About
James Slonaker is an analyst at Thomist Capital Management, LP based in Houston, TX. In this role, he is responsible for research and analysis across investment opportunities, leveraging his prior experience in venture capital and energy sectors to support portfolio strategy and idea generation. His focus at Thomist involves deep coverage and due diligence in venture capital, private equity, and energy investments, reflecting both the firm’s and his own sector specialization.
Slonaker previously held key positions at Clutch VC, ATX Venture Partners, and ExxonMobil, gaining exposure to early-stage investing, technology startups, and the energy industry. This diverse background provides him with expertise in evaluating deals in venture capital and energy-related asset classes, as well as operational experience at a Fortune 500 company.
He earned his Master of Business Administration between 2021 and 2023, adding formal business training to his practical expertise. Slonaker is notable for his analytical rigor and cross-sector insights, contributing to investment decisions and value creation in private markets, particularly in energy and technology-driven ventures.
Career History
| Organization | Role | Date Range | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomist Capital Management LP | Associate Analyst | Aug 2023 to Present | — |
| Clutch VC | Venture Capital Intern | Jan 2023 to May 2023 | — |
| ATX Venture Partners | Venture Fellow | Dec 2021 to Dec 2022 | — |
| ExxonMobil | HCC Lead Pyrolysis Mechanical Engineer | Mar 2019 to Jun 2021 | Led and completed the mechanical design of the steam-cracking furnaces, capable of producing 1.6M tonnes/yr of ethylene, for ExxonMobil’s proposed Huizhou Chemical Complex in China |
| ExxonMobil | Pyrolysis Mechanical Engineer | Dec 2017 to Mar 2019 | Supported the steam-cracking furnaces at ExxonMobil's chemical sites around the world |
| Oracle | SPARC Mechanical Design Engineer | Sep 2016 to Sep 2017 | Designed Oracle's high-performance SPARC server products |
Education
The University of Texas at Austin - Red McCombs School of Business
Master of Business Administration (MBA), Entrepreneurship and Venture Capital / Private Equity
2021 — 2023
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Master of Science (M.S.), Mechanical Engineering
2015 — 2016
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Mechanical Engineering
2011 — 2015
Others at Thomist Capital Management, LP (2)
| Name | Role | Location |
|---|---|---|
 | L and S Equity Analyst | Houston, TX , United States |
 | Upstream Analyst | Houston, TX , United States |