VC firm
Breakthrough Energy Discovery
Also known as Breakthrough Energy Action, Breakthrough Energy Catalyst Foundation, Breakthrough Energy Foundation, Breakthrough Energy Investments, LLC, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures Select, Breakthrough Energy Ventures Select Fund II, L.P., Breakthrough Energy, LLC
- Investor type
- VC
- Investing status
- Activeas of 2026-09-28Source (opens in a new tab)
- Headquarters
- Boston, Washington, United States
- Assets under management
- $5.8BForm ADV private fund GAV, as of 2026-04-01Source (opens in a new tab)
- Funds
- 7
- Legal name
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures, LLC
- breakthroughenergy.org (opens in a new tab)
- LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)
- X (opens in a new tab)
- Team page (opens in a new tab)
Record updated 29 September 2026
About
Breakthrough Energy is a global platform, founded by Bill Gates, focused on developing and deploying the critical climate solutions the world needs to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. Its venture capital arm, Breakthrough Energy Ventures (BEV), invests in science-driven companies with the potential to cut at least 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions (about half a gigaton per year) across five sectors: manufacturing, electricity, agriculture, transportation, and buildings. Breakthrough Energy also runs Breakthrough Energy Discovery (pre-venture/philanthropic R&D funding for early-stage innovators, including the Fellows program), Breakthrough Energy Catalyst (funding for first-of-a-kind commercial-scale climate technology deployment projects), and internal technical initiatives (Contrails, Grid Modeling).
Investment approach
- Thesis
- Superior performance is our north star—clean technologies have to be affordable and reliable to reach global scale.Source (opens in a new tab)
- Investing status notes
- Portfolio page lists over 100 active companies across five sectors and the Programs page describes Breakthrough Energy Ventures as an ongoing investment program with a current portfolio and newsletter tracking 'portfolio milestones'.
Funds
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures Select Fund II, L.P.
- Vintage 2025Main fund
- BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY VENTURES, LLC
- Main fund
- BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY VENTURES II, L.P.
- Main fund
- ONEWORLD BEV FUND, L.P
- Main fund
- BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY VENTURES III, L.P.
- Main fund
- BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY VENTURES SELECT FUND I, L.P.
- Main fund
- BEV FOLLOW-ON FUND I, LLC
- Main fund
SEC registration
- Registered adviser
- BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY VENTURES MANAGEMENT, L.P.
- CRD number
- 325541 (opens in a new tab)
- SEC file number
- 802-128642
- Registration
- Exempt reporting adviser
- Regulatory AUM
- $5.8Bas of 2026-04-01
- Private funds reported
- 6
- Principal office
- BOSTON, MA, United States
- SEC CIK
- 2104769