EK

Emily Kirsch

Founder and Managing Partner at Powerhouse Ventures & Founder and CEO at Powerhouse

Oakland, California

Work Experience

  • Founder and CEO

    2013

    Powerhouse is an innovation firm that works with leading global corporations to help them find, partner with, invest in, and acquire the most innovative startups in clean energy, mobility, and climate. Leveraging our industry expertise and an unparalleled database of thousands of climate tech startups, we provide scouting and consulting services to convert our clients’ business goals and decarbonization commitments into meaningful outcomes.

  • Founder and Managing Partner

    2018

    Powerhouse Ventures backs seed-stage startups building innovative software to rapidly decarbonize our global energy and mobility systems. We believe that addressing the climate crisis requires deploying our most viable market-based solutions today.

2018

  • Board of Directors

    2018

    Station A is the first AI-powered clean energy marketplace. With just a few clicks, Station A's technology evaluates available clean energy solutions for your buildings, enables data-driven decisions, and sources the best offers from their provider network. Co-investors include Schneider Electric Ventures and Southern Company Ventures.

2020

  • Board Observer

    2020

    Electric vehicle battery health reports for EV owners, shoppers and dealers. Recurrent provides car dealers and private party buyers with vehicle reports for used electric cars. Understanding the battery health and typical ranges of electric cars as they age is more complicated and it's more important than knowing the odometer reading. Co-investors include Prelude Ventures and Wireframe Ventures.

  • Board Observer

    2019

    Ensemble Energy helps its customers generate clean energy as efficiently and cost effectively as possible by combining the latest in machine learning and AI with deep energy domain expertise. The platform uses existing sensors to identify underperforming assets, predict failures, and in many cases, prevent failure from occurring. Over 3.5 GW of wind assets directly under management. Customers include AEP, Enbridge, EON, EDF, and Sempra.

2019

  • Investor Advisory Board

    2019

    NYSERDA's Investor Advisory Board supports the development of NYSERDA’s long-term strategic investment plans and programmatic offerings to optimize and accelerate the pace and impact of clean technology innovation in New York. Board members include leaders from: Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, Shell, and more. NYSERDA is deploying $800 million over 10 years as direct investments via non-dilutive grants and other forms of commercialization support. NYSERDA invests primarily in pre-Series B companies to de-risk technology, validate markets, define customers, and build teams. Our strategic investment priorities including: advanced buildings, clean transportation, renewables/energy storage, and smart grid/distributed energy integration.

  • Young Global Leader - Class of 2019

    2019

    One hundred of the world’s most promising artists, business leaders, public servants, technologists and social entrepreneurs have been selected for the World Economic Forum’s community of Young Global Leaders. They are joining a five-year program that will challenge them to think beyond their scope of expertise and be more impactful leaders. They were nominated because of their ground-breaking work, creative approaches to problems and ability to build bridges across cultures and between business, government, and civil society.

  • Global Future Council, Advanced Energy Technologies

    2018 - 2019

    The Global Future Council is an invitation-only community that serves as a brain trust for the World Economic Forum and world at large. It aims to challenge assumptions and introduce fresh ideas to reshape global systems for the benefit of humanity and the planet.

  • Advisory Board, Master of Science, Energy Systems Management

    2017

    Electric energy systems are rapidly transforming, making jobs in the energy sector among the fastest growing in the U.S. The MS in Energy Systems Management program equips students with the knowledge and skills for leadership roles in energy management in public, private, and nonprofit sectors to support a low carbon future.

  • Statewide Lead Organizer, Green-Collar Jobs Campaign

    2011 - 2012

    Convened Communities United which contacted 300,000 California voters of color who defeated proposition 23, the Dirty Energy Proposition. Developed the statewide organizing plan to ensure the passage of key legislation. Led the Oakland Solar Mosaic pilot which used pioneering crowdfunding to install solar systems on the roofs of non-profits. Hired and supervised campaign staff.

  • Local Lead Organizer, Green-Collar Jobs Campaign

    2009 - 2011

    Convened the Oakland Climate Action Coalition, a group of businesses, unions, and community organizations which drafted and secured passage of the most ambitious Energy and Climate Action Plan in the nation. Co-authored and presented Making Green Work: Best Practices in Green-Collar Job Training at five conferences across the country.

  • Organizer, Green-Collar Jobs Campaign

    2008 - 2009

    Designed and launched the Oakland Green Jobs Corps with Ella Baker Center Founder and former Jobs Advisor to President Obama, Van Jones. Launched the Oakland Technical High School Green Academy, the first three-year, green education program for high school students in Oakland. Built strong relationships with the Mayor’s Office, City Council, and local businesses.

  • Research Consultant

    2007 - 2008

    Developed the Green Employer Council which provided job opportunities to graduates of the Oakland Green Jobs Corps.

  • 2011 Fellow

    2011 - 2011

    The New Leaders Council recruits the top tier of emerging leaders from around the country, building a collaborative community of vetted, trained, and progressive leaders with the skills and support to change the way politics is done.