Atomic Opportunities: Investing in the Nuclear Renaissance

Laura brings operational perspective as a CEO, Chairman, and executive in technology startups in addition to investing experience. As Managing Partner at Ripplecreek Partners’ technology practice and General Partner at FA Technology Ventures, she worked various tech sectors: mobile, consumer, internet, SaaS, cloud-based, marketing, and enterprise software across many economic cycles. She also served as CEO at Handango, creating the first marketplace of mobile apps. At Microsoft, she co-founded two businesses as an intra-preneur in an elite swat team spun out of Bill Gates’ office. Laura holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and AB in Government from Dartmouth (’89).

Pete joins Alumni Ventures from the $1.5B+ venture capital arm of Bertelsmann, where he was a Senior Director across the European Union, China, and U.S startup ecosystems. Previously a fellow at .406 Ventures and alumnus of the Harvard Innovation Lab, Pete has substantial entrepreneurial and startup operating background. He has an MBA from the Tuck School at Dartmouth, an MPA from Harvard’s Kennedy School, a Master’s with Distinction from Oxford, and a BA (magna cum laude) from Dartmouth. He has recently been selected as a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Pete has a creative core as drummer for the indie rock band Filligar, which has been designated as “Cultural Ambassador” by the U.S. Department of State. He is an avid skier, marathon runner, and ice hockey player.

Drew has worked in high-growth industries as both an investor and operator, focusing on how people and technology interact within organizations. His venture experience began at AV’s Seed Fund, identifying and supporting early stage founders across a variety of industries. This experience led him to join Holistic Industries, a leading private multi-state operator of cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries, where he focused on business intelligence, corporate development, and M&A. Prior to rejoining AV, he worked with the founding team of Mirage, an NFT marketplace and view layer for augmented reality assets. Drew has a BS from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy with concentrations in Learning & Organizational Change and Entrepreneurship. He is also an ambassador of Northwestern’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a member of Chicago Inno’s 25 under 25.

Brian is a Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Thea Energy. He has a diverse background as both an operator and investor, spanning deep tech, venture capital, private equity, and investment banking. While at Aeterna Capital Partners, Brian grew a multi-family office investing across venture capital and private equity opportunities. Brian also has deep experience within the privately funded fusion industry, previously serving as a Vice President and Officer of General Fusion. During his time at General Fusion, Brian led various initiatives, including corporate and commercialization strategy, as well as engagement with capital markets.

Yasir brings 14 years of nuclear reactor design experience and is recognized as a pioneer in the field of Microreactors. He possesses a notable history of leadership in nuclear projects, including overseeing the Department of Energy’s MARVEL Project at Idaho National Laboratory, which is in progress, and directing the Westinghouse eVinci™ Micro Reactor Program. Involvement in the design of the Westinghouse SMR and AP1000 reactors, along with being awarded 11 patents for his innovative work. He has been honored with the Walter Zinn Medal by the American Nuclear Society, marking him as the youngest recipient to be recognized for his advancements in nuclear microreactor technologies in the United States.

Julia is an active supporter and organizer of the annual Reagan National Defense Forum. She began her career in the financial services industry as a summer analyst at Credit Suisse in the technology investment banking division and at AIG Asset Management. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she was a Presidential Scholar and Marshall Associates Endowed Scholar, and where she earned a BS in Business Administration and a BA in Intelligence & Cyber Operations.

Jon launched significant energy-industry initiatives at Microsoft, Google, and Amazon, contributing to over $1 Trillion in market growth. As CSO and interim CTO for the Energy & Resources Industry team at Microsoft, he led global strategies for tech-enabled solutions to accelerate the energy transition, including launching Azure Data Manager for Energy and forming key partnerships for AI solutions in energy. He authored and launched AWS’s global energy industry vertical, aligned Google Cloud’s energy strategy with its engineering roadmap, and developed partner-channel strategies for accelerated market expansion.

Darrin is an investment professional with an extensive background in financial services and B2B. Throughout his 25 year career, he has worked with individual investors, investment advisors and their clients, and institutional (foundations and endowments) clients, with various investment vehicles including mutual funds, separately managed accounts, socially responsible portfolios, and alternative investments. He earned a BA in Economics & Public Management from UMaine and an MBA from Boston College.