#218 Building THE Global Climate Collaboration Community & Lessons From The 00's Tech Boom | Duncan Logan (9Zero) CleanTechies podcast

58:07

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 | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn This podcast is NOT investment or legal 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#241 The Biz Model Making eFuels Pencil Out | Joe Rodden (Lydian) 37:54

for 8 dage siden37:54

37:54

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!)…

CleanTechies

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#240 Bulldozing in a New Era of Climate Tech Investing & Tech-Enabled Investing | Andrew Chan from Atas VC 39:18

for 15 dage siden39:18

39:18

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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#239 Climate Risk, a New Era for Climate Tech | Grace & Adam from Equal Ventures 33:34

for 22 dage siden33:34

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📺 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. 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#238 ClimateTech is Mainstream, so is The Vibe Shift | Tommy Leep (Jetstream) 37:01

for 29 dage siden37:01

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📺 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#237 Using Robotics to Transform Recycling & Building Data Moats with Hardware w/ Rebecca Hu Thrams (Glacier) 29:37

for 5 weeks siden29:37

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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 | 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#236 Critical Minerals: A Master Class on How to Win w/ Nicholaus Rohleder 42:33

for 6 weeks siden42:33

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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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#235 This $100 BILLION Industry Is Hiding in Plain Sight! Big Oil's Bet on Carbon Capture 57:38

for 8 weeks siden57:38

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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 **6:55 Decarbonization Trends and Industry Perspectives **10:01 Carbon Capture Technologies and Their Applications **12:54 Regulatory Frameworks and Project Development **15:55 Community Engagement and Project Success Factors **19:41 Momentum in Carbon Capture and Community Engagement **22:57 Technological Bottlenecks and Adoption Rates **27:25 Talent Pool and Industry Transition **32:03 Regulat 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#234 The Future of Cleaner Data Centers & Lessons from 20+ Years at Meta, LinkedIn, & Cisco w/ Yuval Bachar (EdgeCloudLink) 39:09

for 9 weeks siden39:09

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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 (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)…

CleanTechies

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#233 The Climate Disruptors You Haven’t Heard of (Yet)—Inside Energy Tech Nexus w/ Nada & Jason 58:42

for 10 weeks siden58:42

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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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#232 The Carbon Capture Startup Google Bet Big On—And Why It’s a Cheaper | Anca Timofte (Holocene) 33:50

for 11 weeks siden33:50

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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 ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** Recommended Book: Horizon by Barry Lopez – A lyrical exploration of travel, nature, and climate. 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#231 How to Cut Costs AND Eliminate Emissions in Homes [BY 90%+] w/ Jane Melia (Harvest Thermal) 27:05

for 12 weeks siden27:05

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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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#230 This Founder Built a $5M Climate Tech Startup in Africa (Here’s How!) w/ Martin Freimuller (Octavia Carbon) 30:39

for 13 weeks siden30:39

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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 support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)…

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#229 How to Make Money on Pilot Projects w/ Martin Schichtel (KRAFTBLOCK) 34:49

for 14 weeks siden34:49

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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 ** Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn ** William Kamkwamba (the CleanTech OG that Martin would love to have dinner with) 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#228 How to Invest in ClimateTech in 2025 like a Day 1 Investor w/ Joshua Posamentier (Congruent Ventures) 30:24

for 14 weeks siden30:24

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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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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ClimateTech Wrapped 2024 37:34

for 16 weeks siden37:34

37:34

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!)…

CleanTechies

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#226 What Working With Governments to Tackle Climate Change Looks Like w/ Julia Kumari Drapkin (ISeeChange) 30:35

for 17 weeks siden30:35

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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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#225 Solving Sulfur Waste while Capturing Carbon & Producing Sulfuric Acid & Hydrogen w/ Owen Cadwalader (Travertine) 37:14

for 18 weeks siden37:14

37:14

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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#224 How to Scale up Anode Manufacturing in the US w/ Gleb Yushin (Sila Nanotechnologies) 41:27

for 19 weeks siden41:27

41:27

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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#223 Everything You Need to Know About ClimateTech Politics (DoE, DoD, GovTech, Partnerships, & More) w/ Nate Loewentheil (Commonweal Ventures) 34:55

for 20 weeks siden34:55

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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. 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#222 Exposing the O&G Carbon Capture Lie & How Skytree is Doing it Right w/ Rob van Straten, CEO) 41:09

for 21 weeks siden41:09

41:09

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. 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#221 Blended Finance is Going to Save ClimateTech (& Why We Need More of It) w/ Amy Duffuor (Azolla Ventures) 30:13

for 21 weeks siden30:13

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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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#220 How This Top Investor Believes ClimateTech Startups Can Still Exit 31:19

for 22 weeks siden31:19

31:19

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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#219 How to Win in ClimateTech Under Trump 42:27

for 23 weeks siden42:27

42:27

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 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!)…

CleanTechies

1
#218 Building THE Global Climate Collaboration Community & Lessons from the 00's Tech Boom | Duncan Logan (9Zero) 49:07

for 24 weeks siden49:07

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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 covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)…

CleanTechies

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#217 How BrainBox AI has Mastered the Use of AI in Building Decarbonization | Jean-Simon Venne (BrainBox AI) 33:16

for 24 weeks siden33:16

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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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#216 This is How Nuclear Fusion Becomes a Reality w/ Brian Berzin (Thea Energy) 31:59

for 25 weeks siden31:59

31:59

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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#215 Decarbonizing Mining, Microbes x Metals, National Security x Climate, & the Microbe Mafia | Liz Dennett (Endolith) 44:22

for 25 weeks siden44:22

44:22

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 ** 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#214 THIS is What People ACTUALLY Think about NY ClimateWeek 27:51

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27:51

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!)…

CleanTechies

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#213 UK's New Climate Focus, Data Science in VC, Investing in DeepTech, & More w/ Arjun Jairaj (noa) 31:51

for 26 weeks siden31:51

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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!)…

CleanTechies

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#212 Building Decarbonization at Scale, US Relationships with China, Heat Pump Revolution, & More w/ Panama Bartholomy (Building Decarbonization Coalition) 32:50

for 27 weeks siden32:50

32:50

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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#211 FOAK Everything, the LARGEST Offtake Agreement Directory, Capital Types, Commercialization Talent, & More w/ Yair Reem (Extantia) 55:52

for 28 weeks siden55:52

55:52

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!)…

CleanTechies

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#210 Our NYCW 2024 Hot Takes 🔥 24:15

for 28 weeks siden24:15

24:15

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!)…

CleanTechies

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CleanTechies Event Alert 🚨- First Live Pod & NYCW Soccer Meetup 1:57

for 29 weeks siden1:57

1:57

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!)…

CleanTechies

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🚨Special EP 209: Get the Most out of NY Climate Week 34:50

for 30 weeks siden34:50

34:50

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!)…

CleanTechies

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#208 China's Graphite Monopoly, Battery Industry In Trump Admin, Silicon vs Graphite, Price vs Range, & More | Jonathan Tan (Coreshell) 34:16

for 30 weeks siden34:16

34:16

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!)…

CleanTechies

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#207 Innovative Business Models, Europe's Regulatory Environment, EV Challanges, Freight Electrification & More w/ Till Stenzel (SET Ventures) 34:26

for 31 weeks siden34:26

34:26

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 | 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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#206 Political Uncertainty, Industrial Heat Decarb, Onshoring Production, Geopolitical Tensions & More w/ Peter Sopher (Clean Energy Ventures) 30:29

for 31 weeks siden30:29

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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 & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#205 Finding a Co-Founder, DeepTech, Venture Studio Model, Policy x Climate | Benjamin Tincq (Marble) 32:48

for 32 weeks siden32:48

32:48

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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#204 The New Biodiversity Investing, Climate Philanthropy, Nature Tech, & More w/ Karl Burkart (One Earth) 29:52

for 33 weeks siden29:52

29:52

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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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🚨Special Ep #203: Solving Battery Swapping: Ample’s 11 Plays 7:02

for 34 weeks siden7:02

7:02

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!)…

CleanTechies

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#202 Battery Swapping, Scaling Globally, 4x Founder, Universal Battery Modules, & More w/ John de Souza (Ample Inc) 30:44

for 34 weeks siden30:44

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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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#201 State-Funded VC, Triple Bottom Line, SAFs & Hydrocarbons, Job Creation & More w/ Drew D'Alelio (Connecticut Innovations) 20:51

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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 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!)…

CleanTechies

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#200 Biofuels, Nature as a Blueprint, Bio-Mining, the Next Frontier, Waste to Fuel, & More w/ Moji Karimi (Cemvita) 20:11

for 35 weeks siden20:11

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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 them CleanTechies sent you!)…

CleanTechies

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#199 Gentle Disruption, Robotics in Construction, Global VC Strategy, Built Environment Trends, & More w/ Vivin Hegde (Zacua Ventures) 48:30

for 35 weeks siden48:30