RFK Jr's OTHER BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT AND INVESTMENTS
RFK Jr's involvement in businesses outside of his environmental and health activism and legal career ​has always been centered around the aim of improving environmental and societal conditions through promoting and helping to develop new technologies to better utilize energy, lessen pollution and protect and restore natural resources.
​
The following are the main business that Kennedy has been involved with. & each is introduced in much more depth below.
​
-
Keeper Springs, a bottled water company established to raise funds in support of Waterkeeper Alliance
​
-
VantagePoint Capital Partners, one of the world's largest cleantech venture capital firms
​
-
Vionx - a vanadium flow battery systems manufacturer
-
Starwood Energy Group
​
-
The smart-grid company Utility Integration Solutions (UISol)
​
-
ColorZen - a dye technology company that uses much less water and chemicals than competing approaches.
Keeper Springs Natural Spring Water
​
In 1999, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., along with Chris Bartle and John Hoving, co-founded Keeper Springs Natural Spring Water with the mission of supporting and restoring America's waterways. The company committed to donating 100% of its profits to environmental causes, particularly the Waterkeeper Alliance and various local Waterkeeper organizations.
​Primary Products and Operations
Keeper Springs’ bottled water was available in various sizes, including 1.5-liter, 1.0-liter, 0.5-liter, and 24 oz. bottles with sports caps. The company prioritized environmental responsibility by using bottles made from recycled PET plastic, aiming to reach 100% recycled content.
​Distribution and Partnerships
The bottled water was available primarily in the Eastern United States, with plans to expand distribution to the West Coast. In 2010, Keeper Springs partnered with Manhattan Beer Distributors to enhance its presence in New York State, making the product accessible in various grocery stores and markets across New York City, Long Island, and several counties.
In 2011 the company served as the official water sponsor and recycling partner at the National Harbor Food & Wine Festival, providing recycling bins and promoting environmental awareness at the event. Then in 2012 Keeper Springs collaborated with Omni Hotels & Resorts to offer Keeper Springs water at Omni properties, with additional donations made to the Waterkeeper Alliance for each bottle sold.
​Environmental Commitment & Charitable Contributions
Keeper Springs was dedicated to environmental stewardship, not only through financial contributions but also by advocating for comprehensive recycling legislation and striving to minimize its ecological footprint. The company aimed to raise awareness about the importance of protecting waterways and supported local environmental heroes in their efforts to combat pollution and degradation.
True to its founding mission, Keeper Springs donated all profits to environmental initiatives. By 2012, the company had contributed over $1.145 million to support various Waterkeeper organizations across the country. In that year alone, Keeper Springs donated more than $145,000 to 17 individual Waterkeeper organizations, funding projects such as wetland restoration in the Buzzards Bay area.
Financial Performance, Closure & Legacy
Despite efforts to market the product and promote its environmental mission, Keeper Springs faced challenges in achieving profitability. Co-founder Chris Bartle noted that the company "lost money," with sales peaking at approximately 100,000 cases in 2006. However, demand declined thereafter, leading to the company's closure around 2013 due to persistent financial challenges and low sales. Despite its closure, the company's efforts contributed significantly to environmental causes, exemplifying a commitment to sustainability and clean water advocacy.​
UISOL logo
Utility Integration Solutions (UISol)
​
Kennedy was a co-owner and director of the smart-grid company Utility Integration Solutions (UISol),[101] which was acquired by Alstom.
​
​
​
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expanded his environmental advocacy into the energy sector by joining Utility Integration Solutions, Inc. (UISOL), a smart-grid company specializing in utility systems integration.
Involvement with UISOL
-
Board Membership: In August 2010, Kennedy was appointed to UISOL's Board of Directors, bringing his environmental expertise to the company's strategic direction.
Company Overview
-
Services: UISOL offered integration services and software solutions to enhance utility operations, focusing on demand response, smart grid development, advanced metering, and market operations.
-
DRBizNet Platform: The company's flagship product, DRBizNet, was a leading software platform for demand response management, facilitating real-time decision support for utilities.
Key Projects and Developments
-
Midwest ISO Deployment: In September 2010, UISOL's DRBizNet was deployed by the Midwest Independent System Operator (ISO) to enhance demand response management capabilities.
-
Glendale Water and Power Collaboration: In December 2011, UISOL delivered a smart grid architecture to Glendale Water and Power, demonstrating its expertise in grid modernization.
Acquisition by Alstom
-
Acquisition Details: In March 2011, Alstom, a global leader in power generation and transmission, acquired UISOL to strengthen its smart grid capabilities. At the time, UISOL had 44 employees and reported over $11 million in sales for 2010.
Kennedy's Role and Contributions
-
Strategic Guidance: As a board member, Kennedy provided strategic insights, leveraging his environmental advocacy background to align UISOL's projects with sustainable energy practices.
-
Advocacy for Smart Grid Solutions: Kennedy's involvement underscored the importance of integrating smart grid technologies to promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
Financial Performance
-
Revenue Growth: Under the leadership team, including Kennedy, UISOL achieved significant financial milestones, culminating in its acquisition by Alstom in 2011.
Key Individuals at UISOL
-
Mehrdod Mohseni: Hired in July 2012 as a smart energy expert to lead international systems integration services.
-
Scott Coe: Appointed to the North American Energy Standards Board's Board of Directors in September 2010, contributing to industry standardization efforts.
Kennedy's tenure at UISOL exemplified his commitment to advancing environmental sustainability through technological innovation in the energy sector.
​
​
GridBright
'A Specialist in Secure and Sustainable Grid Integration'
RFK Jr is also a co-owner and director of GridBright, the market-leading grid management specialist. https://www.gridbright.com/recent-projects/
Founded in 2013, GridBright specializes in integrating utility grid systems to enhance resilience against natural disasters, cyber-attacks, and to accommodate the growing presence of renewable and distributed energy resources. The company offers a range of services, including:
​
-
Consulting and Systems Integration: Assisting utilities in implementing advanced control systems for effective management of renewable and distributed energy resources.
-
Engineering Consulting: Providing expertise in the interconnection of sustainable transmission and distribution-level resources.
-
Data Management Services: Offering project data curation and repository hosting to facilitate research data sharing and collaboration among grid operators, developers, and researchers.
Grid Bright official logo
GridBright's commitment to sustainability is evident in its tagline and business practices, aiming to support clients in achieving their sustainability goals. The company's vision focuses on delivering solutions essential for grid optimization, control, resiliency, and the integration of renewable resources—critical components of a sustainable future.
In October 2023, GridBright was acquired by Qualus Corporation, a leading power engineering and technical services firm. This acquisition positions the combined organization to offer comprehensive end-to-end solutions in support of grid modernization, resiliency, sustainability, and the broader energy transition.
The company is recognized as a private equity-backed entity, indicating investment support to advance its operations and service offerings.
In summary, GridBright plays a significant role in the energy sector by providing specialized services aimed at enhancing grid resilience and integrating sustainable energy resources. Its acquisition by Qualus Corporation is expected to further strengthen its capabilities in contributing to the energy transition.
ColorZen
RFK Jr is also a partner in ColorZen, a cool business that offers a turnkey-cotton-fiber pre-treatment solution that requires much less dye as well as water compared to other modern industrial dye processes. Consequently much less polluting chemicals as well as much less water is used in ColorZen's very high-quality dying process.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/colorzen?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
Venture Partner & Senior Advisor at
VantagePoint Capital Partners
One of the World's Largest
Cleantech Venture Capital Firms
RFK Jr. was a venture partner and served as a senior advisor at VantagePoint Capital Partners - one of the world's largest cleantech venture capital firms.
​
He began his association with VantagePoint in 2007 as a member of the firm's CleanTech Advisory Council. In February 2009, he expanded his role by becoming a Venture Partner, focusing on the cleantech sector.
VantagePoint Capital Partners' official logo
In his capacity as Venture Partner, Kennedy took on board positions with two of VantagePoint's portfolio companies:
​
-
Premium Power (now Vionx Energy): A manufacturer specializing in energy storage solutions..
​
​ &
​
​
​
-
Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.: A company that develops technologies to recover nutrients from wastewater and convert them into environmentally friendly, high-value fertilizer.
Premium Power
(now Vionx Energy)
Is a manufacturer specializing in energy storage solutions, notably focusing on zinc bromide flow batteries - scalable, durable and designed to store and discharge large amounts of energy, making them suitable for applications such as grid stabilization, renewable energy integration, and backup power systems.
Vionx's official logo
* In 2015, Premium Power rebranded as Vionx Energy. This transition marked a significant development in their technology and business strategy. Vionx Energy continued to advance the zinc bromide flow battery technology the company also collaborated with industry leaders, including Siemens, United Technologies, 3M, and Jabil, to create an ecosystem aimed at commercializing and deploying these energy storage systems on a larger scale.
Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.
Is a Vancouver-based company that develops technologies to recover nutrients such as phosphorus from wastewater and convert them into environmentally friendly, high-value fertilizer.
Ostara's official logo
Regarding his involvement with Ostara, Kennedy was elected to the company's board of directors in February 2009.
Kennedy's collaboration with VantagePoint was part of a broader effort to integrate environmental advocacy with commercial investment in clean technologies. His transition from environmental litigation to venture capital signified a strategic move to promote sustainable business practices through market mechanisms.
​
Starwood Energy Group's official logo
Senior Advisor to Starwood Energy Group
​
Bobby has also served as a senior advisor to Starwood Energy Group, a private investment firm specializing in energy infrastructure projects. In this role, he has played a key part in several of the firm's investments, particularly those focused on renewable energy and sustainability.
In October 2010, Kennedy announced that Starwood Energy Group was exploring investment opportunities in China's utility-scale renewable energy sector. He emphasized the firm's commitment to expanding its portfolio in clean energy projects, stating that such investments are crucial for environmental and economic progress.
​