DENVER, Jan. 22, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Blackhorn Ventures, a leading venture capital firm specializing in early and growth stage industrial efficiency-focused technology investments, announced today it has added Melissa Cheong as a Managing Partner. Cheong previously served as Chief Investment Officer at Denver-based Zoma Capital, the Family Office of Ben and Lucy Ana Walton. In her new role at Blackhorn Ventures, she will split her time between investing and supporting the growth and development of the broader Blackhorn platform.
“Through my prior work with the partners at Blackhorn, I developed a deep appreciation for the team’s differentiated approach to venture investing,” Cheong said. “Blackhorn develops deep and enduring partnerships with best-in-class entrepreneurs. At the heart of these relationships is the shared goal of enabling rapid industry transformation through the deployment of cutting-edge resource efficiency-focused technologies. I’m really thrilled to be joining the Blackhorn team and look forward to working with the team and our portfolio companies to bring timely technology solutions to meet the demands of the current market, while also seizing on the opportunity to generate meaningful environmental outcomes at scale.”
Cheong was twice named one of Trusted Insight’s Top Family Office CIOs for her work in previous positions. In addition to her most recent role at Zoma, she also held various positions as an advisor and investor with Treehouse Investments, Imprint Capital, Plainfield Asset Management, Metzler Bank, and Deutsche Bank. Cheong holds an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York, and a B.A. in political science from the University of Chicago.
“Melissa brings an incredible skillset to Blackhorn,” said Blackhorn Ventures Co-Founder Trevor Zimmerman. “Her expertise will enable us to continue providing support to exceptional companies on a larger and more impactful scale.”
Blackhorn Ventures invests companies that are using technology to create unprecedented resource productivity. These companies are transforming highly resource intensive industrial sectors like energy, transportation and the built environment.
“Blackhorn has a rare blend of highly skilled technical and operational impact-oriented experts who all share a common passion for investing in companies that are truly moving the needle in our most critical and heavy emission-producing industries,” Cheong said. “I’m excited to be part of an organization with the unusual combination of domain expertise, credibility as entrepreneurs and operators, and with a history of creating value and generating high impact outcomes.”
Since June 2017, Blackhorn has invested approximately $26 million in companies that are reshaping industrial resource efficiency.
About Blackhorn Ventures
Blackhorn Ventures invests in companies that redefine industrial resource efficiency. Built upon scientific breakthroughs, the ICT revolution and creative thinking, these companies are rapidly transforming industrial sectors, while also achieving outsized environmental and sustainability impacts. Founded by experienced operators and investors, Blackhorn has a founder-friendly ethos, providing maximum support with minimum interference. Visit www.blackhorn.vc to learn more.