

Climate CEOs (formerly Entrepreneurs for Impact): Scaling Climate Tech Startups
Dr. Chris Wedding — Climate Tech CEO Coach | CEO @ EFI
Weekly briefing for climate founders, investors, and operators. Hosted by Dr. Chris Wedding, executive coach and CEO of Entrepreneurs for Impact (EFI), a peer group with 100+ CEOs & investors representing $40B+ in enterprise value and AUM. Climate CEOs delivers playbooks from the front lines of climate tech, with insights on raising capital, scaling startups in clean energy, batteries, carbon capture, and the circular economy, plus the founder mindset, mindfulness, daily habits, book recommendations, and resilience needed to thrive.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 15, 2025 • 41min
Scaling Climate Finance in the Global South: A CEO’s Playbook
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

Sep 11, 2025 • 12min
7 Ways AI is a Climate Champion vs. Climate Killer
Hear 5 themes from Sept. 10th EFI CEO & investor discussion on AI in climate tech in practice. Additionally, discover 7 ways AI is a climate champion, along with 14 example companies. (From my newsletter. Join 40,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com)

11 snips
Sep 8, 2025 • 43min
Net Zero Homes: 2.5x Faster, 30% Cheaper, $20M VC Raise
Vikas Enti, Co-founder and CEO of Reframe Systems, is on a mission to transform home construction with robotic micro-factories for net-zero homes. He shares how his team is building affordable homes 2.5 times faster and 30% cheaper while tackling a labor shortage in the industry. The discussion also covers Reframe's impressive $20 million funding round aimed at innovating sustainable housing solutions. Beyond tech, Vikas touches on the balance of personal fulfillment and professional ambitions in the climate-tech landscape.

Sep 4, 2025 • 15min
China’s Power Grid Gains — Outpacing U.S. by 2–10x in Power & Solar
Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI for entrepreneurs, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 40,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Sep 2, 2025 • 44min
Smarter Agriculture: 30x More Produce, 96% Less Water with AI-Powered Greenhouses
AI-powered agtech infrastructure is growing climate-friendly crops while boosting farmer profitability—backed by horticultural expertise and data science.🎧 Episode SummaryIUNU is a Seattle‑based ag‑tech startup using AI‑driven computer vision and autonomous sensors—via its LUNA platform—to monitor greenhouse crop growth in real time, optimize operations, and boost farm productivity across 100 facilities in 18 countries.They've raised over $60 million to scale up, including a recent $20M round led by our friends at S2G Investments. Adam Greenberg is the CEO and co-founder. As a servant leader, he believes that "true leaders base their success on the success of those around them." Amen, brother! His prior roles include consulting for Fortune 100 companies, volunteering with youth programs, and co-founding Pure Blue Tech (a reverse osmosis water tech co). 🔑 HighlightsHow they recently raised $20 million in a challenging market by demonstrating strong market pull from customersWhy they help farmers, retailers, and breeders with real business benefits before mentioning their environmentally friendly attributesWhat he means by Chief Translation OfficerHow great leaders create an environment where everyone is willing to go the extra mileThe inverse correlation between high-impact work and personal balanceHow Wim Hof breathing and meditation keep him healthy and sane🌎 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

Aug 28, 2025 • 13min
Climate Capital Map + Brad Feld’s 30-Year VC Wisdom (and our shiny new pod name)
Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 20,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

10 snips
Aug 25, 2025 • 48min
Reduce A/C Energy by 40%: MIT Spinout + Top Climate Tech VC Investors
In this engaging conversation, Sorin Grama, the CEO and co-founder of Transaera and an MIT-trained engineer, dives into innovative air conditioning solutions. He discusses how metal-organic frameworks can cut HVAC energy use by 40%, promoting sustainability. Sorin reflects on past experiences, including developing refrigeration for rural Indian farmers, and sheds light on the increasing demand for efficient cooling solutions amid climate change. His insights on leadership and community collaboration in the climate tech arena are truly inspiring.

Aug 21, 2025 • 11min
9x Founder Becomes Low Carbon Investor. Sustainable Aviation Fuel with 95% Lower GHG. Policy-Proof Climate Businesses. GPT as Your Chief Culture Analyst. Sweat Lodge Ceremony in Costa Rica.
Discover the journey of a nine-time founder turned low carbon investor. Delve into groundbreaking sustainable aviation fuel that boasts a 95% reduction in greenhouse gases. Learn about building resilient climate businesses that thrive amid policy shifts. Explore the transformative power of nature through a unique sweat lodge experience in Costa Rica. Plus, gain insights on using AI as a cultural asset within organizations.

Aug 19, 2025 • 58min
"Give First" Mindset: VC Investor Lessons that Catalyzed 4,500+ Startups
In this engaging conversation, Brad Feld, co-founder of Foundry Group and Techstars, shares insights from his four decades as a venture capitalist. He emphasizes his 'give first' philosophy, advocating for mentorship without expectation. Brad discusses the resilience required for startup founders navigating climate tech challenges and the importance of learning from failures. He reveals how non-transactional mentorship can create thriving communities and highlights the necessity of building long-term relationships in an increasingly transactional world.

Aug 14, 2025 • 14min
100 Startups in Metals & Mining. Bill Liao @ SOSV ($1 Billion). Better AI Prompts w/ CRAFT Framework. Surprising Life Lesson from Engineering Legend Buckminster Fuller.
Learn these 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 20,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com