Frances Ball

Frances is the Chief Operating Officer at Launch Alaska. In this role she manages all business operations and processes, with a focus on impact assessment internally and for Launch Alaska’s portfolio companies. Frances also leads venture capital at Launch Alaska, working closely with our partner fund, Earthshot Ventures, to source startups, perform due diligence, and act as a conduit to Alaska.

In 2018, Frances was awarded the German Chancellor’s Fellowship through the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation, where she spent one year researching the technical and political implications of seasonal energy storage in Germany for application in Alaska, and more broadly, the Arctic.

Prior to joining Launch Alaska, Frances was a member of the Campus Design Team at Google, where she helped design their new headquarters in California with an eye to innovation and efficiency. Frances holds a B.S. in Atmosphere and Energy Engineering from Stanford University and is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accredited Professional. Frances sits on the Renewable Energy Alaska Project (REAP) board of directors.

Frances spends her free time exploring the beautiful outdoors: skiing, hiking, and road tripping across the state to catch the best live music shows. She also volunteers with Alaska Pacific University's Spring Creek Farm.