Jim Huston Email & Phone Number

Investment platform focused on seed and pre seed stage climate tech startups. Investments include Onboard Dynamics (source methane capture), ESS (long duration grid storage), Terra.do (climate career training), Photon Marine (electric boat motor systems), EnZinc (zinc batteries), C-Motive (next gen electric motors), Ren Energy (enabling Scope 3 emissions reductions in global supply chains), Nvirovate (compostable and non-fossil fuel pressure sensitive adhesives), Electric Era (advanced storage systems for EV fast charging stations), and Harvest Thermal (thermal energy storage).

Portland, Or, Us

Portland Seed Fund is an early stage seed venture platform focused on capital efficient growth opportunities in Oregon and Washington with $23M AUM. We invest early and often with significant reserves for follow on. As of Q1 2022 we had invested in 140 companies. 22 accretive exits since fund inception. Significant exits include Auth0, ESS, and Sightbox.

Seattle, Wa, Us

Co-Chair Screening Committee Sept 2023 - present; Board member July 2024 - present

Portland, Oregon, Us

Portland, Oregon, Us

Fund Advisor to VertueLab's Climate Impact Fund

Portland, Oregon, Us

Advisor, mentor, and investment committee member for student-led impact investment fund.

Bend, Or, Us

Onboard Dynamics is changing the future of methane capture and evacuation via revolutionary natural gas compression technology.

Portland, Oregon, Us

Portland, Or, Us

Teach an MBA level class in Venture Finance.

Portland, Us

Sec / Treasurer 2008 - 2013, Vice Chair 2013-15, Chair 2015-17. OPB is one of the largest and most successful public media operations in the country as measured by membership, audience share, and giving.

4-Tell is a rapidly growing company which provides recommendation engine SW to mid market etailers.

Investor-led angel group. Investments in recent years include Tellagence, Open Sesame, DesignMedix, and AthletePath among others.

Corporate Director providing governance, oversight, and strategic guidance to the leading provider of physical layer (Layer 1) switching solutions for data centers and large enterprises. Was on the BOD from founding to the company sale to Netscout (NTCT).

Brooklyn, New York, Us

One of three managing directors to make all firm investment decisions. Led Blueprint’s investment into OnPATH Technologies in Feb 2007. Exited in 2012 with 2X+ return. Founding chairman of the Board. Structured syndicate of two other VC firms, recruited CEO, and negotiated the spinout transaction with Brocade, the former parent company. Frequent speaker on Venture Capital and Intellectual Property conference panels. Contributing writer to journals such as IP Management and VC Journal.

Teach a seminar for 3rd yr law students (Lewis & Clark) and 2nd yr MBAs (from University of Portland) focused on Entreprenuership, Technology, and Law. Provide experiencial and practical teaching in areas where law, business, and technology intersect such as IP, new company formation, financing, and M&A while also teaching law students and MBAs how to work with each other.

Santa Clara, California, Us

Conceived, established, and managed the industry’s first private fund to acquire patents from third parties – the $25 million Intel Intellectual Property (IP) Purchase Fund. Hired, trained and led a team of 3 IP professionals to acquire patents and other IP. Completed 17 separate transactions, evaluated more than 400 patent portfolios, and expended $18 million in capital to acquire more than 200 patent assets with over $270 million in prior investment.

Santa Clara, California, Us

Completed 16 equity investments, 5 M&A transactions, and more than 30 licensing transactions. 2X cash on cash return on $150m invested. Served as Intel’s appointed Board of Director Observer for 7 companies. Managed a team of 7 investment professionals to develop strategic investment plans, identify targets, negotiate deals, close them, and manage the post deal value drivers. Team completed more than 50 equity investments and 6 M&A transactions under my direction.

Santa Clara, California, Us

Managed a business unit of first generation data storage server appliances. Responsibilities included worldwide P&L for a $50M+ business, product definition and product development. Established successful development and marketing partnerships with key industry companies, including Novell and Hewlett Packard.

Mba, Marketing, Finance, And Entrepreneurial Studies

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Chemical Engineering

Climate Tech

Education record