The speakers dive into their whirlwind experiences from Climate Week, discussing favorite and least favorite events. They highlight the need for genuine networking and collaboration in the climate tech space. Frustration bubbles as they critique the tendency for echo chambers and lack of actionable advice at gatherings. Hot takes reveal the changing landscape of investment strategies, emphasizing that mere deal flow isn't enough for VCs anymore. Plans for next year include hosting more events and fostering real debate among participants.
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Quick takeaways
Participants emphasized the need for better-organized events that prioritize educational content and foster genuine connections over superficial networking experiences.
The podcast highlighted the issue of echo chambers in the climate tech community, stressing the urgency for innovative discussions and actionable insights at future events.
Deep dives
Highlights of Climate Week
The discussion covers various events from Climate Week, emphasizing a few favorites that provided substantial learning opportunities. Key events included the Climate Tech Exits event, which focused on the mergers and acquisitions landscape in climate tech, and a political risk event revealing insights into potential impacts from government administration changes. Participants noted that many events prioritized brand recognition over meaningful discussions, suggesting a need for more educational content during these gatherings. Overall, these highlights underscore the importance of events that foster genuine learning, as opposed to surface-level networking.
Challenges Faced During Networking Events
While participating in networking events, many attendees felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of gatherings occurring simultaneously, leading to superficial conversations rather than meaningful connections. Specific types of events, such as bar networking, received criticism for being too loud and chaotic, making it difficult to engage in productive discussions. Attendees expressed the desire for better-organized events that allow for deeper connections, emphasizing the importance of curated experiences over sheer quantity. This feedback highlights the need for improved planning for future events to enhance networking quality.
Key Takeaways and Reflections
Reflecting on the overarching themes of Climate Week, participants noted a concerning lack of innovation and actionable insights at many events, leading to feelings of disillusionment. The climate tech community appeared to be caught in echo chambers, focusing on familiar talking points instead of exploring new solutions or strategies. Additionally, the tension between attending Climate Week and UNGA Week was highlighted as a barrier to meaningful engagement, with a recommendation for future event organizers to create segmented discussions focusing on specific themes. These observations suggest a need for the climate tech sector to foster more substantial dialogue and collaboration moving forward.
And... don't forget to fill out the post climate week survey! đź“ť
NYCW 2024 was a DOOZY…filled with plenty of good and crazy times that we equally don’t really remember. It went by in a blur, but so much happened in the week that we need to break it down with all you CleanTechies out there.
Listen to the ep to hear about:
What events we liked — Third Sphere, Political Risk Event, Climate Capital Summit, New Climate Futures
The events we didn’t like — VC hangouts & loud bar meetups
Our biggest takeaways — There needs to be better collaboration across events; and the UNGA & NYCW are competing for the best climate talent
Our biggest gripes — Too much posturing and getting stuck in echo chambers; too much noise — not enough signal
What we are going to do differently next year — hosting more of our own events / attending fewer ones & finding places where the real debates are happening
Ourhot takes 🔥:
FOAK financing isn’t real
Dealflow isn’t an alpha for VCs anymore
Startups need to pursue generating PE-quality returns to succeed
👉 AND…last but not least, stay tuned to hear the recording of our first live podcast (coming later this week)…👀
Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽
Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com(and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)
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