Blackhorn Ventures Adds Former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter as Strategy Partner

BOULDER, Colo., April 17, 2018 -- Blackhorn Ventures, a leading venture capital firm specializing in industrial impact investing, announced today it has added former Colorado Governor Bill Ritter as a Strategy Partner. Ritter’s role will be to advise Blackhorn on energy investment and to build partnerships in Colorado.

Blackhorn Ventures funds companies that are using technology to create unprecedented resource productivity. These companies are transforming industrial sectors like energy, construction, transportation, manufacturing, agriculture, and water.

“Companies that are driving resource efficiency through breakthroughs in engineering and science will lead the way in protecting our resources and driving growth,” Governor Ritter said. “Blackhorn Ventures is leading the charge to fund and develop these companies.”

Governor Bill Ritter was elected Colorado’s 41st governor in 2006. During his four-year term, Ritter established Colorado as a national and international leader in clean energy by building a New Energy Economy. After leaving the Governor’s Office, Ritter founded the Center for New Energy Economy at Colorado State University, which works with state and federal policymakers to create clean energy policy throughout the country.

Blackhorn founders Trevor Zimmerman, Philip O’Connor, and Jack Fuchs believe Governor Ritter’s expertise will be critical in helping the company identify investments and partnerships in the future. “We are honored to have Governor Ritter as part of our team,” said Blackhorn Managing Partner Philip O’Connor. “He is a leader in the modernization of our infrastructure and economy, and he recognizes the critical role entrepreneurs play in the advancement of our industries.

“Governor Ritter was an early proponent of energy market transformation here in Colorado, and now he continues to be a national leader on policy and business-related issues supporting innovation around sustainability,” said Melissa Cheong, Chief Investment Officer at Zoma Capital. Zoma Capital, Ben and Lucy Ana Walton’s Denver-based Family Office, is an investor in Blackhorn.

Since June 2017, Blackhorn has invested approximately $10 million in companies that are reshaping industrial resource efficiency.

About Blackhorn Ventures

Blackhorn Ventures was founded by a group of experienced operators and investors, to invest in companies improving industrial resource efficiency. Blackhorn backs entrepreneurs that are using breakthroughs in science and engineering to reshape industries, finding new ways to solve complex problems. Their solutions are built on IT infrastructure, and designed to do more with less, resulting in order of magnitude improvements in resource efficiency. For more information visit: www.blackhornvc.com

Contact:
Ryan Gerding
INK inc. Public Relations on behalf of Blackhorn Ventures
[email protected]
913-602-8531