Decarbonization
Lower emissions across energy and industry.
Venture partner for the energy transition
We turn energy innovation into scalable businesses.
Gron combines venture building, equity-aligned services and market access to move technology from potential to traction — in Brazil and across Latin America.
Brazil ↔ GlobalCleantech · EnergytechCapital + execution + access
01 / Our thesis
The energy transition is not one market. It is five shifts happening at once.
Decentralization
New ways to generate, store and distribute energy.
Digitalization
Software, data and AI improving physical systems.
Democratization
Reliable, affordable energy reaching more people.
Diversification
New sources, technologies and business models making energy systems more resilient.
The technologies exist. The harder work is turning them into businesses that can navigate regulation, industrial complexity, long validation cycles and an unfamiliar capital logic. That is where Gron operates.
02 / What we do
Three models.
One operating partner.
We work where capital alone is not enough — adding strategy, hands-on execution and access to the relationships that unlock the next stage.
01
From insight to enterprise
Venture Building
We co-build technology-based ventures around real market needs — shaping the strategy, business model, team and route to scale.
- Business design
- Venture structuring
- Capital readiness
02
Execution with aligned incentives
Services for Equity
We exchange high-value capabilities for equity: market access, media, technology, innovation funding and strategic execution.
- Media & positioning
- Technology enablement
- Market access
03
Brazil and Latin America
International Landing
We help international energy and climate-tech companies enter the region with the right partners, structure and first customers.
- Market entry
- Local partnerships
- Commercial traction
03 / How we work
From scientific knowledge to market traction.
- 01
Design
Validate the problem, technology, market and venture architecture.
- 02
Build
Structure the company, business model, capabilities and capital plan.
- 03
Scale
Open commercial doors, strengthen positioning and access growth capital.
04 / The platform
More than a network.
An unfair advantage for execution.
Gron was built at the intersection of energy, technology, innovation policy, media and entrepreneurship. Our platform gives ventures a shorter path to market intelligence, visibility, corporate decision-makers and qualified capital.
Venture methodology
Business-building experience shaped by MIT REAP and open-innovation practice.
Energy ecosystem
Direct access to leaders, corporations and investors through the Energy Summit network.
Technology & media
Digital execution and strategic visibility through a technology and content ecosystem.
Innovation capital
Knowledge of venture capital, corporate capital and Brazil’s non-dilutive funding instruments.
05 / Why Brazil
A clean-energy laboratory at continental scale.
Brazil combines one of the world’s cleanest electricity systems with complex industrial demand, deep research capacity and room to build across bioenergy, power, mobility, mining, oil and gas, digital infrastructure and climate solutions.
89%renewables in Brazil’s electricity mixEmber, 2024
400+large energy companies in Rio de Janeiro stateInstitutional mapping
40+research and innovation centers in RioInstitutional mapping
06 / Who we are
Operators, not spectators.
A multidisciplinary team spanning energy, technology, venture building, innovation, capital and public policy.
G / 01
Hudson Mendonça
Co-Founder
CEO of Energy Summit, Vice President at MIT Technology Review Brazil, and co-founder of Innovc and Celacanto Lab. Former leader of MIT REAP Brazil and Invest.Rio board member, he is a professor and researcher at LabrInTOS/COPPE-UFRJ and Ibmec. He previously served as Energy Superintendent at Finep and Deputy Executive Secretary at MCTI. He holds a degree in Economics and an MSc in Production Engineering from UFRJ, as well as a PhD in Business from PUC-Rio.
G / 02
Luiz Mandarino
Co-Founder
Chemical engineer from UFRJ, with an MBA in Marketing and an MSc in Business Administration from IBMEC-RJ. He brings 25+ years of experience in B2B, energy, innovation and new ventures, including leadership in product development, marketing, intrapreneurship and open innovation at BR Distribuidora. His work connects corporate challenges, entrepreneurship and venture building.
G / 03
Rafael Marquez
Partner
CMO of Energy Summit, with 24+ years of experience in telecommunications, marketing and growth. He held C-level and senior leadership roles at Ligga Telecom, V.tal, Oi and TIM, including CRO of Ligga and Marketing Director at V.tal/Oi, after beginning his career at Banco Pactual. He holds a Production Engineering degree from UFRJ and an Executive MBA from COPPEAD/UFRJ.
G / 04
Raphael Albergarias
Partner
Executive, professor and strategic advisor with decades of international experience in project, program and portfolio management across the public, private and nonprofit sectors. President of IPMA Brasil since 2010, he has also served as an engineering company executive and as Undersecretary of Science and Technology in Rio de Janeiro. He holds master's and doctoral degrees in Business Administration, with academic experience at FGV, USP, Université de Tours and Rennes School of Business.
G / 05
Marcus Vinicius Fonseca
Partner
Associate Professor at COPPE/UFRJ and coordinator of LabrInTOS, with extensive experience in research and leadership in technological innovation, energy ecosystems and entrepreneurship. His work connects academia, public policy and business to strengthen innovation environments and technology-based ventures. He holds a Chemical Engineering degree from UFRJ, an MSc from COPPE/UFRJ and a PhD in Engineering from USP.
G / 06
Pedro Brito
Partner
Strategy, innovation and business development advisor with 25+ years in the power sector. A former CEO and Corporate Management and Sustainability Director of Furnas, he also led open innovation initiatives at Eletrobras and held positions at Eletropaulo, CESP and EMAE. He holds a Law degree, a specialization in Corporate Law and a master's in Business Law from FGV.
Start with a conversation
Building the next energy business?
We want to meet founders, corporations, investors and global technology companies ready to move.
contact@gronpartners.com