CleanTechies Podcast

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comNate Loewentheil is the founder and managing partner of Commonweal Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on solving America's biggest challenges through entrepreneurship. Nate’s career spans angel investing, politics, and public policy. Previously, he served in the Obama White House, advising President Obama on emerging technologies such as clean energy and broadband expansion. His background includes roles in the Yale Entrepreneurial Society, founding the Roosevelt Institution, and advising startups during his time running venture investments for a family office.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn this issue:* It’s essential for late career professionals to go back into the arena and to mentor the next generation. * How O&G firms captured carbon and released it again by selling to greenhouses and how Skytree is solving this. * The way to achieve low-cost carbon capture is scalable, mass-manufactured, and co-located with carbon demand. Listen Time: Full Show 57:04 (no ads) | Free Preview 41:09On today’s episode, Rob van Straten, the CEO of Skytree captures our attention with his deep wisdom on how to scale a successful carbon capture technology company. Why you should trust him? He brings a long career of experience building and scaling companies that he parlayed into Skytree where they are currently crushing it with their modular, mass-production capable carbon capture system. Spoiler alert, you can’t do this successfully if you’re doing it on a project basis - you need to do it with a modular system that you can mass produce (it allows for faster iteration of the design). Learn:* How they build their team culture and value young talents * How Oil & Gas has been catching and releasing carbon for years and how Skytree is now actually solving this problem — also related, why their largest investor is the largest owner/operator of greenhouses in the Netherlands* Why you MUST set out to achieve scale from day one. Sponsor Message: Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com  (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelDon’t miss a moment! If you want to get the full discussion, become a paid subscriber today or redeem your trial upgrade to test it out. 📝 Show Notes:Topics * 00:00 Intro* 03:03 Rob’s Journey Into Climate* 05:57 Mentorship & the Next Gen of Entrepreneurs* 09:05 Skytree's Origin and Technology Overview* 15:09 The Future of Carbon Capture: Machines vs. Plants* 28:30 Innovative Approaches to Carbon Capture* 32:45 How They Partner with Greenhouses* 38:23 Scaling Up: Lessons from the Solar Industry* 41:35 Collaboration with Large Emitters* 45:50 The Future of Oil and Energy Transition* 48:03 The Carbon Capture Startup LandscapeLinks* Rob van Straten | Skytree* Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comAmy Duffuor is a co-founder and General Partner at Azolla Ventures and Managing Director at Prime Impact Fund, Azolla's predecessor vehicle. She has a diverse background that spans immigration research, management consulting, impact investing, and renewables investment banking. Amy began her career studying marginalized West African migrants and later pursued an MPhil in Migration Studies at Oxford University. Transitioning into management consulting, she worked on supply chain and procurement projects in London and Southeast Asia, where she developed a passion for climate change solutions. Her experience running venture accelerator programs in Southeast Asia for impact-driven startups inspired her to focus on early-stage climate tech investing. Prior to Azolla, Amy worked at Bank of America as a renewables investment banker, contributing to projects like the IPO of Sunnova, a leading residential solar company.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn this issue:* Without exits, the venture ecosystem doesn’t work. That’s why it’s important to achieve outcomes sooner than later or ‘ClimateTech’ as a class will be doomed. * Under Trump, there are a few possible outcomes. 1) A Frankenstein IRA that is focused on ‘Energy Abundance’. 2) The M&A tap will be turned back on. 3) Lots of mergers and 1+1=3 situations. * Engaging with CVCs early, focusing on revenue, and conserving cash are the most important things ClimateTech founders can do to ensure survival. Listen Time: Full Show 38:51 (no ads) | Free Preview 31:19Today, we are speaking with Shaun Abrahamson from Third Sphere. Third Sphere is a leading ClimateTech investor that also has a debt strategy for high-volume production startups in the hardware space. They have backed companies like ChargeLab, ClimateBase, Gradient, OneWheel, Therma, Revivn, & Wasted (check out the episode we did with Revivn). This is Shaun’s third time on the pod — if this is your first time hearing him, you’ll understand why because he is very thoughtful. Check out the last episodes we did with him: Sponsor Message: Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com  (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelDuring NY Climate Week, the Third Sphere team put on a great event titled “Climate Tech Exits.” It was really well beloved by many NY CW attendees. They covered:* Why exits are so crucial to the success of Climate investing * The state of climate tech exits* How it looks compared to tech broadly* What to learn from the original tech winners like Google & Apple * What the paths forward might be* The patterns of successful founders In today’s episode, we recap the key points of their event and then dig into Shaun’s advice to founders on how to ensure they are doing things right, in order to see an exit. We are sure you’ll find it educational. Don’t miss a moment! If you want to get the full discussion, become a paid subscriber today or redeem your trial upgrade to test it out. 📝 Show Notes:Topics * 00:00 The Importance of Climate Tech Exits* 02:48 Current State of Climate Tech Investments* 06:06 Challenges in the IPO Market* 08:50 Corporate Venture Capital's Role* 12:08 Future Opportunities in Climate Tech* 14:56 The Shift from Mitigation to Adaptation* 18:11 Building Sustainable Business Models* 21:01 Navigating M&A Opportunities* 23:55 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinks* Shaun Abrahamson | Third Sphere* Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

There’s no sugarcoating it…Trump is bad news for ClimateTech — but thankfully, we have interviewed 200+ ClimateTech Entrepreneurs on how to build politically resilient companies — ensuring the future is greener no matter who the president is. Today we’re distilling those key lessons for you. * Key risks across / what’s on the chopping block * Possible silver linings & some wins * Recognizing the reality of the situation * Examples of likely downside * Choose a new narrative * Key advice to startups * Better / Faster / Cheaper * Bring on Non-Climate Investors * Choose the Right Customers * Involve CVCs* Build in Climate-Friendly States* Help the US Compete with China * Recognize Climate is not Everyone’s #1 Issue We recognize the severity of the situation we are in. But since we are here, we might as well learn from it and continue to do the good work moving forward.🚨 Also — a huge thank you to our paid subscribers for the questions and inspiration for this episode! Want to be a part of future ones? Upgrade to paid now! 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelOh! One last thing… These next 4 years are going to have their challenges — join our group chat for paid subs, where you can interact with other founders and get extra insights and behind-the-scenes access. — Become a paid subscriber to join today! 📝 Show Notes:Topics * 00:00 Brief Reactions* 02:53 Key Implications (What’s at Risk & Upsides?)* 06:11 Rural vs Urban Perspectives on Climate Issues* 09:00 Navigating Climate Conversations in a Conservative Context* 11:51 Opportunities and Risks for Climate Tech Under Trump* 15:13 Changing how you Market Your Climate Tech Startup * 21:52 Strategies for Climate Tech Founders Moving ForwardLinks* Cipher: With Donald Trump victory, here are his energy and climate positions* Nature: Big State and Local Wins for Climate and Conservation in the United States* The Hill: 18 House Republicans ask Johnson not to target IRA clean energy tax credits* Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn* @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X * This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comToday we are joined by Duncan Logan, CEO & Co-Founder of 9Zero. A community platform to bring climate professionals together in person and online so we can work together to solve the climate crisis. Duncan previously founded RocketSpace where he saw many tech startups that would go on to become unicorns. Companies like Uber, FlexPort, and Spotify. Having this experience made him realize the importance of creating a hub for people to collaborate and bump into each other. They are extending this even further by building these hubs in all major climate cities because unlike the 2000’s tech boom, there is no one silicon valley for climate. We need to connect NY, DC, Boston, Houston, London, Berlin, SF, Seattle, and beyond. Duncan brings a lot of experience and some great stories (like the time he met Elon). Check out the episode today. If you are not a paid subscriber, you can get the free preview. To get the entire episode, become a paid supporter today.Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com  (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!) 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelFuture guest suggestions or topics? Leave a comment!📝 Show Notes:Topics * 00:00 The Climate Ecosystem: A Call to Action* 02:01 Duncan Logan: Building Climate Tech Communities* 11:09 9Zero: The Silicon Valley of Climate* 20:14 Connecting Climate Hubs: A Collaborative Approach* 29:45 Navigating Complexity in Climate Tech* 38:50 Leadership in Climate Startups: The Right Team MattersLinks* Duncan Logan | 9Zero* Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn* @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X * This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comJean-Simon Venne is the co-founder and CTO of BrainBox AI, a pioneering company using artificial intelligence to optimize energy use in buildings. With a background in telecom and deep expertise in building mechanics and computer engineering, Jean-Simon has led BrainBox’s efforts to bring scalable, autonomous HVAC systems to the market. In this episode, Jean-Simon discusses his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of scaling AI in the built environment, and how BrainBox AI leverages deep learning to decarbonize buildings and support grid efficiency.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comArjun Jairaj is an investor at noa, a London-based VC firm focused on early-stage ventures in the built environment across North America and Europe. With experience spanning private equity, startup founding, and advisory roles, Arjun has worked in India, the UK, and beyond, including founding a shared economy startup called Plonk. At noa, he focuses on real estate, construction, energy, and mobility, with a strong emphasis on sustainability and climate technology.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comToday we have the opportunity to interview one of the most energetic and inspiring people in climate tech. Liz Dennett, the CEO and Founder of Endolith. If you recognize the name Endolith, it may be because we had Moji Karimi of Cemvita on for episode 200. Endolith recently spun out of Cemvita to form its own independent company. They are solving a huge problem in the electrification puzzle — copper extraction. By 2050 we will need more copper than in the history of mankind due to the electrification of industry and developing countries. If we don’t solve this, it could lead to geopolitical conflicts. Endolith’s technology uses microbes to eat crushed rocks and poop out copper (I mean, I did say explain it to me like I’m 5). They add this to existing mining operations to increase output by ~10%. Solving this problem will help us get closer to meeting the rising copper demand. And this is a good thing for many reasons. Not the least of which is, as countries gain reliable access to electricity, women and children are the primary beneficiaries. That’s a world I want to work for. In today’s conversation, we’ll cover:* The role of copper in electrification* Her journey to CEO of Endolith* Why copper could be the thing wars are fought over (not water)* The innovation behind microbial mining* The balance between generating hype and focusing on scientific advancementsLet’s dive in. (Full topics at the bottom 👇) 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel(PS: if you want to see her adorable dog — go watch on YouTube — SOOO CUTE! 🐶)If you’re a free subscriber, get the full (and uninterrupted) episode by upgrading to paid today. Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com  (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)Topics: * 00:00 The Importance of Coppe* 02:49 Liz's Journey to Endolith* 06:06 Microbes and Metal Recovery* 08:49 Deep Tech Startup Challenges* 12:11 Spinning-Out of Endolith from Cemvita* 14:53 The Impact of Copper on Society* 18:04 Geopolitics and Copper* 20:57 Electrification and Global Outcomes* 25:40 Speaking Truth to Power* 28:26 The Complexities of Clean Energy Access* 30:44 Areas to Decarbonize Mining* 32:36 Partnering with Mining Incumbents* 35:55 Balancing Hype and ‘Doing Science’* 40:39 The Role of Politics in Green Mining* 45:11 Recycling & the Future of MineralsLinks* Liz Dennett | Endolith* Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn* @Silas & @Somil_Agg on X * This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

A while ago, we released a survey to collect people's feedback on NY Climate Week 2024. Well… the results are in! And we are here to recap them. If you want to know…**What people thought the best events were (and why) **As well as the worst… (namedropped… 😬) and why **Favorite topics **Topics people want to see more next year**What everyone’s goal was, and did they achieve it? **What people will do differently next year**And takeaways from your favorite CleanTechies hostsWe enjoyed making this, and we think you’ll enjoy listening. Let us know how we did!Topics 0:00 Introduction to the NY Climate Week Survey Results1:03 Highlights of Favorite Events2:31 Factors Contributing to Event Success3:53 Least Favorite Events8:08 Key Topics Discussed11:51 Goals of Attendees20:30 Broader Feedback and Suggestions for Improvement23:19 Takeaways LinksConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedIn@Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. 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