Frank Balas

Venture investor, enabling innovation in energy and mobility

📍 Canada, Canada🔄 Updated September 2026💼 8 investments📅 17 years investing🗓 Last invested Dec 2024
VC🌍 Canada
8
Total investments
0
Early stage
3
Mid stage
4
Late stage
17y
Years active

Portfolio

8 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Board Member
Dec 2024
NLM is the future of photonics! We develop cutting-edge photonics solutions for transforming networking, computing, and sensing alongside our global partners. NLM was founded in 2018 and is located in Seattle. We were previously Nonlinear Materials Corporation.
Board Member
Nov 2023
Empowering global industries with accesible IoT and Space Technologies, boosting sustainability and operational efficiency. The only European verticalized satellite provider Specialized in low-power SATCOM communications, end-to-end satellite design and manufacturing and SIGINT.
Board Member
Feb 2022
MAHLE chargeBIG enables the mobility of the future by providing a scalable and cost-effective charging infrastructure. chargeBIG focuses on a grid-friendly system with intelligent load and tariff management and offers a turnkey solution for different charging requirements. chargeBIG is an AC charging solution for fleets and applications from 18 to 100 or more charging points. This solution specializes in charging during parking with a charging capacity of up to 7.2 kW, but 22kW charging points can also be integrated into the system. The system meets the requirements of calibration law and is easy to use. With its complete portfolio, chargeBIG is a provider of charging hardware and load management, charging point operator and mobility service provider. On customer request, we offer the implementation of a full-service solution for individual charging needs including professional advice, installation, maintenance, service, calibration-compliant billing and operation of the charging points.
Board Observer
Sep 2020
On August 3, 2022, Rhombus Energy became part of the BorgWarner family. https://www.borgwarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2022/08/03/borgwarner-acquires-rhombus-energy-solutions BorgWarner is accelerating the world’s transition to eMobility — to help build a cleaner, healthier, safer future for all. To learn more about career opportunities at BorgWarner, please visit BorgWarner’s LinkedIn page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/borgwarner
Board Observer
Dec 2016
Danfoss Power Solutions is a world-class provider of mobile hydraulics serving the construction, agriculture and other off-highway vehicle markets. With our high-quality components and partnerships with our customers, we create innovative solutions, allowing vehicles to push, pull, propel, lift and haul – building and developing the world around us. You can count on a company that has been in the industry for more than 50 years; and we continue to be at the forefront of innovation and product development in hydraulic pumps, motors, load-sensing valves, steering solutions as well as electronic components, telematics and software that tie it all intelligently together. In smart ways we offer the most efficient and powerful products in the market, and we aim to provide the most reliable, precise, and best integrated solutions – solutions that help customers meet today’s emissions and safety regulations still ensuring fast time to market and differentiated solutions. The Danfoss Group engineers technologies that enable the world of tomorrow to do more with less. We meet the growing need for infrastructure, food supply, energy efficiency and climate-friendly solutions. Our products and services are used in areas such as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, motor control and mobile machinery. We are also active in the field of renewable energy as well as district heating infrastructure for cities and urban communities. Our innovative engineering dates back to 1933 and today Danfoss is a world-leader, employing more than 27,000 employees and serving customers in more than 100 countries. We are still privately held by the founding family. Read more about us at www.danfoss.com Note: We reserve the right to remove those that are off-topic, abusive, or otherwise in conflict with good custom on LinkedIn. The views expressed here are solely that of the user, and are not necessarily those of Danfoss. Any posts on our page about sales promotions or jobs will be deleted.
Board Observer
Dec 2016
Powerhouse Dynamics is a leading provider of ”internet of things” (IoT)-based solutions to connect, analyze, and control equipment to deliver enterprise-wide operational efficiencies for portfolios of commercial facilities, including restaurants, convenience stores, retailers, and others. Our flagship solutions SiteSage and Open Kitchen enhance equipment performance, provide operational transparency, and significantly reduce energy expenses. To learn more about how Powerhouse Dynamics’ customers maximize energy and equipment maintenance savings and enhance food safety and quality with minimal staff effort, visit powerhousedynamics.com.
Board Observer
Dec 2016
Danfoss Editron is changing the way the world moves with electric and hybrid powertrain systems for the marine, off-highway and transportation sectors. A business division of Danfoss, the company develops and manufactures high-performance power systems for heavy-duty and commercial vehicles, machines and marine vessels. Based on synchronous reluctance assisted permanent magnet technology, our unique approach delivers maximum efficiencies, reduced size and weight, plus continual improvements for our customers. The sophisticated software behind our system controls and optimizes each individual component of an electric or hybrid drivetrain, leading to more intelligent management of power distribution. With operations in Lappeenranta, Finland and Colorado, United States of America, Danfoss Editron has assembled an award-winning team to work on the technologies that will enable the world of tomorrow to do more with less. 
Venture Investor
Sep 2009
Why we are unique: Emerald brings open innovation and venture capital together in unparalleled fashion, with 20+ years of experience in investing in the sustainable industrial transformation. What we do: We empower corporates to successfully innovate and collaborate with start-ups, and to transition their businesses to a more sustainable future. We have over 50 large corporations as investors and partners in open innovation. How we do it: We invest in early and expansion stage start-ups globally, while being locally positioned in Europe, North America and Asia with a team of specialists from 15+ countries. Our sectors: energy, water & wastewater, food and agriculture, mobility & urbanization, materials & packaging, industrial IT About Emerald: Emerald is a globally recognized venture capital firm founded in 2000, that manages and advises assets of over €1 billion from its offices in Zurich, Toronto and Singapore. The firm invests in start-ups that tackle big challenges in climate change and sustainability, with 4 current funds, hundreds of venture transactions and four third-party investment mandates, including loan guarantees to over 100 start-ups. Bold Ideas. Bright Future. Contact us to learn more! info@emerald.vc
Experience · 8 entries
All (8)
Investments (8)
Board (7)
2024
Board Member
Dec 2024
NLM is the future of photonics! We develop cutting-edge photonics solutions for transforming networking, computing, and sensing alongside our global partners. NLM was founded in 2018 and is located in Seattle. We were previously Nonlinear Materials Corporation.
2023
Board Member
Nov 2023
Empowering global industries with accesible IoT and Space Technologies, boosting sustainability and operational efficiency. The only European verticalized satellite provider Specialized in low-power SATCOM communications, end-to-end satellite design and manufacturing and SIGINT.
2022
Board Member
Feb 2022
MAHLE chargeBIG enables the mobility of the future by providing a scalable and cost-effective charging infrastructure. chargeBIG focuses on a grid-friendly system with intelligent load and tariff management and offers a turnkey solution for different charging requirements. chargeBIG is an AC charging solution for fleets and applications from 18 to 100 or more charging points. This solution specializes in charging during parking with a charging capacity of up to 7.2 kW, but 22kW charging points can also be integrated into the system. The system meets the requirements of calibration law and is easy to use. With its complete portfolio, chargeBIG is a provider of charging hardware and load management, charging point operator and mobility service provider. On customer request, we offer the implementation of a full-service solution for individual charging needs including professional advice, installation, maintenance, service, calibration-compliant billing and operation of the charging points.
2020
Board Observer
Sep 2020
On August 3, 2022, Rhombus Energy became part of the BorgWarner family. https://www.borgwarner.com/newsroom/press-releases/2022/08/03/borgwarner-acquires-rhombus-energy-solutions BorgWarner is accelerating the world’s transition to eMobility — to help build a cleaner, healthier, safer future for all. To learn more about career opportunities at BorgWarner, please visit BorgWarner’s LinkedIn page. https://www.linkedin.com/company/borgwarner
2016
Board Observer
Dec 2016
Danfoss Power Solutions is a world-class provider of mobile hydraulics serving the construction, agriculture and other off-highway vehicle markets. With our high-quality components and partnerships with our customers, we create innovative solutions, allowing vehicles to push, pull, propel, lift and haul – building and developing the world around us. You can count on a company that has been in the industry for more than 50 years; and we continue to be at the forefront of innovation and product development in hydraulic pumps, motors, load-sensing valves, steering solutions as well as electronic components, telematics and software that tie it all intelligently together. In smart ways we offer the most efficient and powerful products in the market, and we aim to provide the most reliable, precise, and best integrated solutions – solutions that help customers meet today’s emissions and safety regulations still ensuring fast time to market and differentiated solutions. The Danfoss Group engineers technologies that enable the world of tomorrow to do more with less. We meet the growing need for infrastructure, food supply, energy efficiency and climate-friendly solutions. Our products and services are used in areas such as refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, motor control and mobile machinery. We are also active in the field of renewable energy as well as district heating infrastructure for cities and urban communities. Our innovative engineering dates back to 1933 and today Danfoss is a world-leader, employing more than 27,000 employees and serving customers in more than 100 countries. We are still privately held by the founding family. Read more about us at www.danfoss.com Note: We reserve the right to remove those that are off-topic, abusive, or otherwise in conflict with good custom on LinkedIn. The views expressed here are solely that of the user, and are not necessarily those of Danfoss. Any posts on our page about sales promotions or jobs will be deleted.
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Investment activity
2009–2024 · 8 investments
200912016320201202212023120241
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