Matthew Claxton
About Matthew Claxton
Matthew Claxton is a Partner and Global Director of Sustainability at Plug and Play Tech Center, where he co-founded the Global Sustainability Vertical. He has extensive experience in sustainability investment and program management, having facilitated numerous pilot projects and helped startups raise significant capital.
Current Role at Plug and Play Tech Center
Matthew Claxton serves as Partner & Global Director of Sustainability at Plug and Play Tech Center. He has held this position since 2023, contributing to the organization's sustainability initiatives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Claxton co-founded the Global Sustainability Vertical at Plug and Play, where he launched and managed sustainability programs across 11 offices worldwide.
Previous Experience at Plug and Play Tech Center
Claxton previously worked at Plug and Play Tech Center as Principal & Global Director of Sustainability from 2019 to 2023. He also served as an Associate from 2018 to 2019. During his tenure, he facilitated the formation of over 350 pilot projects for startups within sustainability programs and sourced over 8,000 startups, accelerating 316 of them.
Education and Expertise
Matthew Claxton studied Chemical Engineering at California State University, Long Beach, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) from 2009 to 2013. He also attended the University of California, Santa Cruz, and completed a program in Energy Innovation and Emerging Technologies at Stanford Center for Professional Development in 2014. Additionally, he is pursuing an Advanced Project Management Certificate at Stanford, which he began in 2016.
Investment Roles and Contributions
Claxton is currently involved as an investor in multiple organizations, including Heirloom, Checkerspot, Rubi Laboratories, rePurpose Global, Epoch Biodesign, and Vaulted Deep. His investment activities focus on sustainability topics such as circular economy, carbon neutrality, and clean resources. He has helped startups raise over $320 million in capital through sustainability initiatives.
Background and Professional Development
Before his roles in sustainability, Claxton worked as a Business System Analyst at Xperi Corporation from 2016 to 2018. He also served as a Board Observer at Emagin in 2019 and has been a Board Observer at KETOS since 2019. His professional experiences have contributed to his expertise in sustainability and innovation.