VCo2 helps you become a better impact investor and climate tech entrepreneur. Each episode dives into what’s working in climate tech investing, with insights from top investors shaping the future. Subscribe to learn how to build and invest in impact startups. 💚
This week, we’re joined by Romain Vidal, co-founder of Teampact Ventures, a VC firm leveraging high-performance methodologies from professional sports to support climate and health startups.
In this episode, we cover:
* Why startups should learn from sports teams, not from corporates
* How delayed gratification and resilience create long-term success
* The mindset of elite athletes that founders should adopt
* The importance of team culture in driving performance
* … and more!
***
⌛TIMESTAMPS
* 00:00 - Introduction
* 01:34 - The Philosophy Behind Teampact Ventures
* 06:04 - The Importance of the Mission and Values
* 07:50 - Lessons from Elite Athletes for Startups
* 13:54 - Building Disciplines and Resilience in Startups
* 16:24 - Individual vs. Collective Performance in Startups
* 23:08 - Common Challenges For Startups
* 24:48 - Peak Performance and Startups Readiness
* 26:32 - The Value of Teamwork in Individual Sports
* 29:02 - You Need to Collaborate with Your Ecosystem
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com
No One Pays for Green Anymore - Yair Reem (Extantia)
This week, we’re joined by Yair Reem, Partner at Extantia Capital, to break down why the green premium is dead, and what’s next for climate-tech startups.
In this episode, we explore:
* The death of the green premium & rise of the green discount
* How climate startups should price & pitch their solutions
* What VCs really look for in climate investments
* The future of climate tech & the biggest investment opportunities
* … and more!
***
⌛TIMESTAMPS
* 00:00 – Introduction
* 02:15 – What is the green premium, and why did it fail?
* 06:42 – Why customers won’t pay more for green solutions
* 11:30 – The rise of the green discount & new pricing strategies
* 17:05 – Why startups must focus on industry problems, not sustainability
* 28:45 – Case study: How Magnotherm found the right value proposition
* 35:00 – The biggest investment opportunities in climate tech today
* 42:15 – AI’s role in climate startups & competitive pricing
* 48:10 – Rapid-fire questions
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Why Are Energy VCs Investing BILLIONS Here? A Discussion With Thomas Bajas
Thomas Bajas, a VC at Founders Future, joins the podcast to discuss the energy market and how startups are trying to disrupt it.
In our conversation, we explore:
* The role of energy in modern economies and its link to climate change.
* Innovations driving renewable energy, electrification, and smart grid technologies.
* How to decarbonize energy and how we need to rethink the grid
* Challenges for energy startups, from funding gaps to regulatory hurdles.
* Venture capital’s role in driving innovation within the energy sector.
***
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 05:52 The Role of the Grid08:22 Decarbonizing the Energy Mix09:13 Energy Efficiency and Smart Grids19:59 The Future of Energy Startups41:57 Venture Capital in Energy48:40 Final Thoughts and Predictions
***
REFERENCED• Vaclav Smil's "How the World Really Works"• First of a Kind (FOAK) Infrastructure• Green Premium Concept• Transmission System Operators (TSOs)• Distribution System Operators (DSOs)• Behind the Meter• Front of the Meter• V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) and V2H (Vehicle-to-Home)• Startups: Plexigrid, Ampere Cloud, Plug
Dan Bowyer, a partner at SuperSeed VC, a £50M UK fund investing in startups transforming the way the world works, joins the podcast to challenge conventional definitions of impact and climate tech.
In our conversation, we explore:
* The definition of impact and climate-tech
* Doing more with less as a way to save the planet
* How to transform industries through productivity and efficiency
* Why B2B Startups can drive meaningful climate impact
* The role of venture capital in creating scalable, sustainable change
* Aligning economic and environmental goals in startup ecosystems
* AI’s potential to revolutionize climate innovation
***
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Dan Bowyer and SuperSeed VC01:26 Dan's Investment Philosophy and Impact Definition02:46 Exploring Climate Tech and Impact05:45 Efficiency and Productivity in Business12:31 Examples of Impactful Investments26:05 The Role of Venture Capital in Climate Tech30:41 Rapid Fire Questions and Final Thoughts
***
REFERENCED• ThingTrax• Messium• AI Build• Maslow’s hierarchy of needs• Impact Reporting (sfdr 9)• GenCast by DeepMind•
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
This $100B Market Could Save Our Planet - Lisa Mangertseder - Carbon Removal Partners
Lisa Mangertseder, a venture capital associate at Carbon Removal Partners, joins the podcast to explore the critical role of carbon removal in combating climate change. Carbon Removal Partners has invested in 15+ startups including Climeworks, Carbonfuture, and Heirloom.
In our conversation, we discuss:
* The carbon removal methods: from nature-based to high-tech solutions
* Measuring and verifying carbon removal effectively
* Business models and the evolving role of buyers
* The importance of venture capital in scaling carbon removal technologies
* Challenges of achieving scalability and affordability
* The significance of compliance markets in driving adoption
* The future of carbon removal as a cornerstone for net-zero goals
***
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 01:14 Understanding CO2 and Its Impact 04:34 The Rise of the Carbon Market 09:16 Carbon Removal Technologies Explained 18:53 Direct Air Capture: The High-Tech Solution 21:25 Business Models in Carbon Removal 22:16 Understanding Carbon Removal Credits 22:50 Key Players in the Carbon Removal Industry 23:21 Revenue Streams for Carbon Removal Companies 24:44 Buyers of Carbon Credits 26:05 Challenges in Carbon Removal 27:43 The Importance of Permanent Carbon Removal 30:14 Scalability and Affordability 37:27 The Role of Venture Capital43:15 Advice for Entrepreneurs and Investors 45:39 Future Milestones in Carbon Removal 46:51 Conclusion and Summary
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Introducing VCo2 Podcast - your weekly dose of venture capital and impact.
Thursday, November 28, 2024 • Duration 01:28
Welcome to VCo2, a podcast for people interested in building, investing, and supporting impact startups. My goal is to help you become a smarter climate-tech entrepreneur and better impact investor.
***
I'm Hugo Rauch, the founder of VCo2, a media about climate tech and venture capital. I'm an aspiring climate tech VC who shares insights, interviews, and research to help climate tech founders and investors.
***
TIMESTAMPS 00:00 The Climate Crisis: A Tipping Point 00:21 The Role of Venture Capital in Climate Tech 00:33 Meet Hugo Rauch and VCo2 Media 00:48 What to Expect from VCo2 Media 01:16 Join the Journey Towards Sustainability
This week, we’re joined by Tina Dreimann (thank you, Tim Schumacher, for the introduction), founder and General Partner of better ventures. Instead of following a traditional VC model, better ventures operates as a community of entrepreneurs investing in and supporting the next generation of impact-driven founders.
In this episode, we explore:
* Why community investing could outperform traditional VC
* The formula: Community + Tech = Impact + Returns
* The biggest challenges for impact entrepreneurs today
* Why climate is just one piece - biodiversity, water, and soil are just as urgent
* How tech and AI help scale early-stage investing
* …and much more!
***
⌛TIMESTAMPS
* 00:00 – Introduction
* 03:45 – Better Ventures: The Origin Story
* 07:30 – The Biggest Global Risks & Where to Invest
* 12:10 – How Better Ventures Finds & Selects Startups
* 17:40 – Smart Capital: What Founders Need from Investors
* 22:50 – Why Community Investing Outperforms Traditional VC
* 27:15 – The Role of Tech & AI in Investment Decisions
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
How to Use LCAs for VC Investments - Dr Benedikt Buschpies (Planet A Ventures)
This week, we’re joined by Dr. Benedikt Buchspies, a scientist at Planet A Ventures, one of Europe's leading climate-tech VC funds. Benedikt has been pioneering the use of lifecycle assessments (LCAs) in venture capital for years and is showing that science + VC = impact.
In this episode, we cover:
* What an LCA is and how it measures climate impact
* Why most VCs ignore environmental data (and why they shouldn’t)
* How impact and financial returns align in early-stage startups
* The challenges of modeling long-term systemic impact
* What VCs should do to implement LCAs in their funds
* And much more..
👉 If you’re an impact investor, this is a must-listen episode.
***
⌛TIMESTAMPS
* 00:00 Introduction and the Journey from Science to VC
* 05:30 Understanding Impact Assessment in Venture Capital
* 10:20 Quantifying Environmental Impact and Systemic Change
* 15:10 Correlation Between Financial and Environmental Performance
* 20:02 Guiding Investment Thesis with Impact Assessments
* 24:15 Integrating Sustainability into Investment Processes
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
When VC Meets Nonprofit - Marion Schuppe (makesense)
While traditional VC prioritizes financial returns, makesense invest is proving that social and environmental impact can be at the core of investing, without sacrificing performance. Marion Schuppe, an Investment Director at makesense Invest, joins the podcast to discuss their unique model that integrates a VC fund inside a non-profit.
In this episode, we cover:
* How makesense balances nonprofit with venture capital
* Raising a first-time impact fund: lessons from securing LP commitments
* Why their team takes zero carried interest, and where it goes instead
* The reality of recruiting top talent without traditional VC compensation
* How to measure success beyond financial returns
* And much more..
***
⌛TIMESTAMPS
* 00:00 – Introduction:
* 02:23 Understanding Venture Capital
* 05:34 Make Sense: Mission and Model
* 09:08 Investment Strategy and Impact
* 16:02 Challenges and Innovations in Impact Investing
* 23:07 Raising and Structuring Impact Funds
* 31:10 Investment Process and Criteria
* 41:14 Future of Make Sense Invest
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
Impact assessment matters less than you think – Raphaele Leyendecker (Techstars)
Raphaele Leyendecker, a Managing Director at Techstars Sustainability Paris, where she has invested in 70+ climate tech startups, joins the podcast to discuss early-stage impact assessment and the french ecosystem as it compares to the global landscape.
In this episode, we discuss:
* Why early-stage impact assessment is often a myth
* The biggest challenge for climate startups in France
* How investors should really measure impact
* The role of technological readiness levels (TRLs) in deep tech investing
* How France’s climate tech ecosystem compares to the US and Nordics
* Why founders should focus on revenue before certifications
* And more...
***
TIMESTAMPS
* 00:00 – Introduction:
* 01:14 – Why Impact Assessment is Overrated for Early-Stage Startups
* 04:45 – Defining Impact Metrics That Matter
* 07:32 – Revenue vs. Impact: What Should Startups Prioritize?
* 12:10 – Tools & Frameworks for Impact Investors
* 18:25 – The Role of TRLs in Deep Tech & Hard Tech Startups
* 22:40 – The Strengths & Weaknesses of the French Climate Tech Ecosystem
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit
If you’re new here, I'm Hugo Rauch, the founder of VCo2 media and an aspiring climate tech VC who shares insights, interviews, and research about venture capital and climate tech. I aim to help you become a better climate-tech entrepreneur and smarter impact investor.
If you’re new here, I'm Hugo Rauch, the founder of VCo2 media and an aspiring climate tech VC who shares insights, interviews, and research about venture capital and climate tech. My goal is to help you become a better climate-tech entrepreneur and smarter impact investor.
If you’re new here, I'm Hugo Rauch, the founder of VCo2 media and an aspiring climate tech VC who shares insights, interviews, and research about venture capital and climate tech. My goal is to help you become a better climate-tech entrepreneur and smarter impact investor.
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