Reed Sturtevant

Reed Sturtevant is an American venture capitalist and technologist known for his work in fostering early-stage deep tech and climate tech companies. He is a co-founder of the venture fund The Engine, built by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the founder of the startup studio Project 11. His career has focused on bridging the gap between foundational academic research and commercial venture-backed enterprises, particularly within the Boston innovation ecosystem.

Early life and education

Sturtevant earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied mechanical engineering. His time at MIT immersed him in the institute's culture of hands-on problem-solving and interdisciplinary collaboration, which would later influence his approach to technology commercialization. This educational foundation provided a critical understanding of complex technical systems, preparing him for a career at the intersection of engineering, entrepreneurship, and investment.

Career

Following his studies, Sturtevant held roles in product management and business development at several technology companies. He later joined the venture capital firm General Catalyst, where he worked as a venture partner focusing on early-stage investments. His investment thesis increasingly centered on supporting founders tackling significant challenges in sectors like energy, manufacturing, and computation, areas often described as deep tech. This focus led to his pivotal role in conceptualizing and launching The Engine in 2016, a venture fund specifically designed to provide patient capital and specialized infrastructure to startups working on transformative hard technology.

Project 11

In 2020, Sturtevant founded Project 11, a startup studio dedicated to creating new companies that address climate change and sustainability. Named for the international goal of limiting global temperature rise, the studio operates by identifying breakthrough scientific and engineering advances, often from university labs and national research institutions, and building venture-scale businesses around them. Project 11 portfolio companies are active in fields such as carbon removal, industrial decarbonization, and renewable energy storage, reflecting a concentrated effort to translate climate tech innovation into market solutions.

MIT activities

Sturtevant maintains a strong connection to MIT as a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he teaches courses on entrepreneurship, venture capital, and building technology companies. He is also a frequent mentor and advisor within the MIT ecosystem, including programs like the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund and the MIT Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship. His work helps students and researchers navigate the path from prototype to startup, emphasizing the unique challenges of bringing capital-intensive and R&D-heavy technologies to the commercial market.

Personal life

Sturtevant resides in the Boston area. He is an advocate for strengthening the regional innovation economy and often speaks on topics related to technology transfer, the future of climate finance, and the role of research universities in economic development. His personal and professional endeavors are closely aligned with his mission to support entrepreneurs building companies aimed at solving foundational global problems.

Category:American venture capitalists Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology alumni Category:MIT Sloan School of Management faculty Category:People from Boston