Andrew Song is the co-founder of Make Sunsets, a climate startup working to slow global warming by deploying reflective aerosols in the stratosphere. A longtime startup operator, Andrew has spent his career taking contrarian paths, from early work in AI to now building one of the most debated climate interventions in the world. At Make Sunsets, he focuses on translating complex science into practical action, raising capital through unconventional channels, and pushing forward a mission-driven company designed to buy humanity time as temperatures rise.

But Andrew’s most demanding role is being a full-time single dad to his two young sons. After gaining sole custody due to their mother’s struggles with bipolar disorder, Andrew has learned to navigate parenting, entrepreneurship, and mental health advocacy all at once. Living in the Bay Area near extended family, he relies on community, resilience, and regimented prioritization to raise his boys while building a startup on hard mode. We discussed:

Why climate change became personal: How Andrew’s motivation to cool the planet is rooted in building a safer future for his kids.
Building a startup on hard mode: What it’s like to raise venture capital, run a climate company, and be a full-time single dad at the same time.
Navigating mental health and custody: Andrew’s experience gaining sole custody of his sons and why normalizing conversations around mental illness matters.
Creating a village of support: How living near family and leaning on community makes single parenting and entrepreneurship possible.
Choosing purpose over comfort: Why Andrew believes it’s possible to live modestly in the Bay Area while prioritizing meaningful work.
Raising resilient, curious kids: From RV road trips to using AI as a learning tool, how Andrew encourages independence, curiosity, and grit at home.

Where to find Andrew Song

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ajsong/
Twitter: https://x.com/ASong408

Where to find Adam Fishman

FishmanAF Newsletter: www.FishmanAFNewsletter.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamjfishman/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startupdadpod/

In this episode, we cover:
(00:00) Introducing Andrew Song, co-founder at Make Sunsets

(02:25) What Make Sunsets does and why Andrew started the company

(04:05) How reflective aerosols work to cool the planet

(07:01) Funding climate tech through individual “climate dads”

(09:04) From AI to climate intervention: Andrew’s unconventional career path

(10:49) Almost becoming a Catholic priest and choosing fatherhood instead

(13:27) Gaining sole custody and navigating parenting amid mental illness

(17:36) Explaining a parent’s absence to young children with honesty

(19:28) The isolation of being a single-dad-founder and seeking community

(20:47) Building a startup while raising two kids alone

(23:24) Living modestly in the Bay Area on a startup salary

(30:06) Relying on family support and rebuilding the “village”

(35:55) Traveling the West Coast in an RV with toddlers

(45:37) Lightning round: Legos, road trips, AI, and minivans

Resources From This Episode:

Make Sunsets: https://www.makesunsets.com/
Termination Shock - Neal Stephenson: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57094295-termination-shock
Terraform Industries: https://www.terraformindustries.com/
Y Combinator: https://www.ycombinator.com/
Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/
ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/
Sora: https://openai.com/sora
Alva Learning App (Educational app used by Andrew’s kids): https://www.alvalearning.com/
Scale AI: https://scale.com/
Monarch Money (Personal finance app Andrew references): https://www.monarchmoney.com/
World Book Encyclopedia: https://www.worldbook.com/
Doom: https://doom.com/
Pinocchio: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1488589/
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0076759/
Joshua Tree National Park: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/index.htm
iPad: https://www.apple.com/ipad/

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