Climate CEOs (formerly Entrepreneurs for Impact): Scaling Climate Tech Startups

Serial entrepreneurs, MIT professors, and climate tech experts share their blueprint for building startups in this new book.🎧 Episode SummaryTod Hynes is the Co-founder and CEO of Maigent, Board Chairman at Woodwell Climate Research Center, and Senior Lecturer at MIT.He has co-founded several organizations and companies and has raised over $500 million. He has also helped hundreds of teams of students launch their own climate and energy companies through the MIT Climate & Energy Ventures (CEV) class and MIT Climate & Energy Prize.Tod helped the Woodwell Climate Research Center raise matching funds and win a $41 million grant through the Audacious Project for their Permafrost Pathways Project. Only 18% of IPCC Earth Systems models include emissions from permafrost, which is like leaving out a Japan or even the U.S. worth of emissions. His newest venture, Maigent, leverages AI to accelerate climate solutions by turning us into super connectors to the right investors and partners needed for scale.I could try to summarize his other 44 “Experiences” on LinkedIn or how we have 364 mutual connections, but you get the idea!Learn more:MIT Course: https://www.climateandenergyventures.comNew Book Website: https://www.de4cev.comMaigent Website: https://maigent.aiWoodwell Website: https://www.woodwellclimate.orgBook coauthors include veteran entrepreneur Bill Aulet, climate tech expert Ben Soltoff, and the additional faculty behind MIT's Climate & Energy Ventures course, Francis O'Sullivan, and Libby Wayman.--------Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer GroupBecome an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.comGet Our 4-Minute Newsletter: Climate CEOsFor entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments — drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.comLeave a Podcast ReviewNo sponsors — just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviewsAbout the HostDr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, connect on LinkedIn:👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Tackling superpollutants, carbon insetting, digital carbon, and ESG strategy consulting before climate tech was cool.🎧 Episode SummaryClimeCo is an award-winning leader in decarbonization and an Inc. Best Workplaces Company. Since 2009, they have evolved from a pioneer in nitrous oxide abatement projects to a global leader in the environmental commodities market. Bill Flederbach is a Sustainability Hero Award Winner 2025, a former executive with MGM and AgCert, and an active member of the Rotary Club, implementing their four guiding principles across ClimeCo: Is it the truthIs it fair to all concernedWill it build goodwill and better friendshipsWill it be beneficial to all concerned🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer GroupBecome an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com📨 Get Our 4-Minute NewsletterFor entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments—drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/⭐ Leave a ReviewNo sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews🎙️ About the HostDr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI for entrepreneurs, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my Climate CEOs newsletter. Join 40,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

In this engaging discussion, Toussaint Hueting, Co-founder and CEO of Upway—a marketplace for refurbished e-bikes—shares his journey from Uber to climate tech. He highlights the potential of e-bikes to replace short car trips, addressing misconceptions about weather's impact on adoption. With over 80,000 bikes sold and $60M raised from Sequoia, Toussaint explains Upway's unique approach of combining e-bike resale with vertical integration for quality assurance. He also offers career advice on team selection and maintaining focus through healthy habits.

Enjoy this brief primer on how to establish a board of advisors for your startup (or negotiate a seat on one). In our EFI climate CEO peer group, we have a growing library of these hot topic primers. To get more like this, join 40,000 who get my Climate CEOs newsletter. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

100,000 people joined 1,000 events in NYC last week for the Climate Week. In this 18-minute podcast, I summarize 16 highlights from my time there. If you like this, join 40,000 who get my Climate CEOs newsletter. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Discover the debate on solar land use, framing it as a policy choice rather than a crisis. Learn about a $65M funding success for innovative AI solutions in agriculture. Explore Vision Ridge's ambitious $5B focus on sustainable infrastructure. Uncover how AI can enhance productivity by refining drafts before they reach management. Finally, embrace the importance of mindfulness in leadership to combat feelings of injustice and inspire optimism. It's a treasure trove of insights for climate-conscious leaders!

Electric vehicles, charging, and support in one predictable monthly payment (4 million EV fleet vehicles by 2030).🎧 Episode Summary7Gen is a Vancouver-based company that helps commercial fleets transition to zero-emission vehicles by providing turnkey solutions for electrification. Their services include financing, procurement, charging infrastructure, and long-term support to simplify the switch from diesel to electric. By acting as both a technology integrator and capital partner, 7Gen accelerates adoption of clean transportation in North America.Frans is a seasoned entrepreneur and investor with a track record in scaling sustainable businesses. He has led companies across sectors including renewable energy, transportation, and technology, with a consistent focus on impact and climate solutions. His career spans Europe and North America, giving him a global perspective on the future of clean mobility.🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer GroupBecome an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com📨 Get Our 4-Minute NewsletterFor entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments—drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/⭐ Leave a ReviewNo sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews🎙️ About the HostDr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI for entrepreneurs, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my Climate CEOs newsletter. Join 40,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Mapping $1.9 Trillion in global climate finance. Who invests? Who gets the funding?🎧 Episode SummaryThe Climate Policy Initiative is a leading international nonprofit research organization focused on tracking and mobilizing climate finance.Dr. Barbara Buchner is the lead author of the annual Global Landscape of Climate Finance reports—widely regarded as the standard for climate finance tracking—and directs CPI’s Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance, which has helped mobilize multibillion‑dollar investment for sustainable development worldwide.🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer GroupBecome an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com📨 Get Our 4-Minute NewsletterFor entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments—drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/⭐ Leave a ReviewNo sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews🎙️ About the HostDr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding