Participated · Series A · Mar 2022

Our Next Energy develops dual-chemistry battery packs called Gemini that use LFP cells for daily driving and manganese-based reserve cells for extended range. The company retrofitted a Tesla Model S with Gemini to achieve a 752-mile single-charge run and has tested the design in a BMW iX. Despite early testing and BMW being an early investor, the Gemini pack has not been adopted by a major automaker. ONE raised $300M in a Series B that valued the company at $1.2B post-money and is building a $1.6B LFP battery factory in Michigan. The company faced a cash crunch after a prospective $100M Series C led by Just Climate fell through, prompting layoffs of 128 employees (about 25% of staff). Founder Mujeeb Ijaz, who started the company in 2020, has returned as CEO following the leadership change. Our Next Energy designs and engineers energy storage batteries aimed at accelerating electrification. The company is led by CEO & Founder Mujeeb Ijaz and is based in Novi, Michigan. It has signed ten customer agreements totaling 36 GWh of supply over the next five years. ONE plans to use new capital to accelerate growth, expand operations, and advance factory investments. Management is preparing for phase two factory investments ahead of plan. The equity financing is being paired with significant public grants to fund a battery cell factory. ONE (Our Next Energy, Inc.) is a Michigan-based developer of energy storage technology focused on battery cells and packs, including the Aries LFP system and the Gemini dual-chemistry battery. Founded in 2020 and based in Novi, Michigan, the company demonstrated a 752-mile range and plans to begin Aries production in late 2022 and a production prototype Gemini in 2023. ONE has signed contracts with four customers totaling more than 25 GWh of capacity over the next five years—approximately 300,000 EV battery packs—which has allowed it to begin site selection for a U.S. battery factory. The company emphasizes safer chemistries, more sustainable raw materials, and a low-cost, conflict-free domestic supply chain. Recent funding will support expanded R&D in Michigan and the Bay Area and accelerate commercialization timelines. The article states the new capital will accelerate the timeline for Gemini following the recent range demonstration. Our Next Energy (ONE) develops a hybrid cell-to-pack battery system composed of two packs: the Aries cobalt-free LFP pack for daily use and the Gemini range extender aimed at occasional long trips. ONE claims its approach can double EV range and estimates the Gemini could enable up to a 700-mile single-charge range. The Aries uses lithium-iron-phosphate chemistry to reduce reliance on scarce materials like nickel and cobalt and to lower fire risk from thermal runaway. The company plans to begin Aries production at the end of 2022 and to manufacture batteries in Michigan with a contract manufacturing partner. ONE is roughly 15 months old and was founded by Mujeeb Ijaz, a battery veteran who previously led battery work at Ford and worked on Apple’s car project. The newly closed funding will be used to accelerate product development and manufacturing plans.

Participated · Series B · Apr 2018

Savari develops software and hardware sensor solutions focused on cellular V2X communication to connect vehicles, infrastructure and mobile devices. Its products target automotive manufacturers, the aftermarket and smart-city deployments, and are designed to feed ADAS and next‑generation autonomous and semi‑autonomous systems. Savari’s solutions capture and analyze vehicle performance and control data in real time to give a more complete picture of driving conditions. The company is led by CEO Ravi Puvvala and is headquartered in Santa Clara with offices in Detroit, Munich, Seoul and Bengaluru. Savari completed a $12M Series B financing to support its growth. It intends to use the funds to scale its global presence and integrate its software solutions with cellular platforms. Savari develops and deploys advanced wireless sensor technologies and software for V2X environments, commercializing safety products for vehicle manufacturers, suppliers and smart city projects. The company’s technology is already deployed in the largest V2X safety pilot conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Savari collaborates with automotive manufacturers in engineering and field trials and with industry groups including ITS America, OmniAir Consortium and the Car 2 Car Communication Consortium. The company will use its recent funding to scale software licensing, develop additional hardware and expand operations to Europe and Asia. Leveraging insights from public testing and development, Savari plans to launch an automotive aftermarket solution in summer 2016 that provides situational awareness by exchanging real-time information between connected cars. The company is led by CEO Ravi Puvvala and has offices in Santa Clara (headquarters), Detroit, Seoul and Bangalore.

Participated · Equity · Jun 2017

Kenzen builds a wearables platform centered on the ECHO Smart Patch, a small connected device that continuously measures vital signs via non-invasive sweat analysis and motion sensors. The patch pairs with mobile apps and proprietary algorithms to generate around-the-clock health analysis and personalized, actionable insights. The platform is intended to predict and prevent avoidable injuries and illness and to optimize performance for athletes and industrial workforces. Kenzen announced a $5 million financing to further development, support, and market positioning of the ECHO Smart Patch. Strategic investors named in the round include Digitalis, Flex, the San Francisco 49ers, Hickory Ventures, Gaingels, and the Women's Capital Connection. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in San Francisco, and has received recognition from TechCrunch, TechNavio, Fast Company, and Google for Entrepreneurs.

Participated · Equity · Mar 2017

Filament develops a patented, decentralized network stack that combines long-range, low-power wireless hardware and edge software to enable secure machine-to-machine communication in environments with intermittent or no cloud connectivity. Its platform encrypts down to the hardware level and leverages blockchain technology so devices can discover, communicate, and transact value independent of a central authority. Filament focuses on the networking layer rather than endpoint devices, providing edge processing and compatibility with legacy and multi-vendor systems. The company plans to scale hardware manufacturing and expand platform features, including pinpoint GPS functionality and enhanced smart contract capabilities, and to build a broader ecosystem of delivery partners and integrators. Filament has offices in Reno, Denver, Minneapolis, and San Francisco. As of this financing the company has raised $21.8 million in total venture funding. Filament is a Reno, Nevada-based enterprise technology company building smart industrial infrastructure by connecting existing machinery, equipment and assets to wireless sensor networks. The company is developing new blockchain technologies to allow industrial customers to deploy and operate standalone sensor networks with existing infrastructure, in any environment, with or without the cloud. Use cases cited include controlling city outdoor lighting, monitoring grain silos, and tracking soil conditions across farms. Filament’s networks include hardware devices called “Taps,” which have embedded environmental sensors, USB and GPIO for expanded sensor or machine control, and hardware cryptographic chips for secure accessibility and communication. The company closed a $5M Series A led by Bullpen Capital with participation from Verizon Ventures, Crosslink Capital, Samsung Ventures, Digital Currency Group and others. Filament has additional offices in Denver and San Francisco and is led by co-founder and CEO Eric Jennings.

Participated · Equity · Jun 2016

Founded in 2014, Nanit has turned traditional baby monitors into an all-in-one early-childhood health intelligence platform trusted by more than one million families. Its hardware cameras pair with an AI engine to deliver real-time cough detection, clinician-ready video clips, and a personalized Sleep Coach that summarises nightly rest, tracks naps, and offers age-based guidance. The system’s impact is measurable: babies monitored with Nanit sleep 10 % longer on average, giving parents the equivalent of 36 additional nights of rest per year, and 70 % of active camera users remain engaged past age four. Backed by Nanit Lab’s dataset of over five billion hours of infant sleep across 100+ countries, the company feeds research-grade data into its models and has published more than 15 peer-reviewed studies. Looking ahead, Nanit will launch its Parenting Intelligence System in 2026 to track speech, motor, cognitive, and metabolic indicators, expanding the offering from sleep analytics to a holistic early-development platform. The recent $50 million growth capital raise strengthens its financial position to accelerate this product roadmap while continuing to invest in privacy, security, and encryption.