SNØCAP is a deeptech venture capital firm run by engineers.
We back companies building the materials, molecules, and machines that power modern industry. We love businesses that:
Create products that are immediately cheaper, or dramatically more effective, than the products they are replacing. 
Lower the cost of doing business for their customers, which are typically other businesses. 
Reduce the immediate and downstream pollution their customers emit as a result of adopting their products. 
Are in the process of commercializing intellectual property (IP) that they own or license. 
Developed their IP through years of academic research, self-funded or indigenous learnings. 
Have exhibited corporate interest, ranging from written support through to direct sponsorship and purchase orders. 
Will benefit from the help of engineers and scientists to predict the market value of their technology. 
Could immediately leverage an ecosystem of academic partners, cheap field trials, and/or grant application support. 
Are raising their first round of institutional capital, outside of grants and other non-dilutive capital. If this sounds like your startup, or one you know, you can apply for funding. Our team reviews new opportunities every week!
SNØCAP
snocap.vcSNØCAP is a deeptech venture capital firm founded in 2023 by engineers Shrina Kurani, Nate Salpeter, and Jonathan Azoff. The founding partners met back in 2015 as individual co-investors in climate tech startups, and have been working together ever since. They bring a mix of engineering, investment, entrepreneurial and policy experience to the firm.
The firm also works closely with several major universities, research institutions, and non-profits to source and support the best founders in the world. Their yearly fellowship program started with Yale University in 2023, and has since expanded to Stanford, Skidmore, the University of Michigan, and the University of Washington, with many more to come.
Sweet Farm
sweetfarm.orgSweet Farm is working to make a more compassionate and sustainable food system on a global scale. Sweet Farm's technology program is a major part of the non-profit's ongoing climate efforts. The organization's technology accelerator is now entering its 10th year, creating optimism for the future of science and sustainability. The program supports start-ups across food, agriculture, sustainability, and climate technologies.
GP Nate Salpeter is the co-founder of the non-profit, leading its technology efforts and strategic relationship with SNØCAP.
9Zero
9zero.com9Zero is a community of founders, investors, scientists, and innovators who drive climate action together. Through their club, events, and connections, they build relationships and accelerate solutions. SNØCAP and 9Zero are major partners in launching the global Lab Access Marketplace, backing the development of hardtech and deeptech businesses, using a first-of-its-kind private funding program.
GP Jonathan Azoff is one of the initial investors in 9Zero, and is proud to call Seattle's 9Zero location the home of SNØCAP's first office.
Envest
envest.earthEnvest is a global coalition of climate-focused venture capital funds and investors. The group is dedicated to accelerating the transition to a net-zero economy by pooling resources, sharing insights, and co-investing in transformative technologies. Envest members collaborate to identify high-impact opportunities and support innovative startups that are driving climate solutions.
VP Kelci Zile and operations lead Jackie Moe run the day-to-day operations of Envest, and SNØCAP is proud to be a member in good standing of this important coalition.
Work on Climate
workonclimate.orgWork on Climate is building the workforce humanity needs to solve climate change equitably and justly. They are creating opportunities for individuals to bring their talent to climate work, build relationships within the climate movement, and support others on their journey. Their mission is to build a climate workforce faster than any industry in history.
This effort is powered by a passionate community working together to scale new ideas and inspire others to begin working on climate. SNØCAP is proud to be a strategic sponsor of this transformative initiative.
The Climate Film Festival
climatefilmfestival.orgThe Climate Film Festival showcases films and documentaries that highlight the challenges and solutions of the climate crisis. By bringing stories of climate action to the forefront, the festival aims to inspire audiences to take meaningful steps toward a sustainable future.
GP Jonathan Azoff was one of the inagural sponsors for the film festival, and continues to cultivate narrative development groups for the benefit of climate founders everywhere.
Shrina Kurani
Managing Partner
Mechanical engineer and sustainability scientist with a decade of experience building, investing in, and advocating for frontier climate tech. She invested in early stage, mission driven companies with Better Ventures and built out Republic’s business lines as VP, democratizing access to capital. Shrina ran for United States Congress championing strong climate policy. LinkedIn
Nate Salpeter
General Partner
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineer with 18 years experience in the climate tech space, including at TerraPower and Kairos Power. He is the co-founder of Sweet Farm, a New York based non-profit incubating food, agriculture, waste, energy, and advanced materials startups through pilots and mentorship support. LinkedIn
Jonathan Azoff
General Partner
Software engineering leader with over twenty years of experience across social, gaming, real estate, fitness, logistics, and fintech, having built several venture-backed startups and achieved two notable exits to Zillow and Disney. He is the inventor of Goat-2-Meeting (2M+ ARR), the primary architect behind Omni (25M in XRP raised), and formerly led multiple engineering teams at Carta (7B valuation) focused on VC back-office tooling. He brought The 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub to Seattle, and serves as board member and major sponsor across impact organizations like Sweet Farm, Work on Climate and The Climate Film Festival. LinkedIn
Abigail Albright
Founding Venture Partner
Abby is a seasoned investor and product leader with over a decade of experience. She has led product management, business development, and go-to-market strategies for early-stage startups and global franchises. As an investor, Abby has supported seed to Series B venture funds with $2B+ in AUM, backed 35+ startups as a generalist angel, and co-founded an early-stage spatial computing fund. Startups she’s supported have raised over $500M. Abby holds an MBA from The Wharton School and a BA in Neuroscience from UC Berkeley. LinkedIn
Kate Kingen
Founding Venture Partner
Kate is a category expert, seasoned senior leader, and finance executive with over a decade of experience. She has led growth companies in the food and DTC consumer industries, managed major governmental organizations, and advised on transactions totaling over $21bn in deal value as an investment banker. LinkedIn
Kelci Zile
Venture Partner
Kelci Zile is the Director of Venture Community for EnVest and sits on the University of Washington Buerk Center for Entrepreneurship board. She previously led sustainability investments for Madrona Venture Labs and, before that, led sustainability for AWS Marketplace while serving on the Amazon Sustainability Ambassadors Global Board. Her expertise includes the circular economy, supply chain emissions reduction, net-zero planning, and nature-based solutions. LinkedIn
