CleanTechies
Business og økonomiPolitikk og nyheterTeknologiWelcome to the CleanTechies Podcast, the #1 Podcast for Climate Tech Entrepreneurs----- Support the show more directly via our Substack where we also publish writing on the episodes we record. https://cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ----- Interested in Advertising: info@cleantechiespod.com
Siste episoder av CleanTechies podcast
- #257 Betting on $2 Trillion in Climate Infrastructure & Lessons from the DOE Loan Programs Office | Brendan Bell (Aligned Climate Capital) (00:28:35)
What does it take to scale the clean energy transition—both at the bleeding edge of new technology and in the nuts-and-bolts of infrastructure? Today’s episode dives into the nuanced world of climate finance and infrastructure with Brendan Bell, Chief Operating Officer and Partner at Aligned Climate Capital. Unlike most investors who play in either venture or infrastructure, Align straddles both worlds, backing early-stage companies while also owning and operating clean energy assets. Brendan...
- #256 Soil Health, Carbon Markets & Measuring the Hidden Climate Solution Beneath Our Feet | Chris Tolles (Yard Stick PBC) (00:56:25)
How can we fight climate change by focusing underground? It turns out one of the biggest untapped climate solutions isn’t in the air—or in the trees, it’s in the soil beneath our feet. Today’s guest has developed a game-changing way to measure and protect soil organic carbon, helping farmers, agribusinesses, and carbon markets work together for climate impact and economic resilience. Our guest is Chris Tolles, Founder & CEO of Yard Stick PBC. Some quotes to hook you: “Soils store way, way...
- #255 Burning Aluminum is Clean & Replaces Fossil Fuels | Peter Godart (Found Energy) (01:05:19)
Ever wonder how we are going to decarbonize heavy industry? Well, you won't have to wonder much longer. Today's guest has an incredible solution that is 1) drop in, 2) cost parity (or better), 3) has an existing supply chain, 4) overcomes any scarcity concerns, and 5) prevents users from changing anything they do. Our guest is Peter Godart, the Co-Founder of Found Energy. Some quotes to hook you: - "We've developed what we call the world's first rechargeable fuel." - "There's real...
- #254 The Path to Cost Parity Between Sustainable Fuels & Fossil Fuels | Conor Madigan, Aether Fuels (00:56:24)
CleanTech founder Conor Madigan (Aether Fuels) reveals sustainable fuel tech breakthroughs, smart hiring, & building resilient climate startups. Join us as Conor Madigan, Founder and CEO of Aether Fuels, shares how their innovative tech is set to decarbonize aviation and shipping by drastically cutting costs and boosting fuel yield from waste streams. A second-time founder, Conor also unpacks his proven strategies for building high-talent, low-ego teams and fostering constructive tension ...
- #253 The Plug-and-Play Battery Solution for Modern Home Energy | Cole Ashman (Pila Energy) (00:54:55)
Today, we're speaking with Cole Ashman, the CEO and founder of Pila Energy. Pila is democratizing access to battery backup systems through industrial-grade, consumer-priced batteries that are simply plug-and-play. No electricians, no permitting, just reliable power. Pila's innovative approach is disrupting the home energy market, from enabling demand response programs to making backup power accessible and affordable for everyone. Listen today to hear how they are reshaping energy reliab...
- #252 The Big Battery Bill: What the OBBB Means for Batteries in America | Eric McShane (Electroflow Technologies) (00:37:03)
In this episode, we talk with Eric McShane, co-founder and CEO of Electroflow Technology (backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures). Eric is on a mission to revolutionize lithium production, a vital battery material. We discuss the "Big Beautiful Bill's" impact on the battery industry and how Electroflow Technology's innovative approach addresses the critical need for domestic lithium production, especially given that "99% of this crucial battery material [LFP] is made in China." Eric shares ho...
- #251 How to Fix a Quarter Trillion Solar Assets at Scale | Nikhil Vadhavkar (Raptor Maps) (00:27:28)
In this episode, we sit down with Nikhil Vadhavkar, co-founder and CEO of Raptor Maps, to uncover how the company is tackling the invisible crisis in clean energy: operational inefficiency across $250B+ worth of solar assets. Nikhil explains why the solar industry’s problems aren’t just about building more — they’re about getting the existing infrastructure to perform. From labor shortages to rising insurance costs, from underperforming fields to unscalable maintenance methods, Raptor Maps is...
- #250 How This Company Installs Level 3 Chargers Without Utility Upgrades | Tyler Phillipi (OptiGrid) (00:47:31)
Wow - 250 Episodes! Thank you all for being part of this journey so far. Stick with us as it’s only getting better. Quotes From This Episode: "Operating an electric vehicle in your fleet is insanely cheap..." - Tyler Phillipi"Level 3 chargers without utility upgrades... Think garden hose in, fire hose out." - Silas Mähner"Amazon and Walmart... are doing the same exact thing from every portion of their fleet because it makes financial sense." - Tyler PhillipiAnnouncement! We’re hosting a Clea...
- #249 Why There's a Trillion-Dollar Green Building Boom Happening | Matt Ellis (Measurabl) (00:53:29)
Matt Ellis (Measurabl): Building a Climate Tech Empire Join us with Matt Ellis, Founder & CEO of Measurabl, as he shares how they're transforming the green building industry. Discover how they're leveraging data and AI to drive sustainability, navigating policy, and helping building owners lower emissions. Matt dives into building a billion-dollar climate tech company, the importance of constant reinvention, and lessons in fostering a thriving company culture. In this episode: (01:23) R...
- #248 Without Federal Funding, How are Cities Deploying Curbside Charging? | Tiya Gordon (It's Electric) (00:45:00)
Today, we’re excited to have Tiya Gordon, founder of It’s Electric, back on the pod to discuss their progress since we last spoke in early 2024. She also gives us a big update on what’s happening in the curbside charging space across the US. With the federal funding support being pulled, a lot of cities are facing challenges in meeting their electrification goals. It’s Electric is thriving by helping them get curbside chargers in place with ZERO up-front costs. As if that wasn’t e...
- #247 Could EVs + Demand Response Solve Grid Flexibility? | Joseph Vellone (ChargeScape) (00:40:37)
What’s up, everyone! Today we’re sharing an episode with Joseph Vellone, the CEO of ChargeScape — a Joint Venture between Ford, Honda, BMW, and Nissan. ----- Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts ----- As the grid continues to buckle under the pressure of ever-increasing demand, it’s more important than ever to find ways to manage the existing load. However, it’s not all bad. One of the main demand drivers might be the core solution to these demand pro...
- #246 Sophie Purdom on Closing a $55M Fund I, the Future of Planeteer, & The 4 Types of Climate Founders (00:47:47)
Today, we’re speaking with Sophie Purdom, Managing Partner of Planeteer Capital. After co-creating CTVC with Kim Zou, the climate deals and deep-dives newsletter that has become canon in climate, with 75k+ readers, Sophie announced Planeteer Capital. (We discussed on the pod) They are going full speed with their investing thesis, investing in companies at the incorporation stage. Something they have been able to do well, given the history and network that Sophie has. ...
- #245 The Future of Electrification & the Opportunity of Europe | Felix Krause (Vireo Ventures) (00:36:35)
Today’s episode features Felix Krause, founding partner of Vireo Ventures, one of Europe’s leading early-stage energy tech investors. Felix is based in Berlin and brings decades of experience across solar project development, corporate VC, and now independent fund management. We dig deep into why electrification is the real unlock for climate, and why Felix and his team believe the software that manages energy flows—not new forms of generation—is where VC dollars can make the biggest impact. ...
- #244 $1bn Pipeline for Solid State Transformers | Haroon Inam & Michael Wood III (DG Matrix) (00:35:55)
Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts In This Episode:* What is a Solid State Transformer * How Solid State Transformers are Reshaping the Energy Industry* How They Built a $1bn Pipeline Sponsors: Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search Firm What’s up, everyone! Today, we have a great episode with Haroon Inam & Michael Wood III from DG Matrix. We’re talking about a simple technology that can fundamen...
- #243 Battery Storage Supply Chains & Future in US-China Trade War | Danny Lu | Powin (00:41:05)
Follow on YouTube | Listeners Survey Check Out Our Sponsors! * Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs * ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search Firm What’s up, everyone! Today, we have a great episode with Danny Lu from Powin. Powin is a leading provider of BESS, w/ 8 GWh of systems built and 9 in the pipeline. As the Trump admin pushes for more drilling and a seemingly anti-clean energy policy (despite that not being the definition of abundance...
- #242 The 3 Most Common Mistakes Climate Founders Make | David Brekke, Goodwin (00:58:07)
In This Episode: The story of him co-launching the Goodwin climate practiceWhat’s happening in climate tech right now? (Market update)The 3 Biggest Mistakes Climate Founders MakeCheck Out Our Sponsors! Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech EntrepreneursErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmWhat’s up, everyone! Today’s episode is special since we’re speaking with David Brekke from Goodwin. In case you somehow missed it, Goodwin is the sponsor of our podcast, so yes, ...
- #241 The Biz Model Making eFuels Pencil Out | Joe Rodden (Lydian) (00:37:54)
Follow us on YouTube --------- Today, we have a great episode with Joe Rodden from Lydian. And we are talking all things eFuels and their story. Lydian uses Co2, Water, and abundant Green Energy to create eFuels/SAF. And because of their flexible run method, they can do it profitably, consistently. In the recent past there has been a huge demand for SAF that has been hard for major airlines to procure. In part because the technology was not there, but mostly because there were no ...
- #240 Bulldozing in a New Era of Climate Tech Investing & Tech-Enabled Investing | Andrew Chan from Atas VC (00:39:18)
Today, we have a great episode with Andrew Chan from Atas Ventures. Surprise surprise…we’re continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift, climate tech 3.0, climate risk…whatever you want to call it. However, our conversation with Andrew Chan of Atas Ventures is a little bit different. Andrew has, from the very beginning, thought about climate investing from first principles, placing profitability and tangible impact at the core of his strategy. He refers to this next wa...
- #239 Climate Risk, a New Era for Climate Tech | Grace & Adam from Equal Ventures (00:33:34)
📺 Watch on YouTube What’s up, everyone! Today we have a great episode with Grace Penders and Adam Chadroff from Equal Ventures. If you're not familiar with Equal, I recommend checking out episode 116 where we had on Rick Zullo, the Founder of Equal. Today, we're continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift. However, our conversation with Equal is a little bit different. Equal has, from the very beginning, had a thesis broader than just climate. One of those other ...
- #238 ClimateTech is Mainstream, so is The Vibe Shift | Tommy Leep (Jetstream) (00:37:01)
📺 Watch on YouTube Hey everyone! Today we’ve got a great episode with Tommy Leep from VC, Jetstream. Some of his PortCos include David Energy, Pachama, Rhizome, and past pod guests Pathways & Glacier. He’s been on the show in the past with some great advice on fundraising. Check it out — episode 85. #85 How to Raise Money for your ClimateTech Startup w/ Tommy Leep, founder of Jetstream VC Recently there have been a bunch of people shifting their focus or branding to be m...
- #237 Using Robotics to Transform Recycling & Building Data Moats with Hardware w/ Rebecca Hu Thrams (Glacier) (00:29:37)
Rebecca Hu Thrams, co-founder of Glacier, is on a mission to transform recycling using AI-powered robotics and proprietary physical data to fix one of the biggest inefficiencies in waste management. Glacier isn’t just another AI company—it’s tackling the physical world problem of waste sorting, giving recyclers and major brands unprecedented visibility into where materials actually go. By deploying intelligent sorting robots, Glacier is not only increasing efficiency but also building a defen...
- #236 Critical Minerals: A Master Class on How to Win w/ Nicholaus Rohleder (00:42:33)
We’re doing something a bit different…🤔 We’re exploring the urgent and evolving landscape of critical minerals with Nicholaus Rohleder from Climate Commodities. Nick, an investor and expert in the field, breaks down how the U.S. went from a leader in mineral production to heavy reliance on foreign sources—and why the time is now for entrepreneurs to help rebuild domestic supply chains. Key Topics Covered: The Rise and Fall of U.S. Mineral ProductionWhy Critical Minerals Matter More Than EverO...
- #235 This $100 BILLION Industry Is Hiding in Plain Sight! Big Oil's Bet on Carbon Capture (00:57:38)
This week, we’re joined by Todd Bush, an expert in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), with decades of experience supporting oil and gas companies in their decarbonization efforts. Todd has founded and sold multiple companies and is now leading decarbonfuse, a daily newsletter tracking deal activity in carbon capture and industrial decarbonization. This conversation covers the current state of carbon capture, where the momentum is strongest, the biggest barriers to scaling CCUS, ...
- #234 The Future of Cleaner Data Centers & Lessons from 20+ Years at Meta, LinkedIn, & Cisco w/ Yuval Bachar (EdgeCloudLink) (00:39:09)
Yuval Bachar, Founder and CEO of Edge CloudLink (ECL), is on a mission to revolutionize data centers with hydrogen-powered, off-grid solutions. His journey spans decades, with leadership roles at Cisco, Facebook, and LinkedIn, where he built critical infrastructure for some of the biggest names in tech. Now, he’s pioneering a new wave of sustainable data centers, delivering AI-ready capacity in just nine months—compared to the industry average of three to four years. Here’s the game-changer: ...
- #233 The Climate Disruptors You Haven’t Heard of (Yet)—Inside Energy Tech Nexus w/ Nada & Jason (00:58:42)
In This Episode We are speaking with Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier, two of the founding partners at Energy Tech Nexus. Energy Tech Nexus is a Houston-based hub designed to connect EnergyTech startups with the resources they need to grow. This includes access to capital, corporate partners, direct access to pilot opportunities, as well as a community of other founders doing the same thing. In this episode, we dive into **how they're building an innovation powerhouse in the heart of the U....