Aaron Chockla

Aaron Chockla, Ph.D., is a cleantech investor, operator, and academic with deep expertise spanning materials science, energy technology, and venture capital. He holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware, an M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and a J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. His doctoral research focused on nanomaterials -- specifically germanium nanowire synthesis and graphene-supported nanostructures for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. He was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Energy in 2015 for his early work in cleantech, including as managing partner of Lucelo, a cleantech startup he co-founded.

At True North Venture Partners, an early-stage impact investment firm with over $700 million in committed capital founded by First Solar co-founder Michael J. Ahearn, Chockla served as Principal and led due diligence and investment thesis development across strategic verticals including solar, energy storage, geothermal power, waste heat recovery, water treatment, the circular economy (upgrading CO2 and waste streams), and mobility. He identified early-stage investment opportunities, tracked key technology and market trends, and supported portfolio companies post-investment with operational, marketing, supply chain, and policy analysis -- including carbon pricing policy evaluation for biofuels. True North's portfolio spans companies such as Nanostone Water, AquaHydrex, Emefcy (acquired by Fluence Corporation), and Immuneel.

Beyond investing, Chockla brings significant operating experience. He currently serves as Vice President of Corporate Development & Strategic Marketing and VP of Sales (North America) at Nanostone Water, a leading provider of advanced ceramic-based water filtration solutions that merged with Solecta in 2025 to form Acuriant Technologies. He also serves as an Adjunct Lecturer of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the Kellogg School of Management, sits on the Investment Committee of Evergreen Climate Innovations, and is a member of the Innovation Crossroads Leadership Council at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Earlier in his career, he held engineering positions at Bristol-Myers Squibb and Samsung Austin Semiconductor, and worked as a senior consultant at Foresight Science & Technology.

Chockla's investment thesis centers on sustainable innovations poised to reshape core industries toward a clean and resilient future. His focus areas include:

He targets seed and early-stage companies with strong technical differentiation and the potential to address large-scale environmental and infrastructure challenges. His unique combination of deep technical expertise (Ph.D. in chemical engineering, nanomaterials research), legal training (J.D.), and business acumen (MBA) allows him to evaluate both the science and the commercial viability of early-stage cleantech ventures.

• Energy: Solar, energy storage, geothermal power, waste heat recovery
• Water: Advanced filtration and treatment technologies, ceramic membranes
• Circular Economy: Carbon capture, CO2 upgrading, waste stream valorization, biofuels
• Mobility: Clean transportation technologies
• Chemicals & Fuels: Sustainable alternatives to legacy industrial processes