Invested In Climate

Climate Tech Predictions with Obvious Ventures' Andrew Beebe, Ep #104

Jan 28, 2025

In a thought-provoking conversation, Andrew Beebe, Managing Director of Obvious Ventures, shares his insights on the evolving landscape of climate tech. He draws parallels between the early days of the internet and today's climate innovations. Andrew makes five bold predictions for 2025, discussing the potential of AI, especially generative science, in driving advancements in battery chemistry and geothermal energy. He addresses the challenges of securing funding and emphasizes the importance of resilience and strong teams in overcoming barriers to success.

41:18

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Episode guests

Andrew Beebe

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Investment in climate tech is showing volatility, emphasizing a shift towards sustainability and quality over quantity in funding.

Generative science harnesses AI to revolutionize climate solutions, expediting advancements in sectors like energy and battery technologies.

Deep dives

The Significance of Climate Action

Climate change is recognized as one of the most pressing issues of our time, prompting millions to engage actively in environmental protection. The growing recognition of this global challenge has created a unique space for innovative solutions and a new generation of entrepreneurs. Awareness around climate-related issues has increased significantly, compelling political, corporate, and individual actors to play their part. Individuals with strong educational backgrounds are now fueled by the opportunity to make impactful changes, which has changed the landscape of climate entrepreneurship.

Intro

2min

Navigating Climate Tech Uncertainty

18min

AI Meets Climate Tech

9min

Exploring Investments in Geothermal and Nuclear Energy

2min

Navigating the Climate Tech Funding Gap

7min

Accelerating the Transition to Clean Energy: Challenges and Opportunities

3min

What 2025 will bring for climate tech is pretty hard to predict. We’ve seen a slowdown in investments at the same time as we see a continued flood of talent into the space, maturing technologies, and a boom in AI that could be transformative for climate solutions. The new administration? Nobody really knows how they’ll orient around climate tech, or how private investors will respond.

There’s a lot of uncertainty, but of course, pros who have been in this game for decades and who study early-stage climate technology closely have some ideas of where we’re headed. So I was thrilled to get to catch up with Andrew Beebe, Managing Director of Obvious Ventures. We spoke about Andrew’s background as an entrepreneur and the parallels he sees between the Internet's and climate tech's early days. We talked about where climate tech is today, 5 predictions he has for 2025, generative science, technologies he’s most excited about, what needs to change to address the climate crisis, and more. Andrew brings the nuance and clarity of someone who’s been working closely with energy and climate entrepreneurs every day for a long time. We didn’t solve all the mysteries of what this year will bring, but I think Andrew shared some great food for thought and real opportunities.