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Dandelion Energy
Dan Yates (CEO) and Kathy Hannun (Founder & CTO) lead Dandelion Energy, a residential geothermal company based in Arlington, VA.
Dandelion Energy
Dan Yates (CEO) and Kathy Hannun (Founder & CTO) lead Dandelion Energy, a residential geothermal company based in Arlington, VA. The firm grew out of a project inside Google X and was spun out as a standalone business; founding year is not publicly stated on its website. Dandelion focuses exclusively on ground-source heat-pump systems for new and existing homes. Its approach combines ground-loop design, engineering, turnkey installation, and a first-of-its-kind leasing program that removes upfront cost for builders. The company claims its systems cut utility bills 30–50%, last twice as long as traditional HVAC, and reduce carbon emissions 50–70%. Over 3,000 installations have been completed across the US (per the firm, 2025). Operations span multiple states; the firm maintains offices in Arlington, VA; Somerville, MA; Peekskill, NY; and Hudson, CO. The team numbers at least 10 senior leaders, including President Donald Saelinger and SVP New Construction Wyatt Roberts. The company has not disclosed total deployment or external financing rounds on its site. Its board includes Eric Feder, Maritza Liaw, Erik Nordlander, and Libby Wayman alongside Yates and Hannun. Dandelion claims $50 million in cumulative grid savings from installed systems (per the firm, 2025). Dandelion's structural differentiator is its vertically integrated model: it handles every step from ground-loop design and engineering to installation and customer financing. By offering a leasing option, it shifts geothermal from a high-capital homeowner purchase to an operating expense for builders — a structure more common in solar than in geothermal, and one that may allow faster scale without relying on household balance sheets.
General information
Firm type
other
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Arlington
Corporate office
1515 N. Courthouse Rd. Suite 730, Arlington, VA 22201, United States
Additional offices
Somerville, MA, United States · Peekskill, NY, United States · Hudson, CO, United States
Principals
Dan Yates
CEO
Kathy Hannun
Founder & CTO
Donald Saelinger
President
Wyatt Roberts
SVP New Construction
Mike Russo
VP Finance
Nick Christman
SVP Product
Maggie McCarey
VP Policy
Ryan Palacheck
VP Customer Success
Alex Menke
VP Drilling Operations
Pete Curtice
SVP Business Development
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Dandelion Energy?
The company is led by CEO Dan Yates and Founder & CTO Kathy Hannun. Day-to-day operations are managed by President Donald Saelinger and a senior team spanning drilling, product, policy, and business development. The board includes Eric Feder and Erik Nordlander among others, but investment and capital-allocation decisions are not publicly detailed.
Is Dandelion Energy a family office or a portfolio company?
Dandelion Energy is an operating company, not a family office. It was spun out of Google X and is backed by external investors. The firm's website lists a board of directors that includes venture investors, indicating it is a venture-backed business rather than a family-owned or family-office-controlled entity.
How does Dandelion Energy source proprietary deal flow?
Dandelion does not act as an investment firm; it sells geothermal systems directly to builders and homeowners. Its business development team, led by SVP Pete Curtice, focuses on partnerships with homebuilders and new-construction projects. The company does not source investments or deals in the traditional allocator sense.
Does Dandelion Energy participate in fund commitments or direct deals?
No. Dandelion Energy is a geothermal installation and equipment company, not a capital allocator. It does not commit to funds or make direct investments. Its financing offerings — such as the leasing program — are customer-facing products, not investment vehicles.
What investment stages does Dandelion Energy target?
Dandelion does not invest in other companies or projects. It targets residential new-construction and retrofit projects for its geothermal heating and cooling systems, working with homebuilders and homeowners. There is no public information about equity or debt investment stages.
Which sectors does Dandelion Energy explicitly avoid?
The firm focuses entirely on residential geothermal energy. It does not operate in commercial or industrial segments, nor does it engage in other renewable technologies such as solar panels, wind turbines, or battery storage. No explicit avoidance list is published.
How is Dandelion Energy related to Google X?
Dandelion Energy was originally developed as a project inside Google X, Alphabet's moonshot lab, before being spun out as an independent company. Kathy Hannun, one of the founders, was a product manager at Google X. The firm's current relationship with Alphabet or Google is not publicly disclosed.
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