Minerva Silicon Valley's Team brings a wide range of experience, skills and insights to serve you.

Marianna Grossman, Founder and Managing Partner

Marianna Grossman is the founder and managing partner of Minerva Ventures, a consultancy focused on strategies for a resilient future and climate adaptation. For nearly 7 years she led Sustainable Silicon Valley (SSV), a multi-sector network founded in 2000 bringing the ingenuity of Silicon Valley to create a more sustainable region and world. Previous roles include Partner for Sustainability and Innovation at Minerva Consulting; and corporate roles in the automotive, computer and semiconductor industries. She serves on the Board of Transportation Choices for Sustainable Communities, the California Congress of the International Living Future Institute, the Sustainability Committee of the SF Bay Area Super Bowl 50 Host Committee, the Climate Music Project and the advisory council for climate action for the City of Palo Alto. She specializes in bringing people and institutions together across sector boundaries to collaborate and to invent solutions that enhance sustainability and address the consequences of climate change. 

Marianna earned an MBA from Yale University School of Management and a BA, cum laude, with distinction in Policy Studies from Dartmouth College. 

Phu Nguyen, Partner

Phu Nguyen has over 20 years of experience in the cleantech and sustainability industries. He was the co-founder of Energywise Works, a mechanical-electrical- systems integrator focusing on energy efficiency, energy management and the phase-out of ozone depleting and greenhouse warming refrigeration systems. Previously roles include Global Market Manager for Dow Corning and Tyco Electronics spearheading thermal management and conductive materials solutions; and, Research Development Engineer at Pinnacle Research Institute, spearheading renewable energy sources and storage for clean transport and sustainable urban mobility.

Phu earned an MBA from Santa Clara University, Leavey School of Business; an MS in Engineering from UCLA and a BS in Chemical Engineering with Distinction from Pennsylvania State University.  He also has active California Contractor’s licenses in Mechanical, Electrical and Refrigeration Systems and five US and international patents in materials processing and composition.

Karl Van Orsdol, Global Energy and Sustainability Advisor

Karl advises municipalities and global corporations on energy data management systems, energy markets and risk management, climate action planning and climate mitigation projects. Karl served as a Principal Consultant in DNV GL’s Sustainable Buildings and Communities group where he focused on energy data management systems, energy markets and risk management, climate action planning and climate mitigation projects. His clients included the cities of Boston, Metro Vancouver, and Palo Alto. Among other projects, he prepared strategic management reviews of energy consumption. Karl served Global Strategist for Energy and Sustainability at Hewlett Packard implementing energy management practices across 1,200 HP facilities in 170 countries. Prior to HP, he spent 10 years as energy risk manager for the City of Palo Alto where he led the development of the City’s Climate Action Plan and Roadmap; managed the financial and operational risks associated with the City’s electricity and natural gas procurement portfolio; and, led the negotiations with renewable energy providers for PPA’s for electricity and NAESB gas contracts. Karl’s international experience includes living and conducting research on human impacts on ecosystems in Uganda. He earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Cambridge University, an MBA from UCLA and a BA in Biology from Grinnell College

Kanako McPhail, Business Development Director

Kanako developed the first decades of her career primarily in corporate banking and capital markets, working in New York, Tokyo and London for Nippon Credit Bank, Chase and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, respectively.  Since relocating to Silicon Valley, Kanako has focused on Microfinance and Sustainability, working initially for Opportunity Fund, and for the last two years in business development at Sustainable Silicon Valley helping to catalyze changes for a better & more sustainable Bay Area. 

Kanako earned her MS in business as a Sloan Fellow at London Business School, and her MA in Economics and International Relations from The Johns Hopkins University SAIS.  Her BA is in English Literature from Kansai University in Osaka.  She is currently enrolled in the Advanced Program in Sustainable Management at UC Berkeley.  

Lochan Alagh, Program Manager

Lochan Alagh has been working for Environmental Sector for nearly 5 years with a focus on Water Conservation and Pollution Abatement. She has served on the Intelligent Water Reuse Project for Sustainable Silicon Valley. She has also worked for the Ministry of Environment and Forests, India as a Research Officer on Conservation of the River Ganges on Industrial Pollution Abatement in the River. 

Lochan earned an MS in Environmental Management from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee and BS in Biotechnology with major in Environmental Biotechnology. She is taking her certification on Environmental, Health and Safety Management from UCSC, Extension, Silicon Valley.