LOS GATOS, Calif., June 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- National Grid Partners (NGP), the investment and innovation arm of National Grid plc (LSE: NG;NYSE: NGG), announces the addition of 4 new portfolio companies and 2 new strategic fund investments. NGP has invested in Audio Analytic, Carbon Lighthouse, Copperleaf and GoCardless, and has become a limited partner in IQ Capital Fund III LP (an IQ Capital fund) and JVP VIII, L.P. (a Jerusalem Venture Partners fund). With these investments, NGP expands its portfolio to 12 companies with $90 million invested to-date and 3 strategic fund investments at the intersection of energy and information technology – furthering its provocative vision to define a smarter and more renewable energy future.

NGP is a multi-stage investor supporting disruptive technology companies at every stage of their growth. Today, NGP opened a new office in San Francisco, which will facilitate collaboration among industry leaders and NGP's early stage portfolio companies. The energy industry is being shaped by trends in decarbonization, decentralization, and digitization. NGP's new location in the heart of San Francisco will allow them to better assist the young companies of today that will meet the complex requirements of tomorrow.

"We have been mobilizing and preparing ourselves for what tomorrow's customers will require," said John Pettigrew, Chief Executive, National Grid plc. "By investing and partnering with these innovators, National Grid will stay a step ahead of emerging technology trends to meet our customers' energy needs into the future."

Some of the newest additions to NGP's growing portfolio are:

• Audio Analytic, a revolutionary sound recognition technology that brings contextual artificial intelligence (AI) to consumer technology for a better customer experience.
• Carbon Lighthouse, an environmentally focused business that makes it profitable for commercial and industrial buildings to reduce their emissions and increase efficiency.
• Copperleaf, the next generation asset management planning and decision analytics system designed for utilities and other asset-intensive companies.
• GoCardless, a cloud-based disruptive payments service provider. They are the world leader in providing a bank-independent online platform for frictionless direct debit and recurring payments for improved customer service.

NGP's newest limited partnership relationships with strategic funds are with:

• IQ Capital, a Cambridge-based venture capital firm that invests in UK 'deep-tech' across sectors including machine learning, AI, engineering and materials, and data focused propositions based on disruptive algorithms.
• Jerusalem Venture Partners, one of the leading venture capital firms in Israel, a global hub for technology & innovation, offers NGP broad access to the Israeli technology sector.

"We are delighted to bring these new investments into our portfolio," said Lisa Lambert, National Grid's Chief Technology and Innovation Officer, and the Founder and President, National Grid Partners. "We are well on our way towards driving a smart and digital energy future for tomorrow's socially-conscious consumer."

"We are expanding our relationship with National Grid on both sides of the Atlantic," said Judi Hess, Copperleaf CEO. "Our industry-leading decision analytics solution keeps National Grid ahead of the curve by delivering optimal asset investment strategies and business performance."

NGP will continue collaborating with the most cutting-edge companies at the intersection of energy and information technology. NGP previously announced its backing of Aporeto, AutoGrid, ClimaCell, Dragos, Leap, Omnidian, Pixeom, and Sitetracker. NGP is also a limited partner in the strategic utility technology fund Energy Impact Fund LP (an Energy Impact Partners fund). 

National Grid Partners is the utility industry's first Silicon Valley-based investment and innovation firm. With a venture capital fund aiming to invest $250M over three years and an investment focus in early and growth-stage companies, National Grid plc is disrupting itself and the industry. Together with its team of professionals in Boston, New York, London, Los Gatos, and now San Francisco, NGP intends to make investments annually to drive company and industry-wide innovation.

About National Grid plc
National Grid plc (LSE: NG;NYSE: NGG) is an international electricity and gas company and one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world. We play a vital role in delivering gas and electricity to many millions of people across Great Britain and the northeastern U.S. in an efficient, reliable and safe manner.

About National Grid Partners
National Grid Partners (NGP) is the venture investment and innovation arm of National Grid plc. NGP makes and manages strategically and financially attractive investments and leads company-wide disruptive innovation efforts. The organization focuses on innovation, incubation, corporate venture capital, and business development, providing a multi-functional approach to change the status quo. NGP is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in Los Gatos and San Francisco, and is also located in Boston, London, and New York. Visit ngpartners.com or follow us on LinkedIn (National Grid Partners) and Twitter (@ngpartners).

SOURCE National Grid Partners

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