Suggestions
Jason Cahill
Father. Founder. Funder.
Jason Cahill is a multifaceted professional with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, venture capital, and sustainability. He currently serves as an Associate Professor at Columbia University, teaching "Hacking for Defense," a course that applies lean innovation methods to Department of Defense problems.12
Cahill's career spans various sectors:
Professional Experience
- Amazon Web Services (AWS): Until November 2023, he was the Global Head of AWS Sustainable Cities, VC & Startups for the Worldwide Public Sector.2
- Carbon Ventures: Founder and Managing Partner of this VC fund focused on reducing carbon emissions through early-stage tech investing.2
- Entrepreneurship: Advisor to multiple startups in cleantech, edtech, and deeptech domains.1
Education and Military Service
- MBA from Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business.12
- BS in Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland.2
- Former Army Special Forces operator.1
Additional Roles
- Alumni Advisor at Carnegie Mellon University and Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator.2
- Former Advisory Board Member for SXSW Accelerator.2
- Mentor at Halcyon, supporting founders in their entrepreneurial journey.2
Jason Cahill is known for his expertise in sustainability, innovation, and entrepreneurship, bridging the gap between technology, defense, and environmental solutions.12
Highlights
On the 1200th anniversary of my “Day One” at Amazon, I’m hanging it up. While I have learned many things working here, the time is right to move on. As my boss and friend said in his recent resignation letter, “It has been my distinct pleasure, indeed it has been my honor, to work closely with an absolutely unbelievable collection of people across Amazon and AWS – it was without question the best part of working for AWS.” In a nutshell, this was the joy of a lifetime… working with such a motivated, inspired, and downright AWSome group of folks.
I am especially proud of creating and laying the groundwork for two distinct accelerator programs that have run six cohorts at AWS. When we first started ideating on the Clean Energy Accelerator in 2020, little did I think that this would spawn three follow on cohorts. Then, broadening the aperture, we landed on AWS Sustainable Cities. After getting AWS’s CEO and the Deputy Secretaries of Energy and Transportation to speak at our various functions, I can proudly say that the work we did strongly resonated in the marketplace of ideas with customers.
While AWS chose not to continue these programs, I assure you that my passion for connecting enterprises to the startups solving these pressing climate challenges remains a key area of interest for me.
To the climate tech founders that I have crossed paths with - please keep up the hard work. Political and economic cycles will ebb and flow, but your mission remains of critical importance. To my peers, co-workers, and partners – I will continue to cheer for your many successes.
Rest assured that while my work email may change, my focus will continue to be on the intersection of business challenges and the founders addressing them.
Manpreet S. Mattu Rich Julien Michael Moreno Amber Nightengale Gregory B. Pepus, Amanda Goltz Erin Jacobs Grant Hume FBCS CITP Hak Salih Michelle Spacciapolli Hardik Bhatt Leila Hay Ryan Ross David Levy Hassane Elias Kassouf Scott Sanderson Ilan Gleiser
Daniel Gross Nick Ellis Ken Alston Phoebe Wang Nick Cravalho Rodrigo J Prudencio Lisbeth Kaufman
David Weinstein Sara B. Raj Sharma Susan Uthayakumar Samantha Klug Jack Kinney Jaden Lynn Freshwater Advisors Public Spend Forum
Sara Chamberlain Ian Adams Erik G. Birkerts
So LinkedIn family, what Venture Studios are building in the Cleantech space?
Who should I know?
#climatetech #sustainabilty
