Entrepreneurs for Impact

⭐ My guest today is Jack Morrison, CEO and cofounder at Scythe Robotics. Scythe produces “state-of-the-art autonomous machines that handle the mowing while your team works hard to keep your properties looking their best.” As they say, “Smell Grass, Not Gas: Leave the noise and gas fumes behind. With all-day battery life and high torque electric motors, Scythe gives you power without pollution.”  Jack is a liberal arts-trained technical leader with a passion for fast code and connecting computers with the physical world. He was previously the Co-Founder and CTO of Replica Labs, which focused on 3D scanning and was acquired by Occipital. Links: Jack - https://www.linkedin.com/in/morrisonjack/ Scythe Robotics - https://www.scytherobotics.com/ --- 🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS: How their robotic lawnmowers can reduce costs vs. conventional lawn care by 40%. The business pivot that turns their lemons into lemonade. How the Robocup (robots playing soccer) was part of the company’s origin story. What led investors to commit $60M to their growth. How their guaranteed reliability and “pay as you mow” model align incentives to create happy customers. The diversity of their team with 40 disciplines across 80 team members, aka, Scythers. 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). 😃

⭐ In today's super short holiday episode, I cover these 4 topics: (1) Top 30 software innovators: Electrify everything, (2) 7,000+ climate technologies vetted by the U.S. government, (3) 12 tips for better sleep (Stanford scientist), (4) If you’re not getting the recognition you deserve, then remember the Wright Brothers --- 🙏 QUICK FAVOR: Please leave a review or rating on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. This helps more listeners discover the world-changing climate tech 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). 😃

⭐ In today's super short holiday episode, I cover these 4 topics: (1) Report — Climate investing for family offices, (2) POV — What climate tech software means for an $80B VC investor, (3) Mental model — Hanlon’s Razor (Don’t assume the worst), (4) Mental fitness — What is the feeling you're unwilling to feel? --- 🙏 QUICK FAVOR: Please leave a review or rating on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. This helps more listeners discover the world-changing climate tech 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). 😃

⭐ My guest today is Haroon Inam, CEO and co-founder at DG Matrix. DG Matrix is a power electronics startup building L3 DC fast EV chargers, that are 10-20x smaller than competitors, as well as all-in-one single-unit microgrid solutions. They have over 100 engineers innovating on these two products. Haroon has three decades of experience in executive, product, and operations roles in energy technology companies, including the commercialization of billions of dollars worth of power electronics products and over 50 patents awarded. Links: Haroon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/harooninam DG Matrix - https://www.dgmatrix.com --- 🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS: Their $1B pipeline of big companies that are excited to use their fast chargers. The benefits of fast chargers that are 70% smaller than competitors’. The role of silicon carbide in their innovation. Lessons learned from 30+ years in power electronics. The benefits of improving EQ (emotional intelligence) earlier in one’s career. Why he meditates and aims for a low ego. 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). 😃

⭐ My guest today is Shely Aronov, Founder and CEO of InnerPlant. InnerPlant is a VC-backed agtech company on a mission to transform farming by enabling crops to communicate with growers. Their Living Sensor plants emit optical signals detectable by tractors in the field or by satellites in space. Shely is a serial entrepreneur with experience in multiple sectors across multiple countries with an MBA from Stanford University. Links: Shely - https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelyaronov/ InnerPlant - https://innerplant.com/ --- 🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS: United Nations estimates that we lose 40% of crops to diseases and pests each year. How she’s building tech that sounds like a mood ring for plants. The benefits of cross-domain expertise. Why they settled on fungal infections in soybeans as their first problem to solve. How they use a paid waiting list of farmers who are helping to co-create the best product-market fit. The number one reason that startups fail. Lessons from wizards and prophets. 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). 😃

⭐ My guest today is Micah Kotch, Partner at Blackhorn Ventures. Blackhorn Ventures invests in companies redefining industrial resource efficiency. Their portfolio serves enterprise customers across Energy, Construction / Real Estate, Supply Chain / Logistics and Transportation – interconnected industries that generate $3T in annual revenue and account for the vast majority of global greenhouse gas emissions. They’ve raised three funds totalling over $270 in AUM. Their investments in 60+ seed and Series A ventures is performing in the top quartile of all comparable VC funds, according to Cambridge Associates. Micah was previously part of the BMW Group, where he served as Managing Director of URBAN-X; the platform for startups reimagining city life. He is also a Founding Partner of C3, an AngelList syndicate backing companies working to reduce emissions, mitigate the worst effects of climate change, and help humanity adapt to a changing world. --- 🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS: The debate between hardware and software investing in climate tech. Why the September 11 tragedy catapulted him into sustainability. How he moved from an undergraduate major in East Asian studies to be a VC investor. How an off-grid family cabin in New Engand taught him about his current career mission. Their work to integrate impact additionality into the full life cycle of their investments. The importance of tackling big problems outside of our comfort zone. How loud music and motorcycles keep him calm. And his favorite NGO to support – Green City Force: https://greencityforce.org 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). 😃

⭐ In today's super short holiday episode, I cover these 5 topics: (1) 200 climate tech experts define top investment trends. (2) U.S. Department of Energy gives guidance on climate tech investment readiness. (3) The formula for happiness: Just two variables. (4) Carl Rogers: Accept reality before you can change it. (5) Nightly gratitude challenge --- 🙏 QUICK FAVOR: Please leave a review or rating on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player. This helps more listeners discover the world-changing climate tech 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). 😃

⭐ My guest today is Mike Reynolds, Managing Director at Ultra Capital. Ultra Capital is a mid-market investor in infrastructure and growth equity in the energy transition. They were founded in 2016 and have invested $5M to $25M per company across two funds. Mike’s prior work includes structured finance at a little-known firm named Goldman Sachs and founding EverVest, a financial modeling software for infrastructure investors. --- 🎙️ PODCAST TOPICS: Potential risks that billions of dollars in the IRA get clawed back if Republicans gain control of D.C. The financing niche they fill by sector and company stage. Why they don’t take tech risk. What they look for in a founding team. Why we should take a 40-year, not 4-year, view on our career trajectory. The need to set boundaries to protect time with family. FOMO vs. JOMO. Read their white paper on political risks to the Inflation Reduction Act here: https://tinyurl.com/yxj2xv65 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). 😃

⭐ My guest today is me. That’s right. No guest. Just 10 or so lessons learned from my work in capital raising for climate ventures as a private equity investor, founder, board member, and investment banker. If you liked these tips, share them with a founder friend. I know it's rough out there raising capital right now. But remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t stress too much about your 1-year goals. Try to think about the 10-year plan instead. #EasyToSayHardToDo --- 🙏 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. --- 🌎 To boost your growth in climate tech, Entrepreneurs for Impact can help you with... 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). 😃

⭐ My guest today is Lila Preston, Head of Generation Growth Equity. Generation Growth Equity is a part of the larger Generation Investment Management, an investment management firm founded in 2004 by former US Vice President Al Gore and Goldman Sachs' Asset Management head David Blood, with a focus on sustainable investment options. They now manage about $40B. Generation Growth Equity invests globally in growth-stage, private companies with proven technology and commercial traction, run by talented, mission-driven management teams. They take active minority positions in companies that are driving broad-based, system-positive change. They’re now investing out of their fourth fund, a $1.7B vehicle. Lila joined Generation in 2004. Previously, she was a director of finance and development at VolunteerMatch in San Francisco and was also a Fulbright Fellow in Southern Chile. She received a BA in English and Latin American Studies from Stanford University and an MBA from London Business School. She serves on the board of Nature’s Fynd and as a board observer for CiBO Technologies, Optoro, and Pivot Bio. She is also on the Board of Advisors at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health and is a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum. --- 🎙️ In this episode, we talked about: What she means by “system positive” as a filter for their investments. Why sustainability is at the core of their strategy and boosting investor returns. Which risks they’re willing to take – i.e., no tech risk, no product-market fit risk.  How they develop the conviction to invest $50M to $150M per company. The breadth of their sustainability research and what parts of that they share out to the world. The need to “stay in your lane” when investing and let others do the same. Example investments such as M-KOPA which started out as an energy access play and grew into a financing vehicle to improve households in Africa in new ways. The massive opportunities for biology to replace chemistry – e.g., with their Pivot Bio investment.  The biggest challenges that CEOs in their portfolios face. The role of life cycle assessments to assess net impacts, positive and negative. The distinction between being proactive and reactive in investment and career development more broadly. What her Fullbright work in Chile taught her. 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. --- 🌎 To boost your growth in climate tech, Entrepreneurs for Impact can help you with... 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). 😃