RICHARD (RICK) DEFIEUX, VENTURE PARTNER

In his more than two decades as a venture capitalist, Rick has been a general partner of five venture capital funds, has led investments in more than two dozen environmental, energy and communications companies, and has five years of growth-company operating experience.

Most recently he was at Allegra Partners IV, where he focused on investments in the telecommunications and software industries.

At Edison Venture Funds I, II and III, Rick led the firm’s cleantech/energy sector, in which his notable investments included Liberty Technologies, ReTec, Strategic Diagnostics and Thermacore. He also co-led Edison’s communications sector, including investments in DSET, Eastern TeleLogic and InSoft.

Rick, who began his career in venture capital as an associate with Princeton/Montrose Partners, was in 2003 one of just four inaugural recipients of the Cleantech Venture Network’s (now the Cleantech Group) Pioneer Award.

He is co-founder and serves on the investment committee of SJF Ventures, which focuses on the cleantech, technology-enhanced services and premium consumer products sectors, with renewable energy and efficiency among its investment areas.  

Additionally, Rick sits on the board of Airxchange, which manufactures energy recovery ventilation products and components.  

Prior to his career in venture capital, Rick was a senior scientist and division manager with Environmental Research & Technology, Inc. (now ENSR, a global provider of environmental and energy development services to industry and government).