Dakin Sloss is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. He is Founder and General Partner of Prime Movers Lab, the world’s leading partner of breakthrough scientific startups. He has led investments in transformative companies including Tarana, Halo, Carbon Capture, Focused Energy, Gilgamesh, Paradromics, Vaxxinity, Diamond Age, E-Space, Space Perspective, and Boom.
Prior to founding Prime Movers Lab, Dakin served as founding CEO of Tachyus and OpenGov. He is also a philanthropist through the Sat Chit Ananda Foundation dedicated to delivering food, freedom and flourishing to our global human family. Dakin studied Mathematics, Physics, and Philosophy at Stanford University. Dakin has been recognized as one of Yahoo Finance’s THE NEXT: 21 people who will have a significant impact on the worlds of finance, business, sports or politics in the year ahead and was featured on CNBC. In 2016, Dakin was recognized as the featured Forbes 30 Under 30 energy entrepreneur. In 2017, he was named as a San Francisco Business Times 40 Under 40 honoree.
Zia Huque is a General Partner of Prime Movers Lab where he focuses on growth-stage investing. Zia brings a wealth of experience in later-stage financing, having been in the business of risk investment and risk management across credit, rates, equities, and derivatives asset classes for the vast majority of his career. Zia also brings his operational expertise to Prime Movers Lab, having had vast executive, strategic and operational responsibilities across multiple businesses and regions of a top-five global investment bank managing tens of billions of dollars and thousands of employees. He serves on the boards of Energy Vault (NRGV), Lyten, Upward Farms, Boom Supersonic, and Quantum Space.
Zia served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., the U.S. Broker Dealer of Deutsche Bank, from early 2018 until his departure from Wall Street in 2019. At Deutsche Bank, Zia was also Head of Equities, Fixed Income & Currencies for the Americas from 2016 to 2018 and Global Co-Chief Operating Officer of Corporate Banking and Securities from 2012 until 2016. During Zia’s 30-year finance career on Wall Street, he held multiple executive positions in the United States, Europe and Asia while leading investment banking, sales and trading functions spanning many industries, products, and clients.
Zia received his BA in Economics and in Political Science from Williams College. He resides in Wyoming with his wife and two daughters and is active in the local community.
Justin Briggs is a scientific entrepreneur and investor working at the nexus of biology, chemistry, and engineering. He is a Biologist & Partner at Prime Movers Lab, working to accelerate our portfolio companies and cultivating new breakthrough opportunities. Over the last 15 years, Justin was an operator at nearly a dozen biotech, nanotech, robotics, and software companies with multiple exits and over $100 million in venture backing. Justin also supported venture creation at startup studios such as Deep Science Ventures and Accele Venture Partners. Justin developed novel therapeutics and regenerative medicines in disease areas including oncology, neurology, autoimmune, cardiometabolic, and infectious diseases across ten countries and four continents. Currently, Justin serves on the board of directors for Elevian, Iridia, and Iviva Medical and is a board observer at Morphoceuticals and Dimension Inx.
Prior to joining Prime Movers Lab, Justin developed next-generation biologic medicines, novel pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and other technologies at companies including Antiverse, Tetherex Pharmaceuticals, Accele BioPharma, Otologic Pharmaceutics, Pamlico BioPharma, Synereca, Jortan Pharma, Altheus Therapeutics, Crescendo Biosciences, and Southwest Nanotechnologies. Justin co-founded TomorrowScale Ventures and startups Chorus Labs, SnapLab Technologies, and Patch Botanics. Justin is knowledgeable across many discovery, development, commercialization, and scaling activities relevant to deep tech and life science companies, has a degree in biomedical sciences from the University of Oklahoma, an MBA with high honors from Oklahoma City University, and is a co-inventor on multiple issued patents.
Josh Agenbroad is a Mechanical Engineer & Partner at Prime Movers Lab. He supports early-stage deal sourcing and diligence with a focus on energy, manufacturing, and transportation. He has a mechanical engineering background with particular expertise in techno-economic analysis of energy systems. He serves on the boards of Carbon Capture Inc. and Wacomet Water Co.
Prior to joining Prime Movers Lab, Josh co-founded a leading climate-tech startup accelerator ecosystem called Third Derivative. Third Derivative works with 12 strategic corporate partners and 20 VC funds to support a portfolio of 100+ startups that have now raised over $500M of follow-on funding. In addition to his role on the leadership team, he led the startup selection and diligence team while also providing portfolio support for 20+ startups. Before Third Derivative, Josh worked for 10 years at the Rocky Mountain Institute, gravitating toward client-driven work done in a management consulting style. He worked with a wide variety of Fortune 500 corporations, governments, utilities, regulators, and startups from around the world, identifying opportunities and presenting the business case for energy efficiency and renewables. He helped launch RMI’s China and Africa programs.
Josh earned an MSME from Colorado State University while researching woodburning cookstove efficiency at the CSU Energy Institute. He earned his BSME from University of New Mexico while competing on the FSAE motorsports team. He takes great inspiration from friends and family as well as the natural world, enjoyed via bike, hike, splitboard, or raft. He loves to tinker, hack, design, build, and learn by doing.
Brad is a Partner at Prime Movers Lab where he leads deal sourcing and supports the diligence process. His work spans Prime Movers Lab’s six sectors but he has a particular interest in agriculture, food tech, and robotics. He serves on the board of directors for Robust AI, Diamond Age, Upward Farms, Dalan Animal Health, and Bandit (fka Conscious Cultures), and as a board observer for Pyka.
Prior to joining Prime Movers Lab, Brad was the first employee at Asseta, a marketplace for semiconductor manufacturing equipment, where he led go-to-market efforts in Asseta’s largest business lines. He led efforts to secure and manage an international asset disposition deal with a Fortune 100 chipmaker. Brad was relentlessly focused on delivering customer value and launched two of Asseta’s most successful services. Earlier in his career, Brad worked in KPMG’s M&A diligence group, specializing in the energy, agriculture, healthcare, and transportation industries. Brad earned a BBA from Emory University and was recognized as a member of the 100 Senior Honorary for emerging alumni leaders.
Pritha is a Chemical Engineer & Partner at Prime Movers Lab. She supports deal sourcing and diligence in manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, and transportation. She also serves as a board observer for Atom Computing.
Prior to joining Prime Movers Lab, Pritha was a Research Principal at the Astera Institute, where she analyzed the landscapes of a variety of scientific and metascientific topics, including novel organizational structures for research institutions, and advances in scientific communication. Previously, Pritha worked at the Institute for Defense Analyses, where she assessed emerging technologies to inform investment decisions. Additionally, she worked with civilian and military staff, domestically and internationally, in service of implementing reforms to future planning and budgeting decision-making. Pritha earned a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern with a focus on trapping gases in novel porous materials under humid conditions, and an AB in Chemistry from Princeton.
Anna Thomas is an Aerospace Engineer & Partner at Prime Movers Lab, enabling scientific and engineering breakthroughs in space, aviation, and climate/energy tech. Anna’s mission is to promote a future of exploration and connectedness through key advancements in space, aviation, and transportation that also benefit the planet with a strong focus on sustainability and inclusion.
Prior to joining Prime Movers Lab, Anna spent time in management consulting at Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting government clients by founding and scaling novel data science and venture programs as well as managing large programs dedicated to providing funding and advising to startups to enable innovation in natural carbon solutions. Before consulting, Anna spent time at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as a fellow and principal investigator, building a new laboratory capability leveraging infrared spectroscopy to study the ignition chemistry of alternative fuels for ground and aviation applications.
Anna received a PhD and MS from Stanford University in Aeronautics and Astronautics with a focus on the physical chemistry and ignition of green propellants for in-space propulsion applications. Anna also has a degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and was awarded a Fulbright to Germany to research combustion physics for aircraft turbine engines. Anna is an adventurer who loves the outdoors, spending time with her dogs, traveling around the globe, building things, and practicing languages.
Nick Fincher is the Head of Investor Relations and Partner at Prime Movers Lab. In this role, he is responsible for building and fostering enduring relationships with the firm's limited partner community. He works closely with them to develop long-term alignment through their commitments to Prime Movers Lab's early-stage and growth funds, as well as select co-investment opportunities.
Prior to joining Prime Movers Lab, Nick served as a Principal at SVB Capital, where he was in charge of fundraising and investor relations for the company's flagship venture fund of funds platform. Nick also spent nine years at PIMCO, one of the world's largest investment managers, where he was a vice president of institutional business development and client service. In addition, he previously held investor relations positions at Eaton Vance and TS Capital LLC, where he worked with family offices and wealth managers.
Nick holds a bachelor's degree from Purdue University and received an MBA from Columbia Business School. He is a fitness enthusiast who has combined his love for competition with philanthropy by serving as a director of the D10, a community of civic-minded athletes that has raised over $15 million for pediatric cancer research. When he’s not raising assets or awareness, you can find him paddleboarding, playing pickleball and hiking with his wife in Austin, Texas.
Taylor is the VP of Finance and Partner of Prime Movers Lab. She helps manage the firm’s financial operations across accounting, reporting, and financial planning.
Before joining Prime Movers Lab, Taylor served in controller and accounting roles with P Soros Investments and Long Light Capital, LLC. She oversaw accounting functions for the family offices, while also handling HR functions for family office employees. She began her career as a tax accountant with RSM US where she focused on private equity companies and high net worth individuals. Taylor earned a master’s degree in Corporate Accounting and an undergraduate degree in Accounting with a minor in Judaic studies, both from The University of Miami. She is a licensed CPA in the state of New York and a Level III CFA Candidate.
Gavin is the Communications and Government Relations Partner at Prime Movers Lab where he leads public relations and government relations for the firm as well as its portfolio companies, helping entrepreneurs tell their stories to key audiences, including media, consumers, investors, and policymakers.
Prior to joining Prime Movers Lab, Gavin was a Vice President at Method Communications where he supported the firm’s startup clients on issues related to media relations, public affairs, and crisis communications. Gavin previously worked for Edelman’s Washington, D.C. technology practice, representing some of the world's largest technology brands, such as Samsung, Adobe, and the Business Software Alliance. He also worked as a lobbyist for companies like eBay and Verisign. Gavin started his career on Capitol Hill with the Senate Finance Committee’s press office for Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), advising the majority staff on media strategies to pass trade, healthcare, and tax legislation. He graduated with a master’s degree in political management from The George Washington University and earned bachelor’s degrees in communication (journalism) and political science from Washington State University.
Ashley is the Talent Partner at Prime Movers Lab where she leads talent and people operations initiatives for the firm and its portfolio companies, manages the fellowship program and advisor ecosystem, and handles board of director placements and executive search, while also creating human capital strategies aimed at doubling or tripling revenue over a two-to-three year period.
Before Prime Movers Lab, Ashley worked with venture capital firms like First Round Capital and Quona Capital, as well as companies and startups like Meta, Google, Bolt Financial ($11bn), GOAT Group ($3.7bn), NTWRK ($1bn), Modern Fertility (acquired by Ro) and Scoot Rides (acquired by Bird). Ashley received her BS from the University of Colorado in Journalism with a minor in Technology, Arts, and Media.
Sammy serves as Chief of Staff at Prime Movers Lab where he supports investor relations, internal operations, and portfolio companies.
He brings 11 years of experience partnering with C-suites, celebrities, and founders building brands, live events, and companies. Most recently, Sammy was part of the founding team of K5 Global, a venture firm and startup incubator, where he collaborated on operations as they deployed $650M across 120 companies. At K5, Sammy helped launch Kendall Jenner’s 818 Tequila, now the third best-selling premium tequila in America. He helped Parrot, an AI-driven digital court reporting startup, land a top-three auto-insurance company as its first customer. In parallel, he advised teams in London and Manila that worked on moonshots in computer vision and people operations. Sammy spent his early career producing live events like The Kids’ Choice Awards at Nickelodeon and shepherding celebrity relationships for Ryan Seacrest.
Sammy holds a degree in Classical Civilizations from Yale where he sang bass in the world-famous a capella group, the Whiffenpoofs.
JJ Moi is the Design Partner for Prime Movers Lab. As a designer, he evaluates the products of potential investments and engages deeply with portfolio companies to develop differentiated branding, marketing, and design strategies. JJ has designed brand identities, websites, digital and physical products, and buildings across various startups, large institutions, local and federal governments, and design agencies.
Prior to joining Prime Movers Lab, JJ has served as an innovation specialist at GSA/18F, an innovation laboratory within the U.S. federal government. Before that, JJ was the Design Director at Tachyus and OpenGov, where he created seamless user experiences for the world's leading open data platform. Before OpenGov, he supported world-leading companies in their design and branding efforts through multiple top-tier design agencies. JJ completed postgraduate studies in New Media from the Academy of Art University and earned a BFA in Industrial Design from Rangsit University. He continues to be an adjunct lecturer at Pratt Institute teaching aspiring designers about the tricks of the trade and serve as a faculty advisor at University of Washington and Brandeis University.
Michael J Savage is an Executive Coach with Prime Movers Lab. He meets with founders in our portfolio on a monthly basis and supports them as they evolve with their organizations. He coaches individuals to achieve more and helps organizations come together to celebrate milestones like initial sales. He brings two decades and over 100,000 hours of coaching experience across a wide range of businesses, from startups coming out of Y Combinator or 500 Startups, to C-Level executive coaching inside some of the most recognizable companies today. For over 15 years Michael traveled the world supporting individuals and teams as a Business Coach and Trainer with Robbins Research—founded by Life and Business Strategist Tony Robbins where he facilitated Business Results Workshops on a broad range of topics, as well as Tony’s Life & Wealth Mastery Events. He is an ICF and BCC certified Executive Coach.
Outside of coaching, Michael has successfully built businesses in financial services as well as retail. He has supported founders and startups, coaching individuals and teams, as well as training and certifying coaches working in startup ecosystems like Tony Hsieh’s Downtown Project in Las Vegas. As a business coach and advisor Michael holds board seats in a number of small and medium-sized organizations and holds a seat on the Board of the Hero Initiative, a not-for-profit charity supporting the creative minds behind the world’s greatest comic book and pop culture icons. He resides in central Florida with his partner and daughter.
Brantley is Operations Manager and supports partners across a wide variety of functions such as operational and administrative processes, HR assistance, calendar management, and event coordination.
Prior to working with Prime Movers Lab, Brantley worked as Personal and Executive Assistant to professional athlete Travis Rice and was Coordinating Producer for the snowboarding competition Natural Selection Tour. She has over a decade of office management experience in Jackson, Wyoming, the place she called home for 17 years. Brantley recently moved back to her hometown of Lynchburg, Virginia. Brantley is passionate about working with others and brings her skills of organization, enthusiasm, and problem solving to every team she is a part of. She is an avid outdoorswoman, animal therapy advocate, bicycle enthusiast, and yoga instructor. Brantley graduated from James Madison University with a BA in Sociology.
Joslyn is Platform Manager with Prime Movers Lab. She provides support across all portfolio support functions, as well as investor relations, events, and ecosystem development.
Before Prime Movers Lab, Joslyn supported the investment and communications teams at TrueBridge Capital Partners managing various aspects of operations including reporting, design, travel, and event planning. Before joining the venture ecosystem, she served a long tenure in the legal industry at Batten Lee as an office administrator and billing manager. Joslyn received her BS from North Carolina State University in Fashion and Textile Management with a concentration in Brand Management and Marketing.
Ryan is an Executive Assistant who supports Prime Movers Lab across a wide variety of functions such as coordinating daily logistics, events, fundraising, scheduling, investor relations, as well as founder relations.
Ryan has a diverse background in the hospitality industry and as an executive assistant. He studied legal studies in business, taxation, accounting and administration at Hofstra University. After completing his studies, Ryan joined The Ritz Carlton Destination Club in Aspen as a personal concierge. He then worked for several ultra-high-net-worth individuals in New York, Miami, and London.
Della is an Executive Assistant with Prime Movers Lab. Della has over ten years of experience working in the legal field, family office management, and as an executive assistant. Most recently, she managed a scientific-based consulting company.
Della is passionate about working with forward-thinking like-minded individuals focused on health and healing. She assists in research, project management, event coordination, scheduling, and whatever it takes to make the team successful. She brings intentional positive energy to every interaction. Della attended Florida International University in Miami and holds a BA in Journalism.
