Meet SWAN’s Leadership
See video introductions for Bob, Heather and Juan.
Demystifying Impact Investing
SWAN Impact Network leadership participated in a panel which discussed “How do investors define Impact?” and the various sources of funding for impact start-up companies, including angel networks, investment funds and Donor Advised Funds.
The panel was co-hosted by the Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship.
A follow-on investment in ClearFlame Engine Technologies
The SWAN Impact Network made a seed investment in ClearFlame Engine Technologies early in 2020, and is pleased to now announce a follow-on investment one year later.
ClearFlame is taking the diesel fuel out of the diesel engine for heavy-duty industries. Their disruptive, patented engine technology maintains all the rugged performance and practicality of traditional diesel engines that end users expect while completely replacing petroleum-based diesel fuel with decarbonized liquid fuels—nearly eliminating all criteria pollutants and emissions.
ClearFlame offers a rapid pathway to widespread emissions reduction for heavy-duty industries by leveraging existing production capacity and infrastructures. Moreover, our technology lowers costs—for both OEMs and end users—by eliminating the need for complex aftertreatment technologies.
The heavy-duty engine industry is approaching a time when the continued pressure to reduce CO2 and diesel criteria pollutants (NOx and particulates) is leading to the elimination of diesel-fueled engines. It’s why heavy-duty engine manufacturers, fleet owners, end users, and regulators are aggressively seeking viable alternative technologies. ClearFlame is the future of diesel engine technology.
SWAN has invested in Advanced Ionics
The SWAN Impact Network is pleased to announce an investment in Advanced Ionics. Advanced Ionics is providing Clean Hydrogen for Heavy Industry, designing a new generation of electrolyzers specifically for industrial users, such as ammonia/fertilizer production, hydrogenation, metal fabrication, glass, methanol, synthetic fuels/chemicals, and power plants, among others. They replace existing hydrogen manufacturing with a more affordable, cleaner alternative.
SWAN had a strong first quarter
Covid social distancing has continued to keep the SWAN Impact Network virtual. We look forward later this year to resuming in-person meetings. But distancing has not slowed SWAN down.
In the first quarter of 2021, SWAN’s angel membership grew by 50%. Our new members joined us from Austin, Dallas, Houston and New Mexico.
And our first quarter investment dollars equaled the total amount of investments made in 2020.
SWAN remains a national leader in social and environmental impact angel investing, with members and investments from across the US.
Announcing an Investment in Sonnest
The SWAN Impact Network is pleased to announce that it led an investment in Sonnest. Sonnest is transforming cardiac ultrasound. Their Electrast™ is the first electrically sensitive imaging agent for assessing and monitoring the perfusion, structure, and function of the heart, allowing low cost ultrasound procedures to provide information only previously available from much higher cost scans. Electrast™ is a contrast agent that activates with ultrasound and the heart’s local electric field if the heart tissue is perfused and viable. Sonnest allows Doctors to:
- Analyze better data, faster. Cardiac perfusion data in point of care setting.
- Diagnose- No cath lab needed. Most cost-effective diagnosis without harmful radiation.
- Respond – Triage and treat. Improve patient care and outcomes confidently.
Announcing an Investment in ATX LED
After performing extensive due diligence, the SWAN Impact Network is pleased to announce that it has led the investment in ATX LED. ATX LED is revolutionizing residential home lighting with a next-generation architecture that extends LED lights’ operating lives, supports advanced smart home automation, and significantly reduces the cost of installing lighting in new homes, by reducing labor and copper costs.
The Southwest Angel Network rebrands itself as the SWAN Impact Network
When the Southwest Angel Network was founded in 2015, the acronym SWAN became commonly used, both inside and outside the network.
The network likes that popular usage and in 2021 is rebranding itself as the SWAN Impact Network.
SWAN CEOs recognized as “Ten to Watch: Young Climate Entrepreneurs”
Climate & Capital Media’s “Ten to Watch” list highlight leaders delivering real change to address the world’s growing climate emergency. Ten to Watch represents an important group of young entrepreneurs offering economic and financial climate solutions. From low-cost energy for the developing world and unconventional collaborative financing systems to software control of energy systems and kinetic energy generation, these leaders are working to address some of the biggest issues of energy and climate change.
The Top Ten includes SWAN portfolio CEOs Ugwem Eneyo, the founder of SHYFT Power Solutions and Omeed Badkoobeh, the founder of Yotta Energy.
SWAN Joins The Texas Global Health Security Consortium
The Texas Global Health Security Innovation Consortium (TEXGHS) is a consortium between Texas academia, public sector, and private sector partners to coordinate efforts to support companies working towards pandemic readiness, response, recovery and resiliency in Texas.
Organized by the Austin Technology Incubator at The University of Texas at Austin, TEXGHS is leading the creation and long-term growth of a health security innovation ecosystem that supports innovators and innovations fighting COVID-19 and future pandemics.