Engine Ventures

Tough tech is the label Engine Ventures uses for the founders it backs, meaning difficult scientific and engineering problems where the potential impact is large. Its investment themes are climate, human health, advanced systems and infrastructure. The firm is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and draws on Boston's strength in biotechnology. It is separate from The Engine, the nonprofit incubator and accelerator with the same name.

Climate and energy

Climate and energy work covers new materials and methods for generating, transporting, storing and consuming power. Its interests include fusion power, long-duration energy storage, and new ways of separating materials in industrial processes that could cut energy use. It argues that energy production accounts for a large share of greenhouse gas emissions, and it wants to decarbonize industrial processes.

The firm's stated vision for fusion is of ten thousand zero-carbon power plants by 2050, supplying a large share of the world's electricity. It presents that as a long-run aim rather than a forecast.

Human health and the Boston biotech base

Human health investments combine biology, materials, engineering and AI. The firm points to tissue engineering for regenerative medicine and to immune system therapies against cancer and disease. It describes these as drawing on Boston's foundation of biotechnology knowledge and leadership.

Advanced systems and infrastructure

In advanced systems the firm invests in quantum computing, in processing with light rather than electrons, and in autonomous driving systems that automate logistics. It argues that artificial intelligence is limited by computing power and that cloud computing is inefficient in ways new hardware could address. It also backs bidirectional power plants that could make renewable energy available around the clock.

Public health, food and portfolio examples

The public health and food work covers sewage analysis that helps city health officials protect their communities, and a natural coating that reduces food spoilage and packaging waste. It also backs a shelf-stable patch designed to improve vaccine delivery and the production of protein-rich fungi flour.

Who the firm works with

Its audience is founders who take on pressing worldwide problems using new science and engineering. It describes the most urgent problems as holding the biggest opportunities, and it says it invests in remarkable founders to create positive change.