I never set out to become a VC. My path began in applied and engineering physics—earning two PhDs, one in Plasma Physics (LMU) and another in Nuclear Fusion Science and Engineering (UGhent), followed by years at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics. I loved solving complex problems, but I always had a practical streak. I wanted my work to matter beyond papers, patents, and conference talks.
That mindset led me to Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), an MIT spin-off developing commercial fusion energy. As systems lead for diagnostics, I designed optical systems that had to function under extreme heat, radiation, and magnetic fields. At the same time, I held a research seat at MIT, collaborating on research integration to bridge cutting-edge fusion science with real-world deployment. This was my first hands-on experience with the transition from lab to large-scale application, and it made me realize something: the hardest part wasn’t just the science—it was making it scale, turning deep technology into real impact, and doing it fast enough to solve urgent global challenges.
That’s what drives me now. At First Momentum, I look for people solving high-impact problems at scale, often coming straight out of research.
