People

Michael Bauer, Entrepreneur-in-Residence

EIR at both the Department of Energy and Foundation Capital, Michael focuses on identifying and spinning out cleantech breakthroughs from Oak Ridge National Lab, the DoE’s largest lab, as part of a pioneering new program targeting fast commercialization of critical new energy technologies. His start-up experience cuts across several high technology industries and continents, from the Americas to Europe, the Middle East and China.

Prior to Foundation Capital, Michael spent three years in Smart Grid software development at BPL Global, where he joined the founding team as VP Product, helping to raise $30M in funding and accelerate growth through the acquisition of five synergistic companies in North America, Europe and Latin America. Before that, he spent five years developing broadband video networking systems at BigBand Networks, where he helped establish operations in the U.S. and was responsible for the Switched Broadcast product line which enabled the company’s $1 billion NASDAQ IPO in 2007. In addition, Michael spent more than two years in broadband networking at @Home Network, as well as at AT&T Asia Pacific in Hong Kong, China. Prior to that, he developed High Technology strategies for Fortune 500 technology companies as a consultant in The Boston Consulting Group’s High Tech Practice working out of the Munich, Amsterdam and London offices for three years.

Michael enjoys traveling and has a grand plan of visiting all countries in the world during his lifetime, a project that’s currently about 40% complete. He loves spending time with his family, playing piano with his son and designing 3D photo and video gear.

Michael holds an MBA from Stanford University, as well as an MA in East Asian Studies/Mandarin Chinese; and MS and BS degrees in Theoretical Physics from Technical Universities of Munich and Stuttgart, respectively. He is fluent in German and Mandarin Chinese, and presents a danger to himself in several other languages.

Email: mbauer@foundationcapital.com