Michael Ahearn is the founder and managing partner of True North Venture Partners. See sector focus and contact routes.
Michael Ahearn is the founder and managing partner of True North Venture Partners, a Phoenix-based venture capital firm he launched in 2011 after serving as CEO of First Solar from 2000 to 2009. His investment thesis targets early-stage cleantech and sustainability companies in the energy, water, agriculture, and waste sectors, with a focus on technologies addressing low-carbon infrastructure and water solutions. True North typically invests between $100,000 and $25 million per deal and is willing to lead investments, operating as a perpetual holding company to provide long-term capital support. Notable portfolio companies include Emefcy, a wastewater-treatment firm acquired by Fluence Corporation in 2017, and the 2025 merger of Nanostone Water and Solecta into Acuriant Technologies. Ahearn previously worked at BDT Capital Partners and Goldman Sachs and co-founded JWMA with John T. Walton before launching True North. He emphasizes patient, long-horizon capital for sustainability innovation but has no widely cited public writing or distinctive published point of view beyond firm communications.
Details on this investor come from filing and round data held in the StartupFundraising directory, refreshed on ingest. Founders use profiles like this one to qualify fit and to shortlist investors in Phoenix.
Investors like Michael Ahearn · Full investor directory · Investor access · Company funding database