Building the infrastructure of the future
POSITIVE IMPACTDecisive capital for a changing world
Founded by physicist and clean energy architect Dr. Tom Buttgenbach, 1st Avenue Capital identifies and accelerates technologies that will define the future of infrastructure—from energy systems and critical materials to next-generation platforms. We move with clarity, unburdened by convention, and always anchored in what works.
BEYOND ENERGYStrategic depth.
Operational reach.
Our portfolio reflects a long-view approach to impact. We invest across clean energy, real estate, advanced software, supply chains, and creative ventures—domains where decisive innovation can create durable value. Our decisions are grounded in deep operational fluency and a commitment to scalable systems that matter.
1AC MISSIONOur mission is to accelerate the adoption of practical, scalable clean energy by equipping innovators with the capital, expertise, and system-level thinking required to reshape the world’s infrastructure.
OUR TEAMExceptional minds. Relentless execution.
We build elite teams to solve energy’s hardest problems—with the rigor, foresight, and creativity they demand.
Mission-Driven Experts
At 1st Avenue Capital, we curate operational intelligence to bring together experience across finance, engineering, software, AI, and infrastructure to deliver solutions that work in the real world. With a shared commitment to precision and long-term value, we operate at the intersection of high-stakes execution and enduring impact.
OUR HISTORYDr. Tom Buttgenbach, CEO
A physicist by training and systems thinker by instinct, Dr. Tom Buttgenbach has spent two decades driving solar energy from possibility to profitability. At Avantus (formerly 8minute), he built one of the most successful solar development companies in the U.S., known for redefining the economics of clean power. Today, through 1st Avenue Capital and 1st Avenue Innovations, Tom is scaling the next generation of intelligent power systems that fuse infrastructure, software, and AI.
1st Avenue Capital timeline milestones
The foundation is set.
After leaving Wall Street, Dr. Tom Buttgenbach established 1st Avenue Capital to merge deep technical expertise with financial strategy—laying the groundwork to scale clean energy through precision, innovation, and discipline.
2004
Solar’s first revolution.
Tom founded 8Minute Solar with a singular goal: to make solar the world’s most cost-effective energy source. Drawing on experience from Wall Street and McKinsey, he deployed a blend of technology innovation and industrial-scale thinking to drive unprecedented cost reductions.
2009
Pushing the frontier of scale.
Construction begins on Mount Signal, an 800MW landmark that remained the largest operating solar plant for 12+ years—setting a new bar for what solar can achieve.
2012
Price parity—and then some.
The Springbok II plant sets a global benchmark at 2.3¢/kWh, becoming the first solar facility to undercut fossil fuels at scale—with the Springbox series delivering 10% of LA’s power.
2016
From panels to systems.
As 8Minute Solar evolves into Avantus, the focus turns to storage-integrated systems—enabling full dispatchability and driving a surge of proprietary IP across Tom’s 40+ patents of advanced solar power plant system architecture and software.
2018
Breaking records for price:
The Eagle Shadow Mountain Solar plant sets a global benchmark at under 2.376¢/kWh fixed for 25 years.
2020
Pioneering dispatchable power.
The Eland solar plants-- for LADWP --begin construction to deliver over 60% summer capacity factor, matching the load of Los Angeles with the first fully dispatchable solar+storage plant. At 4¢/kWh it is both cheaper and more than 10x the reliability of a natural gas plant.
2021
Taking market leadership
Avantus becomes the largest U.S. developer of integrated solar systems, with a 48GW system capacity pipeline.
2022
Firm power, redefined.
Avantus’ Bellfield project becomes the first solar+storage facility to deliver firm, fixed-volume power under contract to a 1GW datacenter—demonstrating solar’s capability to meet mission-critical needs.
2023
A landmark exit.
In 2024, Tom sells Avantus’ development platform to KKR, following over $1 billion in profits, $10B+ in project financing, and a clean energy pipeline capable of powering 20 million homes around the clock.
2024
The third wave begins.
1st Avenue Innovations is born to commercialize the next generation of clean, dispatchable, hyper-firm™ power—built to serve datacenters and energy-intensive industries with unmatched speed, scale, reliability, and economics.
2025
PROVEN SUCCESS1AC companies deliver
Over $1B
IN PROFITOver $10B
IN POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS AND PROJECT FINANCINGSLargest pipeline of clean energy projects in the United States, with more than 30GW solar, enough energy for 20 million Americans day and night
OUR FUTURE