CleanTechies
Welcome to the CleanTechies Podcast, the #1 Podcast for Climate Tech Entrepreneurs----- Support the show more directly via our Substack where we also publish writing on the episodes we record. https://cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ----- Interested in Advertising: info@cleantechiespod.com
S1 E243 · Wed, April 23, 2025
#243 Battery Storage Supply Chains & Future in US-China Trade War | Danny Lu | Powin
Follow on YouTube | Listeners Survey Check Out Our Sponsors! * Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs * ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search Firm What’s up, everyone! Today, we have a great episode with Danny Lu from Powin . Powin is a leading provider of BESS, w/ 8 GWh of systems built and 9 in the pipeline. As the Trump admin pushes for more drilling and a seemingly anti-clean energy policy (despite that not being the definition of abundance) we are seeing the value of battery storage. Prior to tariffs, building a speaker plant would be more expensive and take longer than building energy storage systems to manage grid flexibility issues. (It’s tbd what the situation will be with huge Chinese tariffs). Powin has years of experience working in this space to solve supply chain issues and is always improving its business to adapt to whatever battery chemistry is most feasible and affordable for its clients. Given all this, it was great to speak with someone who can help us understand where the market is going and what the key challenges and opportunities are that lie ahead. Want to access all our content? Upgrade to paid today. Act fast! Annual subscriptions increase to $100 on May 1st (currently $80). 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel Topics Free Preview : * 00:00 Cold Open & Intro to Our Guest * 04:00 Origins & Evolutions of Powin * 08:10 What They Do * 10:00 Creating the Market and Finding Their First Customers * 13:00 Stepping Into a Leadership Role Out of University * 18:10 From Permit to Commissioning in Months * 19:10 What an IPP/Utility Wants — Single Point of Blame * 23:00 The Evolution of Battery Chemistry for BESS vs EV * 25:30 Powin’s Current Scale * 26:50 Storage Project Market Projections Considering Tariffs * 31:30 AI & Data Centers | BESS vs Peaker Plants * 39:00 Manufacturing in the US? (teaser clip & paywall) Links * Danny Lu | Powin * Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn * <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies
S1 E242 · Wed, April 16, 2025
#242 The 3 Most Common Mistakes Climate Founders Make | David Brekke, Goodwin
In This Episode: The story of him co-launching the Goodwin climate practice What’s happening in climate tech right now? (Market update) The 3 Biggest Mistakes Climate Founders Make Check Out Our Sponsors! Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search Firm What’s up, everyone! Today’s episode is special since we’re speaking with David Brekke from Goodwin . In case you somehow missed it, Goodwin is the sponsor of our podcast, so yes, this is sponsored content. (tbh, even if it were not, we’d still have David on — but don’t tell him that) With everything going on in the world of climate tech right now, it’s hard to know which end is up. But David has a great perspective. You see, he’s always interacting with tons of founders and investors in climate. He sees the good, the bad, and the ugly. For this reason, he’s one of the best people to get a read on the market from. In addition to a market update, we get to hear the story of him going to Goodwin to start the climate practice. Then he walks us through the greatest hits of what to do and what not to do. He’s been around the block, and in addition to his experience, they have an entire team with even more grey hair that knows how to guide founders. This episode is value-packed — enjoy! Want to access all our content? Upgrade to paid today. Act fast! Annual subscriptions increase to $100 on May 1st (currently $80). 📺 Watch on YouTube Topics 03:11 Building a Climate Practice at Goodwin 06:08 Law x Climate Innovation 09:12 Personal Motivations in Climate Tech 12:04 Navigating the Climate VC Landscape 15:10 Challenges and Opportunities for Climate Founders 17:56 The Role of Legal Advisors in Startups 21:00 Current Climate Market Dynamics 24:03 The Future of Climate Investments 27:13 Rebranding in the Climate Sector 30:02 Reorienting Climate Tech Pitches 33:19 The Evolution of Climate VC Participation 36:42 Navigating Fundraising Challenges 37:11 Common Mistakes in Climate Tech Startups 48:01 Investor Relations and Stakeholder Management Links David Brekke | Goodwin Book: Venture Deals Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | <a href='https://ww
S1 E241 · Wed, April 09, 2025
#241 The Biz Model Making eFuels Pencil Out | Joe Rodden (Lydian)
Follow us on YouTube --------- Today, we have a great episode with Joe Rodden from Lydian . And we are talking all things eFuels and their story. Lydian uses Co2, Water, and abundant Green Energy to create eFuels/SAF. And because of their flexible run method, they can do it profitably, consistently. In the recent past there has been a huge demand for SAF that has been hard for major airlines to procure. In part because the technology was not there, but mostly because there were no plants up and operating. SAF plants are assumed to look like chemical production facilities… ie: always on. This way the cost of the investment is paid back soon. Lydian made sure they used inexpensive materials to create their system. And they made it to start and stop whenever there is excess electricity being produced. It’s a game changer. On top of this, Joe has a great story. A story that I’m sure you’ll enjoy on today’s episode. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment and giving us 5 stars on your favorite podcast app. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E240 · Wed, April 02, 2025
#240 Bulldozing in a New Era of Climate Tech Investing & Tech-Enabled Investing | Andrew Chan from Atas VC
Today, we have a great episode with Andrew Chan from Atas Ventures. Surprise surprise…we’re continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift, climate tech 3.0, climate risk…whatever you want to call it. However, our conversation with Andrew Chan of Atas Ventures is a little bit different. Andrew has, from the very beginning, thought about climate investing from first principles, placing profitability and tangible impact at the core of his strategy. He refers to this next wave as "Climate 3.0," an evolution beyond traditional impact investing towards applied technologies like robotics, IoT, and advanced energy solutions. Our conversation today focuses on these themes, including how venture capital can meaningfully intersect with antiquated industries such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing to drive both profits and genuine environmental outcomes. Andrew also shares why the venture capital playbook may need to evolve, emphasizing smarter portfolio construction, disciplined investing, and leveraging real-world experience to build lasting companies. Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you. Sidenote, we recorded this remotely while Andrew was traveling—he joined us from Bangor, Maine. If you'd like to watch, check it out on YouTube. (Also, be sure to give us a follow on YouTube to help us grow the channel!) Follow us on YouTube If you're enjoying the content, consider upgrading to become paid subscriber today. Act fast! Because our annual subscription is going from $80 up to $100 as of May 1st. To upgrade, click the “upgrade” button on the top right of your screen here. 📝 Show Notes: Topics 06:10 Understanding Climate 3.0 11:53 Journey to VC 17:56 Investment Strategies for Antiquated Industries 23:45 Portfolio Construction 26:33 Future of Fund Management 30:02 Emerging Managers 32:49 Taking Risks in VC 36:46 Essential Skills 40:19 Trends in Deep Tech and Robotics 47:55 Learning and Growth Links Andrew Chan Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable
S1 E239 · Wed, March 26, 2025
#239 Climate Risk, a New Era for Climate Tech | Grace & Adam from Equal Ventures
📺 Watch on YouTube What’s up, everyone! Today we have a great episode with Grace Penders and Adam Chadroff from Equal Ventures . If you're not familiar with Equal , I recommend checking out episode 116 where we had on Rick Zullo , the Founder of Equal. Today, we're continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift. However, our conversation with Equal is a little bit different. Equal has, from the very beginning, had a thesis broader than just climate. One of those other areas is insurance. This is an area that is increasingly intersecting with climate. This is becoming especially acute given the rise in natural disasters and the catastrophic financial impacts that follow. Our conversation today focuses on these themes as well as what the insurance industry’s role is in helping solve the climate investing challenge. There are plenty of ways. This is playing into how governments engage. Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you. Sidenote, we recorded this in person in the equal offices during my recent visit to New York. So if you'd like to watch, check it out on YouTube. (Also, be sure to give us a follow on YouTube to help us grow the channel) Topics 00:00 Cold Open & Intro 03:00 The Climate Tech Vibe Shift 05:58 The Intersection of Climate and Insurance 09:01 Investment Trends in Climate Risk 12:05 Quantifying and Mitigating Climate Risks 15:03 Innovations in Climate Risk Management 17:55 Preventative Measures and Market Impacts 26:05 Understanding Market Compression and Its Impacts 29:50 The Role of Insurance in Value Creation 32:54 Government Involvement in Climate Risk 35:00 Navigating Innovation in Insurance and Utilities 40:18 Exit Opportunities in the Insurance Sector 44:10 The Climate Capital Summit and Future Trends Links Grace Penders | Adam Chadroff | Equal Ventures Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. <a r
S1 E238 · Wed, March 19, 2025
#238 ClimateTech is Mainstream, so is The Vibe Shift | Tommy Leep (Jetstream)
📺 Watch on YouTube Hey everyone! Today we’ve got a great episode with Tommy Leep from VC, Jetstream . Some of his PortCos include David Energy , Pachama , Rhizome , and past pod guests Pathways & Glacier . He’s been on the show in the past with some great advice on fundraising. Check it out — episode 85. #85 How to Raise Money for your ClimateTech Startup w/ Tommy Leep, founder of Jetstream VC Recently there have been a bunch of people shifting their focus or branding to be more inclusive and not always sound ‘pure climate tech’ — Tommy is one of those people. He recently claimed “ClimateTech is Mainstream now.” Because of it, he’s broadening his fund thesis. This is the first of at least two conversations on this exact topic (stay tuned for next week’s episode with Grace and Adam from Equal Ventures). Topics 00:00 The Shift in Climate Tech Perspectives 10:06 Mainstreaming Climate Tech 20:03 Investing in Health, Wealth, and Resilience 30:08 The Future of Education and Community Building Links Tommy Leep | Jetstream Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E237 · Wed, March 12, 2025
#237 Using Robotics to Transform Recycling & Building Data Moats with Hardware w/ Rebecca Hu Thrams (Glacier)
Rebecca Hu Thrams , co-founder of Glacier , is on a mission to transform recycling using AI-powered robotics and proprietary physical data to fix one of the biggest inefficiencies in waste management. Glacier isn’t just another AI company—it’s tackling the physical world problem of waste sorting, giving recyclers and major brands unprecedented visibility into where materials actually go. By deploying intelligent sorting robots, Glacier is not only increasing efficiency but also building a defensible data moat, positioning itself as the source of truth for the circular economy. With growing consumer demand for sustainability and new regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on the horizon, companies are scrambling for solutions. Glacier’s technology is bridging the gap between recyclers and producers—helping brands measure, track, and improve their sustainability efforts with real, actionable data. Get the full episode today to hear: ✅ How AI and robotics are unlocking new efficiencies in recycling ✅ Why proprietary physical data is the key to an enduring AI-powered business ✅ How Glacier is helping major brands and recyclers prepare for new regulations ✅ Rebecca’s journey from reluctant founder to leading a climate-tech startup ✅ What the future of circular supply chains could look like with AI-driven insights Don’t miss a moment! If you want to get the full discussion, become a paid subscriber today or redeem your trial upgrade to test it out. Subscribe now 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel 📝 Show Notes: Topics 02:04 Founding Glacier 05:54 Understanding Glacier's Role in Recycling 14:12 Identifying Opportunities for Disruption in Recycling 18:07 The Future of Recycling Efficiency 22:08 Challenges in the Recycling Industry 23:07 Navigating Risk Aversion in Robotics Investment 24:43 Finding Early Adopters in the MRF Industry 29:07 Advancements in AI and Robotics 35:07 The Future of Connectivity in Recycling 37:30 Collaborating with Industry Giants 42:44 Scaling Glacier Links Rebecca Hu Thrams | Glacier Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | <a href='ht
S1 E236 · Tue, March 04, 2025
#236 Critical Minerals: A Master Class on How to Win w/ Nicholaus Rohleder
We’re doing something a bit different…🤔 We’re exploring the urgent and evolving landscape of critical minerals with Nicholaus Rohleder from Climate Commodities . Nick, an investor and expert in the field, breaks down how the U.S. went from a leader in mineral production to heavy reliance on foreign sources—and why the time is now for entrepreneurs to help rebuild domestic supply chains. Key Topics Covered: The Rise and Fall of U.S. Mineral Production Why Critical Minerals Matter More Than Ever Opportunities for Entrepreneurs The Capital Market Shift U.S. Trade Policy and Tariffs The Future of Clean Minerals Mistakes Founders Make Nick teaches a class on this at UPenn, so this is serious value ($$$) — if you’re a investor, policymaker, or entrepreneur looking to understand the critical minerals space, this is for you. --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today ( cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ) --- 📺 Watch on YouTube Links Nicholaus Rohleder | Climate Commodities Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Topics 01:23 Landscape of Critical Minerals 05:06 Historical Context of U.S. Mineral Production 09:53 Talent and Knowledge Gaps in the Industry 12:10 The Need for Domestic Production 20:30 The Key Minerals 28:51 Opportunities in the Critical Minerals Value Chain 34:32 Technological Innovations and Local Production 43:05 Cost Dynamics [Paywall Begins] 44:04 Building Successful Companies in Critical Minerals 46:52 Common Mistakes in the Critical Minerals Sector 51:52 Current Trends in Capital Investment 55:42 Investment Opportunities 56:00 Advice for Start-ups in the Sector 57:06 Government Involvement and Policy Implications Support the show Every ClimateTech Entr
S1 E235 · Tue, February 18, 2025
#235 This $100 BILLION Industry Is Hiding in Plain Sight! Big Oil's Bet on Carbon Capture
This week, we’re joined by Todd Bush , an expert in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), with decades of experience supporting oil and gas companies in their decarbonization efforts. Todd has founded and sold multiple companies and is now leading decarbonfuse , a daily newsletter tracking deal activity in carbon capture and industrial decarbonization. This conversation covers the current state of carbon capture, where the momentum is strongest, the biggest barriers to scaling CCUS, and how policy and investment shifts are shaping the industry. If you’re curious about where the carbon capture market is headed and how it intersects with industries like ethanol, hydrogen, and steel production, this is an episode you don’t want to miss! 🔍 Topics Covered in This Episode **The first movers in carbon capture: ethanol, ammonia, and natural gas **The difference between Class 2 vs. Class 6 wells and why it matters **How carbon capture projects get financed and what returns investors expect **The role of policy (45Q tax credits, permitting hurdles, and regulatory uncertainty) **Utilization of CO2—who’s buying it and why **Why Houston and the Gulf Coast are primed to be the epicenter of CCUS **What’s needed for carbon capture to reach private equity scale --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today ( cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ) --- 📺 Watch on YouTube Notes & Links: decarbonfuse Newsletter Energy Tech Nexus | Digital Wildcatters Abt the 45Q Tax Credit More on Class 6 vs. Class 2 Wells Participate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey . Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Timestamps: **0:00 Introduction to Carbon Capture **3:50 The Journey into Carbon Capture Solutions<br
S1 E234 · Tue, February 11, 2025
#234 The Future of Cleaner Data Centers & Lessons from 20+ Years at Meta, LinkedIn, & Cisco w/ Yuval Bachar (EdgeCloudLink)
Yuval Bachar, Founder and CEO of Edge CloudLink (ECL), is on a mission to revolutionize data centers with hydrogen-powered, off-grid solutions. His journey spans decades, with leadership roles at Cisco, Facebook, and LinkedIn, where he built critical infrastructure for some of the biggest names in tech. Now, he’s pioneering a new wave of sustainable data centers, delivering AI-ready capacity in just nine months—compared to the industry average of three to four years. Here’s the game-changer: ECL’s modular approach eliminates reliance on traditional power grids, slashes emissions to zero, and generates its own cooling water, making it a groundbreaking solution for the energy-hungry AI revolution. With data center demand soaring and grid power in short supply, Yuval’s vision could be the key to unlocking the next generation of computing. Get the full episode today to hear: Why traditional data centers are struggling to keep up with AI growth—and how ECL is changing the game The secret behind delivering AI data centers in 9 months instead of 3+ years How Yuval secured $18M in funding and is now raising $1.2B for large-scale deployments The surprising benefits of hydrogen for both cost and sustainability Key lessons from scaling world-class infrastructure at Facebook, LinkedIn, and Cisco 📝 Show Notes: Topics 02:46 Hydrogen-Powered Data Centers 10:40 Modular and Rapid Deployment 14:01 The Hydrogen Supply Chain 26:30 Innovation in Data Centers 28:54 Supportive Boardroom Culture 32:15 Building Trust and Transparency 34:40 Fostering a Culture of Innovation 41:13 A Journey Through a Tech Career 49:28 Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship 54:57 Vision for the Future Links Yuval Bachar | EdgeCloudLink Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com</em
S1 E233 · Tue, February 04, 2025
#233 The Climate Disruptors You Haven’t Heard of (Yet)—Inside Energy Tech Nexus w/ Nada & Jason
In This Episode We are speaking with Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier , two of the founding partners at Energy Tech Nexus . Energy Tech Nexus is a Houston-based hub designed to connect EnergyTech startups with the resources they need to grow. This includes access to capital, corporate partners, direct access to pilot opportunities, as well as a community of other founders doing the same thing. In this episode, we dive into **how they're building an innovation powerhouse in the heart of the U.S. energy industry, **the evolving role of oil majors in clean tech, **and how to navigate the new regulatory landscape of the Trump administration --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today ( cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ) --- 📺 Watch on YouTube Topics: (today’s show is all public) **00:00 Intro to Nada & Jason **01:51 Building the Energy Tech Nexus Community **10:16 Funding & Supporting Clean Tech Startups in Houston **14:30 Innovating in Green Chemicals and Advanced Materials **20:57 Navigating the New Administration's Energy Policies **29:46 Flaring and Methane Emissions **32:05 How to Market Climate Tech Under Trump **36:37 T36:37 How to Jump Start Nuclear Energy **46:47 Carbon Capture and the Future Role of Oil Majors Links: ** Nada Ahmed | Jason Ethier ** Energy Tech Nexus ** Check out the Energy Tech Startups Podcast **Participate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey . ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the b
S1 E232 · Mon, January 27, 2025
#232 The Carbon Capture Startup Google Bet Big On—And Why It’s a Cheaper | Anca Timofte (Holocene)
In This Episode In today’s episode of CleanTechies, we’re joined by Anca Timofte , the CEO and Founder of Holocene , a direct air capture (DAC) company revolutionizing carbon removal through a continuous-loop liquid system. With over a decade of experience in carbon capture—including being one of the first employees at Climeworks —Anca offers unparalleled insight into the challenges and opportunities of building climate solutions. Anca walks us through: **How Holocene's low-temp carbon capture slashes energy costs with novel organic chemistry. **Solid vs. liquid DAC: Why Holocene’s approach is a game-changer for scaling carbon removal. **Holocene's milestones: Securing Google as a customer and advancing major projects. **Startup lessons: Co-founder alignment, mission-driven hiring, and thriving in Knoxville. **Why DAC matters: Tackling legacy and ongoing emissions in a decarbonized world. --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today ( cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ) --- 📺 Watch on YouTube Topics: (time stamps are accurate for the full episode and approximate for the free preview) **00:00 Intro **02:51 Understanding Direct Air Capture **05:54 Business Model and Customer Segments **08:54 Partnerships and Market Dynamics **11:48 Scaling and Project Deployment **15:06 Founding Story and Entrepreneurial Journey **24:52 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics **25:48 Adapting to Political Changes **27:09 Embracing Uncertainty in Entrepreneurship **28:30 Bipartisan Support for Carbon Capture —(Free Version ends here)— **30:19 Public Perception of Carbon Capture **32:15 Survival vs. Success in Carbon Capture **34:01 Building a Team in Knoxville **39:30 Engaging with the Local Community **41:07 Hiring Lessons Learned **43:20 Balancing Parenthood and Entrepreneurship **45:13 Unexpected Challenges in the Startup Journey **46:31 Valuing Team Dynamics **47:26 Resources for Climate Tech Founders **48:36 Encouragement for Carbon Capture Startups Links: ** Anca Timofte | Holocene **Read the DOE report on direct air capture technologies here . **Participate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey . ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn **<a hr
S1 E231 · Thu, January 23, 2025
#231 How to Cut Costs AND Eliminate Emissions in Homes [BY 90%+] w/ Jane Melia (Harvest Thermal)
Jane Melia is the CEO and Co-Founder of Harvest Thermal, revolutionizing home heating with heat batteries. Jane’s journey began with a vision to make home electrification both cost-effective and climate-friendly. Harvest Thermal has developed a patented system that combines heat pumps with thermal storage, reducing household emissions by 90% and energy bills by 30%, all while providing unparalleled comfort. Here’s the kicker: Jane and her team have successfully navigated the challenges of hardware deployment, secured millions in grant funding, and built a business that’s not only scalable but also grid-friendly and future-proof. With heating and hot water responsible for 10% of global emissions, Harvest Thermal is tackling one of the toughest climate challenges, turning it into a win for homeowners and the planet. Get the full episode today to hear: How Harvest Thermal is cutting bills and emissions while keeping homes cozy The secrets to scaling hardware technology in a competitive market Why heat batteries are the key to making electrification affordable and sustainable How Jane balances product innovation with deployment strategy to drive impact at scale Don’t miss a moment! If you want to get the full discussion, become a paid subscriber today or redeem your trial upgrade to test it out. 📝 Show Notes: Topics 02:14 Jane Melia's Background and Journey 04:36 Understanding Thermal Storage Technology 08:22 Consumer Demand for Home Electrification 10:18 Key Ingredients for Success in Home Heating 12:41 Differentiators in Customer Experience 14:06 Geographic Expansion and Market Strategy 18:01 Installer Relationships and Deployment Strategy 20:22 Balancing Product Development and Deployment 22:17 Building a Strong Team for Growth 28:57 Fundraising Strategy and Market Positioning 36:01 The Role of Policy in Supporting Innovation 40:23 Vision for the Future of Home Electrification Links Jane Melia | Harvest Thermal Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law tod
S1 E230 · Thu, January 16, 2025
#230 This Founder Built a $5M Climate Tech Startup in Africa (Here’s How!) w/ Martin Freimuller (Octavia Carbon)
Martin Freimüller, the CEO and Co-Founder of Octavia Carbon, a cutting-edge Direct Air Capture (DAC) company based in Kenya Martin’s journey began with a deep appreciation for Africa’s potential and the realization that Kenya, with its abundant geothermal energy and skilled talent pool, is the perfect location for DAC. In just two and a half years, Octavia Carbon has developed patented technology, grown to a team of 61 (40 of them engineers), and even built Kenya’s first DAC pilot facility. Here’s the kicker: they’ve managed to secure millions in prepaid carbon revenue to fund their projects — all before raising their $5M seed round. Octavia’s tech pulls CO2 from the air, stores it underground as minerals, and leverages Kenya’s unmatched renewable energy resources to make the process both cost-effective and scalable. Reliable and affordable carbon removal is critical to the fight against climate change, and Octavia Carbon is showing that emerging markets can lead the charge. Get the full episode today to hear: How they got customers to prepay millions for their pilot projects Why Kenya is the global sweet spot for DAC The role clean energy and carbon storage play in shaping Africa’s economy What makes Direct Air Capture the hardest engineering challenge in the world—and why Octavia is ready to solve it 📝 Show Notes: Topics 02:25 Octavia Carbon 05:35 Founding Octavia Carbon 09:07 Understanding Direct Air Carbon Capture (DAC) 13:24 Kenya: The Ideal Location for DAC 14:44 The Climate Tech Scene in Africa 21:15 Opportunities in Emerging Markets 27:45 Navigating Skepticism in DAC 30:35 Cost Advantages of Operating in Emerging Markets 35:46 Best Practices for Founders in Emerging Markets 38:31 Verifying DAC Links Martin Freimüller | Octavia Carbon Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A su
S1 E229 · Fri, January 10, 2025
#229 How to Make Money on Pilot Projects w/ Martin Schichtel (KRAFTBLOCK)
On today’s episode, we’re speaking with Martin Schichtel , the CEO and Founder of Kraftblock , a thermal energy storage solution for industrial clients that use high heat. Today, they’re delivering their 5th project. All of which have been paid for by their customers — yep, you read that right. They have not used equity to pay for these pilot and demonstration projects. Their tech takes excess heat or electricity and turns it into heat, stores it in these engineered rocks. When demand is needed, they deliver the power. Reliable and affordable energy storage is the key to the energy transition. Get the full episode today to hear…. **How they managed to get their customers to pay for their pilots and demonstration projects **The role consumer demand for cleanly produced products is having on the world **The importance of validating the idea WITH CUSTOMERS before you build your pilot **The energy storage landscape globally --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today ( cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ) --- 📺 Watch on YouTube Topics (time stamps are accurate for the full episode and approximate for the free preview) **00:00 Market Education and Heat Storage Innovations **03:08 The Journey of Kraft Block and Its Technology **05:51 Transitioning from Technical to Commercial **09:12 Understanding the Customer Base and Revenue Models **11:56 Global Demand for Clean Products **15:11 The Evolution of Thermal Energy Storage **18:07 Prototyping and Development Challenges **20:57 The Current State of Energy Storage Industry **24:08 Market Conditions Driving Change **26:52 Sustainability and Waste Management in Technology **28:44 Innovative Material Development for Energy Storage **31:59 Validation Principles for Hardware Startups **35:07 Funding Strategies for Hardware Projects —(Free Version ends here)— **39:41 Building Trust in Hardware Industries **42:30 Navigating Speed to Market in Hardware **45:22 Climate Tech Trends and Political Influences **49:58 Future of Energy Storage and Startup Opportunities **53:52 Underrated Climate Founders and Resources Links ** Martin Schichtel | KRAFTBLOCK ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn **<a href='https://www.linked
S1 E228 · Tue, January 07, 2025
#228 How to Invest in ClimateTech in 2025 like a Day 1 Investor w/ Joshua Posamentier (Congruent Ventures)
Joshua Posamentier is the co-founder and managing partner at Congruent Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund focused exclusively on climate tech. With a background in physics and a career that began in the semiconductor industry, Josh transitioned into climate investing after holding various roles at Intel and Prelude Ventures. Widely regarded as an OG in the climate tech space, Josh has been investing in climate solutions since well before the current wave of interest, making him one of the most experienced voices in the field. His deep technical expertise, combined with over a decade of focused climate investing, has given him a unique perspective on the evolution of the sector from its early clean tech days to today’s thriving climate tech ecosystem. Josh’s experience includes navigating the highs and lows of the market, from the early 2010s downturn in clean tech investing to today’s booming climate sector, providing invaluable insight to founders. Congruent Ventures is an early-stage climate tech fund based in San Francisco that invests across a wide range of sectors, including energy transition, food and agriculture, urban mobility, and sustainable production. The firm has made over 60 investments in companies that focus on delivering measurable, impactful climate solutions while achieving top-quartile venture returns. Congruent Ventures is known for its hands-on approach, staying actively involved with portfolio companies from seed through later funding stages. 📝 Show Notes: Topics 00:00 The Journey into Climate Tech Investing 10:05 Congruent Ventures 19:50 Navigating the Climate Tech Landscape 29:47 Challenges of Measuring Impact 39:52 Hardware vs. Software & Insights from Semiconductors 30:15 Navigating NIMBYism 34:37 Investment Strategies 39:52 The Future of Energy Demand and Policy 45:59 Exciting Innovations Links Joshua Posamentier | Congruent Ventures Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the <
S1 E227 · Fri, December 27, 2024
ClimateTech Wrapped 2024
Our reflections and musings as we close out the year... Topics 01:28 2024's Top CleanTechies Episodes 07:37 Insights 12:49 Reflections on Branding and Storytelling 20:22 Milestones and Achievements in 2024 26:12 Key Lessons for Climate Tech Startups 34:59 Future Outlook Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E226 · Wed, December 18, 2024
#226 What Working With Governments to Tackle Climate Change Looks Like w/ Julia Kumari Drapkin (ISeeChange)
Julia Kumari Drapkin is the CEO and founder of ISeeChange, a data platform that combines resident-generated insights with AI to address climate adaptation challenges. Julia’s background as a climate science reporter, covering disasters like Hurricane Katrina, inspired her to bridge the gap between people’s lived experiences and actionable climate solutions. Her expertise in storytelling and data-driven insights shapes ISeeChange's people-first approach to building climate resilience. ISeeChange leverages ground-truth data—stories, photos, and observations—from residents and combines it with sensor, satellite, and proprietary AI models. The platform delivers actionable insights to cities, counties, and utilities , enabling them to prioritize real-time responses and long-term infrastructure design to adapt to 21st-century climate risks. By creating a feedback loop between communities and decision-makers, ISeeChange helps build trust, improve climate outcomes, and unlock the value of previously siloed data. In this episode, Julia shares insights on: Ground-Truth Data Integration combining resident observations with existing satellite and sensor data, delivering more granular and actionable insights for managing floods, heat waves, and infrastructure failures Adaptation Over Politics , evident by how they are growing fastest in Republican-led states, showing that climate impacts are bipartisan and adaptation solutions resonate when framed around local needs like infrastructure protection and economic resilience AI-Driven data processing, enabling faster prioritization of critical tasks while transforming anecdotal community feedback into validated, actionable intelligence for utilities and governments Enjoy! 📝 Show Notes: Topics 03:01 Data-Driven Solutions for Climate Adaptation 05:50 The Role of AI in Climate Data 12:08 The Importance of Ground Truth Data 15:04 Government and Climate Tech: A Complex Relationship 17:54 The Future of Climate Adaptation and Mitigation 20:48 Challenges and Opportunities in GovTech 24:13 Political Resilience in Climate Solutions 27:08 Insurance and Climate Risk 29:59 Building Community Trust in Climate Data 32:47 The Human Element 36:07 Feedback Loops and Learning from Mistakes 38:59 Sales Cycles and Market Dynamics 41:49 Finding Common Ground Links Julia Kumari Drapkin | ISeeChange Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow Clean
S1 E225 · Wed, December 11, 2024
#225 Solving Sulfur Waste while Capturing Carbon & Producing Sulfuric Acid & Hydrogen w/ Owen Cadwalader (Travertine)
Learn how this carbon capture startup also produces green chemicals AND hydrogen -- how they funded their first demo plant -- their secrets to building a resilient business model -- and what he would advise Trump's admin in order to help keep climate on track while also competing with China. Listen Time: Full Show 58:31 (no ads) | Free Preview 37:14 On today’s episode, Owen Cadwalader , the COO of Travertine , delivers one of the most value-dense episodes we’ve ever released. Hear how they are solving the massive sulfur waste problem while also capturing carbon and producing sulfuric acid and hydrogen. In a short time, they are on track to build their first plant, producing ~100 tons a year near Rochester, NY. They have also navigated the startup landscape masterfully. There is a lot to learn here. Some of the discussion topics: **How to interact with the chemical industry **How to reframe CO2 emissions as waste **How to get the Trump admin to back climate **The sulfate waste landscape --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today ( cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ) --- 📺 Watch on YouTube Topics (time stamps are accurate for the full episode and approximate for the free preview) **00:00 Intro **02:54 Owen's Journey to Tech **06:08 Travertine’s Tech **08:53 Multiple Revenue Streams **12:06 Customer Base and Market Challenges **14:55 Environmental Impact of Sulfate Waste **17:47 Navigating the Chemical Industry Landscape **21:09 Pricing Strategies & Market Competition **29:22 Identifying Beachhead Markets in Climate Tech **30:48 Navigating Political Landscapes for Climate Tech —(Free Version ends here)— **32:13 Building Resilient Climate Tech Businesses **34:04 On-shoring **35:59 Global vs Local Impact of Resource Extraction **36:29 The Future of Carbon Dioxide Removal **37:52 Focusing on Outcomes Over Technology **40:43 Funding Strategies for Climate Tech Projects **43:05 Advocating for Continued Innovation Funding **45:22 Reframing CO2 as Industrial Waste **50:00 Lessons from Fundraising in Climate Tech Links ** Owen Cadwalader | Travertine ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechi
S1 E224 · Thu, December 05, 2024
#224 How to Scale up Anode Manufacturing in the US w/ Gleb Yushin (Sila Nanotechnologies)
Hear the story of how Sila Nanotechnologies has successfully developed, taken to market, and scaled up a new Anode technology for the battery industry. -- Learn the importance of Job Creation in landing funding -- Understand why CleanTech is actually bi-partisan -- and Understand where the puck is going with the battery industry. Listen Time: Full Show 1:09:26 (no ads) | Free Preview 41:27 On today’s episode, Gleb Yushin , the CTO of Sila Nanotechnologies , pours out the wisdom he has from 14 years working on and scaling up Sila Nanotechnologies to the point where their Anode tech is in millions of batteries around the world. Not many companies reach this scale and even less so among climate companies. The lessons he has for you will benefit you massively. There are incredibly potent lessons on: A successful GTM strategy for a battery chemical (Anode in this case) How to fund your small and commercial scale production facilities. Why there will likely be bi-partisan support for clean technology Key lessons on team building and talent acquisition --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today ( cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ) --- 📺 Watch on YouTube --- Topics **00:00 Intro **02:57 The Journey of Gleb Yushin **05:49 Founding Sila Nanotechnology **09:03 The Role of Silicon in Battery Production **11:53 Scaling Up Production **15:12 Market Integration and Collaboration **18:09 Challenges in Manufacturing **20:51 Future of Battery Technology **24:03 The Importance of Job Creation **34:51 Rapid Iteration and Automation in Production —(Free Version ends here)— **38:05 Funding Strategies and Equity vs. Debt **42:08 Government Support and Job Creation in Clean Tech **45:57 Bipartisan Support for Clean Technology **51:46 Talent Acquisition and Team Building in Startups **1:02:10 Challenges and Trends in the Battery Industry **1:04:32 Startup Opportunities in Battery Recycling and Supply Chain Links ** Gleb Yushin | Sila Nanotechnologies ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in a
S1 E223 · Tue, November 26, 2024
#223 Everything You Need to Know About ClimateTech Politics (DoE, DoD, GovTech, Partnerships, & More) w/ Nate Loewentheil (Commonweal Ventures)
Nate Loewentheil is the founder and managing partner of Commonweal Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on solving America's biggest challenges through entrepreneurship. Nate’s career spans angel investing, politics, and public policy. Previously, he served in the Obama White House, advising President Obama on emerging technologies such as clean energy and broadband expansion. His background includes roles in the Yale Entrepreneurial Society, founding the Roosevelt Institution, and advising startups during his time running venture investments for a family office. Commonweal Ventures invests in pre-seed and seed-stage companies tackling generational challenges such as climate change, competition with China, and an aging population. The firm focuses on startups that leverage government partnerships as a strategic advantage, tapping into resources like national labs, regulatory data, and long-term infrastructure projects. The firm's investment philosophy distinguishes itself from traditional GovTech by emphasizing the unique ability of government to unlock enterprise value rather than solving it as a "problem to fix." With a bipartisan advisory board that includes former Trump, Bush, Obama, and Clinton administration officials, Common Weal Ventures excels at navigating regulatory landscapes and creating opportunities for impactful innovation. 📝 Show Notes: Topics 05:54 The Role of Government in Innovation 12:07 Investing in Early-Stage Companies 14:55 Understanding Political Dynamics in Climate Tech 17:52 Preparing for Trump 2.0 27:19 Shifting Political Economy and Government's Role 31:05 Future of Government Involvement in Commercialization 32:56 Engaging with Government Agencies 35:19 Best Practices for Founders in Government Relations 38:08 Investing Dynamics in Climate Tech 42:49 Encouraging Generalist Investors in Climate Tech 44:15 America's Competitive Edge: Entrepreneurship 45:40 Impact of Monopolies on Startups 48:04 Political Landscape and Antitrust Dynamics 49:51 Looking Ahead: Opportunities in Climate Tech Links Nate Lowentheil | Commonweal Ventures Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. </u
S1 E222 · Fri, November 22, 2024
#222 Exposing the O&G Carbon Capture Lie & How Skytree is Doing it Right w/ Rob van Straten, CEO)
Hear the CEO of Skytree explain how you MUST build for scale to achieve impact in a timely manner -- how O&G have been releasing their captured Co2 for years -- why their biggest investor is a huge Greenhouse Operator -- the importance of co-locating your carbon capture tech with the demand -- his journey into climate -- and a few more hot takes. Listen Time: Full Show 57:04 (no ads) | Free Preview 41:09 On today’s episode, Rob van Straten , the CEO of Skytree captures our attention with his deep wisdom on how to scale a successful carbon capture technology company. Why you should trust him? He brings a long career of experience building and scaling companies that he parlayed into Skytree where they are currently crushing it with their modular, mass-production capable carbon capture system. Spoiler alert, you can’t do this successfully if you’re doing it on a project basis - you need to do it with a modular system that you can mass produce (it allows for faster iteration of the design). Learn: **How they build their team culture and value young talents **How Oil & Gas has been catching and releasing carbon for years and how Skytree is now actually solving this problem — also related, why their largest investor is the largest owner/operator of greenhouses in the Netherlands **Why you MUST set out to achieve scale from day one. --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today ( cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ) --- 📺 Watch on YouTube --- Topics **00:00 Intro **03:03 Rob’s Journey Into Climate **05:57 Mentorship & the Next Gen of Entrepreneurs **09:05 Skytree's Origin and Technology Overview **15:09 The Future of Carbon Capture: Machines vs. Plants **28:30 Innovative Approaches to Carbon Capture **32:45 How They Partner with Greenhouses **38:23 Scaling Up: Lessons from the Solar Industry **41:35 Collaboration with Large Emitters **45:50 The Future of Oil and Energy Transition **48:03 The Carbon Capture Startup Landscape Links ** Rob van Straten | Skytree ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. <a re
S1 E221 · Tue, November 19, 2024
#221 Blended Finance is Going to Save ClimateTech (& Why We Need More of It) w/ Amy Duffuor (Azolla Ventures)
Amy Duffuor is a co-founder and General Partner at Azolla Ventures and Managing Director at Prime Impact Fund, Azolla's predecessor vehicle. She has a diverse background that spans immigration research, management consulting, impact investing, and renewables investment banking. Amy began her career studying marginalized West African migrants and later pursued an MPhil in Migration Studies at Oxford University. Transitioning into management consulting, she worked on supply chain and procurement projects in London and Southeast Asia, where she developed a passion for climate change solutions. Her experience running venture accelerator programs in Southeast Asia for impact-driven startups inspired her to focus on early-stage climate tech investing. Prior to Azolla, Amy worked at Bank of America as a renewables investment banker, contributing to projects like the IPO of Sunnova, a leading residential solar company. Azolla Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments in climate technology startups. Their investment strategy emphasizes three key criteria: Impact, Additionality and Commercial Potential. In July 2023, Azolla Ventures announced the final close of their fund at $239 million. This fund blends catalytic, charitable capital with impact-aligned, market-rate capital to drive investment into solutions with deep potential for climate impact that are systemically overlooked by conventional financiers. Amy has even constructed a microcosm of LP signals that they use to understand where investing gaps in the ClimateTech funding ecosystem lie. In this episode, Amy shares insights on: Using blended finance to de-risk early-stage climate tech investments The unique challenges and misconceptions in hardware-focused climate startups Embedding equity and justice in climate tech ventures Enjoy! 📝 Show Notes: Topics 05:50 The Role of Blended Finance 11:51 The Unique Landscape of Hardware Companies 15:04 Building Trust with Entrepreneurs 17:49 The Importance of Environmental Justice 21:01 The Future of Climate Tech Investing 28:54 The Art of Simplifying Complex Technologies 31:52 Investing Ahead of the Curve 39:59 Integrating Equity and Justice 44:08 Future Aspirations Links Amy Duffuor | Azolla Ventures Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X <
S1 E220 · Fri, November 15, 2024
#220 How This Top Investor Believes ClimateTech Startups Can Still Exit
Listen Time: Full Show 38:51 (no ads) | Free Preview 31:19 Today, we are speaking with Shaun Abrahamson from Third Sphere . Third Sphere is a leading ClimateTech investor that also has a debt strategy for high-volume production startups in the hardware space. They have backed companies like ChargeLab , ClimateBase , Gradient , OneWheel , Therma , Revivn , & Wasted ( check out the episode we did with Revivn ). This is Shaun’s third time on the pod — if this is your first time hearing him, you’ll understand why because he is very thoughtful. During NY Climate Week, the Third Sphere team put on a great event titled “Climate Tech Exits.” It was really well beloved by many NY CW attendees. They covered: **Why exits are so crucial to the success of Climate investing **The state of climate tech exits **How it looks compared to tech broadly **What to learn from the original tech winners like Google & Apple **What the paths forward might be **The patterns of successful founders In today’s episode, we recap the key points of their event and then dig into Shaun’s advice to founders on how to ensure they are doing things right, in order to see an exit. We are sure you’ll find it educational. 📝 Show Notes: Topics: **0:00 The Importance of Climate Tech Exits **2:48 Current State of Climate Tech Investments **6:06 Challenges in the IPO Market **8:50 Corporate Venture Capital's Role **12:08 Future Opportunities in Climate Tech **14:56 The Shift from Mitigation to Adaptation **18:11 Building Sustainable Business Models **21:01 Navigating M&A Opportunities **23:55 Final Thoughts and Takeaways Links: ** Shaun Abrahamson | Third Sphere ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur nee
S1 E219 · Fri, November 08, 2024
#219 How to Win in ClimateTech Under Trump
There’s no sugarcoating it…Trump is bad news for ClimateTech — but thankfully, we have interviewed 200+ ClimateTech Entrepreneurs on how to build politically resilient companies — ensuring the future is greener no matter who the president is. Today, we’re distilling those key lessons for you. Key risks across / what’s on the chopping block Possible silver linings & some wins Recognizing the reality of the situation Examples of likely downside Choose a new narrative Key advice to startups Better / Faster / Cheaper Bring on Non-Climate Investors Choose the Right Customers Involve CVCs Build in Climate-Friendly States Help the US Compete with China Recognize Climate is not Everyone’s #1 Issue We recognize the severity of the situation we are in. But since we are here, we might as well learn from it and continue to do the good work moving forward. 🚨 Also — a huge thank you to our paid subscribers for the questions and inspiration for this episode! Want to be a part of future ones? Upgrade to paid now! --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today ( cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ) --- 📺 Watch on YouTube Topics 00:00 Brief Reactions 02:53 Key Implications (What’s at Risk & Upsides?) 06:11 Rural vs Urban Perspectives on Climate Issues 09:00 Navigating Climate Conversations in a Conservative Context 11:51 Opportunities and Risks for Climate Tech Under Trump 15:13 Changing how you Market Your Climate Tech Startup 21:52 Strategies for Climate Tech Founders Moving Forward Links Cipher: With Donald Trump victory, here are his energy and climate positions Nature: Big State and Local Wins for Climate and Conservation in the United States The Hill: 18 House Republicans ask Johnson not to target IRA clean energy tax credits Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg<
S1 E218 · Thu, October 31, 2024
#218 Building THE Global Climate Collaboration Community & Lessons from the 00's Tech Boom | Duncan Logan (9Zero)
Today we are joined by Duncan Logan , CEO & Co-Founder of 9Zero . A community platform to bring climate professionals together in person and online so we can work together to solve the climate crisis. Duncan previously founded RocketSpace where he saw many tech startups that would go on to become unicorns. Companies like Uber, FlexPort, and Spotify. Having this experience made him realize the importance of creating a hub for people to collaborate and bump into each other. They are extending this even further by building these hubs in all major climate cities because unlike the 2000’s tech boom, there is no one silicon valley for climate. We need to connect NY, DC, Boston, Houston, London, Berlin, SF, Seattle, and beyond. Duncan brings a lot of experience and some great stories (like the time he met Elon). Enjoy! --- 🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe) --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox Topics **00:00 The Climate Ecosystem: A Call to Action **02:01 Duncan Logan: Building Climate Tech Communities **11:09 9Zero: The Silicon Valley of Climate **20:14 Connecting Climate Hubs: A Collaborative Approach **29:45 Navigating Complexity in Climate Tech **38:50 Leadership in Climate Startups: The Right Team Matters Links ** Duncan Logan | 9Zero ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you c
S1 E217 · Tue, October 29, 2024
#217 How BrainBox AI has Mastered the Use of AI in Building Decarbonization | Jean-Simon Venne (BrainBox AI)
Jean-Simon Venne is the co-founder and CTO of BrainBox AI, a pioneering company using artificial intelligence to optimize energy use in buildings. With a background in telecom and deep expertise in building mechanics and computer engineering, Jean-Simon has led BrainBox’s efforts to bring scalable, autonomous HVAC systems to the market. In this episode, Jean-Simon discusses his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of scaling AI in the built environment, and how BrainBox AI leverages deep learning to decarbonize buildings and support grid efficiency. BrainBox AI is a Montreal-based company that uses artificial intelligence to optimize HVAC systems in commercial buildings, reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. Having raised $30 million in Series A funding, backed by investors like ABB Technology Ventures and Desjardins Capital, BrainBox is expanding globally with over 700 installations across 20 countries. Its AI-driven solutions address the growing demand for sustainable building management in the real estate sector. In this episode, Jean-Simon shares insights on: Using deep learning to optimize building energy consumption Predicting room temperatures hours ahead to save energy Drawing inspiration from autonomous vehicles for scalable building efficiency Enjoy! Topics 00:00 Harnessing AI for Building Efficiency 03:13 The Journey of an Entrepreneur 06:03 Innovating in Climate Tech 08:54 The Vision Behind Brainbox AI 12:10 Building a Scalable Solution' 15:00 Navigating Team Dynamics as a CTO 17:50 Balancing Innovation and Core Development 21:10 Creating an Ecosystem of Innovation 25:27 The Acceleration of AI Innovation 29:17 Navigating the Unknown in Technology Development 31:59 Understanding AI and Its Value 37:31 Challenges in Selling to Property Owners 41:49 The Future of Buildings and AI Integration 46:03 The Challenges and Excitement of AI Evolution Links BrainBox AI | Jean-Simon Venne Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a relia
S1 E216 · Thu, October 24, 2024
#216 This is How Nuclear Fusion Becomes a Reality w/ Brian Berzin (Thea Energy)
Brian Berzin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Thea Energy, a nuclear fusion company aiming to commercialize clean, dispatchable energy. With over 70 years of scientific research from Princeton Plasma Physics Lab, Thea Energy focuses on utilizing a stellarator design for efficient and scalable fusion power. Previously an electrical engineer and venture capitalist, Brian combines his technical and entrepreneurial expertise to lead Thea in developing the next generation of energy solutions, targeting commercial deployment by the 2030s. Thea Energy is an American fusion power company established in 2022 as a spin-off from the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). The company focuses on advancing fusion energy technology through a novel stellarator approach that utilizes all-planar electromagnetic coils. This method simplifies the design and enhances the precision of magnetic field control, aiming to make fusion energy a viable and sustainable energy source for the future In this episode, Brian shares insights on: Advancing fusion energy with simplified, scalable technology. The 70-year journey of fusion research at Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. The future timeline for commercial fusion power plants. Enjoy! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack Community Topics: 02:10 The Journey of Thea Energy 12:47 Brian's Path to Fusion 20:53 The Right Time for Fusion 24:42 Understanding Nuclear Fusion 25:10 Understanding Fusion vs. Fission 30:58 The Future of Fusion Energy 41:29 Government's Role in Nuclear Energy 48:01 Reflections on Climate Week Links: Brian Berzin | Thea Energy Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homewor
S1 E215 · Tue, October 22, 2024
#215 Decarbonizing Mining, Microbes x Metals, National Security x Climate, & the Microbe Mafia | Liz Dennett (Endolith)
Today, we are speaking with Liz Dennett , the CEO and Founder of Endolith . Endolith recently spun out of Cemvita to form its own independent company. ( Ep #200 with Moji from Cemvita ) By 2050, we will need more copper than in the history of mankind due to the electrification of industry and developing countries. If we don’t solve this, it could lead to geopolitical conflicts. Their tech uses microbes to eat crushed rocks and poop out copper (I did say explain it to me like I’m 5). They add this to existing mining operations to increase output by ~10%. This helps us get closer to solving copper demand. In today’s conversation, we cover **Copper in electrification **Her journey to CEO of Endolith **Why copper could be the thing wars are fought over **The innovation behind microbial mining **The balance between generating hype and focusing on scientific advancements Enjoy! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack Community Topics: **0:00 The Importance of Coppe **2:49 Liz's Journey to Endolith **6:06 Microbes and Metal Recovery **8:49 Deep Tech Startup Challenges **12:11 Spinning-Out of Endolith from Cemvita **14:53 The Impact of Copper on Society **18:04 Geopolitics and Copper **20:57 Electrification and Global Outcomes **25:40 Speaking Truth to Power **28:26 The Complexities of Clean Energy Access **30:44 Areas to Decarbonize Mining **32:36 Partnering with Mining Incumbents **35:55 Balancing Hype and ‘Doing Science’ **40:39 The Role of Politics in Green Mining **45:11 Recycling & the Future of Minerals Links: ** Liz Dennett | Endolith ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn **
S1 E214 · Thu, October 17, 2024
#214 THIS is What People ACTUALLY Think about NY ClimateWeek
A while ago, we released a survey to collect people's feedback on NY Climate Week 2024. Well… the results are in! And we are here to recap them. If you want to know… What people thought the best events were (and why) As well as the worst… (namedropped… 😬) and why Favorite topics Topics people want to see more next year What everyone’s goal was, and did they achieve it? What people will do differently next year And takeaways from your favorite CleanTechies hosts We enjoyed making this, and we think you’ll enjoy listening. Let us know how we did! Topics 0:00 Introduction to the NY Climate Week Survey Results 1:03 Highlights of Favorite Events 2:31 Factors Contributing to Event Success 3:53 Least Favorite Events 8:08 Key Topics Discussed 11:51 Goals of Attendees 20:30 Broader Feedback and Suggestions for Improvement 23:19 Takeaways Links Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E213 · Tue, October 15, 2024
#213 UK's New Climate Focus, Data Science in VC, Investing in DeepTech, & More w/ Arjun Jairaj (noa)
Arjun Jairaj is an investor at noa, a London-based VC firm focused on early-stage ventures in the built environment across North America and Europe. With experience spanning private equity, startup founding, and advisory roles, Arjun has worked in India, the UK, and beyond, including founding a shared economy startup called Plonk. At noa, he focuses on real estate, construction, energy, and mobility, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and climate technology. In this episode, Arjun shares insights on: Navigating regional investment differences The impact of political landscapes on climate tech Emerging opportunities in robotics and decentralized energy systems. 📝 Show Notes: Topics 00:21 Saul Griffith as Inspiration 03:19 Climate Consciousness Growing Up 07:33 noa’s Investment Process 12:26 Political Shifts in Climate Policy 22:45 Regional Differences in Built Environment Paid version starts 32:37 – Contrarian Investing and VCM 43:58 – Business Models vs. Deep Tech 47:22 – Future Opportunities Links Arjun Jairaj | noa Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E212 · Wed, October 09, 2024
#212 Building Decarbonization at Scale, US Relationships with China, Heat Pump Revolution, & More w/ Panama Bartholomy (Building Decarbonization Coalition)
We're joined by Panama Bartholomy, Founder and Executive Director of the Building Decarbonization Coalition (BDC). We talk about Panama’s background, the journey of creating the BDC, and why heat pumps and electrification are at the heart of decarbonizing buildings. He shares insights on the challenges of transforming America’s building sector, the importance of state-level action, and the opportunities for public-private partnerships in pushing climate tech forward. We also talk about China, and Panama offers a unique perspective on the role of international collaboration in the race to decarbonize. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on: The rise of building decarbonization policies in the U.S. Why state-level action is crucial, regardless of federal shifts The future of heat pumps and electrification in both the U.S. and China How the BDC is driving neighborhood-scale building decarbonization Enjoy! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack Community Topics 00:27 Panama’s Background and Early Career 09:09 Early Challenges in Building Decarbonization 12:50 BDC’s Vision and Impact 16:17 BDC's Three Vertical Approach: Policy, Market, and Consumer Education 21:07 U.S. States Leading the Decarbonization Effort 24:41 The Mid-Transition of Building Decarbonization Paid version starts 30:35 The Incentive Structure and Challenges of Heat Pump Adoption 34:20 Panama's Trip to China 49:24 Quick Hits: Business Ideas, Resources, and BDC's Vision Links Panama Bartholomy | Building Decarbonization Coalition Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due di
S1 E211 · Fri, October 04, 2024
#211 FOAK Everything, the LARGEST Offtake Agreement Directory, Capital Types, Commercialization Talent, & More w/ Yair Reem (Extantia)
Bucket List: - Do a live podcast recording ✅ Thanks to Extantia, one of THE leading ClimateTech funds in Europe, we recorded our first live podcast with Co-Founder, Partner, & LinkedIn Top Voice Yair Reem . It was FOAKing awesome. And no, it wasn’t awesome just because we got to do a live podcast, but because so many of you showed up to listen!! Shoutout to all of the CleanTechies that came through; we’re sufficiently motivated to do another 🚀. No frills this time, the pizazz was in the recording, here’s the info you need: In today’s recording of our live discussion, you can hear us break-down everything regarding FOAK financing for hardware climate tech startups: Intro to Yair What the F**K is FOAK How to “Do FOAK” How offtake agreements are game-changers & the largest open-source offtake directory Finding commercialization talent The danger of spinning out deeptech too soon How founders and investors can break through the noise While you listen, here’s some links for ya: Connect with Yair Follow Extantia Check out the last episode we did with Extantia Connect with Somil & Silas Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe on YouTube Upgrade to Paid See y’all at the next CleanTechies Live Podcast Recording ☕️ Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E210 · Wed, October 02, 2024
#210 Our NYCW 2024 Hot Takes 🔥
And... don't forget to fill out the post climate week survey! 📝 NYCW 2024 was a DOOZY…filled with plenty of good and crazy times that we equally don’t really remember. It went by in a blur, but so much happened in the week that we need to break it down with all you CleanTechies out there. Listen to the ep to hear about: What events we liked — Third Sphere, Political Risk Event, Climate Capital Summit, New Climate Futures The events we didn’t like — VC hangouts & loud bar meetups Our biggest takeaways — There needs to be better collaboration across events; and the UNGA & NYCW are competing for the best climate talent Our biggest gripes — Too much posturing and getting stuck in echo chambers; too much noise — not enough signal What we are going to do differently next year — hosting more of our own events / attending fewer ones & finding places where the real debates are happening Our hot takes 🔥: FOAK financing isn’t real Dealflow isn’t an alpha for VCs anymore Startups need to pursue generating PE-quality returns to succeed 👉 AND…last but not least, stay tuned to hear the recording of our first live podcast (coming later this week)…👀 👉 If you’ve made it this far, you must really be interested in a better NYCW experience… fill out the post-Climate Week survey Post Climate Week Survey Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S2 E1 · Mon, September 23, 2024
CleanTechies Event Alert 🚨- First Live Pod & NYCW Soccer Meetup
Hey Everyone! We're excited to share two big announcements. 🚨🚨 First, CleanTechies is doing its first-ever live podcast! 🎙️🎊 We are partnering with Extantia , one of THE leading ClimateTech VCs in Europe, to do our first ever live podcast recording. 🎉 When: Wednesday, Sep. 25th @ 4 pm Sharp (be early) Where: Register for address Register for 1 of 15 CleanTechies tickets here: https://lu.ma/n8gteqtm Second, we are hosting a soccer game for CleanTechies ⚽ When: Friday, Sep. 27th @ 5:30 pm Where: Near Sunset Park in Brooklyn (final location shared if approved) Register here: https://lu.ma/duovm34k We’re very excited to see you all there 😎! Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E209 · Thu, September 19, 2024
🚨Special EP 209: Get the Most out of NY Climate Week
NY Climate Week is ####ing insane — event after event after event. If you’re not careful, you’ll waste an entire week of work and sleep — and get nothing out of it. We are here to give you our two cents… or rather, 35 min of advice on how to get the most out of your climate week experience. This is for you regardless if this is your first or fifth climate week. We broke it down into: Before - How to prep During - What to keep in mind during the chaos After - Mastering the follow-up Have a listen and comment with your advice for all the other CleanTechies . 🚨🚨🚨 ALSO… here is the list of events we’re attending during NYCW. Don’t be a stranger — we’ll be more excited to say hi than you can handle. Events We're Attending Good luck out there! Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E208 · Tue, September 17, 2024
#208 China's Graphite Monopoly, Battery Industry In Trump Admin, Silicon vs Graphite, Price vs Range, & More | Jonathan Tan (Coreshell)
We’re back with another episode featuring Jonathan, a founder shaking up the battery tech industry! Jonathan, a UC Berkeley Chemical Engineering grad, spent years in wastewater treatment before realizing the key driver of adoption was economics. In 2017, he and his co-founders, frustrated with their jobs, started their own company after working in thin film membrane industries. (Psst! This is a free version of the episode. To get the whole enchilada, become a paid subscriber on our substack ) Today they are building Coreshell, a company helping replace the use of Graphite in batteries while also making us less reliant on China, the main global supplier of Graphite. In this episode, we cover: The lack of true innovation in battery tech over the last 20 years. How luxury EVs focus on range, while China slashes prices. How Coreshell’s tech could reduce reliance on China’s graphite monopoly. The EU’s take on battery recycling vs. US policy. Join us for more insights! 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack Community Jonathan Tan | Coreshell Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E207 · Thu, September 12, 2024
#207 Innovative Business Models, Europe's Regulatory Environment, EV Challanges, Freight Electrification & More w/ Till Stenzel (SET Ventures)
In this episode, we are joined by Till Stenzel, Partner at SET Ventures, a European venture capital firm that has been in operation in 2007 which makes them one of the first climate VCs out there. They invest $2-$5M in rounds that range from $3-10M at the Series A/A+ stage. SET Ventures focuses on innovative business models and typically like to lead or co-lead rounds. Their investments range over 6 focus areas: distributed energy systems, digital utilities, AI & enabling technologies, built environment, industrial energy management, and mobility & transport. On a personal note, Till takes us on a fascinating ride through his career, from his early inspiration drawn from Amory Lovins and the Rocky Mountain Institute, to his venture into renewable energy projects across Northern Africa during the early solar boom, and his pivotal role at E.ON, where he navigated their corporate energy strategy towards renewables. In the age old debate of investing in the “now” of tech — tech we already have commercializable vs. investing in the future (i.e. more expensive breakthroughs), Till believes in the now, saying I quote “we don’t really need major science and energy breakthroughs to turn our energy system carbon free.” Mind blowing — listen to the ep to find out why. He talks about: How Europe's regulatory environment is shaping the energy transition The challenges of scaling EV and grid technologies Why the future of freight electrification might be closer than we think Enjoy! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack Community Topics 00:00 Introduction 01:28 Innovative Business Models 24:45 The Impact of Europe's Regulatory Environment 26:39 Challenges Faced by Utilities 32:15 The Power of Storytelling and Education Paid Version Starts 35:27 Exit Modeling and Fund Strategy 48:57 Looking Forward for SET Ventures 50:21 Helpful Resources in Climate Tech Links Till Stenzel | SET Ventures Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | <a href='https://www
S1 E206 · Mon, September 09, 2024
#206 Political Uncertainty, Industrial Heat Decarb, Onshoring Production, Geopolitical Tensions & More w/ Peter Sopher (Clean Energy Ventures)
This is a masterclass on investing in the future 🌍💰. Today, we're sitting down with Peter Sofer, Investment Partner at Clean Energy Ventures (CEV). Based in Austin, Texas, Peter tackles investing in the toughest-to-decarbonize sectors. CEV is known for backing companies that could be the only game in town for the long haul, with potential to achieve multi-gigaton greenhouse gas reductions. Peter’s journey is packed with insights, from his time at the Environmental Defense Fund to leading Clean Energy Ventures' second fund, targeting $305 million in Seed and Series A investments. This episode dives into an issue not often discussed in detail — the future of climate tech amid political and economic uncertainty. Peter breaks down how the evolving political landscape and macroeconomic factors will influence the availability of non-dilutive funding, and why a company's storytelling is critical for fundraising success. In this conversation, we explore: How Clean Energy Ventures chooses companies that are addressing the most challenging sectors The potential impact of a new administration on climate tech, especially around the IRA His thoughts on geopolitical tensions, China’s dominance in renewables, and the future of onshoring production --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack Community Topics Clean Energy Ventures' Investment Philosophy Challenges of Hard-to-Decarbonize Sectors Navigating Political and Economic Uncertainty Paid Version Starts Here Onshoring vs. Global Competition Evaluating Startup Success Exit Landscape for Climate Tech Startups Empowering the Next Generation of Climate Entrepreneurs Links Peter Sopher | Clean Energy Ventures Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas &
S1 E205 · Tue, September 03, 2024
#205 Finding a Co-Founder, DeepTech, Venture Studio Model, Policy x Climate | Benjamin Tincq (Marble)
Today’s episode is special to me! When I first learned about ClimateTech, I dreamed of building a Venture Studio in the space. Although I didn’t even know what a Venture Studio was back then, I quickly realized that founder-market fit is crucial for success. While I’m not there yet, I started my own recruitment firm to gain the freedom and impact I wanted in a field with a huge need for affordable services. Maybe one day, I’ll follow in Ben’s footsteps. But for now, this conversation with Benjamin, who co-founded Ouishare in France and has been building companies ever since, was incredibly fulfilling. We dive deep into his latest venture, Marble, discussing what they do, how their business model works, and how they’re funded. We also explore how to find the right co-founder and the role of policy in advancing ClimateTech. There’s so much more to uncover, and I’m excited to have him back on one day. Enjoy the show! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack Community Topics Intro Ben's Background What They Do Fundraising for Marble Challenges of Building in Climate Finding a Co-Founder —(end of free preview)— Policy and Regulation in Climate Tech Key Opportunity Areas in Climate Tech Links Benjamin Tincq | Marble Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundred
S1 E204 · Wed, August 28, 2024
#204 The New Biodiversity Investing, Climate Philanthropy, Nature Tech, & More w/ Karl Burkart (One Earth)
We don’t always have climate philanthropic-learning orgs on, but when we do, it’s always a banger 💥 We're sitting down with Karl Burkart, the Co-Founder and Deputy Director of One Earth. One Earth funds advanced scientific research and technology applications to address the climate crisis at scale across three pillars: Renewable energy transition Nature conservation Regenerative agriculture Karl's journey is nothing short of fascinating, starting from his early days as an architect focused on sustainable design in the Bay Area and is now leading One Earth. This episode explores an issue that doesn’t get enough love in climate tech — biodiversity and nature. Right now, the issues are in how biodiversity is measured, valued, and integrated into markets. Karl breaks down how and why biodiversity is becoming an investable space, particularly through monitoring and verifying the health of ecosystems. It’s so promising that Fortune 500s get into this space 💰. --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack Community Topics 01:03 Background 04:22 From Architecture to Sustainability to Climate Change 08:16 Transition to LA 10:34 The Role of Media and Content Creation in Climate Change 16:09 One Earth and its Three Pillars 21:55 The Need for More Funding and Support in Climate Solutions 24:22 The Potential Impact of a Change in Administration on Climate Philanthropy 27:33 The Role of Philanthropy and Impact Investing in Climate Solutions —(end of free preview)— 29:29 Nature Tech x AI 37:15 Biodiversity in Climate Solutions (get the full episode by becoming a paid subscriber on our Substack today! https://cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe Links Karl Burkart | One Earth Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn <a href='https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies
S1 E203 · Sun, August 25, 2024
🚨Special Ep #203: Solving Battery Swapping: Ample’s 11 Plays
This is a special breakdown of Ample’s strategic playbook and how you can apply it to your hardware climate startup. The full version of this episode is only available to our paid subscribers — soo… if you’re looking for a reason to become a paid sub… here is your chance 😉 Become a paid subscriber today by clicking here: 👇 https://cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe Links John de Souza | Ample Inc. Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E202 · Thu, August 22, 2024
#202 Battery Swapping, Scaling Globally, 4x Founder, Universal Battery Modules, & More w/ John de Souza (Ample Inc)
Today, our guest is John de Souza . Co-founder of Ample Inc . A startup betting that battery swapping is the future. If you're at all like me, you're thinking that sounds bat shit crazy. Well, listen to today's episode, and you'll realize it's the opposite. It's the only logical conclusion to EVs. We can't gloss over this -- John is special. This is his 4th major startup endeavor, and it's clear that it is because he brings a level of maturity and wisdom that very few founders do. He could have ridden off into the sunset, but he decided to stay in the arena because it's what he does. I guarantee you will learn a lot from John today. I'm not even going to thank you for tuning in today because you're doing yourself a favor by listening to this episode. --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack Community Topics (free preview time stamps are slightly different) 03:26 John's Career & Entrepreneurial Origins 05:20 The Inspiration for Ample 09:06 Battery Swapping 13:51 OEM Partnerships 16:15 A Universal Battery Module 18:38 Integration w/ OEMs & Production Lines 22:54 Deployment & Scale 23:22 Business Model & Global Expansion 24:47 Ample's GTM Strategy: (Partnering with Uber and Commercial Fleets) 28:07 Efficiency & Cost Control: In-House Battery & Swapping Station Production —(end of free preview)— (get the full episode by becoming a paid subscriber on our Substack today! https://cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe Links John de Souza | Ample Inc. Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X <
S1 E201 · Tue, August 20, 2024
#201 State-Funded VC, Triple Bottom Line, SAFs & Hydrocarbons, Job Creation & More w/ Drew D'Alelio (Connecticut Innovations)
Drew D’Alelio is an Investor at Connecticut Innovations, the government investing arm of the state of Connecticut, who helps manage and co-founded the state’s $100M climate tech fund. He plays a pivotal role in managing their $100M Climate Tech fund with a triple bottom line of returns, climate mitigation and adaptation, and CT jobs. His passion for sustainability was sparked by witnessing the impacts of climate change firsthand in Florida, where his family is from. Over the years, he has developed a deep expertise in mobilizing capital for climate solutions, including structuring investments for solar projects at the U.S. Development Finance Corporation. At Connecticut Innovations, they focus on leveraging the state’s strengths in manufacturing, materials science, and engineering to support early-stage companies that align with Connecticut’s decarbonization goals. Drew’s unique approach to venture capital combines financial acumen with a deep commitment to public service, ensuring that each investment not only generates returns but also fosters innovation and job creation within the state. We talk about: **How they manage their triple bottom line: creating jobs, making money, and having a positive impact on the planet **The complexities in evaluating climate tech investments in infrastructure and second-order effects **Connecticut's strengths in manufacturing and a tight-knit ecosystem that facilitates quick connections **Their close collaboration with Yale and UConn to support early-stage climate tech innovation and commercialization TOPICS: **03:01 Connecticut's Climate Tech Fund **07:46 The Triple Bottom Line **14:35 Facilitating Partnerships **23:24 University Collaborations --In the full episode-- ** Connecticut's Strengths and Industries **Engaging with Universities and Startups **Exciting Sectors: Sustainable Fuels and Carbon Sequestration **Aviation and Synthetic Hydrocarbons **Skepticism and Second Order Effects **42:21 Why Move to Connecticut LINKS: ** Drew D’Alelio | Connecticut Innovations ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm
S1 E200 · Thu, August 15, 2024
#200 Biofuels, Nature as a Blueprint, Bio-Mining, the Next Frontier, Waste to Fuel, & More w/ Moji Karimi (Cemvita)
Woo Hoo! Episode #200 🎉🎉🎉 We are thrilled to release our 200th episode with the one and only Moji Karimi. Moji is a co-founder of Cemvita, the biotech powerhouse that has also birthed GoldH2 and Endolith (now individual companies). This is the free version of the episode. To get the full thing, go to our Substack and become a paid subscriber. Any paid tier gets full access to the episode. Today, Moji shares with us, His journey into entrepreneurship and Cemvita What in the world they do and what they've done so far The basics of the biotech space Then we talk a lot about the future of biotech -- specifically, how we will start taking nature's lead in engineering industrial production We even discussed what a Trump administration could look like for the climate sector It's a wonderful conversation full of value. Enjoy! TOPICS: **02:22 Dinner with George Mitchell **05:39 Personal Journey & Origin of Cemvita **08:05 Sustainable Oil Production **13:01 Understanding Biotech & Synthetic Biology **15:46 Success in Biotech & Tips for Fundraising **19:44 End of Free Episode --In the full episode-- **Considerations if Trump gets in **Disruption in Fundraising | Focus on Cost **What is a Durable Biotech Biz Model **Using Waste as a Feedstock **Redesigning Biotech Processes **Approaching Different Investors **Future Applications of Biotech **Finding the Right Cos and Investors LINKS: ** Connect with Moji | Follow Cemvita ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell t
S1 E199 · Tue, August 13, 2024
#199 Gentle Disruption, Robotics in Construction, Global VC Strategy, Built Environment Trends, & More w/ Vivin Hegde (Zacua Ventures)
Vivin Hegde is a visionary in the built environment space — from leading innovation efforts at Hilti to co-founding Zacua Ventures, Vivin is on a mission to redefine how we think about construction and infrastructure. In this episode, he dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of investing in the built environment, sharing his journey from managing corporate venture capital at Hilti to launching Zacua Ventures, where he backs early-stage startups focused on decarbonization, productivity, and infrastructure resiliency. Vivin unpacks: **The importance of "gentle disruption" in the construction industry 🛠️ **The strategic shift from corporate innovation to independent VC investing 💼 **How global perspectives inform better investment decisions 🌍 **The key traits he looks for in founders, especially in the construction tech space 👥 Topics: **02:04 Intro **03:08 Defining the Built Environment **04:56 Automation and Robotics in Construction **08:40 Sales and Building Relationships **24:59 Supporting Startups at the Earliest Stages **26:35 Investing Globally to Fund the Best Entrepreneurs **31:55 The Importance of Sector Specialization **42:53 The Role of Data Centers in the Digital Age **44:27 The Potential of Mass Timber in Construction **45:48 Addressing Challenges in the Design Space **47:22 Impressing Investors: Deep Understanding, Knowledge, and Learning Agility Links: ** Vivin Hedge | Zacua Ventures ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E198 · Fri, August 09, 2024
#198 Fleet Charging, Max Charger Utilization, Digitizing Electrification, Being Scrappy, & More w/ Kieran White (Curo)
Today, we are speaking with Kieran White. Co-Founder of Curo. At Curo they help EV Fleet owners secure reliable charging without the need to build their own infrastructure. This has the double benefit of allowing existing infrastructure owners to maximize their assets. Today’s call is super fun. We discuss: How he hustled his way into a job with Tesla at 18, even tho they claimed to only hire 21 and older The effect this exp had on him and how it led to him launching Curo How they help fleet owners find reliable charging without building infrastructure And how they help existing charging owners maximize their infrastructure Enjoy the show! Topics: **01:56 Intro **04:23 Journey to Entrepreneurship **06:20 The Problem Kero is Solving **08:22 Challenges and Ops in EV Charging **17:05 Policy, Incentives, and the Future of the Industry **19:33 Navigating Ideas / Staying Focused **23:52 Growth Hacks **27:07 Tracking Progress / Systematizing **30:17 Dealing with New Ideas **32:57 Climate Startup Ideas **34:26 Future of EV Charging **38:38 Fundraising Advice & Closing Thoughts Links: ** Kieran White | Curo ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E196 · Mon, August 05, 2024
#196 What a 2nd Trump Term Would Mean for Climate Investing w/ Susan Su (Toba Capital)
Hey everyone! Today’s episode is a special issue. We are unpacking Susan Su’s recent article “What a second Trump presidency would mean for climate investing” . She originally posted this on her Substack, Climate Money but we wanted to unpack it for those who prefer to learn by audio. The first ~20 minutes of today’s episode are public, but you’ll need to be a paid subscriber to access the remaining 17 minutes. Get the full episode and support our work while doing so by going to CleanTechies.Substack/Subscribe Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E195 · Mon, July 29, 2024
#195 Fortune 500s Go Green, AI Washing vs Realism, Learning from Apple, & More w/ Edo Perry (Elements World)
Edo is a rockstar individual — from tackling the lack of green employer incentive problem to building climate tech communities across the USA, Edo joins us to share his journey from working in sustainability at Apple to founding Elements World, making it possible for employers to hit their sustainability targets through their employees. He discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in addressing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by leveraging the often-overlooked potential of employee-related activities, such as business travel, commuting, and work-from-home practices. He breaks down: Their shift from a B2C to a B2B model 📈 Shares insights on fundraising challenges 💰 The importance of gaining traction before approaching investors 💵 The role of AI in optimizing their offerings 🤖 -- Topics: **02:31 Introduction and Background **05:23 Understanding the Employer Problem **09:16 Transition from B2C to B2B **13:13 Working at Apple and Decision to Found Elements World **16:43 Fundraising Journey **22:26 Using AI in Climate Tech **27:26 Building and Scaling the Team **33:06 Creating ClimateTech Communities **35:44 Future Goals and Closing Thoughts -- Links: ** Edo Perry | Elements World ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X ** This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E194 · Thu, July 25, 2024
#194 Distilling the Water Industry, Water Policy, Cracking Distribution, Hybrid Financing, & More w/ Ravi Kurani (Liquid Assets Podcast)
Today we speak with Ravi Kurani, CEO and Founder of Sutro (water IoT device company -- exited to Sani Marc). Aaand the creator and host of Liquid Assets, a Podcast interviewing the leading voices in WaterTech. Between Ravi's background as a founder in the water, his familiarity with the water ecosystem, and now his opportunity to interview the leaders in the water space, he's a great person to have on regarding all things water. We feel that we got a hell of a deal here. We get to have one conversation that is worth thousands. Enjoy today's conversation about all things water, tech, policy, circularity, financing, and more. Oh, and if you are not already, go check out Liquid Assets wherever you get your podcasts (or just go to LiquidAssets.cc ) Topics: **2:28 Intro **4:10 Learnings from Liquid Assets Podcast **8:09 The Categories of Water **11:20 Where Innovation Is **13:27 Energy x Water (Policy) **16:26 Upgrade to Paid Ad **18:01 GTM in Water **21:55 Power Dynamics and Wastewater **24:04 Telecom Parallel **24:52 Circularity x Water x Infrastructure **26:33 Owning Wastewater **28:45 Geo-Specific Challenges **31:04 Water Isn't Priced Right **32:20 KPIs for Success in Water **34:13 Global Water Hubs **35:35 Why Water is Close Knit **36:49 Startup Ideas **37:59 Water Needs New Financing Arm Links: **Connect with Ravi Kurani | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kuraniravi/ **Follow Liquid Assets | https://www.liquidassets.cc/ ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E193 · Tue, July 23, 2024
#193 100k Jobs by 2030, Future of Work in Climate, Power of Bootstrapping, Beating MBB, & More w/ Matthias Muehlbauer (OnePointFive)
Today, we are talking to Matthias Muehlbauer of OnePointFive . We have the pleasure of covering one of our good friends, Matthias Muehlbauer at the powerhouse firm OnePointFive. Matthias is a Founding Partner at the firm, where their activities range across two operations: **They provide diligence and climate advisory services **They train sustainability professionals They’re bringing a level of success and professionalism that is beating MBB (top 3 consulting firms) at the sustainability game. From operating such a dynamic business from day 1, Matthias has picked up a lot of great knowledge about the space: **The Future of Work in climate **Where sustainability is headed **The power of bootstrapping **What you need to know to be successful in getting a job in climate Convinced that you should know more about this? Well, you’re in luck. Tune in to todays episode to learn more…🎧💡 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: ** 03:12 About OPF **12:22 Differentiating Ed in the Market **13:49 From Expert Network to Education **15:45 Workforce Transition **18:43 Mid-Career Pivoters **27:16 Bootstrapping & Being Nimble **31:02 Embedded Sustainability in the Workforce **40:14 Clean Energy and the Future of Fossil Fuels ----- Links: ** Matthias Muehlbauer | OnePointFive ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.
S1 E192 · Thu, July 18, 2024
#192 Catalytic Capital, Hiring a CFO, Inclusive Financing, Grant Funding Gaps, & More w/ Dimitry Gershenson (Enduring Planet)
Dimitry Gershenson is the Co-Founder and CEO of Enduring Planet. A fractional CFO and Non-Dilutive Funding service for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs. As for funding, they provide working capital for founders who have landed grants or who have government contracts. It's great to see more Climate-Specific service providers to help continue supporting the ecosystem. Today, Dimitry shares his story, and we discuss: **The importance of and when to hire a fractional CFO **Funding underrepresented founders **The importance of Catalytic Capital **The Grant Funding Gap and Solving it And much more. Enjoy the episode! Resources Mentioned: ** Climate Curious ** Streamline Climate ** Pacific Northwest Climate Week Email Dimitry: dimitry@enduringplanet.com --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **2:3 Introduction and Overview of Enduring Planet's Services **4:10 The Importance of Supporting Climate Entrepreneurs **8:47 The Gap in the Ecosystem for Finance Expertise in Climate Tech **10:23 The Need for Early Financial Planning and Analysis **12:31 The Importance of Getting Finance in Order Early **14:51 Timeline for Bringing in Fractional CFO and Hiring Full-Time Finance Talent **17:22 Navigating Finance Challenges in Hardware Climate Tech **18:18 Introduction and Pricing **19:18 Lending and Transparency **46:17 Building Local Climate Communities **50:47 Addressing Capital Gaps in the Climate Ecosystem ----- Links: ** Dimitry Gershenson | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgershenson/ ** Enduring Planet | https://enduringplanet.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn **<a href='https://twitter.co
S1 E191 · Mon, July 15, 2024
#191 Wood Supply Chains, Creating a Brand, Fragmented Industries, Securing Consistent Offtake & More w/ Ben Christensen (Cambium)
In our third installment of sustainable building materials, we’re taking another look at lumber. We’ve already called reclaimed lumber “the superpower building material you’ve never heard of”. As a refresher, lumber, processed wood from trees, is a versatile and widely used building material known for its strength, durability, and workability. So why isn’t there more of it in our buildings? Well, as great as lumber is, usable lumber from our buildings only comes from a few places — in the USA, it comes mainly from the Northwest and Southeast. For this reason, lumber is an expensive building material. But all hope is not lost. Last week, we covered Urban Machine, a company turning waste wood reusable by removing objects from it. This week, we’re covering Cambium - a hot 🔥 startup pioneering regenerative, local supply chains for wood by converting waste wood into reusable assets for the lumber industry. Not only do they have their own white-labeled wood called Carbon Smart Wood, but they have an innovative SaaS platform that can function as the source of truth for the entire supply chain . Convinced that you should know more about this? Well, you’re in luck. Tune in to todays episode to learn more…🎧💡 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our Substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **02:10 Introduction **06:24 Challenges in the Lumber Supply Chain **14:04 Deciding on the Founder Venture-Fact Operating Model **16:26 Guaranteeing Offtake and Ensuring Supply **19:03 The Value of Waste Wood **29:03 Competing with Incumbents **34:09 Scaling the Local Approach **45:32 Advice for Founders ----- Links: ** Ben Christensen | Cambium ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & <a href
S1 E190 · Thu, July 11, 2024
#190 Climate Robotics, Reusing Lumber, the Economics of Construction, Inventory Prediction, & More w/ Eric Law (Urban Machine)
Reclaimed lumber is the superpower building material you’ve never heard of (because we’re all up to date on our Rolodex of sustainable building materials, right?). Lumber, processed wood from trees, is a versatile and widely used building material known for its strength, durability, and workability. So why isn’t there more of it in our buildings? Well, as great as lumber is, usable lumber from our buildings only comes from a few places — in the USA, it comes mainly from the Northwest and Southeast. That makes lumber an expensive building material . But all hope is not lost. In comes Urban Machine. By creating reusable lumber from waste sites, they are increasing the supply of usable lumber, making it not only more available but more local. Convinced that you should know more about this? Well, you’re in luck. Tune in to todays episode to learn more…🎧💡 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our Substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **03:14 Building Robots for Lumber **08:22 Removing Metal **18:30 Predicting Inventory **26:27 Challenges of Building a Hardware Company **28:47 The Economics of Construction **36:26 The Future of Urban Machine **40:35 Keys to Success in the Construction Tech Industry ----- Links: ** Eric Law | Urban Machine ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X ** This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal need
S1 E189 · Tue, July 09, 2024
#189 Sustainable Building Materials, Mycelium, Scaling Production, Navigating Market Acceptance & More w/ Ilya Gindin (COMU Labs)
Mycelium is an emerging decarbonized building material due to its sustainability, biodegradability, and strength. It is cultivated by growing fungal networks, also known as mushrooms. Mycelium-based products can be used for insulation, bricks, and packaging. Today, we have a ClimateTech Entrepreneur making waves with Mycelium. Ilya is CEO & Co-Founder of COMU Labs, bridging the gap between sustainability and affordability in furniture materials. They utilize fungi to transform agricultural waste into robust, machinable and fire-retardant material that looks and behaves like plywood. Some of what we chatted about: **How Mycelium can be pressed into high-density boards **Why their material is substrate agnostic (and what the heck that means 🤔) **Challenges that still exist with market acceptance **Building a sustainable and healthy company culture & more. 🍄 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **01:31 Intro **02:49 Discovering Mycelium **09:09 Advantages of Mycelium as a Building Material **11:43 Common Misconceptions about Mycelium **20:31 Scouting New Talent **24:58 Challenges Ahead for Comu Labs ----- Links: ** Ilya Gindin | COMU Labs ** Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X ** This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law fir
S1 E188 · Thu, July 04, 2024
#188 Decarbonizing Steam, Drop-In Replacement, Building in Stealth, & More w/ Ashwin Salvi (AtmosZero)
Ashwin Salvi is the Co-Founder and COO of AtmosZero. They create electrified boilers to replace traditional fossil-fuel-burning boilers in industrial settings. Steam touches a huge amount of products that we, as consumers, use every day, and AtmosZero is helping decarbonize that. Today, Ashwin shares his story, and we discuss: How they solved the cost issue by making a drop-in replacement How they built their pilot at the same scale as their commercial unit The tradeoffs of building in stealth How they are building to win even without subsidies And much more. Enjoy the episode! Resources Mentioned Book Recommendation: Empires of Light by Jill Jonne Podcast Recommendations: Founders Podcast by David Senra AND How to Take Over the World by Ben Wilson Connect with Ashwin Salvi: Email: ashwin@atmoszero.energy --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **01:58 Introduction and Background **10:03 Creating a Standardized Solution for Decarbonization **24:03 Return on Investment and Future Plans **25:42 De-risking and Mass Manufacturing **29:23 Challenges and Objections **39:32 First Commercial Deployment **48:48 Opportunities in Electrical Availability and Funding **51: 38 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Ashwin Salvi | AtmosZero ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to
S1 E187 · Sat, June 29, 2024
#187 Energy Transparency, Selling to Utilities, Electricity Markets, Exiting TWICE & More w/ Toby Ferenczi (Granular Energy)
Today, we are talking to Toby Ferenczi from Granular Energy . In this electrifying (ha!) episode, we finally tracked down the elusive Toby Ferenczi, a man who juggles startups like they're hot potatoes. ⚡️ Toby educates us about the world of electricity transparency and trading. Did you know you can trade electricity like stocks? Neither did we! And it doesn’t exactly work like that…but it got your interest, didn’t it?? 🤔 From his days at Cambridge to co-founding Granular Energy, Toby has journeyed in solar starting with solar panel materials with this PhDs, working at GE, and later through startup exits. He even founded a nonprofit for timestamped energy certificates—because, why not? If you've ever wondered where your electricity comes from or how to make a clean energy choice, this episode is a shocker in the best way possible. 💥 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **02:42 Introduction **05:00 Enabling Customers to Choose Clean Energy **08:20 The Role of Electricity Markets **10:43 Journey as an Entrepreneur **14:46 Transparency in the Energy Industry **20:50 Understanding the Utility Business Model **25:28 Opportunities to Bypass Utilities **30:49 Fundraising **33:50 The Future of the Solar Industry **43:24 Opportunities in the Market ----- Links: ** Toby Ferenczi | Granular Energy ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs w
S1 E186 · Sat, June 22, 2024
#186 Electric Flight, Commercializing Hardware, Sustainable Aviation, Working at NASA, & More w/ Kevin Noertker (Ampaire)
Kevin Noertker is the Co-Founder and CEO of Ampaire, a developer of Hybrid Aviation Propulsion Systems to Decarbonize Air Travel Today. Currently they are scaling up their tech. Their tech is proven to reduce fuel usage by about 50% for small aircrafts (anything with a propeller). Today, Kevin shares his story and we discuss: Aerospace Engineer to Ampaire: His story of co-founding Ampaire. Addressing Existing Stock: Electric aircraft is the future, but their solution helps address the existing stock of aircraft. Bridging the Infrastructure Gap: How fully electric air travel will require massive infrastructure upgrades, so they are building a solution that will work in between. Enjoy today's conversation! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **1:53 Intro and Background **7:01 The Impact of NASA Experience **14:20 The Third Revolution in Aviation **17:09 Economic and Environmental Benefits **28:19 Commercialization Process and Milestones **38:39 Design Considerations for Hybrid Systems **42:21 Infrastructure and Charging **42:58 Recharging Electric Aircraft in the Air **43:18 Adapting Infrastructure for Electric Aviation **44:54 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Kevin Noertker | Ampaire ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTec
S1 E185 · Mon, June 17, 2024
#185 Green Hydrogen, Landing Customers, Electrolyzers, Building in Wisconsin, & More w/ Chad Mason (Advanced Ionics)
Chad Mason is the CEO and Founder of Advanced Ionics, a company that has designed a revolutionary electrolyzer. They did this by designing their technology from scratch. They are currently scaling up this innovative technology and plan to sell these units, known as stacks, either directly or through licensing agreements. Today, Chad shares his journey: Early Inspiration: How he first learned about electrolysis at age 5 on a farm in North Dakota. Career Path: The various steps in his career that led him to start Advanced Ionics. Strategic Location: Why he chose Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the base for his company. Corporate Partnerships: How they partner with corporates for capital, pilots, and demand. Chad also offers his insights on the future of the electrolyzer space, discussing both the tailwinds that are driving growth and the headwinds that present challenges. Enjoy today's conversation! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **2:00 Intro and Background **5:13 Utilizing Exothermic Heat for Efficiency **6:20 Chad's Entrepreneurial Journey **12:44 Early Inspirations and Career Path **15:25 Understanding Electrolysis Technology **18:18 Components and Operation of the Stack **26:30 Landing Customers **27:47 The Power of Partnerships and Investments **31:26 Lessons Learned: Opportunistic with Capital Raising **40:58 Headwinds and Tailwinds of Hydrogen Industry **45;36 The Importance of Reliability and Maintainability **49:10 Talent Acquisition in Wisconsin **53:16 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Chad Mason | Advanced Ionics ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why set
S1 E184 · Thu, June 13, 2024
#184 Plastic Replacement, Natural Fibers, Drop-In Materials, Toll Mills & More w/ Jesse Henry (Heartland Industries)
Jesse Henry is the CEO and Founder of Heartland Industries, a company that produces drop-in pellets made of hemp fiber. These pellets are used as an additive to plastics. They reduce the weight and cost of the products, improve strength, and lower scope 3 emissions. It's a quadruple-benefit product. Today, Jesse tells us his story - how he started Heartland - how he's the 3rd generation to work in the fibers industry - how they landed BASF as a partner and investor - and he gives a lot of other insights. Including our favorite, how they produce huge volumes of pellets without owning a milling facility. Enjoy today's conversation! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **2:15 Intro **2:55 Jesse's Background & Heartland's Mission **10:06 The Challenge of Developing Reliable Supply Chains **13:33 From Powder to Pellets **16:47 What it Means to be a ClimateTech Entrepreneur Today **22:03 Partnering with Wood Pellet Mills for Scale and Cost Reduction **28:34 Run Jesse's Playbook **31:16 The Finance of Materials Companies **34:00 The Power of CVCs **41:10 Opportunities in B2B Marketplaces **43:27 How to Pick the Right CVCs **47:02 Next Steps for Heartland **54:58 Process Technologies and Software Solutions **56:11 Focusing Beyond Carbon **57:46 Takeaway **54:51 Using Infrastructure to Skip Building **56:16 Reducing Risk with Each Fundraising Round ----- Links: ** Jesse Henry ** Heartland Industries ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech E
S1 E183 · Mon, June 10, 2024
#183 Smart Cities, Climate FinTech, Urban Tech, VC Fundamentals, & More w/ Rahul Parekh (2150)
Rahul broke down the nitty-gritty of how 2150 built (no pun intended) a leading ClimateTech VC fund focused on decarbonizing the built environment. We talked investing, fund modeling, learning from general VC, FinTech in ClimateTech, & more. This was a VC-fundamental extraordinaire , and super informative for anyone looking to learn more about venture capital. AND let’s not forget, Rahul spent his holiday with us to do this. Cheers to him. Enjoy 🥳👏. --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox ----- Topics: ** 03:025 Introduction **05:01 Home Decarbonization **08:19 Government Incentives and Policies **24:37 The Breakdown of Investments in 2150 **33:29 Intentional Modeling and Entry Prices **42:05 Finance x Climate **45:20 The Urban Stack and City Resilience **47:29 Adding Value Beyond Capital ----- Links: ** Marian Krueger | remove ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E182 · Tue, June 04, 2024
#182 Voluntary Carbon Markets, Investing in 100+ CDR Startups, Hard-to-Abate Sectors, & More w/ Marian Krueger (remove)
Marian Krueger comes to us with his experience investing in 120+ early stage CDR startups , and broke down what we should look for and what’s worth watching in the years ahead. He’s a leading expert in CDR having invested in Europe, which is the leading CDR ecosystem in the world. Sitting down with him as a blast, and for our US listeners, this episode is VERY timely with the Biden Administration’s first release on voluntary carbon markets , Enjoy 🥳👏. --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox ----- Topics: **02:41 Introduction **05:08 Challenges of the Voluntary Carbon Market **16:30 CDR Startups **17:53 Impact-Driven Motivation of CDR Founders **26:32 Gaps in the CDR Space **32:27 Role of Policy in Carbon Removal **39:03 Prioritization, Universities, and A-Teams **42:10 Collaboration and Partnerships **42:51 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Marian Krueger | remove ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E181 · Sat, May 25, 2024
#181 Hot Rocks, From EPA to Apple, Paths to Commercialization, The CapEx > OpEx Model, & More w/ Arvin Ganesan (Fourth Power)
Today, we speak with Arvin Ganesan, an ex-Obama-Admin EPA and ex-Apple Energy Procurement executive. His career is fascinating, from finance to Policy to Energy Tech CEO. He offers us a lot of insight into their technology, how it works, and specifically how it plays well with utility models of making money. Towards the end, he mentioned the unknown of the commercialization path. He pointed out that it's not important to pick a model of commercialization with a tech like this because so many variables can dictate the best path to commercialization when the tech is proven past the pilot scale. Lots of good stuff is in today's episode! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox ----- Topics: **2:37 Why Cheap and Accessible Energy Storage Matters **2:37 Why Cheap and Accessible Energy Storage Matters **17:30 Fourth Power's Utility-Scale Thermal Battery **21:58 Fast and Efficient Energy Storage and Discharge **27:10 Building Fourth Power **32:04 The Power of People **37:24 Maintaining Culture with Growth **42:21 Opportunities in the Utility Market **47:04 Startup Opportunities in Agriculture Decarbonization **49:01 The Importance of Mentorship **52:19 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Arvin Ganesan | Fourth Power ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E180 · Tue, May 21, 2024
#180 Tough Tech, Scaling DeepTech, MIT's Ecosystem, Political Durability of IRA, & More w/ Michael Kearney (Engine Ventures)
Michael Kearney started off this podcast defending the political durability of the IRA…and he had us convinced. If that doesn’t have you hooked, I don’t know what will! Building for deeptech founders is HARD…like folding a fitted sheet hard. And that’s why we need someone like Mike to do it. Mike himself did his undergrad and Ph.D. at MIT, so he’s knows the MIT innovation ecosystem like the back of his hand (The Engine is an MIT spin-out). In between, he spent his time drawing power from the Sun…well not literally…he worked on grid-scale renewable energy at Ambri in corporate development. Now, he’s focused solely on supporting “Tough Tech” founders (side note, that’s definitely a favorite term of this podcast now). Mike clearly loves doing really easy things…right? --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox | https://cleantechies.substack.com/podcast 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **02:29 Introduction **03:50 Political Durability of the IRA **07:46 Supporting Tough Tech Startups **16:06 Scaling from Early-Stage Innovation to Large-Scale Deployment **26:30 Building in the Field **28:35 The Investment Model of Engine Ventures **30:41 Commercializing Technology **36:46 The Changing Nature of Competition in Clean Energy **45:20 Room for Innovation **51:36 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Engine Ventures | Michael Kearney ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice
S1 E179 · Sat, May 18, 2024
#179 Industrial Decarb, ROI-Oriented Sales, GHG Accounting, Marketplaces x Recommender Systems, & More w/ Saleh ElHattab (Gravity)
There are a few key things Climate Entrepreneurs should know. This guest brought up a bunch of them. It is incredible to see how successful they are in a crowded space. Today, he shared with us many of the things that helped them succeed. How to align all stakeholders in the sales process Building a product so simple the user can be up-skilled without specialized training Building a culture of pragmatism Speaking Return-on-Investment Enjoy today's episode, and let us know your favorite moment in the comments (anywhere). --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **2:27 Intro and Background **3:05 The Problem They Solve **5:39 Global Emissions from Industry **11:44 Ideation and Idea Validation **13:37 Company Status and Growth **14:56 Challenges and Milestones **16:38 How / When to Pivot **18:16 Standing out in a Crowd **22:53 Market Positioning and Challenges **25:38 Pragmatism-First Culture **30:38 Principles and Habits for Success **32:38 Future Plans and Opportunities **37:00 Climate Startup Ideas **37:48 Closing Remarks and Call to Action **38:41 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Saleh ElHattab | Gravity ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E178 · Wed, May 15, 2024
#178 Investing in Water, IRA's Missing Link, Long Sales-Cycles, Network Compounding, & More w/ Tom Ferguson (Burnt Island Ventures)
What do you get when you put Chris Rock, Timothée Chalamet, Greta Thunberg, & Marc Andreessen together? -- You get Tom Ferguson! The King of Water VC! (Warning! Tom is hilarious, so cancel your comedy cellar tickets because you won't need them) Today, we had the chance to speak with Tom, the founding partner of Burnt Island Ventures. They are the leading VC investor in all things water. They became this by compounding their network for years with some of the best water networks, including Imagine H2O . One notable thing he pointed out is, the IRA didn't include any investment into water infrastructure. 🤯 Tune in to get the whole thing today! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox | https://cleantechies.substack.com/podcast 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **5:00 Introduction **8:10 Why Sustainability **10:34 Time with Imagine H2O **16:13 Other Considerations for BIV **19:27 Story behind the Name BIV **20:55 MBA and Business School **27:22 Focus on Building Team **31:32 Pricing in Velocity of Sales Process **38:35 Compounding Network as a VC’s Moat **47:24 Biggest Problems in Water **56:17 Companies that BIV work with **1:00:42 Startup Opportunity; Water Testing Market **1:04:19 Takeaway ----- Links: ** Tom Ferguson | Burnt Island Ventures ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds o
S1 E177 · Thu, May 09, 2024
#177 Climate Resilience, Bridging FAANG to ClimateTech, Cloud Computing with Geospatial Data, & More w/ Allison Wolff (Vibrant Planet)
Allison Wolff | Vibrant Planet Vibrant Planet is basically bringing the tech knowledge from the early FAANG days and applying that to land tender and wildfire resistance. Their platform is a prioritization system for land management restoration by providing real-time scenario planning, monitoring, and reporting. These assessments can help with qualifying projects for conservation finance. Allison brings a rolodex of experience working with top companies on sustainability, including Google, Meta, Netflix, eBay, Project Drawdown, & more and is now applying that knowledge with other star-studded experts to solve the wildfire risk problem. ---- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. ---- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox --- Links: ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** Somil & Silas on LinkedIn Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E176 · Mon, May 06, 2024
#176 Green Premium & the Price of No Action, Partner w/ Big Oil?, EV Demand, & More w/ Shaun Abrahamson, Part II (Third Sphere)
Recently, the MCJ Podcast experienced huge backlash for having Big Oil players on the show. This prompted us to bring back a past guest, Shaun Abrahamson from Third Sphere. ---- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. ---- Shaun last joined us on episode 136 to talk about Navigating the Climate Capital Stack and how to Design for Finance (especially in the context of hardware). Today we dive into two macro topics. #1 Partnering with Big Oil --AND-- #2 Repricing Climate Risk There are several subtopics under these big umbrellas (check topic timestamps). All of these were highly interesting to me, and I think they will be to you as well. Tune in to get the whole thing today! 🌱🌎 --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox --- Links: ** Shaun Abrahamson | Third Sphere ** Episode 136 - Hardware as an AI Moat, Design For Finance with the Climate Capital Stack, & More w/ Shaun Abrahamson (Third Sphere) ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** Somil & Silas on LinkedIn Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E175 · Tue, April 30, 2024
#175 Micromobility, Software Best Practices, Creative Business Models, Seasonality & More w/ Chinmay Malaviya & Charlie Depman (Ridepanda)
Somil chats with Chinmay Malaviya and Charlie Depman, CEO and CTO of Ridepanda, expanding access and usage of e-bikes, e-scooters, and micro mobility through employer sponsored subscriptions. Chinmay and Charlie bring a lot of startup and industry experience and were able to speak not only about their growth but ALSO breakdown the technical designs that help them be successful in micromobility. We talked about: How Ridepanda offers benefits platform for employers to subsidize employee transportation Why micromobility faces business model and reputation challenges like Byrd’s bankruptcy despite rising demand for micromobility How they balance optionality and user choice will still focusing on scaling their inventory Analyzing historical data to project future growth and consider seasonality Accepting seasonality and overcoming challenges is crucial in the micro-mobility industry How they design software for micro-mobility & much more As always, thanks so much for listening and enjoy the episode! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **03:23 Micromobility and its Reputation **12:10 Employer Business Model **20:43 Balancing Bike Production and Consumer Choice **23:42 Accepting Seasonality **28:55 Lessons from Foodpanda **32:40 Transitioning to Lime and the Transportation Space **35:21 Designing Software for Micro-Mobility **46:23 Advice for Founders ----- Links: ** Ridepanda | Chinmay Malaviya | Charlie Depman ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodw
S1 E174 · Sun, April 28, 2024
#174 Hardware Playbook, Science in VC, DeepTech Success Stories, Environmental-Based Returns, & More w/ Jessica Burley (Planet A)
What if Investors Only Made Money if they *actually* helped save the planet? Welp... folks, we have the show for you because that's exactly what Planet A is doing. Somil and Silas speak with Jessica Burley, a Berlin-based investor at the fund. On top of learning how they are *actually* walking the talk, we found out how they use Carbon Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) in their investing due diligence process. Tune in to get the whole thing today! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **01:29 Introduction and Background **02:22 The Role of Life Cycle Assessments in Investing **8:44 Article 9 and the European Regulatory Landscape **10:27 Interest in Climate Tech Investing Outside of Europe **12:54 The Increasing Pace of Climate Tech Innovation **13:33 Jess's Journey to Climate Tech Investing **17:35 Transitioning from a Small Fund to a Larger Fund21:43 The Role of Brand and **Value in Climate Tech Investing **24:44 Sector Expertise and Operational Support in Investing **26:23 Geothermal Drilling for Renewable Heating **28:46 Investment Opportunities in Climate Tech **30:45 The Hardware Playbook: Investing in Hardware Startups **42:53 The German Climate Tech Ecosystem **49:18 Building Genuine Relationships in the Climate Tech Ecosystem **51:34 Takeaways --- Evaluating Life Cycle Assessment in Investment Decisions --- The Importance of the Hardware Playbook in the Investment Ecosystem --- De-risking Talent in Startups ----- Links: ** Jessica Burley | Planet A ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; t
S1 E173 · Wed, April 24, 2024
🚨 SPECIAL EP: #173 Breaking Down GGRF and $20B into ClimateTech w/ Franz Hochstrasser (Raise Green, S2 Strategies)
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is a generational government program deploying $27B into clean energy projects across the US. But what is the bill really? Franz Hochstrasser is an expert in financing projects in low-income areas and has a wealth of experience working on climate for the government - both of which are KEY for GGRF. Franz started his career “giving his 20s” to the government, and with that doing some amazing work as the Special Advisor to the Special Envoy for Climate Change, Deputy Associate Director at the Council of Environmental Quality, and at the USDA. Since then, Franz founded Raise Green where he democratizes the ability to invest in climate solution projects. Through this, he is an expert in sustainable finance for inclusive growth and financing projects for low-income residents. He joined S2 Strategies to navigate GGRF and other landmark legislative movements. And it was an absolute blast to have him on. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E172 · Mon, April 22, 2024
#172 AI x Production, Learning from Tesla, Transitioning to Iron, Battery Technology & More w/ Vivas Kumar (Mitra Chem)
Somil chats with Vivas Kumar, CEO of Mitra Chem, the first lithium-ion battery materials manufacturer focused on shortening the lab-to-production timeline by over 90%, addressing the largest barrier to innovation: R&D and scale-up speed. Vivas was a phenomenal orator and if you take a second to learn about Mitra Chem, it’s easy to see why. By combining their knowledge of iron-based cathodes with an AI and data enhanced production capacity, they are able to manufacture quicker and more reliably than many of their competitors. As always, thanks so much for listening and enjoy the episode! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: ** 04:18 Starting as an Entrepreneur **06:41 Near-Shoring **10:18 Transitioning to Iron-Based Materials **11:00 Trends and Challenges with Nickel, Cobalt, and Lithium **14:49 Working at Benchmark's Mineral Intelligence Group **24:50 Financing and Business Models in Climate Solutions **27:32 Adapting Technology for Local Context **31:31 Shifting from Innovation to Supply Chain **35:13 Integration of AI and Automation in Production **41:41 Longevity and Outlasting Competition **44:08 Reducing Organizational Costs **43:21 Finding the Right People **45:23 The Importance of Curiosity and Motivation **47:54 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Vivas Kumar | Mitra Chem ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.
S1 E171 · Thu, April 18, 2024
#171 Regenerative Farming, Carbon Credits, Smallholders, Global Protocols & More w/ Josh Knauer (ReSeed)
In this episode, Somil chats with Josh Knauer, CEO of ReSeed, bringing carbon credits directly from farmers to the market. They focus on the oldest form of carbon capture – vegetation. They support farmers in taking their protective and restorative farming practices, validating them, and then creating the mechanisms to sell those credits to interested parties. We talked about: His strategy to differentiate these credits compared to the rest of the market, What works for them, How he’s building an entire protocol around these methods, What he’s learned from engaging with smallholder farmers, Why ag may make the best nature-based solution to carbon capture, As always, thanks so much for listening and enjoy the episode! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: ** 03:12 ReSeed **06:35 Engaging with Farmers through Local NGOs **08:03 Process of Onboarding Farmers and Issuing Credits **11:23 Stabilizing Farmers on the Land **30:07 Partnering with Farmers as Business Partners **33:40 Photosynthesis as Carbon Capture **35:42 The Trading Desk and Receipt Marketplace **40:53 Maintaining the Highest Integrity Carbon Credits **48:25 Announcing Partnership at COP28 **51:43 Investing in Nature-Based Solutions **56:35 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Josh Knauer | ReSeed ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. <a href='https://goodwinlaw.com/'
S1 E170 · Mon, April 15, 2024
#170 Computer Vision x AgTech, Precision Spraying, Herbicide Usage, & More w/ Tom Gauthier (AgTechLogic)
Each year, about 1 billion pounds of chemicals are sprayed on crops in the US alone - globally, that number is around 5.6 billion. Our guest today is AgTechLogic, and they are solving this problem. They do this by helping Farmers retrofit their existing machinery with precision sprayers that use computer vision to identify weeds and spray only on the weeds in a concentrated way that kills the weeds and won't overlap with the crops. Today, nearly all farmers use broadcast spraying, or spraying everything. By implementing this tech, farmers can save a lot of money and produce healthier produce. Let's get into it. 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **1:13 Introduction and Overview **1:43 Reducing Chemical Overuse in Agriculture **7:36 Validation and Early Discoveries **11:11 Market Research and Initial Trials **15:37 Concerns about Herbicide Usage **20:34Case Studies and Cost Savings **24:04 Objections and Early Adoption **24:57 Reducing Water Usage and Regrowth **26:09 Building Trust and Landing the First Pilot **28:54 Entrepreneurship Later in Career **32:07 Collecting New Data **35:40 IP and Moat **37:38 Funding Journey **41:03 Responsible Growth **42:55 Future Plans and Getting the Message Out **45:48 Reaching Out and Educating Farmers **47:54 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Tom Gauthier | AgTechLogic ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to
S1 E169 · Wed, April 03, 2024
#169 Urban Mining, Solar Panel Lifespan, End of Life Engineering, & More w/ Adam Saghei (WeRecycleSolar)
Are you curious about what happens to solar panels when they are no longer usable? Maybe your crazy uncle's statements from last Thanksgiving about how solar doesn't work are still echoing. Well, look no further. Today, we are speaking with Adam Saghei, Founder of WeRecycleSolar, and we are discussing the end of life for solar panels. How circular can we make the supply chain? What can OEMs learn about their products' end-of-life? What is the REAL lifespan of a solar panel? How is this reality affecting investor returns? How are solar panels being refurbished and resold? And how are investors getting early upgrades to make a higher return despite the additional capex? Let's get into it. 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **01:34 Intro and Background **03:15 The Problem of End-of-Life Solar Panels **08:52 Financial Implications of Shorter Lifespan **13:33 Recycling and Refurbishing Panels **16:21 Reusing Materials in the Supply Chain **21:06 Origins of We Recycle Solar **23:29 Introduction to Returns Management Programs **24:28 Starting the Refurbishing and Recycling Process **25:32 Pivoting to a New Business Model **26:44 Entrepreneurial Mindset and Taking Risks **28:14 Scaling the Business and Future Growth **30:51 Technology and Innovation in Recycling Processes **31:38 Intellectual Property and Strategic Components **32:34 Business Model and Potential Partnerships **35:54 Current Scale and Future Goals **38:24 Roadblocks and Challenges **39:15 Funding and Bootstrapping the Business **40:54 Acquiring Talent and Building Culture **43:38 Supporting the Future of the Industry **49:29 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Adam Saghei | WeRecycleSolar ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the
S1 E168 · Sun, March 31, 2024
#168 Advice for Project Finance, AI x Climate, CleanTech 1.0, Late Stage Investing, & More w/ Mike Jackson (Earthshot Ventures)
In this episode, I sit down with Mike Jackson, Managing Partner at Earthshot Ventures. Earthshot Ventures calls themselves carbon generalists and invest from Seed to Series B. They mainly invest in software and “stepchange” hardware with a preference to double down on existing portfolio companies. Mike’s story is great because of how intentional he has excelled at every stage and in multiple sides of building in climate. He is a successful founder from cleantech 1.0, a rockstar investing even before earthshot, experienced in project finance, and now investing in a collaborative way that is pushing the whole climatetech industry forward. --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox | https://cleantechies.substack.com/podcast 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel | https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **06:49 Journey from Childhood to Leading a Climate Fund **12:54 Lessons from Cleantech 1.0 **15:54 Preparing for Project Finance **25:13 Importance of Business Models **32:35 Rising at the Westly Group **34:37 Building a Complementary Team **39:48 Why Earthshot is a "Network Fund" **43:14 Investing Earlier in ClimateTech **45:02 AI and its Impact on Climate **48:31 Attracting Capital from Generalist Investors **49:50 Advice for VCs ----- Links: ** Mike Jackson | Earthshot Ventures ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. <a href='h
S1 E167 · Tue, March 26, 2024
#167 Urban Charging, Electrifying Cities, Pilots & Partnerships, & More w/ Tiya Gordon (It's Electric)
In this episode, we actually have a bit of a flashback for you – I sit down to chat with Tiya Gordon, co-founder and COO of It’s Electric, creating curbside EV charging specifically built for cities. Before I even go into what we talk about, I’d like to shout out what Tiya has done in the few months since recording this episode in December: She was part of the Green Economy Action Plan, a landmark green jobs plan for NYC Has appeared on NPR, Was awarded the 2023 Top 10 Innovator award for Transportation Electrification by Darcy Partners, Was featured in Forbes, Spoke at Davos, Received a $1.5M award from the Joint Office of Energy and Transportation enabling cities to deploy our innovative and community centered model of public charging. And just last week, she announced that It’s Electric has created the first UL certified detachable cable charger That’s not mentioning all the recognitions they collected in 2023 but I’ll leave you all to read about those on your own. Tiya and I have met a few times in a few different context, but it was a real pleasure being able to do this with her and tbh I think we’re already due for a part two. --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox | https://cleantechies.substack.com/podcast 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel | https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **03:03 It's Electric Origin Story **07:01 What does It's Electric do **11:31 What it's like Working with Cities **15:10 What she Learned From Working with Municipalities **31:04 NYCW **37:10 Building the Team **40:52 Having a "Non-Traditional" Background in ClimateTech **45:43 Advice for Founders **50:07 Note to Audience ----- Links: ** Tiya Gordon | It’s Electric ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn **<a href='https://t
S1 E166 · Fri, March 22, 2024
#166 Hybrids & EVs, Alternative Fuels, Technology Maturity, Diverse Teams & More w/ Logan Grizzel (MUUS Climate Partners)
In this episode, Somil chats with Logan Grizzel, partner at MUUS Climate Partners, the climate tech venture capital arm of MUUS & Co. investing at the convergence of decarbonization and technological innovation. This episode probably broke the quotable clip record we have – Logan was a great mix of knowing how to communicate his thoughts and genuinely having such unique insight having worked on alternative fuels at Toyota, then going into grid strategy and now spending time as a Climate VC, previously at Blackhorn Ventures and now MUUS Climate Partners. In this episode we talk about the challenge with timeframes of venture funds in climate, his perspective on nuclear fusion, alternative fuels at Toyota, centralized vs. decentralized grids, the nuances of hardware, the climate tech scene in Denver, how they got such a diverse team, & more. Anyways, thanks so much for listening and enjoy the episode! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox | https://cleantechies.substack.com/podcast 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel | https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **03:11 Herd Mentality in Climate VC **09:26 Logan's Experience at Toyota **13:34 The Significance of the Prius **17:06 Nearshoring and Onshoring **21:34 The Mismatch in Hydrogen Supply and Demand **24:39 Decentralized vs Centralized Approaches to the Grid **28:04 Timing and Assessing Technology Maturity **29:25 Assessing Founder Adaptability **30:29 Dreaming Too Big or Small in Entrepreneurship **42:16 Denver Climate Scene **48:12 Lessons from Blackhorn Ventures **49:34 Diversity in Team Building **58:58 Advice to VCs **01:01:53 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Logan Grizzel | MUUS Climate Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X <a rel="payment" href="https://www.buymeacoffe
S1 E165 · Tue, March 19, 2024
#165 Iterating Hardware, Productizing Solar Procurement, Efficiency Mindset, & More w/ Mike Hall (Anza)
What happens when successful CleanTech 1.0 founders step up to the plate again? Anza happens and it's magical. Today, Somil & Silas are interviewing Mike Hall, a Co-Founder of Anza, a company they spun out of Borrego, his and his brother's first venture. At Borrego, they developed software to streamline and improve the way they chose which solar panels to use for projects. Realizing this was a problem for everyone, they spun it out in 2023 and were off to the races. Enjoy this episode with a legendary entrepreneur 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox | https://cleantechies.substack.com/podcast 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel | https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **2:20 The Problem with Solar Module Procurement **7:11 Value Beyond Price in Procurement **9:23 Working with Sellers **12:06 Trends in Solar Product Sales **15:38 The Journey of Starting ANZA **22:25 Transitioning from Borrego to ANZA **31:45 The Impact of Climate Legislation **37:24Underutilizing Technology and Data in the Industry **41:11 Advice for Founders in the Renewable Energy Space **43:02 The Benefits of Being a Second-Time Founder **44:46 The Journey to Becoming an Entrepreneur **47:39 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Mike Hall | Anza ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support.
S1 E164 · Thu, March 14, 2024
#164 Net-Zero Cement, Surviving the Startup Valley-of-Death, Timing a Pivot, & More w/ Ryan Gilliam (Fortera)
In this episode, Silas and Somil chat with Ryan Gilliam, CEO of Fortera, a company focused on paving the way to zero CO2 cement backed by leading investors including Khosla Ventures and Temasek. What makes Fortera so exciting is that they’ve successfully raised all the way to their Series B, making them one of not many later stage companies in climate. We talked about his experience fundraising, the ins-and-outs of their tech, how to win over customers, his experience working with project developers, the current state of supply chain dynamics, the climate capital stack, and more. --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: ** 01:44 Intro **05:08 Experience with the Cement Industry **09:40 The Problem of CO2 Emissions in Cement **13:34 Making the Technology Fit Within the Ecosystem **19:46 Changing Customer Mindsets **25:50 Integration with Cement Producers **29:56 Starting Fortera and Convincing Investors **33:55 Fundraising and Shifting Capital Stack **37:05 Raising Early Rounds and Bringing in New Investors **41:28 Transitioning to Project Financing **44:07 Project Development vs Licensing IP **46:28 Key Considerations for Commercial Projects **48:08 Importance of Planning and Preparation **48:35 Challenges in Supply Chain Management ----- Links: ** Ryan Gilliam | Fortera ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to off
S1 E163 · Mon, March 11, 2024
#163 Rockefeller’s $1B for Climate, Nature-Based Solutions, Philanthropic Capital, & More w/ Thomas Belazis (Rockefeller Foundation)
Today, we are speaking with a representative of the legendary Rockefeller Foundation. For those unaware, this foundation is one of the oldest well-organized institutions of its type and has been responsible for a massive number of efforts over the past 100 years. Our guest is Thomas Belazis, Director of Innovative Finance. He runs their Climate & Impact Investing arm. Some of the notable things we cover today are... Their $1bn Climate and Net Zero Commitments How they end up unlocking a lot of other capital when they invest And why high integrity in EVERY investment matters because of the weight their name carries Enjoy this episode with Thomas from The Rockefeller Foundation. 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **What Thomas Does at TRF **TRF’s $1bn Climate & Net Zero Commitment **Why Nature-Based Solutions **Catalytic Capital & Unlocking Funding **The Role of Philanthropy in Climate **Flexible Investment Approach **His Career Journey and Mentorship **Collaboration with Elemental Excelerator **Future Projects **Emerging Market Interest **Global Ambitions ----- Links: ** Thomas Belazis | The Rockefeller Foundation ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E162 · Thu, March 07, 2024
#162 Impact Metrics Liability, Navigating Reporting, Profit-First, & More w/ Zécca Lehn (Responsibly Ventures)
**Check out the new takeaways section at the end of the episode!!** In this episode, Somil and Silas chat with Zecca Lehn, GP of Responsibly Ventures, backing U.S. PreSeed startups in both Social and Sustainable Tech. He uses the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guidepost for his investments. We breakdown the specifics of his investing thesis including what is “customer love” and what it means to be ethical in investing, Zecca is especially good at using data and data reporting – we heard a lot of really unique insights from him on how he uses data in his operations. We also dive into his experience as an impact investor, the good, the bad, and the ugly. --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: ** 1:45 Introduction and Background **10:23 Early Interest in Sustainability **13:43 Investing in Sustainability and Social Good **15:52 What is Customer Love? **17:13 Ethics and Honesty in Investing **25:26 Balancing Returns and Impact **27:21 Data and Reporting in Venture Investing **30:52 Subjectivity in Measurement and Reporting **31:57 Challenges of Collecting and Using Data **34:05 Privacy and AI Concerns in Impact Investing **37:09 The Power of Follow-on Investors **39:50 Maintaining Focus and Presence **42:08 Climate Anxiety and Perspective **45:16 The Role of Returns in Climate Investing **52:04 Addressing Desertification as an Impact **54:05 Takeaways ----- Links: ** Zécca Lehn | Responsibly Ventures ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; t
S1 E161 · Tue, March 05, 2024
#161 Bylon, Recyclable Fibers, Ag Waste to Threads, Innovating Past Mistakes, & More w/ Oliver Shafaat (Sci-Lume Labs)
Fast fashion is destroying the world. Imagine if we could make threads that are fully recyclable ... over and over... Well, that's what Oliver Shafaat is trying to do with Sci-Lume Labs. They use agricultural feedstock, and are using low-heat methods so they aim to be able to achieve cost parity. What they are working on is difficult, but would be world changing. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **01:16 Intro **02:16 The Challenges of the Apparel Industry **04:34 The Inspiration Behind Bylon **11:45 Evaluating Polymers **13:59 Starting a Company **15:22 Funding the Company **18:45 The Process of Making Fibers **23:19 Sourcing Feedstocks **25:27 The Sustainability of Bylon **28:31 Recyclability and End-of-Life **30:21 IP and Business Model **32:04 Scaling Up and Challenges Ahead **34:58 Pilot Conversations **38:49 Interest from Clothing Manufacturers ----- Links: ** Oliver Shafaa t | Sci-Lume Labs ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E160 · Thu, February 29, 2024
#160 Climate Philanthropy, Reducing Carbon Removal Cost, Anti-GHG, & More w/ Adam Fraser (Terraset)
In this episode, Somil chats with Adam Fraser, CEO at Terraset, the “anti-GHG” 501c3. Philanthropy in climate is a hot topic – leading up to this episode we were getting questions left and right about the future of this space. And it’s because there’s seemingly so much money that could be in the space but isn’t yet. That is the problem Adam and Terraset are trying to solve. It couldn’t have been a more timely show. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **04:48 The State of Philanthropic Capital and Climate **06:52 Challenges in Philanthropic Investment in Climate **11:05 Being Anti-GHG and the Importance of Carbon Removal **13:45 Different Carbon Removal Technologies **16:32 Transition from Journalism to Philanthropy **22:45 Efficiency and Scalability of Philanthropic Capital **34:08 The CDR Landscape and Evaluation **40:41 Donor Profiles and Funding Sources **47:03 Genesis of Terraset and the "anti-GHG" Approach **50:00 Optimism and Urgency for the Future ----- Links: ** Adam Fraser | Terraset ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E159 · Sat, February 24, 2024
#159 Slashing Trucking Emissions by 90% TODAY, Biodiesel, Scaling up Manufacturing, & more w/ Lori Dunn (Optimus Technologies)
If you LOVE technology that allows for decarbonization TODAY, then Somil & Silas' conversation today with Lori Dunn from Optimus Technologies will interest you. Discover how Optimus is revolutionizing the transport sector by producing bolt-on systems that allow truck drivers to utilize 100% biodiesel and reduce their overall emissions by up to 90%. Learn from Lori how they are navigating the challenges of funding, team alignment, and strategic planning for the future. Join us as we explore the journey from seed to series A, and the transition from small to big company energy. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **1:43 Small vs Big Energy Company **4:37 Decarbonizing Diesel Engines **7:00 Challenges to Decarb the Diesel Industry **9:39 Understanding Fleet Managers' Problems **11:37 Previous Attempts **14:33 The Long Game of Hardware Innovation **19:25 Joining Optimus **25:36 The Technology of Optimus **29:07 Communicating Value to Investors **33:16 Revenue Model and Cost Structure **37:42 Scaling Manufacturing and Funding **42:33 Metrics and Partnerships **44:30 Early Stage Manufacturing **46:34 Manufacturing In-house vs Outsourcing ----- Links: ** Lori Dunn | Optimus Technologies ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support.
S1 E158 · Thu, February 22, 2024
#158 Product-Led ClimateTech, Exiting to Big Tech TWICE, Being a Climate Papa, & More w/ Ben Eidelson (Stepchange, Climate Papa)
In this episode, I chat with Ben Eidelson, Co-founder & GP of Stepchange, an early-stage venture fund that invests in product-led companies that will make a “step change”, pun intended, I’m guessing?, impact on climate. When editing the episode, Alex, our executive producer, told us he could already tell one of our best episodes yet. I very much agree. This turned out to be the VC meets product meets content special I was hoping it would be. We discuss all things product in climate, Ben being a 2 time exited founder to big tech, starting a climate fund in this environment, and why his kids changed his life. A huge shoutout to Ben for coming on the episode. This started out as me fan-boying to one of his episodes and here we are. As always, thanks so much for listening and enjoy the episode! --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **3:10 What is a Product-Led Company? **8:49 Why PMs are not Thinking about Climate **14:45 The Importance of Active Listening **16:03 Identifying Founder Potential **18:29 The Role of Vulnerability in Relationships **20:35 The Origin and Impact of Climate Papa **25:41 The Product-Focused Thesis of Step Change **27:41 Product Meets Hardware and Deep Tech **34:35 Bullish Industries in Climate **42:45 Lessons from Being a Founder **44:59 Building Deep Co-Founder Relationships **47:32 Tips for Product-Market Fit in Climate ----- Links: ** Ben Eidelson | Stepchange | Climate Papa ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out
Mon, February 19, 2024
#157 Onshoring Battery Production, Getting to Bankability, Waterless Cathode Materials, & More w/ Virginia Klausmeier (Sylvatex)
Today we speak with Virginia Klausmeier, President & CEO of Sylvatex, a company aiming to commercialize technology that was originally developed by her father. The technology is a waterless method to produce Cathode Active Materials (the chemicals that go into the production of various types of batteries). We cover a lot of things. The primary topics being Onshoring Battery Production, Getting to Bankability, and How their Technology works. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **1:23 Intro **7:11 Battery Mfg in the US **9:11 Onshoring Battery Mfg **9:42 The Opportunity **15:54 Motivation **17:12 The Story of Sylvatex **19:16 Starting a Company **21:03 Taking the Leap **24:13 Waterless Cathode Production **30:51 State of Sylvatex **42:11 Pilot Funding **42:41Milestones for Commercialization **45:05 Getting to Bankability **47:29 Debt Financing for Modular Manufacturing **48:25 Navigating the Unknown ----- Links: ** Virginia Klausmeier | Sylvatex ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E156 · Thu, February 15, 2024
#156 Digitizing Supply Chains, Finding the Right Investors & an Oversubscribed Round, Important Materials in Climate, & More w/ Leise Sandeman (Pathways)
( Take the CleanTechies Listeners Survey to help us better serve you ) In this episode, Somil and Silas chat with Leise Sanderson, founder and CEO of Pathways. Pathways is an AI platform that simplifies environmental impact analysis for the materials and manufacturing supply chain. I’m a built environment junkie, so this was…really fun. Materials are the main cost driver of construction which means they will be especially difficult to decarbonize. Tools like Pathways make it easier to identify which materials will help maintain cost-parity. Major potential for a big emitter like construction and the built environment. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 ----- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. ----- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 ----- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **01:28 Introduction **03:18 What is a Life Cycle Analysis **06:12 Environmental Product Declarations **09:02 Deciding to Start a Company **21:24 Finding a Co-founder **30:48 Growing Interest in the Built Environment **44:47 Landing the First Customer **46:50 Receptiveness of Manufacturing Industry **47:50 Building Relationships Across Differences **53:39 What Attracted Investors **55:27 Navigating an Oversubscribed Round **58:45 Building Audacious Goals **59:36 Reflecting on the Journey ----- Links: ** Leise Sandeman | Pathways ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X <a rel="payment"
S1 E155 · Sun, February 11, 2024
#155 Supporting Underrepresented Founders, Hardware MVP & Scaling, Partnering w/ Corporates, & More w/ Ryan Jeffery (Gener8tor)
Silas speaks with Ryan Jeffery, Sr. Managing Director of the Sustainability Accelerators at Gener8tor, a collection of Accelerators that serve the rest of the country outside of SF, NYC, and Boston, where the majority of VC dollars go. ( Take the CleanTechies Listeners Survey to help us better serve you ) Ryan started as a founder. Later, he became a VC and eventually ended up in Gener8tor running the sustainability-focused accelerators because of his desire to be closer to the founders and more involved. He shared a lot of great data on where funding goes, his story, why investing in underserved founders is, beyond being the right thing to do, also leads to better returns. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 ----- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. ----- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 ----- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **4:00 Joining Gener8tor **7:40 Biz Model, Challenges, & Financing an Accelerator **8:56 Partnering w/ Corps **11:35 Focus on Underserved Areas **13:54 The Role of Non-Silicon Valley States in Climate Transition **22:00 Value Add of an Accelerator **34:13 Collab in Non-Tech Hub Areas **40:27 Gap for These Founders **42:03 Role of AI in Solving Climate Change **49:40 Milestones for Hard Tech Companies **57:46 Hiring & Building a Team **59:57 Raising Tips **1:06:44 Advice to Investors **1:08:19 Getting into VC ----- Links: ** Ryan Jeffery | Gener8tor ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn **<
S1 E154 · Thu, February 08, 2024
#154 Automated Site Selection & Environmental Due Diligence for Developers, Permitting Challenges, the Cost of Solar, & More w/ Robin Laine (Transect)
In this episode, Silas and Somil chat with Robin Lane, CEO and founder of Transect, a product that aids and expedites site selection for infrastructure projects. For Silas and I, this was an exciting mix of infrastructure meeting technology. Robin has been doing this for a while, so she had a lot to tell us about her experiences with developers, rolling Transect out to market, how she grew as a founder alongside her company, and what she sees for the future. ( Take the CleanTechies Listeners Survey to help us better serve you ) We were really happy to have her on and learn a lot of new things about site selection and the problems plaguing infrastructure projects today – a major component of increasing the supply of renewables and advancing the climate transition. ----- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. ----- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: ** 02:37 Need for Transformation in Permitting **05:58 How Transect Streamlines the process **08:47 Building Trust with Developers **11:50 Robin's Journey from Consultant to Entrepreneur **23:33 Raising Transect's Seed Round **24:38 Early Contracts and Scaling the Team **32:24 Building a Culture-First Company and Hiring for Mission Alignment **38:45 Being Customer-First **45:32 Opportunities for Software in the Renewables Industry **47:25 Future Solar Energy Costs ----- Links: ** Robin Laine | Transect ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered f
S1 E153 · Mon, February 05, 2024
#153 The Most Valuable Data in ClimateTech, Confusing AI with Efficiency, the Power of Tea, & More w/ Peter Sun (Climactic)
In this ep, we chat with Peter Sun, founding team at Climactic, an early stage fund investing in ClimateTech, specifically focused on efficiency in software which has a lot to do with, you guessed it, AI. We dive into the nuances of how AI is impacting climate tech, where the opportunities for software are in decarbonization, and Peter’s journey joining the founding team. As someone who personally is wary of putting AI in every conversation, Peter had real insight into the ins-and-outs of whats real and whats not, and I really enjoyed learning from him. As always, thanks so much for listening and enjoy the episode! ----- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. ----- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 ----- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: ** 02:16 Overview of Climatic **05:05 Applications of AI in Climate Companies **09:30 The story of WeaveGrid **11:58 Evaluating Companies for Automation and Efficiency **16:50 Challenges in Implementing Transmission Lines **19:20 The Value of Data in Climate Tech **23:43 Starting a Climate VC Fund **27:03 Climate VC vs. Impact VC **30:12 The Difficulties for Founders in Climate Tech **34:35 Starting a Fund in the Current Fundraising Environment **52:45 Exit Strategies in Climate VC **54:00 Competitiveness in Climate Investing **56:00 The Blend of VC and Real Asset Industries **58:29 The Rise of Hyper Specialist VCs **01:00:20 Building a Personal Brand **01:04:28 Habits for Success ----- Links: ** Peter Sun | Climactic ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn **<a href='https://twitter.com/SilasMahner'
S1 E152 · Thu, February 01, 2024
#152 Policy x IRA, Carbon Capture, Commercializing DeepTech, Hardware Headwinds & More w/ Adam Goff (8 Rivers)
Today, we are joined by Adam Goff, the SVP of Strategy at 8 Rivers, a technology portfolio developer. Think of it like a venture studio but specifically for technology (often chemistry) instead of companies. ( Take the CleanTechies Listeners Survey to help us better serve you ) He talks us through how that looks and how they commercialize the products, and we also spend a lot of time discussing the role and importance of policy when it comes to clean tech. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **2:10 Intro **4:00 Climate x Policy **10:00 How to Pass Legislation Faster **12:40 History and Structure of Eight Rivers **18:00 The Process of Proving New Tech **22:15 Their Current Technologies **28:30 Raising Money for a Tech Developer **33:20 Commercialization and Revenue Generation **36:45 Selecting your First Site **39:40 How to Understanding Global Regulatory Markets **42:30 Systematizing Building a Hardware Climate Startup **44:00 Future Plans for Eight Rivers ----- Links: ** Adam Goff | 8 Rivers ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. <e
S1 E151 · Sun, January 28, 2024
#151 Winning Grants w/ AI, The Palo Alto Effect, Expanding Your TAM, & More w/ Helena Merk (Streamline Climate)
There are a plethora of national and local grants available to help companies solving the climate problem, but landing one is a herculean effort. Writing them takes months and can result in absolutely nothing. Half of the battle is picking the right grant to apply for. Well, Helena Merk and her team at Streamline Climate are solving that. ( Take the CleanTechies Listeners Survey to help us better serve you ) Their AI powered tech helps companies identify which grants to apply for and then helps them land them by ensuring every t is cross and i dotted. Aside from telling us what they are doing, we also got to hear the story of how Helena met her co-founder Douglas Qian and how growing up in Palo Alto impacted her career decisions, among other things. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox | https://cleantechies.substack.com/podcast 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel Topics: ** 3:03 Crash Course on Grants ** 5:57 Streamlining the Grant Process ** 12:37 Choosing the Right Grants ** 19:55 More TAM ** 25:33 Finding a Co-Founder ** 26:51 GTM Strategies ** 42:25 Fundraising Journey ** 41:27 VC Funding and Grant Writing ** 44:40 Inbound Processes and VC Decision-making Links: ** Helena Merk | Streamline Climate ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law toda
S1 E150 · Wed, January 24, 2024
#150 AI Fund Operations, Canada x Climate VC, "Growth-as-a-Service", & More w/ Nick Findler & Chad Rickaby (ClimateDoor)
Climate Tech founders needs lots of different financing options and styles of support – ClimateDoor is an example of a niche’d styles of venture support that I hope we see more of in ClimateTech VC. ClimateDoor is a style of venture builder called “Growth-as-a-Service”, functioning similarly to a late stage accelerator. We dive into the nuances of their model, the Canadian VC ecosystem, what its like founding a company with your childhood best friend and more. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 ----- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. ----- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 ----- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **00:00 Introduction and Background **07:14 Overview of Climate Door **13:27 The story of Polar Beer Taps **16:10 Advantages of "Growth-as-a-Service" **23:24 Canadian Venture Ecosystem **26:20 Blending Capital Sources in Climate Tech **29:30 Navigating Fundraising and Building Investor Relationships **35:01 Streamlining Operations with AI **39:51 Hiring Advice for Early Stage Companies **42:57 Fundraising Advice for Bridge Stage Companies **49:03 Challenges in Finding Value Spots in Climate ----- Links: ** Nick Findler | Chad Rickaby | ClimateDoor ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for the
S1 E149 · Thu, January 18, 2024
#149 PFAS, Sustainable Semiconductors, Water Consumption, & More w/ Tobias Egle (M Ventures)
Our guest today is Tobias Egle, an investor at M Ventures, the Corporate Venture arm of Merck. Tobias joins us today to speak about deep tech investing, specifically around materials innovation and the decarbonization of electronics manufacturing. A topic that has been in the news a lot recently is PFAS, and given his work, he was able to speak about the issues with PFAS as well as how to get rid of it. He also provided some advice to highly technical founders when it comes to team building and surrounding themselves with the right partners. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 ----- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. ----- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 ----- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel ----- Topics: **01:21 - Introduction and Background **04:32 - Transitioning from Academia to Venture Capital **07:48 - Getting into Venture Capital **10:52 - Focus Areas of M Ventures **17:05 - Decarbonizing Electronics and Life Sciences **23:37 - Challenges of PFAS Removal **31:45 - Gaps in Deep Tech Founders **40:45 - The Impact of AI in Climate Solutions **46:55 - Adaptation and Climate Resilience **48:10 - Grid Resiliency and Renewable Integration **51:40 - Transitioning from R&D to Product and Business Development **53:00 - Designing for Manufacturability in Hard Tech **56:26 - Sustainable Supply Chain in Electronics Manufacturing **57:42 - Team Building and Hiring for Startups **01:01:34 - Getting into VC and Starting a Company ----- Links: ** Tobias Egle | M Ventures ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn **<a href='https://twitter.com/Sil
S1 E148 · Mon, January 15, 2024
#148 SAF, Green Hydrogen, Light Reactors | Decarbonizing the Chemical Industry World w/ Trevor Best (Syzygy)
The chemical industry is ~$4.7t globally. The reason is that nearly everything we use is produced using secondary products that are created from catalyzing raw materials in some way. This is currently done using combustion (heat) powered reactors, and our guest today is commercializing a new way to do that. A way that is 30x more efficient than cutting-edge combustion reactors. Co-founder & CEO of Syzygy Plasmonics, Trevor Best, joins us to discuss the journey of coming across the technology from a white paper - and then going through the required steps to prove the technology at scale so it can produce at a commercially viable level. Their tech can be applied to many specific types of reactors. Currently, they have three uses, but down the road, first principles thinking indicates they will be able to build alternatives for many reactors. They make money by licensing out the IP and selling the reactors which they produce. And this is happening today. They have many outstanding orders for their tech. Enjoy the episode! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- https://linktr.ee/cleantechies 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel Topics *1:30 Trevor's Story *4:00 What is Photocatalyst *9:40 The Idea Framework (Tech, Market, Impact) *12:55 How to Come Up w/ Ideas *17:30 Their Tech *24:45 ~5x Reduction in Energy Use *27:00 Impact on Everyday Life *29:35 Traction *32:50 From TRL3 to 8 *36:05 Business Model *38:42 Fundraising Mistakes & Lessons *43:15 Culture | Missionaries > Mercenaries Links * Trevor Best | https://www.linkedin.com/in/trevorwbest/ * Syzygy Plasmonics | https://plasmonics.tech/ * Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners | https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ * Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-tech
S1 E147 · Fri, January 12, 2024
#147 Scaling "Equity-Light" Climate Tech: Marketplace Solutions, Equity-Light vs. Software, and Electrification of Transportation w/ Russell Sprole (Virta Ventures)
In this episode, we chat with Russell Sprole, founder and managing partner of Virta Ventures. Virta Ventures invests at the early stages focusing on “equity-light” companies. We dive into the nuances of marketplace models, the potential of AI in climate tech, his journey with Full Harvest, and more. This is a great episode for software enthusiasts interested in its place in the climate tech ecosystem. As always, thanks so much for listening and enjoy the episode! https://linktr.ee/cleantechies --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel Topics 4:00 Starting Virta Ventures 10:22 Equity Light Solutions 13:50 Software Solutions in Antiquated Industries 17:07 Common Equity Light Business Models 22:55 Investing in Tiba 28:33 Investing in Crowded vs. Nascent Markets 34:41 Lessons from Full Harvest 47:46 Investing in Hydrogen Marketplaces 1:01:52 The Impact of AI on Climate Tech 1:06:54 Effective Practices of Portfolio Companies 1:08:33 Opportunities in the Electrification of Transportation 1:11:12 Fundraising Advice for Climate Tech Founders Links Russell Sprole | Virta Ventures Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas Check out our sponsor, NextWave Partners , for all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs. This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in
S1 E146 · Tue, January 09, 2024
#146 AI-Powered Savings: Optimizing EV Charging Costs on the Grid w/ Ken Munson (Rhythmos)
Today, Ken Munson, CEO of Rhythmos, shares his story of becoming an entrepreneur, including the wins and losses. He also discusses what Rhythmos is doing in grid-edge technology. He explains what GridEdge Tech is, the importance of experienced entrepreneurs staying in the arena, and the intricacies of selling to utilities. Munson also delves into the future of grid technology and sustainable energy solutions. Enjoy the Episode! 🌱🌎 --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: **1:40 Intro to Ken **3:00 Going from Architect to Entrepreneur to Rhythmos **12:00 What Grid Edge Is **14:45 What Rhythmos is Doing, Why, and How it Works **21:30 How Rhythmos is Helping Solve the Infrastructure Problem **24:50 Their Customer Types (Utilities & Commercial Fleets) **27:48 How They do Incremental Data Access Tech to Fill the Gaps to the Utility **31:20 The ROI of Using Rhythmos **32:15 Advice on Selling to Utilities **36:45 How to Hire Good SalesPeople **42:30 On Deciding to Go Back Into the Arena Links: ** Ken Munson | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethmunson/ ** Rhythmos | https://rhythmos.io/ **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ **<a href='https://twitter.c
S1 E145 · Fri, January 05, 2024
#145 Climate x Industrial Automation, Climate Storytelling, Changing Cap Table Construction, & More w/ Jay Kapoor (VSC Ventures)
On this episode, we interview Jay Kapoor, General Partner at VSC Ventures. VSC Ventures is a Seed-stage VC fund focusing on climate adaptation and industrial automation. Their central thesis is that although starting a company is becoming easier, its becoming harder and harder to get noticed. Their solution? Storytelling. Confused? Listen to this episode – you won’t be disappointed. Jay needs no introduction – he has a podcast himself, comes from a VC and media background, and left a lasting impression on us as one of the most well-spoken guests we've ever had. --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: Subscribe on YouTube . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . Topics: **5:50 Focus on Industrial Automation **9:39 The Intersection of Industrial Automation and Climate **15:26 Augmentation vs Replacement in Automation **17:23 The Importance of Good Storytelling in Automation **20:03 Jay’s Accidental Transition to Climate Investing **25:40 Engaging with Government and Incumbents **34:28 Founder/Market Fit: Founders from The Industry **40:24 Impact on Fundraising and Time Horizons; Fund Size **47:50 The Importance of Choosing the Right Investor **50:47 Changing Cap Table Construction **58:28 The Evolution of VCs' Value Prop **1:02:20 The Role of PR in Climate Investing **1:06:43 Founder vs Company Journey; Paint Jet's Story **1:11:53 The Power of Storytelling in Pitch Decks **1:17:06 Hiring and Building a Team **1:20:53 Identifying Founders Willing to Adapt Links: ** Connect with Jay | VSC Ventures ** Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas **Check out our sponsor, NextWave Partners , for all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs. **
S1 E144 · Tue, December 26, 2023
#144 Gen AI in Water Design, Energy Efficient Infrastructure, Digitizing Design & More w/ Adam Tank (Transcend)
In this enlightening episode, Silas and Somil are speaking all about Water and Wastewater Infrastructure with Adam Tank, the CCO and Co-Founder of Transcend Infrastructure. Adam shares his journey into the water industry and the creation of Transcend, a software platform that automates the design process for water infrastructure projects. He discusses the challenges and opportunities in the industry, including the need for more innovative and sustainable solutions. Tank emphasizes the importance of building a strong team, staying true to the company's mission, and remaining curious and open to learning. He also highlights the future of the water infrastructure industry, including the focus on carbon neutrality and the role of public demand in driving innovation. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: **2:00 How Adam Ended up in the Water **6:30 From Investor to Entrepreneur **8:20 First Company, Pipe Robots **10:00 Transcend's Tech **11:45 Who Uses Transcend **12:30 Before and After Transcend **17:20 Why Current Infrastructure is Bad **19:30 Spin-Out of Organica, the MVP **23:40 Taking the Leap to Transcend **26:25 The Future of Water Infrastructure / the UK vs US Utilities **28:45 Future: Proactivity, Automation, Digitization, Active Consumers **30:35 Why To Choose A Critical Infrastructure Careers **32:20 Founder Advice: Find the right team, Remember WHY You Do What You Do, Be Passionately Curious **34:15 Importance of Curiosity & Intentionality in Career Links: ** Connect with Adam ** Adam's Website ** Transcend Infrastructure Website **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on Twitter / X Support the show
S1 E143 · Sat, December 23, 2023
#143 The Future of Carbon Markets: Transparency, Local Impact, & Retail Investors | Sudhu Arumugam, CYNK
In this enlightening episode, Silas and Somil delve into an engaging conversation with a visionary in the realm of carbon markets, Sudhu Arumugam, the CEO and Co-Founder of CYNK. CYNK is an early-stage company based out of Nairobi and Singapore, and they are building a block-chained tied marketplace specifically for the African voluntary carbon markets. Many debate the need for another carbon marketplace, but one thing is certain: trust in this space has been hard to find, and what CYNK is doing should help fix this. Sudhu Arumugam and his co-founder, Nils Razmilovic, bring a unique blend of Finance, Blockchain, and Sustainability expertise. Their collective experience and insight have culminated in the creation of CYNK. The driving force behind their venture is the imperative need to ensure that financial benefits reach local African communities, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable environmental impact. --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: Subscribe on YouTube . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . Topics: **1:40 Intro to Sudhu **5:00 Importance of blockchain in the carbon markets and how it works **6:05 The Data Behind Carbon Credits and How That Affects the Price **7:45 Technology: Carbon → Blockchain **8:40 Who their Customers are **10:00 Growing the TAM Requires Transparency **13:00 Pricing Carbon **14:20 Attitude Towards Buying Carbon in Your Geography **17:45 Retail Investors Will Catalyze the Carbon Markets **20:30 How They Got Their First Customer **22:10 Merging Carbon and Blockchain Cultures **24:30 Interacting with Scientists **27:00 Their Next Challenges **27:50 Advice on Building in Carbon Markets Space **30:00 Closing Thoughts Links: Sudhu Arumugam | CYNK Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas For all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs, check out our sponsor NextWave Partners . This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Support the show
S1 E142 · Wed, December 20, 2023
#142 Lessons, Thoughts and Advice From Running a Climate Tech Podcast w/ Ryan Grant Little (Another Climate Tech Podcast)
🌎 Today Somil & Silas had the opportunity to do something slightly different today since we did an episode with Ryan Grant Little, the Creator and Host of Another Climate Tech Podcast . He has conversations that are more topical with his guests who are, in many cases, people he already knows. Ryan has a really fascinating background as a Founder, Investor, and Consultant. He found his way to climate via some of the impact work he was doing in Canada. Since all three of us are used to interviewing others, we decided to interview each other. We really enjoyed making this as it was a fun change of pace from our usual work. We hope you also enjoy it. Please also be sure to go follow Ryan’s podcast if you’re not already following. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎🔗🌍 --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: **Intro **About Our Podcast Formats **Why the Newsletter **Why Somil & Silas Decided to Collab **What Silas & Somil Do **Ryan’s Climate Journey **How to Decide What Not to Do **Human Connection + Scaling Relationships **Areas we are Bullish On **Regulation vs Market Forces Links: **Listen to Another Climate Tech Podcast on Apple Podcasts & Spotify ** Connect with Ryan Grant Little on LinkedIn **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on Twitter / X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a r
S1 E141 · Sun, December 17, 2023
#141 Winning Pilots, First Customers, Arena Electrification, & More w/ Chris Richardson (Uptake Alliance, ADL Ventures)
🌎 On this episode, Somil interviews Chris Richardson, Executive Director of Uptake Alliance and Partner at ADL Ventures where he leads their energy and transportation practices. Uptake Alliance is the newest rockstar member of the NYS entrepreneurial ecosystem that connects organizations with startups solving specific problems they face to tackle “piloting to death.” We talk about the relationship between pilots and commercialization, specific opportunities in climate tech, and other pieces of guidance Chris has from his time as a founder. --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: Subscribe on YouTube . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . Topics: 00:00 Introduction and Background 08:07 EV Button and Electrifying Existing Infrastructure 17:28 Uptake Alliance and Venture Development 38:34 Clean Infrastructure and the Built Environment 44:48 Moonshot Technologies and Innovation 49:17 Incentivizing Domestic Economic Benefits 51:41 Investing in Urban vs Rural Technologies 59:33 Insights 59:33 IRA 01:02:13 Climate x XI 01:06:15 Success Story of a Hardware MVP 01:10:19 Challenges in Corporate Pilots 01:13:48 Starting a New Company in Climate 01:16:11 Advice for Applicants Links: GUEST: Chris Richardson COMPANY: Uptake Alliance , ADL Ventures Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas For all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs, check out our sponsor NextWave Partners . This podcast is NOT inve
S1 E140 · Tue, December 12, 2023
#140 Big Oil Bogeyman, Watching Your Satellites Launch, Biz Model First, & More w/ Dan Katz (Orbital Sidekick)
🌎 Today, Silas had the opportunity to interview Dan Katz, the Co-Founder, and CEO of Orbital Sidekick, where they are building, and launching Hyperspectral Satellites to help catch methane leaks in pipelines, and, hopefully, one day, identify geographies that have critical minerals underneath the surface. He started in the aerospace industry, building satellites for other organizations. In the wake of the frothy space exploration market, Dan and his colleague believed they could also build a company in this space. This, paired with their realization that the ocean was boiling, led them to focus on catching methane leaks. He has a pretty interesting story and method of building the company. I'm sure you'll enjoy it! 🌎 --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: Subscribe on YouTube . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: 2:00 Intro to Dan 5:45 How to Identify Subsurface Minerals 12:00 Why he Became an Entrepreneur 19:00 PMF & MVP 22:00 GTM & Raising 26:00 Watching Their Launch 31:15 Challenges 35:34 Talent 39:00 Take the Leap ----- Links: ** Connect with Dan : https://www.linkedin.com/in/katzdaniel34/ ** Orbital Sidekick : https://www.orbitalsidekick.com/ **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on Twitter / X Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO an
S1 E139 · Sat, December 09, 2023
#139 The Climate Tech Opportunity, Developmental Finance in Climate, & More w/ Jamil Wyne (Climate Tech Bootcamp, Riffle Ventures)
🌎 Today, we are talking to Jamil Wyne of Climate Tech Bootcamp & Riffle Ventures . In this episode, you will find: Why direct access to customers and revenue generation are crucial for success in the climate tech space How Jamil shaped Climate Tech Bootcamp with individuals with deep subject matter expertise and a builder's mindset A walkthrough of his leading report “The Climate Tech Opportunity” published by the Oxford Climate Tech Initiative Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics 1:16 Intro 10:36 Policy-oriented mindset in climate 16:27 Parallels between developmental finance and climate investing 29:24 Origins of CT Bootcamp 36:58 Choosing Climate experts and filling in founders’ weaknesses 54:12 What is Riffle Ventures 59:55 How he thinks about COP 28 being in Dubai and concerns with O&G 1:08:41 The Climate Tech Opportunity 1:08:41 Energy 1:10:00 Transportation 1:11:31 Food & Ag 1:12:47 Industry 1:15:43 Built Environment 1:17:49 GHG Capture 1:20:16 Managing & Reporting 1:23:01 Advice to VCs ----- Links GUEST: Jamil Wyne COMPANY: Riffle Ventures , Climate Tech Bootcamp <l
S1 E138 · Tue, December 05, 2023
#138 Reverse Vending Machines, Regulation & Demand, Demonstrating Traction, & More w/ Paweł Ciesielski (MaasLoop)
🌎 Today we are joined by Pawel Ciesielski, the Co-Founder and CEO of MaaS Loop, a Poland-based company building reverse vending machines to help collect various recyclables. He has a background in marketing, branding, and trend projection where he specifically helped demonstrate what the world could look like in 10 or 20 years from a climate perspective. Due to the high cost of talent and the EU's regulations around bottle deposit costs, smaller businesses require a solution to help them cost-effectively collect customer deposits. Listen to the episode to learn more about their tech, journey, and Pawel's advice to others. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **3:20 Intro to Paweł & MaaS Loop **4:20 What part of the waste supply chain they are working in **5:30 What reverse vending machines do **7:15 Founding MaaS Loop **10:00 How they differentiate from the rest of the circular economy **13:40 Explaining the cost savings **18:40 How the technology works **19:35 Creating their MVP **23:50 Defining traction **26:45 How they determined PMF **30:00 Advice on raising $$$ **32:35 Overcoming the production scaling-up challenge ----- Links: ** Connect with Pawel : https://www.linkedin.com/in/pawel-ciesielski ** MaaS Loop Website : https://www.maasloop.com/ **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** @Silas & @Somil_Agg on Twitter / X Support the show Every
S1 E137 · Fri, December 01, 2023
#137 Scaling a Logistics Heavy Business, Bootstrapping, The Rigatoni List, The Recommerce OG, & More w/ John Fazzolari (Revivn)
🌎 In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks with John Fazzolari ( @fazz ), the co-CEO and co-founder of Revivn, a hardware lifecycle management company that helps corporates repurpose their used electronic devices. John has a fascinating story of building this company and despite us only recording for about 30 min, we covered a lot of ground. From why they bootstrapped the company, to his Rigatoni list for hiring purposes, to using operational complexity as a moat, to ensuring your 3rd party contractors care as much as you do about customer success, it's a great episode. Let us know your favorite part by reaching out. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **2:20 Intro to John **3:00 Why the un-used hardware space **4:05 Creating the Category **6:05 The Story of How They Built **7:35 How they work **9:10 Cost Savings **12:20 Logistics - Their Moat is Complex Coordination **14:45 How to scale logistics company business **16:10 How to control customer quality experience **18:45 Examples of their impact **22:00 Why they bootstrapped **23:55 Advice on Fundraising **27:10 Advice on Hiring | The Rigatoni List **30:00 How to understand if someone has potential **31:58 Advice to Young Entrepreneurs in Climate **34:38 Other Ideas ----- Links: ** Connect with John ** Revivn **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law fir
S2 E136 · Tue, November 28, 2023
#136 Hardware as an AI Moat, Design for Finance with the Climate Capital Stack, & More w/ Shaun Abrahamson (Third Sphere)
🌎 NYCW was a pivotal moment for many of us current or aspiring climate professionals. It brought together large swaths of diverse talent, all working in different assets to solve the climate crisis. Many of these gatherings were headlined by some of the smartest minds in climate and climate tech. An implicit goal we’ve had at the CleanTechies Podcast since then is to have as many speakers from the week as we can. I’m excited to introduce the speaker of one of the most popular talks at NYCW and the Managing Partner of Third Sphere VC , Shaun Abrahamson . --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- 🚨🚨🚨 Shoutout to our sponsor Net Zero Insights — Net Zero Insights is the leading market intelligence platform on climate information with all the latest you need on funding rounds, VCs, and the climate tech ecosystem. Use this link to schedule your demo and get a 10% discount!! 🚨🚨🚨 --- Shaun is an early-stage investor in the climate sector with a background in engineering and over a decade of focus on early-stage climate investments. Shaun’s engineering mindset involves constructing narratives with numbers and employing simple models to assess the viability of proposed ideas but combines that with the perspectives of advertising professionals, emphasizing the importance of understanding human behavior — a facet engineers might overlook. -- Topics 4:10 Intro 8:10 Balancing returns vs. impact 11:36 Bad investment signals in climate 20:59 What is Third Sphere 27:47 Mistakes hardware founders make 31:39 Design for Finance 49:46 Which climate capital stack segments are underutilized 1:00:51 Insights 1:03:45 IRA 59:24 Climate x AI 1:08:39 Hardware MVP 1:14:15 Building a company right now 1:17:47 Advice to founders 1:23:25 Advice to VCs -- Links ** Connect with Shaun | Third Sphere VC ** For all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs, check out our sponsor NextWave Partners . ** This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. ** Connect with Somil <
S1 E135 · Wed, November 22, 2023
#135 Saving Corporates 50% on their Reverse Supply Chain, Getting Non-Profits Goods, & More w/ Diz Petit (LiquiDonate)
🌎 In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) & Somil Aggarwal ( @somil_agg ) speak with Diz Petit the Founder & CEO of LiquiDonate. They have an amazing solution to help manage corporate waste in a way that get's it into the hands of non-profits who need the materials. In doing this, they are also reducing their reverse supply chain costs by about ~50%. Diz was a great guest and had a lot of great insights to share. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- Main Takeaways: (read the full version on Substack) Spend a lot of time talking to the market Set the right metrics Match Supply & Demand Realistic TAM Consider non-climate-VCs Topics: 2:33 Diz & Her Story 6:25 Why Entrepreneurship? 8:02 How to Identify the End User 16:25 Why Would Someone Use Their Software? 18:25 What CSOs Think About This 21:45 Metrics 25:36 Things that Surprised Her 28:49 Their Fundraise Experience 32:54 Advice to Founders Links: Connect with Diz : https://www.linkedin.com/in/disneypetit LiquiDonate : https://liquidonate.com/ For all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs, check out our sponsor NextWave Partners . Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E134 · Sat, November 18, 2023
#134 How Climatize is Democratizing Clean Energy Investing, Building an MVP in Highly Regulated Markets, & More w/ Will Wiseman (Climatize)
🌎 Today's episode is the first of our new founder show format, where we are keeping it a bit shorter and focusing on what they are doing rather than too many of the broader trends. Our guinea pig is Will Wiseman, Founder & CEO of Climatize. A revolutionary platform that is empowering community solar projects to scale effectively by getting them financed where PE is not doing the deals due to smaller sizes. Main Takeaways: (read the full version on Substack) Make it easy to use. Calculate the ROI of your fundraising process for a morale boost. Hire "ready" talent early on. Co-founders SHOULD think differently. --- 🌎 If you'd like to see the full PodLetter, go to our substack to see all the written content that supplements the audio interview. --- Topics: 2:26 His Career Journey 6:42 How He Looks at Impact Work 8:04 FInTech Founding as an Engineer 13:13 Why PE Isn't Filling the Need 16:40 How they "Pitch" to Consumers 20:12 Hiring & Talent 26:08 Building the Product 28:26 Advice to Founders 32:29 Future Challenges 34:59 On Making it "Real" to Climate Deniers Links: Connect with Will Climatize.Earth For all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs, check out our sponsor NextWave Partners . This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E133 · Tue, November 14, 2023
#133 Thought Leadership, Choosing the Right Board Members, Navigating Big Oil, & More w/ Illai Gescheit (Siemens Energy Ventures)
Description In the increasingly competitive landscape of VCs and startups, there is a growing trend where founders and VCs engage in content creation to establish their legitimacy and thought leadership. Through podcasts, articles, and social media platforms, they share insights, experiences, and expertise, fostering a transparent and accessible platform for people to gain conviction in them. This content-driven approach not only enhances their personal and professional brands but also contributes to knowledge-sharing and community-building. As simple as this is, there are still surprisingly few who do it regularly and well. On this episode, we had the absolute pleasure of having on one of our favorite content creators x VCs: Illai Gescheit , Venture Partner at Siemens Energy Ventures . Illai Gescheit, based in London, started in medical devices and startup development. After contributing to the development of insulin pumps for diabetics, he ventured into cloud computing and consumer software startups, eventually joining Amazon to lead their startup and venture capital programs. Currently, he serves as a venture partner at Siemens Energy Ventures, focusing on piloting and investing in climate and energy startups. He has also served in a number of advisory roles including Techstars, Google, MassChallenge, and the World Economic Forum. Illai is very thoughtful in how he communicates nuances of piloting technology, managing your board, engaging with big oil, and other pressing topics in CT VC. His years of putting out content have made him one of the most polished guests we’ve ever had. -- Topics 4:47 Intro 9:05 How climate companies can think about big oil 18:02 His motto: kindness is my strategy 25:03 The importance of content and personal branding 40:10 Investing “in-kind” and with “sweat equity” 53:46 Insights 1:11:17 Are climate companies selling too early? 1:12:43 Recruiting talent for early-stage startups 1:16:03 Choosing the right board member 1:19:35 Advice to fund managers 1:22:42 The climate company he would build today -- Links Connect with Illai Gescheit For all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs, check out our sponsor NextWave Partners . This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. Connect with Somil | <
S1 E132 · Wed, November 01, 2023
#132 The Role of Science in VC, Successfully Building in Hardware, and Calculating Decarbonization w/ Iris Ten Have (Extantia)
In this episode, Somil Aggarwal (@somilagg) interviews Iris Ten Have about her journey into VC from a science background, what ie means to be a Head of Science in VC, how to successfully build in hardware, and more. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: ** 6:25 Academia to venture **15:46 What helped her prepare for VC **18:42 How Extantia started **25:33 What makes a successful hardware investment **30:16 How to get your pre-orders for your MVP **36:05 Evaluating decarbonization potential **44:38 Advice to founders **48:36 What VCs can learn from scientists **51:11 Biggest challenges for funds ----- Links: ** Connect with Iris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iris-ten-have/ **Extantia: https://extantia.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @somilagg ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: #131 Selling to Utilities, The Disruptor Mistake, Clean Your Camp, Carrot vs Stick Regs, & More w/ Michael Jung (ICF Climate Center) **Similar Topic: #117 Early Stage Hiring Decisions, Heeding the Lessons from CleanTech 1.0, Energize's $300m Growth Fund Close, & More w/ Eileen Waris (Energize Capital) **Something Totally Different: From 30% to 90% Li Recov
S1 E131 · Thu, October 26, 2023
#131 Selling to Utilities, The Disruptor Mistake, Clean Your Camp, Carrot vs Stick Regs, & More w/ Michael Jung (ICF Climate Center)
In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) speaks with Mike Jung from the ICF Climate Center. Given Mike's work across a wide variety of clients currently + his experience in the utility space, we had a lot of interesting things to talk about. Of all the things, perhaps the most interesting, were his insights on selling to utilities. So, if you're selling to utilities, listen up this one is for you. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: Links: ** Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejung/ ** ICF Climate Center : https://www.icf.com/climate-center ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner You might enjoy: ** Most Recent Episode : #130 Financing Emerging Clean Technologies, The Incentive of Repeat Transactions, Hiring a Founding Team, & More w/ Kevin Kyer (Pyrpose.io) ** Similar Topic : Helping Utilities Utilize Wasted Data with Sean Murphy of PingThings ** Something Totally Different : #116 Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures) <a rel="payment" href="htt
S1 E130 · Fri, October 20, 2023
#130 Financing Emerging Clean Technologies, The Incentive of Repeat Transactions, Hiring a Founding Team, & More w/ Kevin Kyer (Pyrpose.io)
Why you should listen: Learn how to hire a founding team Find out the secret to properly structured incentives to achieve repeat transactions when working in emerging markets Learn how to communicate your offering to non-climate-nerds Not already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post. In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) & Somil Aggarwal ( @somil_agg ) speak with Kevin Kyer, the Co-Founder, and CEO of Pyrpose - a direct lending platform that, using the crowdfunding laws, allows individuals to lend to companies creating clean solutions in order to deploy their technology, the user is also getting a return on their money. They specifically focus on emerging markets because of how high the cost of capital is and the unwillingness of large lending institutions to operate in those markets currently. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: 1:59 Intro 8:48 What is Pyrpose? 15:22 Marketplace Approach 18:04 Consumers and sellers 25:59 GTM 29:01 Raising on this model 32:26 Crypto and climate 35:49 Picking a founding team 42:41 Finding talent 45:46 Advice to Founders 49:16 Climate-specific PMF advice 52:23 Ideas Links: ** Connect with Kevin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmkyer/ ** pyrpose.io ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: **Twitter: @ silasmahner / @ somil_agg Other episodes you might enjoy: **Similar Topic: How Microfinance Helps Unbanked & The Climate Vulnerable w/ Celyn & Kristen (ShareChange) **Something Different: CleanTech
S1 E129 · Sun, October 15, 2023
#129 A Decade of Energy Investing, Impact Investment Hurdles, & Launching a 2nd Fund w/ Jason Blumberg (Earth Foundry)
Why you should listen: ** How to succeed in building your company from a seasoned ClimateTech and energy investor **How to successfully expand your thesis and launch a new fund **Learn the best ClimateTech industries of the future Show notes: In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) & Somil Aggarwal ( @somil_agg ) speak with Jason Blumberg from Earth Foundry. Earth Foundry came out of Energy Foundry, who after a successful decade of investing in energy technologies is expanding its scope to other areas of climate tech. Jason Blumberg is the co-founder and Managing Director of Earth Foundry. As a former consultant and founder in the energy space, he has sat on many boards and has a wide array of knowledge about energy and beyond to share with us. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Links: Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonblumberg/ Earth Foundry: https://www.earthfoundry.com Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : (@silasmahner) & (@somil_agg) Other episodes you might enjoy: Most Recent Episode: #128 Branding & Marketing Your ClimateTech Startup w/ Anna Konstantinova (AnnaKo.Co) Similar Topic: #116 Consultive VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures) Something Totally Different: #120 Serial Entrepreneur Fundraising, the IRA &
S1 E128 · Mon, October 09, 2023
#128 Unraveling the Power of Branding in Climate Tech & Its Transformative Role in Startups w/ Anna Konstantinova
In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Anna Konstantinova about her advice to climate tech companies in relation to marketing and branding. Really helpful episode for our listeners from someone who has spent a lot of time helping founders and climate brands make their work digestible to the correct target audience. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: **3:10 Intro & Career **12:53 Why a Brand Matters **17:54 How to Position Brand to People Uninterested in Climate Change **26:36 Are There General Archetypes **28:42 When to "Set" Brand **31:32 Tips on Branding During Fundraise **36:39 Personal Branding for Founder is Also Important **43:03 When to Get Help to Pass the Plateau **49:20 Hiring & Brand Links: ** Connect with Anna : https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaknova/ ** AnnaKo.co ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: #127 Scalable Carbon Capture, Building as a Non-Deeptech Founder, Creative Business Models, & Navigating Funding Challenges w/ Luke Shors (Capture6) **Similar Topic: #76 Endings, Endineering, Circular Economy, & the Customer Experience w/ Joe Macleod **Something Totally #65 Different: Decentralizing Agriculture & Societal Resilience with Eddy from Eden Green Technologies Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwi
S1 E127 · Sun, October 08, 2023
#127 Scalable Carbon Capture, Building as a Non-Deeptech Founder, Creative Business Models, & Navigating Funding Challenges w/ Luke Shors (Capture6)
Why you should listen: **Learn about a new breakthrough carbon capture model **How you can build a deep tech company as a non-deep-tech founder **How to raise from both public and private funding sources Show Notes: In this episode, Silas Mähner (@silasmahner) and Somil Aggarwal (@somilagg) interview Luke Shors, co-founder of Capture6. Capture6 is a direct air carbon capture company, applying its innovative technology and business model to revolutionize the way that carbon capture takes place. One of their claims to fame is their approach on being efficient with water usage and creating beneficial byproducts from their capture process. Luke himself is not a deep tech founder and shares great insights on how he navigated building a deep tech company in climate. Overall, a super good episode packed full of insights. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: **6:53 Starting as a public benefit company **12:50 Being a climate founder without deeptech background**16:28 Capture6 differentiator**20:01 Economic advantage of direct air capture **31:15 Price of Capture6's carbon **36:11 GTM **40:22 Messaging in public vs. private funding **50:37 Advice for founders **54:00 If he started a company today Links: ** Connect with Luke : https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-shors/ ** Capture6 : https://capture6.org ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner, @somilagg Y ou might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: #126 The Value-add of Specialist VCs, Engaging with Corporate Partners, Advice to Founders & Aspiring VCs, Defending Your Moat, & More with Grant Allen (SE Ventures) **Similar Topic: From Restaurants to ClimateTech: Building a Carbon Capture Concrete Company w/ Tim Sperry (Carbon Limit) **Something Totally Different: <a href='https://cleantechies.s
S1 E126 · Sun, October 01, 2023
#126 The Value-add of Specialist VCs, Engaging with Corporate Partners, Advice to Founders & Aspiring VCs, Defending Your Moat, & More with Grant Allen (SE Ventures)
Why you should listen: Discover the role of Specialist VCs in climate change solutions with SE Ventures Learn about SE Ventures and its innovative climate and industrial tech investments Gain insights on collaboration with large companies and startup wisdom In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) & Somil Aggarwal ( @somil_agg ) speak with Grant Allen, General Partner at SE Ventures. They are a uniquely positioned Specialist VC with a single LP, Schneider Electric. They function like a typical VC, with autonomy from Schneider Electric as a whole, but can also leverage Schneider's vast global network to add value beyond capital and help their portfolio companies to succeed. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Links: ** Connect with Grant : https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantallen/ ** SE Ventures : https://www.seventures.com/home.jsp ** Climate Capital Summit : https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner, @somil_agg Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: #125 Revolutionizing Heating and Cooling with Smart Radiators, Facing Rejection, and Building Hardware like Software with Marshall Cox (Kelvin) **Similar Topic: #93 Hard Truths About VC, Raising Advice, & Small Fund Limitations w/ Susan Su (Toba Capital) **Something Totally Different: #103 Revoluti
S1 E125 · Wed, September 27, 2023
#125 Revolutionizing Heating and Cooling with Smart Radiators, Facing Rejection, & Building Hardware like Software w/ Marshall Cox (Kelvin)
In this episode, Somil Aggarwal (@somilagg) interviews Marshall Cox about his journey into being a climate tech founder, the impact of getting a Ph.D. on his journey, how he faced rejection, and how to build hardware like software. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Key Topics: 6:00 Impact of PhD on Entrepreneurship 8:32 Radiators vs. smart radiators 13:59 Balancing impact vs. bottom-line 15:30 Fundraising History 18:27 Facing rejection 27:06 New vision for Kelvin & hurdles for implementation 38:56 Expanding into new hardware products 43:13 How to make building in hardware like building in software 44:59 Advice for founders ----- Links: Connect with Marshall : https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallcox79/ Kelvin : https://kel.vin Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn HMU on Twitter : @Somil_Agg ----- You might enjoy: Most Recent Episode: #123 Driving Adoption in Hard-to-Abate Sectors, Why Not an IP Play, Fundraising for an R&D Shop, Partnering w/ Large Corporates, Hiring PhDs, & More w/ Jeff Erhardt (Mattiq) Similar Topic: From Harvard, to D.E. Shaw, to Obama Administration, to Refrigeration w/ Manik Suri (Therma) Something Totally Different: Re-Engineering the World because the Future is Decarboni
S1 E124 · Sun, September 24, 2023
#124 Timing, Team, & TAM, Removing the Friction of ESG Reporting and Data Tracking, Utilizing Your Investor Network, & More w/ Tee Ganbold (OpenESG)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks with Tee Ganbold, the Co-Founder of OpenESG on what she's doing in the ESG tech space. They have created an incredible tool that operates like ChatGPT but is specifically designed and trained on corporate sustainability data. Instead of spending time researching a company's ESG data and commitments, you can simply ask OpenESG and you have detailed data at your fingertips, along the precise references to the underlying data. Tee has a great story coming from Mongolia, being raised in London, starting a few companies, living around the world, and now choosing to build OpenESG in NYC. We had a really great conversation so it's exciting to share it with you here today. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Links: **Connect with Tee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teeganbold/ **OpenESG: https://www.openesg.com/ ** Climate Capital Summit : https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: #123 Driving Adoption in Hard-to-Abate Sectors, Why Not an IP Play, Partnering w/ Large Corporates, Hiring PhDs, & More w/ Jeff Erhardt (Mattiq) **Similar Topic: #47 The Current and Future State of the ESG Software Space w/ Sondra Tosky (Measurabl) **Something Totally Different: #63 Carbon Markets and How they Work, Democratizing Forestry Carbon Credits, & More w/ Matt Smith (Finite Carbon) Support the show <em
S1 E123 · Sun, September 17, 2023
#123 Driving Adoption in Hard-to-Abate Sectors, Why Not an IP Play, Fundraising for an R&D Shop, Partnering w/ Large Corporates, Hiring PhDs, & More w/ Jeff Erhardt (Mattiq)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) & Somil Aggarwal ( @somil_agg ) speak with Jeff Erhardt from Mattiq. Jeff had a ton of insights and we are glad to share them with you today. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL) : https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Links: ** Connect w/ Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferhardt/ ** Follow Mattiq : https://mattiq.com/ ** Climate Capital Summit : https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: #122 Offset Skepticism, Regulation Driving Demand, Sustainable Supply Chains, Content GTM Strategy, Climate Business Opportunities, & More w/ Saif Hameed (Altruistiq) **Similar Topic: #113 Incubating Climate Risk / Insurance Solutions as Traditional Insurers Pull Back w/ Stephen Brittain (Insurtech Gateway) **Something Totally Different: #99 Capturing Methane to Power Data Centers in Remote Areas w/ Andreas Lehner (PowerBlocks) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach
S1 E122 · Thu, September 14, 2023
#122 Offset Skepticism, Regulation Driving Demand, Sustainable Supply Chains, Content GTM Strategy, Climate Business Opportunities, & More w/ Saif Hameed (Altruistiq)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) & Somil Aggarwal ( @somil_agg ) speak with Saif Hameed, the CEO and Founder of Altruistiq, a leading Carbon Emissions accounting software. The conversation is full of insights because Saif has an incredible background, diverse career exposure, and a very good handle on the overall ESG & Sustainability space. Some of the key topics are, how ESG is an incorrect usage of terminology, how Scope 1,2,3 emissions were created as frameworks for governments, the difficulty of deploying money into non-renewables climate solutions, and a lot more. Enjoy 🌎 📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL) : https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: *13:27 ESG SaaS Breakdown *23:12 Critique of Corporate Promises *29:56 How CPGs Track Responsiveness *39:13 Sustainability Product Demand Insights *48:29 Advice to Founders *54:27 GTM Advice *1:01:15 Startup Ideas ----- Links: * Connect w/ Saif : https://www.linkedin.com/in/saifhameed/ * Follow Altruistiq : https://altruistiq.com/ * Climate Capital Summit : https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ * Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: * HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- You might enjoy: *Most Recent Episode: #121 Size Matters...Fund Size, Re-industrializing the World, Hardware is NOT Hard, & More w/ Matt McGraw (Anthro Ventures) *Similar Topic: How ESG Effects Design, ESG Reporting for RE Owners, Real Estate and ESG, and Sustainable Real Estate w/ Fulya Kocak Gin (Nareit) *Something Different:
S1 E121 · Fri, September 08, 2023
#121 Size Matters...Fund Size, Re-industrializing the World, Hardware is NOT Hard, & More w/ Matt McGraw (Anthro Ventures)
In this episode Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) & Matt McGraw ( @mjm11 ), Co-Founder and GP of Anthro Ventures. In the ep we cover his story, their focus, why being a VC is a hard job, how ClimateTech is essentially re-industrializing the world & why that's a good thing, he offered his advice to founders, and we closed off by discussing the role of CT startups in the governance and ESG movement towards a more equitable future. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL) : https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **2:42 Intro & Career Into VC **12:41 Size Matters...Fund Size **23:15 Job of a VC **25:08 Anthro's Thesis **39:22 Re-industrializing the World **41:51 Advice to Founders **48:19 Areas To Build In **50:40 Blitz Scaling Conventional Industries **55:34 Governance in Climate Startups ----- Links: ** Connect w/ Matt : https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjm11/ | matt@anthro.ventures ** Follow Anthro Ventures : https://anthro.ventures/ ** Climate Capital Summit : https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes: **Most Recent Episode: #120 Serial Entrepreneur Fundraising, the IRA & Home Electrification, IRA-Dependent Business Models, & More w/ Jeff Chapin (Haven Energy) **Similar Topic: #116 Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures) **Something Totally Different: <a h
S1 E120 · Wed, September 06, 2023
#120 Serial Entrepreneur Fundraising, the IRA & Home Electrification, IRA-Dependent Business Models, & More w/ Jeff Chapin (Haven Energy)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) & Somil Aggarwal ( @somil_agg ) speak with Jeff Chapin, the Co-Founder of Haven Energy. We heard how he raised the funding for Haven with 2 pitches. He taught us how the IRA aids home electrification. His thoughts on building IRA-dependent businesses. We finish up with his advice to founders. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📆 Book a time with Silas in NYC During Climate Week 🌱 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . ----- Topics: **1:03 Intro & Journey into Climate **5:41 Hiring an outsider **12:18 Advice to get going as a founder-to-be **15:09 What Haven does **26:40 Blue Collar Workers in Climate **30:11 The Raising Process **35:45 The IRA and Home Electrification **48:34 Advice to Founders ----- Links: ** Connect with Jeff : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-chapin-a4b63758/ ** Haven Energy: https://havenenergy.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: Partnering w/ Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, Houston's Role in the Movement, Discovery Framework, & More w/ Eric Rubenstein (New Climate Ventures) **Similar Topic: Electrifying Homes, Home Air-Quality & Health, Merging Blue & White Collar Talent w/ DR Richardson (Elephant Energy) **Something Totally Different: From 30% to 9
S1 E119 · Tue, August 29, 2023
#119 Partnering w/ Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, Houston's Role in the Movement, Discovery Framework, & More w/ Eric Rubenstein (New Climate Ventures)
In this episode Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) interviews Eric Rubenstein about his journey into climate tech, the importance of partnering with Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, the role of Houston in that movement, Eric's discovery framework, and his ideal founder traits. Overall, a super good episode packed full of insights. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **1:36 Intro & His Climate Journey **9:42 DTD Challenges of Being a VC **13:59 New Climate Ventures **15:50 Their Verticals **22:27 His Exp Raising the Fund **30:41 Houston & The Climate Revolution **39:30 Ideal Founder Traits Advice Section **46:19 Discovery Mindset Framework & Tactics **50:32 VCs Required Value Props **55:10 Fundraising Advice **58:56 His Role Model VCs ----- Links: ** Connect with Eric : https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric--rubenstein/ ** New Climate Ventures : https://www.newclimateventures.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: Carbon Negative Cement, DeepTech Development Frameworks, Hiring a Founding Team, Pointers on an IP Business, & More w/ Cody Finke (Brimstone) **Similar Topic: Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures) **Something Totally Different: Revolutionizing Takeout: Tackling Plastic Waste Crisis with Reu
S1 E118 · Tue, August 22, 2023
#118 Carbon Negative Cement, DeepTech Development Frameworks, Hiring a Founding Team, Pointers on an IP Business, & More w/ Cody Finke (Brimstone)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) and Cody Finke (@ cody_finke ), the Co-Founder of Brimstone discuss Cody's journey into climate and how they are revolutionizing the cement space. They have created a cement product that has just been approved as certified Portland Cement - This is the main cement used in the construction of buildings. The best part, it's carbon neutral in many cases negative (depending on the energy source used). This is a truly revolutionary technology and we can't wait to see it at commercial scale in the next few years. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Links: ** Connect with Cody: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-finke-ph-d-213b88ab ** Brimstone Website: https://www.brimstone.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: Early Stage Hiring Decisions, Heeding the Lessons from CleanTech 1.0, Energize's $300m Growth Fund Close, & More w/ Eileen Waris (Energize Capital) **Similar Topic: From Restaurants to ClimateTech: Building a Carbon Capture Concrete Company w/ Tim Sperry (Carbon Limit) **Something Totally Different: Cutting Building Heat Loss Via Windows & Building a Platform for Glass Technology Firms w/ Anas Kassas (INOVUES) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal n
S1 E117 · Tue, August 15, 2023
#117 Early Stage Hiring Decisions, Heeding the Lessons from CleanTech 1.0, Energize's $300m Growth Fund Close, & More w/ Eileen Waris (Energize Capital)
In this episode Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) and Eileen Waris (@eileen_waris) have a conversation about her experience, what they are doing at Energize Capital (FKA Energize Ventures), the state of climate tech VC, advice to founders, and a lot more. We had the pleasure to speak with them on the day they changed their name and announced the close of their second growth fund ($300m) Reach out to Eileen: ewaris@energizecap.com Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Links: ** Electrifying Everything 2023: https://www.energizecap.com/news-insights/electrifying-everything-2023-edition-2 ** Connect with Eileen : https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileen-waris-98632564/ ** Energize Capital Website : https://www.energizecap.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures) **Similar Topic: The Future of the EU Climate VC Landscape, Transparency, & Challenges: Exploring Climate Tech Investing w/ Heidi Lindvall (Pale Blue Dot) **Something Totally Different: Sawdust to Chemicals; Building a BioChemical Startup w/ Julie Kring (Khepra)
S1 E116 · Tue, August 08, 2023
#116 Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures)
In this episode Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) and Rick Zullo ( @Rick_Zullo ) discuss, Rick's career trajectory to VC, the thesis behind Equal Ventures, his thoughts on the CTVC's H1 Funding report, and his advice to founders and VCs. This episode is densely packed with value as Rick has clearly thought a lot about these problems. Perhaps my favorite takeaways are 1) that he views VC as more Consulting with Equity than banking and 2) was how they develop industry connections and understanding so that they can actually help their PortCos succeed. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Links: ** Connect w/ Rick on Linkedin : https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickzullo/ ** Follow Rick on Twitter ( X.com ): https://twitter.com/Rick_Zullo ** Equal VC Website : https://www.equal.vc/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: How Logical Buildings Built the First Residential & C&I Energy Management Service w/ CEO, Jeff Hendler **Similar Topic: How to Raise Money for your ClimateTech Startup w/ Tommy Leep, founder of Jetstream VC **Something Totally Different: How to build an MVP with a complex ClimateTech Startup - Andy Frank, Founder of Sealed Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable
S1 E115 · Wed, August 02, 2023
How Logical Buildings Built the First Residential & C&I Energy Management Service w/ CEO, Jeff Hendler
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks w/ Jeff Hendler Co-Founder and CEO of Logical Buildings (@ logicalbldgs ) about his journey from Wall Street, to the Utility, to founding a Smart Building company. We also cover how their Grid Rewards program works, how a company like this can be competitive, and what he sees as the next big challenge to solve. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **5:26 How he Founded Logical Buildings **16:39 What Grid Services Are **29:26 How to Win in the Market **36:43 Partner Relationships **43:24 Advice on Talent **48:51 Biggest Upcoming Challenges ----- Links: **Jeff on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-hendler-568b4210 **Logical Buildings: https://logicalbuildings.com/ ** Grid Rewards : https://www.gridrewards.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: Reflecting on H1 2023 CT Funding & Discussing Transferable Tax Credits Along with the Opportunities they Present (Somil & Silas) **Similar Topic: CleanTechies, the Podcast #15 - Brian Turner (Buildings IoT) **Something Totally Different: Helping Utilities Utilize Wasted Data with Sean Murphy of PingThings Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Re
S1 E114 · Thu, July 27, 2023
Reflecting on H1 2023 CT Funding & Discussing Transferable Tax Credits Along with the Opportunities they Present (Somil & Silas)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) and Somil Aggarwal (@ Somil_Agg ) have a discussion about two things. First, their thoughts and reaction to the H1, 2023 Funding Report by CTVC Second, a conversation around the transferable tax credits created by the IRA and what areas we think are the biggest areas for growth or opportunity because of those. Hope you enjoy this episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Links: ** Connect with Silas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silasmahner/ ** Connect with Somil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somil-aggarwal/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: Incubating Climate Risk / Insurance Solutions as Traditional Insurers Pull Back w/ Stephen Brittain (Insurtech Gateway) **Similar Topic: Hard Truths About VC, Raising Advice, & Small Fund Limitations w/ Susan Su (Toba Capital) **Something Totally Different: How Microfinance Helps Unbanked & The Climate Vulnerable w/ Celyn & Kristen (ShareChange) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to o
S1 E113 · Wed, July 26, 2023
#113 Incubating Climate Risk / Insurance Solutions as Traditional Insurers Pull Back w/ Stephen Brittain (Insurtech Gateway)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks w/ Stephen Brittain from Insurtech Gateway ( @Ideas_Gateway) . They are incubating Impact Risk Mitigation and Insurance Companies / Products. On the back end, they invest and connect these companies with partners in the insurance space and other VCs. Today's conversation is a bit high-level but has many great insights. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: **2:29 Intro **7:05 What Insurtech Gateway is (this is the section that will be swapped with the second recording) **12:26 How insurance works and what they are doing differently **19:13 How they identify the right CO's **27:21 How to determine which areas to work on **32:20 The process of finding founders and taking them through the incubation process **43:46 FloodFlash **53:13 Preventing ahead of issues **54:42 Smoothing out the price issues **1:01:04 What milestones need to be hit to really go onto Series A **1:06:49 How insurance factories are partnering with these startups **1:10:55 Who he wants to meet Links: ** Stephen on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbrittain/ ** Insurtech Gateway : https://www.insurtechgateway.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: How to not be Another Failed Green Plastics Chemistry Company, Refugee shelters, & Selling to Producers, not Brands w/ Alex Blum (Applied Bioplastics) **Similar Topic: T he Future of Clean Energy, Materials/Mfg, & the Circular Economy with Author, Peter Leyden **Someth
S1 E112 · Sun, July 23, 2023
How to not be Another Failed Green Plastics Chemistry Company, Refugee shelters, & Selling to Producers, not Brands w/ Alex Blum (Applied Bioplastics)
In this episode Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks w/ Alex Blum ( @AlexBlum4Austin ) Co-Founder and CEO of Applied Bioplastics ( @abioplastics ) about his journey into founding the company, their experience commercializing the tech, their business model, and his advice to other founders doing something similar. In addition to having some great stories and things to say, Alex is also quite funny so it's a triple whammy episode. If you're a founder creating alternative plastic chemistry, you should be sure to listen to the part about where to sell into the supply chain (~48 min). Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **2:33 Intro **4:59 Alex's Story **13:10 Discovering the Tech **21:08 Why Housing **31:36 Tech Development Process **39:11 The Biz Model **49:45 How Others selling into the space should be done **57:43 How their biz is split **1:10:26 Don't be afraid to walk into the fire ----- Links: **Blossoms from Ash Documentary: https://youtu.be/M96s2I907gw **Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexappliedbio/ **Applied Bioplastics Website: https://appliedbioplastics.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: The Future of the EU Climate VC Landscape, Transparency, & Challenges: Exploring Climate Tech Investing w/ Heidi Lindvall (Pale Blue Dot) **Similar Topic: Utilizing Carbon in Everyday Products w/ Aaron Fitzgerald of Mars Materials **Something Totally Differen
S1 E111 · Wed, July 19, 2023
The Future of the EU Climate VC Landscape, Transparency, & Challenges: Exploring Climate Tech Investing w/ Heidi Lindvall (Pale Blue Dot)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks w/ Heidi Lindvall ( @HeidiLindvall ) a founding partner of Pale Blue Dot ( @PaleBlueDotVC ). This is Heidi's second time on the show and in today's episode, we focus on what they are doing to level up. They are a 3-year-old fund now, and we cover what they are doing to continue maturing their network and processes. A lot of value in those parts of the conversation for new-ish CT VCs. Another really interesting thing is their perspective on ensuring they only invest in startups that can get funding from generalist funds in the future. A lot of really great insight was packed into a slightly shorter episode. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **4:25 State of CTVC in EU **8:13 Ukraine War & CTVC **10:46 Public Term Sheet **18:25 Supporting Founders **21:10 Fund Size **25:05 Future Goggles **29:45 Measure Themselves **32:37 Market Challenges **39:00 R&D & Commercial **40:47 Common Mistakes **43:03 What's Next ----- Links: ** Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidilindvall/ ** Pale Blue Dot: https://paleblue.vc/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: Most Recent Episode: Redefining Waste through 3D Printed Clay Containers | Earth to Earth w/ Sanjeev Mankotia (GaeaStar) Similar Topic: ClimateTech Investing w/ Valerie Shen (G2 Venture Partners) Something Totally Different: Endings, Endineering, Circular Economy, & the Customer Experience w/ Joe Macleod</a
S1 E110 · Sun, July 16, 2023
Redefining Waste through 3D Printed Clay Containers | Earth to Earth w/ Sanjeev Mankotia (GaeaStar)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks w/ Sanjeev Mankotia, the Founder and CEO of GaeaStar. They are on their way to solving the issue of single-use plastic pollution with their 3D printed, clay-cup solution. You might think it sounds crazy, but once you hear the episode, you can understand how this is very much within reach. It's a fascinating episode with a lot of value for companies building hardware ClimateTech startups. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **2:02 Introduction **6:26 What they do **13:01 Financial feasibility of their product **20:48 How to develop a 3D printed product co **26:21 Refining their mfg process for a specific use case **32:22 Where this tech can be used **34:58 The evolution of the biz model **39:47 The funding process **53:52 Price in the future **58:48 Closeout ----- Links: ** Sanjeev on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjeev-mankotia/ ** GaeaStar : https://gaeastar.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: From Coal to Climate, VC Channel Sales Partners, LP Sentiment & More w/ Albert Bielinko (Telstra Ventures) **Similar Topic: From Dust to Dust Masonry Products - Fusing Modern Science + Traditional Methods w/ Adital Ela (Criaterra) **Something Totally Different: The Future of Clean Energy, Materials/Mfg, & the Circular Economy with Author, Peter Leyden Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 <
S1 E109 · Sun, July 09, 2023
From Coal to Climate, VC Channel Sales Partners, LP Sentiment & More w/ Albert Bielinko (Telstra Ventures)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks w/ Albert Bielinko ( @bielinko ) a Partner at Telstra Ventures. Albert leads their CT investments and speaks to us today about many things, from how he started in coal to end up in climate. How they have helped their portfolio companies generate over $450m USD in sales through their channel partnerships. What the LP sentiment on CTVC is and his thoughts on the talent landscape? This is full of quite a lot of value. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **2:07 Intro to Albert & Telstra Ventures **4:49 TV's Remit **7:59 How CT VC landscape has changed since 2014 **12:31 Raising funds **18:29 Investment Thesis **27:53 VCs w/ Sales Channels **33:18 Investment Criteria **35:45 How to determine TAM in new spaces **39:51 LPs expectations for hardware vs software returns **42:03 LP sentiment on CTVC **45:29 Talent Landscape **50:00 What's Next in CT **53:07 Closing ----- Links: ** Albert on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/albert-bielinko-4070a729/ ** Telstra Ventures: https://telstraventures.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: Sawdust to Chemicals; Building a BioChemical Startup w/ Julie Kring (Khepra) **Similar Topic: How Keyframe is Bridging the Gap from Pure VC to Pure PE Financing for Hard Tech COs w/ Ethan Goldsmith **Something Totally Different: Reducing Operating Costs & While Taking Higher Rents in Com
S1 E108 · Sun, July 02, 2023
Sawdust to Chemicals; Building a BioChemical Startup w/ Julie Kring (Khepra)
In this episode Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks w/ Julie Kring, ( @KringJu ) the founder of Khepra to discuss her journey into ClimateTech, how they are making biochemicals for AgriTech use cases out of sawdust, and her advice to founders doing similar things. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **2:56 Biochemicals & her background **8:47 How to make chemicals/biofuels **10:27 What they do at Khepra **13:57 Supply Chain **19:03 From R&D to Commercialization **25:14 How to pair R&D teams with commercial applications **30:20 Funding experience **35:20 Process to build a chemical company **41:18 Expectations to achieve profitability - reach a financial event **43:30 Biggest challenge in the process of building the co **47:08 How to rally your team **50:21 What she's looking forward to in the future ----- Links: ** Julie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-k-70425689/ ** Khepra Website: https://www.khepra.io/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy : ** Most Recent Episode : Planeteer News Reaction, Thought Leadership in CT, & Leveraging Reputation w/ Somil Aggarwal ** Similar Topic : Utilizing Carbon in Everyday Products w/ Aaron Fitzgerald of Mars Materials ** Something Totally Different : Re-Engineering the World because the Future is Decarbonized w/ Matt Ward (4Ward.VC)<
S1 E107 · Mon, June 26, 2023
Planeteer News Reaction, Thought Leadership in CT, & Leveraging Reputation w/ Somil Aggarwal
Today Somil ( @somil_agg ) and Silas (@ silasmahner ) have a discussion reacting to the news about Planeteer and more broadly on the topic of thought leaders and ClimateTech. We welcome Somil as a guest that you are likely to see more frequently as we intend to do more content like this. So, please let us know if you enjoy it. ** Checkout Somil's Newsletter, SIP: https://sip.beehiiv.com/ **📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . **📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: **Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ** Somil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/somil-aggarwal/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: Using Blockchain to Verify Carbon Offsets | Blockchain & Climate Are Compatible w/ Alan Ransil (Filecoin Green) **Similar Topic: How to Raise Money for your ClimateTech Startup w/ Tommy Leep, founder of Jetstream VC **Something Totally Different: #53 - Incubating Early Stage CleanTech Companies - Jason Ethier of Greentown Labs Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E106 · Sun, June 25, 2023
Using Blockchain to Verify Carbon Offsets | Blockchain & Climate Are Compatible w/ Alan Ransil (Filecoin Green)
What if there was a way to revolutionize data storage for companies and organizations while also promoting sustainability and transparency? Join us as we chat with Alan Ransil from Filecoin Green, an initiative by Protocol Labs that aims to do just that by utilizing the power of blockchain technology. Throughout the episode, we explore how Filecoin Green creates verifiable carbon credits, tracks trust, and accelerates the flow of information in the decarbonization process. Alan shares his experience with satellite imaging for monitoring deforestation and how programmable money can be used to create NF Trees - a unique incentive for people on the ground to protect forest regions. We also dive into the importance of trust in ESG reporting and how Zero-Knowledge Proofs, a foundation of Filecoin, can enhance the transparency and efficiency of sustainability efforts. As we wrap up, we discuss the compatibility of blockchain technologies with sustainability goals, touching on the energy consumption of various blockchain algorithms and how Filecoin compares to Amazon Web Services. Alan emphasizes the need for regulation and shares Filecoin Green's efforts to reduce energy use and connect the network to renewable energy sources. Don't miss this enlightening conversation that delves into the potential of blockchain to transform sustainability and transparency in the fight against climate change. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Links: ** Alan on LinkedIn: ** Filecoin Green: ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: Dealing w/ Bandwagoning, The Value of Incubators, & Moats, with Alex Mitchell (Full Turn Capital) **Similar Topic: Carbon Offsets; an Investment not an Expense with Demian Klenk **Something Totally Different: Soap, Carbon Capture,
S1 E105 · Sun, June 18, 2023
Dealing w/ Bandwagoning, The Value of Incubators, & Moats, with Alex Mitchell (Full Turn Capital)
Ever wondered how CleanTech investments and business models are shaping the industry? In this episode, we're joined by Alex Mitchell, founder of Full Turn Capital, to explore the ins and outs of investing in the climate tech space. From understanding the potential of pre-seed and seed stage businesses to creating long-term competitive advantages, we discuss it all with Alex. Dive into the challenges and opportunities of investing in early-stage startups, as well as how to craft compelling pitches for venture capitalists and avoid the pitfalls of bandwagoning in the tech world. Alex also shares his insights on the value of incubators like Los Angeles CleanTech Incubator (LACI), where he serves as a senior advisor, and the spectrum of services they offer to help startups grow and succeed. Whether you're a founder, investor, or just curious about the CleanTech industry, this episode is packed with valuable insights and actionable advice. Join us as we explore the many facets of the CleanTech space with Alex Mitchell, and learn how investing in climate tech business models can make a quantifiable impact on greenhouse gas emissions. Don't miss out on this fascinating discussion! Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: From Restaurants to ClimateTech: Building a Carbon Capture Concrete Company w/ Tim Sperry (Carbon Limit) **Similar Topic: Re-Engineering the World because the Future is Decarbonized w/ Matt Ward (4Ward.VC) **Something Totally Different: 3D Printed Buildings, Near Zero Waste, w/ Sam Ruben (Mighty Buildings) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E104 · Sun, June 11, 2023
#104 From Restaurants to ClimateTech: Building a Carbon Capture Concrete Company w/ Tim Sperry (Carbon Limit)
What happens when a successful restaurateur decides to tackle climate change? Tim Sperry, CEO and founder of Carbon Limit, joins us to share his incredible journey from the restaurant business to creating a carbon capture technology company. With a mix of passion and business acumen, Tim offers valuable advice on finding the right investors, joining industry organizations, and navigating the regulatory space. Discover how Carbon Limit's innovative carbon-capturing concrete works and the potential it holds for reducing air pollution. Tim gives us an in-depth look at the company's transition from manufacturing to an IP play, licensing their unique materials and formula. We also explore the unit economics of licensing technology and the potential of generating carbon credits. Learn from Tim's experience with Techstars, fundraising, and the importance of mentorship and maintaining relationships throughout his entrepreneurial journey. From strategic grants to creative financing, Tim's insights and advice are invaluable for anyone interested in the climate tech space. Don't miss this engaging conversation about Carbon Limit's mission to create and commercialize carbon capture technology for the built environment. 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Links: **Connect with Tim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-sperry-57b14aa/ **Carbon Limit Website: https://www.carbonlimit.com/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: From 30% to 90% Li Recovery, Founding a ClimateTech Co, & Talent Moat w/ Teague Egan (EnergyX) Mineral Availability, Sustainable Mining, & ClimateTech Supply Chain
S1 E103 · Sun, June 04, 2023
Revolutionizing Takeout: Tackling Plastic Waste Crisis with Reusable Containers and Gamification w/ James Wilson (reUser)
Ever wondered how we could tackle the global plastic waste crisis, especially with the increase in takeout packaging during the pandemic? Today, we're thrilled to have James Wilson, founder, and CEO of ReUser, join us to share his innovative solution that focuses on reusable containers for dining institutions. James opens up about his journey in discovering the issue of takeout packaging waste and how it led him to create ReUser. In our conversation, we explore the challenges associated with sustainable packaging, recycling, and user experience. James emphasizes the importance of understanding human behavior in creating a successful reusable container program, and how ReUser leverages technology to incentivize students to return their containers. We discuss the financial and environmental benefits of reusable containers, highlighting the potential for cost savings and reduced emissions. As we wrap up, James shares insights into the billion-dollar market opportunity, ReUser's partnerships with reusable container companies, and their goal of becoming the operating system for reuse. We delve into the powerful role that gamification and customer loyalty play in promoting sustainable behavior, and how ReUser aims to expand its reach to other sectors such as hospitals and corporate campuses. Join us for this insightful conversation about an innovative solution to a pressing environmental challenge. 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Links: Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-wilson-3a832b88/ Check out reUser: https://www.reuser.app/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: <a href='
S1 E102 · Sun, May 28, 2023
Harvard --> D.E. Shaw --> Obama Administration --> Refrigeration w/ Manik Suri (GlacierGrid) (fkna Therma)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks with Manik Suri ( @ManikVSuri ) the Founder and CEO of Therma, an IoT device + software company that helps any organization using refrigeration to reduce cap ex and as a by-product, reduce the dirty energy assets on the grid. We cover his background, the problem, and the solution they are working on, and then go through building the business with a heavy focus on the work of raising money. Manik has a really interesting background having been a top achiever academically, going on to PE, and then government prior to launching Therma. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **1:20 Intro and Origin of Interest in Climate **4:02 The Problem **7:22 Electricity bill **11:38 The Solution **13:52 Cost and ROI **16:13 The Origin of the Idea **24:07 How his work in PE and Gov Influenced him **27:55 Carbon Abatement **31:13 Advice for Raising Capital **41:11 VC Issues & Thoughts on the Macro Environment **44:19 Discussion on VC Investing broadly **48:31 The Future ----- Links: ** manik@hellotherma.com ** Manik on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ManikVSuri ** Therma Website: https://www.hellotherma.com/our-company ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: ** Most Recent Episode: Building a Smart AC company to help Solve Climate Change w/ Ran Roth (Sensibo) ** Similar Topic: Electrifying Homes, Home Air-Quality & Health, Merging Blue & White Collar Talent w/ DR Richardson (Elephant Energy) ** Something Totally Differ
S1 E101 · Mon, May 22, 2023
Building a Smart AC company to help Solve Climate Change w/ Ran Roth (Sensibo)
Today we speak with Ran Roth, the Co-Founder and CTO of Sensibo, an IoT device company that connects your AC units to various services to help you use your AC unit more efficiently. In today's conversation, we discuss how they got started, their experience raising funds back in the wake of the death of CleanTech 1.0, and the future of indoor climate control. Punchy episode with a lot of great content. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . ----- Topics: **1:07 Intro **2:43 How he got into Sensibo **6:56 Stats: 1/3 of energy goes into heating and cooling globally **12:30 How the tech works **17:21 How they started **19:48 Going from software to hardware **22:23 When they took off & the funding process **26:21 Financial Model **28:57 Advice for Utility Partnerships **31:54 Indoor climate/air quality & health **34:36 Talent **37:00 Future of indoor climate control **39:58 Final thoughts ----- Links: ** Ran on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ran-roth/ ** Sensibo Website: https://sensibo.com/pages/smartac-usa ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: ** Join the Slack Channel : ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: ** Most Recent Episode: Extracting Precious Metals from Catalytic Converters to Solve Climate Change w/ Greg Pendura (Regenx) ** Similar Topic Episode: Electrifying Homes, Home Air-Quality & Health, Merging Blue & White Collar Talent w/ DR Richardson (Elephant Energy) ** Something Totally Different: How CorporateVCs are Playing a role in the Climate Revolution w/ Erik Terjesen (Silicon Foundry) <a rel="payment" href="https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahne
S1 E100 · Wed, May 17, 2023
Extracting Precious Metals from Catalytic Converters to Solve Climate Change w/ Greg Pendura (Regenx)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks with the CEO of publicly traded, Regenx, Greg Pendura. Regenx is a metals recycling company recovering precious metals from catalytic converters and selling it on the market or providing the service directly to OEMs. Greg explains the problem they are solving, how they are solving it, the back story of the company, how they funded the project, and where he sees the future going. If you dream of a future where everything can be broken down and made into either the same or another product, this is a great episode for you. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **1:19 Intro to Greg **6:03 The Problem **14:38 The Solution **17:14 Offtake of the Materials **21:39 Total Recovery **24:28 Business Model **34:22 The R&D Process **38:58 Funding **50:54Final Thoughts ----- Links: ** Connect with Greg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-pendura-301bb01b1/ ** Regenx Website: https://www.regenx.tech/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: ** From 30% to 90% Li Recovery, Founding a ClimateTech Co, & Talent Moat w/ Teague Egan (EnergyX) ** Mineral Availability, Sustainable Mining, & ClimateTech Supply Chain Challenges w/ Nick Rohleder ** Endings, Endineering, Circular Economy, & the Customer Experience w/ Joe Macleod ** The Future of
S1 E99 · Fri, May 12, 2023
#99 Capturing Methane to Power Data Centers in Remote Areas w/ Andreas Lehner (PowerBlocks)
In this episode Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks with Andreas Lehner ( @lehner_a ) about what he's doing with his new company PowerBlocks to capture methane that is just being flared, using that energy to power data centers or bitcoin mining, how he got interested in Climate, how to build an MVP with a hardware business, a short discussion around AI and the energy grid, and how he stays focused on one thing at a time. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **1:19 What he's doing today and his backstory. **19:47 Bitcoin & Climate Compatibility. **25:50 How to win a pilot project? **31:27 How they finance the projects. **34:28 Should AI be allowed to touch the energy grid? **43:44 What is their funding mostly used for? ----- Links: andreas@powerblocks.co Connect with Andreas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lehnerandreas/ PowerBlocks Website: https://powerblocks.co/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: #74 Utilizing Carbon in Everyday Products w/ Aaron Fitzgerald of Mars Materials #83 From 30% to 90% Li Recovery, Founding a ClimateTech Co, & Talent Moat w/ Teague Egan (EnergyX) #2 Reimagining Carbon as a Useful Product w/ Apoorv Sinha (Carbon Upcycling Technologies) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for
S1 E98 · Wed, May 03, 2023
#98 How to build an MVP with a complex ClimateTech Startup - Andy Frank, Founder of Sealed
Today we have a really energetic (no pun intended) conversation with Andy Frank, the founder of Sealed. They are an energy efficiency company that pays for home infrastructure upgrades and then gets paid back over time by their customer. The more efficiency they produce, the more they make which creates a great incentive structure. We discussed a lot but the best part for me was going through how he built the company from an idea, to an MVP, and eventually to a very robust and successful business. The most impactful advice he shared was about speaking with your customers to understand what they need and what they will buy. There is a lot of other advice in there, but that was the most impactful thing on their success. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: (2:03) Andy's Climate Journey (7:12) Early Career & Finding his clarity of Purpose (12:15) The initial seed of Sealed (16:27) What Sealed Does (29:28) Raising money initially (33:49) Real proof & the Business taking off (44:37) Getting the real funding (46:47) Fundraising from different people (49:28) Future view (54:45) IRA Homes Program (59:17) Talent ----- Links: Connect with Andy: Check out Sealed: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: #16 Using all the CaCao Plant with Shannon Neumann from CaPao #58 The Future of Clean Energy, Materials/Mfg, & the Circular Economy with Author, Peter Leyden #57 Soap, Carbon Capture, Boilers, and PropTech w/ Jaeson Cardiff (Clean02) <a hre
S1 E97 · Tue, May 02, 2023
#97 Cutting Building Heat Loss Via Windows & Building a Platform for Glass Technology Firms w/ Anas Kassas (INOVUES)
In this episode, Silas Mahner ( @silasmahner ) speaks with Anas Al Kassas the founder and CEO of INOVUES where they are helping solve heat loss for buildings. Their tech is essentially a retrofit solution to single-pane glass that can be achieved at scale. They are also partnering with other companies such as solar glass and tinting services to act as a platform for them to sell their tech. The key things in this conversation are 1) how their tech works 2) how he got started and the process of going through accelerators and getting the initial round of funding, 3) how the IP process works and his experience there, and 4) how they are using creative financing models to remove the friction from buying. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: (00:17) Intro & how he got the Idea for the Tech (10:00) What INOVUES doing (13:30) How their tech works (19:30) How they. get the glass installed at scale (24:00) Building the business & funding (35:30) IP, the Process, and Learnings (40:45) Universities and IP (43:00) Funding the business continued (47:45) Managing partnerships (53:00) Financing options to their clients (56:00) Final thoughts ----- Links: Connect with Anas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anaskassas/ Inovues Website: https://www.inovues.com/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter :
S1 E96 · Fri, April 28, 2023
Real Conversations about the Challenges, Insecurities, and Joys of Building a ClimateTech Startup w/ Alina Liu (Disco)
Today we had a really fun, but also impactful, and very transparent conversation, one that is slightly different than a lot of the guests we've had on. Someone who is a lot earlier in her journey of building her company. I wanted to have her on as an opportunity to showcase the life of someone deep in the grind of building their startup with the hope to one day make a massive impact on climate change. There are so many startup founders out there in the midst of building their projects. And certainly, there can be moments of doubt and uncertainty. We wanted to have today's episode to show you that you're not alone - you're not the only one with those feelings of uncertainty and insecurity. Hopefully, it's a bit of encouragement and grounding to reality so you remember that nothing is perfect - and everyone is out there figuring it out. Today's episode is with Alina Liu who is the founder of Disco, a Chrome extension that shows a re-sale option for the product you're currently looking at. I encourage you to reach out to Alina and connect with her. To any founders listening, it's important that you all support each other so we can help solve climate change together. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email ----- Topics: **1:42 Intro and backstory **3:10 Going from big-ish tech to founding a climate startup **13:40 Building the company and getting started **18:12 Advice to others starting out **22:05 Starting Disco **27:00 How to Maintain Mental Energy **29:10 Raising from Friends and Family **35:24 Experience as a solo female-founder **38:49 Future, Excitement, and Closing thoughts ----- Links: ** Connect with Alina: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinacliu/ ** Get Disco: https://www.usedisco.io/ ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn:
S1 E95 · Wed, April 26, 2023
Food Waste to Energy; A new Vertical of Infrastructure w/ Ryan Begin (Divert)
Today we are joined by Ryan Begin. One of the founding members of Divert. Divert is building food waste to energy plants that have achieved the scale to become profitable, scalable, and impactful in combating climate change. This is a truly inspiring story as it took them about 13 years to get to the point of proving their technology and perfecting the business model in a way that they could then get serious funding. Serious funding refers to, them now hitting a point of getting funding from Private Equity groups. In particular, Infrastructure funds. In the conversation, we go through how Ryan got into the space and left the defense space to be part of the founding team at Divert. We talk about the challenges and the milestones along the way. Then in the latter half, we discuss a lot about the financing of their business, how to get to the point of attracting Infrastructure Funding, and how important talent is to the success of your business. Genuinely engaging conversation and insights from Ryan. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube . 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter . Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel . https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: **1:43 Intro and how he came from Defense to Climate **6:10 His CleanTech 1.0 **8:56 How the process looks and what they do **15:52 Their Business Model **25:23 Once they have the waste **29:11 Carbon Credits? **30:39 Early days of the company **37:53 Financing (PE vs VC + Revenue Quality + TAM + Infrastructure Play) **44:15 How to Prove Growth and Quality of Revenue **47:08 Talent **52:12 The future ----- Links: ** Connect with Ryan: ** Divert Website: ** Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: ** Join the Slack Channel : ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: ** HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner ----- Other episodes you might enjoy: ** #39 Helping Commercial Kitchens Reduce Food Waste and Save Money ** #62 Solving Fresh Food In
S1 E94 · Fri, April 21, 2023
Unlocking the Power of Oceanic Carbon Capture w/ Ben Swainbank (Oceanid MRV)
Today we are joined by the founder of Oceanid MRV, Ben Swainbank. For context, carbon capture and the measurement of how much is captured is something pretty well solved in forestry and direct air capture. However, for oceanic capture, it is not. This presents a big dilemma as Oceanic Carbon Capture is widely regarded as the most scalable method to pull carbon out of the air at a gigaton scale. Ben today talks to us about how he and his team are working on formalizing and certifying the amount and quality of carbon captured through such oceanic projects. This conversation was super helpful for understanding why oceanic pathways are important as well as the challenges of measuring the work done in a manner that is accurate and sufficient to certify. An interesting takeaway from this episode is how Ben, as a non-scientist, is building a company in a scientific space but is doing it by surrounding himself with a team of oceanographers and then bringing together the science and the commercial side of things. Early on in the show he also walked us through the steps he took to decide if this was a space he should go deeper on. This was a very helpful framework for any aspiring ClimateTech founders. We hope you enjoy this episode of the show! Topics: 1:44 Intro and origin story 7:18 CDR Industry as a whole Trees DAC Ocean 9:17 Marine Pathways Biomass Cultivation Direct Ocean Capture Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement 11:53 How they capture carbon and measure it 14:04 Ocean Measurements 18:00 Durability of ocean capture 22:13 Starting the company 29:19 How their model works 33:04 The fundraising process 37:31 Advice to ocean MRV science startups 41:42 Making the jump to be a full-time entrepreneur 47:37 Starting a biz as a non-science founder 51:55 Corporate / Gov incentives 57:01 Closing thoughts Links: ben.swainbank@oceanidmrv.com Oceanid MRV Website: Ben Swainbank on LinkedIn: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahn
S1 E93 · Tue, April 18, 2023
Hard Truths About VC, Raising Advice, & Small Fund Limitations w/ Susan Su (Toba Capital)
Today we were joined by Susan Su. Susan is a Partner at Toba Capital which differentiates from many funds in that it only has one LP. That LP invests across a range of spaces which allows the Toba team to get special insight into other areas of investing which could affect their investments and existing portfolio companies. Susan has to be one of the most genuine people I've had on the show. She shared her career journey and how she went from being an operator to working with Sound Ventures (founded by Ashton Kutcher) and eventually ending up as a Partner at Toba Capital. We discussed some details about being a VC specifically around doing follow-up rounds. We covered the differences of investing in Hardware vs Software. The limitations of smaller VCs are to get into deep tech or hardware tech. We spoke about how hard it is to be a VC. Breaking into VC. And probably one of the most valuable things is advice to founders about their fundraising process. Many of the things she said especially around her advice to young people about patience and impatience, really struck accord with me. Super glad that I can bring this episode to you. Enjoy! Topics: 1:09 Intro and early Career 8:59 Hurdles to VC 12:43 VC & Profit Seeking 15:42 VC - Soft vs Hardware Investing 18:14 Toba Capital 22:29 New Ecosystems to Support Deep/Climate Tech DD 25:30 Follow on investing 31:16 Hardest Part of Job 34:51 Advice to Founders | Plan the Raise, then Raise 38:29 Obvious Prediction 40:12 Advice for Getting into VC | Meet Founders Now Links: Toba Captal: https://tobacapital.com/ Susan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/susanfsu Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated t
S1 E92 · Fri, April 14, 2023
Cleaning up Oceans at the Source...Rivers w/ Nicola Rubini (Conai)
Today we are joined by Nicola Rubini from the River Cleaning Project by Conai. You may not know, but 80% of plastics that end up in the ocean are deposited there by rivers. Today we speak with Nicola about how they are trying to fix this problem given that rivers are conveniently a focused path of water. The technology they have is pretty fascinating but what's more, is the nuances required to navigate the political issues and the difficulties of building this type of business. Really interesting challenges that hopefully are valuable to any founders listening. Enjoy the episode! 🌍 Topics: 1:03 Intro and Data Behind Plastic Pollution 15:09 Dealing with Navigable Rivers 23:44 Financing the Projects 27:42 Plastic Credits 39:49 Regulation: The Plastics Treaty 48:04 Demonstrating the Impact to the Public Links: Connect with Nicola: Conai Website: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; th
S1 E91 · Wed, April 05, 2023
#91 How Keyframe is Bridging the Gap from Pure VC to Pure PE Financing for Hard Tech COs w/ Ethan Goldsmith
Today we have a pretty interesting capital provider joining us. Ethan Goldsmith is an Investment Partner at Keyframe Capital and helped found TeraWatt Infrastructure (the fleet charging behemoth). We went through the usual stuff around his background, early career, what they are doing, how they source deals, and their unique points but the core of this conversation in my opinion is really in their model. Since their inception, they saw that ClimateTech would require more flexible capital structures given that the pure equity model wasn't going to work given how capital-intensive most of these technologies are. They set up their fund to include those flexibilities. As an example, they might find a firm that is in need of funding, they could write a check in return for equity, but then in a few months, they might issue a specific project finance product for that use case. If the portfolio company needed to raise that in the form of equity for dollars, they would quickly be eradicating their cap table space. This to me is the most important aspect of this entire conversation and I'm glad we had the chance to speak with Ethan to go through it. There are other interesting topics here but this is key for other fund builders to consider. Enjoy the episode! Topics: 1:57 Intro 7:35 What led them to recognize the infra -- VC Gap 14:27 Getting into PE/VC 19:13 Building TeraWatt 24:47 Key Takeaways from starting TeraWatt 26:47 Differentiating their model through flexible capital 31:36 Their Verticals 38:11 Managing deal flow 40:58 They spend a lot of time in the market before investing because of their model 42:32 How they help their portfolio co's 45:45 Advice to hardware and capital-intensive startups in ClimateTech 48:36 Obvious Prediction 50:47 Final thoughts Links: Connect with Ethan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-goldsmith-186b3627 Keyframe Capital Website: https://www.keyframecapital.com/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on
S1 E90 · Tue, March 28, 2023
#90 Total Real Estate Retrofits, RE Valuations, Tenant Education, & More w/ Chris Gray (RENU Communities)
Today we are joined by Chris Gray, the CTO of RENU Communities. At it's simplest form, they are a PE Fund that is doing total retrofits on real estate to make it a sustainable building. The more interesting aspects of what they are doing are, they have an in-house set of experts that are able to help them integrate engineering knowledge with the financial modeling of the projects they take a very high-quality approach to how they manage the retrofits so that it doesn't impact tenant life they engage with their tenants to help them understand the benefits of the newly installed upgrades In the end, Chris also had some interesting insights to share on the IRA bill which directly contributes to the bottom line of real estate owners. So if you own real estate, you might want to check that out as well. Enjoy today's episode! Peace out! 🌎 Topics: 3:42 Intro to Chris 5:40 Seeing how buildings worked led him to an interest in sustainability 8:55 Utilities and their incentives around energy efficiency 10:26 40% of Emissions are from buildings 12:03 Why energy efficiency is now becoming mainstream 14:55 Their process 28:31 Lifetime Savings 33:07 Increased rent for green buildings 35:50 Design & Energy Efficiency / Form Factor 39:21 How they engage with and educate their tenants 41:52 Personal health and green buildings 43:57 Green buildings and insurance 49:07 The IRA - Some thoughts 52:17 Incentives contribute directly contributions to RE Owner's bottom line 54:33 Outlook on the green building space Links: Connect with Chris: RENU Communities Website: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revo
S1 E89 · Tue, March 21, 2023
#89 From Dust to Dust Masonry Products - Fusing Modern Science + Traditional Methods w/ Adital Ela (Criaterra)
Today we are joined by the founder of Criaterra, Adital Ela. Adital is an industrial designer by education and profession who was seeking the potential to make fully circular building products. She was inspired to do this when visiting India she saw how clay Chai cups were used and then tossed to the ground to return to their original form. After 12 years she then decided to set out to build Criaterra. In essence, they are an R&D company that aims to license out their IP for the production of fully circular building products. For the time being, they have focused on their MVP, decorative, non-structural tiles. In this conversation, we speak about her journey and the challenges of building a company like Criaterra. Our biggest takeaway was that it takes a lot of grit and resiliency to persist on this path. Adital has seen many struggles in the journey of building this company but is keeping the faith and working towards the vision of fully-circular structural building products. Prepare to be inspired. Peace out! 🌎 Topics: 4:40 Intro | Background in Industrial Design 11:!7 - Living with respect to raw materials 13:31 When she started on this journey 18:22 Intricacies of Launching 20:11 Misunderstanding of the Gap Between R&D & Production 23:46 Their Products 27:27 Strengths of Products 37:27The Feedstock 44:07 Their Business Model | IP 46:05 Milestones to Building an IP Model 55:06 Closing Thoughts Links: Connect with Adital: Criaterra Website: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-
S1 E88 · Tue, March 14, 2023
What it Takes to be a Good VC w/ Shawn Xu (Lowercarbon Captal)
Super excited to share this with you. We've got someone who went to the same high school where Steve Jobs and Woz did back in the day. He then worked at Square on international expansion, went on to work with VC Legend Mike Maples, and eventually ended up as the Chief of Staff at Chris Sacca's, Lowercarbon Capital. We are talking about Shawn Xu. Shawn talked us through his journey to climate, what it takes to be a good VC, what they look for, the areas he's bullish on, and what he's working on now. I quite enjoyed this conversation (I say that a lot but I do mean it). Enjoy today's episode! Topics: 4:29 Intro to Shawn, his career journey, going to high school where Steve Jobs went and getting into VC 11:37 Creating access and equity to the Silicon Valley mentality 15:59 His climate journey 24:38 The inside scoop on VCs - what skills do you need to develop Finding 26:44 Picking 27:54 Winning 28:58 Supporting 29:31 31:54 Lowercarbon's Thesis 34:29 The founders they look for 36:49 Advice to Founders 42:20 Areas he's bullish on 44:42 His role at Lowercarbon Links: Connect with Shawn: The Lowercarbon Capital Website: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTec
S1 E87 · Tue, March 07, 2023
Sustainable Packages, Manufacturers Willing to Sell Fewer Boxes, & More w/ James Malley (Paccurate)
If you are a bit of a shipping nerd like me, this is going to be a great episode. We are joined by James Malley the co-founder of Paccurate where they are helping product shippers use smaller boxes so less air is shipped, resulting in fewer trucks to get the same products to your destination. This is a juggernaut of a business as they are able to service ginormous companies with a very light staff and it all came out of just being experts in solving annoying problems in the shipping space. This conversation talks all about... The shipping industry as a whole including packaging materials and incentives How the government is bringing regulation surrounding scope 3 emissions And how they built their company If you are at all interested in shipping products, this should be a really fun episode for you. If not, then maybe skip to the second half where we start to talk about building the company. Peace out! 🌎 Topics: 6:14 about the packaging space 10:26 Innovation in packaging 14:26 some novel tech, but not much, at scale 16:02 How shippers can incentivize better packaging practices TOPIC CLIP: 12 ish to about 20 ish where the discussion surrounds incentives (It's in he clips) 25:11 positive impacts of fewer packages 27:34 Starting the company 31:22 getting shippers & Mfgs to work together 35:27 Challenges and advice to other founders 37:!7 The raising process & advice to founders on that process 41:!2 Partnerships 44:04 Hiring & Talent 46:16 Outlook on the future Links: Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmalley/ Paccurate Website: https://paccurate.io/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its s
S1 E86 · Tue, February 28, 2023
Up-skilling Talent to be ESG-Aligned and AI Talent Prediction w/ Joe Bushnell (Azollo)
Today we spoke with Joe Bushnell. I had met Joe before he launched Azollo so it is a pretty cool guest to have on since I got to hear where he was at prior to launch. From Australia, he developed a certain attachment to the issue of climate change at a young age when wildfires destroyed his town and burned his school growing up. He went on to study sustainability in Uni. He then went into consulting and finance winding his way back to sustainable finance. Eventually, desiring to pursue a deeper connection directly to the space, he started his own company. In today's conversation, we talk about this journey and how he ended up founding Azollo to help corporates transition and up-skill their workforces. This is vital for corporates to achieve the sustainability targets they have set. It's a really interesting challenge. We also talked about his advice to other aspiring founders thinking of jumping ship. And then ended on the topic of mentoring and how much tech will be able to revolutionize the talent space. We also discussed where we think the boundaries of tech are. Overall, a great episode so let's get into it! Topics: 4:00 Intro 8:14 ROI 12:56 Why he started the company 16:23 Advice to others jumping ship 21:54 Winding journey to climate 24:34 Industries struggling to find talent 28:53 How tech can enable change 31:16 Biggest objections 33:06 The Jobs are not clear 34:39 Foundations of educating workforce - the basics 36:02 Diagnostics & workforce engagement 37:43 AI & Changing employee workforce 41:23 Mentorship & the workforce 47:06 Raising Money 51:16 Two Trends 54:44 His "Obvious Predictions" Links: Connect with Joe: Azollo Website: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Part
S1 E85 · Wed, February 22, 2023
How to Raise Money for your ClimateTech Startup w/ Tommy Leep, founder of Jetstream VC
Today's topic is how to raise money for your ClimateTech Startup with Tommy Leep. He is the founder of Jetstream. A ClimateTech VC focused on investing in pre-seed ClimateTech companies. Today's conversation focuses on three things. First, some of his background, how he got interested in ClimateTech, how he got into VC, and some of the challenges in his career. Second, we spoke about his advice to climate tech founders who are fundraising. He has a lot of incredible tips in this section. If you want to skip to that, it's around the 12 min mark. Third, he walked us through his thought process for investing. So, if you're trying to get a check from Tommy, definitely check that part out too. It starts at around the 30 min mark. Really fun conversation, wish we had more time, will have to bring him back on again in the future. Topics: 3:40 Intro 8:27 Keeping head down versus plotting next move 9:59 A very challenging time in his career 11:32 How he became interested in ClimateTech 13:13 5 Tips for fundraising 14:58 Stay lean 18:46 Find a strong lead investor 21:25 His sequence for raising/pitching 24:42 Optimize for the investment partner, not the price 27:36 Bring deal to many great investors 29:20 Build relationships for the next round, this round 31:27 How he decides on investing 32:23 Market: Predicting the Market 39:34 Product: PMF 40:18 Founders: It's a 10-year relationship 41:10 Fit: Does he feel right about it 42:36 Advice to potential founders Links: Follow Tommy on Twitter: Checkout his website, Jetstream.io Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https:/
S1 E84 · Thu, February 16, 2023
Carbon Capture Paint, Gigaton Scale, & Landing ClimateTech Pilot Projects w/ Beth & Steve McDaniel
Today we have a dual guest episode with Husband & Wife duo, Steve & Beth McDaniel. They have a background in the paint and coatings industry where they have been finding ways to make paints and coatings do something other than just decorate and protect their surface. Their latest innovation is a way to create surfaces that act as carbon capture the same way Blue Algae does. The surfaces can be mass deployed to capture gigatons of carbon to remove carbon from the air permanently at scale. Their company is called Reactive solutions, they are the recent winners of a CarbonX Prize to help Bulgaria test out their solution. The conversation has two parts. First, we talk about the science - the tech it self - how they came across it and the R&D process Second, we go into the more commercial side of things. We talk about their business model, their tips for winning pilot projects, some of their advice on focusing on the MVP, and the importance of leveraging existing network to get the intros you need. If you're an entrepreneur in the hardware or IP side of thing, this second half is going to be pretty valuable so you can go there if you're strapped for time. Overall, really fascinating conversation. We hope you enjoy! Topics: 4:46 Intro to them, their backgrounds, and how they got into CarbonTech 17:29 The R&D Process 19:22 - The ideal use case for their tech 27:43 Their cost per ton of capture and how many don't count the sequestration costs 33:24 How carbon capture projects make money 37:00 The IP & Licensing Model 44:39 Why pilots are required to secure further investment 51:20 Tips to winning pilot projects 57:00 Gov. grants, should you get them, & how to Links: Beth on LinkedIn: Steve on LinkedIn: Reactive Surfaces Website: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping com
S1 E83 · Tue, February 14, 2023
From 30% to 90% Li Recovery, Founding a ClimateTech Co, & Talent Moat w/ Teague Egan (EnergyX)
Interested in how we will have enough lithium over the next decades to support the energy and EV transition? Well, you can learn about a company solving this problem. Enter EnergyX founded and run by Teague Egan. Teague had no previous experience in mining or chemistry but after seeing a huge gap in the market and one particular problem faced by a lithium reserve in Bolivia, he set out to see how he could solve this problem. In this conversation we cover... His journey to finding this problem and how he built the company What their technology does and how it's an artificial intersecting of several proven technologies The detailed process of how he funded the company at the start and the milestones to achieve each subsequent fundraise And finally how they spent effort up-front building a world-class team in order to help them attract talent more broadly down the road It is really an amazing conversation especially because of how candid he was about the experience and the raising process. I think both existing and aspiring climate tech entrepreneurs will find this valuable. Topics: 00:40 Intro to Teague 5:30 How, as a non-technical person he founded a highly technical ClimateTech company 15:50 What their technology is and how it works 20:22 Borrowing existing proven tech and applying it to new problems 29:45 Who are their customers 33:10 The detailed breakdown of their fundraising process and the key milestones to advance to the next stage successfully 42:00 Importance of IP 44:50 Mining & Recycling 46:30 Building a talent attraction machine and moat through hard work up-front Links: Teague on LinkedIn: Teague on Twitter: EnergyX Website: Invest in EnergyX: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only
S1 E82 · Tue, February 07, 2023
Helping Consumers Signal Desire for Sustainable Products w/ Olivia Pedersen (Sustaio)
Today we are joined by Olivia Pedersen the founder of Sustaio. Olivia has a really incredible journey to building Sustaio. We were able to speak today about their technology, which is essentially a rewards platform for choosing sustainable products. This is a method for consumers to signal to corporates their interest in sustainable products. One thing we also touched on was the difficulty many women or financially less fortunate have to take ClimateTech jobs. Often, at an early-stage startup, the pay is low making it difficult to provide for a family. Founding a company is also difficult when providing for a family given the need to often work for an extended period of time without pay. Many really great topics in today's episode so as always, enjoy! Topics: 2:28 Her and how she got here 8:18 how to test an idea 9:10 # ppl have 12:17 what they do 22:51 Starting biz 39:44 ish Gender pay gap Links: Connect with Olivia: Sustaio Website : Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for thei
S1 E81 · Tue, January 31, 2023
Electrifying Homes, Home Air-Quality & Health, Merging Blue & White Collar Talent w/ DR Richardson (Elephant Energy)
Today we are joined by DR Richardson the Co-Founder and CEO of Elephant Energy. DR started his career in a ClimateTech Fund for about 8 years. Then eventually left to scratch his entrepreneurial itch and build a ClimateTech startup. After about 2 years of testing ideas, he and his Co-founder Josh Lake landed on Elephant Energy where they are removing the friction of electrifying homes. A few of the things we talked about today are... their product & the benefits - an interesting one was the health benefits of it how they got started the challenges of being a ClimateTech founder his experience fundraising for the company the talent challenges how important blue-collar work is and the challenges of making it attractive and his outlook on the future how you don't need to be a technical person to found a climate tech startup It's a really fun episode and hopefully an inspiration to those without a technical background who are motivated to build a business and want to help reverse climate change in the meantime. Topics: 3:19 How he started 15:02 Benefits of electrifying a home (Financial, Climate, Comfort, Health) 21:54 Finding good contractors and working with them 25:06 Insurance COs & cleaner homes 26:30 Launching and advice to other founders 28:48 How PE exp informed his decision making process 31:32 His experience fundraising (How wide, Luck, Just need one yes) 35:10 Loyal to a fault 37:23 Behind the scenes - the hard things 39:38 The mental gymnastics of being a founder 41:47 Talent and making Blue Collar work sexy 49:13 Outlook on the future Links: Connect with DR on LinkedIn: Elephant Energy Website: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners tod
S1 E80 · Fri, January 27, 2023
Cyber Security & ClimateTech Intersect, E-Waste, & Value-Aligned Investors w/ John Shegerian (ERI)
Today we were joined by John Shegerian the Co-Founder of ERI. Where they are recycling electronic devices and ensuring safe data destruction to comply with Cybersecurity concerns. They have been around for over 20 years. They wouldn't have been called this when they started, but being one of the oldest "CliamteTech" or "Circular Economy" companies out there, John had a lot of really great things to share with current ClimateTech founders. Perhaps most importantly he commented on fundraising from aligned individuals as well as how to attract and retain talent. John is also the author of The Insecurity of Everything and has offered to send a book for free to anyone who emails me or him at john@ERIdirect.com - If you do reach out to him please let him know you heard this discussion on the CleanTechies Podcast and he'll send you a free copy of the book so you can learn about cyber security - he'll even pay for shipping. Topics: 3:43 About John and how he got into ERI 7:27 - What led him to go back to school later in his career 9:17 - How cybersecurity and ClimateTech intersect 15:06 - What ERI are doing and the process of recycling electronics for companies 18:07- ESG forcing recycling behavior 19:58 - Costs of recycling 20:51 - Costs of not recycling 25:03 - Key advice to CT Founders 31:31 - Raising funds and strategic, value-aligned investors 35:51 - Talent acquisition and retention 44:55 - Why he's bullish on the future 46:58 - About his book and how to get it for free ( john@eridirect.com ) Links: John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnshegerian/ ERI Website: https://eridirect.com/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility h
S1 E79 · Tue, January 24, 2023
Re-Engineering the World because the Future is Decarbonized w/ Matt Ward (4Ward.VC)
Today we are joined by Matt Ward the founder and CEO of the 4 Ward VC Accelerator. Today we covered a lot of things and it was a super fun conversation coming from yet another incredible individual who had no true background in Climate but decided to make it his life. Key topics are... How a mechanical engineer can build a ClimateTech Accelerator Why he chose to be part of the ClimateTech space / how everything will be re-engineered to be carbon neutral or low carbon In his words what it takes to be a ClimateTech entrepreneur Why he's bullish on Ag & Food, Alt Materials, & Up-cycling & Recycling models Really free-flowing conversation so dive in - if you're looking for specific topics you can find the topic markers in the show notes. Topics: 4:30 Changing from engineering - 7:05 Journey to ESG 9:12 ClimateTech Space 14:25 Bottle Necks 23:04 How they vet members 26:02 Tech Breakthroughs - is it necessary? 29:52 Process working with them 37:32 future / what he's interested in (Ag & Food, Alt Materials, Up-cycling or recycling Models) 44:29 Decarbonization as the Default Links: Matt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwardio/ 4Ward VC Website: https://4ward.vc/ The Startup Tank: https://4ward.vc/the-startup-tank-climate-investor-pitch-show/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. <a href='https://www.next-wavepartners
S1 E78 · Tue, January 17, 2023
#78 How CorporateVCs are Playing a role in the Climate Revolution w/ Erik Terjesen (Silicon Foundry)
Hello everyone and welcome back to the CleanTechies Podcast where we interview ClimateTech Founders and VCs to discuss their advice, experience, and all things Building and Climate Investing. In today's conversation, we speak with Erik Terjesen a Partner at Silicon Foundry. What is Silicon Foundry? With a name like that you know it's cool. In essence, they are a consulting service that works with Corporate VCs to help them find strategic investment opportunities. So, their clients are corporates. Big places like Walmart, BP, or Shell could be examples. Some of my favorite topics from today's episode are, Where the supply chain gaps are in the ClimateTech space He spoke about how they maintain collaboration through systems And he also offered some advice to startups in the space since he sees a lot of pitches and knows a lot of the mistakes startups are making There was also a section where he broke down the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act - commonly referred to as the IRA Alright, enjoy the conversation with Erik... Topics: 5:25 what led Erik to Climate 9:04 - how corporate VCs operate 12:54 - what they do at Silicon Foundry 17:16- the process for their clients 41:11 - IRA breakdown 44:50 - Where supply chain gaps are 48:31 - Advice for startups Links: Erik on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erik-terjesen-b172b6/ Silicon Foundry Website: https://sifoundry.com/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Soci
S1 E77 · Tue, January 10, 2023
ClimateTech Investing, More Seed Money, & Climate Optimism w/ Nadav Steinmetz (Nomea)
Welcome back and Happy New Year! Today we are joined by Nadav Steinmetz the Founder of Nomea a ClimateTech Venture Capital Firm investing in Seed and Pre-Seed companies throughout the UK, Europe, and Israel. Nadav has a diverse background having been born in Belgium, raised in Israel, studied University in the States, and now living in London. He has worked at a variety of places including Blackstone. The 4 key areas we covered today are... Nadav's background and entrance into climate All about Nomea, their remit, experience setting up, how they operate, and his advice to others seeking to set up a ClimateTech VC Fund His advice to ClimateTech founders Finally, Nadav's future outlook Really great conversation and a great way for us to kick off our new focus. Topics: [3:47] Intro to Nadav & how he founded 1 for the World [9:49] Raising his first fund, their remit, how they differentiate, and his advice to others setting up a fund [25:21] Nadav's advice to founders generally, specific tips for pitching, and operational advice [37:46] His outlook on the market in the coming years, what he's excited about, bubbles, and adaptation vs mitigation investing Links: Nadav on LinkedIn: Nomea Website: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: Join the Slack Channel : Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice
S1 E76 · Sat, December 31, 2022
#76 Endings, Endineering, Circular Economy, & the Customer Experience w/ Joe Macleod
Welcome back to another episode of the CleanTechies Podcast. This is episode 76 of the show and we are thrilled to have you joining us. If you're a ClimateTech Founder seeking introductions to capital or potential partnerships or are interested in sponsoring the show, please reach out: silasmahner@gmail.com Today we are joined by an individual who focuses a bit more on a philosophical item. On something that we tend to be uncomfortable with, in western society; Endings. Joe Macleod, Author, Speaker, and Founder of AndEnd is an expert in endings and Endineering. Today, Joe lays out the importance of thinking about the end-of-product life experience from both a practical and customer experience perspective. It's important because (1) we need to be aware of what happens to the product when its use is done. (2) We need to incentivize consumers to be part of solving the circular economy. And (3) by doing these, the consumer becomes an advocate and it can spread to legislation and other corporations. We hope you enjoy this episode of the show and that it helps you to reflect a bit as this year comes to a close. Perhaps it will make it into one of your new year's routines. Topics: 5:45 The design life cycle (Beginning and Ending) 14:40 The Protestant & Industrial Revolutions shifting us away from the topic of "Endings" 21:51 How some companies are focused on endings and how others can improve 34:09 The 8 types of endings & how manufacturers get the product back to the factory 41:18 Cataloging our items to become aware of our possessions 43:40 Legislation and Endings. (Visible or Invisible Endings) 58:07 Advice to young professionals deciding on their next steps We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com LINKS: andEnd Website Joe's Ted Talk Ends. Why we overlook endings for humans, products, services and digital. And why we shouldn’t Endineering. Designing consumption lifecycles that end as well as they begin. His training course on how to become an endineer Mentioned in the show: His writing about Apple's end-of-user experience Stuffstr Marie Kondo's book, Declutter __________
S1 E75 · Thu, December 29, 2022
Removing the Barriers of Going Green for Building Owners w/ Al Subbloie
Welcome back to another episode of the CleanTechies Podcast. This is episode 75 of the show and we are thrilled to have you joining us. --- If you're a ClimateTech Founder seeking introductions to capital or potential partnerships or are interested in sponsoring the show, please reach out: silasmahner@gmail.com --- Today we have a great conversation with Al Subbloie the Founder and CEO of Budderfly. Budderfly is one of the fastest-growing full-service commercial building efficiency companies. They help commercial building owners upgrade to efficient equipment and switch to solar by removing the biggest barrier to entry which is almost always cost. Through their partnerships, with strong financial institutions they pay for the upfront CapEx of the upgrades and then the building owner just keeps paying the monthly bill. However after the upgrades are done and Budderfly takes a premium for providing the service, the bill is actually lower than it was before. The amount they can improve efficiency so much that even with their model they are able to reduce the total monthly cost of energy. These types of innovations are super fascinating and much needed to reduce all barriers to entry. Without any further delay, please enjoy this conversation with Al Subbloie. Topics: Intro to IoT and how it works 6:20 the Problem 16:30 Brands care & ESG reporting 25:55 how they handle the capital process 37:00 Where the $0 CapEx model works 43:30 Regulatory issues 46:20 educating the market 48:45 closing off We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com LINKS: Budderfly Website Al Subbloie on LinkedIn Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners Join the Slack Channel Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn HMU on Twitter (silasmahner) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. <a href='https://goodwinlaw.com/
S1 E74 · Tue, December 20, 2022
Utilizing Carbon in Everyday Products w/ Aaron Fitzgerald of Mars Materials
Welcome back to another episode of the CleanTechies Podcast. This is episode 74 of the show and we are thrilled to have you joining us. If you're a ClimateTech Founder seeking introductions to capital or potential partnerships or are interested in sponsoring the show, please reach out: silasmahner@gmail.com Today we are joined by Aaron Fitzgerald the CEO and Co-Founder of Mars Materials. At Mars Materials they are creating a clean acrylonitrile (ACN) alternative that is used in materials that every person on the planet (nearly all) uses every year. Uses include carpet, carbon fiber products, waste treatment, and keyboards among other things. Conventionally, acrylonitrile is made from fossil fuels and their tech replaces the feedstock with other materials making it a much cleaner material. Their tech came out of NREL and is a way of sequestering carbon into these everyday materials helping reduce their carbon impacts of them. In addition to this being a conversation about incredible technology, Aaron's story is also very compelling so I'm glad to be able to share this discussion for that as well. Hopefully, it will inspire many. Without any further delay, please enjoy this conversation with Aaron Fitzgerald. Topics: 9:31 - Types of Carbon Capture 11:20 - The argument against Carbon Capture 13:35 - What Mars does and who they sell to 25:08 - How they started the company out of NREL and that process for others interested 34:30 - The fundraising process and journey 47:40 - How he goes about educating himself 51:33 - How others can get into this space 54:43 - Future of carbon space We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com LINKS: Mars Materials Website Aaron on LinkedIn Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners Join the Slack Channel Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and hel
S1 E73 · Sat, December 17, 2022
COP27 Feedback, IRA Insights, & Investing in the Era of Climate Change w/ Bruce Usher (Columbia Prof.)
Welcome back to another episode of the CleanTechies Podcast. This is episode 73 of the show and we are thrilled to have you joining us. If you're a ClimateTech Founder seeking introductions to capital or potential partnerships or are interested in sponsoring the show, please reach out: silasmahner@gmail.com Today, we are joined by Bruce Usher. Currently a professor at Columbia, past CEO of EcoSecurities Group, and Author of Investing in the Era of Climate Change. Bruce spoke with us about a variety of things ranging from the change of sentiment among the investing community and the general public in the past 20 years since he's been in this space longer than most. We spent a lot of time talking about the different types of solutions that are currently there and what needs to be innovated. Finally, we spoke about what he saw at COP27 and the IRA. Generally a really insightful conversation from the perspective of someone who has been in this space for longer than most. Topics: 3:47 - Intro to Bruce and how his brother was effectively the catalyst to get him into ClimateTech 10:45 A summary of his book and the key topics covered 17:11 - Why Bruce thinks it's realistic for us to solve climate change rather than optimistic 20:37- Summary of COP27 - the good & the disappointing + a discussion on flexibility to meet the needs of each country 32:38 - Which industries have the tech to decarbonize and which are still working on the clear solutions to decarbonize fully 42:24 - How the investment sector's and various others' outlook has changed over the past 20 years 50:30 - What successful policy will look like LINKS: Check out his book, Investing in the Era of Climate Change Bruce on LinkedIn Our Sponsor, NextWave Partners Join the Slack Channel CleanTechies on LinkedIn Silas on Twitter __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners toda
S1 E72 · Tue, December 06, 2022
#72 Combating Fast Fashion, Sustainable Cotton, Making a Plug-In-Solution for Industrial Machinery & More w/ Graham Stewart from Fiber52
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 72. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today we are joined by Graham Stewart the founder of Fiber52 which has a method of dyeing cotton which is significantly more sustainable. Graham was born and raised in one of the world's (at the time) largest textile manufacturing towns in the UK. If I caught it correctly he was actually born in one of the factories/warehouses. He went on to spend his life in this industry. In today's conversation, he walks us through his background, entrance to sustainability, how he built Fiber52, and then into a lot about what they are doing and other things surrounding the sustainable textile industry. Overall, this was a fascinating conversation where I learned so much about an industry I have never explored before. Hopefully, they will grow this technology and make a strong impact on reversing climate change. Enjoy the episode and please share it with someone interested in sustainable fashion. Topics: [10:37 - 13:16] The process of how textiles are traditionally made [13:39 - 15:55] How sustainable textiles are made [16:37 - 18:59] The business model, transparency across the value chain, challenges, and benefits [33:18 - 37:35] Graham's thoughts and comments on Fast Fashion [40:16 - 44:19] Getting into the textile space for young professionals and the return of the apprenticeship model We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com LINKS: Fiber52 Website: https://www.fibre52.com/ Connect with Graham on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grahamrstewart/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/
S1 E71 · Thu, December 01, 2022
Demystifying Alternative-Protein and How its Made with Sharyn Murray from Good Food Institute (GFI)
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 71. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. If you're unfamiliar with Alternative Proteins, this episode should be a good place for you to start - especially if like me, you're not a white-coat scientist. Today Sharyn Murray from Good Food Institute (commonly referred to as GFI) joined us to speak about Alternative Proteins and what they are doing at GFI. Sharyn is highly knowledgeable in this space and was able to really shed light on a lot of things inside this space from how the proteins are grown (in a way understandable to a non-scientist), the infrastructure required to grow the industry, how local farmers will be affected, and many other things. An incredible episode that should be especially helpful for anyone interested in the Alternative Protein space. TOPICS : [3:20 - 5:40] - Intro to Sharyn & Effective Altruism [6:20 - 8:24] - moving to GFI & differentiating herself [9:30 - 13:34] - GFI & the Origin [14:10 - 18:01] - Terminology of Alt Protein Space [20:14 - 23:49] - Adoption, taste & price, regulatory issues, and cost parity [27:06 - 28:44] - Carbon impact of the space - 20% of Global GHG, & the alternative is 98% carbon emissions-free [30:01 - 32:42] Regenerative Farming or Alt-Protein [33:23 - 36:46] - How are alt proteins made (for non-science people) [37:23 - 39:54] - Missing infrastructure [40:17 - 44:19] - How farmers are affected by this shift / helping them / affects of climate change [49:20 - 52:26] - The Alt Protein ESG reporting framework from GFI / FAIRR [53:14 - 55:02] - Conventional and Disruptive orgs enter space [55:40 - 57:32] - The grant program: who can apply, how, and the target outcomes [57:57- 59:02] - How to get into Alt-Protein space - advice for early career individuals [59:15 - End] - Closing We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com LINKS: GFI Website: https://gfi.org/ Connect with Sharyn: Bruce's TED Talk: Oxford Study: Nature study:<
S1 E70 · Sun, November 27, 2022
Making Wave Energy Viable and Attractive with Jan from NoviOcean
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 70. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today we are joined by Jan Skjoldhammer the founder and CEO of NoviOcean. NoviOcean is a wave energy technology company that is developing, what they believe to be, a technology that will truly crack the wave power industry. In the conversation we discuss... (5:50 - 7:02) How he went from being a pilot to founding a wave power company (10:26 - 12:47) How the technology works and how they combined the best of all wave power technology (23:30 - 27:40) The layout and siting of the projects and the benefits of co-locating the projects with Offshore Wind (32:51 - 34:33) How the tech can also help reduce damage from waves onshore (40:49 - 42:45) The importance of mobilizing regulators at a speed appropriate for the speed of climate change We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com NoviOcean Website: https://noviocean.energy/ Connect with Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-g-skjoldhammer-8807996/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase work
S1 E69 · Tue, November 22, 2022
Charging Ahead - How Mary Barra is Brining GM into the Future with author David Welch.
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 69. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today we are joined by David Welch the Bureau Chief at Bloomberg News in Detroit to discuss his new book, Charging Ahead. The book is generally about how Mary Barra rose to become the CEO of GM and the first Female CEO in the Legacy Auto Industry. And then goes on to describe how she has led GM into the future by making the shift to Electric Vehicles. We talk about a lot of things but some of the key topics in this episode are... [6.12] GM's history. From the most respected company in the world to bankruptcy [11.11] How Mary Barra made her rise to CEO and her battles with Trump [31:35] The legacy automaker sentiment and the future for them [38.07] Tesla & Joe Biden [45.05] The benefits of EVs [51.17] The success of the EV regulatory frameworks [59.46]The challenges for the next 2-3 years for EV We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Order the book, Charging Ahead: https://www.amazon.com/Charging-Ahead-Barra-Reinvention-American/dp/1400233593 Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-welch-9031185/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to
S1 E68 · Tue, November 15, 2022
How Microfinance Helps Unbanked & The Climate Vulnerable w/ Celyn & Kristen (ShareChange)
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 68. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today we are joined by Celyn Brown and Kristen Castell to discuss what ShareChange is doing in the Micro Finance space. This conversation spans broadly across what ShareChange is doing with Micro Lending to Entrepreneurs in unbanked regions but also more broadly about the importance of Micro Finance. Key topics: How big financial institutions can stand to change and how they originally were against Impact Finance How the unbanked populations are also more affected by Climate Change How, in many countries, women are unable to get loans without a man's signature How learning through doing is the best way to get into impact finance We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com ShareChange Website: https://wesharechange.com/ Connect with Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriscastell/ Connect with Celyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celynbrown/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace sat
S1 E67 · Sat, November 12, 2022
Is Propane The Perfect Energy Transition Fuel? With Tucker Perkins
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 67. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today we speak with Tucker Perkins who is the President and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (aka PERC) and we discussed Renewable Propane. Broadly speaking, we covered the basics of the propane industry, how it's made, what the environmental impacts are, and how renewable propane is being made. This was our first time talking about this topic, and for me, it was the first time I really have ever heard the argument for Propane. This was a really fascinating topic as it appears Propane could serve as a really great interim fuel to make immediate impacts on reducing carbon emissions. We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Propane Education & Research Council: https://propane.com/ Connect with Tucker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tucker-perkins-8972a510/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.nex
S1 E66 · Tue, November 08, 2022
#66 Decarbonizing Residential Energy Usage & Saving Homeowners Money w/ Greg Fasullo (Elevation)
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 66. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today we are joined by Greg Fasullo from Elevation. They are helping holistically transform residential energy usage. They do 3 things primarily. Help visualize energy usage for homeowners in a very easy way Install solar to help reduce environmental impacts and save money Help utilities manage demand response programs We talk in detail about all these things along with some other things including... how their data tracking can offer feedback to appliance manufacturers how an energy-efficient home affects real estate values how his time at Berkeley shaped him virtual power plants We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Elevation Website: https://www.poweredbyelevation.com/ Connect with Greg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfasullo/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. <a href='https://www.
S1 E65 · Sat, November 05, 2022
#65 Decentralizing Agriculture & Societal Resilience with Eddy from Eden Green Technologies
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 65. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today we are speaking with Eddy Badrina the CEO of Eden Green Technologies. Eden is a vertical farming technology company that is, currently, focused on the growing of lettuce at a commodity scale. In today's episode, Eddy walks us through, the challenges of other vertical growers, compares some of the business models, discusses food insecurity due to climate change, of course how their tech works, what their future and the future of vertical growing looks like generally, as well as how they are not only farming lettuce but their own talent and bringing career growth to the farming industry in a way not previously seen. Really fascinating episode with Eddy. Super glad we can bring this to you. We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Eden Green Technology Website: https://www.edengreen.com/ Connect with Eddy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddybadrina/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to Ne
S1 E64 · Tue, November 01, 2022
Reducing Plastic Usage En Masse & Improving Recycling with Bahruz from BERKM Inc
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 64. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. On today's episode of the podcast, we are joined by Bahruz Mammadov discussing how he and his team at BERKM Inc are helping reduce plastic usage through their innovative technology. The key areas covered are how their additive allows bottle makers to reduce the total volume of plastic used in the creation of bottles --and-- how they are working to increase recycling to a full circle We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com BERKM Inc Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/berkm-inc/ Connect with Bahruz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bahruzmammadov/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the sh
S1 E63 · Fri, October 28, 2022
#63 Carbon Markets and How they Work, Democratizing Forestry Carbon Credits, & More w/ Matt Smith (Finite Carbon)
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 63. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. What is carbon sequestration? Isn't it a scam? How does it work? Who decides the price? We cover these and more questions about the carbon sequestration and carbon markets space in today's conversation with Matt Smith from Finite Carbon. Finite Carbon is a platform helping land owners get verified Carbon Credits, as well as connect them with the buyers of these credits. And soon, this will be available to landowners with as little as 40 acres. Very exciting work they are doing at Finite Carbon. We are glad we can bring this episode to you. Main talking points of today's discussion are: How the carbon markets work What a carbon baseline is Being a self-regulated industry Verification and transparent reporting How to get into the space The future of Carbon Markets We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com The Finite Carbon Website: https://www.finitecarbon.com/ Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smith-matthew09/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not
S1 E62 · Tue, October 25, 2022
Solving Fresh Food Inventory Management with Johannes from Afresh
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 62. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. How can we solve food waste at the grocer level? This is the key thing we discuss in this episode with Johannes Olejnik from Afresh. Afresh is helping solve the problem with Fresh Food inventory and supply chain management. In helping reduce waste, they are also saving grocers money. The Main talking points of today's discussion are: How Afresh is helping Grocers manage their fresh food inventory The impacts of their tech as a whole on the company The "green edge" of being a sustainable grocer Regulatory landscape of the space We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Afresh Website: https://www.afresh.com/ Connect with Johannes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolejnik/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wa
S1 E61 · Mon, October 10, 2022
Mineral Availability, Sustainable Mining, & ClimateTech Supply Chain Challenges w/ Nick Rohleder
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 61. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today our conversation is with Nicholaus Rohleder. Nick does many things, including teaching at Columbia and running Climate Commodities (a commodity trading and logistics company). Our conversation was one of my favorite conversations since it was very high level and tackled many macro problems. We discussed Geo Politics, Globalization/De-globalization, Mining, Mineral Availability, and the unique problems faced by climate tech companies building hardware solutions. An all-around great conversation with Nick. Enjoy! The Main talking points of today's discussion are: Intro to Nick What they do at CCI The issue they wanted to solve Off-take and input finance Clean Mining Geo-Political climate and the zero-sum mentality of smaller nations Supply Chain Issues Energy Independence Education / University Landscape We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Climate Commodities Website: https://www.climate-commodities.com/ Connect with Nicholaus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholaus-rohleder-190526156/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, Nex
S1 E60 · Thu, September 22, 2022
Cleaning up Steel Production with Boston Metal's Adam Rauwerdink
#60 - Cleaning up Steel Production with Boston Metal's Adam Rauwerdink Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 60. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today we are speaking with Adam Rauwerdink the Sr VP of Business Development at Boston Metals, a Breakthrough Energy Ventures-backed company. BEV is a fund founded by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos along with other Philanthropists. In today's episode, we go through the conventional way of making steel and then walk through how Boston Metal is cleaning it up along with all the other benefits of their modular production model. It's a fascinating show so we are excited to bring this to you. The Main talking points of today's discussion are: Intro to Adam The impetus for joining Boston Metals Intro to Boston Metal Materials No Coal = Easier Plan for Growth Location of production facilities Supply Chain, changing it Speed of Permitting Facilities Regulatory Landscape Demand for Green Steel Other Benefits of Green Steel Workforce Concerns Partnerships Talent in the Space Next Steps / Problems to Solve Wrap Up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Boston Metal Website: https://www.bostonmetal.com/ Connect with Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrauwerdink/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly m
S1 E59 · Sun, September 04, 2022
Getting Off the Grid, Home Electrification, Hiring, and More w/ Ben Parvey (OhmGrid)
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 59. ________ If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. ________ Today we speak with Ben Parvey the CEO at OhmGrid. Where they are helping residential customers get off the grid, they do this through a model where they effectively just switch out some equipment, and then you pay around the same price as your electricity bill. The difference is, that you'll no longer be reliant on the grid and will have guaranteed electricity. What they are doing is really cool, I feel it has a strong appeal to many people given the power outage issues across our country. The Main talking points of today's discussion are: Intro Getting into Energy Space Starting in the Recession Going off the Grid Resale Value Financing Solar Resources Regulations Utilities & Incentive Programs Selling Back to the Grid Grid Dilemmas: a Hodge-Podge Future of the Grid Install and Operations What New Builders Think Multifamily Applications Regulatory Stifling Clean Slate Cyber Security Educating the People en masse Talent Wrap Up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com OhmGrid Website: https://www.ohmgrid.com/ Connect with Ben: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benparvey/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance th
S1 E58 · Fri, August 26, 2022
The Future of Clean Energy, Materials/Mfg, & the Circular Economy with Author, Peter Leyden
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 58. ______ If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. ______ This is a very special episode to me. Today we bring you a conversation with Peter Leyden who has spent his career figuring out the future. He started his career in journalism and went on to become, arguably, one of the most influential thinkers about the future of the world. In today's conversation, we cover a lot of things but focused generally on the future of CleanEnergy, how we know it has arrived, what the Circular Economy really is going to be (BioEngineering), and shifting consumer demand driven by the next generation. Peter has a lot of really fascinating points of view and I'm confident that you'll enjoy this conversation if you're someone who likes to think about the future and how it might be. Log of the Show: Developing the mentality of future looking back How we get stuck in day-to-day news rather than broad achievements Future of clean energy Critical Uncertainty The innovation adoption curve How industry shifts 5% of EV Sales Paradigm Shifts Total Reinvention of the Vehicle Concept / Autonomous Vehicles Generational Shifts & Fundamental Technologies Subsidies - EVs in Particular Cheap Energy to Solve Climate Change Global Capital Shift and the US Signal Bio-Engineering Boom EV Adoption Setting up Adoption of all ClimateTech The Circular Economy Bio-Engineering Materials and Production of Goods BioEngineered Bottles that biodegrade The Ultimate Circular Economy; a World of Synthetic Biology Possible Public Blowback on Bio-Engineering Food Old Technology Doesn't go Away Fusion Energy Energy Abundance Shifting Consumer Demand Corporates Chasing GenZ and Millenial Demand Vision for America and Politics History Makes Sense but The Present Isn't as Clear California: the Future Version of America & Gavin Newsom North Star is the No Carbon Economy Role of Government Space Travel Wrap up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Peter's Website: https://www.peterleyden.com/ Follow Peter's Medium Writings: https://peteleyden.medium.com/ Follow Peter on Twitter: <a hre
S1 E57 · Fri, August 19, 2022
Soap, Carbon Capture, Boilers, and PropTech w/ Jaeson Cardiff (Clean02)
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 57. _________ If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. _________ Today's conversation is with Jaeson Cardiff in a very exciting discussion about how they are capturing carbon through their Boiler system technology and then using that carbon in cleaning products. Overall the concept is simple but it's very exciting what they are doing and what can come next as they continue to develop their technology to be deployed on a larger scale. I especially appreciated hearing Jaeson's experience that led him from a blue-collar background to becoming a founder of a very complex deep-science technology company that is helping advance the ClimateTech solutions. Main Talking Points: Intro Where did the seed of your idea come from What is the circular economy How their chemical engineer works What they are doing Where is it used Educating people Changing the meaning of Green Washing Non-Technical business founder Starting out Customers Installation Economics / ROI Off-take agreements Partnerships Existing Jobs Managing their brand and its evolution Carbon in soap Where it goes Regulatory landscape Carbon tax Education Carbon Economy Looking forward in your industry Wrap up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Clean02 Website: https://cleano2.ca/ Connect with Jaeson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cleano2cct/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter :
S1 E56 · Fri, August 12, 2022
Solving Energy Demand Spikes of Increased Electrification w/ Rekha Sharma (Solv4X)
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 56. Today's conversation is with Rekha Sharma the founder of Solv4x. Rekha spent a number of years working for CAISO which, for those unfamiliar is the grid operator in California. During her time there she dealt with the issue of energy demand irregularities the more renewable energy that came on the grid and the more electrification permeated the grid. That experience led her to seek a solution which is what she's doing with Solv4X. In this conversation she walks us through the evolution of how she got to where she is, the steps she took to get here, and how the first vertical she's focusing on is the EV Charging space. Generally speaking, this was a really great conversation and I personally enjoyed it a lot as she was able to help shed light on the decision-making process to leave a stable job to start this business. Generally, very inspiring. Main Talking Points: Intro The shift to electrification Her early career The evolution of the grid What is Solve4X Seeing CAISOs issues firsthand Getting started Finding the right partners Getting capital Many small tweaks How the incubators helped Picking the right incubator Division of labor & specialties in the labor market User experience Internships and the importance of hands-on experience Giving back to the people Wrapping up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Solv4X Website: https://solv4xinc.com/ Connect with Rekha: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanpatrickmurphy1/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show Every Climate
S1 E55 · Fri, July 22, 2022
Helping Utilities Utilize Wasted Data with Sean Murphy of PingThings
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 55. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today our episode is with Sean Murphy the CEO of PingThings. Ping things is, in technical terms, the world's fastest nanosecond-precise time series analysis and AI platform. To translate that, they are able to analyze vast amounts of data very quickly. The application they are focused on currently is for utilities and grid operators. Specifically, transmission lines have a lot of sensors that are not used because most utilities didn't have the ability to actually read and utilize the data collected. With their technology, they are now able to do this and it can have massive impacts on the grid and on climate change. As usual, we discussed a wide range of topics including, his inspiration to become an entrepreneur, how the tech works, future trends, a misalignment of incentives among utilities, and education. Really fun conversation today. Enjoy! Main Talking Points: Intro to Sean Impetus for becoming an entrepreneur How to navigate early career with entrepreneurial tendencies What is PingThings How did they decide on what industry to support Visualizing what they do How they achieve this Use cases & applications How it impacts climate An electrical engineering lesson Solutions for this grid problem Any hardware required Future trends Regulatory landscape Misalignment of incentives Advice to young professionals Hiring - what they look for College systems Do we need more STEM Wrapping up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com PingThings Website: https://www.pingthings.io/ Connect with Sean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanpatrickmurphy1/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email <
S1 E54 · Sat, July 16, 2022
Reducing the Cost of GreenHydrogen w/ Mariam Awara (Pulsenics)
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 54. Today our episode is with Mariam Awara. Mariam is COO at Pulsenics Inc. Pulsenics is a Canada-based IoT device company that is helping enable electrochemistry at scale. A simpler way to put it is; they have a hardware and software solution that helps significantly reduce the operating costs of electrochemical industrial processes. Today our conversation largely revolved around how they are helping significantly reduce the costs of creating green hydrogen. We discussed the existing problem, how their tech works, and how they are solving it. To give you a precursor, in the event you're not a big fan of deep science, they have a device that helps monitor the internals of expensive machinery such as electrolyzes to identify when issues are starting so they can be fixed before a large breakdown. The same way preventative health helps avoid health crises. Please enjoy today's conversation! Main Talking Points: Intro to Mariam How she got into ClimateTech Evolution of the company How hard-tech is developed What they are doing Where do they fit into clean-electrochemical projects How they are helping Integration with existing tech The ROI component The industries they support (outside of GH) Common objections and challenges Next bottlenecks to solve Regulatory landscape and concerns Talent landscape What degrees to pursue for this field Fundraising and it's evolution Keeping long-term vision The future Closing We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Pulsenics Website: https://www.pulsenics.com/ Connect with Mariam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariamawara/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Tw
S1 E53 · Sat, July 09, 2022
Incubating Early Stage CleanTech Companies - Jason Ethier (Greentown Labs)
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 53. _________ If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. _________ Today's episode is with Jason Ethier who is the Sr Director of Membership at Greentown Labs. Greentown is an in-person CleanTech incubator with locations in Boston and Houston. Today's conversation largely revolves around what Greentown is doing to help CleanTech Startups, the challenges many startups face, the importance of partnerships, and perhaps the most interesting talking point, what is the relationship between Houston's "Old Energy" people and the Energy Transition People. Main Talking Points: Intro to Jason His journey into ClimateTech What Greentown Labs is doing Who they work with What types of people end up in the program? Why should someone apply to Greentown Labs Typical outcomes How it works Partnerships in the CleanTech Community Incentive structures Why In-Person The Metaverse Why Houston The relationship between "Old Energy" and Renewables Job transitions Equity offerings Education, Talent, and Universities Market timing and direction Wrap up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Greentown Labs Website: https://greentownlabs.com/ Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonethier/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner</
S1 E52 · Sat, July 02, 2022
Solving Heat Loss on a City Scale with James Henry of MyHEAT
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 52. If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. Today's conversation is with James Henry, the Director of Growth and Sustainability at MyHEAT. MyHEAT is a Calgary-based Energy Software Startup. They have a technology that produced heat maps on a city-wide scale. They use that data to work in partnership with Utilities and Energy Consumers to make changes that result in long-term energy savings. Their goal is to reduce the amount of energy required to heat spaces. The main discussion points in today's episode revolve around energy usage, changing consumer behavior, and how to create lasting energy efficiency changes. Of course, we also dug into the education questions I like to ask and we also spoke a bit about what the Utility's goals are and how they go about implementing them. Main Talking Points: Intro to James What MyHEAT is doing His inspiration to get into the space How they collect the data How they process the data Who their partners are How it works The utilities' goals Implementation of the tech Quantifying things The importance of comparison Effectiveness Incentives for builders Valuations in Real Estate Downstream consumption Changing public education on this topic Advice for young professionals Wrap up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com MyHEAT Website: https://myheat.ca/ Connect with James: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jameschenry/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techi
S5 E51 · Sun, June 26, 2022
Carbon Offsets; an Investment not an Expense with Demian Klenk
Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 51. ________ If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. ________ Today's conversation is with Demian Klenk, Co-Founder of 6c-Index, where they are building an index fund of Carbon projects that are tied to the blockchain for transparency. In this discussion, we covered what they are doing, what are the carbon markets, blockchain's role in the climate fight, seeing carbon offsets as an investment, and a lot of other things surrounding the topic of the intersection of Blockchain and ClimateTech Overall, great conversation with Demian. I'm very fascinated to see what they do and if they are able to truly crack the code on getting corporations to willingly invest in carbon removal projects. Main Talking Points: Intro to Demian Regenerative Markets What is 6c-Index What are Carbon Markets How do they work How the credits appreciate Changing the narrative Drawdown Blockchain and Climate Change Blockchain and Innovation Enabling new financial products Why Wyoming DAOs Creating a technically savvy public We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com 6c-Index Website: https://6c-index.com/ Connect with Demian: https://www.linkedin.com/in/demian-klenk-ba2110183/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : <a href='https://ww
S1 E50 · Wed, June 22, 2022
Climate-Conscious Investing with James Regulinski
Hello everyone and welcome back to the CleanTechies podcast. This is our 50th episode. Hard to believe we are already at 50. ____________________________________________________ If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can. ____________________________________________________ Today's episode is with James Regulinski the Co-Founder of Carbon Collective. Carbon Collective is a financial services firm that helps people ensure they are achieving their financial goals, such as short-term savings or retirement, in a way that is Climate-Aligned. With Carbon Collective you will know that your money is going into places that are good for the climate and not being part of the problem. In our discussion with James we discuss, what they are doing at CC, the reasons why to invest in climate-aligned funds, financial literacy, and responsible investing, we also touched on Blockchain tech, and a lot more. Overall, great conversation with James. It's really great to see what they are doing. I was personally surprised that this is not something that is already widely adopted. It's great to have this because as we all know, the market needs to demand something for the solutions to be created. Today's conversation with James was really fun and insightful for me. I hope you'll find the same. Main Talking Points: Intro to James From Engineering to Finance Starting Carbon Collective What is Carbon Collective 3 Reasons why Climate-Conscious investing is better The benefits to the government Proxy voting Who are their clients What is he excited about for the future Financial literacy Institutional and Individual Responsibility The education system Getting into finance Blockchain and ClimateTech Wrap up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Carbon Collective Website Connect with James on LinkedIn Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel: https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nU
S1 E49 · Sat, June 18, 2022
Climate Conscious Real Estate, NYC Local Law 97, Talent Shortage, & More w/ Michael Beckerman (CRETECH)
Welcome to the 49th episode of the CleanTechies Podcast. Today we are joined by Michael Beckerman the founder and CEO of CRETECH and CRETECH Climate. Michael, while relatively new to ClimateTech, has been quick to jump in and become a clear leader inside of Clean Real Estate Tech Space. In today's show, we go through a lot. From the general landscape of the real estate industry at present. What it can be. The tech out there to solve the problems. The talent shortage. Education. The role of government. And Local Law 97. I thoroughly enjoyed today's conversation with Michael and I hope you do too! Main Talking Points: Intro to Michael His evolution into ClimateTech <> Real Estate How he made the leap from media to technology Carbon Emissions Impact of Real Estate Michael has faith in Technology Concrete Geothermal Energy Renewable Energy Heat Pumps Sustainable Steel/Materials 3D Printed Buildings Emissions Tracking The integration challenge We need activists The Talent Issue The inequity of the Education System NYC <> RE Tech Local Law 97 / Regulation Leading Cities Role of Government Do your part Wrap up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com CRETECH Website: https://www.cretech.com/ Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-beckerman/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner <a rel="payment" href="https://www.buy
S1 E48 · Wed, June 15, 2022
#48 How ESG Effects Design, ESG Reporting for RE Owners, Real Estate and ESG, and Sustainable Real Estate w/ Fulya Kocak Gin (Nareit)
Hello again! 👋 and welcome to the final episode in our ESG mini-series on the CleanTechies Podcast Today we are joined by Fulya Kocak Gin the SVP of ESG at Nareit (National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts) Fulya is an industry leader in the ESG<>Real Estate space as she has been helping pull together and publish research for the members of Nareit. This work alone has had an incredible impact on the industry no doubt. In today's conversation, we had the chance to go into detail with her about how ESG plays a role in the Real Estate space. Specifically, we went into what is a REIT, how does ESG effect design, the standard objections, ESG reporting for RE Owners, and much more. As always, it was a pleasure to connect with an industry leader and it's an even greater pleasure to share it with you! We hope you enjoy this production. Main Talking Points: Intro to Fulya How did she end up in the space A bit about her book What is a REIT ESG <> Real Estate Design <> ESG Common objections Biggest challenges Standardization Current and Future Regulations What is driving ESG Reporting What is ESG Reporting The future of ESG Innovation in the space ESG and Sustainability Defined Education <> ESG We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Nareit Website: Fulya's book: Connect with Fulya on LinkedIn: Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Other resources shared by Fulya: https://www.nareitphotolibrary.com/m/3ed5cf114b91ad7e/original/NareitPracticalReferenceforESGAugust2021v2-pdf.pdf https://www.reit.com/investing/reits-sustainability/2021-reit-esg-report https://www.reit.com/investing/reits-sustainability/reit-esg-dashboard Support the show Ev
S1 E47 · Sat, June 11, 2022
#47 The Current and Future State of the ESG Software Space w/ Sondra Tosky (Measurabl)
Today we are pleased to present the second part of our three-part ESG series with Sondra Tosky. Sondra is a Senior Product Manager at Higg. She has worked with CBRE and Measurabl in the past and is deeply aware of how the ESG Software Market is unfolding. In this episode, we discussed the current state of ESG data collection and reporting software. We debate and discuss what the future of the market will be and how things will be divided. We also discussed the intersection of ESG and Blockchain. Main Talking Points: Intro to Sondra Sondra's early career Policy and Picking Tech ESG Intro Supply Chain Visibility Challenges and Competition SEC's Recent Announcement Costs of Reporting ESG Software Landscape Future of the Market Big Tech's Role BlockChain - Offsets Education Up-skilling People Wrap Up We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Higg on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/higg/ Connect with Sondra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sondra-tosky-2837bb4/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn for posts about ClimateTech, and for a monthly newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent spac
S1 E46 · Sat, June 04, 2022
Intro to and Philosophy of ESG, Ethical Profit, Harmony Driven Career Paths & More w/ Ryan (Ra) James (re)Biz
This is the first part of our ESG Mini-Series. We are kicking things off with Ryan Kemp the founder of Pueo Consulting. Today's show was highly interesting and enjoyable for me as we asked, pondered, and discussed some of the really tough questions about ESG that have been on my mind lately. Main Talking Points: Intro to Ryan Basic Principles of ESG Deep dive into Social The benefits of S Supply chain and S Behavioral change to create true change Disconnectedness from the supply chain Deep dive into Governance The future of profit maximization / how ethical are these practices Expanding the definition of capital Time and Lifespan Instant gratification Harmony driven careers ESG & Education Unschooling We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at silasmahner@gmail.com Pueo Consulting Website: pueo.consulting/ Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanjkemp/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent
S1 E45 · Sat, May 14, 2022
IoT's Role in Helping Solve Climate Change w/ Priya Vijayakumar (WattIQ)
Welcome back to a data-driven conversation with Priya Vijayakumar. Today we have a really fascinating discussion with Priya who is the CEO and Co-Founder of WattIQ which is an IoT company specifically focused on reducing climate impact through helping to find wasted energy and working with manufacturers to create better longer-lasting products. Our discussion covered a lot of topics surrounding IoT and our usual lines of questions plus a few new ones. Below you can find a general log of topics in chronological order. Intro to Priya Her learning framework What WattIQ is doing Getting set up The benefits of IoT Manufacturers using data to improve their products How the tech works Publicly available data The intersection of ESG and IoT Big areas for IoT growth Cyber security and IoT The integration dilemma Using data in the procurement process The regulation landscape How to get into IoT Learn the fundamentals Finding your direction early in your career Closing out _________ WattIQ Website: wattiq.io Connect with Priya on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vijayakumarpriya/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / <a hr
S1 E44 · Sun, April 17, 2022
The Lowest Cost Energy: Concentrated Solar Power, Building an Pilot for a New Energy Tech, & More w/ John King (Hyperlight Energy)
Today we have something really fascinating for you. We were joined by John King, CEO, and Founder of Hyperlight Energy. Hyperlight Energy has created a Concentrated Solar Power technology that allows for the cheapest electricity production according to NREL. And on top of that, they have identified a way to store months of energy using certain rock formations in the earth. This conversation covers their technology, many of John's thoughts about the future of the grid, and resiliency, and then we even talked about regulation issues, education, and general ideas behind entrepreneurship in the ClimateTech space post-CleanTech 1.0. Hyperlight Website: https://hyperlightenergy.com/ Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-d-h-king-700477/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law fi
S1 E43 · Wed, April 13, 2022
A Deep Dive Into the Grid, the Intermittency Problem, & Where do We go from Here w/ Bhaskar Ray (QCells)
Hope you are feeling curious today! We have an episode today about one of my favorite topics - the Grid. And joining us today is a grid expert, Bhaskar Ray. Bhaskar is someone that I've known for a while and who has always helped me to learn how the grid works throughout my recruitment work. In today's discussion, we go over... the history of the grid basics about how the grid works the major challenges facing the grid currently some of the potential solutions going forward Bhaskar's predictions on what will happen the potential role of bitcoin mining with the grid the future of energy storage innovation in the utility space And a whole lot more. We hope you enjoy today's episode as it is a super informative one if you're seeking to understand the basics of how the US power grid works. Connect with Bhaskar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhaskar-ray-200b489/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E42 · Sat, April 09, 2022
What is a Rolling Syndicate, Role of Gov in Climate, Role of Blockchain in ClimateTech & More w/ Michael Luciani (Exponential Impact)
Howdy 🤠 howdy 👋 and welcome back to another episode of CleanTechies the Podcast. Today our discussion is with Michael Luciani from Exponential Impact. Exponential Impact is a rolling syndicate that has come out of Climate Capital and C3. They are focused on investing in frontier technologies that have the potential to truly help save the world. Their belief is that regardless of the climate crisis we should be investing in these technologies since they are better anyways. From reducing costs to being more efficient to freeing up human capital, to finding new resources, it's just a better investment in our future. In this conversation we talked about ClimateTech Investing, Blockchain's role in the space, Education, the importance of investing in ClimateTech for governments, the role of Regulation and Government, and a whole lot more. Exponential Impact Website: https://exponentialimpact.xyz/ Connect with Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-luciani/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / <a href='mailto:info@next-wavepa
S1 E41 · Sat, April 02, 2022
Charging Software, The Future of EV Charging, Education Bubble? w/ Zak Lefevre (ChargeLab)
Hopefully, this episode will charge you up ⚡️ 🚗 🔌 ! (we do love puns). Welcome back to another episode of the show. Today we are discussing EV Charging and a lot of the topics surrounding it with Zak Lefevre CEO and Founder of ChargeLab. Charge Lab is an EV Charging company that is primarily a software to manage EV charging in an efficient way that helps avoid large charges for breaking energy demand as well as other features to even off charging time during heavy usage. In addition, they are a marketplace for EV charging equipment. In this conversation, we discussed many things (as usual) from regulation to EV adoption, to the future of EV charging, to education. I hope you enjoy this episode! ChargeLab Website : https://www.chargelab.co/ Connect with Zak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zaklefevre/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why se
S1 E40 · Mon, March 28, 2022
Residential Energy Usage and Grid Flexibility w/ Aaron Berndt (Google Nest)
Hello again!👋 Welcome to another episode. This week we are speaking with Aaron Berndt at Google Nest. The Google Nest thermostat allows homeowners to participate in their local utility's energy demand response programs which can save or earn them money. In this conversation, we discussed how much effect residential demand programs can have on creating a more resilient grid. We discussed the Google Nest product and its particulars and went through a number of other topics around education and regulation. We really hope you enjoy this conversation. Google Renew Website: https://nestrenew.google.com/welcome/ Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronberndt/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide</e
S1 E39 · Wed, March 23, 2022
Helping Commercial Kitchens Reduce Food Waste and Save Money w/ David Jackson (Winnow)
We hope you are hungry 🍎 because today we are discussing food waste with David Jackson from Winnow. Winnow is helping commercial kitchens reduce food waste through their easy install and low-cost AI technology that allows commercial kitchens to track waste and take the insights to the menu where they can plan better to reduce waste. All this helps reduce carbon emissions as well. This was a fascinating conversation in a topic that we have really not talked much about so we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Please do share it with anyone that you think will be interested to learn more about this technology. Winnow website: https://www.winnowsolutions.com/ Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidshanejackson/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice
S1 E38 · Mon, March 21, 2022
PV Module Supply Chain Issues, Global Trade, Energy Independence w/ Martin Pochtaruk (Heliene)
Today we dive into supply chain issues inside the Solar ☀️ PV module manufacturing world with CEO and Founder of Heliene, Martin Pochtaruk. We hope you enjoy today's episode which is filled with a lot of interesting topics and features Martin's dog 🐶 in the barkground. Heliene Website: https://heliene.com/ Connect with Martin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martin-pochtaruk-5512581/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction.Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E37 · Thu, March 17, 2022
Tracking Carbon Emissions Data and the Importance of Transparency w/ Tara Gupta (Map Collective)
Hey there 👋 Welcome back to another episode of CleanTechies, The Podcast. Today we are speaking with Tara Gupta, Forbes 30 Under 30 (2022), Founder, and CEO of Map Collective. Map Collective is a website/platform that helps track carbon emissions. The conversation with Tara was really fun so I hope you enjoy! Map-Collective Website: https://www.map-collective.com/ Connect with Tara on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-gupta/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction.Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E36 · Mon, March 14, 2022
Using DER Data to Help Utilities Improve the Grid w/ Brendan Banfield (Gridsight)
Howdy Earth Lovers, 🌍 Welcome back to another episode of CleanTechies, The Podcast. In today's episode, we are speaking with Brendan Banfield Co-Founder and CEO of Gridsight. Gridsight is a company based in Australia that is helping utilities utilize existing DER (distributed energy resources = solar from residential solar and other small sources) Data to help improve the grid to interact better with DER. This was a great conversation with Brendan so we hope you enjoy it too. Gridsight Website: https://www.gridsight.ai/ Connect with Brendan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-banfield/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support
S1 E35 · Thu, March 03, 2022
R&D in the Hydrogen Tech Space, Being a Breakthrough Energy Incubator Participant, Hydrogen Fuel Tanks, & more w/ David Jaramillo (VERNE)
Hey there 👋 , welcome back to the second episode this week - again discussing Hydrogen. This time we are discussing the hydrogen storage (fuel tank) aspect of hydrogen-powered vehicles / machinery. To help us understand this we talked with David Jaramillo, Co-Founder, and CTO at VERNE. VERNE is part of the Breakthrough Energy incubator. They are doing R&D to help innovate the hydrogen storage aspect of hydrogen-powered machinery. The storage and transportation of hydrogen is currently a very difficult issue that needs to be solved. It's our hope that between this conversation and the one earlier this week with Corey Staller, you should have a pretty good view of what a fuel cell is and what hydrogen is generally. Join us next week for an episode with Brendan Banfield from Gridsight discussing how they are using data that utilities already collect to improve the relationship between the grid and distributed energy resources. Links: VERNE Website: https://www.verneh2.com/ Connect with David on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-jaramillo-216a6459/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law
S1 E34 · Mon, February 28, 2022
Fuel Cells, Understanding Hydrogen, 10 Years Out?... & More w/ Corey Staller (Celadyne Technologies)
This is probably the most informative conversation I've had in a long time. Very thankful for Corey Staller, the Director of Engineering at Celadyne Technologies (and Forbes 30 under 30 honoree). They are doing R&D and developing materials that will help fuel cell tech in achieving cost parity for the heavy industries with conventional motors. This episode speaks mostly to freight shipping. In the episode, we also address policy, infrastructure, and supply chain issues. Please enjoy today's episode and look out for another discussion about the fuel tank for hydrogen later this week. (nice little double whammy). Links: Celadyne Technologies Website: https://www.celadynetech.com/ Connect with Corey on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cstaller/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E33 · Mon, February 21, 2022
eMobility and batteries that last way longer when paired with AI - Charlie Welch (ZapBatt)
Today is a conversation with Charlie Welch, CEO & CO-Founder of ZapBatt discussing a revolutionary battery technology that lasts significantly longer and charges faster. Their tech is really interesting in the material science space. That paired with AI allows them to make batteries more adaptable. Main beneficiaries will be eMobility related use cases. Next week we will have two episodes coming out both on the topic of Hydrogen Fuel Cells so tune in for that. Links: ZapBatt Website: https://www.zapbatt.com/ Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlie-welch-a5456a107/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E32 · Mon, February 14, 2022
Upskilling the workforce to support the Climate Tech Revolution w/ Candice Ammori (On Deck)
Great conversation with Candice Ammori at On Deck discussing many things surrounding the upskilling of workers in the ClimateTech / CleanTech space. This is something many people have been concerned about and I think today's conversation was really great to help ease those fears and discuss the overall positive benefits of making this transition. Next week we will have an episode with Charlie Welch from ZapBatt discussing a revolutionary battery technology that lasts significantly longer and charges faster. Links: On Deck's Website: https://www.beondeck.com/post/odct1 Connect with Candice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/candiceammori/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E31 · Thu, February 03, 2022
Decarbonizing Light Commercial Vehicles w/ John Walsh (Endera)
Super excited to bring you this conversation with John Walsh. Forbes 30 under 30 2022 winner, CEO, and Founder at Endera. Endera is manufacturing light commercial EVs. Next week we will be discussing how to make the transition from a talent perspective with Candice Ammori from OnDeck. Links: Endera Website: https://enderamotors.com/ Connect with John on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-walsh-40b97748/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E30 · Wed, January 26, 2022
Modular EV Charging Infra for 1/10th the Space & 1/10th the Time w/ Josh Keister (Resilient Power)
Today's conversation is with Josh Keister, President at Resilient Power where we discuss their revolutionary solid-state technology in the EV Charging space that reduces the footprint, installation time, and increases accessibility to EV charging infrastructure. For anyone looking to add EV Charging infrastructure into their operations please reach out to the team at Resilient Power. Tune in next week for our conversation with John Walsh from Endera - a commercial EV company. Links: Resilient Power Website : https://www.resilientpower.com/ Connect with Josh on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/josh-keister-0273421b6/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E29 · Thu, January 20, 2022
Improving Grid/Transmission Infrastructure with IoT, Saving Utilities Millions, Conventional Experience to Identify Innovation, & More w/ Tim Barat (Gridware)
Fascinating episode with Tim Barat, CEO & Co-Founder of Gridware. Started working as a lineman in his younger days and then realized the issues the grid faces. This led him to found Gridware. Key discussion points: Tim's Story of founding Gridware IoT generally speaking IoT and cyber security The problem with transmission infrastructure The amount of savings available Preventing wildfires ClimateTech entrepreneurship and getting into it Education and partnerships ROI for this technology Anyone who works in transmission or who is involved in local / city governments, please take action and get in touch with Gridware today. Share this with someone who would be able to implement this tech in their org. Stay tuned next week for our conversation with Josh Keister at Resilient Power where we discuss their revolutionary technology in the EV Charging space. Links: Gridware Website: https://www.gridware.io/ Connect with Tim on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothybarat/ Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Check out last week's episode - Part 2 of convo with ElectricFish: https://cleantechiespod.buzzsprout.com/1675960/9839880 Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show
S1 E28 · Thu, January 13, 2022
EV Charging, Energy Storage, Underserved Communities - Part 2 - Fola & Anurag (ElectricFish)
Thanks for joining us again today! Welcome back for part two with Fola and Anurag! This is the second part of our conversation with Fola and Anurag, founders of ElectricFish and recent Forbes 30 Under 30 Inductees (2022). This second part of the conversation discusses a lot more about the technical side of their business and what they see for the future of the industry. We hope you enjoy today's episode and we will see you next week for our discussion about IoT! Links: ElectricFish Website : https://www.electricfish.co/ Connect with Fola on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/folasadeayoola/ Connect with Anurag on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/anurag-kamal/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner __________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E27 · Thu, January 06, 2022
EV Charging, Energy Storage, Underserved Communities - Part 1 - Fola & Anurag (ElectricFish)
Welcome back to the show! We are excited to be back after a nice holiday break. Today we bring you the first part of our conversation with Fola and Anurag, founders of ElectricFish and recent Forbes 30 Under 30 Inductees (2022). The first part of today's convo focuses on their story and journey into ClimateTech and how they met each other to start ElectricFish. Their unique world views are helping them to focus on communities that typically are overlooked when it comes to renewables and EV. We hope you enjoy today's episode and we will see you next week for part 2! Links: ElectricFish Website : https://www.electricfish.co/ Connect with Fola on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/folasadeayoola/ Connect with Anurag on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/anurag-kamal/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E26 · Thu, November 25, 2021
Thanksgiving Note 2021
I really wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your support of the show this year as we launched. We are excited about the future and look forward to Season 3 coming soon. Thank you also to our Sponsors NextWave Partners and Tigo Energy for helping make this possible. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E25 · Thu, November 11, 2021
Reducing Operating Costs & While Taking Higher Rents in Commercial Real Estate, the Green Building Effect w/ Edi Demaj (KODE Labs)
In this conversation with serial entrepreneur and Detroit loyalist, Edi Demaj, the Co-Founder of KODE Labs discussed commercial real estate, smart buildings, transparency, and education. The leadership and vision that Edi has for the future of the commercial real estate space are inspiring. Really glad to have him on the show and hope to have him again. KODE Labs Website : https://kodelabs.com/ Connect with Edi on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/edidemaj/ Tweet Edi: https://twitter.com/EdiDemaj Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner _________ We are proud to be sponsored by Tigo Energy to bring this show to you. Tigo Energy is a Silicon Valley renewable energy company with more than 13 years of experience in Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) design and deployment. With over 1GWh of solar production monitored daily and approximately 900 TB of global solar data, Tigo is the proven leader in MLPE. In 2021, Tigo revealed its Energy Intelligence Battery and Inverter products, which are designed as the first truly installer-centric residential solar-plus-storage solution. Specifically targeted at the needs of installers, this solution is designed to be fast, flexible, and dependable to directly impact the profit and loss statement of installers. Come learn more at https://tigoenergy.com/cleantechies _________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show
S1 E24 · Thu, November 04, 2021
Equity, Climate Change, Hiring, Education, & More w/ Chris Bolman (Brightest)
Really enjoyed this episode with Chris discussing a wide range of topics. Chris is the CEO and Founder of Brightest, an ESG Data Tracking SaaS product. This conversation with Chris really resonated with me as we touched on all the topics that we have bounced around on this show. Equity, Climate Change, Hiring, Education...we talked about it all. It is my opinion that we need more holistic thinking like this to really achieve the future we are aiming at as a world community. Brightest Website: https://www.brightest.io/ Connect with Bolman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbolman/ Tweet Bolman: https://twitter.com/ChrisBolman Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner _________ We are proud to be sponsored by Tigo Energy to bring this show to you. Tigo Energy is a Silicon Valley renewable energy company with more than 13 years of experience in Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) design and deployment. With over 1GWh of solar production monitored daily and approximately 900 TB of global solar data, Tigo is the proven leader in MLPE. In 2021, Tigo revealed its Energy Intelligence Battery and Inverter products, which are designed as the first truly installer-centric residential solar-plus-storage solution. Specifically targeted at the needs of installers, this solution is designed to be fast, flexible, and dependable to directly impact the profit and loss statement of installers. Come learn more at https://tigoenergy.com/cleantechies . _________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to <a href='https
S1 E23 · Thu, October 28, 2021
ClimateTech VC Investing w/ Heidi Lindvall (Pale Blue Dot)
Speaking with Heidi was one of the most interesting conversations I've been able to have in the investment side of ClimateTech because of her background and story to getting her and also because of her perspective for us in the US and what we can learn from what Europe has done. Pale Blue Dot Website : https://www.paleblue.vc/#section-0 Connect with Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidilindvall/ Tweet Heidi : https://twitter.com/HeidiLindvall Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner _________ We are proud to be sponsored by Tigo Energy to bring this show to you. Tigo Energy is a Silicon Valley renewable energy company with more than 13 years of experience in Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) design and deployment. With over 1GWh of solar production monitored daily and approximately 900 TB of global solar data, Tigo is the proven leader in MLPE. In 2021, Tigo revealed its Energy Intelligence Battery and Inverter products, which are designed as the first truly installer-centric residential solar-plus-storage solution. Specifically targeted at the needs of installers, this solution is designed to be fast, flexible, and dependable to directly impact the profit and loss statement of installers. Come learn more at https://tigoenergy.com/cleantechies . _________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wave
S1 E22 · Thu, October 21, 2021
Climate Angel Syndicate | Getting More Money Into ClimateTech w/ Tristan Pollock (Cool Climate Collective)
Tristan and I have known each other for a while so it was great to have him on the pod discussing what he and Mehrad Yaghmai are doing with Cool Climate Collective Cool Climate Collective is a Syndicate that invests in ClimateTech companies helping angel investors to diversify into several platforms, all while helping get more capital into climate-focused companies. Cool Climate Collective Website : https://tristanpollock.notion.site/Cool-Climate-Collective-26a172fdde8f4f3b91d046fa3cac1fc3 Connect with Tristan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristanpollock/ Tweet Tristan : https://twitter.com/pollock Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner _________ We are super excited to have a new sponsor of the show! Tigo Energy is a Silicon Valley renewable energy company with more than 13 years of experience in Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) design and deployment. With over 1GWh of solar production monitored daily and approximately 900 TB of global solar data, Tigo is the proven leader in MLPE. In 2021, Tigo revealed its Energy Intelligence Battery and Inverter products, which are designed as the first truly installer-centric residential solar-plus-storage solution. Specifically targeted at the needs of installers, this solution is designed to be fast, flexible, and dependable to directly impact the profit and loss statement of installers. Come learn more at https://tigoenergy.com/cleantechies . _________ We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we m
S1 E21 · Thu, October 07, 2021
ESG Data Tracking, Creating Partnerships, & More w/ Holly Lichtenfeld (SustainaBase)
Really great conversation with Holly Lichtenfeld, Chief Growth & Strategic Alliances Officer at SustainaBase. SustainaBase is an ESG tracking platform that is helping companies advance their sustainable development goals. Their goal is to replace most of the ESG tracking and reporting services, that are traditionally done through consultants, with software. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Holly as it was a blast to make. SustainaBase Website : https://www.sustainabase.com/ Connect with Holly On LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/hollylichtenfeld/ Follow Holly on Twitter @Holly_BL :https://twitter.com/Holly_BL Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter : @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Read my intro to ESG : https://silasmahner.medium.com/a-beginners-intro-to-esg-2f35e5b06851 Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E20 · Thu, September 23, 2021
From Engineer to VC, ClimateTech Investing, & More w/ Craig Lawrence (Energy Transition Ventures)
Had the opportunity to speak with Craig Lawrence, Partner, and Co-Founder at Energy Transition Ventures. Craig started his career in a technical role and has found himself as the holder of the purse. Really hope you enjoy this conversation. Check out the ETV Website : https://energytransitionventures.com/ Connect with Craig on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigmlawrence/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E19 · Thu, September 16, 2021
Creating Extra Revenue Streams for Real Estate Owners by Selling Captured Carbon w/ Josh Santos (Noya)
A punchy conversation with Josh Santos, the Co-Founder, and CEO of Noya - a carbon capture company offering companies a way to capture carbon and get paid. Their tech is installed on Cooling Towers, captures carbon, and is then able to be sold to companies who use carbon. The new business models that are being developed every day to help make the transition to a cleaner world are very inspiring to me. Check out Noya : https://www.noya.co/ Connect with Josh on LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshisantos/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E18 · Thu, September 09, 2021
Retrofitting Commercial Vehicles into EVs w/ Jim Castelaz (Motiv Power Systems)
Great conversation with Jim Castelaz, the founder and CTO of Motiv Power Systems. Motiv has been in the business of electrifying light commercial vehicles for over a decade. We touched on many topics from what they are doing, to the future of the grid, to the future of education, and employee retention. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Checkout Motiv Power Systems : https://www.motivps.com/ Connect with Jim : https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcastelaz/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E17 · Thu, September 02, 2021
What is a Smart City, The Cities of the Future, Green Cities, & More w/ Dr. Jonathan Reichental - Smart City Evangelist
Was really great to have Dr. Jonathan Reichental on the show today. We discussed Smart Cities on a broader level as well as the relationship between the private and public sectors. I really learned a lot on this episode and I hope you do too! Let us know what your favorite takeaway with this episode is! Get Jonathan’s books: https://www.reichental.com/smart-cities-book/ Learn more about Jonathan: https://www.reichental.com/ Join the Slack Channel: https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter: https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter: @ silasmahner Support the show: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E16 · Thu, August 26, 2021
Upcycling the Wasted Parts of the CaCao Plants, What is an Upcycled Snack, Farmers Revenue Models, & More w/ Shannon Neumann (CaPao)
Episode 16 of CleanTechies the podcast. Really enjoyed this discussion with Shannon Neumann running the CaPao brand from Mondelez International . We discussed upcycling in regard to the food industry from harvest through manufacturing. Let us know what your favorite takeaway with this episode is! Check out CaPao : https://www.capaofruit.com/ Connect With Shannon : https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-neumann-8445065/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E15 · Thu, August 19, 2021
Creating Green Buildings, Reducing Wasted Energy, IoT & Real Estate, & More w/ Brian Turner (Buildings IoT)
Had a great conversation with Brian Turner the CEO of Buildings IoT on today's episode. He had a lot of insight to share about the PropTech / BuildingTech space. Learn more about Buildings IoT here : https://www.buildingsiot.com/ Join the Slack Channel : https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email Subscribe to the Newsletter : https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup HMU on Twitter: @ silasmahner NEW: Support the show : https://www.buymeacoffee.com/silasmahner Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E14 · Thu, August 12, 2021
Giving Home Owners the Choice of Energy Type & More w/ Ben Hood (WattBuy)
This week's episode is a great discussion with Ben Hood, the CTO, and Co-Founder of WattBuy. WattBuy is helping arm residential consumers with the data and insight to reduce their energy prices which will have a large effect on the entire grid. Learn more about WattBuy : Connect with Ben : Join the Slack Channel: Subscribe to the Newsletter: HMU on Twitter: @ silasmahner Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E13 · Thu, August 05, 2021
What it's Like Investing in ClimateTech, PortCo Services, & More w/ Valerie Shen (G2 Venture Partners)
Welcome back to the podcast! It's been a long refreshing and busy summer break and now we're back. What better way to come back than with a great episode with Valerie Shen from G2Venture Partners with a comprehensive look at the ClimateTech space from the fund perspective? Valerie has so much insight to share and I really enjoyed our conversation. I hope you enjoy it as much. Please learn more about G2 Venture Partners and their investments here Connect with Valerie : Join the Slack Channel: Subscribe to the Newsletter: HMU on Twitter: @ silasmahner Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E12 · Thu, June 10, 2021
Vertical Growing, Slashing Water Waste, Supply Chain Intentionality, & More w/ Jackie Roberts (AppHarvest)
The final episode of the first season of the podcast. And what a great episode to close it on. In this episode, I spoke with Jackie Roberts, the Chief Sustainability Officer of AppHarvest. A revolutionary CleanAg / AgTech company, based in Morehead, KY. What they are doing in the space really excites me and I'm super excited to see what they do in the future. https://www.appharvest.com/about-us/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-roberts-1b4533b/ ********* This episode is sponsored and made possible by NextWave Partners. NextWave Partners is a Renewable Energy, Infrastructure, and Technology specialized headhunting firm. NextWave has a global network of expert consultants who are keenly aware of the trends and happenings of their respective markets. So, whether you are setting up a company in a new market, building out a new company, or seeking a specific headhunt, reach out to NextWave to learn more about how a Partnership with NextWave could help your organization expand. - info@next-wavepartners.com - www.next-wavepartners.com ********* Please follow the pod, share with your friends especially with the relevant people that this episode can be highly valuable for. Turn on notifications so you can keep up-to-date on all the industry advancements. If you want some readable content subscribe to the newsletter here https://join.slack.com/t/cleantechies/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ Join the Slack channel to continue the conversation and to connect with industry professionals. https://join.slack.com/t/cleantechies... And follow us on Instagram for easily sharable links www.instagram.com/cleantechies/ ____________ Thanks so much for your support of this season of CleanTechies. We look forward to seeing you back here after a short Summer Break. We will be coming back with some exciting stuff and doing our best to bring you the best content we can. In the meantime, keep an eye on the Monthly Newsletter. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E11 · Thu, May 27, 2021
Capturing Heat from Waste Water from Commercial Buildings w/ Lynn Mueller (Sharc)
Really excited to be bringing you this episode and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. This episode really was a thrill to shoot with Lynn Mueller President & CEO of Sharc International Systems. An energy recycling company that captures heat from outgoing water and uses it to help heat up the building or water that needs to be heated next. Lynn is very down-to-earth and knowledgeable in his space and just inspiring in terms of what they are doing with creating a people-focused company. I hope you enjoy this episode and I highly encourage you to check out their website to learn more by checking out their website www.sharcenergy.com/ and follow them on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/sharcenergy/ ********* This episode is sponsored and made possible by NextWave Partners. NextWave Partners is a Renewable Energy, Infrastructure, and Technology specialized headhunting firm. NextWave has a global network of expert consultants who are keenly aware of the trends and happenings of their respective markets. So, whether you are setting up a company in a new market, building out a new company, or seeking a specific headhunt, reach out to NextWave to learn more about how a Partnership with NextWave could help your organization expand. - info@next-wavepartners.com - www.next-wavepartners.com ********* Please follow the pod, share with your friends especially with the relevant people that this episode can be highly valuable for. Turn on notifications so you can keep up-to-date on all the industry advancements. If you want some readable content subscribe to the newsletter here https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup - The first issue went out today, but if you ping me on LinkedIn or Twitter I can forward you the first issue so you can be an OG subscriber. Join the Slack channel to continue the conversation and to connect with industry professionals. https://join.slack.com/t/cleantechies/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ And follow us on Instagram for easily sharable links www.instagram.com/cleantechies/ See you next week!!! 🌍 Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E10 · Mon, May 24, 2021
A Brief Intro to CleanTech / ClimateTech
Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of CleanTechies the Podcast. This is a special episode dropping outside of our normal schedule. We wanted to share a general overview of the main areas of CleanTech. This is super high level, and just relying on my limited knowledge, but I hope it gives you a good understanding of what the space is about and what the primary areas are which will contribute to the successful reversal of climate change. Please do sign up for the upcoming newsletter mentioned in the show. You can do that here. https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup You can also join the slack channel here, https://join.slack.com/t/cleantechies/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ Hit me up on Twitter @silasmahner And if you're interested to learn more about our sponsor, NextWave Partners, you can do that by going to their website, https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ NextWave Partners are leaders in the global recruitment of Renewable Energy, Infrastructure, and Technology talent. So if you are looking to level up your career or to expand your team, reach out to NextWave today so one of their talented consultants can help understand your need and create a tailored solution to the problem. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E9 · Thu, May 20, 2021
Micro Metering, Cloud Carbon Copy, PropTech ROI, & More w/ Paul Mertes (CircuitMeter)
We have a great episode for you today with Paul Mertes, President, and CEO of CircuitMeter. CircuitMeter has revolutionized the building energy management system space with their meters that are able to report data within small windows offering a microscopic view of energy usage and which machinery is using that electricity. This tech, once installed stands to save the building owners hundreds of thousands of dollars on their electricity usage over the coming years - effectively paying for itself. Please checkout CircuitMeter's website to learn more about their technology. If you are a commercial building owner, the safe assumption is that you will save swaths of money by installing this tech. https://www.circuitmeter.com/ Connect with Paul on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mertes-47936820/ ____ And big thanks to our sponsors, NextWave Partners for making this show possible. NextWave is a global Renewable Energy, Infrastructure, Technology, and CleanTech specialist recruitment firm. NextWave takes on select clients with the intention of building a partnership that allows your company to attract and secure the best talent in the market. Reach out today to capture the NextWave of talent. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ ____ Please also let us know your thoughts on the podcast by tweeting @silasmahner Join the Slack Channel: https://join.slack.com/t/cleantechies/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ Follow us on Instagram: instagram.com/cleantechies/ Sign up for the newsletter: https://www.silasmahner.com/ctnewslettersignup (FYI: the first issue of the newsletter goes out on May 27th - don't want to miss being part of this journey with us) Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E8 · Thu, May 13, 2021
3D Printed Buildings, Near Zero Waste, w/ Sam Ruben (Mighty Buildings)
Another exciting episode of CleanTechies: The Podcast. This time with Sam Ruben, Chief Sustainability Officer at Mighty Buildings. Mighty Buildings (https://mightybuildings.com/) is 3D printing prefabricated houses that are made in a sustainable way with far less material, very low waste, recycled materials, and are highly efficient (also solar and battery ready). I hope you enjoy this episode with Sam! Check out the Mighty Buildings Website Connect with Sam on Linkedin Sign up for the upcoming CleanTechies Newsletter Join the Slack Community Let me know your feedback on Twitter : @SilasMahner Follow us on Instagram : @CleanTechies For advertisement, inquiries contact me through LinkedIn Sponsored and made possible by NextWave Partners : NextWave Partners is a specialist Headhunting firm supporting Renewable Energy, Infrastructure, Technology, and CleanTech globally. If you are in need of specific talent within these spaces and are prepared to have a recruitment service that understands your space and does more than just send you CVs, it's time to reach out to NextWave. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/contact/united-states info@next-wavepartners.com Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E7 · Thu, May 06, 2021
Automated, AI-Powered, Electric Tractors w/ Bakur Kvezereli (ZTractor)
In today's episode of CleanTechies, we have Bakur Kvezereli on to discuss his company ZTractor and what they are doing in the AgTech / SmartFarming space. ZTractor is an autonomous and fully electric tractor that has a lot of advantages to conventional farming such as data collection, inexpensive maintenance, lower ownership and operating costs, and most of all significantly lower carbon emissions. Let us know your thoughts about the show by tweeting Bakur and Myself @BakurKvezereli and @SilasMahner You can learn more about ZTractor here. Subscribe to CleanTechies, the Newsletter / Join the Slack Channel / Follow us on Instagram Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E6 · Thu, April 29, 2021
Green Concrete w/ Jennifer Wagner (CarbonCure Technologies)
We are super excited to bring you today's episode with Jennifer Wagner, President at CarbonCure Technologies. CarbonCure Technologies has developed a technology that infuses carbon into concrete to permanently mineralize it, taking it out of the atmosphere and actually making the concrete stronger. Let us know your thoughts about the show by tweeting CarbonCure and Myself @CarbonCure and @SilasMahner You can learn more about CarbonCure here . https://www.carboncure.com/ Subscribe to CleanTechies, the Newsletter / Join the Slack Channel / Follow us on Instagram Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E5 · Thu, April 22, 2021
Carbon Capture & Utilization w/ James Kahn (SkyBaron)
Hello and welcome back to the CleanTechies podcast. In this episode, I speak with a friend of mine that is largely responsible for introducing me to the CarbonTech space. James is the founder of SkyBaron, working with the University of Michigan's TechLab, an In-Residence Business working on CarbonTech initiatives. Connect with James on LinkedIn Check out the SkyBaron Website Join the CleanTechies Slack Channel to be involved further in the CleanTech Community Globally. Feel free to follow me on Twitter to ask any questions or suggest any future guests. Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E4 · Thu, April 08, 2021
Micro Grids and the Benefits of Them w/ Ryan Gavin (Schneider Electric)
Hey Everyone! Welcome back to the Pod In this episode, I had the opportunity to speak with Ryan Gavin who is currently working with Schneider Electric as a Micro Grid Business Development Rep across Canada and the US. We dove into the topic of MicroGrids from a high-level overview to discuss how MicroGrids can be used, the benefits, and some of the issues facing advancement in space. You can read a bit about Scheider's MicroGrid work here https://www.se.com/us/en/work/solutions/microgrids/ To inquire about being on the podcast ping me on Twitter @silasmahner - https://twitter.com/SilasMahner You can reach out to Ryan @Ry4Gav on Twitter Join the Slack Channel here - https://join.slack.com/t/cleantechies/shared_invite/zt-nz5g986t-aAK5gS4j~fS4p~~RnTQHQw Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E3 · Thu, March 25, 2021
Utilizing Carbon in Daily Products w/ Madison Savilow (Expedition Air)
Welcome back to CleanTechies, the Podcast! Today's conversation is with Madison Savilow, Chief of Staff at Carbon Upcycling, and Venture Lead for CUT's recently unveiled, Expedition Air, a Direct to Consumer line of products created from captured carbon and bi-products. You can learn about Expedition Air here https://expeditionair.today/ To inquire about being on the podcast ping me on Twitter @silasmahner - https://twitter.com/SilasMahner Join the Slack Channel here - https://join.slack.com/t/cleantechies/shared_invite/zt-nz5g986t-aAK5gS4j~fS4p~~RnTQHQw Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E2 · Thu, March 11, 2021
Reimagining Carbon as a Useful Product w/ Apoorv Sinha (Carbon Upcycling Technologies)
Welcome back to CleanTechies, the Podcast! Today we are coming to you with a conversation that I was so thrilled to have the opportunity to have and I'm very glad to share with you here. In today's episode, I spoke with Apoorv Sinha, founder and CEO of Carbon Upcycling Technologies (CUT for short), a carbon sequestration and product creation company based in Canada. CUT has taken a concept, proven it, and now started to implement its technologies at a scale that will greatly impact the future in a positive way. You can learn about CUT at https://carbonupcycling.com/ To inquire about being on the podcast ping me on Twitter @silasmahner - https://twitter.com/SilasMahner Join the Slack Channel here https://join.slack.com/t/cleantechies/shared_invite/zt-ld6g2l0i-cTVMcLz9naZcjc1Bh4zJ1A Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
S1 E1 · Tue, February 23, 2021
Electric Tractors w/ Steve Heckeroth (Solectrac)
Introducing CleanTechies, the Podcast. Premiering with a great conversation with Steve Heckeroth, founder of Solectrac and one of the very early movers on Battery Powered Tractors. You can check out Steve's website https://solectrac.com/ To inquire about being on the podcast ping me on Twitter @silasmahner - https://twitter.com/SilasMahner Join the Slack Channel here https://join.slack.com/t/cleantechies/shared_invite/zt-ld6g2l0i-cTVMcLz9naZcjc1Bh4zJ1A Support the show Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽 Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide . They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
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