# Alex Ince-Cushman

> Alex Ince-Cushman is the Canadian co-founder and CEO of Branch Energy, which finances, installs and operates batteries at commercial buildings. A 2008 MIT nuclear science and engineering PhD, he worked at McKinsey, Palantir and Just Energy before starting Branch with Daniel MacDonald and Todd Burgess. In September 2026, Branch announced a $33 million Series B and expansion from Texas into Illinois.

- **Role:** Co-founder and CEO at Branch Energy
- **Organizations:** Branch Energy, Just Energy, Palantir Technologies, McKinsey & Company, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yappn (announced advisory board member in 2016)
- **Nationality:** Canadian
- **Education:** PhD, Nuclear Science and Engineering; research in fusion plasma rotation and X-ray spectroscopy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- **Known for:** Completed experimental fusion research at MIT, including development of an imaging X-ray crystal spectrometer for Alcator C-Mod., Co-led McKinsey’s North American software development practice., Co-founded Branch Energy and led the company through its 2024 Series A and 2026 Series B.

## Career timeline

- **2008** — Completed MIT PhD thesis, Rotation studies in fusion plasmas via imaging X-ray crystal spectroscopy.
- **2008-2015** — Worked at McKinsey & Company, November 2008 to February 2015; became an associate partner and co-led its North American software development practice.
- **2015-2018** — Executive at Palantir Technologies, March 2015 to November 2018.
- **2016** — Named to Yappn’s newly announced advisory board.
- **2018-2020** — Served as Chief Technology Officer at Just Energy.
- **2020** — Began as Branch Energy CEO in December, according to Crunchbase; retail service launched in 2021.
- **2021** — Branch launched retail service with co-founders Daniel MacDonald and Todd Burgess; the company received a Texas retail electric provider certificate in July.
- **2024** — Branch announced a $10.8 million Series A in August and a Voltus partnership in September.
- **2026** — Branch announced a $33 million Series B on September 15 and expansion into Illinois/PJM.

## Achievements

- Completed experimental fusion research at MIT, including development of an imaging X-ray crystal spectrometer for Alcator C-Mod.
- Co-led McKinsey’s North American software development practice.
- Co-founded Branch Energy and led the company through its 2024 Series A and 2026 Series B.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Branch announced a $33 million Series B co-led by Piva Capital and Clean Energy Ventures and expansion into Illinois.
- **2026-10** — Listed as a Branch Energy speaker on the Flex Summit 2026 event page; the listing describes his commercial battery and grid-capacity work.

## Links

- Website: https://www.branchenergy.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-ince-cushman/
- Twitter/X: https://x.com/AlexInceCushman

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/alex-ince-cushman
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-26