Powerhouse Ventures
Powerhouse Ventures is a publicly listed (ASX) seed-stage venture capital firm that backs founders in energy, infrastructure, and AI — combining active seed investing in grid, solar, mobility, and buildings software with a 2024-pivot financial advisory and fund-management arm built via acquisition.
- Company typePublic
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Powerhouse Ventures does
Powerhouse Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm whose stated thesis is backing founders building "the future power system" across energy, infrastructure, and AI. The firm concentrates on early-stage teams scaling technologies into established markets — examples in the active portfolio include ThinkLabs AI (AI-powered grid intelligence and digital twins), Heron Power (modular solid-state transformers), Overstory (satellite-image ML for vegetation management on power lines), Amperon (real-time grid intelligence), Raptor Maps (solar asset lifecycle ML), Terabase (utility-scale solar development platform), Pearl Street Technologies (grid modeling and simulation), CapeZero (clean-energy project-finance software), CVector (real-time margin optimization for energy-intensive industries), Sesame Sustainability (industrial decarbonization pathway modeling from MIT Energy Initiative), Class 3 Technologies (climate resilience modeling spun out of Arup), Presto (EV charging software), and Rock Rabbit (home incentives distribution). The firm sources deal flow through a 10-year network of founders, corporate leaders, and strategic investors, amplified by the annual "New Dawn" clean energy conference (over 1,000 attendees in 2025) and the "Watt It Takes" industry podcast.
The corporate entity, Powerhouse Ventures Ltd., is publicly listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), domiciled in Australia with a market capitalization of A$22.3M as of February 2026. For H1 FY26 it reported operating revenue of A$2.2M, operating profit of A$0.9M, and A$20.2M in cash and investments with no debt. Revenue is generated principally through investment management — fund management fees and any carried interest realizations — augmented by the firm's 2024 strategic pivot into financial advisory via the acquisitions of content platform Informed Investor (from Sequoia), boutique fund manager Aliwa Funds Management (which brought A$23M in funds under management), and AFSL-licensed New River Asset Management. The firm employs 11–50 people and is led by Emily Kirsch (Founder, Managing Partner & CEO), with Shaandiin Cedar as Associate and Marie Thompson as Principal. Analyst coverage carries only a Hold rating with an A$0.16 price target, suggesting the market views the equity story as execution-dependent on the financial advisory build-out rather than on the venture portfolio alone.
Powerhouse Ventures firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Powerhouse Ventures
- Legal name
- Powerhouse Ventures Ltd.
- Website
- https://powerhouse-ventures.co
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Powerhouse Ventures is a publicly listed (ASX) seed-stage venture capital firm that backs founders in energy, infrastructure, and AI — combining active seed investing in grid, solar, mobility, and buildings software with a 2024-pivot financial advisory and fund-management arm built via acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Powerhouse Ventures industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Emerging Manager / Seeding Platforms (Multi-Manager) (FSANAGAF)
Keywords
Where Powerhouse Ventures is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Powerhouse Ventures business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Investment Management: Powerhouse Ventures generates revenue through investment management activities, including management fees and carried interest from fund returns. The firm reported H1 FY26 operating revenue of $2.2 million with an operating profit of $0.9 million.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Powerhouse Ventures product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Powerhouse Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm that provides capital, strategic support, and network access to founding teams building technologies in energy, infrastructure, and AI. The firm invests across seed, Series A, and follow-on rounds in companies developing solutions for the future power system, including grid intelligence, clean energy finance software, EV charging, and solar lifecycle management. It supplements capital with extensive industry relationships cultivated over 10+ years and supports portfolio companies through multiple financing rounds.
Product overview
Powerhouse Ventures operates as a seed-stage investment firm, not a product company. It provides venture capital funding and strategic support to early-stage founders building technologies in energy, infrastructure, and AI. The firm does not offer a unified product platform; instead, it offers investment services and portfolio company support through its investment platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Seed-Stage Venture Capital Investment Equity capital and strategic support provided to seed-stage founding teams scaling technologies in energy, infrastructure, and AI to accelerate energy abundance.
- Follow-On Venture Capital Investment Follow-on capital participation in later financing rounds for existing portfolio companies, exemplified by participation in ThinkLabs AI's $28M Series A and Heron Power's $38M Series A.
Quantifiable outcome
- Backed ThinkLabs AI in $28M Series A round (March 2026)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Powerhouse Ventures
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Powerhouse Ventures technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Powerhouse Ventures partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Powerhouse Ventures competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Energy Impact Partners: Global sector-focused VC investing in energy and grid technologies with a strategic LP base. Direct competitor and frequent co-investor with Powerhouse Ventures (led ThinkLabs AI Series A).
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures: Climate-tech-focused venture fund backed by climate-focused LPs, investing across decarbonization categories. Direct peer and co-investor with Powerhouse Ventures in Heron Power.
- Capricorn Investment Group: Mission-aligned investment manager running a Technology Impact Fund that leads rounds in grid and energy tech. Lead investor in Heron Power alongside Powerhouse Ventures.
- Prelude Ventures: Early-stage venture firm focused exclusively on climate-tech startups across energy, mobility, and buildings, mirroring Powerhouse Ventures' vertical thesis.
- Lowercarbon Capital: Climate-focused venture firm backing companies that reduce CO2 emissions through energy and infrastructure software. Competes for similar seed-to-Series B grid and clean energy deals.
- Clean Energy Ventures: Seed-stage venture capital firm exclusively focused on climate-tech startups in energy, mobility, buildings, and industry. Closest comparably-staged peer to Powerhouse Ventures' vertical specialization.
- Congruent Ventures: Early-stage venture firm investing in industrial and energy-tech transformation, including grid software and electrification. Similar stage and thesis to Powerhouse Ventures.
- Active Impact Investments: Canadian climate-tech seed and Series A investor backing grid, buildings, and mobility software. Co-invested with Powerhouse Ventures in ThinkLabs AI.
Broad incumbents
- Collaborative Fund: Larger, broader early-stage venture firm with sustainability as a core thesis across consumer and industrial software. Overlaps with Powerhouse Ventures on climate-focused seed deals.
Emerging players
- Blackhorn Ventures: Early-stage venture firm investing in industrial automation, energy, and resource productivity startups. Co-invested with Powerhouse Ventures in ThinkLabs AI Series A.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Powerhouse Ventures social profiles
Digital presencePowerhouse Ventures financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Powerhouse Ventures leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Powerhouse Ventures subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Powerhouse Ventures funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Powerhouse Ventures M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments56 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Powerhouse Ventures
What does Powerhouse Ventures do?
Powerhouse Ventures is a seed-stage venture capital firm that provides capital, strategic support, and network access to founding teams building technologies in energy, infrastructure, and AI. The firm invests across seed, Series A, and follow-on rounds in companies developing solutions for the future power system, including grid intelligence, clean energy finance software, EV charging, and solar lifecycle management. It supplements capital with extensive industry relationships cultivated over 10+ years and supports portfolio companies through multiple financing rounds.
Is Powerhouse Ventures a public or private company?
Powerhouse Ventures is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Powerhouse Ventures founded?
Powerhouse Ventures was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Powerhouse Ventures based?
Powerhouse Ventures is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Powerhouse Ventures make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Management.
Who are Powerhouse Ventures's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Energy Impact Partners, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Capricorn Investment Group, Prelude Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Clean Energy Ventures, Congruent Ventures and Active Impact Investments. Collaborative Fund is listed as a broad incumbent. Blackhorn Ventures is listed as an emerging player.
Does Powerhouse Ventures have an API?
No public API is recorded for Powerhouse Ventures.
What industry is Powerhouse Ventures in?
Powerhouse Ventures's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAD, Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists), with a secondary code of FSANAGAF, Emerging Manager / Seeding Platforms (Multi-Manager). Its NAICS code is 52394 and its SIC code is 6282.