Frequently Asked Questions
What is At One Ventures?
At One Ventures is a climate and deep tech venture capital firm that invests in companies using disruptive technology to reduce their industries' environmental footprint while achieving superior economics. We back seed and Series A companies across air, water, soil, biodiversity, and energy — anywhere deep technology can either displace an incumbent or work together to improve their bottom line while increasing planetary health.
What is the Triad framework?
The Triad is At One Ventures' investment framework. We only invest in companies that meet all three criteria simultaneously: (1) Superior Unit Economics — the technology must be able to displace an incumbent at more than 3 times the cost margin of that industry, not just reach cost parity; (2) Environmental Returns — the technology must reduce planetary damage or regenerate ecosystems, not merely reduce harm at the margins; (3) Deep Tech — the breakthrough must be rooted in physics fundamentals (matter, energy, time, or space), not incremental software or services improvement. When all three criteria are met, financial and environmental returns compound together.
What does "net positive to nature" mean?
Most sustainable investing aims to reduce harm. At One Ventures aims for portfolio companies that go further by actively regenerating natural systems rather than merely doing less damage. A company is net positive if its existence leaves air cleaner, water purer, soil healthier, or biodiversity richer than if it had never existed. This is the bar we hold our portfolio to.
What stage does At One Ventures invest at?
At One Ventures primarily invests at Seed and Series A. We are not the right partner for pre-revenue research projects or growth-stage companies that need later-stage capital. Our sweet spot is companies that have demonstrated a physics-based breakthrough and need capital to commercialize and scale their manufacturing in order to start delivering to customers.
What sectors does At One Ventures invest in?
Our portfolio spans four natural systems: Air (atmospheric, emissions, and energy technologies), Water (ocean, freshwater, and water treatment), Soil (agriculture, regenerative land use, and soil carbon), and Biodiversity (ecosystem restoration, species conservation, and biological systems). Within each, we look for technology companies that can scale to industrial size.
How should founders pitch At One Ventures?
The best pitches demonstrate all three legs of the Triad with evidence. We look for: a clear explanation of the physics-based advantage, a bottoms-up cost analysis showing a strongeconomic pull of 3X or better, and an honest assessment of what it takes to commercialize at scale. We have a funding criteria document — our "Funding Napkin" — that outlines what we need to see at Seed and Series A. See our How We Invest page for details.
Who are the partners at At One Ventures?
Tom Chi and Laurie Menoud are the founding partners. Tom is an astrophysicist who was a founding member of Google X, where he shaped Google Glass and the self-driving car program, and previously worked on Microsoft Outlook and Yahoo Search. He is the author of Climate Capital: Investing in the Tools for a Regenerative Future (Wiley, 2026). Laurie has a strong background in commercializing deep tech ventures at SRI International, and corporate venture capital at Solvay and BASF. The investment team has backgrounds in physical sciences, engineering, manufacturing, and finance. Helen Lin is a Partner, and before joinign At One she held roles in investment banking and micro-finance in emerging markets and has a clear financial lens. At One Ventures also employs full-time experts in talent, operations, marketing, IP/patent strategy, and manufacturing. This team is actively involved in helping portfolio companies grow their business and bring their product to market.
What is Tom Chi's book about?
Climate Capital (Wiley, 2026), written by At One Ventures founding partner Tom Chi, argues that the climate crisis requires a redesign of how capital flows — away from incremental harm reduction and toward regenerative technologies with superior economics. Chi argues that "climate destabilization" is a more accurate term than "climate change" because the key risk is volatility, not averages. The book outlines a framework for investors, founders, and policymakers to accelerate the transition through market-driven deployment.
How diverse is the At One Ventures portfolio?
Around 40% of At One Ventures portfolio companies are led by founders from groups traditionally underrepresented in venture capital (including BIPOC and female founders). The portfolio is globally distributed: approximately 70% in North America, 15% in Europe, and 15% across Africa, South America, and Israel. We believe a different kind of thinking than what created the climate crisis is required to solve it — which is why we actively seek out non-traditional founders.
Is At One Ventures currently raising a new fund?
Please contact us directly for information about LP opportunities. We are always looking to connect with LPs aligned with our mission of helping humanity become a net positive to nature.
At One Ventures is a climate and deep tech venture capital firm that invests in companies using disruptive technology to reduce their industries' environmental footprint while achieving superior economics. We back seed and Series A companies across air, water, soil, biodiversity, and energy — anywhere deep technology can either displace an incumbent or work together to improve their bottom line while increasing planetary health.
What is the Triad framework?
The Triad is At One Ventures' investment framework. We only invest in companies that meet all three criteria simultaneously: (1) Superior Unit Economics — the technology must be able to displace an incumbent at more than 3 times the cost margin of that industry, not just reach cost parity; (2) Environmental Returns — the technology must reduce planetary damage or regenerate ecosystems, not merely reduce harm at the margins; (3) Deep Tech — the breakthrough must be rooted in physics fundamentals (matter, energy, time, or space), not incremental software or services improvement. When all three criteria are met, financial and environmental returns compound together.
What does "net positive to nature" mean?
Most sustainable investing aims to reduce harm. At One Ventures aims for portfolio companies that go further by actively regenerating natural systems rather than merely doing less damage. A company is net positive if its existence leaves air cleaner, water purer, soil healthier, or biodiversity richer than if it had never existed. This is the bar we hold our portfolio to.
What stage does At One Ventures invest at?
At One Ventures primarily invests at Seed and Series A. We are not the right partner for pre-revenue research projects or growth-stage companies that need later-stage capital. Our sweet spot is companies that have demonstrated a physics-based breakthrough and need capital to commercialize and scale their manufacturing in order to start delivering to customers.
What sectors does At One Ventures invest in?
Our portfolio spans four natural systems: Air (atmospheric, emissions, and energy technologies), Water (ocean, freshwater, and water treatment), Soil (agriculture, regenerative land use, and soil carbon), and Biodiversity (ecosystem restoration, species conservation, and biological systems). Within each, we look for technology companies that can scale to industrial size.
How should founders pitch At One Ventures?
The best pitches demonstrate all three legs of the Triad with evidence. We look for: a clear explanation of the physics-based advantage, a bottoms-up cost analysis showing a strongeconomic pull of 3X or better, and an honest assessment of what it takes to commercialize at scale. We have a funding criteria document — our "Funding Napkin" — that outlines what we need to see at Seed and Series A. See our How We Invest page for details.
Who are the partners at At One Ventures?
Tom Chi and Laurie Menoud are the founding partners. Tom is an astrophysicist who was a founding member of Google X, where he shaped Google Glass and the self-driving car program, and previously worked on Microsoft Outlook and Yahoo Search. He is the author of Climate Capital: Investing in the Tools for a Regenerative Future (Wiley, 2026). Laurie has a strong background in commercializing deep tech ventures at SRI International, and corporate venture capital at Solvay and BASF. The investment team has backgrounds in physical sciences, engineering, manufacturing, and finance. Helen Lin is a Partner, and before joinign At One she held roles in investment banking and micro-finance in emerging markets and has a clear financial lens. At One Ventures also employs full-time experts in talent, operations, marketing, IP/patent strategy, and manufacturing. This team is actively involved in helping portfolio companies grow their business and bring their product to market.
What is Tom Chi's book about?
Climate Capital (Wiley, 2026), written by At One Ventures founding partner Tom Chi, argues that the climate crisis requires a redesign of how capital flows — away from incremental harm reduction and toward regenerative technologies with superior economics. Chi argues that "climate destabilization" is a more accurate term than "climate change" because the key risk is volatility, not averages. The book outlines a framework for investors, founders, and policymakers to accelerate the transition through market-driven deployment.
How diverse is the At One Ventures portfolio?
Around 40% of At One Ventures portfolio companies are led by founders from groups traditionally underrepresented in venture capital (including BIPOC and female founders). The portfolio is globally distributed: approximately 70% in North America, 15% in Europe, and 15% across Africa, South America, and Israel. We believe a different kind of thinking than what created the climate crisis is required to solve it — which is why we actively seek out non-traditional founders.
Is At One Ventures currently raising a new fund?
Please contact us directly for information about LP opportunities. We are always looking to connect with LPs aligned with our mission of helping humanity become a net positive to nature.
