Nancy Pfund, founder of DBL Partners, discusses her experience investing in clean tech companies, her passion for impact investing, and her involvement in energy policy ideas. They also talk about childhood memories, involvement in social issues, well-known investments made by DBL Partners like Tesla, and the importance of perseverance in building a clean energy economy.
Nancy Pfund emphasizes the importance of backing companies that address critical issues like clean energy and climate change.
Fund highlights the significance of having a strong support network and choosing mentors who support career development.
Deep dives
Nancy Fund's Early Career and Introduction to Impact Investing
Nancy Fund, founder and managing partner of DBL Partners, shares her journey into clean tech venture capital. She discusses her early experiences in the industry, including being one of the few women in leadership positions. Fund highlights the importance of having support from influential figures and credits her success to their belief in her abilities.
The Creation of DBL Partners and the Bay Area Equity Fund
Fund explains how DBL Partners was formed and its mission to invest in companies that deliver economic, social, and environmental returns. She describes the challenges of raising the first fund and the skepticism faced due to the unconventional investment focus. Despite the initial struggles, Fund perseveres and successfully raises funds with support from foundations and banks.
DBL's Key Investments and Impact
Fund reveals some of DBL's notable investments in companies like Tesla, SolarCity, Pandora, and Next Tracker. She emphasizes the importance of backing companies that address critical issues like clean energy and climate change. Fund also highlights the resilience and determination of entrepreneurs who are driving progress in these sectors.
Challenges Faced and Lessons Learned
Throughout her career, Fund has encountered obstacles and faced rejection, but she views these experiences as opportunities for growth. She emphasizes the significance of having a strong support network and choosing mentors who support career development. Fund advises future entrepreneurs to embrace failure, persist in the face of adversity, and stay focused on their vision for a better future.
In this episode: Emily’s conversation with Nancy Pfund, founder and managing partner of DBL Partners.
Nancy is one of the most recognizable VCs in the clean energy space. DBL made early investments in companies like Tesla, PowerLight, and Nextracker. Nancy has been featured by Forbes and Fast Company as one of the most creative people in business.
This conversation was recorded in 2018 in front of a live audience at Powerhouse’s headquarters in Oakland, CA.
Powerhouse partners with leading corporations and investors to help them lead the next century of clean technology innovation. Our fund, Powerhouse Ventures, invests in founding teams building innovative software to rapidly transform our global energy and mobility systems. You can learn more about Powerhouse at https://www.powerhouse.fund/
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