Ep.#76: Hydrogen CAN be both overhyped and huge - Meet Shayle Kann from EIP

Apr 14, 2023

Shayle Kann, Partner at Energy Impact Partners, discusses the complexities of the hydrogen market and their investment strategy for deep decarbonization. Topics include the different sources and uses of hydrogen, challenges faced by deep tech startups, measuring impact, and the progress of their frontier fund in tackling the climate crisis.

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Introduction

00:00 • 4min

Introduction to Energy Impact Partners and Frontier Fund

03:35 • 2min

From Performing to Partner: A Childhood Shaped by Storytelling

05:36 • 6min

Hydrogen Production Methods and Emissions

11:46 • 25min

Support and Scaling Challenges for Deep Tech Startups

36:44 • 8min

Measuring Impact and Setting Clear Expectations

44:19 • 2min

Progress of the Frontier Fund and Optimism about Tackling the Climate Crisis

46:03 • 3min

Hydrogen is going to be big, but it is also overhyped. How can it be both? We dive into hydrogen and the complexities of the market with Shayle Kann, Partner at Energy Impact Partners.

Ep.#76 Shayle Kann Partner @ Energy Impact Partners - Tech4Climate Podcast by Startup basecamp

PART 1: Meet the investor

Today we sat down with Shayle Kann who leads Energy Impact Partners’ Frontier Fund dedicated to investing in revolutionary technologies to enable deep decarbonization. Energy Impact Partners is a $2.5 billion + venture capital firm backed by a coalition of the world’s largest energy and industrial companies.

Shayle’s story begins with a story itself. Shayle’s career began very early as a kids’ entertainer and storyteller. Despite retiring from that career, storytelling continued to be a constant thread in his life, and something he seeks in founders. In university, he became enthralled by such an esoteric subject as utility regulations and decided it was the career for him. He then joined an early-stage digital media and market intelligence startup where he led the GTM research operation. Once the company was bought out, he jumped ship toward something with more impact and joined EIP.

Shayle’s expertise in the energy sector brought us to a discussion about hydrogen, its different sources, its different uses, and where the market is heading. We then dove into EIP and asked, what is the story behind it, what are they doing differently, and what areas they are particularly excited about?

Part 2: My Secret Sauce

In the second portion of the show, Shayle shares his advice for technical deeptech founders on how to best pitch their tech. He also shares one of his favorite climate reads about the energy industry.

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