Ira Ehrenpreis
Founder and Managing Partner of DBL Partners
Ira Ehrenpreis is Founder and Managing Partner of DBL Partners, a leading impact investing venture capital firm, currently managing more than $1 billion of capital. DBL invests in companies that can deliver top-tier financial returns, while simultaneously driving social or environmental change.
Ira is a recognized leader in the venture capital industry, having served on the Board, Executive Committee, and as Annual Meeting Chairman of the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). He currently serves as the Chairman of the VCNetwork, the largest and most active California venture capital organization, and the President of the Western Association of Venture Capitalists (WAVC), the oldest venture capital organization in California.
For his significant contributions to the Venture Capital and Impact industries, Ira has been honored with several prestigious awards. Ira was awarded the NACD Directorship 100 for being “one of the most influential leaders in the boardroom and corporate governance community.” He was also named one of the “Top 50 Most Influential Men Under 45" (alas in a galaxy far, far away when in fact he was under 45!) For his pioneering work and leadership in sustainability innovation, Ira was inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame. In addition, the National Venture Capital Association awards one venture capitalist each year with the industry’s “Outstanding Service Award” for career contribution to the venture capital industry. Recently the Japan Society of Northern California honored Ira with its 2023 Visionary Award for his “Pioneering Leadership in Impact Investing and the Global Sustainability Community.” Most recently, for his leadership is supporting equity in entrepreneurship, Ira’s firm was just awarded by Springboard the “2024 Investor of the Year.”
Ira serves on the board of Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) and currently leads DBL’s investments in several companies including Airspace, Apeel, Boring Company, Mapbox, Menlo Micro, Planet (NYSE: PL), R-Zero, SpaceX, Terram, and X.AI.
In the energy innovation and sustainability sector, Ira has served as the Founder and Chairman of one of the most prominent annual industry events, the World Energy Innovation Forum (WEIF), which has convened the who's-who in the industry to discuss the important energy issues and opportunities of our time. In addition, Ira has been named to several industry Boards, including the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Advisory Committee (ERAC), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Advisory Council, the Clean-Tech Investor Summit (Chairman for nine years) the Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF) West (Co-Chairman for ten years), the Renewable Energy Finance Forum (REFF) Wall Street (Co-Chairman for five years), the Cleantech Venture Network (Past Chairman of Advisory Board), and ACORE (American Council on Renewable Energy).
Ira has served as the Chairman of the Silicon Valley Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum (SVIEF) for four years. He. Ira is also an active leader at Stanford University, where he has served on the Board of Visitors of Stanford Law School. He is currently on the Advisory Board of the Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy (PIE) Advisory Council and for many years served on the Advisory Board of the Stanford Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP). Ira has also been a guest lecturer, including helping to teach a course on Venture Capital. In addition, Ira served for many years on the Advisory Board of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE).
Ira is also an active leader at Stanford University, where he has served on the Board of Visitors of Stanford Law School and the Stanford Global Climate and Energy Project (GCEP), and is currently Chairman of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Precourt Institute for Energy (PIE). Ira has also been a frequent guest lecturer, including helping to teach a course on Venture Capital.
Ira received his JD/MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and Stanford Law School, where he was an Associate Editor of Stanford Law Review. He holds a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Summa Cum Laude.
Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/iraehrenpreis/
Ira can be reached at: ira@dbl.vc