# Zach Barasz

Zach Barasz is an American venture capital investor, a Partner at [G2 Venture Partners](https://www.edgepedia.org/g2-venture-partners) (G2Vp), the sustainability-focused firm that spun out of [Kleiner Perkins](https://www.edgepedia.org/kleiner-perkins)' Green Growth Fund, where he invests in technology companies in transportation, manufacturing, supply chains, and the consumer economy.<sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup> He joined G2 in 2019 after serving as a Partner at BMW i Ventures, and has led investments including Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) and Sheertex.<sup>[2](https://g2vp.com/news/g2-venture-partners-promotes-zach-barasz-monica-varman-and-valerie-shen-to-partner/)</sup>

| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Firm and role | Partner at G2 Venture Partners, joined 2019, promoted to Partner July 2021<sup>[2](https://g2vp.com/news/g2-venture-partners-promotes-zach-barasz-monica-varman-and-valerie-shen-to-partner/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[3](https://www.businessinsider.com/vc-hires-promotions-zach-barasz-monica-varman-tonna-obaze-2021-7)</sup> |
| Focus | Technology and sustainability in transportation, manufacturing, supply chains, consumer economy<sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup> |
| Prior firms | BMW i Ventures (Partner, 2017–2019); Kleiner Perkins Green Growth Fund (2013–2017); Altamont Capital Partners; Boston Consulting Group<sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup> |
| Education | B.S. Economics and B.A. Political Science, University of Pennsylvania; M.B.A., Stanford<sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup> |
| Led investments | Locus Robotics Series F ($120M, Nov 2022); Motive Series E ($190M, Apr 2021); Sheertex Series B; MakerSights Series B<sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup> |
| Earlier deals | Xometry (NASDAQ: XMTR), Proterra, Lime, CelLink, Blackmore, Bright Machines<sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup> |
| SEC status | Named executive officer of G2VP III, LP and G2VP Opportunity Fund vehicles<sup>[5](https://www.dealdata.net/people-profile/435421/)</sup> |

## Early life and education

Barasz graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2008 with a B.S. in [Economics](https://www.edgepedia.org/economics) (Wharton) and a B.A. in Political Science.<sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.whartonenergy.com/alumni_spotlight_zach_barasz)</sup> He joined The Boston Consulting Group after Penn, then moved to Palo Alto in 2010 for a private-equity role; he was later an Associate at Altamont Capital Partners and worked in strategy at the [Wildlife Conservation Society](https://www.edgepedia.org/wildlife-conservation-society).<sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.whartonenergy.com/alumni_spotlight_zach_barasz)</sup>

He entered venture investing through a Stanford M.B.A. A Kleiner Perkins Green Growth Fund internship, found through a class listserv, led to his first work with what became the G2 team in 2013.<sup>[2](https://g2vp.com/news/g2-venture-partners-promotes-zach-barasz-monica-varman-and-valerie-shen-to-partner/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://www.whartonenergy.com/alumni_spotlight_zach_barasz)</sup>

## Career

**Kleiner Perkins and BMW i Ventures.** Barasz spent roughly three and a half years as a Senior Associate at Kleiner Perkins' Green Growth Fund (June 2013 to February 2017, per his own profile), working on deals including Turo, ChargePoint, Optoro, INRIX, Telogis, uShip, and Uber.<sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup> In January 2017 he became a Partner at BMW i Ventures, a $500 million fund backed by BMW, where he led investments in Lime, Proterra, Xometry, Blackmore, Vera, and Bright Machines.<sup>[6](https://www.whartonenergy.com/alumni_spotlight_zach_barasz)</sup>

**G2 Venture Partners.** He joined G2 in 2019, the firm that spun out of Kleiner Perkins' Green Growth Fund to invest in sustainable technology.<sup>[2](https://g2vp.com/news/g2-venture-partners-promotes-zach-barasz-monica-varman-and-valerie-shen-to-partner/)</sup> In July 2021, G2 promoted Barasz, Monica Varman, and Valerie Shen to Partner; [Business Insider](https://www.edgepedia.org/business-insider) independently reported the promotions, noting that Shen continued as chief operating officer.<sup>[3](https://www.businessinsider.com/vc-hires-promotions-zach-barasz-monica-varman-tonna-obaze-2021-7)</sup> SEC Form D records name him as an executive officer of G2VP III, LP, G2VP Opportunity Fund, LP, and G2VP Opportunity Fund I Co-Invest, LP, alongside Benjamin Kortlang, David Mount, Daniel Oros, and [Brook Porter](https://www.edgepedia.org/brook-porter), confirming his seniority within the firm's fund structures.<sup>[5](https://www.dealdata.net/people-profile/435421/)</sup>

## Notable investments and exits

Deal record by stage and date, drawn from his own profile and firm materials:

- **Locus Robotics**, warehouse robotics: led G2's Series F, $120 million, November 2022.<sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup>
- **Motive (formerly KeepTruckin)**, fleet technology: led G2's Series E, $190 million, April 2021; the firm's announcement names KeepTruckin among his led investments.<sup>[2](https://g2vp.com/news/g2-venture-partners-promotes-zach-barasz-monica-varman-and-valerie-shen-to-partner/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup>
- **Sheertex**, ultra-strong knit textiles: led the Series B at G2.<sup>[2](https://g2vp.com/news/g2-venture-partners-promotes-zach-barasz-monica-varman-and-valerie-shen-to-partner/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup>
- **MakerSights**: led the Series B at G2.<sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup>
- **Xometry**, on-demand manufacturing marketplace: led the Series B, $15 million, June 2017, at BMW i Ventures; the company later went public on NASDAQ as XMTR.<sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup>
- **Blackmore Sensors & Analytics**, FMCW LiDAR: led the Series B, $18 million, March 2018; Blackmore was acquired by Aurora.<sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup>
- **Proterra**, electric buses: co-led the Series 6 in 2017 alongside Generation Investment Management, when Proterra had more than 1,000 buses deployed with over 16 million miles traveled and partnerships including Daimler.<sup>[6](https://www.whartonenergy.com/alumni_spotlight_zach_barasz)</sup>
- **CelLink**: co-led the Series B at BMW i Ventures.<sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup>

At G2, the firm's team page lists him as partnering with [Locus Robotics](https://www.edgepedia.org/locus-robotics), Motive, MakerSights, and Sheertex.<sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup>

## Public positions and writing

Barasz's best-documented public thesis concerns commercial-vehicle electrification. In a Wharton Energy Network interview he argued that commercial vehicles with high utilization, such as trucks and buses, electrify first, because a heavily used truck replacing an inefficient diesel engine makes the economics of electric powertrains work better than in passenger cars.<sup>[6](https://www.whartonenergy.com/alumni_spotlight_zach_barasz)</sup> His stated investment focus spans robotics, manufacturing, mobility, supply chains, and data and analytics, targeting companies at inflection points building what he describes as a sustainable future.<sup>[4](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)</sup>

## References

1. [Zach Barasz | G2 Venture Partners](https://g2vp.com/teams/zach-barasz/)
2. [G2 Venture Partners promotes Zach Barasz, Monica Varman, and Valerie Shen to Partner](https://g2vp.com/news/g2-venture-partners-promotes-zach-barasz-monica-varman-and-valerie-shen-to-partner/)
3. [VC Hires and Promotions: Zach Barasz, Monica Varman and Valerie Shen — Business Insider](https://www.businessinsider.com/vc-hires-promotions-zach-barasz-monica-varman-tonna-obaze-2021-7)
4. [Zach Barasz — G2 Venture Partners | LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/zach-barasz-19b0181a)
5. [ZACH BARASZ — SEC filing officer records (DealData)](https://www.dealdata.net/people-profile/435421/)
6. [Alumni Spotlight: Zach Barasz (C'08, W'08) — Wharton Energy Network](https://www.whartonenergy.com/alumni_spotlight_zach_barasz)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Founders, operators, and investors › Venture and growth investors › Deep-tech, climate, and hard-tech investors*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license