Mike Schroepfer: Lessons from Scaling Meta to Investing in the Energy Transition
Mar 20, 2025
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Mike Schroepfer, Partner at Gigascale and former CTO of Meta, shares his journey from tech titan to climate advocate. He debunks the myth that America can’t build hard things while discussing key lessons from the dot-com crash. Mike emphasizes the intersection of AI and energy innovation, addressing the urgent need for efficient solutions as AI demands grow. He also dives into how modular technologies can reduce costs and the collaborative spirit required to tackle climate challenges, showcasing the promising future of startups in this space.
Mike Schroepfer reflects on his career, highlighting essential lessons learned from challenges faced during the dot-com crash and the importance of resilience in entrepreneurship.
He emphasizes the significance of energy innovation for supporting AI advancements, advocating for renewable energy sources to power technological growth sustainably.
Schroep discusses the transformation in clean technology, noting reduced costs in solar and battery tech that enable new distributed energy market opportunities.
Deep dives
Mike Schrepper's Career Journey and Early Innovations
Mike Schrepper, known as Schrep, shares his notable career experiences, starting with his early work on digital video software that contributed to the visual effects of blockbuster films like Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and Gladiator. This involvement sparked his passion for technology and innovation, which carried through his later roles at prestigious companies like Meta. Beyond his technical expertise, Schrep emphasizes the importance of building solutions that people can see and use, reflecting on the unique satisfaction that comes from creating impactful products. His journey illustrates the trajectory of a technologist evolving from creating visual effects to becoming a key player in climate-focused business investments at Gigascale.
Lessons from the Dot-Com Boom and Bust
Schrep offers insights into the lessons learned during the dot-com era, particularly the importance of timing when launching a startup. He recalls the challenges of fundraising during the economic downturn of the early 2000s, facing numerous rejections before securing investment from notable firms like Sequoia. This experience underscores the resilience entrepreneurs must have in the face of skepticism and the value of persisting until finding the right opportunity. Schrep emphasizes that obtaining even one 'yes' amidst many 'no's can be a critical turning point in an entrepreneur's journey.
The Role of Energy in AI and Future Technologies
A critical conversation in the podcast centers on the intersection of energy innovation and artificial intelligence, as Schrep discusses the increasing demand for power driven by technological advancements. He argues that energy is essential for supporting the surge in AI development and highlights the potential of renewable energy sources to meet this demand efficiently. By leveraging cheaper energy solutions, such as solar power, businesses can continue growing their technology infrastructure while mitigating carbon emissions. Schrep's vision emphasizes the necessity of pursuing sustainable energy practices to support future innovations and the burgeoning AI landscape.
The Evolving Landscape of Clean Technology
Schrep reflects on the transformation within the clean technology sector, contrasting it with the challenges faced during Cleantech 1.0. He points out that advancements in solar energy and battery technology have significantly reduced costs, enabling new market opportunities to arise. The podcast highlights that the dynamics in energy generation are shifting towards more distributed systems rather than relying on traditional monolithic power plants. Schrep expresses optimism about the trajectory of clean tech, noting that while challenges exist, there is a growing recognition that sustainable solutions are both economically viable and essential for the future.
Gigascale's Mission to Drive Climate Impact
At Gigascale, Schrep explains their focus on investing in startups that demonstrate both pioneering technology and strong market viability, with an emphasis on climate impact. The firm's approach seeks to align profitability with environmental sustainability, demonstrating that businesses can thrive while addressing pressing climate challenges. Schrep describes the importance of storytelling in entrepreneurship and how effective communication can attract customers, investors, and talent to a startup's vision. By fostering a collaborative environment and leveraging their operational experience, Gigascale aims to accelerate the growth of innovative companies committed to addressing the climate crisis.
Mike Schroepfer is Partner at Gigascale, a venture firm he founded and self-funded to back startups building venture-scale businesses with the potential for outsized climate impact. Previously, Mike served as CTO at Meta (Facebook’s parent company) from 2013 to 2022, having originally joined in 2008 as VP of Engineering.
In this episode, Mike and Cody discuss his career journey, key lessons learned, and their shared counterpoint to the often-repeated myth that "America doesn’t build hard things." They also dive into AI, energy’s role in its advancement, and the work Mike and his team are doing at Gigascale.
Mike has been a longtime supporter of MCJ, and we’re honored to count him among our investors. It’s inspiring to see a technologist of his caliber not only invest in climate solutions but also roll up his sleeves to help founders tackle hard problems and build the future.
In this episode, we cover:
[2:08] Mike’s early career working on video software
[5:28] Fundraising challenges and lessons from the dot-com crash
[10:12] Working at Sun, Mozilla, and joining Facebook in 2008
[13:16] Risks and opportunities of early Facebook
[15:40] Managing large engineering teams and the value of humility
[18:30] The era of building hard things in the U.S.
[21:25] AI and energy innovation: compute, chips, and power
[27:49] How scale brings down cost curve and modularized technology
[32:01] How he thinks about software-based opportunities
[37:40] Shrep’s pivot to climate tech after Meta
[41:04] The talent interest evolution in climate
[43:33] Gigascale’s investment thesis
[49:49] Gigascale’s approach to identifying sectors
[51:37] Storytelling and marketing in climate tech
[54:10] Gigascales talent efforts for its portfolio
Episode recorded on Mar 4, 2025 (Published on Mar 20, 2025)
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