Energy Shift Forum Davos 2026

PARTNER AT DCVC

Allyson Kaufman, Partner, Head of Investor Relations & Fundraising at DCVC (Data Collective). DCVC brings to bear a unique model that unites a team of experienced venture capitalists with more than 35 technology executives and experts (CTOs, CIOs, Chief Scientists, Principal Engineers, Professors at Stanford and Berkeley) with significant tenures at top 100 technology companies and research institutions worldwide. DCVC focuses on seed, Series A, and growth stage companies that apply deep compute, big data and IT infrastructure technologies to transform giant industries.

PRESIDENT / CEO AT DYNASTIILON FAMILY OFFICE

Dr. Alexandra C. (Carpenter) Cook CPA is a family office and second-generation family member with more than 30 years of experience leading financial, investment, operational, and strategic initiatives for ultra-high-net-worth families and complex enterprises. Dr. Cook is an influential leader in one of the world’s top family office hotspots. She is the founder of Dynastillion℠, a provider of bespoke, comprehensive family office services that is committed to creating and perpetuating multi-generational wealth. Dr. Cook’s family and other Dynastillion℠ clients make venture-focused impact investments and fund investments internationally.

PARTNER AT NORTHSTAR VC

Eol Suesler is a Partner at Northstar VC which combines the best attributes of venture capital and private equity, providing access to global networks. Northstar has 300M USD and actively invests in energy transition.

CHIEF MINISTER OF JHARKHAND SH, INDIA

Shri Hemant Soren is the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jharkhand, currently serving his fourth term after being sworn in on 28 November 2024. He is the President of the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). A prominent national leader, Hemant is spearheading inclusive and sustainable development in one of India’s most mineral-rich and industrially strategic states. His priorities include tribal empowerment, employment generation, ease of doing business, infrastructure expansion, skill development, and green industrialization.

CO-FOUNDER & CO-CEO AT ENERGY SHIFT CAPITAL

Ilkay Demirdag is the Co-founder and Co-CEO at Energy Shift Capital, a trust-based investment platform and emerging fund connecting qualified professionals and accredited investors with screened Series A+ energy transition scale-ups across the EU and the US, closing the critical 10B scaling gap for high-impact energy transition ventures.

FOUNDER & CEO AT MEDTRADE ENERGY & COMMODITIES

Ilker Baburoglu is an energy sector entrepreneur and investor who has co-founded and led multinational energy and commodity trading companies. Ilker is a member of the Board of Directors of the Atlantic Council, Washington DC, and a member of the Academy Faculty at the Queen Elizabeth II Academy for Leadership and the Next Generation at the Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, London. 

SENIOR PARTNER AT BREAKTHROUGH ENERGY VENTURES

Libby Wayman is a Senior Partner, Breakthrough Energy Ventures which is $1B+ fund founded by Bill Gates, John Doerr, Vinod Khosla, John Arnold, Jack Ma, Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg, and others to fund innovations that can address climate change. Libby also teaches the Climate and Energy Ventures  class at MIT, where alums have started over 100 companies are raised over $7B total.

DIRECTOR EMEA AT THE UN PRI

Nikhil Chouguley is the EMEA director at Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), a global organisation established by the United Nations and the largest institutional investors, with a mission to catalyze responsible investment. Nikhil is currently a partner at Sustopia Capital with over 20 years of experience in sustainable finance, carbon offsets, and regulatory frameworks. Earlier, he served at Citigroup, Deutsche Bank, Fidelity, Barclays Wealth and FCA.

CO-FOUNDER & CEO AT STARCLOUD

Philip Johnston is the Co-Founder & CEO at Starcloud which is building data centers in space to address the AI energy challenge. Starcloud recently launched the first Nvidia H100 chip to space. Falling launch costs enable Starcloud to capitalize on the abundant energy and ability to rapidly scale in space. Starcloud started in January 2024 and has raised $34M in funding to enable the launch of multiple satellites. Their backers include Y Combinator (S24), NFX, In-Q-Tel, the NVIDIA, Sequoia Scout Fund, A16z Scout Fund, and the World Economic Forum's Technology Pioneers.

BOARD ADVISOR AT PAHANG AEROSPACE CITY

Rajeeshwaran Moorthy, Board Advisor of Pahang Aerospace City.  Rajeeshwaran is a prominent global figure in the space sector, recognized for his work at the intersection of space policy, international cooperation, and strategic investment. He has advised governments, multilateral institutions, academic bodies, and space-sector organizations across multiple regions, supporting the development of nationally significant and internationally connected space ecosystems. He currently holds senior advisory roles with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (via the Maldives Space Research Organisation), Axiom Space,

CO-FOUNDER & CO-CEO AT ENERGY SHIFT CAPITAL

Risto Kuulasmaa is the Co-founder and Co-CEO at Energy Shift Capital, a trust-based investment platform and emerging fund connecting qualified professionals and accredited investors with screened Series A+ energy transition scale-ups across the EU and the US, closing the critical 10B scaling gap for high-impact energy transition ventures.

BOARD MEMBER AT INOBAT

Vazil Hudak is a Board Member at Inobat, one of Europe’s leading next-generation battery manufacturers. Mr. Hudak is a former Minister of Finance and Minister of Economy of the Slovak Republic. He has also served as Vice President of the European Investment Bank.

CIO at LEVIDIAN 

Alex Holden is the CIO at Levidian, which is an advanced materials company helping industries improve performance, cut costs, build resilient supply chains and lower carbon emissions. Levidian delivers quality-assured graphene at scale, with world-class applications expertise and disruptive economics that give businesses the confidence to adopt this transformative material and secure meaningful competitive advantage.

DIRECTOR AT HURD FAMILY OFFICE

Jim Hurd is Director at Hurd Family Office and makes angel investments and develops strategic alliances for breakthrough technology startups since 2003.  Jim is an angel investor and strategic advisor to Alef Aeronautics, a personal flying car/EVTOL company, an early stage small modular nuclear company producing isotopes for nuclear batteries in space and American Gene Technologies that has a gene therapy cure for HIV. 
     

CEO AT LONG DURATION ENERGY STORAGE COUNCIL

Julia Souderis the CEO at Long Duration Energy Storage Council and she leads global efforts to accelerate technologies critical to a reliable and net-zero future. Julia is a proven energy leader with more than 25 years shaping policy, markets and innovation. Julia serves on multiple global boards and advisory committees as she drives equitable, innovative approaches to building resilient and secure energy systems.

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER AT GREEN LI-ION

Leon Farrant, is the CEO and Co-Founder at Green Li-ion, a company delivering advanced lithium-ion battery recycling and remanufacturing technologies. With nearly two decades of strategic leadership across the energy and industrial services sectors, he spearheads the development and deployment of scalable, on-site recycling systems that enable true circularity in battery materials and strengthen the global clean-energy supply chain.

SENIOR PARTNER, GLOBAL MANAGING DIRECTOR, CTO AT ROLAND BERGER

Maria Mikhaylenko‍ is a Senior Partner, Global Managing Director, Chief Technical Officer at Roland Berger. Maria focuses on AI solutions, Digital and AI driven Transformations and in developing sustainable strategies for the industrial, energy and infrastructure sectors.

CO-FOUNDER AND CEO AT INOBAT

Marian Bocek is the Co-Founder & CEO at InoBat whichis one of Europe’s leading next-generation battery manufacturers, specializing in high-performance, tailor-made battery solutions for automotive, commercial vehicle, motorsport, and aerospace applications. Backed by major strategic partners and advanced R&D capabilities, the company is shaping the future of energy storage through innovation, scalability, and sustainable battery technologies.

Director of Communications at SEC Newgate UK

Naomi Kerbel, is the Director of Communications at SEC Newgate UK and crafts impactful content across video, podcasts, and thought leadership. Naomi is a communications leader passionate about curating conversations and the art of creating value through dialogue. With a background spanning Bloomberg, Sky News, and Goldman Sachs, Naomi brings deep expertise in storytelling and strategic influence. She also hosts Show Me The Way, spotlighting women shaping positive change.

FOUNDER AT SENTE VENTURES

Serhat Cicekoglu is the Founder at Sente Ventures and he leads investments in energy transition and agriculture, where he provides an interest-only venture debt structure to deep-tech scale-ups at FOAK stage. Serhat is the Founder at Sente Foundry, which is a CVC as a Service investment platform funded by corporations, financial investors like family offices and VCs as well as municipalities. Through Sente Foundry, he has invested in 55+ startups from 24 countries including Türkiye, U.S.A., U.K., Taiwan to name a few.

VP OF STRATEGY & GROWTH AT ANRONG FZE

Shanti de Beauvoir Carey, is the Vice President of Strategy and Growth at ANRONG FZE, which is a Geely Group–backed company driving the deployment of battery-swapping electric vehicles across emerging markets. Shanti brings a strong background in environmental policy and clean-energy strategy, with experience at the Conservative Environment Network in the UK, the environmental consultancy Net Zero Now and with renewable-energy startups across Europe.

GLOBAL INDUSTRIALS & ENERGY LEADER AT EY

Steve Wilkinson is the Global Industrials & Energy Leader at EY and helping clients on the frontline of the energy transition to navigate complex investor and societal expectations, geopolitics and technology disruption.

PARTNER AT KITTYHAWK VC

Paul Burgon is the Energy & Climate Partner at Kittyhawk VC. Paul has led nearly 100 M&A and corporate venture capital investments and exits worth over $3 billion. Paul co-created the Danaher acquisition and corporate venture system, which has been recognized as one of the most successful in the U.S. Paul focuses on creating strategic exits in the energy, infrastructure, critical materials and related industries.

CHIEF GROWTH ADVISOR AT FINCA VENTURES

Payel Farasat, Chief Growth Advisor at FINCA International & FINCA Ventures. Payel is a catalytic capital strategist and investor focused on translating breakthrough innovation into system-scale infrastructure across long-duration, capital-intensive transitions including energy, climate, and industrial systems. With 20+ years across global capital markets, she has raised $380M+, overseen $18B in AUM, and advises boards and investors on the decisions that determine what scales from pilot to backbone.

FOUNDER & CEO AT REGENINTEL

Chad Frischmann is the Founder & CEO at RegenIntel, which is global ecosystem superpowered by leading system thinkers and doers creating a regenerative economy and society that places human and planetary well-being at the heart of our collective future. With over 20 years of experience in sustainability, climate change, and development, Chad is a systems strategist who designs and implements solutions that address the root causes of global challenges and generate cascading benefits for all life.

CO-FOUNDER & CEO AT GRIDFIRE

David Peto is the Co-Founder &CEO of Gridfire Fusion, a hugely powerful, yet simple approach to fusion. Based on a pioneering machine built by the Gridfire team at the University of Maryland, funded by the US Dept of Energy, Gridfire’s machines are designed to do one thing - produce reliable clean energy at a price the world can afford. A multiple time deeptech founder, David spent the last 8 years delivering groundbreaking data processing capabilities to the National Security community in the US and UK and other nations. He also advises Morgan Stanley on their investments in Climate and Sustainability tech with Morgan Stanley Inclusive and Sustainable Ventures.

CO-FOUNDER AT TERRA-A

Erez Vigodmani s the Co-Founder at Terra A. Erez led as President and CEO three prominent companies: Teva - the world’s largest generic pharmaceutical company, ADAMA – the world’s largest generic agrochemical company, the Strauss Group- multinational food and beverage company. He was a member of the advisory committee to Israel’s National Economic Council, a member of the Advisory Board to the Governor of the Bank of Israel, and as a member of the Israel Security Authority Plenary Governing Board. Erez holds a master's degree in management science (MBA) from MIT.

CO-FOUNDER & CEO AT BLUE ENERGY

Jake Jurewicz is the CEO & Co-founder at Blue Energy, which is leveraging manufacturing techniques and supply chains from offshore oil and wind to reduce the cost of nuclear power from >$15k/kW to <$3/kW, the deployment time from >10 years to <3 years, and the risk such that it can be project financed. Jake previously co-founded Entropy Power and served on the corporate strategy team at Exelon Corporation, leading projects in R&D, strategic planning, and venture capital. Jake holds a Masters in Nuclear Science & Engineering as well as a dual bachelors in physics and nuclear science & engineering from MIT.

CEO & CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AT METATRON N.R.G.

Jonathan Burla, CEO & Chairman of the Board at Metatron N.R.G. which is a deep-tech energy company developing a compact fusion system based on stable microplasmoids and aneutronic reaction pathways. Jonathan Burla introduces Metatron's approach and the opportunities in investing in fusion technology.

CO-FOUNDER & CET AT GUIDEWHEEL

Lauren Dunford is the Co-Founder and CEO of Guidewheel, the leading AI-powered FactoryOps platform helping manufacturers boost productivity by up to 2X while reducing energy costs and emissions by 15-20%. Backed by BlackRock and Temasek's Decarbonization Partners Fund, Greycroft, and Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Guidewheel works with 400+ manufacturers including Johnson & Johnson, ATI, Cargill, Steelcase, Land O'Lakes, and Hershey. 

CEO AT MOMENTUM

Mahesh Konduru‍ ‍is the CEO at Momemtum, which helps to build supply chain resilience for energy transition minerals and metals with a closed loop system that recovers desired critical minerals and metals with high efficiency, shrinking the supply chain footprint, and rendering the end-of-life for batteries obsolete. 

PARTNER AT NATO INNOVATION FUND

Patrick Schneider-Sikorsky is a Parner at Nato Innovation Fund. Patrick leads capacity and ecosystem building at the NIF and is responsible for Central and Eastern Europe coverage. Based between regional offices in London and Warsaw, he works closely with startups, other VC funds, NATO’s DIANA, as well as industry and government partners, to ensure that the NIF delivers on its mission to boost deep tech entrepreneurship and foster innovation in regions where there is too much talent and too little venture capital.

PARTNER, CHIEF CORPORATE RELATIONS AND ESG OFFICER AT NORDIC NANO

Pia Erkinheimo, is a Partner at  Nordic Nano, which is developing the next generation of solar, storage and hydrogen technologies, all of which are based on advanced nanocarbon materials. The company’s non-toxic innovations capture light across the full solar spectrum, even in scattered or low-light conditions, and are engineered for maximum efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

SLOVAKIA STATE SECRETARY

Radomír Salitros is the Slovakia State Secretary. Prior to this, he was an entrepreneur in real estate and furniture manufacturing,  worked in banking on various senior management positions at Raiffeisen Bank International and Kathrein and also worked as management consultant at McKinsey. He holds master degree from University of Economics in Prague and second master degree from CEMS.

CEO & CO-FOUNDER AT CLEANPLAY

Ryan Cameron, CEO and Co-Founder of CleanPlay, a climate-tech platform unlocking clean energy demand from the $30B gamers spend each year on electricity to power the $300B global gaming economy. With two decades spanning technology, gaming, and sport, including Microsoft and the International Olympic Committee, he works globally with publishers, investors, and energy partners to finance renewable power.

CEO at CLIMATE SCALEUP

Seema Gupta, CEO at Climate Scaleup, which acceleratesthe global expansion of existing, impactful climate innovations, by leveraging MIT’s REAP framework, a proven approach to entrepreneurship and innovation. Climate Scaleup’s mission is to drive systemic change by uniting entrepreneurs with key stakeholders such as universities, government bodies, corporations and investors at a global scale.

CEO AT VEIR

Dr. Tim Heidel, Co-Founder & CEO at VEIR, which is developing a new generation of High Temperature Superconductor (HTS)-based transmission lines. VEIR is backed up by industry-leading investors. VEIR’s innovations will enable reliable, low loss, cost–effective HTS-based transmission over long distances in narrow rights–of–way, connecting the lowest cost renewable power to where it’s needed, when it’s needed.