Inevitable

This week's guest is Joel Jean, Co-Founder & CEO of Swift Solar.Before joining Swift, Joel served as Executive Director of the Tata-MIT GridEdge Solar research program, which focuses on scale-up of new solar photovoltaic technologies for India and other developing countries. He developed ultra-lightweight, flexible solar cells that the 2017 Katerva Award recognized, and he was named a Forbes 30 Under 30 Fellow in Energy.Swift Solar is designing and manufacturing lightweight solar panels and cheaper, more efficient systems than existing products. The company is working on a new kind of technology called Perovskites. Perovskite uses a crystal structure that allows you to tune the material. Swift Solar is tuning Perovskite panels to absorb different parts of the solar spectrum. The team stacks two Perovskites on top of each other; the top panel absorbs blue and high-energy light, while the bottom panel absorbs red and near-infrared light. Swift Solar's goal is to optimize different parts of the solar spectrum to make a more efficient solar cell. The company was founded in 2017 by leading perovskite scientists from Stanford, MIT, Cambridge, Oxford, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.In this episode, Joel explains how the Perovskite technology works and where it fits in the renewable energy and solar landscapes. We deep dive into Swift Solar's incorporation, the research behind the technology, and the company's progress to date. Joel also touches on funding in the solar energy space, why LPs are hesitant to invest in it, and how the sector has evolved since the early 2000s. Joel is a great guest with a wealth of knowledge on solar and Perovskite technology. This is a fantastic episode for those looking to double click on new solar technologies.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 12th, 2021To learn more about Swift Solar, visit: https://www.swiftsolar.com/To learn more about this episode, visit our website: https://myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/swift-solar Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This Week's guest is Josephine Cheung, Director of Research & Development at GCP Applied Technologies.GCP Applied Technologies is a leading global provider of construction products technologies that include concrete and cement additives, building materials and technologies that ensure quality and enhance business productivity. In 2016, GCP Applied Technologies spun off from W. R. Grace.With a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT, Josephine spent her entire career working on cement and concrete additives. She has taken on many roles from Research Engineer to Principal Scientist to Director of Research and Development. A prolific innovator, Josephine has pioneered numerous groundbreaking sustainable product solutions for the cement and concrete industry. She is a holder of more than 20 patent families and has been a category creator in her field. She has helped cement manufacturers around the world realize a significant reduction in CO2 emissions.I was looking forward to this episode as GCP Applied Technologies has not been a company focused on climate change in the past. Josephine and I walk through the corporate decisions to focus on climate, the motivations behind it, and what they are working on to decarbonize the cement market. Josephine also explains why cement and concrete are significant sources of carbon emissions. We dive into the challenges faced when decarbonizing cement, the most innovative solutions to date, and how cement fits into the broader clean transition. Josephine is a great guest, and it's encouraging to see larger companies focusing on climate.Enjoy the show! You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 16th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/josephine-cheungTo learn more about GCP Technologies: https://gcpat.com/en Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Today's guest is Andy Towne, Founding Partner & CEO of Hobbs & Towne Inc.Founded in 1997, Hobbs & Towne Inc. is an executive search and advisory service firm. Partnering with venture capital, private equity, and family office investors, as well as global companies, HTI manages retained executive searches for high-level business leaders and C-suite positions. The firm's advisory services include restructuring, interim management, and mergers, acquisitions and proprietary deal flow. HTI works across sustainability and climate technologies, primarily in energy, mobility, food, agriculture, and water. Over the last 20 years, they've placed over 2,500 leaders in more than 600 companies globally.With two decades of experience, Andy is a climate career veteran. He has witnessed the many iterations of cleantech over the years and is a fantastic guest. Andy explains what Hobbs & Towne Inc. does and how the recruiting firm has developed since its inception. He walks me through the similarities, differences, and evolution of the cleantech sector over his illustrious career. We also dive into advice Andy has for those looking to make a career transition. Whether you are a veteran reorienting your career towards climate or a newcomer finding your place in this massive industry, you won't want to miss this episode.Enjoy the show! You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 16th, 2021Advice Andy has for those looking to make a career transition:Educate yourself on the topic you are interested in pursuing in climateMeet as many people as you can, go to conferences (virtual), and develop an opinion on a sector or subjectGet on Twitter and follow climate leaders Want to get in touch with Andy? Reach out to him on twitter @HobbsTowne or via email atowne@hobbstowne.com Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This week's guest is Scott Stringer, New York City Comptroller, the chief financial officer and chief auditor of the city agencies and their performance and spending.Scott has served in elected positions since the early '90s. He was elected to the New York State Assembly and represented Manhattan's West Side for 13 years. After working in the State Assembly, he became the Manhattan Borough President. He was elected Comptroller of New York City in 2013 and has served in that role ever since. Scott and his team manage the city's $240 billion public pension system. The Comptroller's office recently announced they would be divesting $4 billion from fossil fuel companies to promote clean energy use.In the episode, Scott explains his role as Comptroller, the recent announcement to divest $4B from fossil fuels, and how that decision came about. We also talk more broadly about the theory of change behind fossil fuel divestment, the path to a green economy, and the role public policy and government play in bringing about a clean energy future.Great conversation, I hope you enjoy it!  You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 5th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/scott-stringerTo learn more about The New York City Comptroller: https://comptroller.nyc.gov/NYC pension funds vote to divest $4 billion from fossil fuels: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-new-york-fossil-fuels-pensions/nyc-pension-funds-vote-to-divest-4-billion-from-fossil-fuels-idUSKBN29U23Q Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Today's guests are Josh Santos, Co-Founder & CEO, and Daniel Cavero, Co-Founder & CTO, of Noya.Josh and Daniel met a few years ago when they were roommates in San Francisco. In 2020, they founded Noya together. Noya captures CO2 from the atmosphere and resells it for half the cost of current options. The company works to retrofit existing industrial equipment to enable carbon capture and resale. When Josh and Daniel broke down the cost of direct air capture systems, they realized a large portion of the cost hinges on one component. Noya is working to reduce this component's cost, allowing for a scalable process that can have a massive impact. Noya aims to capture seven gigatons of carbon emissions with a removal cost that is half the current market price through its proprietary technology.Josh and Daniel are fantastic guests with a great vision. They walk me through how they met, what motivated them to start Noya, and the company's future. Josh and Daniel touch on Noya's timeline and approach for go-to-market, key milestones, and funding to date. We also discuss the problem Noya is tackling, the barriers holding the company back, and direct air capture as a climate solution more broadly. Whether you're interested in DAC or an aspiring climate tech founder looking for inspiration, this episode is a must-listen.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded March 3rd, 2021MCJ Investment in Noya: https://myclimatejourney.substack.com/p/our-investment-in-noyaTo learn more about Noya, visit their website: https://noyalabs.com/Noya is hiring a Chemical Engineer! Reach out to them here: https://noyalabs.com/founding-chemical-engineer Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This week's guest is Alicia Barton, CEO of FirstLight Power.FirstLight Power is a renewables and storage company that integrates and delivers clean power to New England homes and businesses. It operates the Northfield Mountain energy storage facility and other hydroelectric, solar, and energy assets in Massachusetts and Connecticut. I was excited about this discussion because Alicia has been on my wishlist for quite some time. Alicia walks me through how cleantech has evolved over her career, her role at FirstLight Power, and how hydrogen fits into the renewable landscape. We also dive into climate policy on the federal and state levels, barriers to adopting a clean and reliable grid, and the future of renewables. Alicia is an excellent guest, especially for those interested in how policy and innovation can work together to bring about a clean energy transition.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 26th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/alicia-bartonTo learn more about FirstLight Power: https://www.firstlightpower.com/ Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Today's guest is Fiona Spruill, Chief Product Officer at Overstory.Overstory's mission is to monitor all of Earth's natural resources in real-time to reverse climate change. Its first project helps utilities track forest and vegetation growth to reduce the risk of wildfires and power outages by applying machine learning to satellite imagery. We are proud to be an Overstory investor!Prior to Overstory, Fiona was most recently COO at Meetup, and spent 14 years in journalism, in roles of increasing responsibility at The New York Times. In 2019, Fiona decided to transition into working on climate. Like so many, she found the transition to be a difficult one (because it is!), but she navigated it brilliantly, and landed in a terrific spot.This episode is meant for anyone else who is thinking about doing the same! It covers Fiona’s reasons for wanting to transition into working in climate tech, how she went about the process, lessons learned, and advice for others looking to head down a similar path.Enjoy the show! You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 24th, 2021Advice Fiona has for those looking to make a career transition:Narrow your focus as quickly as you can and being willing to pivotClimate is everything; therefore, no one is unqualified to work in climateTalk to as many people as you canLearning collectively through various projects such as Project Drawdown, On Deck Fellowships, Terra.do courses, and the MCJ podcast and membership If you are interested in connecting with Fiona, reach out to her via Twitter or LinkedIn.Overstory is hiring for a Front-End Engineer, Data Scientist, Data Engineer, and Marketing roles. Please check out their website: https://www.overstory.ai/ Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This week's guest is Kate Gordon, Senior Policy Advisor on Climate to  Governor Gavin Newsom & Director of the Office of Planning and Research for California.The California Governor's Office of Planning and Research serves the Governor and Cabinet for long-range planning across three significant buckets: land use and planning, climate risk and resilience, and sustainable economic development. As Senior Policy Advisor on Climate, Kate focuses on California's climate initiatives across policy, leadership, and budget.I was looking forward to this episode as policy plays a crucial role in a clean energy transition. Kate's knowledge and experience led to a lively discussion about the role of state government, public sector climate initiatives, and federal policies. She explains why California is unique and key ways the state is taking action to accelerate the transition. Kate also talks about her climate journey, what motivated her to work in climate, and her role in the Governor's office.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 9th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/kate-gordonTo learn more about the Governor's Office of Planning and Research: https://opr.ca.gov/Please note, Kate misspoke when she mentioned the Climate Cabinet Fund; she meant to say the Climate Catalyst Fund. For more information about the Climate Catalyst fund and the Governor's plan: https://calmatters.org/environment/2020/01/california-budget-billion-dollar-climate-innovation-loan-fund/ Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

This episode was previously for members only. In an effort to make important content more widely available, the audio for this episode is now available for everyone.Co-founder Peter Reinhardt walks me through a company overview and an in-depth explanation of bio-oil. He also talks about how a tech entrepreneur like him (or anyone else) that is motivated by climate change) can find a way to make a dent.Enjoy the show!Recorded July 28nd, 2020 and published for Members August 27th, 2020To learn more about Charm Industrial, visit their website: https://charmindustrial.com/If you are a member and would like to watch the pitch presentation, visit our website: https://www.myclimatejourney.co/ctss-episodes/charm-industrialOur climate tech fund, MCJ Collective, recently invested in Charm Industrial! Check out the press release here. Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

Today's guest is Sarah Saltzer, Managing Director of the Stanford Center for Carbon Storage.The Stanford Center for Carbon Storage focuses on applied and fundamental research to address critical questions around carbon storage in geological formations. The team also works on technological and economic analysis, public policy research, and carbon storage projects around the world.Sarah walks me through her time at Chevron, her current position at Stanford, and what motivated her to focus on carbon storage. Sarah's wealth of knowledge and experience leads to a lively discussion about how carbon capture and storage works, where oil and gas companies fit into the climate fight, and the future of the industry. This episode is awesome for those interested in the carbon storage landscape.Enjoy the show!You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at info@myclimatejourney.co, where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.Episode recorded February 10th, 2021To learn more about this episode, visit: https://myclimatejourney.co/episodes/sarah-saltzerTo learn more about The Stanford Center for Carbon Storage: https://sccs.stanford.edu/ Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at info@mcj.vc.Connect with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant