Prelude Ventures

Prelude Ventures, headquartered in San Francisco, is a leading venture capital firm focusing on climate tech investments. Since its inception in 2013, the fund has backed over 150 companies, emphasizing innovative solutions for carbon reduction and sustainability. Notable investments include QuantumScape, a leader in solid-state battery technology; Planet Labs, a satellite imagery provider; and Benson Hill, specializing in plant-based food ingredients. Prelude Ventures concentrates primarily on energy, food, agriculture, and resource optimization sectors, with a geographic focus predominantly in North America. Their investment strategy targets early to growth-stage companies that have the potential to significantly impact climate change. They prefer leading rounds and often provide substantial follow-on funding to support scaling. The fund’s average check size varies, typically ranging from $1M to $20M, depending on the stage and needs of the company. Prelude Ventures is known for being active and engaged investors, offering strategic guidance and leveraging their extensive network to support portfolio companies. Key team members include co-founders Gabriel Kra and Nathaniel Simons, and managing directors Mark Cupta and Matt Eggers. The team is based in San Francisco and is highly experienced in both investment and operational roles within the clean tech and sustainability sectors.