Climate CEOs: Scaling Startups

Discover how Earthshot Ventures backs early-stage founders tackling climate change with lessons from 200+ startup investments, $1.1B in follow-on funding, & why non-dilutive capital + DEI lead to stronger founder outcomes.Earthshot is an early-stage venture capital firm backing entrepreneurs making a dent in climate change. Their team has collectively invested in 200+ startups over the last fourteen years. https://www.earthshot.vcMike is an investor, entrepreneur, board member, and advisor to companies in clean energy, food & agriculture, buildings, and mobility sectors. He is formerly an Investor in Residence at Elemental Excelerator and Developer in Residence at Generate Capital. https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-jackson-vc📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 75+ CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $20B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:Join over 20,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who get our three-minute read about changing the world through startups, finance, humor, and wisdom. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is the founder of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

Discover how Sunstone Credit CEO Joshua Goldberg is financing C&I solar at scale with $1B in loan applications, 400+ solar partners, & fintech experience from founding multiple clean energy ventures.⭐ My guest today is Joshua Goldberg, cofounder and CEO of Sunstone Credit.Sunstone Credit provides flexible financing solutions for commercial solar loans with activity in 30 states and 400+ solar partners.Joshua is also a former cofounder and executive at Sunlight Financial, Astrum Solar, and Legends of Learning.--🌐 LINKS:Sunstone Credit - https://www.sunstonecredit.com/Joshua - https://www.sunstonecredit.com---🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:Their $1B in loan applications. $21M in corporate capital raised. Why solar leases are stupid. How solar is sold at the kitchen table. Their activity in the $40k to $5M solar size range. The speed of their loan process averaging just 1-4 weeks.Please give Joshua and Sunstone Credit a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.---🙏 QUICK FAVOR:Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player. It means a lot, and I read every one.This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here. ---🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:2-minute newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠  Climate CEO peer group community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Tim Boeltken, Managing Director of INERATEC, discusses their $129M Series B funding to produce sustainable e-Fuel in aviation, shipping, and transport industries. Topics include their $14T market potential, BOO model, e-Fuel science, global expansion plans, team cohesion, and insights into German engineering.

SOSV’s Bill Liao shares lessons from managing $1B+ in climate & deep tech ventures, why he planted 100M trees before flying again, & his startup mantra: don’t die, don’t quit, don’t suck.⭐ My guest today is Bill Liao, General Partner at SOSV and Chairman at Ki Tua Fund.Bill is a rare kind of guy, in the best way. He’s a thoughtful and prolific investor, recognized as one of the Top 100 minority ethnic leaders in technology by the Financial Times, as well as the kind of person who refused to fly in an airplane until his nonprofit, WeForest, planted 100 million trees.SOSV is a venture capital firm that provides pre-seed, seed, venture, and growth stage funding to 1,000s of startups in the technology sector, with a focus on deep tech for human and planetary health.Ki Tua Fund is a growth-stage corporate VC firm focused on food and medicine.Hope you enjoy it!---🌐 LINKS:Bill:https://www.linkedin.com/in/billliao/?originalSubdomain=ieSOSV:https://sosv.com/Ki Tua Fund:https://www.kituafund.com/global/en.html---🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:What the Founder Pledge is, and why he signed it. Insights from two startups he cofounded with billion-dollar IPOs. Why good advice is based on expensive experiences that didn’t go as planned. How doubt is a powerful driver for the scientific method. The power of humility. A coaching session for me on purpose. The business benefits of neural diversity. Why a one-person cap table is a red flag. Philosophy books that shaped his thinking. And lots more!Please give Bill, SOSV, and Ki Tua Fund a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or Twitter by sharing this podcast with your people.---🙏 QUICK FAVOR:Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player. It means a lot, and I read every one.This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here. ---🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:2-minute newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com  Climate CEO peer group community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Discover how ZwitterCo is scaling the largest Series A in water tech with fouling-resistant membranes, industrial water efficiency, & solutions for the 75% of the world facing shortages.⭐ My guest today is Alex Rappaport, CEO and Cofounder of ZwitterCo.ZwitterCo is a VC-backed water tech company that uses zwitterionic chemistry (yes, that’s a real term) and extremely fouling-resistant membranes to reduce industrial water use, save energy, and reduce chemical inputs.Alex turned a startup bootcamp during his M.S. at Tufts University into an award-winning business and the largest Series A investment in water tech to date. Hope you enjoy it!Share this podcast with your people to give Duncan and Highland a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or Twitter.---🌐 LINKS:ZwitterCo:https://zwitterco.com/ Alex:https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-rappaport/ ---🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:How ⅔ of the world is projected to be experiencing water shortages by 2025. Why water costs are rising faster than we think. His near-death experiences with water. How their filters don’t clog even in very dirty industrial environments. Tips on telling your company store more effectively. The link between water security and climate resilience. And lots more!---🙏 QUICK FAVOR:Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player. It means a lot, and I read every one.This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here. ---🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:2-minute newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Climate CEO peer group community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/V6xcB⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/QCcl5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Duncan McIntyre, CEO of Highland, discusses raising $250M in private equity, converting CapEx to OpEx for customers, and reducing life cycle costs for city fleets. He shares the value of performance guarantees and the importance of expecting tough times. Additionally, he talks about his routine of organic farming in cold mornings and the benefits of sustainable food practices.

Discover how Stable boosts EV charging profits through AI-based siting, dynamic pricing, & Rohan Puri’s hard-won lessons from MIT, Harvard, & TechStars.⭐ My guest today is Rohan Puri, CEO of Stable.Stable maximizes EV charging station ROI with strategic placement and pricing solutions.Rohan brings experience from MIT, Harvard, and TechStars. Hope you enjoy it!And give Rohan and Stable a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or Twitter by sharing this podcast with your people.---🌐 LINKS:Stable – https://stable.auto/Rohan – https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohanspuri/---🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:How 70% of EV fast chargers are underperforming financially. Why static pricing at EV charging stations makes no sense. How 15% vs. 5% should inform ideal charging goals for chargers. Their AI tool for optimizing charger location for quicker paybacks to investors. Deliberately keeping their team small. Why you shouldn’t sell software to software companies. Relentless focus.And lots more!---🙏 QUICK FAVOR:Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player. It really means a lot, and I read every one.This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here. ---🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:2-minute newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Climate CEO peer group community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/V6xcB⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/QCcl5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Anza CEO Mike Hall shares how smarter solar & battery procurement boosts project profits, backed by 20+ years of leadership across Borrego & the U.S. solar industry.⭐ My guest today is Mike Hall, CEO of Anza Renewables.Anza is a solar module and battery storage procurement platform that helps developers and project owners see more options in less time to increase project profits and productivity.Mike is a long-time solar industry veteran with 20+ years of experience, including ex-CEO of Borrego and Board member of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Hope you enjoy it!And give Mike and Anza a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or Twitter by sharing this podcast with your people.---🌐 LINKS:Anza Renewables – https://www.anzarenewables.com/Mike Hall – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hall-b281615/---🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:What he’s learned as the solar sector has grown 500x since he got involved. How their platform is saving 100s of customers millions of dollars and moving gigawatts of product into high high-quality projects. Why economies of scale procurement contracts don’t always lead to cost savings. The path to founder happiness without reaching unicorn status. How ultimate frisbee and Buddhism keep him calm and centered as a leader.And lots more!---🙏 QUICK FAVOR:Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player. This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here. ---🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:2-minute newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Climate CEO peer group community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/V6xcB⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/QCcl5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Zordi CEO Gilwoo Lee shares how AI, robotics, & machine learning are transforming sustainable agriculture—backed by Khosla Ventures & powered by his PhD in AI.⭐ My guest today is Dr. Gilwoo Lee, Founder and CEO of Zordi.Zordi is a VC-backed agricultural platform blending Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and machine learning to reshape and enhance sustainable greenhouse farming.Gilwoo is a PhD in AI with experience at Facebook, Dreamworks, and Michigan Venture Capital.Hope you enjoy it!And give Gilwoo and Zordi a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or Twitter by sharing this podcast with your people.---🌐 LINKS:Zordi – https://www.zordi.com/Gilwoo Lee – https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilwoo-lee-581a13199/---🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:Why Kholsa Ventures invested in them. Mainstreaming climate tech solutions by selling on non-climate consumer benefits. Their expansion plans into new crops, business models, and geographies. The role of computer vision and machine learning. How her robots measure pests, plant health, and growth rates to optimize yields. Why she gets up at 5 am. Which billionaires inspire her to be more focused and ambitious.And lots more!---🙏 QUICK FAVOR:Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player. This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here. ---🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:2-minute newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Climate CEO peer group community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/V6xcB⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/QCcl5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Aeroseal CEO Amit Gupta explains how patented sealing tech boosts heating & cooling efficiency, backed by $100M in investment and 40 years of lab testing.⭐ My guest today is Amit Gupta, CEO of Aeroseal.Aeroseal is a cleantech company – with $100M of investor capital raised to date – focused on increasing building efficiency by reducing HVAC losses in the duct system and leaks in the building envelope using patented technologies.Amit is a mechanical engineer with experience at Tata Motors, Carrier, and 75F, as well as CEO of Aeroseal since its founding in 2010.---🌐 LINKS:Aeroseal – https://aeroseal.comAmit Gupta – https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-gupta-36abb0/---🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:40% of global greenhouse gas emissions tied to buildings. 50% of those emissions linked to HVAC use. Their “fix a flat” tagline for leaking buildings. Why their solution is as “safe as bubble gum.” The 40 years of lab testing for their technology and incubation at Carrier. Their changing business model from just selling machines to leasing and software. Why they raised capital after ten years of high-margin operations. His desire to be more courageous, to lead like his “hair was on fire.” The role of meditation in his growth. The need to manage energy better than we manage time.And lots more!---🙏 QUICK FAVOR:Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player. This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here. ---🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:2-minute newsletter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Climate CEO peer group community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/V6xcB⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://t.ly/QCcl5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃