David has been a prominent investor in venture and growth equity for 25 years and has founded and led multiple firms investing over $1 billion in energy and clean technology.

Prior to co-founding Activate, David was the founder and Managing Partner of Element Partners, an $860 million series of funds dedicated to a broad range of investments in clean technology. From 1996 to 2005, David was also a Co-Founder and Managing Director of EnerTech Capital, one of the first venture capital firms formed to invest specifically in the deregulation and transition of the global electric markets. From 1991 to 1996 David served as President and CEO of Deven Resources, Inc., a private equity firm dedicated to the acquisition and development of energy properties; and from 1984 to 1991, David was a partner with CMS Companies, a Philadelphia-based investment and financial services firm.

David has also been an active participant helping to shape federal policy for the venture capital and growth equity industry. As a board member of the National Venture Capital Association for four years, David chaired the NVCA Energy & Cleantech Committee and worked with policymakers to promote capital formation for technology companies focused on US energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. In addition, as the 2014-15 Chair of the NVCA Growth Equity Group, David worked with industry participants, research firms and policymakers to establish and benchmark Growth Equity as a distinct asset class within private equity.

David holds a BA in Geology (with honors) from Colgate University, an MS in Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and is active in addressing the Philadelphia public schools’ crisis as an executive committee board member with City Year of Philadelphia.

Bringing decades of experience in strategy, operations and corporate development, Jon was most recently CEO and co-founder of Dalkia Energy Solutions (formerly Groom Energy), a national building energy efficiency company in the commercial and industrial sector, that was acquired by French multinational utility company, EDF. Jon is also co-founder and chairman of Therm Solutions, a refrigerant carbon credit development company, and was co-founder and board member of Digital Lumens, a venture-backed LED lighting company, acquired by Osram. Jon is a Board Member of Activate portfolio company Tomorrow.io.

Prior to Groom Energy, Jon was a general partner and early-stage investor at CRV, where he was lead investor, board member, and advisor for enterprise software and service companies including BeFree, eDocs, Vignette (VIGN), Virtusa (VRTU) and Xign Corporation. Before CRV, Jon held senior management positions at e-commerce software leader Open Market, Hewlett Packard, and JP Morgan. 

Jon holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from Duke University and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Jon is also a past member and committee chair of Duke’s Pratt School of Engineering Board of Visitors as well as the Board of Visitors at The Museum of Science in Boston. In his free time, Jon and his wife Kim enjoy hiking, skiing, walking the dogs, and living vicariously through their three college aged children.

Eric is a Principal at Activate, where he focuses on deal sourcing, due diligence, execution and supporting portfolio companies post-investment. He is a Board Observer at portfolio companies Voltus, Omnidian, PosiGen, Fictiv, Parsable and Element Analytics.

Prior to joining Activate, Eric was an Associate at ValueAct Capital, an activist hedge fund, where he covered investment ideas spanning several sectors including energy and industrials. Eric began his career as a business analyst at McKinsey & Company in their Silicon Valley office.

Eric holds a degree in Chemistry from Yale University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where he graduated as a Palmer Scholar. In his free time, Eric enjoys the combination of fresh air and healthy middle-aged competition by playing soccer and golfing during the summer and skiing in the winter.

Evan is a Senior Associate on the Activate team, where he supports all parts of the investment process.

Prior to joining Activate, Evan was an Equity Research Analyst at Barclays in New York City, where he published research on emergent energy transition technologies and public companies across the Power & Utilities sector. Evan also has experience working with music and healthtech startups through the Nashville Entrepreneur Center.

Evan holds degrees in Economics and Human & Organizational Development, with honors, from Vanderbilt University. In his free time, Evan enjoys scuba diving, wildlife photography, cooking and watching nature documentaries.