Piva Capital’s Summer Associates Program: Meet the Class of 2022
It’s our favorite time of year! Summertime not only brings us longer days, it also brings a new group of Summer Associates to the Piva team. Now in its third year, Piva’s Summer Associates Program empowers aspiring venture capitalists to develop a unique investment thesis, learn about the venture ecosystem, and establish their own networks. For someone new to venture capital — as I was when I joined the Summer Associate Program in 2020 — it is a “mouth to the firehose” experience. Alongside a team that is as rigorous as they are fun, I quickly learned the ins and outs of VC investing and gained incredible exposure to the frontier technology businesses in energy and industry.
This year we welcome another three outstanding, aspiring VCs — Jillian Noel, Bri Wang, and Claire Yun. Get to know them below, and see what motivates each of them this summer.
Jillian Noel, Harvard Business School
Originally from Victoria, British Columbia, Jillian is an MBA candidate at Harvard Business School. Her previous work experience includes working for General Fusion, where she helped build the commercialization roadmap for fusion energy through market development, fundraising, and strategic planning. She also spent time at McKinsey & Company, where she worked primarily within the sustainability practice on client service and research work focused on decarbonization pathways, sustainability strategy, and new energy markets.
Growing up, Jillian was a competitive figure skater who has transitioned to a roller blader. In addition, she gravitates to all things outdoors, from hiking to cycling. She is a self-proclaimed beer aficionado always searching for the perfect citra hazy IPA.
“I have always sat on the other side of the table…I was drawn to the opportunity to work with industry experts to make thesis-driven investment decisions.”
Q&A with Jillian:
What’s a top macro trend in the future of the energy & industry space you’re following?
In parallel to the exciting action in technology development, it has been fascinating to see the innovative financing methods developed to support it. From advance funding of carbon removal that catalyzes learning curves, to public-private partnerships that fund first-of-a-kind fusion demonstration plants, to purpose-built sustainable infrastructure funds, new models seem to emerge each month. While some have been working better than others, it is clear that folks recognize that funding a path to solve society’s biggest challenges will look slightly different.
This movement has broadened the types of investors participating in the space, creating both opportunities in floods of capital for early-stage tech and challenges in communicating complex science and engineering development to an audience with less expertise. Nevertheless, I am excited to see how investors, consumers, and governments continue to find new ways to use their capital to support early-stage technology development to create the sustainable and resilient world they want to live in.
What drew you to Piva’s Summer Associate Program?
My number one priority this summer was to find a role in the climate tech space I was passionate about, where I could learn and grow from the people I worked for. First, the depth of experience and knowledge of Piva’s people give them well-earned respect in their field. I was drawn to the opportunity to work with industry experts to make thesis-driven investment decisions. Second, the thoughtful approach the team took to designing the program and recruiting the right people for it gave me confidence that this was a place where I could be coached and challenged, taking full advantage of my MBA summer experience.
What are you most excited to learn through Piva’s Summer Associate Program?
I am most excited to learn how to cut through the noise and form thoughtful investment theses in a field with limited data. I hope to learn from the team and get repetition in encircling a sub-industry, identifying key indicators, and avoiding bias in selecting high-potential emerging areas to invest in.
Bri Wang, University of Chicago
Bri grew up in a small town in North Carolina before moving to New York to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology (FTI). After graduating FIT, she spent six years in luxury goods across functions including brand strategy, merchandising, supply chain & distribution, and global partnerships. Most recently, she led global buying at Gabriela Hearst, an LVMH Luxury Ventures portfolio brand focused on environmentally sustainable development of apparel and leather goods.
She is now pursuing her MBA at the University of Chicago Booth. Her experience with VC includes supporting the investment team at Red Sea Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York.
Bri spent the summer leading into her MBA program working with a crypto quantitative trading firm. As a result, blockchain technology has remained of special interest to her. In particular, its applications in supply chain management as well as the potential for digital goods to mitigate the depletion of raw materials. In her free time, she likes to develop recipes, bake and hike.
“I am particularly excited about the breadth of innovation that Piva invests in, from artificial intelligence to alternative proteins and biomanufacturing.”
Q&A with Bri:
What’s a top macro trend in the future of energy & industry space you’re following?
Digital innovations, including advancements in artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, and blockchain technology, combined with the growing adoption of green energy solutions and public policy to drive smart grid development is a major focus. Having seen blockchain technology utilized in a variety of applications, I’m interested in how decentralized immutable ledgers can support both the transactional and the cybersecurity infrastructure behind the smart grid by preventing and detecting nefarious activity. Cybersecurity will be critical as networks eventually grow to contain billions of commercial and domestic devices, and in cases of cyberattacks, they could face compromised power supply and user confidentiality.
As energy consumers continue to metamorphose into producers and ultimately reconfigure the power flow, blockchain may be useful in facilitating peer-to-peer energy trading. In addition, when billions of devices, electric vehicles, and connected buildings are communicating and transacting on the smart grid — investments that strengthen the grid’s integrity are imperative.
What drew you to Piva’s Summer Associate Program?
I was especially drawn to the opportunity to conduct and deliver these on meaningful areas of development — in particular, in the context of supply chain and distribution, as well as sustainability as it relates to fashion. I feel very fortunate that Piva offers Summer Associates guidance from their network of Venture Partners and Senior Advisors who have extensive experience as operators and investors.
Above all, I was compelled by the personalities at Piva. The team shares a high level of curiosity, open-mindedness, and optimism, in addition to deep technical expertise across a range of domains. I’m thrilled to learn from the team as they continue to identify and support entrepreneurs who are tackling our world’s largest problems.
What are you most excited to learn through Piva’s Summer Associate Program?
Everything! I look forward to gaining a better understanding of roadblocks, opportunities, and market landscapes in sectors that I have not previously explored. Because of that, I am particularly excited about the breadth of innovation that Piva invests in, from artificial intelligence to alternative proteins and biomanufacturing.
Claire Yun, Stanford Graduate School of Business
Claire grew up in Austin, Texas, and remained in the Lone Star state, earning her undergraduate degree from The University of Texas.
Before pursuing her MBA at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford, she worked in Business & Corporate Development at Vox Media and in Investment Banking at J.P. Morgan. While at the GSB, she supported Noon Energy as a Business Development Fellow, was part of a Stanford Climate Ventures startup team, and was involved in the Stanford GSB Impact Fund (Energy & Environment team).
In her free time she likes to read and write short stories, go on international backpacking trips and eat Tex Mex food.
After her time at Piva, she will be doing a short social impact internship in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
“I’m excited to become more deeply embedded in the climate community — with my fellow interns and the Piva team, with other investors in the Bay-Area and beyond, and most importantly, with the entrepreneurs who are the boots on the ground in the fight against climate change.”
Q&A with Claire:
What’s a top macro trend in the future of energy & industry space you’re following?
I am fascinated by the Cambrian explosion of battery technologies that will define the next generation of electric vehicles, stationary storage, and other applications. My experience with long-duration energy storage startup Noon Energy and within a Stanford Climate Ventures battery team has taught me that the breakthrough technologies that are simultaneously cost-competitive, sustainable, and energy-efficient will hold the key to a future that runs on clean energy. The innovation in the space today is at once a fascinating and a tricky challenge for investors who are seeking to bet on the next big winner.
What drew you to Piva’s Summer Associate Program?
I resonated with Piva’s investment philosophy, reflected in its portfolio, of taking big, bold bets on impactful solutions that don’t necessarily fit the traditional VC mold. I also felt a strong fit with the team, who I found to be approachable, collaborative, and wickedly smart. I felt that this was a team from which I could learn every dimension of venture capital, while holding on to my core values and having fun doing it.
What are you most excited to learn through Piva’s Summer Associate Program?
I’m excited to become more deeply embedded in the climate community — with my fellow interns and the Piva team, with other investors in the Bay Area and beyond, and most importantly, with the entrepreneurs who are the boots on the ground in the fight against climate change. I am constantly inspired by the energy and passion within this global network, and look forward to the invaluable learnings gleaned from every professional and serendipitous encounter.
We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Jillian, Bri, and Claire as we embark on our third year of the Summer Associates Program. The diverse and bold perspectives they bring forth neatly align with our firm’s commitment to investing in breakthrough technologies.
Attracting and nurturing new talent is part of our ongoing commitment to helping the next generation of inspired and astute investors. To find out more about the Piva Capital Summer Associate program, please visit our dedicated webpage.
