Usua joined Dolby Family Ventures in 2023 as an Associate, where he supports the technology portfolio and the firm’s climate efforts. Prior to Dolby Family Ventures, Usua was an Investment Associate at NGP Energy Capital Management. He focused on deal analysis, sourcing, market research, and portfolio company monitoring for the firm’s energy transition funds.
Usua started his career as a management consultant in the energy industry at PowerAdvocate (now part of Wood Mackenzie), where he was a Director. His primary engagements focused on helping utility clients successfully navigate the capital project life cycle, both through strategy development and execution.
Usua has a PhD in Energy Resources Engineering from Stanford University, where he was a Siebel Scholar. His doctoral research focused on three main areas aimed at hydrocarbon alteration in the subsurface: chemical kinetics, the effects of nanocatalysts on reaction products, and nanoparticle transport through porous media. Usua completed his BS and MS in the Energy Science & Engineering (fka Energy Resources Engineering) department at Stanford University and was a member of the school’s football team.