Leap Forward Ventures

About The Fund

Leap Forward Ventures is an investment fund that focuses on startups operating within the CleanTech industry and those with a woman-focused approach. Their investment thesis centers around accelerating the decarbonization of the world, supporting the charge against climate change by funding innovative technologies and solutions. They strive to be the type of investors that were desired by founders: supportive, responsive, and understanding of when to be hands-on and when to step aside. Leap Forward Ventures boasts a team with a strong engineering background, which enables them to grasp complex details quickly and focus on scaling exceptional startups. Incorporating their expertise, they aim to help founders scale both themselves and their companies, capitalizing on unique moments where adoption curves are steep and the potential for impact is high. With an investment range between $100,000 and $1,500,000, their sweet spot for investments is around $300,000, targeting the pre-seed and seed stages of company growth. They pride themselves on a swift decision-making process, providing concrete feedback to founders, and ensuring time is not wasted during the fundraising cycle. The team at Leap Forward Ventures includes David Rusenko, a former founder with experience in startup growth and acquisition; Jessica Alter, a two-time founder with expertise in climate investing; Michael Wara, the Director of Stanford's Climate and Energy Policy Program; and Andrew Krause, CEO of Northern Pacific Power with sustainability credentials. By offering their experience and resources, they aim to empower the right founders who have the potential to transform the world at an unprecedented speed and scale.