CIV launches $200M VC fund to invest in manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure startups

While Silicon Valley remains hooked on AI, a quieter movement is taking shape—one that’s focused on rebuilding what keeps society running. The latest sign? A new venture capital firm called CIV has just raised $200 million to back technology startups in manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure.

According to Bloomberg, CIV’s debut fund will focus on early-stage companies tackling major national priorities. Behind the firm are Abhijoy Mitra, Jeff Rosenthal, and Patrick Maloney—veterans with deep roots in tech, energy, and startup networks. The fund, announced on April 23, is part of a bigger shift: investors hunting for real-world impact over the next social app.

“A new venture capital firm called CIV has raised an inaugural fund of $200 million to invest in startups tackling projects like nuclear energy and manufacturing — joining a broader movement in Silicon Valley to back physical-world companies with national implications,” Bloomberg reported.

Beyond AI: New $200M VC Fund Bets Big on Manufacturing, Energy, and Infrastructure

Mitra was previously a general partner at Coatue Management. Rosenthal co-created the Summit Series, a community connecting top innovators. Maloney, now CIV’s CEO, sold his previous company, Inspire Energy Capital, to Shell. Together, they’re building a firm that’s not interested in short-term hype. The investor roster includes big names like SpaceX COO Gwynne Shotwell and Union Square Ventures co-founder Fred Wilson.

“We’re not just chasing the next app,” said Maloney. “We want to fund companies that rebuild how the world works—literally.”

Why now? Manufacturing and energy are having a moment. Clean energy, particularly nuclear, is getting more attention as countries look for stable alternatives to fossil fuels. Startups like TerraPower and NuScale Power are pushing modular nuclear reactor tech. On the manufacturing front, automation and reshoring are making headlines, thanks to federal incentives like the CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Venture capital is following the momentum. In 2024 alone, U.S. clean energy startups pulled in $15.6 billion. CIV is positioning itself to grab a piece of that with investments likely ranging from $5 million to $15 million per startup.

The fund’s timing isn’t random. During the pandemic and beyond, cracks in supply chains and energy systems became impossible to ignore. Investors are starting to back startups that can solve these big-picture problems. CIV is joining other firms like Eclipse Ventures and Energy Impact Partners, which are also steering capital into so-called “hard tech.”

That said, this approach isn’t for the impatient. Hard tech takes longer. A nuclear startup isn’t going to scale overnight. Regulatory red tape, global competition, and capital-intensive operations mean the risk is higher. But if it works, the payoff is just as large.

Fred Wilson put it this way: “The team’s experience and network give them an edge in diligencing complex deals.”

CIV’s $200 million fund may not be the biggest, but it gives the firm enough room to stay nimble. According to TechCrunch sources, they plan to invest in 15–20 companies, with an eye on sectors like next-gen batteries, carbon capture, and industrial automation.

With big-name backing and a clear focus, CIV is betting that the next great startups won’t live on your phone—they’ll live in factories, power plants, and the infrastructure reshaping how the world actually runs.