Tyler Ellis

Investor & Advisor with extensive experience in energy and technology sectors

Tyler Ellis is the Founder and Principal of Black Hills Partners, a firm focused on investing in and advising companies that aim to create significant global impact, particularly in the energy sector. He has a robust background as an entrepreneur, investor, and scientific advisor, with a strong emphasis on energy innovation and regulatory frameworks.

Education and Early Career

Tyler holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Nuclear Science and Engineering from MIT, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. His academic achievements include authoring 22 academic papers and holding multiple patents. He began his career at TerraPower, a nuclear energy company backed by Bill Gates, where he played a crucial role in developing a revolutionary reactor design and significantly expanded the team and funding.

Role at Black Hills Partners

Since founding Black Hills Partners in 2012, Tyler has been instrumental in providing strategic advisory services and investment opportunities in the energy sector. The firm assists a range of clients, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, in navigating complex business and regulatory landscapes. Tyler's work includes advising on public-private partnerships and developing commercialization strategies for new technologies.1 2

Current Involvements

In addition to his role at Black Hills Partners, Tyler serves as an investor and advisor for Commonwealth Fusion Systems, where he has contributed to strategic development since its inception. He has also held advisory positions with the International Atomic Energy Agency, focusing on fusion regulation and non-proliferation policy. His expertise in energy innovation is complemented by his involvement in mentoring emerging entrepreneurs at prestigious institutions like MIT and Harvard.1 2 3

Experience

Investor at Black Hills Partners; Advisor to Commonwealth Fusion Systems; Policy advisor to global governments including U.S. Dept. of Energy and U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Vice President of Business Development at Nucleus Scientific; TerraPower-1 Plant Project Manager at TerraPower, LLC

Education

Ph.D. in Nuclear Science and Engineering (MIT, 2006 - 2008), M.S. in Nuclear Science and Engineering (MIT, 2005 - 2006), B.S. in Nuclear Science and Engineering (MIT, 2001 - 2006), MBA (Harvard Business School, 2012 - 2014)