Lowercarbon Capital

Invited Speakers

Ahmed Diallo

Program Director · ARPA-E

Dr. Ahmed Diallo is a Program Director at the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), where he spearheads high-risk, high-reward initiatives to accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy through transformative R&D, overseeing portfolios that bridge innovative diagnostics, materials, and power plant technologies to enable grid-scale electricity from fusion. A Distinguished Research Fellow and Principal Research Physicist at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) since 2009—where he previously headed the Advanced Diagnostics Development Division and served as Deputy Director of the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) public-private partnership—Diallo has pioneered laser-aided, X-ray, and other cutting-edge diagnostic tools advancing magnetic fusion plasmas, high-energy-density physics, microelectronics, and quantum computing. Born in Burkina Faso and inspired by the quest for abundant clean energy in underserved regions, he earned a PhD in physics from the University of Iowa after earlier studies in Burkina Faso and Montana, followed by postdoctoral work at the Swiss Plasma Center and Australian National University; honored with the DOE Early Career Award, Oppenheimer Fellowship, and over 140 publications, Diallo passionately drives the fusion ecosystem toward rapid milestones for a sustainable energy future.

Andrew Holland

CEO · Fusion Industry Association

Andrew Holland is the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Fusion Industry Association (FIA), a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit trade organization representing over 40 private fusion companies and 100 affiliates worldwide, dedicated to accelerating the commercialization of fusion energy through advocacy for supportive policies, public-private partnerships, regulatory certainty, and equitable treatment alongside other clean technologies to deliver abundant, safe, carbon-free power in the coming decades. With more than two decades at the nexus of energy policy, climate change, national security, and international strategy—including prior roles as Chief Operating Officer of the American Security Project (where he authored a seminal 2013 report outlining a 10-year plan for U.S. fusion leadership) and legislative aide on energy and environment for Senator Chuck Hagel—Holland has been instrumental in shaping fusion's rise from government-led research to a vibrant private industry, influencing milestones like separate NRC regulations for fusion, increased federal funding, and global collaborations. A holder of an MSc in International Strategy and Economics from the University of St. Andrews and member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, he frequently speaks on fusion's transformative potential at forums like the IAEA and pens op-eds urging infrastructure-scale investment to secure American leadership in this revolutionary energy frontier.

Andrew Ryan

President · Far

Andrew Ryan is the President of Faraday 1867 Holdings LLC, the world's largest producer of high-temperature superconductor (HTS) tape. Through its subsidiary Faraday Factory Japan, the company has delivered over 7,000km of HTS tape to fusion projects worldwide, supporting tokamaks, stellarators, levitating dipoles, and magnetic mirrors. In 2023, Faraday partnered with Coherent Corp. to scale HTS tape manufacturing for mass deployment of nuclear fusion reactors. The company has been recognized in the Financial Times Awards and Nikkei Top-500 rankings for high-growth companies in Asia-Pacific.

Ara Knaian

CEO and co-founder · Acceleron

Ara Knaian is the CEO and co-founder of Acceleron, a company focused on advancing fusion energy technology. With a background in engineering and physics, he has played a key role in developing innovative solutions for sustainable energy. Under his leadership, Acceleron aims to bring fusion power to commercialization.

Augustus Doricko

Founder and CEO · Rainmaker

Augustus Doricko is the founder and CEO of Rainmaker, a next generation cloud seeding company. He is a UC Berkeley dropout, Thiel Fellow, and member of the El Segundo hardtech scene. Rainmaker uses weather resistant drones to increase precipitation, and novel radar hardware to measure how much man-made precipitation is created. Our first priority is reversing the desertification of the American west, and ultimately we will terraform deserts into abundant, green, arable land.

Brian Riordan

Co-Founder & COO · Avalanche Energy

Brian Riordan is the Co-Founder and COO of Avalanche Energy, building micro-fusion reactors (Orbitron) that you can hold in your hands—free of high-powered magnets or lasers, designed to be easily manufacturable and transportable. Brian and co-founder Robin Langtry met at Blue Origin, where both worked on rocket propulsion systems. Brian started his career in deep subsea oil and gas, pivoting to aerospace with side hustles along the way. Motivated by climate change and receding glaciers in his home state of Alaska, Avalanche has raised $45M+ and focuses on mobile power for space and underwater applications.

Bud Vos

CEO · MetOx

Bud Vos is the founder and CEO of MetOx International, a company established in 1989 that specializes in advanced materials, particularly high-temperature superconductors. He has a background in physics and has led the company in developing innovative technologies for various applications. In his current role, he oversees the strategic direction and commercialization efforts of MetOx's materials science initiatives.

Caroline Anderson

Head of Public Affairs and Communications · Fusion Industry Association

Caroline Anderson serves as the Head of Public Affairs and Communications at the Fusion Industry Association, where she leads efforts in advocacy, policy communication, and public engagement for the fusion energy sector. She has spoken at events such as the Fusion Energy Landscape, demonstrating her expertise in promoting fusion technology and its potential impacts. Her role focuses on bridging the gap between the fusion industry and broader audiences through strategic communications.

Clea Kolster

Partner · Lowercarbon

Clea Kolster is a Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, a venture capital firm focused on investments in climate technology and decarbonization efforts. She works on identifying and supporting innovative companies that address environmental challenges, particularly in reducing carbon emissions. Her role involves strategic investments in the energy and sustainability sectors.

Darren Woulfe

Head of Magnet Business · Intel

Darren Woulfe is an American energy sector executive and engineer best known as the Head of Magnet Business at Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), a leading MIT spinout developing commercial fusion energy through revolutionary high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets. Joining CFS in 2021, he oversees the critical magnet program essential for compact tokamaks like SPARC and ARC. Previously, Woulfe served as CFO at Makani (an Alphabet X moonshot for airborne wind energy), led procurement in solar firms like Sungevity and Recurrent Energy, and started his career as a process engineer at Intel. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business.

Garth Sheldon-Coulson

CEO and Co-Founder · Panthalassa

Garth Sheldon-Coulson co-founded Panthalassa in 2016 to solve one of the defining challenges of our time: how to deliver enough energy for a future shaped by AI-scale compute. That search led his team to the open ocean, Earth’s most power-dense and untapped resource. After years of engineering, they created a first-of-its-kind at-sea power and compute platform. Now in manufacturing, Panthalassa is built to scale to terawatts, delivering cleaner, cheaper tokens and making energy abundance possible for humanity.

Genevieve Kinney

Investor · General Catalyst

Genevieve Kinney is an investor at General Catalyst, a prominent venture capital firm, where she focuses on early-stage technology investments. With a background in product management and operations from previous roles in the tech industry, she has contributed to the growth of innovative startups. In her current role, she plays a key part in identifying and supporting companies in emerging tech sectors.

Jordan Kanis

Managing Director, Climate Technology and Sustainability · Silicon Valley Bank

Jordan Kanis is the Managing Director for Climate Technology and Sustainability at Silicon Valley Bank, where he leads investment strategies and advisory services for innovative climate-focused ventures. With a background in finance and environmental policy, he has previously held roles in banking and sustainability consulting, advising on green initiatives and capital raising. Among his notable achievements, Kanis has facilitated funding for renewable energy projects and contributed to industry discussions on sustainable finance. His expertise includes climate technology, green investments, and energy transition strategies.

Justin Briggs

Founder & COO · Antora Energy

Dr. Justin Briggs is co-founder and the Chief Operating Officer of Antora Energy. Antora builds and deploys American-made thermal batteries to power always-on industrial operations with low-cost energy. Dr. Briggs holds a B.S. in physics from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in applied physics from Stanford University. During his Ph.D., Dr. Briggs developed next-generation

Liam Corrigan

Head of Finance · Fuse Energy

Liam Corrigan is the Head of Finance at Fuse Energy, where he leads supply chain operations and capital structuring for the fusion energy company building TITAN, the world's most efficient pulsed power generator for magnetized-liner inertial fusion. Liam graduated magna cum laude from Harvard with a degree in Physics and Astrophysics and holds a Masters of Financial Economics with Distinction from Oxford. He represented the United States in rowing at two Olympic Games, winning gold in Paris 2024. Prior to Fuse, he worked at Alpine Investors and helped scale Tesla.

Malcolm Handley

Fusion VC Pioneer · Strong Atomics

Malcolm Handley is an American venture capitalist and former software engineer best known as the founder and managing partner of Strong Atomics, a San Francisco-based firm established in 2017 that specializes in investing in nuclear fusion startups to accelerate the development of clean, abundant, and commercially viable energy. Transitioning from a 17-year tech career—including roles as a senior engineer at Google, the first employee at Asana, and early work in virtual worlds—Handley pivoted to climate solutions, concluding fusion held unique promise. After serving in tech-to-market roles for fusion at ARPA-E, he continues to advise and back innovative approaches, with portfolio companies including Zap Energy, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, and NearStar Fusion.

Matt Aubuchon

Director of Pulsed Power Component Development · Zap Energy

Matt Aubuchon is the Director of Pulsed Power Component Development at Zap Energy, where he leads the team developing Zap's pulsed power components for their sheared-flow-stabilized Z-pinch fusion reactor. Previously, he worked at EPC Power Corp, helping grow the company from a 35-person San Diego startup to a 200+ person international manufacturing company with locations in Greenville SC, Raleigh NC, and Helsinki Finland. Matt is based in San Diego and joined Zap Energy in 2023.

Mitch Lee

CEO · Arc Boat Company

Mitch Lee is cofounder and CEO of Arc, a company modernizing the maritime industry by vertically integrating boats around electric powertrains. He has a degree in mechanical engineering and spent his first years after college working as an engineer on helicopters. He later transitioned to software development, where he founded a venture-backed startup acquired by Credit Karma. And of course, he’s a lifelong boater.

Olya Irzak

CEO · Frost Methane Labs

Olya is a technologist and executive with deep expertise in methane, carbon markets, electricity grids in multiple geographies and reforestation. She is the Founder & CEO of Frost Methane - a company turning waste into value while keeping methane out of the atmosphere. Previously, she was system architect at Zola Electric - minigrids in remote communities, Google X - early stage climate projects in geothermal HVAC (Dandelion) and long duration storage (Malta) and at Google Energy on smart grid technologies. She previously lectured Computer Science at the University of Toronto, started the Diamond List and speaks 5 languages.

Robin Langtry

CEO · Avalanche Energy

Robin Langtry is a Canadian-German aerospace engineer and fusion energy innovator best known as the co-founder and CEO of Avalanche Energy (also referred to as Avalanche Fusion), a Seattle-based startup developing compact, modular Orbitron electrostatic fusion reactors for applications in mobile power, defense, space propulsion, and distributed energy. Inspired by science fiction like The Expanse, Langtry invented the Orbitron concept in 2020 after years of self-directed research, leveraging his expertise in computational fluid dynamics and turbulence modeling (with over 6,000 citations). Previously, he spent 15+ years in aerospace at Boeing and Blue Origin, leading New Glenn rocket development. Avalanche has achieved milestones like sustaining 300kV in compact devices, raised significant funding including a $40M Series A, and is building the FusionWERX neutron testing facility.

Sean Liu

Partner · Founders Fund

Sean is a Partner at Founders Fund. Prior to joining Founders Fund, Sean was CFO of Solugen, where he led the finance, strategy and operations functions, and supported the company’s scale up from initial pilot to its first commercial facility. Prior to Solugen, Sean held various investment and operating roles across Asia and the US at Silver Lake, Google and SoftBank. Sean eared a BS in International Economics from Georgetown University, and is an avid long distance runner and biker.

Shawn Xu

Partner · Lowercarbon Capital

Shawn is a Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, a multibillion dollar venture fund founded by Chris and Crystal Sacca that backs companies making real money slashing emissions, sucking carbon out of the sky, and buying us time to unf*ck the planet. Shawn has led investments on everything from energy transition to earth observation. Prior to investing, Shawn was an operator leading international go-to-market at companies like Square.

Vishnu Sridhar

Cofounder/CEO · Matter Intelligence

Vishnu Sridhar is the CEO of Matter Intelligence, a deep-tech company advancing sensors and geospatial AI to address global data challenges. He spent several years at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), serving as lead Instrument Engineer for SuperCam on the Perseverance Mars rover, achieving breakthrough science and the first microphone recording on Mars. He also served as Flight Director for the Opportunity Mars rover and led NASA’s thermal tiger team during the 2018 Mars dust storm. Vishnu founded Matter while attending Harvard Business School, applying deep-space technologies to Earth and providing unique remote sensing data and analytics solutions to industries globally.

Walden Lam

cofounder & president · unspun

Walden is a cofounder of unspun, an on-demand fashion-technology company, also a winner of the Global Change Award in 2017. Prior to unspun, Walden led growth strategies at lululemon and covered fashion consumer companies at Goldman.

Will O'Brien

Co-founder · Ulysses

Will O'Brien is the Co-founder of Ulysses, a company associated with climate and energy initiatives based on his speaking engagements. He brings expertise in these sectors, contributing to discussions on sustainable technologies. His role involves leading efforts in deep tech applications for environmental challenges.

Will Regan

President and Cofounder, Pacific Fusion · Pacific Fusion

Will Regan, Ph.D., is the co-founder and President of Pacific Fusion, a Fremont, California-based startup founded in 2023 to deliver the world's most affordable, on-demand clean energy through pulser-driven inertial fusion—leveraging fast-rising high-current pulses to magnetically compress deuterium-tritium fuel targets, aiming for net facility gain (more fusion energy out than electricity in) by 2030 via a Demonstration System promising 1,000x better price-performance than NIF's laser approach. A UC Berkeley alumnus who previously catalyzed the private fusion boom as co-developer of ARPA-E's ALPHA program supporting low-cost plasma heating, Regan later led moonshot energy and climate projects at Google X—including founding Alphabet's Mineral agricultural tech division—before assembling Pacific Fusion's elite team of national lab veterans to rapidly prototype scalable systems amid a $900M+ milestone-based Series A from General Catalyst and others. A congressional witness on fusion's promise for U.S. energy leadership, prolific communicator on podcasts and technical papers, and advocate for pragmatic paths to gigawatt-scale power, Regan is driving an ambitious roadmap toward pilot plants in the 2030s to meet exploding demand from AI, electrification, and global prosperity.