Field Note: Backing the Builders

Backing builders ultimately means backing people—many different types of people. That includes the partners, mentors, and networks that support them in turning ideas into real companies and projects with durable impact. I thought about that a lot this summer while spending time in parts of the country I don’t get to see nearly enough. In Texas, I got to meet some of the young people starting their careers there; listening to them talk about the work they want to do and the lives they hope to build was a welcome dose of optimism. The next generation of builders is already coming up behind us, and many of them have their sights set on building a better world.

I also spent a few days driving across the American West, taking in landscapes and communities far removed from my usual routine. I came home with a newly shaped hat from Pendleton and a renewed appreciation for how big and varied this country is. The trip reinforced something that is central to our work at Breakthrough Energy: talent and ambition can come from anywhere. Our role, alongside the partners we work with, is to help more of those people build something meaningful wherever they call home.

Breakthrough Energy Welcomes Newest Cohort of Fellows

Our future is in the hands of innovators willing to take on hard problems and turn promising science into technologies that can improve how the world works. This week, we welcome our sixth and most geographically distributed group of Fellows to date: 40 Fellows across 21 companies and 4 continents, bringing the program to over 100 companies supported. From minerals recovery and manufacturing in Argentina to agriculture in Canada and infrastructure solutions across Southeast Asia, these teams are building for real regional needs with the potential for impact far beyond them.

Applications are now open for Cohort 7. If you’re developing a breakthrough technology with the potential to compete, scale, and reshape a major industry, we want to hear from you. We’re always looking to reach deeper into innovation ecosystems and find exceptional scientists and engineers wherever they are building, especially through our regional hubs in Canada and Southeast Asia.

APPLY TO COHORT 7

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