Energy Transition
MOJAVE
Changing the nature of air conditioning
Founded:
2022
Located
California, United States
We invested
Series A
EARTH-FIRST VISION
Mojave is on a mission to redefine air conditioning with novel liquid desiccant systems that target energy efficiency, reduce climate impact of HVAC, and deliver superior comfort and air quality—all without compromising reliability. According to Polaris Market Research, the global Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems (DOAS) market was valued at $3.72 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $8.56 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 8.7%. The opportunity is massive. Mojave isn’t just selling A/C units—they’re building the future of sustainable cooling and leading the charge to reduce the climate impact of HVAC—one unit at a time.
THE PROBLEM
Air conditioning keeps us comfortable, but it’s also a climate problem. It consumes 10% of global electricity and pumps out over 1 billion tons of CO₂ annually. Yet, most customers prioritize comfort, reliability, and cost—with little focus on energy efficiency or sustainability.
The real issue? Humidity. Since its invention in 1902, air conditioning has relied on vapor compression technology, which excels at cooling but fails at humidity control. And as modern building codes, ventilation standards, and efficient appliances have lowered temperature loads, they have increased humidity loads, forcing buildings to consume more energy to manage moisture than heat.
The result: Higher energy bills, more carbon emissions, and inefficient climate control.
SOLUTIONS
That’s where Mojave steps in—with a patented solution that separates temperature control from humidity management. Inside every Mojave system are two independent technologies: an innovative liquid desiccant system for humidity management; and a modern vapor compression system for temperature control. These systems operate independently, enabling precise, optimized climate control while using only air to transfer heat, ensuring reliable, energy-efficient operation.
ArctiDry from Mojave represents the next generation of liquid desiccant air conditioners, delivering a highly reliable, lowest-cost-of-ownership product that reduces energy use by 40-60%. ArctiDry installs like conventional packaged HVAC equipment, requiring only an electrical connection—with no chilled water, domestic water, or gas line needed! Its ability to efficiently dehumidify the air without overcooling makes it ideal for many commercial building applications such as healthcare, education, hospitality, manufacturing, and more.
THEIR DNAs
Mojave is led by an expert team of HVAC innovators, energy experts, and seasoned operators, with a proven track record in air conditioning, clean energy, and advanced materials research. Dr. Philip Farese (CEO) holds a Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California and a BA in Physics & Mathematics from Cornell University. His career spans senior roles, including Senior Energy Analyst at the DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Manager at McKinsey & Co., and Research Fellow & Lecturer at Princeton University. He previously served as CTO of Advantix Systems, a liquid desiccant AC company, and as CSO of Enphase Energy, a publicly listed clean energy company. Mojave’s senior leadership team, spanning Engineering, Manufacturing, Product, and Research, brings deep HVAC market expertise with many having collaborated at PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) and Xerox.