CleanTechies Podcast

Why did the skyscraper feel lonely? It couldn't find anyone on its level!🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, Investor edition.Today, we are talking to Rahul Parekh of 2150.Rahul broke down the nitty-gritty of how 2150 built (no pun intended) a leading ClimateTech VC fund focused on decarbonizing the built environment. We talked investing, fund modeling, learning from general VC, FinTech in ClimateTech, & more. This was a VC-fundamental extraordinaire, and super informative for anyone looking to learn more about venture capital. AND let’s not forget, Rahul spent his holiday with us to do this. Cheers to him. Enjoy 🥳👏.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel🚨Attention! 🚨 We interrupt your regular programming for an important message.ClimateTech founders are taking on a huge challenge. Building a climate startup is highly complex but also SO NECESSARY if we are going to save the climate. Founders not only you need to understand how to build a startup, but you also need to understand how to deal with hardware, have a strong handle on climate policy, know how to fundraise from diverse investors types, etc. etc. etc…It’s a lot.That’s why we make CleanTechies. The #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs.In addition to our jobs, we devote ~20 hours a week to producing this podcast for you. This way, you can learn from others who have walked the path you’re on now, learn from their mistakes, and gain insights on navigating this complex world.If this mission resonates with you, we ask for your financial support of this project. It takes a lot of effort, and it’s not free. Your willingness to contribute on a monthly or yearly basis helps us keep this going.If you’re already a subscriber and want to contribute financially, click “Upgrade to Paid” at the top right of your screen.If not, follow the steps once you click “Subscribe Now” below to help us out. Thanks for helping us help all the climate entrepreneurs like you. 🙏 🌎The Guest: Rahul Parekh* Rahul is a former investment banker and derivatives trader from Goldman Sachs (GS)* After GS, he spent a year as Managing Partner of the venture firm, Rocket Internet SE* He then spent 4 years building and then exiting his FoodTech company called EatFirst* Now, at 2150, he invests in ClimateTech companies decarbonizing the urban environment, specializing in climate fintechThe Company: 2150One Liner: global VC fund investing in sustainable urban tech to decarbonize and enhance city resilienceThey back tech entrepreneurs with “Constructive Capital”, so they can reimagine and reshape the Urban Stack, for good.They support companies that leverage structural shifts, kill inefficiencies, remove pain points and enhance environmental upside and create billions in commercial value and lower gigatons of emissions.2150 is a part of Urban Partners, a platform of vision-aligned, differentiated, investment strategies shaped around urban problem solving.Do you have suggestions on future guests or topics? Leave a comment!Unable to support financially but still want to help? Share this post w/ 3 ClimateTech entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs). Sharing is super helpful to us, and it costs you nothing.📝 Show Notes:Topics* 03:025 Introduction* 05:01 Home Decarbonization* 08:19 Government Incentives and Policies* 24:37 The Breakdown of Investments in 2150* 33:29 Intentional Modeling and Entry Prices* 42:05 Finance x Climate* 45:20 The Urban Stack and City Resilience* 47:29 Adding Value Beyond CapitalLinks* Rahul Parekh | 2150* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋👉 Listeners Survey* We would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.👉 Fundraising for Founders* If founders are looking for funding in the ClimateTech space, reach out & schedule a chat here!👉 Early-Stage Founders Hiring* Silas just started his own recruitment consultancy tailor-made for early-stage ClimateTech startups. He does this by offering heavily discounted headhunting services for companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A companies. If you need a hand finding the best talent on the market, and you don’t want to sell your kidney to pay for it, let’s chat. (booking here)👉 Meet Top Founders* Interested in getting in front of hundreds of ClimateTech VCs and Founders each month, reach out to info@cleantechiespod.com to learn more about becoming a sponsor.If you couldn’t already tell, we care a lot about ClimateTech founders 😂🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see y’all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

Why don't CDR experts ever get lost?Because they always know how to sequester! (which apparently means to find one’s way AND capturing and storing carbon) 🤯🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, Founder edition.Today, we are talking to Marian Krueger of remove. Marian Krueger comes to us with his experience investing in 120+ early stage CDR startups, and broke down what we should look for and what’s worth watching in the years ahead.He’s a leading expert in CDR having invested in Europe, which is the leading CDR ecosystem in the world. Sitting down with him as a blast, and for our US listeners, this episode is VERY timely with the Biden Administration’s first release on voluntary carbon markets, Enjoy 🥳👏.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel🚨Attention! 🚨 We interrupt your regular programming for an important message.ClimateTech founders are taking on a huge challenge. Building a climate startup is highly complex but also SO NECESSARY if we are going to save the climate. Founders not only you need to understand how to build a startup, but you also need to understand how to deal with hardware, have a strong handle on climate policy, know how to fundraise from diverse investors types, etc. etc. etc…It’s a lot.That’s why we make CleanTechies. The #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs.In addition to our jobs, we devote ~20 hours a week to producing this podcast for you. This way, you can learn from others who have walked the path you’re on now, learn from their mistakes, and gain insights on navigating this complex world.If this mission resonates with you, we ask for your financial support of this project. It takes a lot of effort, and it’s not free. Your willingness to contribute on a monthly or yearly basis helps us keep this going.If you’re already a subscriber and want to contribute financially, click “Upgrade to Paid” at the top right of your screen.If not, follow the steps once you click “Subscribe Now” below to help us out. Thanks for helping us help all the climate entrepreneurs like you. 🙏 🌎The Guest: Marian Krueger* Marian Krueger is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of remove, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting carbon removal entrepreneurs in Europe and beyond. * Based in Zurich, Marian has a rich background in climate and energy sectors. His journey began as a founder of a startup in the solar PV space, which used drones and AI to optimize large solar parks across Europe. * After his startup was acquired, he joined ETH Zurich's Sustainability and Business Lab, where he led decarbonization projects for hard-to-abate sectors like maritime shipping and cement. * This role inspired the creation of remove to address the (still) nascent carbon removal market by supporting startups and fostering an ecosystem for their growth. The Company: removeOne Liner: accelerating CDR startups with ecosystem-building initiatives, policy & grants, and founder supportremove is a nonprofit accelerator co-founded and led by Marian Krüger, based in Zurich. The organization focuses on supporting CDR entrepreneurs in Europe and beyond. remove operates by providing grants instead of taking equity, allowing startups to extend their runway and focus on survival in the nascent carbon removal market. The organization emphasizes a systemic approach, identifying and addressing gaps in the carbon removal industry, and supports a diverse range of carbon removal methods, from technological solutions like direct air capture to nature-based methods like afforestation. remove also plays a crucial role in shaping policy and advocating for early-stage financing and regulatory support, ensuring the sector's growth and sustainability.Do you have suggestions on future guests or topics? Leave a comment!Unable to support financially but still want to help? Share this post w/ 3 ClimateTech entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs). Sharing is super helpful to us, and it costs you nothing.📝 Show Notes:Topics* 02:41 Introduction* 05:08 Challenges of the Voluntary Carbon Market* 16:30 CDR Startups* 17:53 Impact-Driven Motivation of CDR Founders* 26:32 Gaps in the CDR Space* 32:27 Role of Policy in Carbon Removal* 39:03 Prioritization, Universities, and A-Teams* 42:10 Collaboration and Partnerships* 42:51 TakeawaysLinks* Marian Krueger | remove* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋👉 Listeners Survey* We would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.👉 Fundraising for Founders* If founders are looking for funding in the ClimateTech space, reach out & schedule a chat here!👉 Early-Stage Founders Hiring* Silas just started his own recruitment consultancy tailor-made for early-stage ClimateTech startups. He does this by offering heavily discounted headhunting services for companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A companies. If you need a hand finding the best talent on the market, and you don’t want to sell your kidney to pay for it, let’s chat. (booking here)👉 Meet Top Founders* Interested in getting in front of hundreds of ClimateTech VCs and Founders each month, reach out to info@cleantechiespod.com to learn more about becoming a sponsor.If you couldn’t already tell, we care a lot about ClimateTech founders 😂🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see y’all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, Founder edition.We tried to devise a better joke, but Hot Rocks was the best cold open we could come up with.Today, we are talking to Arvin Ganesan of Fourth PowerYou may have heard of Fourth Power before but have you heard Arvin’s story of going from the EPA, to Apple, to Fourth Power, and what he thinks are the keys to their success? I don’t think so. There is a great episode with Volts that covers Fourth Power’s technology in depth. If you have not heard it, I’d highly recommend it (if you like science, that is).In today’s conversation, we had a chance to unpack…* How their thermal battery works (high level) * How insanely efficient their tech is * How they maintain the company culture as they grow * Why their model is desirable to utilities * His mentors and the importance of mentorship broadly 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel🚨Attention! 🚨 We interrupt your regular programming for an important message.ClimateTech founders are taking on a huge challenge. Building a climate startup is highly complex but also SO NECESSARY if we are going to save the climate. Founders not only you need to understand how to build a startup, but you also need to understand how to deal with hardware, have a strong handle on climate policy, know how to fundraise from diverse investors types, etc. etc. etc…It’s a lot.That’s why we make CleanTechies. The #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs.In addition to our jobs, we devote ~20 hours a week to producing this podcast for you. This way, you can learn from others who have walked the path you’re on now, learn from their mistakes, and gain insights on navigating this complex world.If this mission resonates with you, we ask for your financial support of this project. It takes a lot of effort, and it’s not free. Your willingness to contribute on a monthly or yearly basis helps us keep this going.If you’re already a subscriber and want to contribute financially, click “Upgrade to Paid” at the top right of your screen.If not, follow the steps once you click “Subscribe Now” below to help us out. Thanks for helping us help all the climate entrepreneurs like you. 🙏 🌎The Guest: Arvin Ganesan* After graduating from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, Arvin spent a few years at Calvert Research before pursuing his master's at George Washington University. * He’d then land in the EPA during the Obama administration, where they worked on groundbreaking projects, including efforts to cap carbon emissions. It was during this time he really got to know the landscape of of policy and where he was mentored by Lisa Jackson. * Eventually, he’d end up following Lisa to Apple, where he led global energy procurement policy for them (among other things). * This combination of finance, policy, and corporate sustainability initiatives prepared him well for the role he’d eventually be offered with Fourth Power. * When approached, he was initially skeptical about making such a drastic change, but after seeing what the technology could do and learning that Founder Asegun Henry was a family man, he was ready to make the leap. * Today, he’s the CEO of Fourth Power. The Company: Fourth PowerOne Liner: Making Renewables + Storage Energy cheaper than gas power.Founded by Dr. Asegun Henry through his work at MIT, Fourth Power is now making total dependence on renewable energy a reality, without it raising energy prices. They are piloting their bench-scale technology that allows them to store energy generated by renewables, until needed later…much later. They don’t do this with batteries but rather with Thermal Energy…aka Hot Rocks. Electricity heats a special metal until it’s so hot that the heat transfers (following the laws of thermo-dynamics) to the rocks. When they need the energy they can distribute the enery at a moment’s notice (which BTW, is faster than the current conventional solution of gas peeker plants). The best part of all this is, their model fits perfectly with the way utilities make money. Being regulated, a utility can only make money on the CapEx spend and not the OpEx. For thos unfamiliar, Capital Expenditure is the money used to build the plant, and Operating Expenditure is the cost of operating. Utilities make a fixed amount above their CapEx. So, for them, all the margin is in the build out of hardware / energy generation. A gas plant has decently high CapEx, but it also has a lot of operating expense—making it an undesireable product for the utilities to invest in. Fourth Power’s systems are high CapEx, but have ultra-low OpEx. It’s a perfect fit. In the coming years, with the proliferation of Fourth Power’s technology, we will see massive transformation of the grid to renewables. It’s no wonder funds like Bill Gates’ backed Breakthrough Energy Ventures have invested in their $19m Series A funding round. Do you have suggestions on future guests or topics? Leave a comment!Unable to support financially but still want to help? Share this post w/ 3 ClimateTech entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs). Sharing is super helpful to us, and it costs you nothing.📝 Show Notes:Topics* 2:37 Why Cheap and Accessible Energy Storage Matters* 17:30 Fourth Power's Utility-Scale Thermal Battery* 21:58 Fast and Efficient Energy Storage and Discharge* 27:10 Building Fourth Power* 32:04 The Power of People* 37:24 Maintaining Culture with Growth* 42:21 Opportunities in the Utility Market* 47:04 Startup Opportunities in Agriculture Decarbonization* 49:01 The Importance of Mentorship* 52:19 TakeawaysLinks* Arvin Ganesan | Fourth Power* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋👉 Listeners Survey* We would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.👉 Fundraising for Founders* If founders are looking for funding in the ClimateTech space, reach out & schedule a chat here!👉 Early-Stage Founders Hiring* Silas just started his own recruitment consultancy tailor-made for early-stage ClimateTech startups. He does this by offering heavily discounted headhunting services for companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A companies. If you need a hand finding the best talent on the market, and you don’t want to sell your kidney to pay for it, let’s chat. (booking here)👉 Meet Top Founders* Interested in getting in front of hundreds of ClimateTech VCs and Founders each month, reach out to info@cleantechiespod.com to learn more about becoming a sponsor.If you couldn’t already tell, we care a lot about ClimateTech founders 😂🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see y’all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, investor edition.Today, we are talking to Michael Kearney from Engine Ventures.Michael Kearney started off this podcast defending the political durability of the IRA…and he had us convinced. If that doesn’t have you hooked, I don’t know what will! Building for deeptech founders is HARD…like folding a fitted sheet hard.And that’s why we need someone like Mike to do it. Mike himself did his undergrad and Ph.D. at MIT, so he’s knows the MIT innovation ecosystem like the back of his hand (The Engine is an MIT spin-out). In between, he spent his time drawing power from the Sun…well not literally…he worked on grid-scale renewable energy at Ambri in corporate development. Now, he’s focused solely on supporting “Tough Tech” founders (side note, that’s definitely a favorite term of this podcast now). Mike clearly loves doing really easy things…right?Some core topics discussed today include…* How the IRA is creating critical market opportunities, making it politically durable* The three things that matter for deeptech startups — space, equipment, and community support* Why Fluid labor markets are crucial for scaling tough tech companies* Why techno-economic modeling is leading to breakthroughs in commercializing climate tech* What will happen now that demand for clean energy has surpassed supplyAnd more… 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel🚨Attention! 🚨 We interrupt your regular programming for an important message.ClimateTech founders are taking on a huge challenge. Building a climate startup is highly complex but also SO NECESSARY if we are going to save the climate. Founders not only you need to understand how to build a startup, but you also need to understand how to deal with hardware, have a strong handle on climate policy, know how to fundraise from diverse investors types, etc. etc. etc…It’s a lot.That’s why we make CleanTechies. The #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs.In addition to our jobs, we devote ~20 hours a week to producing this podcast for you. This way, you can learn from others who have walked the path you’re on now, learn from their mistakes, and gain insights on navigating this complex world.If this mission resonates with you, we ask for your financial support of this project. It takes a lot of effort, and it’s not free. Your willingness to contribute on a monthly or yearly basis helps us keep this going.If you’re already a subscriber and want to contribute financially, click “Upgrade to Paid” at the top right of your screen.If not, follow the steps once you click “Subscribe” below to help us out. Thanks for helping us help all the climate entrepreneurs like you. 🙏 🌎The Guest: Michael KearneyMichael Kearney is the General Partner at Engine Ventures. Before Engine Ventures, Mike was at The Engine, which is the overall ecosystem and accelerator, focused on commercializing deeptech. Mike completed his Ph.D. at MIT’s Sloan School of Management before joining The Engine ecosystem. Before that, he spent 4 years at Amber, working on grid-scale solar technology in CleanTech 1.0. Mike started his career completing his Bachelors from MIT in Technology and Policy. The Investor: Engine VenturesOne Liner: Investing in the next generation of Tough Tech founders — providing capital, operational expertise, and a powerful academic, commercial, and governmental network to build and scale companiesThey invest in Tough Tech founders, helping bridge the gap from discovery to commercialization. The companies we invest in have a clearly articulated scientific or engineering solution to a global problem. They convene the investment, government, academic, regulatory, and corporate communities to help accelerate the progress of those working to grow and build Tough Tech companies. Industry and government have a chance to learn from Engine Venture’s portfolio companies and collaborate on how to augment or build upon existing solutions. Together, their network helps remove obstacles and clear a path to commercialization and success for our portfolio.Do you have suggestions on future guests or topics? Leave a comment!Unable to support financially but still want to help? Share this post w/ 3 ClimateTech entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs). Sharing is super helpful to us, and it costs you nothing.📝 Show Notes:Topics* 02:29 Introduction* 03:50 Political Durability of the IRA* 07:46 Supporting Tough Tech Startups* 16:06 Scaling from Early-Stage Innovation to Large-Scale Deployment* 26:30 Building in the Field* 28:35 The Investment Model of Engine Ventures* 30:41 Commercializing Technology * 36:46 The Changing Nature of Competition in Clean Energy * 45:20 Room for Innovation* 51:36 TakeawaysLinks* Engine Ventures | Michael Kearney* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋👉 Listeners Survey* We would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.👉 Fundraising for Founders* If founders are looking for funding in the ClimateTech space, reach out & schedule a chat here!👉 Early-Stage Founders Hiring* Silas just started his own recruitment consultancy tailor-made for early-stage ClimateTech startups. He does this by offering heavily discounted headhunting services for companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A companies. If you need a hand finding the best talent on the market, and you don’t want to sell your kidney to pay for it, let’s chat. (booking here)👉 Meet Top Founders* Interested in getting in front of hundreds of ClimateTech VCs and Founders each month, reach out to info@cleantechiespod.com to learn more about becoming a sponsor.If you couldn’t already tell, we care a lot about ClimateTech founders 😂🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see y’all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, founder edition.What do GHG Accounting platforms and NYC Rats have in common? There are substantially more of them than any of us would like. — Despite this sentiment, today’s guest is the founder of a GHG accounting co. that is truly built different—as GenZ would say. Let’s get into it 👇Today, we are talking to Saleh ElHattab, Founder & CEO of Gravity.Yeah I know, we’ve all had a lot of inbound from GHG Accounting firms trying to help us with our sustainability reporting. It gets old. But why? The only reason it gets old is—Zero Differentiation. Frankly, the same cannot be said of today’s guest (otherwise we wouldn’t have had them on)!There are a few core lessons in what they have done to stand out in a space as crowded as an NYC house party. * How to align all stakeholders in the sales process * Building a product so simple the user can be upskilled without specialized training * Building a culture of pragmatism* Speaking Return-on-Investment📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel🚨Attention! 🚨 We interrupt your regular programming for an important message.ClimateTech founders are taking on a huge challenge. Building a climate startup is highly complex but also SO NECESSARY if we are going to save the climate. Founders not only you need to understand how to build a startup, but you also need to understand how to deal with hardware, have a strong handle on climate policy, know how to fundraise from diverse investors types, etc. etc. etc…It’s a lot.That’s why we make CleanTechies. The #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs.In addition to our jobs, we devote ~20 hours a week to producing this podcast for you. This way, you can learn from others who have walked the path you’re on now, learn from their mistakes, and gain insights on navigating this complex world.If this mission resonates with you, we ask for your financial support of this project. It takes a lot of effort, and it’s not free. Your willingness to contribute on a monthly or yearly basis helps us keep this going.If you’re already a subscriber and want to contribute financially, click “Upgrade to Paid” at the top right of your screen.If not, follow the steps once you click “Subscribe Now” below to help us out. Thanks for helping us help all the climate entrepreneurs like you. 🙏 🌎The Guest: Saleh ElHattab* Raised in Indiana, it’s fitting that Saleh ended up building a company supporting the industrial sector. * What was a bit different than most of his peers was his fascination for the intersection of the digital and physical. * This is what led him to end up working in the IoT space with Samsara, where he led product for their industrial sector. If you’re unfamiliar with Samsara, they entered a crowded space and IPO’d in 6 years by wiping the floor with the competition. * After a short time in VC to figure out his next company step, he settled on carbon accounting for the underserved industrial sector. * And wow—it’s going well. Props to Saleh; they have been highly efficient with their capital (we all love a founder with foresight and restraint) The Company: GravityOne Liner: Helping Industrial Manufacturing companies understand thier carbon emissions to reduce them while also identifying cost saving opportunites so big even your mom is surprised. Started at a time when, frankly, there were already a good number of carbon accounting platforms, Gravity was set for an uphill battle. Through extreme rigor and testing of PMF, they quickly through out many buyer personas — all the while having a focus on helping manufacturing companies not only report their emissions but also use the data collected to find big areas for OpEx reduction. In addition, they made the platform so anyone can use it. That’s right you don’t have to be an Environmental Scientist just to understand how it works. Oh you thought two things were enough? They didn’t. On top of all this, they built a marketplace that goes along with their software. This helps their client’s procurement teams get better deals on products and services that will drastically help them improve their operating costs.Today they are scaling after having found a strong match between product and client persona. (They are hiring…drop us a message and we can link you up) Do you have suggestions on future guests or topics? Leave a comment!Unable to support financially but still want to help? Share this post w/ 3 ClimateTech entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs). Sharing is super helpful to us, and it costs you nothing.📝 Show Notes:Topics* 02:27 Introduction and Background* 03:05 Problem Statement and Solution* 05:39 Global Emissions from Industry* 11:44 Ideation and Idea Validation* 13:37 Company Status and Growth* 14:56 Challenges and Milestones* 16:38 Testing and Pivoting* 18:16 Differentiation and Competitive Advantage* 22:53 Market Positioning and Challenges* 25:38 Culture Building and Talent (Pragmatism)* 30:38 Principles and Habits for Success* 32:38 Future Plans and Opportunities* 37:00 Entrepreneurial Ideas in the Climate Space* 37:48 Closing Remarks and Call to Action* 38:41 TakeawaysLinks* Saleh ElHattab | Gravity* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋👉 Listeners Survey* We would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.👉 Fundraising for Founders* If founders are looking for funding in the ClimateTech space, reach out & schedule a chat here!👉 Early-Stage Founders Hiring* Silas just started his own recruitment consultancy tailor-made for early-stage ClimateTech startups. He does this by offering heavily discounted headhunting services for companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A companies. If you need a hand finding the best talent on the market, and you don’t want to sell your kidney to pay for it, let’s chat. (booking here)👉 Meet Top Founders* Interested in getting in front of hundreds of ClimateTech VCs and Founders each month, reach out to info@cleantechiespod.com to learn more about becoming a sponsor.If you couldn’t already tell, we care a lot about ClimateTech founders 😂🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see y’all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, investor edition.Today, we are talking to Tom Ferguson from Burnt Island Ventures.What do you get when you put Chris Rock, Timothée Chalamet, Greta Thunberg, & Marc Andreessen together? You get Tom Ferguson! The King of Water VC!Tom is by far the funniest guest we have ever had, so maybe you’re not even into Water Tech; no worries, you can skip that comedy show you were going to attend and listen to this pod. As you’ll see, Tom is a fascinating textbook example of compounding your network. His focus on the water space allowed him to build Burnt Island Ventures, which is now THE leading global VC focused on Water. Some core topics discussed today include…* How staying focused on water compounded his network and allowed him to build BIV* The missing piece of the IRA: Investment Into Water * How long sales-cycles are okay as long as you plan for them because they have a large payoff AND create a time moat * Team building * Big opportunities to build in water: Water Testing * And how their network compounds daily to increase their own unfair advantage And more… 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel🚨Attention! 🚨 We interrupt your regular programming for an important message.ClimateTech founders are taking on a huge challenge. Building a climate startup is highly complex but also SO NECESSARY if we are going to save the climate. Founders not only you need to understand how to build a startup, but you also need to understand how to deal with hardware, have a strong handle on climate policy, know how to fundraise from diverse investors types, etc. etc. etc…It’s a lot.That’s why we make CleanTechies. The #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs.In addition to our jobs, we devote ~20 hours a week to producing this podcast for you. This way, you can learn from others who have walked the path you’re on now, learn from their mistakes, and gain insights on navigating this complex world.If this mission resonates with you, we ask for your financial support of this project. It takes a lot of effort, and it’s not free. Your willingness to contribute on a monthly or yearly basis helps us keep this going.If you’re already a subscriber and want to contribute financially, click “Upgrade to Paid” at the top right of your screen.If not, follow the steps once you click “Subscribe” below to help us out. Thanks for helping us help all the climate entrepreneurs like you. 🙏 🌎The Guest: Tom FergusonToday, Tom is a Founding Partner of Burnt Island Ventures - the Leading Water VC Globally.His career is a great example of how a focused network compounds since he’s spent ALL of it in water. After graduating into the Financial Crisis, he took his first role in environmental consulting with ERM. There, he did a lot of work with water-related projects. He eventually decided to do a masters at Harvard and then landed at Imagine H20—the leading water accelerator globally. Having compounded a network of people innovating and funding project in the water space, allowed him to start Burnt Island Ventures in 2020. All of these things together have caused the gravitational pull he and the team has to compound—they are known. Being known leads to more people reaching out. A reputation is formed, and their moat increases. The Company: Burnt Island VenturesOne Liner: Funding the best water entrepreneurs in the world.After an entire career spent in supporting WaterTech founders, the team founded BIV with the intention of helping these founders. Their portfolio companies are called Islanders, of which they have 18. Some incredible names you’ve probably heard like ZwitterCo, FloodBase, Aclarity, daupler, and SewerAI. (Check out the full list 👉 meet The Islanders) Because they have built a name for themselves, they are the place to turn for any Water Entrepreneur. The network compounds by supporting each other constantly. In other words, if you’re a Water Entrepreneur, they are the one you want a check from! Do you have suggestions on future guests or topics? Leave a comment!Unable to support financially but still want to help? Share this post w/ 3 ClimateTech entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs). Sharing is super helpful to us, and it costs you nothing.📝 Show Notes:Topics* 05:00 Introduction* 08:10 Why Sustainability* 10:34 Time with Imagine H2O* 16:13 Other Considerations for BIV* 19:27 Story behind the Name BIV* 20:55 MBA and Business School* 27:22 Focus on Building Team* 31:32 Pricing in Velocity of Sales Process* 38:35 Compounding Network as a VC’s Moat* 47:24 Biggest Problems in Water* 56:17 Companies that BIV work with* 1:00:42 Startup Opportunity; Water Testing Market* 1:04:19 TakeawaysLinks* Burnt Island Ventures | Tom Ferguson* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋👉 Listeners Survey* We would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.👉 Fundraising for Founders* If founders are looking for funding in the ClimateTech space, reach out & schedule a chat here!👉 Early-Stage Founders Hiring* Silas just started his own recruitment consultancy tailor-made for early-stage ClimateTech startups. He does this by offering heavily discounted headhunting services for companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A companies. If you need a hand finding the best talent on the market, and you don’t want to sell your kidney to pay for it, let’s chat. (booking here)👉 Meet Top Founders* Interested in getting in front of hundreds of ClimateTech VCs and Founders each month, reach out to info@cleantechiespod.com to learn more about becoming a sponsor.If you couldn’t already tell, we care a lot about ClimateTech founders 😂🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see y’all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, founder edition.Today, we are talking to Allison Wolff from Vibrant Planet.I say wildfire prevention; you say FAANG technology…🤔 It sounds a bit silly, but that’s what Allison Wolff is doing at Vibrant Plant. When it comes to preventing wildfires, there is a LOT of land to manage. Through Vibrant Planet’s tech they are able to help prioritize which areas to focus restoration and monitoring on. This tech is what helps different groups apply for conservation finance (money from Uncle Sam to protect the wilderness).The story behind Vibrant Planet is super fascinating because Allison has worked with so many big names. Are you sitting down? * Google, Meta, Netflix, eBay, Project Drawdown… and a few others When you’ve got this experience, you naturally have (a) an enormous book of contacts + (b) a unique perspective on tech. This is a huge reason why they are crushing it at Vibrant Planet. As you can imagine with someone like Allison as a guest, we could talk about many things — here is what we discussed.* What she learned from her time at Netflix algorithm * What’s broken with wildfire prevention* Convincing Silicon Valley to become greener * The decision behind becoming Public Benefit Corp.* Working with an open-data nonprofit And more… 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel🚨Attention! 🚨 We interrupt your regular programming for an important message.ClimateTech founders are taking on a huge challenge. Building a climate startup is highly complex but also SO NECESSARY if we are going to save the climate. Founders not only you need to understand how to build a startup, but you also need to understand how to deal with hardware, have a strong handle on climate policy, know how to fundraise from diverse investors types, etc. etc. etc…It’s a lot.That’s why we make CleanTechies. The #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs.In addition to our jobs, we devote ~20 hours a week to producing this podcast for you. This way, you can learn from others who have walked the path you’re on now, learn from their mistakes, and gain insights on navigating this complex world.If this mission resonates with you, we ask for your financial support of this project. It takes a lot of effort, and it’s not free. Your willingness to contribute on a monthly or yearly basis helps us keep this going.If you’re already a subscriber and want to contribute financially, click “Upgrade to Paid” at the top right of your screen.If not, follow the steps once you click “Subscribe” below to help us out. Thanks for helping us help all the climate entrepreneurs like you. 🙏 🌎The Guest: Allison Wolff* Allison Wolff is the CEO of Vibrant Planet.* Allison worked in Silicon Valley for 20 years on corporate strategy, product strategy, customer experience design, and marketing. * After overseeing the development of the Netflix brand and digital experience as their Director of Marketing, she advised corporate and nonprofit leadership teams on vision, strategy, and social and environmental innovation. Some of her clients included Drawdown, Google, eBay, Facebook, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Omidyar Network, Patagonia, Nike, HP, Conservation International, and GlobalGiving. (What a resume!) * With a passion for the role forests and soil can play in carbon drawdown, she fully focused on developing technology solutions that restore damaged ecosystems and, ultimately, build community and wildland resilience.The Company: Vibrant PlanetOne Liner: The common operating picture for achieving wildfire and climate resilienceThe Vibrant Planet cloud-based platform unlocks real-time, collaborative scenario planning at any scale. Built to support agile, informed, and urgent responses to current and future wildfire and climate threats. State-of-the-art wildfire hazard and risk modeling combines with Vibrant Planet’s decision support for strategically mitigating wildfire risk while enhancing ecological function to create enduring resilience.The VP Data Commons makes Vibrant Planet’s novel data products publicly available for scientific pursuits and develops informative data experiences that generate public demand for resilience building.Do you have suggestions on future guests or topics? Leave a comment!Unable to support financially but still want to help? Share this post w/ 3 ClimateTech entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs). Sharing is super helpful to us, and it costs you nothing.📝 Show Notes:Topics* 02:52 "Common operating picture" for land management.* 04:17 Parallel between Netflix's recommendation system and land management* 06:51 Cloud-based technologies in ClimateTech* 12:25 Challenges in modern forest management* 24:46 Geospatial data* 36:17 Energy consumption concerns of AI/cloud technologies* 44:19  Future challenges* 48:35 TakeawaysLinks* Vibrant Planet | Allison Wolff* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋👉 Listeners Survey* We would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.👉 Fundraising for Founders* If founders are looking for funding in the ClimateTech space, reach out & schedule a chat here!👉 Early-Stage Founders Hiring* Silas just started his own recruitment consultancy tailor-made for early-stage ClimateTech startups. He does this by offering heavily discounted headhunting services for companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A companies. If you need a hand finding the best talent on the market, and you don’t want to sell your kidney to pay for it, let’s chat. (booking here)👉 Meet Top Founders* Interested in getting in front of hundreds of ClimateTech VCs and Founders each month, reach out to info@cleantechiespod.com to learn more about becoming a sponsor.If you couldn’t already tell, we care a lot about ClimateTech founders 😂🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see y’all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, with Shaun Abrahamson of Third Sphere.Today, we’ve got a banger for you. Our guest is Shaun Abrahamson, Managing Partner from Third Sphere. If you recognize the name, it might be because he has appeared on the show before (Episode 136). There is a reason we had to do a pt II with Shaun — and no, it’s not just because of his good looks or how cool he is. Shaun is like a deep well of knowledge, especially when it comes to the shifting landscape of ClimateTech investing. In episode 136, he broke down how to finance your climate hardware products and the different parts of the climate capital stack . It’s an amazing episode, and we highly recommend checking it out, especially if you’re building ClimateTech hardware. (That episode was also one of our top episodes from all of last year).But on this episode, we dove into something a bit different…🚨Attention! 🚨 We interrupt your regular programming for an important message. ClimateTech founders are taking on a huge challenge. Building a climate startup is highly complex but also SO NECESSARY if we are going to save the climate. Founders not only you need to understand how to build a startup, but you also need to understand how to deal with hardware, have a strong handle on climate policy, know how to fundraise from diverse investors types, etc. etc. etc…It’s a lot. That’s why we make CleanTechies. The #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs. In addition to our jobs, we devote ~20 hours a week to producing this podcast for you. This way, you can learn from others who have walked the path you’re on now, learn from their mistakes, and gain insights on navigating this complex world. If this mission resonates with you, we ask for your financial support of this project. It takes a lot of effort, and it’s not free. Your willingness to contribute on a monthly or yearly basis helps us keep this going. If you’re already a subscriber and want to contribute financially, click “Upgrade to Paid” at the top right of your screen. If not, follow the steps once you click “Subscribe” below to help us out. Thanks for helping us help all the climate entrepreneurs like you. 🙏 🌎Today’s episode covers two gargantuan topicsPartnering with Big Oil—AND—Repricing Climate RiskPartnering with Big Oil:* The backlash against partnering with Big Oil* What is the actual value of partnering with Big Oil* Will Big Oil maintain prominence for long, or will any partnership end up being a distraction and anchor * How EV demand increasing has the potential to send Big Oil into a tailspin sooner than we thinkRepricing Climate Risk:* The implications of insurance companies’ recent decisions to leave California and Florida (on certain lines) * How new models will help us understand the cost of no action in the face of climate calamities * Modeling lost revenues from climate disasters * How a ‘green premium’ will no longer be a consideration because of how expensive inaction will become* The blue ocean of opportunity for new model creation (warning: startup ideas💡)A bit about ShaunFor those not familiar with Shaun, he started his career in product management and ended up getting into VC circa 2013. Eventually, he and some partners founded Third Sphere (FKA Urban Us). Fast forward to Climate Week NYC 2023, he and the Third Sphere team put on one of the most important events of the year (IMHO). Their presentation on the “Escalator of Impact” and how to design for climate finance. It was a huge turning point in formalizing how founders can understand the milestones needed to get to scale. He’s also working on a sick EV conversion project with his brother (check out his LinkedIn content for more details). Do you have suggestions on future guests or topics? Leave a comment! Unable to support financially but still want to help? Share this post w/ 3 ClimateTech entrepreneurs (or aspiring entrepreneurs). Sharing is super helpful to us, and it costs you nothing. Topics* 4:33 ClimateTech Partnering With Big Oil* 8:16 Dynamics of ClimateTech and Big Oil* 13:57 Managing Government Spending into other Funds* 19:44 Funding / Sources of Capital for ClimateTech* 26:33 Finding Talent from O&G* 28:24 Re-pricing Climate Risk* 33:47 Revenue Lost Estimates* 35:43 The Idea of Green Premium* 47:55 Pitching Potential New Insurance Products* 53:33 Connecting with Shaun* 55:30 TakeawaysLinks* Shaun Abrahamson | Third Sphere* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋👉 Listeners Survey* We would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.👉 Fundraising for Founders* If founders are looking for funding in the ClimateTech space, reach out & schedule a chat here!👉 Early-Stage Founders Hiring* Silas just started his own recruitment consultancy tailor-made for early-stage ClimateTech startups. He does this by offering heavily discounted headhunting services for companies at Pre-Seed, Seed, and Series A companies. If you need a hand finding the best talent on the market, and you don’t want to sell your kidney to pay for it, let’s chat. (booking here)👉 Meet Top Founders* Interested in getting in front of hundreds of ClimateTech VCs and Founders each month, reach out to info@cleantechiespod.com to learn more about becoming a sponsor. If you couldn’t already tell, we care a lot about ClimateTech founders 😂🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see you all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, founder edition.Today, we are talking to Chinmay Malaviya and Charlie Depman from Ridepanda.Micromobility isn’t a topic we’ve chatted about recently, and with the new congestion pricing in NYC, what better time to get two industry VETERANS on the pod to chat with us about it.In this episode, we discuss…* Why micromobility DESERVES a better rep and demand is actually booming* How Chinmay’s experience at Lime and foodpanda and Charlie’s experience at Bird and Scoot Networks helps them design the optimal platform for micromobility* How they’re successfully creative with their business model to overcome adoption challenges& More. This one is a REAL treat.📺 Watch on YouTube🍎 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelSubscribe to get more episodes with leading climate entrepreneurs (and the detailed show notes) directly in your inboxIf you find this valuable, consider becoming a paid subscriber to help us continue this work.The Guest: Chinmay Malaviya* Chinmay is the Co-founder & CEO of Ridepanda* Chinmay's first internship at the World Wildlife Fund ignited his passion for impactful work, leading to his role in the early Foodpanda team* Next, at Foodpanda, he founded the Singapore and Hong Kong regions, served as their Global VP of Business Development and transitioned the company from cash to online payments in Southeast Asia* Most recently at Lime, Chinmay was the Head of New Modalities and led experimentation into new form-factors as well as overseeing a 500 car-share pilot in Seattle* At Lime, he was also the Head of Strategy and Planning where he led market management, expansion and supply topicsThe Guest: Charlie Depman* Charlie is the Co-founder & CTO of Ridepanda* Charlie started off his career in China where he witnessed firsthand environmental degradation that emboldened him to work at environmental nonprofits* There, he also saw the mobility issues in big, unsustainable cities - when he was working at NYU Shanghai, he found programming and moved to SF to pursue it further* He joined Scoot Networks, the first to offer shared micro-mobility via smartphones, and rose to their Backend Technical Lead* When Scoot was acquired by Bird, he worked on their New Ventures Team exploring their first foray into multimodalityThe Company: One Liner: Offering employers a turnkey benefits platform for e-bike, pedal bike, and scooter subscriptions for their employeesRidepanda initially launched as a direct-to-consumer (D2C) marketplace for e-scooters and e-bikes but pivoted to focus on enterprise customers like Amazon, offering subscriptions and leasing for micro-mobility solutions. The pivot was driven by the need for predictable, recurring revenue and the realization that D2C was challenging due to supply chain issues and customer service complexities. Today, Ridepanda serves major companies like Google, Intuit, and Expedia, providing an end-to-end micro-mobility solution that includes a customized employee portal, vehicle servicing, and a robust data reporting dashboard. The company recently raised $7.5M from well-known VCs Blackhorn Ventures and Yamaha Motor Ventures to expand its operations and aims to get 100,000 employees on micro-mobility vehicles by 2026.Enjoying the CleanTechies PodLetter? Please show your support by subscribing! 📝 Show Notes:Topics* 03:23 Micromobility and its Reputation* 12:10 Employer Business Model* 20:43 Balancing Bike Production and Consumer Choice* 23:42 Accepting Seasonality* 28:55 Lessons from Foodpanda* 32:40 Transitioning to Lime and the Transportation Space* 35:21 Designing Software for Micro-Mobility* 46:23 Advice for FoundersLinks* Ridepanda | Chinmay Malaviya | Charlie Depman* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋* We recently launched a listener survey, and we would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.* Have a specific guest or topic you’d like us to discuss? Leave a comment and let us know. Here’s the thing: Somil and I both have day jobs, so if you’re in the helping mood, we both have an ask for you today.Somil: I’m currently seeking to connect with founders in the built environment space for a project I’m working on. If you’re in that space, schedule a chat here!Silas: As many of you know, my day job is solving people’s hiring headaches in climate - do you have a hiring headache? Well, let me be your Advil. (booking here)🚨🚨🚨 Early-stage founder looking for top-tier talent - reach out to Silas, and he’ll save you hundreds of hours (and tens of thousands of dollars) with your critical searches. 🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see you all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, VC edition.Today, we are talking to Jessica Burley from Planet A.If you have not already heard about Planet A, you are in the right place because you’re about to be in the know (do people still say that? 🤔)Some of the core items we discuss are…* How their fund’s carry (the ‘success fee’ they make) is tied to the environmental impacts of the investments they make * How they use LCAs (you’ll hear more about it below) in their Due Diligence process* And perhaps most importantly to this audience, some stories of successful DeepTech founders We get into a lot more but those are the key topics covered - enjoy! (or if you’re actually really busy, skip to the relevant time stamps)📺 Watch on YouTube🍎 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelSubscribe to get more episodes with leading climate entrepreneurs (and the detailed show notes) directly in your inboxIf you find this valuable, consider becoming a paid subscriber to help us continue this work.The Guest: Jessica Burley* Jessica Burley is an Investor at Planet A who got her start at the UN. Then she parlayed that into supporting a family office with impact investing. * From there she ended up at Planet A given her passion for the climate space and her focus on continuing to build network. * It’s worth pointing out that she doesn’t have an environmental studies education. Which, I hope will give confidence to all the folks worried they won’t be able to land a DeepTech VC role. It’s very possible and Jessica is proof. The VC: Planet AOne Liner: Investing in DeepTech ClimateTech startups and tying their carry to the environmental outcomes. Yes, you jsut read that right. They don’t make money unless they can actually invest in companies that remove carbon from the earth and help solve the climate problem. To achieve this, they perform life cycle analyais on how much carbon will be removed by the products their tentative portfolio companies. This is even more dificult when you consider that a lot of their investmetns are at the earliest stages where there is not a product to fully test. It’s a fascinating problem and one that needs solving since there are not enough early stage deeptech VCs investing in solving climate change. Enjoying the CleanTechies PodLetter? Please show your support by subscribing! 📝 Show Notes:Topics* 1:29 Introduction and Background* 2:22 The Role of Life Cycle Assessments in Investing* 8:44 Article 9 and the European Regulatory Landscape* 10:27 Interest in Climate Tech Investing Outside of Europe* 12:54 The Increasing Pace of Climate Tech Innovation* 13:33 Jess's Journey to Climate Tech Investing* 17:35 Transitioning from a Small Fund to a Larger Fund* 21:43 The Role of Brand and Value in Climate Tech Investing* 24:44 Sector Expertise and Operational Support in Investing* 26:23 Geothermal Drilling for Renewable Heating* 28:46 Investment Opportunities in Climate Tech* 30:45 The Hardware Playbook: Investing in Hardware Startups* 42:53 The German Climate Tech Ecosystem* 49:18 Building Genuine Relationships in the Climate Tech Ecosystem* 51:34 Takeaways* Evaluating Life Cycle Assessment in Investment Decisions* The Importance of the Hardware Playbook in the Investment Ecosystem* De-risking Talent in StartupsLinks* Planet A | Jessica Burley* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Asks 👋* We recently launched a listener survey, and we would love to hear how we can improve the show and what you like most.* Have a specific guest or topic you’d like us to discuss? Leave a comment and let us know. Here’s the thing: Somil and I both have day jobs, so if you’re in the helping mood, we both have an ask for you today.Somil: I’m currently seeking to connect with founders in the built environment space for a project I’m working on. If you’re in that space, schedule a chat here!Silas: As many of you know, my day job is solving people’s hiring headaches in climate - do you have a hiring headache? Well, let me be your Advil. (booking here)🚨🚨🚨 Early-stage founder looking for top-tier talent - reach out to Silas, and he’ll save you hundreds of hours (and tens of thousands of dollars) with your critical searches. 🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in, and see you all next episode! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe