Climate CEOs (by EFI): Scaling Climate Tech Startups

⭐ 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. --- 🌐 LINKS: C-Zero – https://www.czero.energy/ Zach Jones – https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachjones06/ --- 🎙️ 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). 😃

⭐ 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. --- 🌐 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 --- 🎙️ 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). 😃

⭐ 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. --- 🌐 LINKS: Aaron - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronluque EnviroSpark - https://envirosparkenergy.com --- 🎙️ 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). 😃

⭐ 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.  --- 🌐 LINKS: Jason - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonaramburu Climate Robotics - https://www.climaterobotics.com/ --- 🎙️ 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). 😃

⭐ 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. --- 🌐 LINKS: Manuel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/manuel-pinuela Cultivo - https://cultivo.land --- 🎙️ 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). 😃

⭐ 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.” --- 🌐 LINKS: Kameale - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamealecterry ChargerHelp! - https://www.chargerhelp.com --- 🎙️ 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). 😃

⭐ 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). 😃