Explore every episode of the podcast Climate CEOs (formerly Entrepreneurs for Impact): Scaling Climate Tech Startups

100,000 people joined 1,000 events in NYC last week for the Climate Week. In this 18-minute podcast, I summarize 16 highlights from my time there. If you like this, join 40,000 who get my Climate CEOs newsletter. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI for entrepreneurs, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my Climate CEOs newsletter. Join 40,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

(Shout out to Carbon Brief on the visual.)

Electric vehicles, charging, and support in one predictable monthly payment (4 million EV fleet vehicles by 2030).

🎧 Episode Summary

7Gen is a Vancouver-based company that helps commercial fleets transition to zero-emission vehicles by providing turnkey solutions for electrification.

Their services include financing, procurement, charging infrastructure, and long-term support to simplify the switch from diesel to electric.

By acting as both a technology integrator and capital partner, 7Gen accelerates adoption of clean transportation in North America.

Frans is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with a track record in scaling sustainable businesses.

He has led companies across sectors including renewable energy, transportation, and technology, with a consistent focus on impact and climate solutions.

His career spans Europe and North America, giving him a global perspective on the future of clean mobility.🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

For entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments—drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/

⭐ Leave a Review

No sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:

👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI for entrepreneurs, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my Climate CEOs newsletter. Join 40,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Mapping $1.9 Trillion in global climate finance. Who invests? Who gets the funding?

🎧 Episode Summary

The Climate Policy Initiative is a leading international nonprofit research organization focused on tracking and mobilizing climate finance.

Dr. Barbara Buchner is the lead author of the annual Global Landscape of Climate Finance reports—widely regarded as the standard for climate finance tracking—and directs CPI’s Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance, which has helped mobilize multibillion‑dollar investment for sustainable development worldwide.

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

For entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments—drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/

⭐ Leave a Review

No sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:

👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Hear 5 themes from Sept. 10th EFI CEO & investor discussion on AI in climate tech in practice. Additionally, discover 7 ways AI is a climate champion, along with 14 example companies. (From my newsletter. Join 40,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com)

Using robots and microfactories to build energy-efficient, affordable homes, resilient to natural disasters.

🎧 Episode Summary

Reframe Systems, led by CEO Vikas Enti, is a climate‑tech startup building compact, robotic micro‑factories that can construct climate‑resilient, net‑zero homes—specifically “missing‑middle” housing—significantly faster, cheaper, and with far lower carbon emissions than traditional methods.

Having previously led robotics innovation at Amazon Robotics (and before that, Kiva Systems), Enti’s Reframe was recently awarded LACI’s LA Resilient Rebuilding Cup, recognizing both his vision and progress toward scalable, resilient housing solutions.

🔑 Highlights

• Raising a new $20M round co-led by Eclipse and VoLo Earth Ventures, with support from MassMutual Catalyst Funds, Cubit Capital, Planetary Health at RA Capital Management, Saga Ventures, and Nor’easter Ventures
• Building affordable, high-efficiency homes 2.5x faster and 30% cheaper
• Leading teams at Amazon Robotics with 1 million robots
• Addressing a 500,000-worker shortage in building construction, with 40% of tradespeople expected to retire in the next 10 years
• Changing a career based on children and finding more meaning in life

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

For entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments—drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/

⭐ Leave a Review

No sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:

👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI for entrepreneurs, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 40,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

AI-powered agtech infrastructure is growing climate-friendly crops while boosting farmer profitability—backed by horticultural expertise and data science.

🎧 Episode Summary

IUNU is a Seattle‑based ag‑tech startup using AI‑driven computer vision and autonomous sensors—via its LUNA platform—to monitor greenhouse crop growth in real time, optimize operations, and boost farm productivity across 100 facilities in 18 countries.

They've raised over $60 million to scale up, including a recent $20M round led by our friends at S2G Investments.

Adam Greenberg is the CEO and co-founder. As a servant leader, he believes that "true leaders base their success on the success of those around them." Amen, brother!

His prior roles include consulting for Fortune 100 companies, volunteering with youth programs, and co-founding Pure Blue Tech (a reverse osmosis water tech co).

🔑 Highlights

• How they recently raised $20 million in a challenging market by demonstrating strong market pull from customers
• Why they help farmers, retailers, and breeders with real business benefits before mentioning their environmentally friendly attributes
• What he means by Chief Translation Officer
• How great leaders create an environment where everyone is willing to go the extra mile
• The inverse correlation between high-impact work and personal balance
• How Wim Hof breathing and meditation keep him healthy and sane

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

For entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments—drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/

⭐ Leave a Review

No sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:

👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 20,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Learn how to dramatically lower HVAC energy use via metal organic frameworks with Sorin Grama, CEO of Transaera.

🎧 Episode Summary

Transaera is reimagining air-conditioning with solid desiccant materials that strip out moisture before cooling.

Translation: less energy, fewer emissions, and a planet that sweats less.

It’s a plug‑and‑play upgrade across residential and commercial HVAC systems.

Sorin is an MIT-trained engineer, inventor, and serial entrepreneur.

He’s also the co-founder of Greentown Labs, a lecturer at MIT, and a Climate CEO Fellow in our EFI peer group program.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• “Don’t fall in love with tech. Fall in love with the customer’s pain.”

• Promethean Power Systems and the art of keeping dairy cold in rural India

• The weird science of Metal Organic Frameworks

• Leadership lessons from Hard Thing About Hard Things + Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

  His 5-minute journal + the radical act of slowing down to think clearly

Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 20,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Legendary VC investor Brad Feld explains why “giving first” (his new book) is the key to building resilient founders, impactful startups, and thriving startup communities—especially in climate tech and turbulent times.

🎧 Episode Summary

Brad Feld, co-founder of Foundry Group and Techstars, joins Dr. Chris Wedding to discuss why his “Give First” philosophy—mentorship without expectation of immediate return—matters more than ever. Brad shares lessons from four decades as a VC investor, board member, and mentor. These include how startup founders can survive near-death experiences, embrace long time horizons, and create positive-sum relationships that outlast cycles of hype, political polarization, and shifting government priorities.

Brad dives into the difference between being a mentor, advisor, coach, and investor—and why setting boundaries and focusing on the long arc of reputation and karma is critical for mental health and sustained impact. He also shares insights from his latest book, Give First, and how the practice of non-transactional mentorship can unlock new opportunities and durable communities in climate innovation.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Private sector innovation—and founders with grit—are more important than ever for climate solutions, especially as government support and data become more fragile.

• Most startups fail, but even failures drive learning, progress, and future breakthroughs—long-term impact compounds through experimentation.

• The best founders are resilient, adaptive, and motivated by mission, not just market conditions; they see setbacks as “type 2” fun (enjoyable in hindsight).

• “Give First” means engaging in relationships without upfront transactional expectations—positive outcomes flow back in unpredictable ways over time.

• Mentorship is distinct from advisory, coaching, or investing: mentors give with no guarantee of return; advisors and coaches are transactional; investors have skin in the game.

• Healthy boundaries are essential: founders and mentors must balance generosity, mental health, and financial realities.

• Community building in climate tech—and beyond—relies on trust, shared learning, and a willingness to help without keeping score.

• Reputation and “karma” accrue over decades, not quarters; the most satisfying business relationships are long-term, peer-based, and founded on authenticity and empathy.

• Brad’s Mentor Manifesto (from Techstars) and the concept of “entrepreneurial tzedakah” (righteous giving) offer frameworks for effective, fulfilling mentorship.

• Giving first in business isn’t altruism; it’s a philosophy for creating positive-sum games in a world fixated on transactions.

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

For entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments—drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/

⭐ Leave a Review

No sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:

👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Learn these 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 20,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Learn how Realta Fusion raised a giant Series A VC round to commercialize university tech for affordable fusion energy in industrial heating.

🎧 Episode Summary

Kieran Furlong, Co-Founder and CEO of Realta Fusion, joins host Dr. Chris Wedding to reveal how his team is commercializing a breakthrough approach to fusion energy, spinning out of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Realta’s “CosmoFusion”—compact, scalable, and modular—aims to bring affordable, zero-carbon energy to hard-to-abate sectors much sooner than the world expects.

Kieran shares why their recent funding round was oversubscribed, details the world record 17 Tesla magnetic field their team achieved, and demystifies the practical steps from deep science to the first-of-its-kind commercial fusion plant. He digs into how Realta’s engineering mindset speeds up the path to market, why industrial heat (not just electricity) is an overlooked fusion product, and how the company is tackling public perception, regulation, and customer partnerships head-on.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Realta Fusion’s CosmoFusion approach centers on building compact, modular, and scalable fusion plants—right-sized for private industry, not just distant grid-scale promises.

• Their team achieved a world-record 17 Tesla magnetic field strength in plasma containment, a major technical milestone for fusion’s viability.

• Realta targets delivering industrial heat directly to energy-intensive sectors (like petrochemicals and data centers), unlocking decarbonization beyond the electric grid.

• The business model: ‘build-own-operate’ for the first commercial plant, with future expansion to OEM and global partnerships, rather than risky licensing.

• Realta’s cost curve strategy borrows from the modular scaling seen in wind and solar, aiming for rapid cost declines as more units are built.

• Fusion’s safety profile is fundamentally different from fission: no long-lived radioactive waste, no runaway reactions, and intrinsic fail-safety—the technical and public education challenge is a top priority.

• Regulators in the US, UK, and Japan are already treating fusion differently from fission, making a faster, cheaper path to market possible.

• The fusion industry benefits from bipartisan support and national interest in reshoring high-precision manufacturing and energy security.

• Kieran’s advice for founders: set your personal red lines (e.g., defense work) early and align your team before pressure hits; build healthy routines (like biking year-round in Wisconsin!); and learn from big project management history.

• Recommended reads: “How Big Things Get Done,” “Energy and Civilization” by Vaclav Smil, and “The Prize” by Daniel Yergin.

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — North America’s top invite-only community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉⁠ ⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

Written for entrepreneurs and investors, we cover five quick points on climate data, CEOs to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments, drawn from working with 400+ climate CEOs and investors and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉⁠ ⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/⁠⁠

⭐ Leave a Review

This podcast has no sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found it valuable, please take a minute to leave a review so more people can discover these stories.

👉⁠ ⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups, leadership, and finance on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding/

Learn these 5 insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness leadership. Join 20,000 who get my newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Discover how World Tree combines regenerative forestry, carbon sequestration, and impact investing to scale climate solutions across North America and Latin America.

🎧 Episode Summary

Doug Willmore, CEO of World Tree, shares how the company is commercializing the world’s fastest-growing hardwood, Paulownia, and how their EcoTree program enables retail investors to support regenerative forestry while earning returns.

Doug explains the unique regenerative qualities of Paulownia, why biodiversity matters in timber projects, and how World Tree is educating investors on the environmental and financial benefits of sustainable forestry.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• World Tree is scaling Paulownia, a fast-growing hardwood that regenerates from the stump.

• Their EcoTree program allows retail investors to offset carbon and earn financial returns.

• Over $17M in non-dilutive capital has supported their tree-planting efforts.

• Investors can target potential returns of 5–6x over 8–11 years.

• World Tree avoids commodity markets by focusing on high-value wood products.

• They’re working on off-take agreements to build long-term market demand.

• Biodiversity is crucial for achieving optimal climate and financial outcomes.

• The ideal EcoTree farmers vary by geography and practice.

• Tax benefits are a key part of their investor education efforts.

⏱️ Chapters 

• 00:00 – Intro & Doug’s background

• 02:18 – World Tree’s mission

• 04:41 – The unique Paulownia tree

• 08:00 – EcoTree investment model

• 16:11 – Investor education & expectations

• 22:25 – Challenges of ag and forestry

• 24:12 – Productizing the timber

• 30:30 – Market performance & potential

• 35:24 – Who the right EcoTree farmers are

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re capped at 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉 ⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

Written for entrepreneurs and investors, we cover five quick points on climate data, CEOs to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments, drawn from working with 400+ climate CEOs and investors and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉 ⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/⁠

⭐ Leave a Review

This podcast has no sponsors — just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found it valuable, please take a minute to leave a review so more people can discover these stories. Here’s how to leave a podcast review.

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups, leadership, and finance on ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Explore how Marilyn Waite and the Climate Finance Fund mobilize trillions in capital, proving each dollar delivers more climate impact in the Global South.

The Climate Finance Fund is a philanthropic platform that helps to mobilize capital for climate solutions. Supported by the Hewlett Foundation and hosted by the European Climate Foundation, they’re focused on China, the European Union, and the United States.–

Previously, Marilyn led energy and cleantech investments at Village Capital, managed nuclear and renewable energy projects at AREVA (now Orano), and served as a Senior Research Fellow at Project Drawdown, where she led a team to analyze, model, and forecast energy solutions to climate change. Marilyn also worked at the intersection of science and policy at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and in economic development at the United Nations in Madagascar. She is a multilingual speaker and author of Sustainability at Work: Careers that Make a Difference.

–In this podcast, we talked about the $450T of global capital relative to the $4T needed each year to mitigate the worst economic and public health effects of climate change, her blended finance work with BlackRock, why each dollar can accomplish more climate mitigation inthe Global South, what a hummingbird in Jamaica might have foretold about her work at the Global Climate Finance Forum, and how to find a job in this field in her book, Sustainability at Work.

–

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS

Marilyn Waite - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynwaite

Climate Finance Fund - https://climatefinance.fund

–

🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:

Please give Marilyn and Climate Finance Fund a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

–

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Learn how Paul Gross and Remora retrofit trucks and trains to capture 90% of CO₂ while turning emissions into revenue.

Remora, founded in 2020 in Michigan, retrofits diesel locomotives and semi-trucks with onboard systems that capture, liquify, and purify up to 90% of CO₂ emissions – while also cutting soot, particulates, and NOₓ – then stores it for offloading and sale, sharing revenue with operators.

Backed by $117 M in venture funding and piloting with major players like Union Pacific, Norfolk Southern, Ryder, Werner, and DHL, the company overcame early design issues (like waterlogging and backpressure) and is now scaling for broader deployment.

–

Paul is the co-founder and CEO at Remora. In 2021, he was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Statistics and Data Science from Yale University, where his research received the Porter Prize, the highest class-wide thesis prize.

–

In this podcast, we talked about how they got investors excited to invest $117M, why unit economics are so important, the joy of doing hard things, why expertise is overrated, the reason why reading biographies is so helpful, how he got the idea for this company as a senior at Yale University, why you should watch the movies Tommy Boy and Braveheart, and how the cost of capital influenced his choice of business model.

–

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS

Paul Gross - https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulagross

Remora - https://remoracarbon.com/

–

🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:

Please give Paul and Remora a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

–

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Discover how Jim McDermott, a 9x founder and private equity investor, is backing carbon capture, rethinking fund models, and keeping optimism alive in climate finance.

Rusheen Capital Management is a Santa Monica, CA-based private equity firm that invests in growth-stage companies in the carbon capture and utilization, low-carbon energy, and water sustainability sectors.

–

Prior to co-founding Rusheen, Jim started, invested in and run numerous companies. These include: US Renewables Group (Founder & Managing Partner), Stamps.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:STMP – Founder), Spoke Software, Inc. (Founder & CEO), Archive, Inc. (Founder & CEO – sold to Cyclone Commerce), NanoH2O, Inc. (Founder & Board Member – sold to LG Chemical), SolarReserve (Founder & Board Member), Fulcrum Bioenergy, Inc. (Founder & Board Member), Common Assets (Founder & Board Member – sold to NASDAQ:SCTY), SET Technology (Board Member) and OH Energy, Inc. (Founder & Board Member).

–

In this podcast, we talked about why investors should remain optimistic about investing in climate, how reliability trumps novelty in the energy sector every time, the need for geoengineering as today’s Tylenol, how tithing and the Giving Pledge can catalyze funding from 650,000 ultra high net worth families to address climate’s toughest challenges, why we need new financial structures to match the 10-20 year nature of hard tech climate solutions, and why he likes to walk in the dark in Southern California canyons to hear whispers of insights about business and life.–

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS

Jim McDermott - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesacmcdermott

Rusheen Capital Management - https://www.rusheen.com

–

🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:

Please give Jim and Rusheen a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

–

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

–

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Hear how Dr. Liz Dennett and Endolith use biotech microbes to revolutionize copper recovery, cut chemicals, and power clean energy metals.

Endolith is a Denver-based biotech startup revolutionizing mining by leveraging microbes to sustainably extract copper and lithium from low-grade ores. 

Founded in 2023, the company employs custom-engineered microbial communities, adaptive biohatcheries, and real-time cloud-based monitoring to enhance mineral recovery while minimizing environmental impact. 

Endolith's innovations have demonstrated significant improvements in copper extraction, attracting partnerships with industry leaders like BHP and Rio Tinto. 

Their approach not only boosts efficiency but also reduces reliance on harmful chemicals, aligning mining practices with clean energy goals.

–

Dr. Liz Dennett is a technologist and entrepreneur with nearly two decades of experience in biotech and energy industries.

Previously, she was the CTO of Cemvita, developing nature-inspired biosolutions for a carbon-neutral future.  

Liz has held senior roles at Wood Mackenzie, AWS, Biota Technology, Hess Corporation, and the NASA Astrobiology Institute. She is also an advisory board member for the UW-Madison Dept. of Geoscience.  

Liz holds a MS and PhD in geoscience and astrobiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

–

We talked about reasons for her purple hair, copper demand expected to double by 2050, specially evolved microbial communities combined with cloud computing to enhance copper recovery, relying on internal validation over external approval, and bad mining puns.

--

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS

Liz Dennett - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizpd

Endolith - https://www.endolithmining.com/

--

🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:

Please give Liz and Endolith a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Discover how Joe Rodden & Lydian Labs convert CO₂ into jet fuel with renewable power, slashing aviation emissions by up to 95%.

Lydian Labs is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based startup founded in 2021, dedicated to decarbonizing the aviation industry by producing sustainable fuels from carbon dioxide, water, and renewable electricity. 

Their proprietary technology employs fully electrified, modular reactors to convert CO₂ into carbon-neutral fuels, achieving up to 95% lower lifecycle emissions compared to traditional jet fuel.

The company has successfully demonstrated a pilot system capable of producing 10,000 gallons of fuel per year, marking a significant step toward commercial-scale production planned for 2027. Lydian's approach offers flexibility by operating during periods of low-cost renewable electricity, enhancing economic viability and grid compatibility.

Backed by prominent climate-focused investors such as Congruent Ventures and Galvanize Climate Solutions, Lydian is a leader in the sustainable aviation fuel sector.

--

Joe Rodden has spent his career building software to help the world’s most sophisticated companies make complex strategic decisions in dynamic market conditions. 

Most recently, at Form Energy, Joe supported the commercialization of a novel iron-air battery for grid-scale energy storage.

He previously worked at Affirm, which he helped prepare for IPO as an early lead on the strategy and finance team, and BlackRock, where he advised some of the firm’s largest private and public clients on complex capital markets transactions.

--

Here are 6 highlights from the podcast:

1. Why Aviation Needs SAF – Aviation could hit 20% of global emissions by 2050; SAF is under 1% of today’s jet fuel.

2. Lydian’s Electrofuels – Made from CO₂, water, and clean power; compatible with today’s infrastructure.

3. Smart Sourcing – Ethanol CO₂ is cost-effective now; DAC offers long-term options; plants adapt to renewable energy.

4. Scaling Up – Modular design enables 10x growth without redesign.

5. Cost & Climate Edge – Electrofuels rival bio-SAF on price, cut emissions by up to 99%, and reduce contrails.

6. Life Philosophy – Joe lives by ikigai and credits his organized partner for balance.

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🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS

Joe Rodden - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-rodden-8bb09a62/

Lydian Labs - https://www.lydianlabs.com

--

🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:

Please give Joe and Lydian Lads a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Explore how Ahmad Ghahreman & Cyclic Materials recycle rare earths from EVs & wind turbines, building a circular, low-water supply chain.

Cyclic Materials is a Canadian cleantech company, founded in 2021, specializing in the recycling of rare earth elements (REEs) from end-of-life products such as electric vehicle motors, wind turbines, and electronic waste. 

Their proprietary technologies, MagCycle℠ and REEPure℠, enable the efficient recovery and purification of critical materials, contributing to a circular economy and reducing reliance on traditional mining. 

In 2024, the company launched its first commercial demonstration facility in Kingston, Ontario, and announced plans to invest over $20 million in a U.S. facility in Mesa, Arizona.

Cyclic Materials has secured significant funding, including a $53 million Series B round with investors like BMW i Ventures and Microsoft's Climate Innovation Fund, to support its global expansion and the development of sustainable supply chains for critical materials.

–

Ahmad Ghahreman is a serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in cleantech, and one of the top hydrometallurgists in the world. 

He has co-invented more than 20 patents and commercialized over five technologies, focusing on transforming the rare earth elements market with sustainable, ethical solutions. 

In addition to his work at Cyclic, Ahmad is an early co-inventor of Jetti Resources’ copper extraction technology (valued at $2.5B), and the co-designer of Li-Cycle’s lithium-ion battery recycling technology (NYSE: LICY valued at over $1B). 

Formerly a professor at Queen’s University, Ontario, Canada, he built the largest and most-funded metals extraction team in North America with over 20 graduate students. 

With a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering, he is a leading hydrometallurgist researcher with over 3,000 citations.

--

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS

Ahmad Ghahreman - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmad-ghahreman-41506b10/?originalSubdomain=ca

Cyclic Materials - https://www.cyclicmaterials.earth/

--

🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:

Please give Ahmad and Cyclic Materials a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Hear how Chuck Templeton (OpenTable founder & S2G Managing Partner) invests $2.5B in food, ag, oceans & energy while blending returns with impact.

Chuck Templeton is an ex-operator, including founding OpenTable and serving as lead investor and operating Chairman in companies such as Grubhub and Venmo (Braintree Payment Systems). 

He is focused on helping the S2G team, entrepreneurs, and executives take their ideas, validate them, institutionalize processes, and ultimately scale their business innovations to address today’s urgent environmental and societal problems.

S2G is a multi-stage investment firm with $2.5B under management and 100+ portfolio companies. They focus on venture and growth-stage businesses across food and agriculture, oceans, and energy. 

With a commitment to creating long-term, measurable outcomes, S2G structures flexible capital solutions that can range from venture funding through growth equity to debt and infrastructure financing.

–

Here are 6 topics we covered in the podcast:

1. S2G’s Investment Philosophy

Chuck Templeton debunks the myth that impact means weak returns—S2G invests where sustainability and strong financials align. Their focus spans food, ag, energy, and oceans, which together drive 90% of global emissions.

2. Why Food & Ag Is Undervalued

Food systems cause one-third of emissions but get just ~4% of climate capital. Chuck sees massive upside in climate-friendly, great-tasting, and healthier food products.

3. How S2G Operates Differently

They invest $20M–$50M per deal, with dedicated teams per sector and an in-house acceleration platform that supports hiring, growth, and commercialization. Their capital stack includes both equity and flexible credit options.

4. What Founders Miss

Too many founders obsess over tech and forget commercialization. S2G backs companies with $10M+ revenue, clear product-market fit, and capital discipline.

5. Flashfood & Sunday: Climate by Stealth

Flashfood cuts grocery waste while saving consumers money; Sunday makes lawn care safer and easier for families. In both cases, climate benefits are real—but come after convenience, cost, and safety.

6. Chuck’s Personal Fuel

Inspired by fatherhood and minimalism, Chuck shifted to climate after OpenTable and Venmo. Running, stoicism, and a love for leadership learning keep him grounded—plus, he’s big on “raising your hand” to lead.

--

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Chuck Templeton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctemp

S2G - https://www.s2ginvestments.com

--

🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:

Please give Chuck and S2B a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Jigar Shah (SunEdison founder & ex-DOE LPO Director) unpacks $107B in climate deals, why VC is broken, & how evergreen capital can scale cleantech.

Jigar Shah served as Director of the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from March 2021 to January 2025, where he oversaw a $400B budget.

Prior, Shah was co-founder and President at Generate Capital, where he focused on helping entrepreneurs accelerate decarbonization solutions through the use of low-cost infrastructure-as-a service financing. Generate has raised over $10 billion, investing in 50+ technology and development partnerships with more than 2,000 assets globally.

Prior to Generate Capital, Shah founded SunEdison, a company that pioneered “pay as you save” solar financing (i.e., PPAs).

After SunEdison, Shah served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson to help entrepreneurs address climate change.

--

Here are six topics we covered in the podcast:

1. Post-LPO Reset

After managing $107B in deals at DOE’s Loan Programs Office, Jigar Shah hit pause and rebranded as a “podcaster.” He’s taking time to reflect before diving into the next chapter.

2. Climate VC Is Broken

Shah says the 100x-return VC model doesn’t fit climate tech’s reality. He pushes for an “East Coast” model: aim for 18% IRR, win 7 of 10 bets, and skip the moonshots.

3. Evergreen Capital > 2-and-20

At Generate Capital, Shah turned down big checks to build an evergreen structure that aligns with long-term climate infrastructure. It’s less lucrative for managers, but way better for founders.

4. FOAK Risk, Explained

He breaks project finance into five risks: tech, feedstock, offtake, construction, and ops. LPO, unlike most investors, can stomach execution risk, like 12 methane pyrolysis reactors, not just one.

5. Think Like a Developer

Clean tech needs dev capital like real estate: risky early bets, then stable returns once built. It's not “risk-free”—just “risk-you-can-understand.”

6. Deep Tech’s Fatal Flaw

Too many founders chase giant, low-margin markets. Shah says to start with high-margin niches (like InventWood selling to data centers) and then scale.

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🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Jigar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jigarshahdc

His Open Circuit podcast - https://www.latitudemedia.com/podcasts/open-circuit/

--

🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:

Please give Jigar a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

I’m sure his 745,000 LinkedIn followers would welcome that.

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Josh Felser (Climactic & Freestyle Capital) shares lessons from 5 unicorns, $395M in exits, & why climate investing needs fresh narratives.

Climactic is an early-stage venture fund investing in the energy, AI, automation, and robotics sectors to address climate change and its effects.

It is backed by folks like Chris Sacca, Reid Hoffman, Mio Partners, and StepStone.

Prior to Climactic, Josh co-founded Freestyle Capital, where he sourced or invested in the unicorns: Airtable, Patreon, Betterup, and Intercom.

He was a pioneer in the early days of the Internet where he co-founded Spinner, the first Internet music startup, acquired by AOL for $320M, and Crackle, a viral video startup, acquired by Sony for $65M. 

Josh’s commitment to the environment is long-standing; he started a nonprofit app in 2014 to connect influencers (NBA, Guns N Roses, Mark Ruffalo, Al Gore, Evan Williams) to the most important climate actions from the leading nonprofits. 

--

Here are six topics we covered in the podcast:

Origins with Rock Stars and Presidents

• Josh Felser co-founded ClimateX, connecting users to 100+ environmental nonprofits with partners like Al Gore, Guns N’ Roses, and the NBA.

  Why He Left Traditional VC

• After success at Freestyle Capital, COVID and a five-month role in California’s government led Josh to shift from consumer tech to climate venture, realizing business’s role in systemic change.

  Climactic’s Evolution

  Josh and Raj Kapoor launched Climactic as a B2B climate tech fund, later narrowing their focus to AI and automation for enterprise sustainability and profitability.

  Two Portfolio Bets

  Climactic invested in Grit (robotics for faster, cheaper solar installs) and Copper (battery-integrated induction stoves for apartment electrification).

  Climate Messaging in the MAGA Era

  Josh advocates re-framing climate language—e.g., using “conservation” over “environmentalism”—to resonate with conservative audiences without losing authenticity.

  Personal Wellness

  Josh finds balance through humor, avoiding the 5 AM club, emotional resilience, and grounding reminders like a Buddha statue at his Stinson Beach home.

--

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Climactic - ⁠https://www.climactic.vc

Josh Felser - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshfelser⁠

--

🙏 SHOUT OUTS:

Please give Josh and Climactic a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Roman Teslyuk (Earth AI CEO) explains how machine learning + new drilling tech slash costs & speed up critical mineral discoveries to meet $10T demand.

Earth AI is discovering untapped critical metal deposits at half the cost in a fraction of the time.

They combine machine learning and new modular drilling technology to move from detecting a prospect to drilling in just three to six months.

They recently announced $20M in Series B funding in an oversubscribed round led by Tamarack Global and Cantos Ventures. Participating investors include Overmatch, Alpaca, Sparkwave Capital, Y Combinator, and Scrum Ventures.

Roman is a YC alum, ex-PhD candidate at the University of Sydney,  and geologist with 10 years of industry and research experience in Europe, the Middle and Far East, and Australia.

Here are 6 topics we covered in the podcast:

1. The Problem

The world faces a projected $10T demand for critical metals by 2050, yet new mineral discoveries have declined by 70% over the last decade. Current exploration methods are expensive, slow, and increasingly inefficient.

2. AI-Powered Discovery

Roman’s team developed a machine learning model trained on 50 years of exploration data. The AI identifies geological proxies—subtle clues that indicate where valuable minerals may lie beneath the surface.

3. Vertical Integration

After realizing the industry wasn’t ready to adopt their tech, Earth AI built its own exploration and drilling systems. This vertical integration slashed costs and sped up testing, allowing them to confirm mineral targets rapidly.

4. Breakthrough Results

Their AI led to the first-ever discovery of magnetic nickel on Australia's East Coast. They’ve since found lithium, silver, and lead deposits, securing land cheaply and unlocking high-value prospects.

5. Founder Wisdom

Roman emphasizes sustainable work habits and a strong internal compass. He credits storytelling as crucial to convincing investors and the broader industry of Earth AI’s potential.

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🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Roman Teslyuk - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-teslyuk-a344881a

Earth AI - https://earth-ai.com/

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🙏 SHOUT OUTS:

Please give Roman and Earth AI a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

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📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

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🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Discover how Presto is unifying EV fleet charging with a Stripe-like platform, dynamic pricing, & seamless API integration.

Presto Charging is like Stripe for EV charging, providing a marketplace for EV fleet owners and EV charging networks via an app and API.

They recently raised a $15 million seed round led by Union Square Ventures and included investments from Congruent Ventures, Jetstream, and Powerhouse Ventures.

Ashwin is also a “papa to two feisty girls, weekend road bike cruiser, and photographer in hibernation.”

Before Presto, he led the Vehicles and Electrification program at Uber. 

Here are 5 topics we covered in the podcast:

1. Founding Presto

Ashwin and co-founder JJ Rayner left Uber after facing the fragmented EV charging ecosystem firsthand. They created Presto to simplify access to public charging, turning a many-to-many problem into a one-to-many platform.

2. Business Model & Customers

Presto serves B2B partners like Hertz, Avis, and Uber, offering a unified app and API for seamless EV charging. Their bottom-up approach won customer trust by delivering exceptional UX and fast support.

3. Tech & Impact

Presto acts like "Stripe for EV charging," using data and machine learning to recommend reliable stations. Their system supports dynamic pricing and grid integration to drive long-term charging infrastructure growth.

4. Founder Journey

Ashwin encourages aspiring founders to “just do it,” with eyes wide open and a partner they trust. He stresses building in a sector you love, even if the leap from corporate life feels uncertain.

5. Routines & Resources

To stay focused, Ashwin prioritizes recharge time with family and biking, emphasizing deliberate rest. He recommends books like Fall in Love with the Problem and Delivering Happiness for aspiring entrepreneurs.

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🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Ashwin Dias - https://www.linkedin.com/in/diasashwin

Presto Charging - https://www.prestocharging.com

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🙏 SHOUT OUTS:

Please give Ashwin and Presto a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Cambium is reshaping global wood sourcing with Carbon Smart Wood™, streamlined supply chains, & scalable impact.

Cambium is on a mission to build better supply chains for the timber industry.

Through their operating system, Traece, they make it easy to source sustainable and local Carbon Smart Wood™ from fallen trees at large scales.

They’ve won awards, including Fast Company’s “Most Innovative” and TIME’s Best Invention 2024.

Before Cambium, Ben worked at Sandia National Laboratories and Global Hydrologic Solutions. He is also a Forbes 30 under 30 and NOLS-certified Wilderness First Responder.

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✅ Here are 6 topics we covered in the podcast:

1. Founder Origins

Ben traces his passion for forestry to his childhood in rural New Mexico. He combined that love with advanced studies at Yale, shaping Cambium’s mission.

2. Massive Market Opportunity

Global wood demand will triple by 2050, yet half of U.S. needs could come from salvaged timber. Cambium’s platform unlocks this potential through streamlined sourcing.

3. How Cambium Works

By connecting tree-care services, sawmills, and manufacturers, they reduce waste and shorten procurement cycles. Major buyers include furniture, millwork, and mass timber firms.

4. Leadership and Culture

Ben’s leadership style reflects lessons from backcountry guiding, where proactive teamwork can prevent crises. He also applies extreme ownership principles, ensuring accountability for missed goals.

5. Scaling with Intention

Cambium is expanding its team across forestry, tech, and sales, seeking low-ego, high-impact talent. Ben emphasizes adaptability and shared values over industry-specific experience.

6. Staying Grounded

Ben stays focused with daily checklists, intentional routines, and physical play like soccer. He recommends The Hard Thing About Hard Things and Deep Survival for fellow builders.

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🙏 SHOUT OUTS:

Please give Ben and Cambium some love by sharing this podcast with your people on LinkedIn, Slack, or X.

--

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Ben Christensen - https://www.linkedin.com/in/btchr

Cambium - https://cambiumcarbon.com

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Activate helps scientists and engineers bring their transformative technologies to life.

Through a two-year paid fellowship, these science entrepreneurs receive the support they need to turn their ideas into hard-tech startups. 

Fellows work on climate solutions, advanced manufacturing and robotics, new uses of chemistry and materials, reimagined food and agriculture, space innovations, and more. 

As a nonprofit organization, Activate partners with philanthropies, universities, government programs, the corporate sector, and VC investors to help fellows bridge the gap from lab to commercialization — all without taking any equity in their startups.

Cyrus Wadia is the CEO of Activate.

He was previously director of worldwide product sustainability at Amazon, vice president of sustainable business & innovation at Nike, and assistant director of clean energy and materials R&D in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. 

Cyrus was also a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, a senior program officer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the founding co-director of the Haas School of Business CleanTech to Market initiative.

He holds a Ph.D. in energy and resources from UC Berkeley and an M.S. in chemical engineering from MIT.

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✅ PODCAST TOPICS:Activate has supported 249 fellows, catalyzed $3.6 billion, and helped launch 197 startups.

Fellows receive a salary and a $100,000 recoverable grant to develop deep-tech startups addressing societal challenges, especially in climate.

Technical founders, particularly PhD scientists, face challenges shifting their mindset from research to business objectives.

They must quickly learn skills like hiring, culture-building, fundraising, and balancing technical tasks with managing a business.

Cyrus emphasizes stronger university collaborations to foster entrepreneurial thinking among scientists and clearer corporate guidance about market needs and significant industry challenges.

This clarity would help Activate choose Fellows aligned with commercial demand.

Activate currently receives around 1,000 high-quality fellowship applications each year but can only support 50 due to limited resources.

Personally, Cyrus advises prioritizing mentorship early in one’s career.

He maintains balance through cycling and clear work-life boundaries. He also recommends Rick Rubin’s book "The Creative Act: A Way of Being" to founders and innovators.

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🙏 SHOUT OUTS:

Please give Cyrus and Activate some love by sharing this podcast with your people on LinkedIn, Slack, or X.

--

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Cyrus Wadia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyruswadia

Activate - https://www.activate.org

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:

We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Alsym Energy is developing low-cost, high-performance batteries for a zero-carbon future while scaling global energy access & industrial decarbonization.

Alsym is developing a new generation of high-performance, low-cost, non-flammable batteries to help enable a zero-carbon electrified future for all.

Using readily-available materials that are inherently non-toxic, Alsym’s breakthrough battery technology is an alternative to lithium-ion at less than half the cost, with the same performance and with no lithium or cobalt.

Mukesh Chatter is CEO, president and co-founder of Alsym Energy. Previously, he co-founded Nexabit Networks and was CEO until its acquisition by Lucent Technologies, and co-managed NeoNet Capital LLC.

He was named to Red Herring Magazine’s Top 10 Entrepreneurs in 1999, and Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001.

Mukesh received his Master's degree in Computer and Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

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On the personal side:

Chatter was inspired to launch Alsym Energy after his mother’s passing, leading him to focus on solving problems that impact at least a billion people.

His goal was to create an energy storage solution that could bring electricity access to underserved communities while also addressing global industrial decarbonization needs.

In our conversation, he also stressed the importance of thinking non-linearly, embracing pivots, and prioritizing a strong team culture where leadership leads by example.

He highlighted meditation and intentional pauses between tasks as key strategies for maintaining focus and resilience in high-stress environments.

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🙏 Please give Mukesh and Alsym a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

--

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Mukesh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mukesh-chatter-1698478

Alsym Energy - https://www.alsym.com

--

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability.

We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

Apply here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

📣 GET MY NEWSLETTER:

I share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast.

Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation.

Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

--

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups and executive coaching), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (clean energy investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, and a super humble human being (as evidenced by this long bio).

Amperon uses AI-powered forecasting to help utilities, traders, & power producers predict demand, prices, and renewable generation for a more reliable, decarbonized grid.

Amperon is a Houston-based technology company specializing in AI-powered electricity forecasting and analytics solutions. Founded in 2018, Amperon provides high-precision demand, renewable generation, and price forecasts to enhance grid reliability, manage financial risk, and support decarbonization efforts.

Their platform serves a diverse clientele, including utilities, financial traders, and independent power producers, by leveraging advanced AI models and real-time analytics to navigate the complexities of modern energy markets. In October 2023, Amperon raised $20 million in Series B funding led by Energize Capital, underscoring their commitment to innovation in the energy sector.

For almost 20 years, Sean Kelly has been at the forefront of the energy trading industry, working for Tenaska, Lehman, EDF, and E.On. While at EDF, he led the transition of two nuclear plants (Nine Mile and Ginna) into the NYISO market, then led the buildout of E.On’s North American trading desk. Next, he co-founded Bridge Power Consulting and sold it to Albireo Energy in 2019. He co-founded Amperon in 2018.

In this podcast, you’ll learn these takeaways and much more.

1. How to utilize AI and machine learning for accurate energy demand and price forecasting
2. What is the significance of automatic weighting in analyzing diverse weather data for energy predictions
3. Who said this wonderful quote: “I’ll build it if you can sell it”
4. How founders should not sell themselves short or sacrifice on their long-term thesis when working with investors
5. Why building strong long-term non-transactional relationships with investors and early adopter customer prospects is crucial for company growth
6. Why he finds value in books like The Tao of Bill Murray and The Devil in the White City
7. How boxing keeps him sane and healthy on the founder journey

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-kelly-0792626

Amperon - https://www.amperon.co

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 GET MY NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups and executive coaching), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (clean energy investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, and a super humble human being (as evidenced by this long bio).

Ernst Sack of Blue Bear Capital shares how AI-driven energy startups are funded, what makes founders succeed, and the VC playbook for energy tech investing.

Blue Bear Capital is a venture and early-growth equity fund focused on digital technologies for the energy industry. On their third fund, their companies harness IoT, machine learning, and cyber security across solar, wind, and the broader energy infrastructure.

Ernst Sack is a founding partner at Blue Bear. Previously, he spent nine years at Riverstone, a leading energy private equity firm that has invested over $45B since 2000, and worked on the Mergers & Acquisitions team at Citigroup. He has held board roles for over 15 energy and software companies, including Raptor Maps, Pani, Axiom Cloud, and Shoreline.

In this podcast, you’ll learn these takeaways and much more.

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Ernst - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernst-theodor-sack-056a5211a

Blue Bear Capital - https://bluebearcap.com

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 GET MY NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups and executive coaching), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (clean energy investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, and a super humble human being (as evidenced by this long bio).

Bellwether uses AI to predict climate disasters, analyze Earth observation data, and help governments & organizations respond faster while building resilient systems.

Bellwether is a climate prediction tool that uses AI to analyze Earth observation data and anticipate changes to the planet. It's used by the public and private sectors to help with disaster preparation and recovery. 

How Bellwether works: 

• Uses simulation techniques to analyze Earth observation data
• Predicts the likelihood of severe weather, like wildfires and floods
• Identifies damage to critical infrastructure after a disaster
• Helps deliver aid more quickly after a disaster

Dr. Sarah Russell is a startup founder, tech executive, and physician working at the intersection of business, planetary health, and machine learning.

In addition to her role as CEO of Bellwether, she is a Managing Director at X, the Moonshot Factory at Alphabet.

Previously, she held leadership roles at Venrock, the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System, and Google, applying her expertise in healthcare, technology, and regulatory strategy.

In addition to her entrepreneurial and executive pursuits, she serves as an Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, where she remains dedicated to mentoring and advancing innovation in medicine and sustainability.

Here are some topics we covered:

• How to navigate personal growth and identity shifts after selling a business
• What is the significance of absolute risk scores in disaster preparedness and how they differ from relative risk scores
• Why AI models are advantageous over traditional physics-based models in climate and weather event predictions
• When to consider expanding a business model to offer comprehensive solutions, including vertical integration and AI-enabled services
• How to maintain focus and remember that just because you can doesn’t mean you should
• Why you should surround yourself with people way smarter than you and do the ego work to deal with that reality

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Sarah - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahrussellmd

Bellwether - https://x.company/projects/bellwether

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups and executive coaching), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (clean energy investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, and super humble human being (as evidenced by this long bio).

SolaREIT provides flexible capital for solar & battery projects, enabling large-scale development while fostering long-term partnerships and mindful leadership.

SolaREIT, established in 2020, specializes in providing flexible capital solutions for solar and battery energy storage real estate. By partnering with developers and landowners, SolaREIT facilitates the monetization of land assets through land purchases, lease prepayments, and land loans. Their streamlined approach and competitive pricing have enabled capital deployment for projects across 19 states, contributing to over $3.5 billion in solar and battery storage developments.

Laura Pagliarulo is the Co-founder and CEO of SolaREIT, bringing over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy sector. Before founding SolaREIT in July 2020, she served as Managing Director at CleanChoice Energy, where she led initiatives to expand access to clean energy solutions. Her extensive background also includes leadership roles at SunEdison and WGL Energy, where she focused on community solar and distributed generation projects.

Here are some key takeaways:

1. How to optimize capital efficiency in solar and battery storage projects by leveraging innovative land acquisition strategies
2. How they decide to structure their investment based on landowner and project owner perspectives
3. Why the solar and battery storage industry demonstrates resilience and adaptability amidst legislative changes and market fluctuations
4. When to consider long-term commitments within a company to fully understand its operations and foster personal growth
5. How to maintain health and focus through personal habits such as outdoor exercise, mindful presence, and balanced technology use

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

SolarREIT: https://www.solareit.com

Laura's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-pagliarulo-4934aa5

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups and executive coaching), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (clean energy investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, and super humble human being (as evidenced by this long bio).

Optera helps enterprises track & reduce Scope 3 emissions with SaaS + consulting, aligning supply chains with science-based targets and regulatory compliance.

Optera provides a SaaS platform and consulting services to help enterprises manage carbon emissions, focusing on Scope 3 emissions. Their platform integrates operational and supply chain data to calculate and track emissions, helping clients to align with science-based targets, comply with regulations, and improve sustainability strategies. Optera supports auto, tech, and retail industries in decarbonizing their value chains and meeting emerging climate disclosure requirements.

Tim Weiss, co-founder of Optera, has extensive experience in renewable energy and emissions management. He has led initiatives in scaling solar technology in sub-Saharan Africa and now focuses on advancing enterprise-level decarbonization solutions through innovative SaaS and consulting models.

Here are six topics we covered:

Scope 3 Challenges: Managing Scope 3 emissions requires collaboration with suppliers and collecting primary data to address the largest and most complex portion of a company’s carbon footprint.

Optera’s SaaS Approach: Optera combines emissions tracking software with consulting expertise, offering tailored solutions for Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.

Benchmarking Value: Understanding performance relative to peers and industry standards is crucial for strategic decarbonization and regulatory compliance.

Regulations and Standards: New climate regulations, such as CBAM and California’s disclosure laws, are driving companies to adopt science-based targets and renewable energy strategies.

Climate Tech Resilience: Despite political shifts, the climate tech sector continues to grow, bolstered by mature technologies and strong market demand.

Leadership and Mindfulness: Tim emphasizes the importance of calculated risks, mindfulness practices, and outdoor activities to maintain balance as a leader.

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Optera Website: https://opteraclimate.com

Tim Weiss LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/tim-weiss-123b5b1b

Book: The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership: https://www.amazon.com/15-Commitments-Conscious-Leadership-Sustainable-ebook/dp/B00R3MHWUE

Podcast: People I Mostly Admire: https://freakonomics.com/series/people-i-mostly-admire/

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, and occasional monk.

Mark1 accelerates industrial climate tech commercialization with project development support, catalytic capital, and adoption readiness frameworks for early-stage startups.

Mark1 is a public benefit corporation focused on accelerating the commercialization of emerging industrial technologies and climate solutions. Being spun out of Deep Science Ventures and the Rocky Mountain Institute, Mark1 offers early-stage project development support, front-end planning, and catalytic capital for innovative companies. By bridging the gap between technology development and project development, they help startups navigate the complexities of project financing, off-take agreements, and regulatory processes.

Julian Ryba-White, Co-Founder and CEO of Mark1, was previously a Principal at Nokomis Energy, Senior Director of TenK Solar, and Manager at SolarCity

Here are five takeaways.

Bridging the commercialization gap: Julian explains the unique challenges companies face when transitioning from technology development to project deployment and how Mark1 supports this process through expertise and resources. Adoption readiness levels: Mark1 introduces the concept of “adoption readiness levels” from the DOE to measure project viability and prepare companies for scaling. Catalytic capital: Julian details their funding approach, targeting deployment of $300,000 to $500,000 for early development costs to de-risk development with a return model tied to project milestones to align incentives. Holistic project development: Mark1’s bespoke program identifies gaps in technology, finance, and equity, providing tailored support through a co-development agreement. Career advice for emerging professionals: Julian emphasizes the importance of patience, family time, and human connection in balancing personal and professional growth.

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Company Website: https://www.mark1.build

Julian's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-ryba-white-1999628

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

Matt Eggers of Prelude Ventures shares how early-stage climate tech startups are funded, scaled, and supported while integrating biogenic carbon removal and mindful leadership.

Prelude Ventures is a climate tech investment firm focusing on early-stage startups. They invest primarily in seed and Series A rounds, supporting founders with innovative technologies addressing climate challenges. They began in 2009 and have about $2 billion under management.

Matt Eggers, Managing Director at Prelude Ventures, has a wealth of experience in climate tech investing and manufacturing. Plus, he serves on one of our boards at Duke University, the EDGE Center at our Fuqua School of Business, so you know he can pick great teams! Prior roles include Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures and operational roles at Sunrun, Tesla, Genentech, and Bloom Energy. 

Here are four topics we covered:

1. Climate Tech Investment Strategy: Prelude focuses on strong teams, scalable technologies, and significant markets for venture-backed growth. A great team can overcome deficiencies in technology or business models and drive a startup's success.
2. Creative Financing Solutions: Examples of combining venture capital, grants, and equipment financing for first-of-a-kind manufacturing facilities like Lux Wall.
3. Biogenic Carbon Capture: Insights into innovative approaches like Graphyte and Vaulted Deep, which address both carbon removal and waste management.
4. Personal Habits for Leaders: Matt highlights outdoor activities, meditation, and self-reflection as critical practices for mental well-being and leadership focus.

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Company Website: https://www.preludeventures.com

Matt Eggers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eggersmatt

Lux Wall: https://luxwall.com

Graphyte: https://www.graphyte.com

Vaulted Deep: https://www.vaulteddeep.com

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

SparkMeter uses AI-powered solutions to help utilities worldwide manage grids efficiently, serve millions of customers, and advance climate-focused energy systems.

SparkMeter offers grid-management solutions that enable utilities worldwide to run profitable, efficient, and reliable systems. Their investors include mutual friends at Clean Energy Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Elemental Impact.

Dan’s prior experience includes work at DNV GL and a PhD in engineering and public policy from Carnegie Mellon.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. How an 8th-grade science project and a trip to Haiti laid the foundation for this company
2. Why they chose to build solutions involving hardware, software, and communications instead of just one or two of those pieces
3. How their structured customer discovery channeled 75 utility executive interviews into the formation of their new product offering
4. Why we shouldn’t wait for a crisis to start building health relationships with mindfulness and therapy tools like IFS

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

SparkMeter -https://www.sparkmeter.io

Dan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-schnitzer-600934bb/

Venture Deals: Be Smarter Than Your Lawyer and Venture Capitalist (book) - https://shorturl.at/EYrJp

Work Rules!: Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead (book) - https://shorturl.at/hlgO9

The Phoenix Project: A Novel about IT, DevOps, and Helping Your Business Win (book) - https://shorturl.at/2ZVRZ

High Output Management (book) - https://shorturl.at/wvZjo

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

Aeroshield uses MIT- and NASA-backed aerogel technology to create ultra-efficient, lightweight windows that cut energy loss and accelerate payback for buildings.

Aeorshield is unlocking the next generation of energy-efficient windows. They do this by developing the world’s most transparent silica aerogel inserts for windows, reducing energy loss through windows by 50%.

Elise’s prior experience includes roles at Johnson Controls, Activate, and a PhD from MIT where the research on aerogels all began.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. How windows lead to 35% of energy loss in buildings
2. How they’re using $25M in funding to expand beyond their pilot facility and scale up next year
3. How to make this super-insulating material called aeroseal, aka frozen smoke
4. Why you should ignore criticism from people from whom you wouldn’t proactively seek advice

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Aeroshield - https://www.aeroshield.tech

Elise - https://www.linkedin.com/in/elise-strobach

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. (book) - https://shorturl.at/BgAZB

Atlas of the Heart: Mapping Meaningful Connection and the Language of Human Experience (Book) - https://shorturl.at/tu9dV

People’s History of the United States (book) - https://shorturl.at/wAVqu

Nature (PBS series) - https://www.pbs.org/show/nature

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

Skyven Technologies delivers zero CapEx industrial decarbonization with heat pumps, helping heavy industries cut emissions while scaling globally and maintaining founder sanity.

Skyven is an industrial decarbonization company that designs, funds, installs, and maintains a unique steam-generating heat pump with zero downtime and no CapEx cost to customers. They have hundreds of millions of dollars of financing available.

As the founder and CEO, Arun is a mission-driven PhD engineer-turned-entrepreneur with prior roles at Texas Instruments and Metronics.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. Why they're well positioned to serve the trillion-dollar global industry process heat market
2. How they price steam contracts with customers in chemicals, pulp and paper, food and beverage, ethanol, textiles, and metals
3. Why building for the end goal today is a bad idea, and what you should do instead
4. How screaming at the top of your lungs while cycling can help manage the roller coaster of entrepreneurship

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Skyven - https://skyven.co

Arun - https://www.linkedin.com/in/arung12

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

Kita provides carbon insurance to safeguard voluntary carbon market projects, reducing financial exposure while enabling confident investment in climate solutions.

Kita is a carbon insurance specialist bridging the insurance and carbon markets. Their insurance products act as a stamp of confidence and safeguard against loss. Their insurance claims can be paid in cash or in replacement carbon credits, providing flexibility for clients' individual risk appetites and carbon strategies.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. The relationship between billion-dollar transactions and rigorous insurance products
2. The difference between counterparty, political, method, and natural catastrophes risks, and when Kita choose to insure against them
3. The voluntary carbon market players they rely on to certify whether a carbon project has met its goals, or whether an insurance event is triggered
4. Why she chose to do a year-long “maternity sabbatical” after each of her children was born, and what it did for her thoughts on work

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Kita - https://www.kita.earth

Natalia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalia-dorfman

The Magic of Thinking Big (book) - https://shorturl.at/Ucoxn

Size of carbon market in 2030 (six estimates) - https://shorturl.at/WMTV3

Matilda the Musical (movie) - https://www.netflix.com/title/80993016

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

SER Capital Partners backs North American industrial sustainability companies with mid-market private equity, emphasizing strong teams, ESG value, and mindful leadership.

SER Capital Partners is a middle-market private equity investment firm dedicated to North American industrial sustainability. They manage $500M in equity, plus opportunities to harness debt for the right projects. Typical investments range from $50-$150M per company.

In addition to his role at SER, Rahul is a former private equity investor at Energy Capital Partners and a Board member at Sunnova, NextLight, FirsLlight, Sungevity, and growth-stage cleantech companies. 

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. How they pick the right companies to invest in
2. Their perspective on ESG and how it adds financial value to their portfolio companies
3. How they select the right management team, and what it means to be pulled vs. to push
4. Why he practice Transcendental Meditation 5x per week and tries to bring a gift to every personal encounter

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

SER Capital - https://sercapitalpartners.com

Rahul - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rahul-advani-3a711a

Clean Disruption of Energy and Transportation: How Silicon Valley Will Make Oil, Nuclear, Natural Gas, Coal, Electric Utilities and Conventional Cars Obsolete by 2030 (book) - https://shorturl.at/KjlbJ

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind (book) - https://shorturl.at/iihRd

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

Inspired by lessons I've learned from 300+ climate tech CEOs and investors, it's a quick read about climate tech startups, investment, wisdom, and a little humor. Join over 20,000 who get it. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

In 7 minutes, Chris shares science-backed gratitude practices to recharge, boost happiness, and sustain energy for long-term climate tech impact.

In this unusual episode, I do my best to go meta, above our normal climate tech challenges and opportunities, to the science and mindset of gratitude.

Does a greater appreciation for what we have mean nothing bad is happening out there?

Not at all.

But building climate tech solutions is not a spring. It's a marathon. Or maybe both.

As such, we need all the non-work tools in our toolbelt to maintain our energy, health, and focus along the journey.

In seven short minutes, I walk through five science-based benefits of gratitude and four practical ways to practice it in a few minutes each day.

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 85+ CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $50B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

Join over 20,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who get our three-minute read about changing the world through startups, finance, humor, and wisdom. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the founder of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

e-Zinc develops zinc-based long-duration energy storage, combining resilience-as-a-service models with FOAK financing to scale in a $4T global market.

e-Zinc produces zinc-based long-duration energy storage technology with discharge durations between 10 and 100 hours. They have raised over $100M in funding and are building their first three commercial pilots.

In addition to his role at e-Zinc, James is a Board Director of the Long Duration Energy Storage Council (LDESC) and Energy Storage Canada (ESC), as well as a former Manager at Bain and MaRS.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. How the long-duration energy storage sector is poised to become a $4T market by 2040
2. Why he’s going to market with a “resilience as a service” business model
3. Why it’s essential to convert sustainability technology from cost centers into revenue centers
4. What Vipassana meditation is, and why he starts his morning with it

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

James - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesflarsen?originalSubdomain=ca

eZinc - https://www.e-zinc.ca/

Bhagavad Gita (book) - https://shorturl.at/M73By

The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers (book) - https://shorturl.at/YIATK

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 85+ CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

Join over 20,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who get our three-minute read about changing the world through startups, finance, humor, and wisdom. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the founder of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

Coreshell develops metallurgical silicon anodes that cut battery costs, extend EV range, and advance scalable, high-performance energy storage solutions.

Coreshell can reduce the cost of batteries by roughly 25% and improve drive range by about 40% by producing metallurgical silicon anodes to replace graphite. Their collaborators include some of the biggest names in the automotive industry and the largest merchant producer of silicon metal in the Western world.

Jonathan is a UC Berkeley graduate in chemical engineering with 12 years of prior experience at New Logic Research as well as Membrane Technolgy and Research. He’s also a Climate CEO Fellow with us at EFI.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. How they raised 10% of the capital of peers to reach the same milestones
2. Why their metallurgical silicon anode can be 20x more cost-efficient than today’s current lithium-ion battery technology
3. How he reduces stress by facing mortality in safe but adventurous rock climbing
4. Why we should focus on process vs. outcomes, and how this relates to the difference between pain vs. suffering

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Coreshell - https://www.coreshell.com/

Jonathan - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-tan-coreshell

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 85+ CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $50B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

Join over 20,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who get our three-minute read about changing the world through startups, finance, humor, and wisdom. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the founder of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

Jason Scott backs food, water, energy, transportation, and waste projects with hybrid private equity, combining corporate and project finance while emphasizing relationships and mindful leadership.

Spring Lane Capital is a private equity firm specializing in providing hybrid project capital for sustainable infrastructure and energy projects.

DevEngine Partners partners with project developers by providing development capital and hands-on development support to de-risk sustainable infrastructure projects.

CREO is a "secret club for billionaires" that connects ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices to investment opportunities in sustainability and clean energy.

In addition to co-leading these two organizations, Jason has extensive experience in sustainable finance, including roles at Renewable Resource Group, Acumen Fund, Generation Investment Management, and Encourage Capital.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. Why he likes to invest in both corporate and project finance at the same company
2. What “venture infrastructure” means as a climate finance niche
3. The importance of relationships vs. transactions
4. How he learns to balance in life by surfing in the ocean

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Jason - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonascott/

CREO - https://www.creosyndicate.org/

DevEngine Partners - https://www.devengine.dev/

Spring Lane - https://springlanecapital.com/

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 85+ CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $30B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

Join over 20,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who get our three-minute read about changing the world through startups, finance, humor, and wisdom. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the founder of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

Javelin Capital advises and finances renewable energy, storage, and green chemistry projects, helping companies scale while guiding founders on career and life design.

Javelin Capital is an investment and merchant banking firm focused on mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising in the renewable energy, energy storage, and green chemistry sectors.

Jason brings 15 years of experience in cleantech finance and entrepreneurship, plus prior executive roles at Goldman Sachs and Citi.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. How they serve green electron and green molecule companies with financial transactions ranging from $30M to $750M
2. What merchant banking means and why they provide it
3. The importance of not being all things to all people
4. The difference between designing a life and building a career

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Javelin Capital - https://www.jav-cap.com

Jason - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonsegal

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 85+ CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $30B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

Join over 20,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who get our three-minute read about changing the world through startups, finance, humor, and wisdom. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the founder of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

HData uses AI to streamline energy regulatory reporting, turning complex data into actionable insights while promoting transparency and mindful leadership.

HData provides software solutions that streamline regulatory reporting and data management for the energy industry, focusing on utilities and regulatory bodies. They are a Techstars startup with two rounds of VC funding.

Before HData, Hudson served as an attorney and advisor at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), advocating for data transparency in financial and regulatory disclosures. He also founded the Data Coalition, a nonprofit organization focused on advancing data transparency in government. He is widely recognized for promoting open data standards and leveraging technology to improve regulatory compliance and efficiency.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.

1. How they turn unstructured energy regulatory data into business intelligence
2. The benefits of SAFE vs. convertible notes for founders
3. Why most crises are not existential threats
4. His recovery from alcoholism and what it means for his company culture

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

HData - https://www.hdata.us/

Hudson - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hudsonhollister/

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 85+ CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $30B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

Join over 20,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who get our three-minute read about changing the world through startups, finance, humor, and wisdom. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the founder of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).

Plentify uses smart water heaters and demand-side management to cut energy storage costs and create virtual power plants for affordable, clean electricity.

Plentify is a smart energy company that makes affordable, reliable, and clean electricity a reality for all. Their current focus is on the demand-side management of water heaters to create virtual power plants.

Jon is the former head of clean energy for Google across Africa and a strategy consultant with McKinsey & Company and South Pole Carbon Asset Management.

In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways and much more.

1. How smarter water heaters can reduce energy storage costs by 75%
2. Why their capital raise was hardest in the easiest market (a few years back) and easiest in the toughest market (today)
3. What “presencing” is and how to use it to grow your business
4. Why he loves this quote: “Opportunities Multiply as They Are Seized”

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Plentify - https://plentify.io

Jon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-kornik-66b9b410

📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 85+ CEO Fellows, Alumni Allies, and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $30B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

📣 READ EFI’S NEWSLETTER:

Join over 20,000 entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators who get our three-minute read about changing the world through startups, finance, humor, and wisdom. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:

To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is the founder of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).