Jasmine Crane works as part of our Energy team, sourcing clean energy and sustainability giants with top-tier talent across the US. Recently, she started her newsletter ‘Current Affairs!’ – a biweekly deep dive into the world of clean energy—exploring everything from energy storage systems to electric vehicles, battery tech, and future mobility. In this edition, Jasmine focuses on April’s key investments, M&A moves, and market trends shaping the future of clean energy, aerospace, and advanced tech.

 

 

While venture activity across broader tech markets is slowing, clean energy and adjacent sectors are telling a different story. April was another high-investment month, with billions committed to battery storage, solar, aerospace, and AI-driven infrastructure. The scale and diversity of funding rounds this month signals strong investor confidence in foundational technologies shaping a lower-carbon, more connected world.

From utility-scale solar and residential storage to AI-powered agriculture and quantum dot tech, the market is shifting toward tangible infrastructure and smarter systems. Whether you’re an operator, investor, or innovator, this month’s moves hint at where capital and talent are flowing in 2025.

 

 

Investments

Energy & Battery Storage

Electra (Series B) – $186M Secured funding to construct a clean iron demonstration plant in Colorado, aiming to decarbonize steel production.

Forge Nano, Inc. (Venture Round) – $40M This investment brings the company’s total capital raised to over $140 million, supporting its expansion in U.S. battery manufacturing and semiconductor equipment businesses.

Base Power Company (Series B) – $200M Texas-based company expanding residential battery storage solutions and planning a domestic battery factory to enhance grid resilience.

Mainspring Energy (Series F) – $258M Developing linear generator technology to provide clean, dispatchable power.

Silicon Ranch Corporation (Private Equity) – $500M Investing in large-scale solar energy projects across the U.S.

Atlas Renewable Energy (Debt Financing) – $510M Financing to expand solar and wind energy projects in Latin America.

Sunraycer (Debt Financing) – $475M Funding aimed at scaling solar energy solutions.

Nexamp (Debt Financing) – $340M Supporting community solar projects and clean energy initiatives.

Recurrent Energy (Debt Financing) – $415M Backing utility-scale solar and energy storage projects.

Spearmint Energy (Debt Financing) – $154M Focused on battery energy storage systems to support renewable integration.

Exowatt (Series A) – $35M Innovating AI-driven energy storage for data centers.

 

Aerospace & Space Tech

Electra.aero (Series B) – $115M Advancing hybrid-electric short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft for regional transport.

Near Space Labs (Series B) – $20M Expanding stratospheric imaging capabilities for high-resolution Earth observation.

Apex Clean Energy (Series C) – $200M Scaling production of satellite bus platforms to meet growing demand.

SpinLaunch (Series C) – $12M Developing kinetic launch systems to reduce the cost of sending payloads to space.

True Anomaly (Series C) – $260M Focusing on space domain awareness and security technologies.

BRINC Drones (Venture Round) – $75M Enhancing drone technology for public safety and emergency response.

 

AI, Robotics & Automation

Nuro (Series E) – $106M Continuing development of autonomous delivery vehicles and expanding commercial partnerships.

Crux (Series B) – $50M Providing financial infrastructure for clean energy projects, including tax credit marketplaces.

IUNU (Series B) – $20M Implementing AI and computer vision in greenhouse automation to optimize crop production.

Utilidata (Series C) – $60.3M Enhancing grid-edge intelligence with AI-driven software solutions.

 

clean energy cleantech

 

Advanced Manufacturing & Materials

Aetherflux (Series A) – $50M Pioneering space-based solar power systems to provide continuous energy supply.

UbiQD, Inc. (Series B) – $20M Developing quantum dot technology for applications in agriculture and solar energy.

Simplifyber (Series A) – $12M Creating sustainable, biodegradable textiles through advanced manufacturing processes.

Conifer (Seed Round) – $20M Specializing in electronics manufacturing with a focus on sustainability.

 

Sustainability & AgTech

Zero Industrial Inc. (Series A) – $10M Developing renewable energy solutions for industrial applications.

Irrigreen (Series A) – $19M Utilizing AI to optimize irrigation systems for water conservation.

Coologics (Seed Round) – $3M Creating eco-friendly cooling systems for medical and industrial use.

 

Acquisitions

April saw a flurry of M&A activity across aerospace, electrification, and infrastructure. This suggests ongoing consolidation as companies scale, secure supply chains, and deepen technical capabilities across critical systems.

Omni Lite Industries acquired Electronic Components Pty Ltd (MA) Expands Omni-Lite’s capabilities in aerospace-grade fasteners and precision components. This move supports greater vertical integration and supply chain control in a high-compliance market.
Littlejohn Capital, LLC acquired 3P Processing (KS) Private equity continues to eye manufacturing and finishing services in aerospace. 3P provides surface treatments and non-destructive testing—key steps in aerospace quality assurance.

Republic Airways Holdings acquired Mesa Airlines, Inc. Group (AZ) A major consolidation in regional aviation. This acquisition could help streamline operations, optimize route networks, and reduce cost pressures in the face of increasing demand for short-haul flights.
DEMGY acquired Tool and Gauge (WA) A strategic addition to DEMGY’s North American footprint. Tool Gauge specializes in high-precision plastic and metal components, further strengthening DEMGY’s aerospace interiors business.

I Squared Capital acquired National Express LLC (IL) Marks a significant bet on public transit in North America. As electrification reshapes fleet operations, infrastructure investors are moving in to modernize and scale transit systems.

Heven Drones acquired Zepher Flight Labs (a Heven Company) (WA) Combines drone tech with R&D and prototyping expertise. Zepher’s legacy in aviation complements Heven’s tactical drone capabilities—potentially unlocking dual-use commercial and defense applications.

Jet Parts Engineering acquired Cima Aviation (FL) Targeting MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) growth. Cima’s hydraulic and fuel system capabilities enhance Jet Parts’ aftermarket offering—a critical piece as airlines seek to extend aircraft lifespans.

Oxy Low Carbon Ventures acquired Holocene Climate (TN) A carbon capture play. Holocene’s direct air capture tech aligns with Oxy’s decarbonization ambitions, especially as regulatory and commercial incentives for carbon removal continue to grow.
Nuvve Holding Corp. acquired Fermata Energy (VA) A key move in the vehicle-to-grid (V2G) space. By acquiring Fermata, Nuvve strengthens its position in bidirectional charging—crucial for grid resilience as EV adoption accelerates.

Essential Turbines acquired AeroMaritime Mediterranean (IL) Boosts ETI’s service offering in turbine and engine maintenance, with expanded reach into EMEA markets.

Avem Partners acquired FMI Aerostructures (CA) FMI’s complex aluminum structural components are used across defense and aerospace—making this a strategic acquisition as OEMs ramp up production pipelines.
Fisica, Inc. acquired Space Vector Corporation (CA) Bolsters Fisica’s GPS and space-based navigation capabilities. Space Vector’s experience with launch vehicle subsystems could open up new DoD and commercial contracts.

Amtivo Group acquired International Standards Authority, Inc. (CA) Focuses on compliance and certification—an increasingly important niche as aerospace firms navigate evolving safety and ESG standards.

Sila acquired Norfolk Air (VA) A regional HVAC and electrical services firm, Norfolk Air gives Sila access to critical infrastructure retrofit opportunities, especially as electrification of buildings gains momentum.

Takeaway: We’re seeing a pattern here: vertical integration, defense-commercial crossover, and infrastructure modernization. Whether it’s drones meeting legacy aviation, carbon removal tech being brought in-house, or transit and utility service firms merging under electrification pressure, the underlying theme is readiness for scale and resilience in a more electrified, data-driven world.

 

 

Market Insights & Trends

April’s funding activity shows a strong move toward implementation. Energy storage alone pulled in nearly $2B, with investors clearly prioritizing grid resilience, electrification, and domestic production. The shift toward debt and private equity also signals maturity in the space.

In aerospace, the focus is expanding from orbital infrastructure to regional aviation. From STOL aircraft to stratospheric imaging, the commercial opportunity is growing both above and within the atmosphere.

AI investments continue to target real-world problems – especially in agtech and industrial automation. It’s not just cool tech anymore. It’s solving tangible, operational issues.

 

 

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