
Entrepreneurs for Impact
Interviews with climate tech CEOs and investors: Business strategy, capital raising, investment criteria, lessons learned, book recommendations, productivity habits, and career advice. Hosted by Dr. Chris Wedding: serial founder, investor, professor, and occasional monk. www.entrepreneursforimpact.com (Nothing herein is investment advice.)
Latest episodes

Mar 14, 2024 • 47min
#172: Rohan Puri, CEO of Stable — Dynamic Pricing for EV Charging. More Profit with AI-Based Siting Location. Don't Sell Software to Software Companies. Relentless Focus. MIT, Harvard, and TechStars.
⭐ My guest today is Rohan Puri, CEO of Stable.
Stable maximizes EV charging station ROI with strategic placement and pricing solutions.
Rohan brings experience from MIT, Harvard, and TechStars. Hope you enjoy it!
And give Rohan and Stable a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or Twitter by sharing this podcast with your people.
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🌐 LINKS:
Stable –
https://stable.auto/
Rohan –
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rohanspuri/
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
How 70% of EV fast chargers are underperforming financially. Why static pricing at EV charging stations makes no sense. How 15% vs. 5% should inform ideal charging goals for chargers. Their AI tool for optimizing charger location for quicker paybacks to investors. Deliberately keeping their team small. Why you shouldn’t sell software to software companies. Relentless focus.
And lots more!
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🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
It really means a lot, and I read every one.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
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🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Mar 7, 2024 • 52min
#171: Mike Hall, CEO of Anza Renewables — Smarter Solar and Battery Procurement. Private Equity Investment. 500x Solar Growth. Ultimate Frisbee Meets Buddhism. Founder Happiness Without Unicorns.
⭐ My guest today is Mike Hall, CEO of Anza Renewables.
Anza is a solar module and battery storage procurement platform that helps developers and project owners see more options in less time to increase project profits and productivity.
Mike is a long-time solar industry veteran with 20+ years of experience, including ex-CEO of Borrego and Board member of the Solar Energy Industries Association.
Hope you enjoy it!
And give Mike and Anza a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or Twitter by sharing this podcast with your people.
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🌐 LINKS:
Anza Renewables –
https://www.anzarenewables.com/
Mike Hall –
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-hall-b281615/
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
What he’s learned as the solar sector has grown 500x since he got involved. How their platform is saving 100s of customers millions of dollars and moving gigawatts of product into high high-quality projects. Why economies of scale procurement contracts don’t always lead to cost savings. The path to founder happiness without reaching unicorn status. How ultimate frisbee and Buddhism keep him calm and centered as a leader.
And lots more!
---
🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
---
🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Feb 29, 2024 • 42min
#170: Gilwoo Lee, CEO of Zordi — Khosla Ventures Investment. PhD in AI. Smart Agriculture. Robots for Sustainability. Delicious Berries. Inspiring Billionaires. Selling on Non-Climate Benefits.
⭐ My guest today is Dr. Gilwoo Lee, Founder and CEO of Zordi.
Zordi is a VC-backed agricultural platform blending Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and machine learning to reshape and enhance sustainable greenhouse farming.
Gilwoo is a PhD in AI with experience at Facebook, Dreamworks, and Michigan Venture Capital.
Hope you enjoy it!
And give Gilwoo and Zordi a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or Twitter by sharing this podcast with your people.
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🌐 LINKS:
Zordi –
https://www.zordi.com/
Gilwoo Lee –
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gilwoo-lee-581a13199/
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
Why Kholsa Ventures invested in them. Mainstreaming climate tech solutions by selling on non-climate consumer benefits. Their expansion plans into new crops, business models, and geographies. The role of computer vision and machine learning. How her robots measure pests, plant health, and growth rates to optimize yields. Why she gets up at 5 am. Which billionaires inspire her to be more focused and ambitious.
And lots more!
---
🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
---
🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Feb 22, 2024 • 43min
#169: Amit Gupta, CEO of Aeroseal — $100M Invested in Heating and Cooling Energy Efficiency. 40 Years of Lab Testing. Managing Our Energy Like We Manage Our Time. Determined and Detached.
⭐ My guest today is Amit Gupta, CEO of Aeroseal.
Aeroseal is a cleantech company – with $100M of investor capital raised to date – focused on increasing building efficiency by reducing HVAC losses in the duct system and leaks in the building envelope using patented technologies.
Amit is a mechanical engineer with experience at Tata Motors, Carrier, and 75F, as well as CEO of Aeroseal since its founding in 2010.
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🌐 LINKS:
Aeroseal –
https://aeroseal.com
Amit Gupta –
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amit-gupta-36abb0/
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
40% of global greenhouse gas emissions tied to buildings. 50% of those emissions linked to HVAC use. Their “fix a flat” tagline for leaking buildings. Why their solution is as “safe as bubble gum.” The 40 years of lab testing for their technology and incubation at Carrier. Their changing business model from just selling machines to leasing and software. Why they raised capital after ten years of high-margin operations. His desire to be more courageous, to lead like his “hair was on fire.” The role of meditation in his growth. The need to manage energy better than we manage time.
And lots more!
---
🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
---
🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Feb 15, 2024 • 46min
#168: Zach Jones, CEO of C-Zero — $500M plants. Investors such as Breakthrough Energy Ventures, SK Gas, and Engie. Decarbonizing Natural Gas. 45V Incentives. Skeptical Optimism.
⭐ My guest today is Zach Jones, cofounder and CEO of C-Zero.
C-Zero converts natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon. The hydrogen provides clean, low-cost energy on demand, while the carbon can be permanently sequestered. Investors include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, SK Gas, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Engie.
Zach is biomedical engineer-turned-CEO with experience at The Economist, Beryllium Capital, EconoMEDics, and East Meets West Foundation.
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🌐 LINKS:
C-Zero –
https://www.czero.energy/
Zach Jones –
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachjones06/
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
Why natural gas is thermodynamically clean given its high hydrogen content. Why big energy companies are motivated investors in his venture, where a scaled up plant could cost $500M. The power of extreme focus. The top three things a CEO must do well. How to think about upstream methane emissions. How to crack natural gas without electricity. The need to be a skeptical optimist. Impacts of the federal 45V incentive.
And lots more!
---
🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
---
🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Feb 8, 2024 • 43min
#167: Matt Ellis, CEO at Measurabl — ESG Software for Real Estate. $170M+ Raised. $2T of Value. 17B Square Feet. Selling Data. FTSE Partnership. Transparency Matters.
⭐ My guest today is Matt Ellis, CEO of Measurabl.
Measurabl is the ESG platform built for real estate to measure, manage, disclose, and act on ESG data. Their 200+ employees serve clients representing 17 billion square feet of real estate and $2T of value in 93 countries.
Matt is the former Director of Sustainability Solutions at CBRE, a Fortune 500 company and global leader in commercial real estate services and investments with around 3 billion square feet under management. His new book is: From Green to ESG: How Data-Driven Transparency Changed Real Estate for Good.
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🌐 LINKS:
Measurabl – https://www.measurabl.com
Matt – https://www.linkedin.com/in/measurabl
Matt’s book, Green to ESG – https://www.amazon.com/Green-ESG-Data-Driven-Transparency-Changed/dp/B09TZ9BSCN
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
Why his private equity, asset manager, and REIT customers use his software. How he prices his products. His data partnership with the FTSE index, which is moving billions of dollars into green real estate. The pains of customer price discovery. Why self advocacy matters. How he balances strategic and VC investors. Future consolidation in this industry.
And lots more!
---
🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
---
🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Feb 1, 2024 • 54min
#166: Aaron Luque, CEO at EnviroSpark — EV Charger Installation and Financing, 130+ Team Members, Bias for Action, Business Idea Generation via Round-the-World Travel, Moral Responsibility
⭐ My guest today is Aaron Luque, Cofounder and CEO at EnviroSpark.
EnviroSpark is a leading installer of EV charging stations and delivers a fully customizable solution at little to no cost for property owners. With a team of over 130 people and thousands of stations installed, they are on a mission to raise awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles
Aaron is a serial environmental entrepreneur, based in Atlanta, Georgia, who conceived of the idea for EnviroSpark during a round-the-world travel adventure to 20 countries with his wife and business partner.
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🌐 LINKS:
Aaron - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronluque
EnviroSpark - https://envirosparkenergy.com
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
The magic of financing EV charging installations to make it easier for real estate owners to say yes. How he scaled the company from a $5,000 investment to a multi-million dollar company before taking outside investment. The need to have a bias for action. Concentration risk of working too much with big customers. The moral responsibility and enormous economic opportunity of transportation electrification.
And lots more!
---
🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
---
🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Jan 25, 2024 • 48min
#165: Jason Aramburu, CEO of Climate Robotics — Biochar Meets Artificial Intelligence, 30,000 Peer-Reviewed Studies, Gates Foundation History, Carbon Removal Pricing, Soil Enhancements
⭐ My guest today is Jason Aramburu, CEO of Climate Robotics.
Climate Robotics is a team of roboticists, soil scientists, and AI researchers developing advanced robotics to help sequester carbon via biochar, capitalizing on the fact that the Earth’s soils contain more than 14 times more carbon dioxide than the atmosphere.
Jason is a serial entrepreneur and investor interested in new applications of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Robotics, Sensors and Trustless Computing to large industries such as agriculture, mining, logistics, energy, health and climate change mitigation.
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🌐 LINKS:
Jason - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonaramburu
Climate Robotics - https://www.climaterobotics.com/
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
His current company’s ties back to his Gates Foundation-funded biochar company founded in 2006. How they’re tackling the 50% of total costs involved in transporting biochar from the site of biomass to the agricultural field. Why biochar is a permanent carbon sequestration solution, despite common misperceptions. The price per ton of various carbon removal solutions. Crop outperformance when the soil is enhanced with biochar. What it means when we say: “Name it and you can tame it.”
And lots more!
---
🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
---
🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Jan 18, 2024 • 50min
#164: Manuel Pinuela, CEO at Cultivo — $44 Trillion in GDP from Nature. “Search Engine for Natural Capital.” Earning Multiple Revenue Streams. Proprietary Algorithms + Boots on the Ground.
⭐ My guest today is Manuel Pinuela, CEO at Cultivo.
Cultivo exists to accelerate finance to regenerate nature. They do this by building portfolios of high-quality natural capital that generate healthy financial returns that are good for nature and society.
Manuel has been named an Inventor of the Year and 35 Innovators under 35 by MIT Technology Review for Latin America. Born in Mexico, he earned his PhD from the Imperial College of London in electrical engineering.
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🌐 LINKS:
Manuel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-pinuela
Cultivo - https://cultivo.land
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
This statistic: More than half of the world’s total gross domestic product, or $44 trillion, involves activities that are moderately or highly dependent on nature. How they’re building a “search engine for natural capital.” The role of proprietary algorithms vs. boots on the ground in their assessments. How projects earn multiple revenue streams while focusing on improving degraded land.
And lots more!
---
🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
---
🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃

Jan 11, 2024 • 47min
#163: Kameale Terry, CEO of ChargerHelp! — 97% Uptime on Electric Vehicle Chargers with Reliability as a Service (RaaS), Crazy Ideas Win, Predictive Analytics, Climate Tech Software, 5:00 AM Club
⭐ My guest today is Kameale Terry, Cofounder and CEO of ChargerHelp!.
ChargerHelp! is the only national EV charger-dedicated operations and maintenance service provider, with over 1,000 EV technicians trained so far. Their key offering is Reliability as a Service (RaaS) – “a labor subscription service that provides peace of mind to charging station owners and operators who require fast and reliable O&M services at consistent, hassle-free prices, with 97% EV charger up time.”
Kameale Terry is a former banker, policy fellow, and EV charging software executive. She’s also the daughter of Belizean immigrants born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. She believes that an “equitable green economy can be achieved through realignment of existing workforces in conjunction with clean technology.”
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🌐 LINKS:
Kameale - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamealecterry
ChargerHelp! - https://www.chargerhelp.com
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🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS:
Their new partnership with SAE International to create a standardized EV charging technician program. The benefits of betting on American consumerism to choose new technology products that delight them (like EVs). How they will leverage the largest data set nationally for EV charging operations. Why she’s a member of the 5 AM club and how it affects her mornings. How we miss out on solutions when we don’t include all people. Insights from a favorite book, Paradise Built in Hell.
And lots more!
---
🙏 QUICK FAVOR:
Please leave a review or rating on your podcast player.
This helps more listeners discover the climate CEOs and investors I interview here.
---
🌎 ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS FOR IMPACT:
2-minute newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com
Climate CEO peer group community: https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
Live online course about startup capital raising (coaching, peer feedback): https://t.ly/V6xcB
DIY course about startup capital raising (170 slides, 70-item library, 250-investor list): https://t.ly/QCcl5
Entrepreneurs for Impact is led by Dr. Chris Wedding — a 4x founder, 4x Board member, Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, father of three, ax-throwing champ, and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio). 😃