Breakthrough Energy is the umbrella name of several organizations, founded by Bill Gates in 2015, that aim to accelerate innovation in sustainable energy and in other technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It has been investing in a variety of startup companies which were attempting to commercialize new concepts such as nuclear fusion, large-capacity batteries to store renewable energy, and microbe-generated biofuels.[1] In 2025, strategy shifted away from public policy towards supporting clean energy technology alone, as the Second Trump administration has been promoting fossil fuels and dissolved programs addressing climate change.
Breakthrough Energy was launched at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris as an initiative to mobilize private-sector investment in energy innovation alongside government commitments. The organization was founded by Bill Gates, with support from a coalition of business leaders and investors.[2]
Its core programs, Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Breakthrough Energy Discovery, support scientists, entrepreneurs, and companies in developing technologies to expand access to affordable and sustainable energy.[3]
In 2016, the group announced the creation of Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a US$1 billion fund investing in companies developing energy technologies.
In 2025, the organization restructured its policy operations in the United States and Europe amid changing political priorities.[4]
Strategy
At its inception in 2015, Gates explained, "The renewable technologies we have today, like wind and solar, have made a lot of progress and could be one path to a zero-carbon energy future... But given the scale of the challenge, we need to be exploring many different paths."[5] Breakthrough Energy invests primarily in businesses where the risk of failure is high and the timeframe for return on investment is 20 years. Traditional venture capitalists look for a return on investment in five years, which may not be enough for the special challenges of the energy sector.[1]
In 2025, strategy shifted away from public policy towards supporting clean energy companies through the Breakthrough Energy Catalyst program, Breakthrough Energy Ventures.[6]
Members
The group is led by Bill Gates, who previously announced a personal $2 billion investment, and includes:[7][8][9][10]
There has been criticism that the coalition was announced too early, before crucial details had been confirmed. At launch, a Gates Foundation spokesman confirmed that investment professionals had yet to be appointed, named investors—other than Gates—had not publicly stated their level of investment and a financial structure had not been confirmed.[14]
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