Victor Scott Kane

Founder, Argo Innovation

Victor Kane leads innovation funding programs that move bold climate and technology ideas into the real world. Over 15 year at the U.S. Department of Energy, he designed and ran dozens of initiatives deploying more than $1 billion for commercialization, public-private partnerships, and entrepreneurial support.

He institutionalized prize competitions, Partnership Intermediary Agreements, and other flexible tools now used Department-wide. He has evaluated thousands of proposals—selecting and shepherding the ones most likely to scale, decarbonize, and deliver durable impact—while working shoulder-to-shoulder with startups, national labs, nonprofits, and industry.

Victor recently founded Argo Innovation, where he applies this experience to help philanthropies, foundations, and mission-driven organizations craft catalytic programs that accelerate climate solutions. Blending systems thinking with hands-on execution, he aims to prove that thoughtfully layered programs—combining complementary funding tools, partnerships, and support services—can speed progress on society’s toughest challenges.