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John Tough

Managing Partner at Energize Ventures

John Tough is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Energize Capital, a leading climate software investor based in Chicago.124 He oversees all investment and limited partner responsibilities, and is a member of the Energize Investment Committee.14

With over 20 years of experience in finance, investing, and operational roles, John's career has focused on the integration of new technologies into critical infrastructure and resource industries.4 Prior to Energize, he was one of the first employees and eventually became Chief Revenue Officer at Choose Energy, where he led operations, growth, and raised over $30 million in capital before managing its successful sale to Red Ventures in 2017.14

John currently sits on the Board of Directors for several companies, including DroneDeploy, Nozomi Networks, Matroid, PVcase, and ZEDEDA.124 He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BS from Duke University.14

Recently, John announced that he is starting a new early-stage VC fund focusing on the intersection of AI and the physical world.3 Under his leadership, Energize Capital has grown significantly, expanding its office space in Chicago and raising a $300 million growth equity platform in 2023, surpassing $1.2 billion in assets under management.56

Highlights

Nov 18 · johntough.com
Tough CAPITAL
Tough CAPITAL
Sep 13 · mcj.vc
Capital Series: John Tough, Energize Capital - MCJ Collective
Apr 5 · bloomberg.com
John Tough on Investing in Climate Technology - Bloomberg.com
John Tough, MBA '12 - Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and ...
John Tough, MBA '12 - Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and ...
Jan 1 · energizecap.com
John Tough - Energize Capital
John Tough - Energize Capital
Jan 1 · energizecap.com
About - Energize Capital
Aug 30 · johntough.com
John Tough - Tough CAPITAL
John Tough - Tough CAPITAL
Jul 19 · StreetInsider.com
Form 8-K ECP Environmental Growth For: Jul 19 - StreetInsider.com
Jul 15 · Business Insider
How to Deal With an Exploding VC Term Sheet If You're a Startup Founder - Business Insider

Related Questions

What are John Tough's key investment strategies at Energize Ventures?
How did John Tough's role at Choose Energy prepare him for his current position?
What are some notable companies in John Tough's portfolio?
How has John Tough's experience at Kleiner Perkins influenced his current investments?
What are John Tough's future plans for Energize Ventures?
John Tough
John Tough, photo 1
John Tough, photo 2
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Location

Greater Chicago Area