Tom Mcgovern

Managing Director, Idealab

📍 Pasadena, California, United States🔄 Updated September 2026💼 18 investments📅 17 years investing🗓 Last invested Jun 2025𝕏 @upgrade_to_unlock
VC🌍 United States
18
Total investments
12
Early stage
0
Mid stage
1
Late stage
17y
Years active

Portfolio

14 investments · sorted by recency
All investments
Early stage
Mid stage
Late stage
Board Member
Jun 2025
As societys need for lithium-ion batteries grows, developing sustainable lithium and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) supply has never been more important. NewGenium is leading the way with SuperSynth, a breakthrough technology that can selectively extract lithium from brine and turn it directly into LFP — a key cathode used in today’s batteries. Our process is simpler, cleaner, and more affordable than traditional methods, cutting costs and reducing environmental impact. By tapping into the U.S.’s vast brine resources, NewGenium is helping build a secure, sustainable, and scalable domestic battery supply chain for the future.
Board Member
Jan 2022
HGenium is focused on achieving the first commercialization of sustainable green hydrogen (H2) production via thermochemical water splitting using heat at temperatures below one thousand degrees Celsius. Thermochemical water splitting offers high-efficiency production of hydrogen from renewable energy and does not require expensive or toxic materials. Our technology is based upon the patented work of the Mark E. Davis research group at the California Institute of Technology. We are presently developing commercial systems based on our proven, peer-reviewed innovations.
early stageOil and Gas
Board Member
Jan 2021
Launchpad is building technology to deliver products in days instead of months. We are developing a user friendly system of advanced software and autonomous hardware, which enable a streamlined AI-driven digital thread, starting from product CAD to a real product assembly.
Board Observer
Mar 2020
Smart Meeting Summaries™ that save you time. UpdateAI is #1 in automated recaps of post-sales calls (powered with ChatGPT).
Board Member
Nov 2019
Elementary helps Fortune 500 manufacturers automate inspection, increase production yield, and achieve measurable ROI in less than 6 months. Our industrial-grade inspection stations and QA platform deliver high-speed inspection, advanced defect detection, and real-time root cause analysis—empowering manufacturers to reduce downtime and drive digital transformation on the factory floor.
Board Member
Oct 2019
UM provides the highest quality mobile data solutions trusted by businesses to creatively solve their persistent challenges. The company’s diverse suite of products process billions of social, demographic, and location signals daily for Fortune 500 companies across retail, automotive, and entertainment to better understand and influence modern consumers with the most accurate business decision science. Recognized as a pioneer in targeted mobile advertising, UM was listed as Fast Company’s 50 Most Innovative Companies,” The Wall Street Journal’s Top “50 startups,” Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Best Entrepreneurial Companies in America,” and as one of Advertising Age’s “Best Places to Work.”
Board Member
Feb 2019
CarbonCapture Inc. is a climate tech company that makes modular Direct Air Capture (DAC) machines that can be connected in large arrays to remove massive amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere.
Board Member
Jan 2017
You already have an automatic stream of clicks and leads, or a database of recurring customers. The Lumin.ai Smart Scheduler brings you an automatic stream of appointments, so that you can focus on winning them from that point forward. The Smart Scheduler stays awake 24x7 for your customer, in case there is a need to reschedule or cancel. It keeps your calendar and CRM up to date, notifying you in real time of any changes.
Board Member
Oct 2016
Branch is the leading workforce payments platform that delivers faster, more flexible options for people to get paid. To learn more about Branch, visit http://www.branchapp.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. To schedule a one-on-one demo with a Branch expert: - http://www.branchapp.com/demo/
Board Member
Nov 2015
Heliogen is a renewable energy technology company focused on decarbonizing industry and empowering a sustainable civilization. The company’s concentrating solar energy and thermal storage systems aim to deliver carbon-free heat, steam, or power at scale to support round-the-clock industrial operations. Powered by AI, computer vision, and robotics, Heliogen is focused on providing robust clean energy solutions that accelerate the transition to renewable energy without compromising reliability, availability, or cost. For more information about Heliogen, please visit heliogen.com. In November 2020, TIME included Heliogen’s HelioHeat™ technology on its Best Inventions of 2020 list. In April 2020, Fast Company selected Heliogen as a recipient of a 2020 World Changing Ideas Award for its technology. The company won the Energy category.
Board Member
Jun 2013
Instant gaming on your smartphone and tablet GameMix is a discovery and cross-promotion network for cross-platform (HTML5) games. GameMix is an Idealab-backed company based in Pasadena, California and was founded in June 2013 by Ivar Chan, Andrew Cheek and Brian Paguyo. GameMix helps HTML5 game developers grow and monetize their games via the GameMix cross-promotion network for free. By adding a single line of code to their game, HTML5 game developers can cross-promote their game on the GameMix network of quality HTML5 games and mobile gamers. For game players, GameMix is the one-stop spot for free instant gaming on smartphones and tablets. GameMix offers users a “Pandora for games” experience where they can play, rate, save, and share games right in the browser.
Investor / Advisor (exit to GoDaddy)
Jan 2013
Sellbrite enables brands & retailers to list and sell products effortlessly across multiple online sales channels and gain centralized control over inventory and orders. Sellbrite’s cloud-based, channel management platform integrates with many popular marketplaces and shopping carts, including Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Etsy, Shopify, BigCommerce and others; along with market-leading solutions such as ShipStation. With a simple, intuitive interface, Sellbrite provides powerful tools and automation to simplify listing, prevent overselling, and optimize fulfillment. Sellbrite was acquired by GoDaddy in April 2019.
Board Member
Jan 2010
Primum is an innovative new media company dedicated to the production and distribution of high-caliber live event and filmed entertainment content. Primum é uma companhia de mídia inovadora dedicada à produção e distribuição de eventos ao vivo e filmes de nível internacional.
Board Member
Jun 2009
Experience · 24 entries
All (24)
Investments (18)
Founder (2)
Board (17)
2025
Board Member
Jun 2025
As societys need for lithium-ion batteries grows, developing sustainable lithium and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) supply has never been more important. NewGenium is leading the way with SuperSynth, a breakthrough technology that can selectively extract lithium from brine and turn it directly into LFP — a key cathode used in today’s batteries. Our process is simpler, cleaner, and more affordable than traditional methods, cutting costs and reducing environmental impact. By tapping into the U.S.’s vast brine resources, NewGenium is helping build a secure, sustainable, and scalable domestic battery supply chain for the future.
2022
Board Member
Jan 2022
HGenium is focused on achieving the first commercialization of sustainable green hydrogen (H2) production via thermochemical water splitting using heat at temperatures below one thousand degrees Celsius. Thermochemical water splitting offers high-efficiency production of hydrogen from renewable energy and does not require expensive or toxic materials. Our technology is based upon the patented work of the Mark E. Davis research group at the California Institute of Technology. We are presently developing commercial systems based on our proven, peer-reviewed innovations.
early stageOil and Gas
2021
Board Member
Jan 2021
Launchpad is building technology to deliver products in days instead of months. We are developing a user friendly system of advanced software and autonomous hardware, which enable a streamlined AI-driven digital thread, starting from product CAD to a real product assembly.
2020
Board Observer
Mar 2020
Smart Meeting Summaries™ that save you time. UpdateAI is #1 in automated recaps of post-sales calls (powered with ChatGPT).
2019
Board Member
Nov 2019
Elementary helps Fortune 500 manufacturers automate inspection, increase production yield, and achieve measurable ROI in less than 6 months. Our industrial-grade inspection stations and QA platform deliver high-speed inspection, advanced defect detection, and real-time root cause analysis—empowering manufacturers to reduce downtime and drive digital transformation on the factory floor.
Show all 24 entries ↓
Investment activity
2009–2025 · 18 investments
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