Sierra Peterson

Founding Partner

2021 - Current

We invest in climate tech companies that change the world. We join founding teams early in their journeys, focusing on Seed and Series A climate tech companies in North America and Europe.

Kauffman Fellow, Class 26

2021

Board Member

2020 - 2022

The Change Climate Project partners with companies to eliminate their carbon footprint.

Partner

2019 - 2020

Lionheart invests in early-stage companies that address existential risk. I led Lionheart's investing in climate technology companies and in 2020 shifted to an advisory role with the fund.

Vice President, Corporate Development & New Businesses

2015 - 2017

A marketplace lender and financial services platform backed by Silver Lake and DFJ, Renovate America has financed more than $3 billion for climate protection: energy efficiency, solar and water conservation projects. __________ • Corporate Development Created, staffed and led company's first Corporate Development team. Established mandate for M&A, new business lines, corporate strategy and strategic partnerships. • M&A and Strategic Deals Led team responsible for acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments, partnerships and the launch of new business lines. Created templates and process for full-cycle M&A: from diligence and financial analysis through deal close and integration. Experience with acqui-hires and complex IP diligence. • Corporate Strategy With C-Suite, set strategy for corporate growth, competitive positioning and new products and businesses. Created first recurring revenue streams through SaaS sales and IP royalties. • Cross-Functional Leadership Led negotiation of strategic partnerships in SaaS, capital markets, financial services, marketing and operations on behalf of internal teams. External sourcing, partner selection, deal execution and partnership structuring. Led cross-functional teams, earning trust of internal business unit leads as an advisor and partner. • Management Opened and managed San Francisco satellite office: responsible for multi-team office culture, real estate negotiation, office catering, benefits and local regulatory compliance.

Director, Business Development & Product Teams

2012 - 2015

Spruce (Clean Power Finance, pre-acquisition) is the white-label SaaS and financial services platform for the solar industry and capital markets. Backed by Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins. __________ • Strategy and Corporate Development Development and implementation of corporate growth strategy. Creation of new business lines and partnerships. • Deal Structuring and Negotiation Deal lead with utilities, energy retailers, manufacturers, product distributors, PACE financiers and other strategic partners. • Product and Go-to-Market Design Creation of financial products, pricing models and processes for new business lines. • Product Management Product Manager for financial underwriting and multi-persona sales software for double-sided marketplaces. Agile methodology. • Sales Operations Implementation of large-account strategy to improve channel sales productivity. Creation of financial product distribution program. • Public Relations Publication and conference speaking on energy, finance and policy.

Director, Corporate Development

2011 - 2012

Sungevity is the online marketplace for home solar services, connecting homeowners with solar installers and solar financing options. Backed by Apollo. __________ • Corporate Development, Partnerships and Product Strategy Review of new technologies and strategic acquisitions. Development and implementation of a multi-channel sales strategy and new financing products and business lines. Origination, structuring and closing partnership deals with multi-million-dollar revenue.

Fellow

2010 - 2010

Executive Office of the President. White House Office of Energy and Climate Change __________ • Strategy and Policy Development Member of the White House team responsible for the Federal mandate on energy and climate change. Market design for cap-and-trade and other regulated markets. Collaborated with White House senior staff and agency leadership to ensure policy implementation, including vehicle fuel economy standards and the Federal response to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. • Negotiation Represented White House in negotiation with industry, Congressional and NGO stakeholders.

Fellow

2009 - 2009

House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming __________ Policy development, economic analysis and international strategy for the House Select Committee and its Chair, Ed Markey (D-MA).

Renewable Procurement and Resource Planning Team

2008 - 2008

• Policy development and lifecycle emissions analysis for California’s potential regulation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with each stage of an energy technology’s lifecycle. • Refinement of a second-generation Renewable Portfolio Standard to align procurement and transmission planning with long-term goals for GHG emissions reductions.