CleanTechies Podcast #264 Climate Week 2025 Recap | Silas Mahner (Cleantechies Podcast)
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Silas here! 👋 Before we jump into today’s episode, quick shoutout to Goodwin Law, CSC Leasing, and ErthTech Talent, the backbone behind our CleanTechies Live Podcast at Climate Week. (If you haven’t listened to that yet, check it out first — I’ll be referencing it a lot in this recap.)
Quick plug: We also caught a bunch of raw takes from founders and investors between panels and events through candid man on the street interviews you’ll definitely want to see.
I’ve finally had some time to process New York Climate Week. This solo episode is part recap, part reflection, but more importantly, it’s my honest take on where we are as a space and why I’m more bullish than ever on clean tech, and here are some of the things that stood out: I’ve never seen founders and investors this locked in.
Everyone there was focused, sharp, and hungry. It honestly felt different this year, like the movement finally grew up.
Let me walk you through it.
Over the past year-ish, people have been asking:
“Is the hype gone?”
“Will funding drying up?”
“Is the climate space cooling off?”
What I saw at Climate Week says the exact opposite.
Now is the best time to build if you’re a founder.
In this episode, I break it down into a few key reasons, but before you dive in, chew on this:
“When things get harder, only the best founders stay at the party.”
The hype-cycle might be over, but that’s because we’re entering a much more mature version of the movement.
So stick around for the mission.P.S. CleanTechies, we have some exciting news for you in the coming weeks/months, so be sure to stick around for that.
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📝 Show Notes:
Topics
00:00 – Intro and Sponsor Shoutouts
02:35 – Energy Recap of Climate Week 2024
Why this year felt “different” — investors and founders were laser-focused, no fluff, no tourists.
04:55 – From Insecurity to Certainty
How the climate space matured — no longer driven by hype, but grounded in conviction and real results.
06:10 – Oil, Defense, and Climate Tech?
A fascinating shift, former “outcasts” from oil and defense now welcome in clean tech spaces, blending worlds for impact.
07:13 – Inside the Climate Capital Summit
One of my personal favorites event this year— a reunion of world-class founders and investors
09:40 – Founders More Bullish Than Ever
The main-character energy is real — the best founders are staying in the game and hungrier than ever.
10:30 – Why Now Is the Best Time to Be a Climate Tech Founder
Where I break down the five powerful reasons driving opportunity right now.
11:00 – Reason #1: A Mature Capital Stack
Investors have learned, the ecosystem is organized, and strong capital flows continue despite a cooling market.
11:50 – Reason #2: Energy Prices Fuel Adoption
High costs are pushing consumers and corporations toward electrification and renewables faster than ever.
13:00 – Reason #3: Co-Motivating Factors Beyond Climate
National security, insurance, supply chain, and convenience are all now aligned with climate tech solutions.
14:44 – Reason #4: Ruthless Competition Breeds Excellence
17:30 – “Climate Tech” Is Dead — Long Live the Chameleon Era
The term “climate tech” no longer fits. Founders are now building in energy, defense, materials, and national security , adapting like chameleons to each industry they serve.
19:30 – The Challenge of Fragmentation
With so many new labels, finding “your people” might get trickier, but the mission remains united.
Links
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