This Week in Startups Understanding Corporate VC + turning methane into bitcoin w/ Nodal's Daniel Sechrest | E1611
Nov 13, 2022
Daniel Sechrest, Co-founder and CFO of Nodal Power, shares insights into transforming methane from landfills into energy for Bitcoin mining. He discusses the innovative potential of extracting energy from waste, contributing to renewable energy and addressing climate issues. The conversation also delves into corporate venture capital, exploring its complexities and motivations for investment in sustainable startups. Sechrest's unique perspective sheds light on the intersection of technology, sustainability, and financial innovation.
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CVC Motivation
- Corporate venture capital (CVC) involves corporations funding startups, sometimes even potential competitors.
- This can provide corporations with early signals of industry trends and potential disruptions.
Founder's Dilemma
- Founders should carefully consider the implications of accepting CVC funding.
- Weigh the benefits of cash and potential partnerships against the risk of sharing intelligence with a potential competitor.
Alphabet-Uber Anecdote
- Alphabet invested $250 million in Uber, then a self-driving car engineer from Alphabet went to work for Uber.
- This engineer allegedly took documents and information from Alphabet, which was then revealed, showing how CVC deals can go wrong.