#141 Winning Pilots, First Customers, Arena Electrification, & More w/ Chris Richardson (Uptake Alliance, ADL Ventures)

🌎 Welcome back to the CleanTechies PodLetter, VC edition.

Today, we are talking to Chris Richardson of Uptake Alliance & ADL Ventures.

In this episode, you will find:

* Investing in electrification and clean infrastructure

* The success story of Mainspring Energy demonstrates the importance of starting small and scaling based on customer needs

* Corporate pilots facing challenges in finding the right fit and aligning with startups in Uptake Alliance

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The Guest: Chris Richardson

Uptake Alliance is a global venture development program that connects organizations with technical challenges to startups with novel solutions — creating a regenerative impact on business performance, technology scaling, and our shared climate future.

Uptake is supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and powered by ADL Ventures.

The Program: Uptake Alliance

Uptake Alliance is a global venture development program that connects organizations with technical challenges to startups with novel solutions — creating a regenerative impact on business performance, technology scaling, and our shared climate future.

Uptake is supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and powered by ADL Ventures.

The “VC”: ADL Ventures

ADL Ventures develops and launches clean infrastructure innovations. ADL helps energy & infrastructure companies Assess, Develop and Launch new products, services and startups — and we lead innovation programs sponsored by DOE, NREL, and more.

Every member of the ADL team has start-up and/or venture fund experience AND knows “what good looks like” at scale through work at successful corporate entities.

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📝 Show Notes:

💭 Topics

* 00:00 Introduction and Background

* 08:07 EV Button and Electrifying Existing Infrastructure

* 17:28 Uptake Alliance and Venture Development

* 38:34 Clean Infrastructure and the Built Environment

* 44:48 Moonshot Technologies and Innovation

* 49:17 Incentivizing Domestic Economic Benefits

* 51:41 Investing in Urban vs Rural Technologies

* 59:33 Insights

* 59:33 IRA

* 01:02:13 Climate x XI

* 01:06:15 Success Story of a Hardware MVP

* 01:10:19 Challenges in Corporate Pilots

* 01:13:48 Starting a New Company in Climate

* 01:16:11 Advice for Applicants

🔗 Links

* GUEST: Chris Richardson

* COMPANY: Uptake Alliance, ADL Ventures

* Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas

* For all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs, check out our sponsor NextWave Partners.

* This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

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🙏🏽 Thanks for tuning in and see you all next episode!

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