Oliver Gottfried
Business Fellow
Oliver Gottfried joins Breakthrough Energy’s Business Fellow program from Boston, USA and Frankfurt, Germany with over a decade of VC investment experience in climate tech/AI investments, spanning Europe, China, and the United States. As a Business Fellow, Oliver will leverage his expertise in climate tech-focused venture capital investments, fundraising, go-to-market and internationalization to help Innovator Fellows advance climate technologies from research to commercialization.
Oliver has held leadership roles in climate tech / AI-focused venture capital funds, such as AI.FUND and Hongdao Capital. At AI.FUND, he managed a portfolio of European startups, supporting their go-to-market strategies and fundraising strategies. Earlier in his career, Oliver co-managed investments in high-profile climate tech / AI startups in China, resulting into a return of 117x from one portfolio company within only 3 years after the initial investment.
Q&A
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
The best piece of advice I’ve been given is to focus on progress, even if it is only a little and only step-by-step. It reminds me that steady, continuous improvement often leads to greater success than waiting for the perfect moment or solution.
What is your favorite word and why?
My favorite word is “acceptance” because it embodies the ability to embrace change and challenges with an open mind. It allows for growth, and finding opportunities when facing difficult situations, which is essential in both personal development and driving innovation to tackle climate change.
What beliefs drive you?
The belief that drives me is to always do my best and never give up, no matter the challenge. I believe that perseverance and dedication are key to achieving meaningful progress, whether in personal growth or in tackling the world’s toughest problems, like climate change.