed pilot programs and external partnerships, notably with Phillips 66 and the iPIPE Partnership (including Energy Transfer and TC Energy). It is transitioning to expanded satellite operations in 2021 with a path toward full commercialization in 2022 and plans to launch its Global Hyperspectral Observation Satellite (GHOSt) constellation on multiple SpaceX Falcon 9 missions beginning in Q1 2022. Orbital Sidekick is applying its analytics platform to pipeline leak prevention and monitoring, regional fire risk detection, global emissions monitoring, clean energy exploration, and mineral detection. The company intends to use the new funding to expand product offerings, form new strategic partnerships, and introduce its monitoring technology to new industries. Orbital Sidekick is based in San Francisco, CA.

Led · Series B · Dec 2022

SafeAI builds retrofit hardware and proprietary autonomous software to enable off-road heavy equipment in mining and construction to operate autonomously. The company sells an interoperable, scalable aftermarket solution that transforms existing machines into self-operating robotic assets. SafeAI was founded in 2017 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, with offices in Perth, Tokyo, and Delhi. The company more than doubled headcount in 2022 to over 90 employees as it expanded operations across the U.S., Australia, Japan, and India. With the new capital, SafeAI plans to accelerate its autonomous vehicle technology roadmap, invest in engineering and developer teams, and scale its global operations team. Management says funds will be used to meet contractual milestones and expand the company’s global footprint to service growing customer demand. SafeAI develops interoperable autonomous technology and retrofits heavy equipment for autonomous applications in mining and construction. It builds a software platform with advanced, industry-specific AI to convert existing machines into self-operating robotic assets. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate research and development of its interoperable autonomous technology and to support global expansion. Led by founder and CEO Bibhrajit Halder, SafeAI serves a broad ecosystem of industry players with complex needs. The company currently operates with Obayashi Corporation in Cupertino, California. It raised $21M in a Series A to advance these plans. SafeAI develops autonomy software tailored for heavy equipment in the mining and construction industries, aiming for Level 4 (no human driver) capability. Its platform is designed to be open, modular and upgradeable so clients can adopt new advances in AI and autonomy. The company is testing its software on a Bobcat skid loader at its San Jose proving ground and is working with Doosan Bobcat. SafeAI is also working with an unnamed large global mining company to pilot deployments in mining trucks. The startup is emerging from stealth and does not yet have a commercial product in market, though it runs software on actual construction hardware. The founding team includes talent with experience across Apple, Ford and Caterpillar, and the company announced a $5 million funding round to support development and deployment.