CleanTechies Podcast

Why you should listen:* Learn about what a Head of Science does in VC* Hear how this hardware-focused investor evaluates hardware investments* Find out what VC can learn from scienceNot already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post.In this episode, Somil Aggarwal (@somilagg) interviews Iris Ten Have about her journey into VC from a science background, what ie means to be a Head of Science in VC, how to successfully build in hardware, and more.   Enjoy the Episode! 🌎  📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5----- Topics: * 6:25 Academia to venture* 15:46 What helped her prepare for VC* 18:42 How Extantia started* 25:33 What makes a successful hardware investment* 30:16 How to get your pre-orders for your MVP* 36:05 Evaluating decarbonization potential* 44:38 Advice to founders* 48:36 What VCs can learn from scientists* 51:11 Biggest challenges for funds----- Links: * Connect with Iris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iris-ten-have/* Extantia: https://extantia.com/* Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* HMU on Twitter: @somilagg----- Other episodes you might enjoy:* Most Recent Episode: #131 Selling to Utilities, The Disruptor Mistake, Clean Your Camp, Carrot vs Stick Regs, & More w/ Michael Jung (ICF Climate Center)* Similar Topic: #117 Early Stage Hiring Decisions, Heeding the Lessons from CleanTech 1.0, Energize's $300m Growth Fund Close, & More w/ Eileen Waris (Energize Capital)* Something Totally Different: From 30% to 90% Li Recovery, Founding a ClimateTech Co, & Talent Moat w/ Teague Egan (EnergyX)Resources / Events / Carveouts: We wanted to start adding some of the other resources that we are aware of in the climate space each episode. These will not always be the same so be sure to check them out each episode. * Event: upcoming in November, on the 9th, the CleanTechies Podcast will be hosting a meetup in Union Square in NYC. This will be an ongoing event on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 5-7 p.m. It’s a very chill objective for now and we will see how it goes. This is being hosted in partnership with 4Ward.VC and it is members only (Paid members of 4Ward.VC’s community). You can join their community here.* Voiz Academy: this is a community that helps you upskill and land a job at a climate tech company or a sustainability role. If interested you can check them out here: * Climate Career Accelerator Program* Voiz Academy Sustainability ProgramsHave a resource you use and want to share, send it our way info@cleantechiespod.com Thank you for listening/reading/supporting us. It means a lot to us because there is a lot of work that goes into making this happen. Please share your favorite moments and reach out if we can help in any way. 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 you should listen:* Learn the tips of selling your tech to Utilities * How to consider equity and inclusion as you build * Hear Michael’s ideas of where to build in climateNot already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post.In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) speaks with Mike Jung from the ICF Climate Center.Given Mike's work across a wide variety of clients currently + his experience in the utility space, we had a lot of interesting things to talk about. Of all the things, perhaps the most interesting, were his insights on selling to utilities. So, if you're selling to utilities, listen up this one is for you. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics:* 2:07 Introduction and career* 15:55 What does ICF do?* 25:09 utilities* 28:24 on selling to utilities* 32:22 selling to regulators?* 37:47 showing consumer interest in getting the utilities to buy* 40:23 Carrot or stick regulatory practices* 45:23 The funding landscape* 48:13 Advice to founders – be aware of equity and inclusion, be aware of how you are pitching your business, and be conscious of your storytelling to attract talent* 54:08 Ideas to build in climate - Hard to Abate Sectors  * 57:28 Sweaty Climate Startups - Community Action Agencies Show Summary:Given Michael’s deep expertise working across, utilities, consulting, and a substantial part of his career in utilities, his insights around how to sell to utilities and the considerations to keep in mind while doing so, are by far the most valuable part of this conversation. The clip below gives you a bit of a taste. Key Takeaways:* “Work in your camp make an impact there” - when Mike said this, it really hit me. There are a lot of folks looking to ‘work in climate’ when they could likely start making an impact in their current role. Consider this before looking for a job in climate (at least for now given the current job market). * Find ways to keep utilities in mind - they will have to replace the old infrastructure, electrify the future, and be aware of industrial electrification. These were some things that came to mind as he was talking and I think it’s a key 🗝️ to think about as you are building a climate tech startup. If you can solve their problem in a way they are familiar with, they will certainly become buyers. * 32:22 Selling to utilities | This section was by far my favorite part of the discussion. * “Regulator is the buyer” - This may have been obvious to others but for me this was really insightful and gives me a new lense to look at the startups we advise. * #1 EV #2 building decarbonization #3 clean energy. Across these three areas, he sees the potential need to use a stick and not a carrot to incentivize adoption given that he sees a massive opportunity for adoption here. * ~46:10 Storytelling to get talent. His point about using storytelling is really great. I think about how he pitched ICF in the intro - it took what most ppl would see as just another consultancy, and really pointed out the cool aspects of it. Consider this when pitching your startup from a talent perspective. * 48.10 Be aware of how you are pitching. If you are pitching in a way that seems too ‘innovation-focused’ you might actually be tanking your chances because Utilities are meant to ‘keep the lights on’ not to ‘build fast and break things’. Consider the buyer during the pitch. Understand their needs well. * Equality and inclusion in your journey of building. Ensure you are considering this while you build. His thoughts on this made me remember again how poorly the climate tech revolution is partaking in making a more equitable outcome for so many underprivileged groups. * Focus on hard-to-abate sectors. (~52:00) He sees this as the biggest area for new startups. Look into this space, study it, and over the coming months, you might strike a golden opportunity to make an impact and a buck 💸. * ~55.10 Community Action Agencies. This was quite interesting. Maybe not a hugely scalable startup, but if you understand the local area well and have a good network, you might be able to leverage that to build this to get buy-in from the community. Links:* Connect with Michael: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejung/ * ICF Climate Center: https://www.icf.com/climate-center * Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* HMU on Twitter: @silasmahnerResources / Events / Carveouts:We wanted to start adding some of the other resources that we are aware of in the climate space each episode. These will not always be the same so be sure to check them out each episode.* Event: upcoming in November, on the 9th, CleanTechies will be hosting a meetup in Union Square in NYC. This will be an ongoing event on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 5-7 p.m. It’s a very chill objective for now and we will see how it goes. This is being hosted in partnership with 4Ward.VC.You can join their community here. | Email Info@cleantechiespod.com to get on the invite.* Voiz Academy: this is a community that helps you upskill and land a job at a climate tech company or a sustainability role. If interested you can check them out here:* Climate Career Accelerator Program* Voiz Academy Sustainability ProgramsHave a resource you use and want to share, send it our way info@cleantechiespod.comThank you for following CleanTechies. Please share to help spread the word.Other episodes you might enjoy:* Most Recent Episode: #130 Financing Emerging Clean Technologies, The Incentive of Repeat Transactions, Hiring a Founding Team, & More w/ Kevin Kyer (Pyrpose.io)* Similar Topic: Helping Utilities Utilize Wasted Data with Sean Murphy of PingThings* Something Totally Different: #116 Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures) 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 you should listen:* Learn how to hire a founding team* Find out the secret to properly structured incentives to achieve repeat transactions when working in emerging markets* Learn how to communicate your offering to non-climate-nerdsNot already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post.In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Kevin Kyer, the Co-Founder, and CEO of pyrpose - a direct lending platform that, using the crowdfunding laws, allows individuals to lend to companies creating clean solutions in order to deploy their technology, the user is also getting a return on their money. They specifically focus on emerging markets because of how high the cost of capital is and the unwillingness of large lending institutions to operate in those markets currently. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 ----- Topics: * 1:59 Intro and career* 8:48 What is Pyrpose?* 15:22 How do they approach marketplaces?* 18:04 What he’s learned from consumers and sellers* 20.57 Why their work is important* 25:59 Roadmap and GTM* 29:01 Experience raising on this model* 32:26 Thoughts on crypto and climate* 35:49 Picking a founding team* 42:41 How they find talent* 45:46 Advice to founders regarding product market fit* 49:16 Climate-specific product market fit advice* 52:23 Ideas – Building Something elseShow Summary:Imagine a future where each of us could play a part in shaping the planet’s climate-conscious trajectory. That's the vision Kevin Kyer, co-founder, and CEO of Pyrpose, expounds in today’s conversation. With a journey that spans from internet marketing to renewable energy and ultimately, to pioneering climate tech by financing it. Kevin provides an eye-opening look at the intersection of technology and our shared responsibility towards the environment. In this robust discussion, we delve into how Pyrpose is revolutionizing the climate tech sector by using the crowdfunding regulatory methodology, built on top of blockchain technology, to lend working capital to small and medium-sized CleanTech businesses. This method helps make a positive environmental impact and fosters a direct and tangible connection between investors and these companies. Kevin also shared his honest thoughts on carbon marketplaces, the concept of regenerative finance, and the compelling opportunity it presents for investors to engage with communities globally. Aspiring founders and investors will glean valuable insights as Kevin shares his experience assembling a startup team and navigating the tight capital markets. This ep is packed with actionable advice and forward-thinking perspectives. It also offers a glimpse into the future of climate technology, underscoring the potential—and necessity—of collaboration within the climate tech community. 🎧 Listen in and discover how you can play a part in the global energy transition and make a lasting impact on our planet by directly investing in emerging CleanTech projects.Links:* Connect with Kevin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinmkyer/ * pyrpose.io * Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* Twitter: @silasmahner / @somil_aggResources / Events / Carveouts: We wanted to start adding some of the other resources that we are aware of in the climate space each episode. These will not always be the same so be sure to check them out each episode. * Event: upcoming in November, on the 9th, Silas will be hosting a meetup in Union Square in NYC. This will be an ongoing event on the 2nd Thursday of the month from 5-7 p.m. It’s a very chill objective for now and we will see how it goes. This is being hosted in partnership with 4Ward.VC and it is members only (Paid members of 4Ward.VC’s community). You can join their community here.* Voiz Academy: this is a community that helps you upskill and land a job at a climate tech company or a sustainability role. If interested you can check them out here: * Climate Career Accelerator Program* Voiz Academy Sustainability ProgramsHave a resource you use and want to share, send it our way info@cleantechiespod.com Other episodes you might enjoy:* Most Recent Episode: * Similar Topic: * Something Totally Different: Thank you for listening/reading/supporting us. It means a lot to us because there is a lot of work that goes into making this happen. Please share your favorite moments and reach out if we can help in any way. 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 you should listen:* How to succeed in building your company from a seasoned ClimateTech and energy investor* How to successfully expand your thesis and launch a new fund* Learn the best ClimateTech industries of the futureNot already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post.In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Jason Blumberg from Earth Foundry. Earth Foundry came out of Energy Foundry, who after a successful decade of investing in energy technologies is expanding its scope to other areas of climate tech.Jason Blumberg is the co-founder and Managing Director of Earth Foundry. As a former consultant and founder in the energy space, he has sat on the boards of many companies and has a wide array of knowledge about energy and beyond to share with us. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: * 1:21 Intro + career* 2:25 How Energy Foundry Became Earth Foundry* 6:32 Changing Thesis* 9:40 Lessons from a decade of energy VC* 21:14 Raising a fund* 22:55 Being a repeat fund manager* 31:23 How Discipline Became Fund Success* 34:30 Energy VC vs. general VC* 38:56 Best cleantech industries to invest* 57:08 Advice to foundersLinks: * Connect with Jason: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonblumberg/* Earth Foundry: https://www.earthfoundry.com* Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* HMU on Twitter: (@silasmahner) & (@somil_agg)Other episodes you might enjoy:* Most Recent Episode: #128 Branding & Marketing Your ClimateTech Startup w/ Anna Konstantinova (AnnaKo.Co)* Similar Topic: #116 Consultive VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures)* Something Totally Different: #120 Serial Entrepreneur Fundraising, the IRA & Home Electrification, IRA-Dependent Business Models, & More w/ Jeff Chapin (Haven Energy)Thank you for listening/reading/supporting us. It means a lot to us because there is a lot of work that goes into making this happen. Please share your favorite moments and reach out if we can help in any way. 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 you should listen:* To get a basic intro to marketing and branding as a climate tech founder/operator* Learn some tips on branding and recruitment/talent acquisition * Find out when you should bring on someone to help you with your brand Not already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post.In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Anna Konstantinova about her advice to climate tech companies in relation to marketing and branding. Really helpful episode for our listeners from someone who has spent a lot of time helping founders and climate brands make their work digestible to the correct target audience. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: * 3:10 Intro & Career* 12:53 Why a Brand Matters* 17:54 How to Position Brand to People Uninterested in Climate Change* 26:36 Are There General Archetypes* 28:42 When to "Set" Brand* 31:32 Tips on Branding During Fundraise* 36:39 Personal Branding for Founder is Also Important* 43:03 When to Get Help to Pass the Plateau* 49:20 Hiring & BrandLinks: * Connect with Anna: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annaknova/ * AnnaKo.co * Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* HMU on Twitter: (@silasmahner) & (@somil_agg)Other episodes you might enjoy:* Most Recent Episode: #127 Scalable Carbon Capture, Building as a Non-Deeptech Founder, Creative Business Models, & Navigating Funding Challenges w/ Luke Shors (Capture6)* Similar Topic: #76 Endings, Endineering, Circular Economy, & the Customer Experience w/ Joe Macleod* Something Totally #65 Different: Decentralizing Agriculture & Societal Resilience with Eddy from Eden Green TechnologiesCoHost.AI Write Up:Are you ready to discover the transformative power of branding within the climate tech space? Join our conversation with Anna Konstantinova, a seasoned expert who passionately decodes the complexities of crafting unique brand identities. Prepare to be enlightened as we traverse the often overlooked yet crucial aspect of branding and marketing in climate tech companies. As we chat with Anna, we unravel the significance of a compelling brand presence and how it's much more than just being memorable. It's about forging a connection with people that resonates at their core. We delve into the importance of understanding your target audience and articulating the brand's role in their lives. Anna further underscores the necessity for a human touch within climate brands, paving the way for brands of the future. Our insightful discussion doesn't stop at branding. We also explore its pivotal role in a startup - from fundraising to pitching, and how to effectively deliver your message. By examining the influence of video games on our perception of life events, the challenges of scaling a business, and aligning purpose, economics, and motivation to inspire change. So, buckle up for a thought-provoking episode where we demystify the power of branding and its critical role in the realm of climate tech!Thank you for listening/reading/supporting us. It means a lot to us because there is a lot of work that goes into making this happen. Please share your favorite moments and reach out if we can help in any way. 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 you should listen:* Learn about a new breakthrough carbon capture model * How you can build a deep tech company as a non-deep-tech founder* How to raise from both public and private funding sourcesNot already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post.Show Notes:In this episode, Silas Mähner (@silasmahner) and Somil Aggarwal (@somilagg) interview Luke Shors, co-founder of Capture6. Capture6 is a direct air carbon capture company, applying its innovative technology and business model to revolutionize the way that carbon capture takes place. One of their claims to fame is their approach to being efficient with water usage and creating beneficial byproducts from their capture process. Luke himself is not a deep tech founder and shares great insights on how he navigated building a deep tech company in climate.Overall, a super good episode packed full of insights. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5Topics: * 1:32 Introduction & early career* 6:53 Starting as a public benefit company* 12:50 Being a climate founder without a deep tech background* 16:28 Capture6 differentiator* 20:01 Economic advantage of direct air capture* 31:15 Price of Capture6's carbon* 36:11 Navigating GTM* 40:22 Messaging in public vs. private funding* 50:37 Advice for founders* 54:00 If he started a company today, he would…Links: * Connect with Luke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-shors/* Capture6: https://capture6.org * Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner, @somilagg Other episodes you might enjoy:* Most Recent Episode: #126 The Value-add of Specialist VCs, Engaging with Corporate Partners, Advice to Founders & Aspiring VCs, Defending Your Moat, & More with Grant Allen (SE Ventures)* Similar Topic: From Restaurants to ClimateTech: Building a Carbon Capture Concrete Company w/ Tim Sperry (Carbon Limit)* Something Totally Different: #93 Hard Truths About VC, Raising Advice, & Small Fund Limitations w/ Susan Su (Toba Capital)CoHost.AI write up:Get ready to challenge everything you know about carbon capture with Luke Shores, the minds behind the revolutionary direct-air carbon capture company, Capture6. These trailblazers are pushing boundaries, reimagining what's possible and breaking the mold with their innovative approach. Join us as we delve into the story of Capture6.Luke shed light on their groundbreaking methodology and how they're transforming the traditional carbon capture processes. They're not just recycling solvents or storing CO2, they're creating beneficial byproducts and making strides in efficient water usage. Discover how their ingenious use of an electrochemical process to produce sodium hydroxide and their strategy of leveraging the economics of brine and freshwater management is making carbon removal more cost-effective.Luke takes us through the exhilarating journey of building a deep tech company - the challenges, the victories, and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. We talk about the hurdles of acquiring funding for decarbonization projects and share essential advice for founders in the climate space. From fundraising to talent management to securing community buy-in, there's a wealth of knowledge waiting for you in this episode. By the end, you'll gain a new perspective on responsible engineering and ocean alkalinity enhancement. So, sit back, tune in, and prepare for an enlightening discussion.Thank you for listening/reading/supporting us. It means a lot to us because there is a lot of work that goes into making this happen. Please share your favorite moments and reach out if we can help in any way. 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 you should listen:* Discover the role of Specialist VCs in climate change solutions with SE Ventures* Learn about SE Ventures and its innovative climate and industrial tech investments* Gain insights on collaboration with large companies and startup wisdomNot already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post.Show Notes:In this episode Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Grant Allen, General Partner at SE Ventures. They are a uniquely positioned Specialist VC with a single LP, Schneider Electric. They function like a typical VC, with autonomy from Schneider Electric as a whole, but can also leverage Schneider's vast global network to add value beyond capital and help their portfolio companies to succeed.Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5Topics:* 1:32: Intro & Career* 5:16: Relationship w/ SE* 9:09: How SE Ventures Started* 11:43: SE Thesis: Double Bottom Line* 19:46: Why the Check Size* 23:36: Milestones to Get a Check* 26:39: How To Manage Collaboration* 33:35: Areas He's Bullish On* 37:34: Building Incentive-Free Biz Models* 42:03: Advice to Founders* 44:31: How to Scale* 47:51: How to Vet Big Incumbents* 51:44: Advice to VC Aspirants* 56:11: How to Develop a Thesis* 59:15: If He Started a Biz Today He Would…Links:* Connect with Grant: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantallen/* SE Ventures: https://www.seventures.com/home.jsp* Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ * Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner, @somil_aggOther episodes you might enjoy:* Most Recent Episode: #125 Revolutionizing Heating and Cooling with Smart Radiators, Facing Rejection, and Building Hardware like Software with Marshall Cox (Kelvin)* Similar Topic: #93 Hard Truths About VC, Raising Advice, & Small Fund Limitations w/ Susan Su (Toba Capital)* Something Totally Different: #103 Revolutionizing Takeout: Tackling Plastic Waste Crisis with Reusable Containers and Gamification w/ James Wilson (reUser)CoHost.AI Write Up:Ever wondered how venture capital firms are combating climate change? Here's your chance to find out. Grant from SE Ventures guides us through a voyage into the thriving world of venture capital funds and their crucial role in climate change solutions. His journey from traditional financial models to corporate VC models is certainly a tale worth hearing. Founders and aspiring business leaders, take note! We delve deeper into how SE Ventures and Schneider Electric, its parent company, have a unique synergy that accelerates the adoption of crucial technology for climate change solutions. Learn about SE Ventures, a venture fund supported by Schneider Electric, and the crucial 'air gap' that ensures alignment with founders and speedy action. The 'double bottom line' approach and value delivery framework of SE Ventures are nothing short of revolutionary. In the final fold of our conversation, Grant shares his investment experiences in mobility companies, thoughts on government’s role in residential electrification, and the importance of self-sustaining business models. We also navigate the potential advantages of collaborating with large companies, provided you manage the relationship effectively. And for those young investors and startups out there, Grant's words of wisdom are a must-hear: humility, rapid learning, and understanding the complexity of the climate change space are key. So pull up a chair and let's get started!Thank you for listening / reading / supporting us. It means a lot to us because there is a lot of work that goes into making this happen. Please share your favorite moments and reach out if we can help in any way. 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

Not already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post. Show Notes:In this episode, Somil Aggarwal (@somilagg) interviews Marshall Cox about his journey into being a climate tech founder, the impact of getting a Ph.D. on his journey, how he faced rejection, and how to build hardware like software.Overall, a super good episode packed full of insights. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5Topics:* 1:30 Intro & Having a scientific background as a founder* 6:00 Impact of PhD on entrepreneurship* 8:32 Radiators vs. smart radiators* 12:28 market barriers* 13:59 Balancing impact vs. bottom-line* 15:30 Fundraising history* 18:27 Facing rejection* 27:06 New vision for Kelvin & hurdles for implementation* 38:56 Expanding into new hardware products* 43:13 How to make building in hardware like building in software* 44:59 Advice for founders* 49:30 Thoughts on NYC climate weekLinks: * Connect with Marshall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallcox79/*  Kelvin: https://kel.vin*  Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/*  Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/*  HMU on Twitter: @Somil_AggYou might enjoy:*  Most Recent Episode: #123 Driving Adoption in Hard-to-Abate Sectors, Why Not an IP Play, Fundraising for an R&D Shop, Partnering w/ Large Corporates, Hiring PhDs, & More w/ Jeff Erhardt (Mattiq)*  Similar Topic: From Harvard, to D.E. Shaw, to Obama Administration, to Refrigeration w/ Manik Suri (Therma)*  Something Totally Different: Re-Engineering the World because the Future is Decarbonized w/ Matt Ward (4Ward.VC)CoHost.AI Write Up:What if you could revolutionize the way we think about heating and cooling in our homes? That's exactly what our guest, Marshall Cox, CEO of Kelvin (formerly Radiator Labs), set out to do. He shares his journey from a problem-solving tenant to an environmental technology entrepreneur, developing a game-changing hybrid electrification heating and cooling technology for legacy buildings. We'll explore how his venture promises to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and increase cost and efficiency. Marshall unravels the intricacies of radiator heat, illuminating the promising world of 'smart radiators'. With the advent of low-cost electronics and radio technology, he's made strides in bringing this innovation to the market. He also discusses the market barriers that need to be overcome and stresses the significance of understanding the bottom line of stakeholders when creating an impact-driven business. It's a fascinating exploration of how technology can help us be more eco-friendly and cost-effective.Finally, we delve into the nitty-gritty of entrepreneurship, as Marshall reflects on the complexities of fundraising, maintaining a vision, and mitigating technology risks in hardware. He shares candid insights on the challenges of communicating with different capital-giving groups, staying the course with an unconventional product, and the importance of networking with trusted advisors. But this is more than just a journey, it's a call to action. Learn how you could be part of the solution as we unpack the lessons, trials, and triumphs of Kelvin's quest to revolutionize the heating and cooling sector.Thank you for listening / reading / supporting us. It means a lot to us because there is a lot of work that goes into making this happen. Please share your favorite moments and reach out if we can help in any way. 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

Today we have a pretty exciting episode with an inspiring Entrepreneur, Tee Ganbold. She has an incredible perspective to offer given her Mongolian roots, global experience, and expertise in AI, ESG, and leadership. One of the biggest themes from today’s episode is timing. You need to have the right timing to make things work. Consider the work you’re doing and if the timing is right. If you take away nothing else, take that away. Not already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post. Show Notes:In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) speaks with Tee Ganbold (@tee_ganbold), the Co-Founder of OpenESG on what she's doing in the ESG tech space. They have created an incredible tool that, operates like ChatGPT but is specifically designed and trained on corporate sustainability data. Instead of spending time researching a company's ESG data and commitments, you can simply ask OpenESG and you have detailed data at your fingertips, along the precise references to the underlying data. Tee has a great story coming from Mongolia, being raised in London, starting a few companies, living around the world, and now choosing to build OpenESG in NYC. We had a really great conversation so it's exciting to share it with you here today. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5 Topics: * 1:50 Intro & Career* 7:30 What is open ESG's* 9:24  Early Career advice - Ents on the Fence* 13:20 What is Open ESG* 24:34 Why NYC to Build?* 32:20 Examples of Open ESG* 35:17 Advice to Founders - Starting Out* 39:38 How to Focus on the Right Thing* 44:47 What Investors Care About* 47:01 Creating Great Customer Experience* 49:30 Operations for Building in Climate Links: * Connect with Tee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teeganbold/ * OpenESG: https://www.openesg.com/* Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* HMU on Twitter: @silasmahnerOther episodes you might enjoy: * Most Recent Episode: #123 Driving Adoption in Hard-to-Abate Sectors, Why Not an IP Play, Fundraising for an R&D Shop, Partnering w/ Large Corporates, Hiring PhDs, & More w/ Jeff Erhardt (Mattiq)* Similar Topic: #47 The Current and Future State of the ESG Software Space w/ Sondra Tosky (Measurabl)* Something Totally Different: #63 Carbon Markets and How they Work, Democratizing Forestry Carbon Credits, & More w/ Matt Smith (Finite Carbon)CoHost.AI Write Up:What does it take to build a successful global business in the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) tech space? Co-founder of OpenESG, Tee Ganbold, helps us decode this complex matrix as she narrates her unique journey. Starting from her roots in Mongolia to establishing a thriving venture in London, T's story is nothing short of inspiration. We explore OpenESG's key mission - to aid businesses in navigating the fragmented ESG tech landscape and supporting them in contributing meaningfully towards climate and sustainability challenges.As the conversation unfolds, we gain insights into the transformative power of generative AI in the ESG realm. Tee stresses the role of identifying a problem and honing in on it to develop a solution. There is wisdom to glean from her experiences working with incredible people, insights that could be instrumental in shaping your own professional pathway. The discussion also spotlights the value of sustainability for corporations, the role of Chief Sustainability Officers, and how OpenESG is leveraging technology to simplify the tedious process of data reporting and tracking.Our dialogue culminates in a discussion about the critical elements of building a successful global brand. We touch upon the essence of timing, the need for the right team, and the growing importance of ESG. We also delve into the intricacies of raising capital, the significance of thorough research, product or market fit, and adopting a global outlook while identifying investors. By the end of this episode, you'll have a clearer understanding of the ESG tech space, and how OpenESG is striving to bridge the existing gaps in the industry. Join us for this enlightening conversation with Tee Ganbold, and discover the many facets of sustainable tech entrepreneurship.Thank you for listening / reading / supporting us. It means a lot to us because there is a lot of work that goes into making this happen. Please share your favorite moments and reach out if we can help in any way. 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

You’ve heard of raising a VC Fund, you’ve heard of raising money for your startup, but have you heard of raising money to pay scientists and chemical engineers to play around in a lab…oh and it’s not for philanthropy. Today we have a pretty fascinating episode with Jeff Ernhardt from Mattiq discussing how they are identifying new materials science formulas, proving them on the bench, and then partnering with industrial producers to manufacture these at scale in order to make an impact at scale. This episode is particularly interesting for academics interested in a different set of incentives that pure academia cannot offer. If you’re building a sustainable chemicals company or thinking about it, you should also find the insights about partnering with an industrial producer of particular interest. Personally my biggest takeaways were from his comments on…* Experimenting in a linear fashion versus how they are now doing it simultaneously [~27:00]* Why they chose to partner with industrials rather than go the IP route [~39:30]* The areas he’s bullish on in the coming years [~52:30]* And my personal favorite, his comments on hiring PhDs and “Finding an Icon” that will bring their followers with them [~57:30]There is a LOT of value in today’s episode. In order to repay us for all the back breaking labor we have put into this show (literally, I have back pain from how much time I spend in my chair) please subscribe if you’ve not already. Already a subscriber? Sorry for being so forceful…👼 but… have you shared the show recently (nope, I’ll never run out of asks 🙈) - Imagine how if your friend get’s one valuable nuget out of the show that saves them months of exploration, you’ll be the goat to them. We can’t guarantee you they will invite you to their wedding, but they will at least like you more…Show Notes:In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Jeff Erhardt from Mattiq.Jeff had a ton of insights and we are glad to share them with you today.Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5Topics:* 2:21 Intro & Career* 6:55 What is Industrial AI* 16:08 Driving Adoption in Industrial Space* 20:11 Advice to Early Career Folks* 25:37 What Mattiq Does* 35:52 The misalignment of academia* 39:09 Their Business Model* 42:15 Fundraising for Mattiq* 45:15 Industrial Decarb Challenges* 50:10 Partnering* 53:12 Startup Ideas* 57:35 Hiring PhDs Links:* Connect w/ Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferhardt/* Follow Mattiq: https://mattiq.com/* Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/* Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* HMU on Twitter: (@)somil_agg & (@)silasmahnerOther episodes you might enjoy:* Most Recent Episode: #122 Offset Skepticism, Regulation Driving Demand, Sustainable Supply Chains, Content GTM Strategy, Climate Business Opportunities, & More w/ Saif Hameed (Altruistiq)* Similar Topic: #113 Incubating Climate Risk / Insurance Solutions as Traditional Insurers Pull Back w/ Stephen Brittain (Insurtech Gateway)* Something Totally Different: #99 Capturing Methane to Power Data Centers in Remote Areas w/ Andreas Lehner (PowerBlocks)Thank you for tuning in / reading the CleanTechies Podcast and Written content. We really genuinely appreciate all your support. ❤️ 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