Ajay is the COO and Co-Founder of Thiozen, a venture-backed startup from MIT that generates zero-emission hydrogen gas from a high-volume waste stream found throughout the energy supply chain.

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Previously, he was the Vice President  of a beryllium aerospace manufacturer, LA Gauge. Ajay holds an MBA from MIT, MPA from Harvard, and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Berkeley.

As the Western Regional Lead for Climate & Energy, Hilary leads a team implementing NRDC’s holistic strategy to build-out and advocate for equitable climate and energy policy and program solutions in the west.​

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She has over a decade of experience working in city government on local climate policy.Hilary is a graduate of Cornell University and Columbia University. She works out of NRDC’s Santa Monica office.

Dr. Neil Fromer is the Executive Director, Programs for the Resnick Sustainability Institute at Caltech.

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He works with researchers and entrepreneurs around the world to develop new ideas and technologies related to a sustainable future, and to translate those technologies quickly from the lab to the marketplace.

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Neil has 20 years of experience at the forefront of energy and sustainability technology development, working on the development of new solar energy technologies, as well as research on energy storage, clean fuel generation and use, smarter energy and water distribution systems, and energy efficiency.

 

Neil received a PhD in Physics from UC Berkeley, and a BS in Engineering and Physics from Brown University.

Leslie is a California attorney and partner of Intelink Law Group, PC.  For over 30 years, Leslie has counseled clients on international and domestic corporate and intellectual property law.

 

In addition to corporate structuring, contractual arrangements, and cross border transactions, she assists companies on strategies for decarbonization of their business operations and counsels sustainability businesses, from start-ups to more established businesses in renewables. 

 

Her knowledge includes decarbonization compliance in the EU and the US.  Her cross border experience is primarily with European and U.S. clients. She is fluent in legal German, French and Spanish.  She has spoken at, organized and moderated numerous seminars on clean tech policy and investment, renewable energy, and carbon credits. 

Robert is Owner/Builder of the multiple award-winning Green Idea House, one of the first affordable, net zero energy, zero carbon case study houses made with standard construction materials and off the shelf technologies. 

 

Robert is currently assisting developers in significantly reducing capital and operating expenses while scaling solutions that are better for our health, economy and the environment.  He recently built a team that won the California Energy Commission’s $1 million EPIC grant to design and build one of the most efficient mixed-use, affordable, multifamily buildings in the country.  His team also won the follow up grant for $9 million to actually build the building, beating out venerable firms like Gensler and Jamboree Housing. 

 

Robert’s credentials include a degree from the Wharton School of Business and a diverse business background in corporations and entrepreneurial ventures.  He has been adjunct faculty at an international innovation/social entrepreneurship school based in Denmark and coached startups and developed the built environment strategy at the LA Cleantech Incubator.  Robert also co-developed and teaches single family and multifamily decarbonization classes for Southern California Edison.

I started my journey with Seed way back in Fall 2017 as a Consultant.

 

Over the course of a couple years I participated in several project cycles and then joined the OC chapter leadership team, leading our internal strategy. After a couple cycles as a VP, I became the President of the OC chapter, serving in that capacity from Jan 2021- July 2022 when I left for grad school.

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Now, I am thrilled to return to Seed as the CDO and to usher Seed into an era of renewed development and growth!

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2024 Focus:

 

I am excited to strategize for and execute on a development plan for Fall 2024 to dramatically increase fundraising and to set a solid financial foundation, supporting the continued growth of the organization.