Follow the Money
Who funds geoengineering — and how they're connected
$150M+
Total geoengineering startup funding
$105M+
Invested in 2025 alone
1 fund
At every seat of the pipeline
Every claim below links to its primary source. Verify everything yourself.
The Acceleration
More money poured into geoengineering startups in 2025 than the entire prior history combined.
- Bill Gates funds FICER ($8.5M+ personal geoengineering fund)
- David Keith and Ken Caldeira manage the research
- Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program established
- Make Sunsets raises $1.2M seed round (Tim Draper, Boost VC)
- Launches sulfur dioxide balloons in Mexico — Mexico bans all geoengineering experiments
- Stardust Solutions and Rainmaker both founded
- Both operate in stealth mode
- Nuclear weapons scientists pivot to atmospheric modification
- Stardust raises $15M seed from AWZ Ventures (Israeli defense VC) + SolarEdge
- Rainmaker raises $6.3M seed
- Sacca and Cohler already co-funding SilverLining geoengineering lobbying since 2020
- Stardust $60M Series A — largest geoengineering investment in history
- Rainmaker $25M Series A (also led by Sacca/Lowercarbon)
- Reflect Orbital $20M round (Sequoia Capital)
- More invested in 2025 than the entire prior history combined
$105M+ in 2025 — more than the entire prior history combined.
The money is moving from “study it” to “build and deploy.” Stardust alone accounts for ~65% of all geoengineering startup funding.
Funding Speed: Stardust vs Everyone Else
Stardust raises at 3–4x the rate of the next fastest geoengineering company. $75M in under 3 years — from a team with zero published geoengineering research.
The Coordination: Research → Lobbying → Profit
The same people fund the research, the lobbying, and the deployment company. This is the pipeline in action — traced through SilverLining, a geoengineering nonprofit whose donors overlap with Stardust's investors.
2020
Sacca (Lowercarbon) and Cohler both fund SilverLining's $3M research initiative
Step 1: Fund the research. SilverLining's donors also include Bill Trenchard, Dan Scales (Google), and foundations including Quadrature Climate Foundation and Pritzker Innovation Fund.
2020-2024
SilverLining lobbies Congress and State Department FOR geoengineering programs
Step 2: Lobby for government support. SilverLining receives $20.5M from leading climate foundations in May 2024.
2024
Stardust raises $15M seed from AWZ Ventures (Israeli defense-VC)
Step 3: Invest in deployment. Defense-intelligence money seeds the company.
October 2025
Sacca leads $60M Series A in Stardust. Cohler invests personally.
The same people who funded the research and lobbying now invest in the commercial deployment company. Research → Lobbying → Deployment → Profit.
Sacca's Contradiction
In 2023, Sacca told media he had “zero financial interests beyond philanthropy” in geoengineering and didn't believe there should be private business models in the space. Two years later, he led a $60M for-profit round in Stardust Solutions.
The Pipeline
Fund the research, lobby for government support, invest in deployment companies, collect the contracts. One fund — Lowercarbon Capital (Chris Sacca) — sits at every seat.
Fund the Research
Donate to university programs that produce models showing geoengineering 'could work.' Build the academic legitimacy.
- • Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program
- • Bill Gates / FICER ($8.5M+)
- • Marine Cloud Brightening Project
Sacca: Donor to Harvard SGRP and Marine Cloud Brightening
Lobby for Policy
Fund advocacy organizations that lobby Congress, the State Department, and international bodies to support geoengineering governance frameworks.
- • SilverLining ($20.5M coalition)
- • Holland & Knight (K Street lobbyists)
Sacca: Funder of SilverLining (co-funded with Cohler in 2020)
Invest in Deployment
Lead the largest funding rounds in for-profit companies that will sell geoengineering services to governments.
- • Stardust Solutions ($60M Series A)
- • Rainmaker ($25M Series A)
Sacca: Led both Stardust ($60M) and Rainmaker ($25M) rounds
Collect the Contracts
Once governments adopt geoengineering, deployment companies get perpetual contracts. Termination shock means they can never stop. Permanent revenue.
- • Stardust targets 'more than $1B/year' from government customers
- • Deployment planned by 2035
Sacca: Stands to profit from both Stardust and Rainmaker government contracts
The full loop
Fund the research (Harvard SGRP) → Lobby for government support (SilverLining) → Invest in the companies that get deployment contracts (Stardust, Rainmaker) → Governments can't stop once they start (termination shock) → Perpetual revenue.
Chris Sacca publicly said he had “zero financial interests” in geoengineering. Then he occupied every seat in the pipeline.
Key Players
8 profiles of the investors and entities behind geoengineering. Click to expand.
Chris Sacca / Lowercarbon Capital
Investment FundSaid he had 'zero financial interests' in geoengineering. Then led the largest geoengineering investment in history.
$2.4B AUM$85M+ into geoengineering startupsEvery pipeline seat occupied
Chris Sacca / Lowercarbon Capital
Investment FundSaid he had 'zero financial interests' in geoengineering. Then led the largest geoengineering investment in history.
Chris Sacca's Lowercarbon Capital is the single most connected entity in geoengineering. The fund simultaneously donates to the research (Harvard SGRP), funds the lobbying (SilverLining), and leads investment in the deployment companies (Stardust $60M, Rainmaker $25M). One fund at every seat from science to profit.
Background
- Born May 12, 1975 in Lockport, New York. Italian-Irish American. Georgetown Law grad.
- At Google: oversaw billions in global energy projects, led $4.7B FCC spectrum bid, managed global data center siting. Among the first to receive the Google Founders' Award.
- Co-founded Lowercase Capital — early investor in Twitter, Uber, Instagram, Twilio, Docker, Stripe. #2 on Forbes Midas List. Billionaire.
- Founded Lowercarbon Capital (2018) with wife Crystal. $2.4B AUM, 207+ portfolio companies.
The Contradiction
- Sacca publicly stated he had 'zero financial interests beyond philanthropy' in geoengineering and didn't believe in private business models for it.
- Then he led a $60M for-profit Series A in Stardust Solutions — the largest geoengineering investment in history.
- He also led Rainmaker's $25M Series A — making $85M+ in direct geoengineering startup investments.
The Full Pipeline
- Donor to Harvard Solar Geoengineering Research Program (the research)
- Funder of SilverLining — $20.5M lobbying coalition targeting Congress, State Dept, and international bodies (the lobbying)
- Co-funded SilverLining's $3M research initiative alongside Matt Cohler in 2020 — then both invested in Stardust's $60M round (the coordination)
- Led Stardust Solutions $60M Series A (the investment)
- Led Rainmaker $25M Series A (the investment)
- Funds Marine Cloud Brightening Project (applied research)
- This is the full loop: fund research → lobby for government support → invest in deployment companies → those companies get government contracts → Sacca profits.
2017 Sexual Harassment
- Named in the 2017 Silicon Valley sexual harassment wave.
- Susan Wu accused him of touching her face without consent at a 2009 tech event (Sacca disputes).
- NYT called out his behavior as sexist and inappropriate with women.
- Published public apology admitting he contributed to tech's sexist culture: 'I undoubtedly caused some women to question themselves, retreat, feel alone.'
- Initially said he was retiring from investing; later returned via Lowercarbon Capital.
“We have no opportunity for survival on this planet unless you reflect back sunlight.”— Chris Sacca
“Bless Al Gore... but he has for years shamed anyone paying attention to that space because he's considered it a moral hazard.”— Chris Sacca
AWZ Ventures
Defense/Intelligence VCFormer Mossad, CIA, MI5, FBI, Unit 8200 directors on the advisory board. Formally partnered with the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
$500M+ AUM$15M seed into StardustFirst fund was joint with Israeli MoD
AWZ Ventures
Defense/Intelligence VCFormer Mossad, CIA, MI5, FBI, Unit 8200 directors on the advisory board. Formally partnered with the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
AWZ is not a typical venture capital fund. It is a formalized bridge between Israeli military/intelligence agencies and private capital. Former heads of Mossad, CIA, MI5, CSIS, FBI, Unit 8200, Shin Bet, and the IDF are embedded in its leadership. It partners directly with MAFAT (Israeli Ministry of Defense R&D). This is the fund that seed-funded Stardust Solutions.
Founder: Yaron Ashkenazi
- 30-year business, technology, security & intelligence veteran.
- Former Israeli Shin Bet (ISA) officer in the personal security unit.
- Led security details for Israeli Prime Ministers Yitzhak Shamir, Shimon Peres, and especially Yitzhak Rabin — for nearly seven years.
- Founded AWZ Ventures in 2016 in Toronto, Canada.
Intelligence & Defense Advisory Board
- Tamir Pardo — Former Director of Mossad (2011-2016), Venture Partner
- Haim Tomer — 30+ years Mossad; Head of Intelligence, Counter-Terrorism & International Divisions
- Gary Barnea — Former Deputy Director of Mossad Special Operations; Former Director of ISA Protection & Security Division
- Ehud Schneorson — Former Commander of Unit 8200 (Israel's NSA equivalent). Also co-founded Paragon Solutions ($900M spyware company)
- Roni Alsheich — Former Deputy Director of Shin Bet; Former Chief Commissioner of Israeli Police
- James Woolsey — Former Director of the CIA (1993-1995)
- Stella Rimington — Former Director General of MI5 (UK)
- Richard Fadden — Former Director of CSIS (Canadian intelligence); Former National Security Advisor to Canadian PM
- Former Associate Deputy Director of the FBI (name not publicly confirmed)
- Aviv Kohavi — 22nd Chief of General Staff of the IDF, joined December 2024
Stephen Harper (22nd Canadian PM)
- Partner and President of the Advisory Committee (joined 2019).
- Said AWZ is a chance to 'continue what I did in government.'
- The Breach reported AWZ has poured $350M+ into Israeli military tech with Harper as a leading partner.
- Three out of five Corsight AI board members are Harper's AWZ partners — meaning the former PM's firm effectively controls Corsight. The Israeli military used Corsight's facial recognition to identify and detain a Palestinian poet.
- AWZ facilitated the sale of surveillance technology to the UAE.
- Spy tech backed by Harper's fund deployed in Greek refugee camps as part of a $55M EU-funded surveillance system.
MAFAT Partnership
- MAFAT is the Israeli equivalent of DARPA — the Directorate of Defense Research and Development within the Ministry of Defense.
- In 2021, AWZ signed a strategic partnership with MAFAT to launch AWZ X-Seed.
- First fund ($82.5M) was a joint fund with the Israeli Ministry of Defence.
- Co-led by Ashkenazi and Brig. Gen. Danny Gold — head of MAFAT and creator of the Iron Dome missile defense system.
- The partnership provides: deal flow from military needs, dual-use technology pipeline, access to Mossad/Shin Bet/Unit 8200, and a physical hub in Tel Aviv.
- This means the Israeli Defense Ministry is effectively co-creating a venture fund. MAFAT identifies military needs, AWZ funds Israeli startups, tech gets 'battle-tested' in Israeli operations, then sold globally.
Portfolio Pattern
- 29+ portfolio companies — ALL Israeli.
- Pentera (cybersecurity, unicorn), Classiq (quantum computing), Corsight AI (facial recognition — used in Gaza), viisights (behavioral surveillance), NanoLock (IoT security), NanoPass (vaccine microneedles).
- Pattern: surveillance, cybersecurity, defense tech, deep tech — and now geoengineering.
- Planning a $1.5 billion chip factory in Ashkelon — III-V semiconductors for defense + civilian use.
- Stardust fits the pattern perfectly: dual-use technology, Israeli founders from classified programs, no transparency, for-profit with government customers.
Red Flags
- Formalized partnership with a foreign defense ministry (MAFAT)
- Advisory board reads like a who's-who of Western intelligence agencies
- Portfolio company Corsight's facial recognition used on civilians in Gaza
- Sold surveillance tech to UAE (authoritarian regime)
- MAFAT partnership never reported in Canadian media until investigative journalists broke the story
Ronald Lauder / Lauder Partners
IndividualEstee Lauder heir. President of the World Jewish Congress. Named 900+ times in DOJ-released Epstein files.
$4.7B net worth900+ Epstein DOJ mentionsTrump's unofficial Israel advisor
Ronald Lauder / Lauder Partners
IndividualEstee Lauder heir. President of the World Jewish Congress. Named 900+ times in DOJ-released Epstein files.
Ronald Lauder is the son of Estee Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, and a lifelong friend and college classmate of Donald Trump. He donated $5M to MAGA Inc., acts as Trump's unofficial advisor on Israel, and his son-in-law Kevin Warsh is the new Fed chair. Lauder Partners invested in Stardust's $60M round. He is also an early Palantir investor (connecting him to Peter Thiel).
Political Power
- College classmate and lifelong friend of Donald Trump (both Wharton, UPenn).
- US Ambassador to Austria under Reagan (1986-1987). Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for European and NATO Policy.
- Donated $5M to MAGA Inc. super PAC (2025). Spent millions supporting Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns.
- Acts as unofficial White House advisor on Israel under Trump's second term.
- Son-in-law Kevin Warsh is the new Fed chair.
- Questioned by Israeli police over gifts to Netanyahu (2018).
Jeffrey Epstein Connections
- Named 900+ times in DOJ-released Epstein files (January 2026).
- Kept in touch with Epstein as recently as 2017 — 9 years after Epstein's first arrest.
- Scheduled to visit Epstein's home Feb 24, 2017.
- Epstein coordinated an LLC in 2014 for Lauder and Leon Black to share ownership of a $25M painting.
- Their assistants emailed frequently to arrange meetings and phone calls.
- As US Ambassador to Austria (1986-87), Lauder was serving when Epstein obtained an Austrian passport with a fake name. No official finding links Lauder to the passport, but the timing is noted in investigative commentary.
- Not accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein's crimes.
Mega Group Membership
- Confirmed member of the Mega Group (aka 'Study Group').
- Founded 1991 by Les Wexner and Charles Bronfman.
- ~20-50 of the wealthiest Jewish businessmen in America.
- Both past WJC president Edgar Bronfman and current president Lauder are members.
- Described as a pro-Israel lobby group. Employed Republican consultant Frank Luntz in 2003.
- Alleged contacts with Israeli intelligence (Mossad).
The Greenland Angle
- Credited with planting the Greenland purchase idea in Trump's mind (2019).
- Invested in Greenlandic freshwater bottling company.
- Member of Greenland Development Partners investment group.
- Partners include husband of Greenland's foreign minister.
- Obvious conflict of interest: suggesting a president buy territory where you have commercial interests.
Peter Thiel
IndividualEpstein invested $40M in his fund. Co-founded Palantir (Israeli defense partner). 'My bias is to defer to Israel.'
$11B+ net worth$40M from EpsteinPalantir → Israeli defense
Peter Thiel
IndividualEpstein invested $40M in his fund. Co-founded Palantir (Israeli defense partner). 'My bias is to defer to Israel.'
Peter Thiel is connected to geoengineering through the Thiel Fellowship and 1517 Fund, which funded Rainmaker's founder. He is not a direct Stardust investor, but he connects to the network through Palantir (co-founded with Lauder as early investor), Epstein ($40M in Thiel's fund), and the Israeli defense establishment.
Geoengineering Connection
- Augustus Doricko, Rainmaker's founder, received a Thiel Fellowship ($100K grant) in 2024.
- 1517 Fund (founded by former Thiel Fellowship team members, backed by Thiel money) invested in Rainmaker's $25M Series A.
- Rainmaker: cloud-seeding drone company accused of contributing to catastrophic Texas flooding (July 2025).
- Thiel-backed Rainmaker has lobbied to block state legislation restricting weather modification.
Epstein Connections
- Epstein invested $40M in Valar Ventures (co-founded by Thiel) in 2015-2016, now worth ~$170M.
- Thiel personally solicited and maintained a business partnership with Epstein from 2014-2019.
- Epstein spent years connecting Thiel with former Israeli PM/defense minister Ehud Barak, arranging at least 6 meetings.
- Epstein steered Thiel toward two Israeli cybersecurity startups with roots in Unit 8200.
- Carbyne (co-founded by Ehud Barak) became the first Israeli investment for Thiel's Founders Fund ($15M Series B, 2018) — deal arranged through Epstein.
- Introduced to Epstein by Reid Hoffman (LinkedIn co-founder).
Israeli Defense Ties
- Co-founded Palantir Technologies — provides AI to US, UK, and Israeli defense/intelligence.
- Palantir signed a strategic partnership with the Israeli Defense Ministry (January 2024) to supply war technology.
- When asked about ethical concerns: 'My bias is to defer to Israel.'
- Ronald Lauder is also an early Palantir investor — this is the strongest direct financial link between two key network nodes.
- Palantir's AI reportedly used in Israeli operations in Gaza, including 'kill lists.'
Climate Views
- Called climate science a 'fake field.'
- Funds publications that question climate change and evolution.
- Supports expanded fossil fuel use.
- Yet backs geoengineering through the Thiel Fellowship/1517 Fund ecosystem.
Matt Cohler
IndividualOne of the first 5 Facebook employees. Co-funded geoengineering lobbying with Sacca in 2020, then both invested in Stardust.
~$700M-$1.1B net worthFacebook employee #5SilverLining → Stardust pipeline
Matt Cohler
IndividualOne of the first 5 Facebook employees. Co-funded geoengineering lobbying with Sacca in 2020, then both invested in Stardust.
Matt Cohler has been systematically investing in geoengineering for years — philanthropically through SilverLining and university programs, now commercially through Stardust. He co-funded SilverLining's $3M research initiative with Chris Sacca in 2020, then both invested in Stardust's $60M round in 2025. This is a coordinated pipeline from nonprofit research to for-profit deployment.
Background
- One of the first 5 employees at Facebook (VP of Product Management until 2008).
- Early LinkedIn employee.
- Former General Partner at Benchmark — led investment in Instagram ($7M → $1B acquisition).
- Also backed Dropbox, Asana, Quora, Tinder, Zendesk, Duo Security, DeepL.
- Recently purchased a $30M London mansion (April 2025).
- Not affiliated with any political party.
Geoengineering Involvement
- Personal investor in Stardust Solutions $60M round.
- Runs the Cohler Charitable Fund which funds SilverLining (geoengineering lobbying).
- Co-funded SilverLining's $3M university research initiative alongside Lowercarbon Capital (Sacca) in 2020.
- Backs the University of Washington's marine cloud brightening program.
- One of two Facebook-derived billionaires in geoengineering (the other is Dustin Moskovitz).
Exor / Agnelli-Elkann Family
CorporateItalian industrial dynasty. Largest shareholder of Stellantis, Ferrari, Juventus. Invested in Stardust's $60M round.
€500M+ in startups since 2018Stellantis / Ferrari / Juventus25-year investment horizon
Exor / Agnelli-Elkann Family
CorporateItalian industrial dynasty. Largest shareholder of Stellantis, Ferrari, Juventus. Invested in Stardust's $60M round.
Exor NV is the Dutch-listed holding company of the Italian Agnelli family, one of Europe's most powerful industrial dynasties. CEO John Elkann's branch has Jewish heritage through his father's side (French-Jewish, Italian-Jewish). Exor Ventures has invested over €500M in startups since 2018.
The Dynasty
- Largest shareholder of Stellantis (Chrysler parent), Ferrari, Juventus FC.
- CEO: John Elkann (grandson of Gianni Agnelli).
- Elkann stated that with a 25-year investment view, the two most important things are 'decarbonised energy at scale and cheap; and reducing the cost of healthcare.'
- Launched VENTO (Italian seed fund) in 2022.
Heritage & Connections
- John Elkann's father Alain Elkann is of French-Jewish and Italian-Jewish origin.
- Grandfather Jean-Paul Elkann was a French Jewish industrialist and president of the Israelite Central Consistory of France.
- Descended from the Ovazza family (influential Jewish-Italian bankers).
- Brother Lapo Elkann publicly identifies as Jewish, wears Star of David tattoo, has visited Israel.
SolarEdge Technologies
CorporateIsraeli NASDAQ company. Founded by a Sayeret Matkal commander and 4 of his former soldiers.
NASDAQ: SEDGSayeret Matkal founderCo-invested $15M seed with AWZ
SolarEdge Technologies
CorporateIsraeli NASDAQ company. Founded by a Sayeret Matkal commander and 4 of his former soldiers.
SolarEdge co-invested alongside AWZ Ventures in Stardust's $15M seed round. The company was founded by Guy Sella, who commanded Sayeret Matkal (Israel's most elite military/intelligence unit) and later served as Director of Technology for the Israeli National Security Council and Secretary for the National Committee for Cyber Protection. He co-founded SolarEdge with four of his former army subordinates.
Founder: Guy Sella (deceased 2019)
- Served in and commanded Sayeret Matkal — Israel's most elite military/intelligence unit.
- Awarded the Israel Defense Prize — one of Israel's highest military honors.
- After military: Director of Technology, Israeli National Security Council.
- Then: Secretary for the National Committee for Cyber Protection.
- Co-founded SolarEdge with four of his former army subordinates (Lior Handelsman, Yoav Galin, Meir Adest, Amir Fishelov).
Significance
- The Stardust seed round ($15M) came entirely from Israeli defense/intelligence-connected sources.
- AWZ Ventures: Shin Bet founder, Mossad/CIA advisory, MAFAT partner, IDF Chief.
- SolarEdge: Sayeret Matkal, National Security Council, Cyber Protection.
- Both co-investors in the same seed round that launched the world's most-funded geoengineering company.
Bill Gates / FICER
Research Funder$8.5M+ in personal geoengineering research funding. Managed by a former weapons lab researcher. Explicitly 'not a Gates Foundation project.'
$8.5M+ since 2007Personal fund, not FoundationHarvard SGRP + Breakthrough Energy
Bill Gates / FICER
Research Funder$8.5M+ in personal geoengineering research funding. Managed by a former weapons lab researcher. Explicitly 'not a Gates Foundation project.'
Bill Gates has funded geoengineering research since 2007 through FICER (Fund for Innovative Climate and Energy Research), his personal geoengineering fund. FICER is explicitly 'not a Gates Foundation project' — it's personal money, harder to track. It has been managed by David Keith and Ken Caldeira (former Edward Teller Fellow at Lawrence Livermore weapons lab, now Breakthrough Energy Senior Scientist).
FICER
- $8.5M+ since 2007 — the longest-running source of private geoengineering funding.
- Managed by David Keith (world's leading SRM researcher) and Ken Caldeira.
- Ken Caldeira: former Edward Teller Fellow at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (nuclear weapons lab). Now Senior Scientist at Breakthrough Energy.
- FICER is explicitly 'not a Gates Foundation project' — it's personal money, harder to track and less accountable.
Breakthrough Energy
- Gates' climate investment vehicle. 28 billionaires participate.
- Caldeira serves as Senior Scientist.
- Both Sacca and Gates donate to Harvard SGRP — two sides of the same pipeline.
Nebular (Finn Murphy)
Investment FundSaid the quiet part out loud: Stardust 'can be worth tens of billions of dollars.'
$30M+ Fund I$32.3M Fund II$1M+ into Stardust
Nebular (Finn Murphy)
Investment FundSaid the quiet part out loud: Stardust 'can be worth tens of billions of dollars.'
Irish solo GP. Generalist fund betting on AI, data centers, fossil startups, and geoengineering. Told E&E News that with global temperatures soaring and political will waning, Stardust 'can be worth tens of billions of dollars.' The explicit bet on climate failure being profitable.
Background
- Finn Murphy founded Nebular as a solo GP fund. Fund I ($30M+) deployed across 24 positions (US and Europe). Fund II first close at $32.3M in October 2025.
- Studied engineering at Trinity College Dublin. Former partner at Frontline Ventures (Irish VC).
Future Ventures (Steve Jurvetson)
Investment FundSilicon Valley's most prominent deep-tech VC, now betting on geoengineering.
15-year fund structureSpaceX, Tesla early investor
Future Ventures (Steve Jurvetson)
Investment FundSilicon Valley's most prominent deep-tech VC, now betting on geoengineering.
Co-founded by Steve Jurvetson and Maryanna Saenko in 2018. Patient capital fund focused on deep-tech, mission-driven companies. Jurvetson is one of Silicon Valley's most prominent VCs — early investor in SpaceX, Tesla, Planet Labs.
Background
- Jurvetson: Stanford engineering and MBA. Formerly of Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ).
- Left DFJ in 2017 amid workplace misconduct allegations during the Silicon Valley harassment wave. Founded Future Ventures months later.
- Intentionally small two-partner firm with a 15-year fund structure for patient capital.
Future Positive Capital
Investment FundParis-based deep-tech VC investing in SAI deployment.
Founded 2016Paris, France
Future Positive Capital
Investment FundParis-based deep-tech VC investing in SAI deployment.
Founded in 2016 by Michael Rosen, Alexandre Terrien, and Sofia Hmich. Paris-based VC backing companies using AI, synthetic biology, and deep technology to address climate, food, and aging challenges.
Starlight Ventures (Matias Mosse)
Investment FundDeep-tech climate VC specializing in government-funded capital stacks.
Founded 2017Miami, FLFusion, geothermal, SAI
Starlight Ventures (Matias Mosse)
Investment FundDeep-tech climate VC specializing in government-funded capital stacks.
Miami-based VC founded by Matias Mosse, an Argentine-born deep-tech investor. Focus: fusion, geothermal, advanced materials, climate tech. Expertise in structuring multi-layered capital stacks combining venture funding with government programs — exactly the model Stardust needs for its billion-dollar government contracts.
Attestor Capital
Investment FundLondon hedge fund in Stardust's $60M round.
Founded 2012London, UK
Attestor Capital
Investment FundLondon hedge fund in Stardust's $60M round.
London-based value investment firm founded in 2012. British hedge fund using long/short equity strategy. One of three British groups in Stardust's $60M round.
Kindred Capital
Investment FundLondon VC in Stardust's $60M round.
Founded 2015London, UK
Kindred Capital
Investment FundLondon VC in Stardust's $60M round.
London-based VC founded in 2015. Invests in B2B, infrastructure, and technology sectors. One of three British groups in Stardust's $60M Series A.
Never Lift Ventures
Investment FundNYC VC in Stardust's $60M round.
New York, NYLogistics/mobility focus
Never Lift Ventures
Investment FundNYC VC in Stardust's $60M round.
New York-based VC focused on logistics, mobility, and infrastructure. General partner: Charlie March. Participated in Stardust's $60M Series A.
Orion Global Advisors
Investment FundBritish advisory firm in Stardust's $60M round.
UK-based
Orion Global Advisors
Investment FundBritish advisory firm in Stardust's $60M round.
British advisory and investment firm. Participated in Stardust's $60M Series A alongside Attestor and Kindred Capital.
Earth.now
Investment FundClimate-focused fund in Stardust's $60M round.
Climate focus
Earth.now
Investment FundClimate-focused fund in Stardust's $60M round.
Climate-focused investment fund. Participated in Stardust's $60M Series A.
The Network
15 documented cross-connections between investors, defense agencies, political figures, and geoengineering companies.
Both early Palantir investors. Palantir now has a strategic defense partnership with the Israeli Defense Ministry.
Co-funded SilverLining geoengineering research/lobbying in 2020. Both then invested in Stardust's $60M round in 2025.
Named 900+ times in DOJ-released Epstein files. Ongoing contact through 2017. Epstein coordinated art LLC for Lauder and Leon Black.
Epstein invested $40M in Thiel's Valar Ventures fund. Business partnership 2014-2019. Epstein connected Thiel to Israeli PM Barak.
Formal strategic partnership. First fund ($82.5M) was a joint fund with the Israeli Ministry of Defence. Co-led by AWZ founder and Iron Dome creator.
College classmates (Wharton). Lifelong friends. $5M MAGA Inc. donor. Unofficial White House advisor on Israel. Son-in-law is Fed chair.
Major backer. Backed JD Vance. Palantir has massive government contracts. Deep political influence.
Led $60M Series A — largest geoengineering investment in history.
Seed investor ($15M). Despite AWZ's documented Israeli defense/intelligence partnerships, Stardust claims 'no connection to Israeli defense establishment.'
Co-invested seed round ($15M) alongside AWZ. Founded by Sayeret Matkal commander.
Thiel Fellowship funded CEO Augustus Doricko. 1517 Fund invested in $25M Series A. Rainmaker lobbied to block state geoengineering bans.
Both donate to Harvard SGRP. Gates funds research through FICER; Sacca funds research AND invests in deployment companies. Two sides of the same pipeline.
Confirmed member. Founded by Les Wexner and Charles Bronfman. ~20-50 wealthiest Jewish businessmen. Alleged Mossad contacts.
CEO Yedvab: Head of Physics at Dimona, Deputy Chief Research Scientist at IAEC. CPO Spector: researcher at Dimona. Lead Scientist Waxman: Chief Scientist of IAEC. Two overlapped at IAEC 2013-2015.
Key Observations
The Palantir Node: Lauder and Thiel are both early Palantir investors. Palantir now has a strategic defense partnership with the Israeli Defense Ministry. This is the strongest direct financial link between two key network nodes.
The Epstein Node: Both Lauder (900+ DOJ file mentions) and Thiel ($40M fund) had documented relationships with Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein specifically brokered connections between Thiel and Israeli defense/intelligence.
The Geoengineering Pipeline: Sacca and Cohler co-funded SilverLining geoengineering lobbying in 2020, then both invested in Stardust's $60M commercial round in 2025. Coordinated move from nonprofit research to for-profit deployment.
The Israeli Defense Thread: Stardust's founders came from Israeli nuclear programs. AWZ (seed investor) is formally partnered with the Israeli MoD. Palantir (Lauder + Thiel) has a strategic defense partnership with Israel. The common thread isn't just climate — it's Israel.
Trump Administration Access: Both Lauder and Thiel are major Trump donors with direct White House access. Geoengineering regulation (or lack thereof) is a government decision. The people funding geoengineering have direct access to the people who decide whether to regulate it.
The Founders
The three co-founders of Stardust Solutions — the most funded geoengineering company in existence — all come from Israel's nuclear weapons establishment.
Yanai Yedvab
CEO & Co-founder
30 years in Israeli national labs. Head of the Physics Division at the Negev Nuclear Research Center (Dimona). Deputy Chief Research Scientist at the Israel Atomic Energy Commission (2011-2015).
Amyad Spector
CPO & Co-founder
Physics researcher at Dimona. Nearly a decade of “unspecified government R&D.” No public quotes in any media article. No interviews. The “ghost founder.”
Eli Waxman
Lead Scientist & Co-founder
Astrophysicist at Weizmann Institute. 170 papers, 23K citations. Former Chief Scientist of the IAEC (2013-2015). Headed PM's COVID advisory committee.
Zero published papers on geoengineering
Despite building the world's most-funded geoengineering company, none of the three founders have published a single peer-reviewed paper on geoengineering, atmospheric science, or aerosols. Waxman is a world-class astrophysicist — but his 170 papers are all in astrophysics, not atmospheric science.
Cornell researcher Douglas MacMartin: “They've ignored every recommendation from everyone and think they can turn a profit in this field.”
Full Stardust Solutions profile →Red Flags
12 documented concerns across the funding network. Each one is sourced.
Secret particle composition
Stardust will not disclose what they plan to spray into the stratosphere. Patent pending. No external scientist can evaluate their safety claims because zero data has been published.
Zero published research
No peer-reviewed papers from any of the three founders on geoengineering, atmospheric science, or aerosols. Lead scientist has 170 astrophysics papers and 23K citations — but zero atmospheric science publications.
Defense/intelligence seed money
The entire $15M seed round came from Israeli defense/intelligence-connected sources: AWZ Ventures (Mossad, Unit 8200, MAFAT) and SolarEdge (Sayeret Matkal, National Security Council).
Sacca's public contradiction
Chris Sacca publicly stated he had 'zero financial interests' in geoengineering and didn't believe in private business models for it. Then he led a $60M for-profit round in Stardust Solutions.
One fund at every pipeline seat
Lowercarbon Capital simultaneously funds the research (Harvard SGRP), the lobbying (SilverLining), and the deployment companies (Stardust, Rainmaker). This is a coordinated pipeline from science to profit.
Epstein connections in the investor network
Ronald Lauder: 900+ mentions in DOJ Epstein files, ongoing contact through 2017. Peter Thiel: Epstein invested $40M in his fund, business partnership 2014-2019. Epstein brokered Thiel's connections to Israeli defense/intelligence.
Secret lobbying of Congress
Stardust hired Holland & Knight (K Street lobby firm) in Q1 2025. Failed to disclose the relationship for months as required by federal law. Blamed a 'clerical error.'
Ignored every governance recommendation
Hired Janos Pasztor (former UN Asst. Secretary-General) as governance consultant. He recommended transparency, public engagement, and a code of conduct. Stardust ignored every key recommendation. Cornell's MacMartin: 'They've ignored every recommendation from everyone.'
Termination shock lock-in
Once stratospheric aerosol deployment starts, it cannot be stopped without catastrophic warming. Any government customer is locked into perpetual contracts. Permanent revenue for whoever holds the patent.
Nuclear weapons scientists founding a 'climate' startup
CEO: 30 years at Dimona (Israel's nuclear weapons facility), Deputy Chief Research Scientist at IAEC. CPO: researcher at Dimona, then 'nearly a decade of unspecified government R&D.' Lead Scientist: former Chief Scientist of the IAEC.
Direct access to the Trump administration
Both Lauder and Thiel are major Trump donors with direct White House access. Lauder is an unofficial Israel advisor; his son-in-law is the Fed chair. Thiel backed JD Vance. Geoengineering regulation is a government decision.
Growing legal exposure ignored
3 US states have banned geoengineering (Florida made it a felony — 5 years, $100K). 34 states have proposed bans. 600+ scientists signed a Non-Use Agreement. CIEL calls Stardust's plans 'reckless.' Yet the company presses forward with April 2026 experiments.
Verify It Yourself
Don't take our word for it. Every claim on this page links to its primary source. Here they are, organized by topic.
News Investigations
Governance & Legal
Company & VC Websites
Epstein Documentation
The Bottom Line
$150M+ is flowing into companies that want to spray the atmosphere with secret particles, founded by nuclear weapons scientists, funded by intelligence-connected VCs, with investors who have documented Epstein ties and direct access to the White House. The scientific community overwhelmingly opposes them. 600+ scientists signed a non-use agreement. Three states have banned it. And still the money accelerates.
We're not asking anyone to believe anything. We're presenting documented facts and asking: why?