Micah Kotch
Partner at Blackhorn Ventures
Brooklyn, New York
Overview
Work Experience
EFI Mentor
2025 - Current
North America’s top peer group community for growth-stage CEOs and investors in climate tech. With monthly group meetings, annual retreats, guest speakers, candid conversations, and strategy calls, EFI's members help each other boost revenue, impact, capital raised, clarity, confidence, work-life balance, and team effectiveness. EFI is a community of 100 (program cap) Climate CEO Fellows, Alumni Advisors, and Mentors (VC, PE, post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or AUM for climate solutions.
XIR
2025
As an Executive in Residence (XIR) at Columbia Technology Ventures, I have the privilege of working with entrepreneurs and inventors at Columbia University to facilitate the transfer of research innovations from the lab to the market, as well as supporting startup efforts. Columbia Technology Ventures, the technology transfer office of Columbia University, manages more than 400 invention disclosures from faculty, 100 license deals and 20+ new startups each year. CTV currently has over 1,500 patent assets available for licensing across research fields such as software, clean energy, semiconductors, and material science. To learn more about CTV and available inventions, please visit http://www.techventures.columbia.edu/
Columbia Technology Ventures engages in the facilitation of technology transfer services for the Columbia University.
Partner
2022
Blackhorn has raised three funds with investments across 60 early-stage technology companies, totaling $270M in AUM over the last five years. Blackhorn funds are performing in the top quartile of US venture according to Cambridge Associates, where we are an approved manager.
Blackhorn Ventures is an early stage venture firm that invests in companies using cutting edge engineering to improve resource productivity.
Board Member
2024
ThinkLabs is accelerating the energy transition with an AI-powered co-pilot for grid operators.
Board Member
2023
Electric Era is making EV fast charge infrastructure reliable, affordable and ubiquitous.
Electric Era Technologies develops AI-controlled battery storage for the cost-effective operation of charging stations.
Raised $19,750,000.00 from Washington state Department of Commerce.
Board Observer
2022
RailVision Analytics is using the power of AI to reduce GHG emissions, fuel consumption, and improve safety in the rail industry.
Founding Partner
2021
Accelerating capital into emissions reduction & adaptation
Climate Capital is an investment firm that supports companies that directly or indirectly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
Managing Director
2016
•Launching new startup accelerator initiative within the BMW Group as part of Impact Ventures Team focused on creating more efficient and liveable cities. •Leading partnership with SOSV ($250M venture accelerator fund) to source, invest in, and ultimately get 20 early-stage technology companies per year to product-market fit. •Partnering internally with MINI Business Innovation, other BMW business units and external organizations to identify new commercial opportunities and develop concepts from strategy to pilot implementation.
The platform for startups reimagining city life. Built by @MINI.
Board Observer
2023 - 2025
Specifx provides visibility, context, and insights into the entire HVAC asset portfolio - helping organizations understand and optimize their HVAC investments at enterprise scale. Company acquired by KKR / XOi. https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/05/xoi-raises-230m-acquires-specifx-to-expand-its-tech-for-field-service-technicians/
Specifx provides visibility, context, and insights into your entire HVAC asset portfolio.
Raised $3,500,000.00.
Director of NY Prize and Strategic Adviser for Innovation
2014 - 2016
• Responsible for the design, and execution of NY Prize, first-in-the-nation $40 million competition to engage communities in advancing plans for local power infrastructure to reduce costs, promote clean energy, reliability and resiliency. • Co-led inter-agency NYS Community Partnership; $10M initiative pioneering new and unified approach to driving clean energy uptake in communities by making simplified tools and resources available to local leaders that meet local priorities and needs. • Advanced innovation and entrepreneurship necessary to transform the State’s electric power infrastructure through 12 REV Demonstration projects – worked with utilities and third party solutions providers to develop new business models and strategies to earn fees from markets and customer acquisition, as well as by providing new products and services to customers that enhance choice and value.
NYSERDA offers solution to increase energy efficiency, save money, use renewable energy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
Education
BA
1995 - 1998