Conversations in Cleantech

Marieke Beeuwkes Spence, Executive Director at Impact Capital Managers, leads a network mobilizing over $80 billion toward impactful climate and social solutions. She shares her journey from philanthropy to impact investing, emphasizing the importance of private capital in driving meaningful change. The conversation dives into emerging technologies like AI in energy and biodiversity, resilience in investing, and the crucial role of diversity in talent development. Marieke's insights offer a hopeful perspective on aligning strong financial returns with impactful values.

In this engaging conversation, Mona Dajani, Global Co-Chair at Baker Botts, blends her engineering, culinary, and legal expertise to navigate the complex world of clean energy finance. She tackles the rising energy demands driven by AI and hyperscalers, critiques the myth of energy abundance, and discusses the crucial need for policy certainty in climate deals. Mona also shares her insights on innovative financing models and the importance of trust and transparency in leadership within the industry.

Heidi Lindvall, co-founder of Pale Blue Dot and former documentary filmmaker, discusses her shift from storytelling to shaping climate VC. She emphasizes founder-first investing, prioritizing passion and purpose over perfect pitches. Heidi critiques conventional aid systems, advocating for entrepreneurship as a means of lasting impact. The conversation highlights the importance of narrative in funding, the need for hands-on support for founders, and her commitment to fostering a climate resilient future through innovative technologies.

Welcome to Season Nine of Conversations in Cleantech!   This season, we’re going behind the scenes of transition infrastructure - speaking with the investors shaping how, where and why climate capital flows. From decarbonisation and energy security to technology maturity and policy gaps, we’re unpacking what it really takes to fund the systems that underpin a net-zero future.   In this episode, Jenny Gladman and Hetty Lowther are joined by Bielenis Villanueva Triana - venture builder, energy professional, and founding member of Norway’s Women’s Investment Network (WIN).   From petroleum engineer to cleantech founder to investor, Bielenis’s journey is anything but conventional. She shares what it takes to commercialise deep tech in the Nordics, how policy and incentives shape real-world outcomes, and why we need more long-term thinking, from founders and investors alike.   Together, they explore the realities of building and funding climate solutions in a risk-averse market, the urgent need for scalable infrastructure, and the importance of putting capital in the hands of more diverse decision-makers.   This is a conversation about entrepreneurship, ecosystem-building, and the power of intentionally rewriting the rules of who gets to lead in cleantech.   01:40 - Introduction to Bielenis 02:05 - Can you briefly share more about yourself and your background? 02:57 - Can you share how you got started and what led you to focus on infrastructure and the energy transition? 03:55 - What does a typical day at Kjeller look like for you? 05:00 - What was the spark that made you decide to join? 06:05 - What do you think is going particularly well for the Nordic region, and what do you think is still catching up with other regions? 09:38 - How can founders balance the short-term need to survive the “missing middle” with long-term thinking about their company’s global impact? 12:45 - How well are the Nordics bridging the gap with technologies beyond EVs in the energy transition? 14:35 - How does the mindset of regional investors around transition infrastructure differ from that of investors more broadly? 16:40 - What inspired you to go into an entrepreneurial startup? 19:40 - What were some of the key challenges in turning an idea into a revenue-generating business? 21:05 - Can you tell us more about the Women’s Investment Network - its history, challenges, and why it’s so important to the sector? 24:37 - What else needs to happen to get more women into the investor space and move toward better gender balance? 28:30 - What advice would you share based on the lessons you’ve learned along the way? 30:50 - What area of innovation excites you the most right now? 32:44 - If you had a magic wand to shift one thing to speed up the energy transition, what would it be?   📌 Note: Since the recording of this episode, the Women’s Investment Network (WIN Ventures) has grown to 50 members - a reflection of the growing momentum behind inclusive investment in cleantech. Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Hetty Lowther, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Bielenis Villanueva Triana, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Nine of Conversations in Cleantech! This season, we’re going behind the scenes of transition infrastructure - speaking with the investors shaping how, where and why climate capital flows. From decarbonisation and energy security to technology maturity and policy gaps, we’re unpacking what it really takes to fund the systems that underpin a net-zero future.   In this inaugural episode, our hosts Jenny Gladman and Chloe England are joined by David Giordano, former Global Head of Climate Infrastructure at BlackRock, and one of the most experienced voices in climate infrastructure.   David’s career spans the early days of demand-side management to leading BlackRock’s climate infrastructure platform, scaling it from 19 to over 70 professionals and raising more than $12 billion across six funds. His story tracks the evolution of clean energy investing and the realities of deploying capital at scale in a rapidly changing world.   In this conversation, David shares his views on today’s market headwinds, why policy consistency matters, and how demand-side technologies and data are reshaping the investment landscape. He opens up about the ‘missing middle’ in climate finance, the blurring lines between energy, transport and digital infrastructure, and what truly buildable and bankable projects look like in 2025 and beyond.   This is a conversation about scale, integrity, and the kind of capital partnerships that will define the next decade of climate progress - and a fitting start to our biggest season yet. 02:00 - Introduction to David 02:46 - Can you please introduce yourself and share a bit more about your story to date? 07:05 - What were your guiding principles when designing the strategy for BlackRock, and how did they evolve? 10:10 - What’s your take on the current renewable landscape, and how are investors navigating recent challenges? 12:30 - What are the structural gaps in the market, and what kind of investors or vehicles do we need to fill them? 14:35 - Are you seeing new types of investments emerging across energy, transport, and digital infrastructure? And how do you assess risk when assets don’t fit into traditional categories? 16:25 - How key are public-private partnerships to scaling transition infrastructure? 20:10 - Where do you think the capital should be going today to maximise the impact that we can have for the planet? 24:05 - How do we reframe the policy conversation to support real infrastructure progress? 26:40 - What makes a great capital partner in the transition space, and what red flags should operators watch for when choosing investors? 30:00 - If you were to start all over again today, what would you focus on learning and doing differently? 33:45 - How did your childhood shape your journey and passion for the work you do today? 38:00 - What legacy do you hope to leave in climate and investment, and what would make you proud of your career? Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Chloe England, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, David Giordano, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Eight of Conversations in Cleantech!   From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to conversations on overcoming obstacles and fostering innovation, you can expect to learn from the trailblazers who are navigating the complexities of change to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.   In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech, our host Olivia Morgan speaks with Brian Sheng, Co-founder and CEO of Aquaria - the startup turning air into water and rethinking what infrastructure can be.   Founded at the height of the pandemic, Aquaria’s story doesn’t follow the usual cleantech playbook. Back when most investors barely registered water as a climate issue, Brian and his co-founder, who also happens to be his brother, were building a hardware solution no one believed was possible, let alone scalable. Fast forward to today, and Aquaria is supplying water to 1,000 homes in the U.S., launching projects across the GCC, and proving that the future of water doesn’t have to come from the ground.   In this conversation, Brian shares what it took to get here: the challenges of building hardware in a remote world, the misalignment between capital and need, and why personal commitment can’t be outsourced. He also talks about what early-career professionals should look for when breaking into the sector - and why execution matters just as much as mission.   From personal tragedy to global impact, this is a story about clarity, resilience, and redefining what’s possible when you stick to the vision, even when the market doesn’t get it yet.   00:53 - Introduction to Brian 01:43 - Can you please tell us a bit about yourself and your story? 02:45 - Can you share the story behind founding Aquaria and how it represents driving change in the industry? 04:33 - Can you tell us more about Aquaria’s journey since its founding in 2021 and what your role has looked like along the way? 06:20 - What have been the most rewarding experiences since starting the company? 08:10 - How did you overcome the challenges, especially founding during COVID, and adapt to reach where you are today? 10:18 - What lessons would you share with those looking to shape a career in clean tech? 12:27 - What key changes and trends have you seen in the market over the past few months and years? 14:45 - How are you navigating market changes while continuing to meet the growing need for Aquaria’s work? 17:25 - How did you prove yourself to investors and the wider market, and navigate that challenge? 19:40 - What advice would you give to people or companies, especially non-traditional decarbonisation ones, navigating today’s challenging market? 24:30 - What’s one clean tech token of advice you’d offer for success in the field?   Connect with your host, Olivia Morgan, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Brian Sheng, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Eight of Conversations in Cleantech!   From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to conversations on overcoming obstacles and fostering innovation, you can expect to learn from the trailblazers who are navigating the complexities of change to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.   In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech, hosts Jenny Gladman and Hetty Lowther are joined by Alice Vallienne, Head of Commercial Management for Power-to-X at Topsoe, where innovation meets commercial scale in the race to decarbonise global industry.   Alice didn’t start her career in engineering - she began in politics and economics. But her drive to make a real-world impact led her to energy, where complexity meets purpose. Now, she’s helping steer Topsoe’s Power-to-X journey: scaling Solid-Oxide-Electrolysis (SOEC) technology and building a new business inside one of the most respected industrial companies in Europe. We explore what it’s really like to lead a startup within a corporate environment, complete with all the challenges (and superpowers) that come with balancing speed, structure, and scale. From navigating early-stage risk to building trust with customers, Alice shares how adaptability, cross-functional collaboration, and diverse teams unlock clarity in the chaos.   This is a conversation about purpose-led leadership, navigating change in uncertain markets, and why innovation thrives at the intersection of strategy, people, and pragmatism.   Tune in to hear how Power-to-X is evolving, how Topsoe is bridging the gap between lab and market, and why thriving in cleantech starts with knowing what gives you energy.   01:04 - Introduction to Alice 02:10 - Alice, can you give our listeners a quick 101 - who are you and what do you do? 05:01 - What drew you to cleantech, and how did you choose it as your career path? 06:13 - How do you manage to keep building in a commercial role when the market, technology, and policies are all evolving so rapidly? 09:24 - How does your approach to commercial management in Power-to-X differ from that in a larger, more established company? 11:50 - What’s it like operating as a startup backed by a larger company, and what are the main pros and challenges? 16:55 - With your experience in DEI, how does that, combined with the startup-in-a-corporate culture, contribute to strength and resilience? 20:32 - How do you manage collaboration across technical, policy, and commercial teams to build trust? 25:10 - From both a personal and company perspective, how can we best navigate the current changes in the industry? 29:30 - Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of the Power-to-X space? 31:35 - What advice would you give to anyone considering a move into clean tech?   Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Hetty Lowther, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Alice Vallienne, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Eight of Conversations in Cleantech!   From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to conversations on overcoming obstacles and fostering innovation, you can expect to learn from the trailblazers who are navigating the complexities of change to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.   In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech, our host Olivia Morgan sits down with Henrik Lundgren, CTO at Capture Energy, to unpack what it really means to innovate in one of the fastest-moving corners of the clean energy landscape.   What happens when your market shifts overnight, your competition undercuts your margins, and you’re building a company from the ground up - all at once?   Henrik knows the answer well. With a PhD in lithium-ion batteries and a background spanning corporate R&D and startup chaos, he’s been on both sides of the cleantech spectrum. Now at Capture Energy, he’s navigating volatile pricing, growing competition, and the challenge of scaling smart - all while building systems, teams, and products from scratch.   From technical deep dives to tactical advice, Henrik shares his take on finding balance between quality and speed, structure and agility, ambition and resilience. He also reflects on what early-career professionals really need to grow in this space, and why asking for help is anything but a weakness.   If you’re wondering how to thrive in an industry defined by constant evolution, this episode offers a refreshingly grounded perspective on navigating change with clarity, curiosity, and a whole lot of drive.   01:00 - Introduction to Henrik 01:50 - Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your story? 03:30 - Can you share more about your professional growth following your PhD? 06:10 - Can you tell us more about Capture Energy and your journey since joining the mission? 07:35 - How have you found being part of a startup as the first employee after the founders? 08:18 - What have been your most rewarding experiences within the industry?10:00 - On the flip side, what have been some of the biggest challenges you've faced along your journey? 11:30 - What lessons from your journey would you share with someone just starting or shaping their career in clean tech? 13:20 - What trends and changes have you observed in the clean tech market over the past few months and years? 15:10 - What changes do you foresee in the future of the clean tech market? 16:14 - How will Capture Energy navigate upcoming changes in the clean tech market? 17:00 - What advice would you give to those navigating the ever-changing battery tech and energy storage market? 19:00 - To close, what advice would you offer to someone early in their clean tech career or looking to break into the industry? Connect with your host, Olivia Morgan, on LinkedIn. Find your guest, Henrik Lundgren, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Eight of Conversations in Cleantech!   From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to conversations on overcoming obstacles and fostering innovation, you can expect to learn from the trailblazers who are navigating the complexities of change to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.   In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech, our hosts Jenny Gladman and Jo Clarke are joined by Elizabeth Gilligan, CEO, and Hayley Moller, Director of Marketing at Material Evolution - the trailblazing company reinventing cement for a low-carbon world.   Cement is one of the most carbon-intensive materials on Earth, responsible for around 8% of global emissions. But what if we could reimagine how it’s made entirely?   That’s exactly what Material Evolution is doing. Founded by Liz in her parents’ garage during the pandemic, the company is now scaling ultra-low carbon cement technology that cuts emissions by an incredible 85% compared to traditional methods. Joining forces with Hayley - a marketing and climate strategy powerhouse - the team is driven by an audacious vision: to remove a gigaton of carbon from the industry by 2040.   In this episode, we explore what it takes to scale green cement from scientific breakthrough to full-scale production - and the realities of building hardware in a hard-to-abate, change-resistant sector. From navigating the supply chain chaos of building their first-of-a-kind facility to the critical role of storytelling in driving industry adoption, Liz and Hayley share a raw and insightful account of entrepreneurship, impact, and purpose.   We also dive into the importance of women in climate tech and construction, the power of curiosity, and why legacy matters – whether you're founding a startup, welding silos (yes, really), or rethinking how we build the world around us.   01:22 - Introduction to Liz and Hayley 08:20 - Liz, can you explain what green cement is for those new to the concept? 10:56 - Taking it back to the beginning, how did the Material Evolution journey start in your parents' garage? 14:20 - Hayley, what drew you to join Material Evolution and its mission? 17:30 - What key challenges and learnings have you faced in your scaling journey? 23:55 - What’s next for Material Evolution? 26:27 - What role does storytelling play in changing mindsets and driving change, and how do you use it across the business to shift understanding in the sector? 30:00 - How do you identify each customer's personal driver, especially when you can't compete on cost alone? 32:40 - As women in both tech and construction - two traditionally male-dominated fields - what are you doing or seeing that might inspire other women to enter these spaces? 34:31 - Who has inspired each of you throughout your career, especially in making the leap from academia to industry?   Connect with your hosts, Jenny Gladman and Josephine Clarke, on LinkedIn. Find your guests, Elizabeth Gilligan and Hayley Moller, on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Eight of Conversations in Cleantech!   From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to conversations on overcoming obstacles and fostering innovation, you can expect to learn from the trailblazers who are navigating the complexities of change to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.   In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech, our host Chloe England is joined by Jason Peart, General Manager of Strategy and Development at Sage Geosystems, to explore how next-gen geothermal is stepping into the spotlight.   With a background in oil and gas, Jason brings a systems-thinking mindset to Sage Geosystems’ mission: unlocking the Earth’s heat and pressure to power the clean energy future. At the heart of their approach is pressure geothermal - a breakthrough that combines heat and mechanical energy for power generation, heating, and long-duration storage.   From navigating regulatory landscapes in Texas to developing supercritical CO₂ turbines that double efficiency, Sage is scaling fast - pairing deep industry expertise with breakthrough engineering to unlock the next frontier of geothermal. Jason also shares why oil and gas talent is crucial to scaling geothermal, what it takes to earn investor confidence, and how Sage Geosystems is blending commercial focus with bold innovation. He reflects on the importance of curiosity, the power of systems thinking, and why stepping off the "linear" career path can lead to the most meaningful work. Tune in for a high-impact conversation on why geothermal could be the breakthrough technology the clean energy transition has been waiting for. 00:59 - Introduction to Jason 01:49 - Can you share your journey and what led you into the energy sector and ultimately to Sage Geosystems? 03:40 - Why are we starting to hear more about geothermal now, despite it being around for a long time? 06:00 - Can you share what Sage Geosystems does, your technology, and how you're entering the market? 08:20 - Can you tell me more about what you're doing in the subsurface space? 10:00 - How do you plan to make this scalable and cost-effective going forward? 12:50 - What makes Texas a prime location for geothermal innovation, especially for your initial projects? 14:50 - How does geothermal fit into the broader clean energy mix, particularly in the U.S.? 18:20 - How far off are we from having the technology to drill deeper in more challenging areas? 19:05 - What are the key tailwinds driving commercial demand in geothermal right now, and what headwinds is the industry facing? 23:20 - How does your team at Sage leverage its oil and gas expertise to drive advancements in geothermal? 25:39 - For those looking to enter the geothermal space, what’s one skill or mindset that would set them up for success? 27:09 - What’s next for Sage, and do you see geothermal becoming a mainstream energy source in the next 10 years? Where do you see Sage and the industry by then? 29:00 - What advice would you give your younger self when starting out in the energy sector? Connect with your host Chloe England on LinkedIn. Find your guest Jason Peart on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production.