Renewable energy jobs at Elemental Impact
Elemental Impact
Company Overview
Elemental Excelerator
Hawai'i & San Francisco Bay Area, United States
2009
Approximately 50 employees (source: linkedin.com). No public revenue figures disclosed as it operates as a private nonprofit under Elemental Excelerator, Inc. (EIN 82-1112859), supported by philanthropic backers including the Rockefeller Foundation and Emerson Collective (source: rockefellerfoundation.org).
What They Do
Elemental Excelerator is a nonprofit organization dedicated to scaling climate technologies that have a significant community impact. Founded in 2009 by Dawn Lippert, it has evolved from evaluating over 5,000 startups to investing in more than 150 companies across 50 U.S. states and over 100 countries. The organization provides catalytic capital, coaching, and support to bridge funding gaps for early-stage ventures that address climate change and social equity (source: rockefellerfoundation.org). Its core focus encompasses a wide range of climate technologies, including energy, transportation, agriculture, water, and construction, with investments typically ranging from $1-3 million per company to accelerate adoption in underserved communities (source: investorlist.com).
Projects & Track Record
Elemental Excelerator has a notable track record of successful projects and investments. Among its portfolio, Simple Energy, a utility analytics software firm, sold most of its shares to AES in 2018 and merged into Uplight, now serving 75 top electric and gas utilities worldwide. Another significant investment was in Xos Trucks, an electric van and truck manufacturer that secured a major order from FedEx and went public via a SPAC merger in 2021. The organization has facilitated at least 20 other exits through acquisitions or public markets, showcasing its effectiveness in nurturing startups to maturity (source: trellis.net). Ongoing initiatives include investments in innovative companies such as Forum Mobility, Modulous, and Stem, which are focused on electric trucking, modular construction, and energy storage software, respectively (source: investorlist.com).
Recent Developments
In the past two years, Elemental Excelerator has continued to expand its portfolio, adding about 15 companies annually from a pool of 1,000 reviewed. This growth has been supported by leveraging the Inflation Reduction Act for project readiness. Notably, the organization spun out Earthshot Ventures in September 2021, raising $60 million for early-stage climate tech, backed by prominent figures such as John Doerr and Tom Steyer (source: golden.com). Additionally, it launched the Empowering Diverse Climate Talent (EDICT) internship program to build workforce pipelines in anticipation of 24 million green jobs by 2030, as projected by the International Labor Organization (source: rockefellerfoundation.org).
Working There
Elemental Excelerator offers a variety of roles across sourcing, investment analysis, portfolio management, coaching, policy, and operations within its approximately 50-person team. About half of the staff is dedicated to direct company support, emphasizing racial equity strategies and long-term plans to eliminate race-based disparities in the workplace (source: rockefellerfoundation.org). The organization primarily hires in its Honolulu headquarters and East Palo Alto office, aligning with its operational focus in Hawai'i and the San Francisco Bay Area. The culture is mission-driven, with over 50% of its portfolio companies led by diverse founders, reflecting a commitment to community representation and equity (source: guidestar.org).
Last updated on Feb 23, 2026 | Report an issue
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