Applied Alchemy
Applied Alchemy is a San Francisco-based venture studio and strategic consulting agency that partners with foundations, family offices, and funds to build and scale systemic solutions in sustainability, bioregional finance, AI, and regenerative development across a portfolio of 20+ ventures.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Applied Alchemy does
Applied Alchemy is a San Francisco-based private venture studio and strategic consulting agency that works with foundations, family offices, funds, and mission-aligned organizations to imagine, prototype, build, and scale systemic solutions to environmental and social challenges. The firm operates as a portfolio of 20+ ventures and projects spanning zero-net-carbon fuels (Prometheus), autonomous AI agents (Levangie Labs), sustainable housing (Kohala), regenerative real estate development (Tesseract), bioregional financing (BioFi Project, Salmon Nation Trust), governance AI (CiviAI), carbon and biodiversity credits (Earthbanc, Regen Network), rewilding (Indigenous Rewilding Network), spatial computing (Treasury), and urban agriculture (Hilltop Urban Farm). Its core technology stack leverages AI, automation, digital manufacturing, distributed ledgers, satellites, renewable energy, and electric vehicles, informed by complex adaptive systems, regenerative design, Indigenous wisdom, and permaculture.
The firm generates revenue through two primary streams: strategic consulting engagements with foundations, family offices, and funds (professional services model), and venture studio operations where it co-creates, advises, and sometimes co-founds new ventures (managed services model). The principal team of eleven cross-disciplinary leaders provides expertise across product, strategy, design, team building, systems integration, leadership, networks, marketing, software, hardware, and manufacturing. Distribution is relationship-driven through direct outreach, partner networks, and project showcases, with no formal pricing model publicly disclosed. The firm has tracked prior outcomes including $174M in savings for BART, 75% of BART's power needs secured from renewables, $1.2B+ in wholesale electricity transactions, $46M+ raised for climate projects, and the first US-based co-living company (OpenDoor) with 19 properties and 406 units developed.
Applied Alchemy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Applied Alchemy
- Legal name
- Applied Alchemy
- Website
- https://appliedalchemy.co
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Applied Alchemy is a San Francisco-based venture studio and strategic consulting agency that partners with foundations, family offices, and funds to build and scale systemic solutions in sustainability, bioregional finance, AI, and regenerative development across a portfolio of 20+ ventures.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Applied Alchemy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Strategic Consulting and Venture Studio Services
- NAICS
- Other Management Consulting Services (541618)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments) (FSAAABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)
Keywords
Where Applied Alchemy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Markets served
Applied Alchemy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Strategic Consulting Services: Revenue generated through strategic consulting engagements with foundations, family offices, funds, and organizations seeking systemic solutions to environmental and social challenges.
- Venture Studio Operations: Building and scaling new ventures including Prometheus, Levangie Labs, Kohala, Tesseract, CiviAI, and others. These ventures develop products and services in sustainable fuel, AI, housing, governance, and regenerative development.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Applied Alchemy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Applied Alchemy is a venture studio and strategic consulting agency that solves problems, builds teams, and creates new ventures for foundations, family offices, funds, and mission-aligned organizations. The firm works trans-organizationally and ecosystemically to imagine, prototype, build, and scale systemic solutions to environmental and social challenges, with a portfolio of 20+ ventures spanning sustainable fuels, AI, regenerative housing, bioregional finance, governance, and rewilding.
Product overview
Applied Alchemy is a venture studio and strategic consulting agency that solves problems, builds teams, and creates new ventures. The company does not offer a unified software product but rather provides strategic services and manages a portfolio of ventures and projects focused on regenerative and systemic solutions. The portfolio includes companies across sectors including AI/cognitive intelligence (Levangie Labs, CiviAI), sustainable infrastructure (Kohala, Tesseract), climate/carbon (Prometheus, Earthbanc, Regen Network), bioregional finance (BioFi Project, Salmon Nation Trust), rewilding (Indigenous Rewilding Network), collaboration technology (Hylo, Collaborative Technology Alliance), spatial/metaverse assets (Treasury), and food systems (Hilltop Urban Farm). The studio also has historical involvement in electric vehicles (Mission Motors, Lightfoot), co-living (OpenDoor), and coworking (Impact Hub Oakland).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Strategic Consulting Services Engagements with foundations, family offices, funds, and mission-aligned organizations to solve problems, build teams, and develop strategies for systemic solutions to environmental and social challenges. Includes strategic advisory, program development, brand building, and fundraising support.
- Venture Studio Services Imagining, prototyping, building, and scaling new ventures alongside individuals, communities, and companies holding key innovations. Includes co-founding, advising, and operating trans-organizationally and ecosystemically to seed movements and develop products, tools, and infrastructure.
Quantifiable outcome
- $174M in savings for BART while advancing decarbonization at scale
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Applied Alchemy
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Applied Alchemy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Applied Alchemy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- PrometheuscorePrincipal Edward West serves as Strategic Advisor to the CEO, offering support with strategy, fundraising, communications, and business development. Prometheus has developed a novel process to create zero-net-carbon liquid fuels from CO2 extracted from air using renewable electricity.
- Levangie LabscorePrincipal Edward West serves as Strategic Advisor to the CEO, supporting with strategy, communications, fundraising, product design, and business development. Levangie Labs has created autonomous AI agents that learn from experience.
- KohalacorePrincipal Edward West developed the brand, sales, and go-to-market strategy for Kohala and serves as a Partner, leading all sales efforts. Kohala designs and builds sustainable custom homes using a panelized flat-pack building system.
- Tesseract Integrated Real Estate DevelopmentcorePrincipal Edward West co-founded and leads Tesseract as CEO. Principal Timur Khan is co-founder and COO, and Principal Josiah Raison Cain is co-founder and leads the regenerative infrastructure practice. Tesseract does turn-key regenerative real estate development.
- The BioFi ProjectcorePrincipal Samantha Power co-wrote the book Bioregional Financing Facilities. Principals Samantha Power and Edward West envisioned the movement building strategy. Principal Aaron Brodeur led web, brand, and visual design. The collective supports bioregions to design and implement Bioregional Financing Facilities.
- CiviAIcorePrincipal Edward West developed the concept and product strategy, Principal Nathanael Miksis wrote the software, and Principal Aaron Brodeur developed the UI and product design concepts. CiviAI empowers lawmakers and policy analysts with specialized governance data.
- Indigenous Rewilding NetworkcorePrincipals Edward West and Samantha Power were engaged in initial strategy conversations and helped develop the concept, vision, story, and brand positioning. Principal Aaron Brodeur developed the visual brand and website. IRN is dedicated to rewilding at continental scale.
- The Edge PrizecorePrincipal Edward West conceived and designed The Edge Prize while working as entrepreneur in residence with Salmon Nation Trust. Principals Taya Seidler developed curriculum and operational infrastructure, Clare Politano the community management, and Aaron Brodeur the brand and visual design.
- Consilience ProjectminorPrincipal Edward West served as one of the Founding Members, working with the founding team to develop strategy, communications, landing pages, fundraising materials, and recruiting funders, team members, and partners.
- LightfootminorPrincipal Edward West served as one of the founding team members, helping with initial concept and strategy, and assembling key members of the founding team including vehicle designer Tim Prentice and power electronics engineer.
- Mission MotorscorePrincipal Edward West was the cofounder and President of Mission Motors from 2006-2012. He played key roles in designing, engineering, and fabricating the initial prototype motorcycle, developing the concept, fundraising, and building the initial engineering team.
- HylocorePrincipal Edward West co-founded Hylo in 2012 and was its CEO from 2012-2019. Hylo is a communication and collaboration platform used by thousands of groups worldwide. Hylo was acquired in 2019 by Holo (Holochain) and transitioned to Terran Collective stewardship.
- Impact Hub OaklandminorImpact Hub Oakland (2011-2020) was a coworking and events space. Principal Lisa Chacon served as co-founder and COO. Principal Edward West served as co-founder, helping build the initial business concept, story, fundraising, and company culture.
- EarthbanccorePrincipal Edward West served as Director of Strategy, helping clarify Earthbanc's story and value proposition, building fundraising materials, and attracting capital, team members, advisors, and collaborating organizations. Principal Taya Seidler oversaw brand development and customer communication.
- TreasuryminorPrincipal Edward West serves as a Director at Treasury and advises the CEO John Manoochehri. Treasury is building a curated platform for premium 3D models for metaverse builders.
- OpenDoorminorPrincipal Ben Provan was co-founder and CEO of OpenDoor from 2013-2022. OpenDoor grew to 19 co-living properties totaling 406 units and 150,000 sqft, pioneering co-living as a new residential real estate product.
- Salmon Nation TrustcorePrincipal Edward West worked with the founding team on initial concept design in 2018 and became an Adventure Partner in 2020, leading initiatives including The Edge Prize. Salmon Nation Trust is a bioregional fund for regenerative development.
- Collaborative Technology AllianceminorPrincipal Edward West imagined, convened, and facilitated the initial gatherings, and built the initial strategies, structures, and community for ongoing collaboration. The alliance includes founders from Enspiral, Loomio, Ethereum, Hylo, and other collaborative technology organizations.
- Regen NetworkminorPrincipal Sarah Baxendell led product development and strategy, UI/UX for Regen Marketplace, business development & strategic partnerships, and product marketing. Regen Network is a blockchain platform for carbon and biodiversity credits.
- Hilltop Urban FarmminorPrincipal Sarah Baxendell led the master site plan design, community site design, phase 1 infrastructure implementation, and fundraising. Hilltop Urban Farm is the largest urban farm in the USA.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Applied Alchemy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- IDEO: Design and innovation consultancy known for human-centered, trans-disciplinary work spanning products, services, and systems on social and environmental challenges. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary creative consultancy producing tangible ventures and tools, though IDEO is broader and more commercially oriented.
- FSG: Impact-focused consulting firm advising foundations, corporations, and NGOs on shared value strategy and social change initiatives. Highly comparable consulting model, foundation-client base, and systems-change framing, though FSG does not co-create ventures the way Applied Alchemy does.
- Dalberg Advisors: Global consulting firm focused on social impact, development, and sustainability advisory for foundations, governments, and mission-driven investors. Closely comparable as a strategic advisory serving philanthropic and impact capital clients on systemic challenges, though it operates at much larger scale and without an embedded venture studio.
- Echoing Green: Fellowship and catalytic support organization for emerging social entrepreneurs, providing advisory, networks, and seed capital. Comparable in identifying and supporting mission-driven founders, though Echoing Green is a fellowship program rather than a strategic consulting firm.
- Encourage Capital: Impact advisory and investment firm designing financial structures for social and environmental outcomes (ocean conservation, criminal justice, climate). Comparable as a strategic advisory working with foundations and investors on systemic, blended-finance solutions.
- Spring Point Partners: Impact consulting firm supporting philanthropy, nonprofits, and impact investors with strategy, evaluation, and systems change advisory. Comparable client base, systemic-change framing, and engagement model for foundations and mission-aligned capital.
- Catapult Design: Design and innovation consultancy embedded with social enterprises, foundations, and governments to develop products and services addressing poverty and sustainability. Comparable as a trans-disciplinary design-and-strategy consultancy producing tangible systemic solutions for impact clients.
Broad incumbents
- Acumen: Global impact investment organization and advisory supporting entrepreneurs tackling poverty and climate across emerging markets. Comparable focus on patient capital, regenerative enterprise, and foundation-aligned partnerships, but operates a dedicated investment fund rather than a venture studio.
- New Venture Fund: Fiscal sponsor and pooled funder for philanthropic and advocacy initiatives, providing strategic infrastructure for collaborative impact projects. Comparable in supporting mission-aligned collective efforts across climate and regenerative themes, though New Venture Fund operates a fiscal-sponsorship model rather than a venture studio.
Emerging players
- Impact Hub Network: Global network of impact-focused coworking spaces, accelerators, and innovation programs supporting entrepreneurs addressing social and environmental challenges. Comparable in convening impact communities and supporting regenerative ventures, with overlap via Applied Alchemy principals' prior involvement in Impact Hub Oakland.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Applied Alchemy social profiles
Digital presenceApplied Alchemy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Applied Alchemy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Applied Alchemy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Applied Alchemy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Applied Alchemy
What does Applied Alchemy do?
Applied Alchemy is a venture studio and strategic consulting agency that solves problems, builds teams, and creates new ventures for foundations, family offices, funds, and mission-aligned organizations. The firm works trans-organizationally and ecosystemically to imagine, prototype, build, and scale systemic solutions to environmental and social challenges, with a portfolio of 20+ ventures spanning sustainable fuels, AI, regenerative housing, bioregional finance, governance, and rewilding.
Is Applied Alchemy a public or private company?
Applied Alchemy is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Applied Alchemy founded?
Applied Alchemy was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Applied Alchemy based?
Applied Alchemy is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Applied Alchemy make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Strategic Consulting Services are the primary driver. The others are venture Studio Operations.
Who are Applied Alchemy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are IDEO, FSG, Dalberg Advisors, Echoing Green, Encourage Capital, Spring Point Partners and Catapult Design. Broad incumbents are Acumen and New Venture Fund. Impact Hub Network is listed as an emerging player.
Does Applied Alchemy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Applied Alchemy.
What industry is Applied Alchemy in?
Applied Alchemy's product category is Strategic Consulting and Venture Studio Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAAABAH, Philanthropy & Foundations Advisory (Donor-Advised Funds, Endowments), with a secondary code of BPAGAKAI, Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations. Its NAICS code is 541618 and its SIC code is 8742.