# Will Kain

> Will Kain is the Los Angeles-based founder and CEO of Avnos, a climate technology company developing Hybrid Direct Air Capture systems that remove carbon dioxide from ambient air while producing water. His career has moved from investment banking and biofuels finance through desalination, climate-focused investing and industrial technology operations, giving him an unusually practical route into carbon removal. Avnos has raised a $36 million Series A, attracted more than $100 million in combined public and private support, and brought its largest operating deployment to date online in Bridgewater, New Jersey, in September 2026.

- **Role:** Founder & CEO at Avnos
- **Organizations:** Avnos, Rusheen Capital Management, NanoH2O, Altra Biofuels, UBS Investment Bank, SonicEnergy, C4-MCP, Moleaer
- **Education:** BA in Economics and Government, University of Virginia
- **Known for:** Founded and leads Avnos as it commercializes Hybrid Direct Air Capture technology., Helped Avnos secure a $36 million Series A led by NextEra Energy Resources., Built a coalition of public and private support totaling more than $100 million, including energy, aviation and U.S. government partners.

## Career timeline

- **2001** — Graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in Economics and Government and began his career at UBS Investment Bank in New York.
- **2000s** — As Vice President of Corporate Finance at Altra Biofuels, oversaw more than $300 million in project-level financing across four ethanol facilities.
- **2010s** — As Vice President of Corporate Development at NanoH2O, helped launch commercial and manufacturing operations in China, raised capital and led the transaction team for the company’s sale to LG Chem.
- **2015** — Helped launch Rusheen Capital Management, focused on growth-stage investments in energy, water and industrial sustainability.
- **2021** — Presented a combined water and CO2 direct air capture system under a U.S. Department of Energy-backed program through IWVC, the entity that became an Avnos subsidiary.
- **2023** — Avnos launched its first field-deployed HDAC pilot, Project Alpine, near Bakersfield, California.
- **2024** — Avnos closed a $36 million Series A led by NextEra Energy Resources, and its 20,000-square-foot Technology Development Center in Bridgewater became operational.
- **2025** — Avnos broke ground on Project Brighton and secured up to $17 million from Shell and Mitsubishi for the larger Project Cedar.
- **2026** — Project Brighton entered operation in Bridgewater, designed to capture up to 450 tons of CO2 and produce about 475,000 gallons of clean water annually.

## Achievements

- Founded and leads Avnos as it commercializes Hybrid Direct Air Capture technology.
- Helped Avnos secure a $36 million Series A led by NextEra Energy Resources.
- Built a coalition of public and private support totaling more than $100 million, including energy, aviation and U.S. government partners.
- Led Avnos from a field pilot in Bakersfield to the operating Project Brighton deployment in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
- At NanoH2O, helped establish commercial and manufacturing operations in China and led the transaction team in the company’s sale to LG Chem.
- At Altra Biofuels, oversaw more than $300 million in project financing for four ethanol plants.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Avnos announced that Project Brighton entered operation in Bridgewater, New Jersey, as its largest operating HDAC deployment to date.
- **2026-09** — Avnos introduced its first factory-built HDAC module product line for repeatable infrastructure deployment.
- **2026-06** — Avnos was named to TIME’s World’s Top GreenTech Companies 2026 list.
- **2026-04** — Kain discussed carbon removal as integrated infrastructure on RBC Capital Markets’ Powering Sustainable Ideas podcast.
- **2025-11** — Avnos announced up to $17 million in phased project financing from Shell and Mitsubishi Corporation for Project Cedar.

## Links

- Website: https://avnos.com/people/will-kain/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-kain
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNlKZoe8-hU

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/will-kain
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-28