CleanTechies

Today, we’re speaking with Sophie Purdom, Managing Partner of Planeteer Capital. After co-creating CTVC with Kim Zou, the climate deals and deep-dives newsletter that has become canon in climate, with 75k+ readers, Sophie announced Planeteer Capital. (We discussed on the pod) They are going full speed with their investing thesis, investing in companies at the incorporation stage. Something they have been able to do well, given the history and network that Sophie has. Aside from teasing the future of Planeteer and discussing their unique advantage, Sophie gave us some insights on where the market is now. One thing that surprised us is how, despite all the negative news, more deals are being done year over year than in years past. Sophie shares the 4 types of climate tech founders, what they look for picking the right team, and core things to get right when navigating the climate capital stack. This interview is one we’ve been chasing down for some time, so we’re glad to finally make it. We hope you enjoy the show! Fill out our listener survey. If you want to support our work, upgrade to paid today!Topics **2:08 The Current State of Climate Tech**5:31 Long-Term Impact of the Climate Boom**8:44 [Check out ErthTech Talent for your Hiring Needs]**9:28 Identifying Long-Term & Durable Trends**13:04 Tracking High-Potential Niche Markets**17:57 How Her View of Venture Investing Has Changed **20:20 Where Planeteer Investments**23:15 The Value Planeteer Adds**24:30 The Role CTVC Played In Her Ability To Run Planeteer Well**28:00 Investing at Incorporation**32:15 How They Support Founders & Incentive Alignment**35:05 What to Know When Partnering with Incumbents**39:29 Will Climate Disruptors Scale?**43:10 The Future Vision of Planeteer CapitalLinks**Sophie Purdom | Planeteer Capital**Discussing the Planeteer Fund Announcement**Somil on LinkedIn | Silas on LinkedIn**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

Today’s episode features Felix Krause, founding partner of Vireo Ventures, one of Europe’s leading early-stage energy tech investors. Felix is based in Berlin and brings decades of experience across solar project development, corporate VC, and now independent fund management.We dig deep into why electrification is the real unlock for climate, and why Felix and his team believe the software that manages energy flows—not new forms of generation—is where VC dollars can make the biggest impact.Felix also talks candidly about:How Vireo built a reputation as a hands-on, brutally honest investorWhy “doing good and making money” aren’t mutually exclusiveHow to spot founders with true grit and fire in their eyesWhy Europe is at a critical inflection point for tech sovereigntyWe also cover how AI and increasing data availability are quietly enabling new software business models in energy—from optimizing legacy boilers in multifamily buildings to managing distributed assets securely.If you're wondering how to build (or back) meaningful energy tech in today’s shifting market, this episode is packed with pragmatic insights—and just the right amount of optimism.TopicsShort Version04:36 Founding Vireo Ventures: The Transition to Investment09:20 Building Relationships with Founders14:20 The Importance of Honesty in Investment17:52 Navigating the Future of Energy22:44 Data and Cybersecurity in Clean Tech25:12 Navigating the Go-To-Market Strategy25:57 Investing in Early-Stage Software Companies27:27 The Role of Data Extraction in Electrification29:55 Understanding Business Models in Climate Tech31:11 Evaluating Software Sales Strategies34:13 AI's Impact on Electrification and Business ModelsLinksFelix Krause | Vireo VenturesConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIn This Episode:* What is a Solid State Transformer * How Solid State Transformers are Reshaping the Energy Industry* How They Built a $1bn PipelineSponsors:Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech EntrepreneursErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmWhat’s up, everyone!Today, we have a great episode with Haroon Inam & Michael Wood III from DG Matrix. We’re talking about a simple technology that can fundamentally reshape the energy industry by transforming electricity more efficiently and with way less physical space than what’s been done traditionally.Take an EV charger, for example. You need to get the exact electricity flow right. Usually, that would take a few parking spaces’ worth of transformers. With DG Matrix, you can do it with a simple power stand smaller than your refrigerator.This is still the case even if you’ve got solar, batteries, or other distributed resources all mixed in together. They can handle all the streams of electricity in and out.It’s clear the industry is loving this too. They have over $1bn of pipeline to date.We got Haroon and Michael, so it’s a great episode._____Want to access all our content? Upgrade to paid today. Act fast! Annual subscriptions increase to $100 on May 1st (currently $80)._____TopicsFree Version:**03:21 The Journey to DG Matrix**05:51 Understanding Solid State Transformers**09:11 Market Position and Economic Impact**10:00 Goodwin AD**12:06 Solid State Transformer Advantages**13:26 Company AD**17:14 Building a Strong Advisory Network**18:51 Call to Action**21:10 Overcoming Challenges in Clean Tech**24:54 The Future of DG Matrix and Market Fit**26:29 Building from the Ground Up**27:51 Transforming Energy Markets**30:55 Streamlining Manufacturing and Supply ChainLinks* Haroon Inam, Michael Wood III | DG Matrix* Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

 Follow on YouTube | Listeners SurveyCheck Out Our Sponsors! * Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs * ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmWhat’s up, everyone! Today, we have a great episode with Danny Lu from Powin. Powin is a leading provider of BESS, w/ 8 GWh of systems built and 9 in the pipeline. As the Trump admin pushes for more drilling and a seemingly anti-clean energy policy (despite that not being the definition of abundance) we are seeing the value of battery storage. Prior to tariffs, building a speaker plant would be more expensive and take longer than building energy storage systems to manage grid flexibility issues. (It’s tbd what the situation will be with huge Chinese tariffs). Powin has years of experience working in this space to solve supply chain issues and is always improving its business to adapt to whatever battery chemistry is most feasible and affordable for its clients. Given all this, it was great to speak with someone who can help us understand where the market is going and what the key challenges and opportunities are that lie ahead. Want to access all our content? Upgrade to paid today. Act fast! Annual subscriptions increase to $100 on May 1st (currently $80). 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelTopics Free Preview: * 00:00 Cold Open & Intro to Our Guest * 04:00 Origins & Evolutions of Powin* 08:10 What They Do * 10:00 Creating the Market and Finding Their First Customers* 13:00 Stepping Into a Leadership Role Out of University * 18:10 From Permit to Commissioning in Months* 19:10 What an IPP/Utility Wants — Single Point of Blame* 23:00 The Evolution of Battery Chemistry for BESS vs EV * 25:30 Powin’s Current Scale* 26:50 Storage Project Market Projections Considering Tariffs* 31:30 AI & Data Centers | BESS vs Peaker Plants* 39:00 Manufacturing in the US? (teaser clip & paywall) Links* Danny Lu | Powin* Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

In This Episode:The story of him co-launching the Goodwin climate practiceWhat’s happening in climate tech right now? (Market update)The 3 Biggest Mistakes Climate Founders MakeCheck Out Our Sponsors!Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech EntrepreneursErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmWhat’s up, everyone! Today’s episode is special since we’re speaking with David Brekke from Goodwin. In case you somehow missed it, Goodwin is the sponsor of our podcast, so yes, this is sponsored content. (tbh, even if it were not, we’d still have David on — but don’t tell him that)With everything going on in the world of climate tech right now, it’s hard to know which end is up. But David has a great perspective. You see, he’s always interacting with tons of founders and investors in climate. He sees the good, the bad, and the ugly. For this reason, he’s one of the best people to get a read on the market from. In addition to a market update, we get to hear the story of him going to Goodwin to start the climate practice. Then he walks us through the greatest hits of what to do and what not to do. He’s been around the block, and in addition to his experience, they have an entire team with even more grey hair that knows how to guide founders. This episode is value-packed — enjoy! Want to access all our content? Upgrade to paid today. Act fast! Annual subscriptions increase to $100 on May 1st (currently $80). 📺 Watch on YouTubeTopics 03:11 Building a Climate Practice at Goodwin06:08 Law x Climate Innovation09:12 Personal Motivations in Climate Tech12:04 Navigating the Climate VC Landscape15:10 Challenges and Opportunities for Climate Founders17:56 The Role of Legal Advisors in Startups21:00 Current Climate Market Dynamics24:03 The Future of Climate Investments27:13 Rebranding in the Climate Sector30:02 Reorienting Climate Tech Pitches33:19 The Evolution of Climate VC Participation36:42 Navigating Fundraising Challenges37:11 Common Mistakes in Climate Tech Startups48:01 Investor Relations and Stakeholder ManagementLinksDavid Brekke | GoodwinBook: Venture DealsConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment or legal advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

Follow us on YouTube---------Today, we have a great episode with Joe Rodden from Lydian. And we are talking all things eFuels and their story. Lydian uses Co2, Water, and abundant Green Energy to create eFuels/SAF. And because of their flexible run method, they can do it profitably, consistently. In the recent past there has been a huge demand for SAF that has been hard for major airlines to procure. In part because the technology was not there, but mostly because there were no plants up and operating. SAF plants are assumed to look like chemical production facilities… ie: always on. This way the cost of the investment is paid back soon. Lydian made sure they used inexpensive materials to create their system. And they made it to start and stop whenever there is excess electricity being produced. It’s a game changer. On top of this, Joe has a great story. A story that I’m sure you’ll enjoy on today’s episode. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment and giving us 5 stars on your favorite podcast app. Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

Today, we have a great episode with Andrew Chan from Atas Ventures.Surprise surprise…we’re continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift, climate tech 3.0, climate risk…whatever you want to call it. However, our conversation with Andrew Chan of Atas Ventures is a little bit different. Andrew has, from the very beginning, thought about climate investing from first principles, placing profitability and tangible impact at the core of his strategy. He refers to this next wave as "Climate 3.0," an evolution beyond traditional impact investing towards applied technologies like robotics, IoT, and advanced energy solutions.Our conversation today focuses on these themes, including how venture capital can meaningfully intersect with antiquated industries such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing to drive both profits and genuine environmental outcomes. Andrew also shares why the venture capital playbook may need to evolve, emphasizing smarter portfolio construction, disciplined investing, and leveraging real-world experience to build lasting companies.Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you.Sidenote, we recorded this remotely while Andrew was traveling—he joined us from Bangor, Maine. If you'd like to watch, check it out on YouTube. (Also, be sure to give us a follow on YouTube to help us grow the channel!)Follow us on YouTubeIf you're enjoying the content, consider upgrading to become paid subscriber today. Act fast! Because our annual subscription is going from $80 up to $100 as of May 1st. To upgrade, click the “upgrade” button on the top right of your screen here.📝 Show Notes:Topics 06:10 Understanding Climate 3.011:53 Journey to VC17:56 Investment Strategies for Antiquated Industries23:45 Portfolio Construction26:33 Future of Fund Management30:02 Emerging Managers32:49 Taking Risks in VC36:46 Essential Skills40:19 Trends in Deep Tech and Robotics47:55 Learning and GrowthLinksAndrew ChanConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

 📺 Watch on YouTubeWhat’s up, everyone! Today we have a great episode with Grace Penders and Adam Chadroff from Equal Ventures. If you're not familiar with Equal, I recommend checking out episode 116 where we had on Rick Zullo, the Founder of Equal.Today, we're continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift. However, our conversation with Equal is a little bit different. Equal has, from the very beginning, had a thesis broader than just climate. One of those other areas is insurance. This is an area that is increasingly intersecting with climate. This is becoming especially acute given the rise in natural disasters and the catastrophic financial impacts that follow.Our conversation today focuses on these themes as well as what the insurance industry’s role is in helping solve the climate investing challenge. There are plenty of ways. This is playing into how governments engage.Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you.Sidenote, we recorded this in person in the equal offices during my recent visit to New York. So if you'd like to watch, check it out on YouTube. (Also, be sure to give us a follow on YouTube to help us grow the channel)Topics 00:00 Cold Open & Intro03:00 The Climate Tech Vibe Shift05:58 The Intersection of Climate and Insurance09:01 Investment Trends in Climate Risk12:05 Quantifying and Mitigating Climate Risks15:03 Innovations in Climate Risk Management17:55 Preventative Measures and Market Impacts26:05 Understanding Market Compression and Its Impacts29:50 The Role of Insurance in Value Creation32:54 Government Involvement in Climate Risk35:00 Navigating Innovation in Insurance and Utilities40:18 Exit Opportunities in the Insurance Sector44:10 The Climate Capital Summit and Future TrendsLinksGrace Penders | Adam Chadroff | Equal VenturesConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

Tommy Leep, a venture capitalist at Jetstream specializing in climate technology, discusses the mainstreaming of ClimateTech. He highlights the need for founders to frame their solutions around energy independence and resilience. The conversation explores the evolution of climate tech, emphasizing the integration of AI and broader societal issues. Leep also delves into shifting investment strategies, challenges for climate tech startups, and the increasing importance of social impact in investing, particularly regarding education and community resilience.

Rebecca Hu Thrams, co-founder of Glacier, is on a mission to transform recycling using AI-powered robotics and proprietary physical data to fix one of the biggest inefficiencies in waste management.Glacier isn’t just another AI company—it’s tackling the physical world problem of waste sorting, giving recyclers and major brands unprecedented visibility into where materials actually go. By deploying intelligent sorting robots, Glacier is not only increasing efficiency but also building a defensible data moat, positioning itself as the source of truth for the circular economy.With growing consumer demand for sustainability and new regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on the horizon, companies are scrambling for solutions. Glacier’s technology is bridging the gap between recyclers and producers—helping brands measure, track, and improve their sustainability efforts with real, actionable data.Get the full episode today to hear:✅ How AI and robotics are unlocking new efficiencies in recycling✅ Why proprietary physical data is the key to an enduring AI-powered business✅ How Glacier is helping major brands and recyclers prepare for new regulations✅ Rebecca’s journey from reluctant founder to leading a climate-tech startup✅ What the future of circular supply chains could look like with AI-driven insightsDon’t miss a moment! If you want to get the full discussion, become a paid subscriber today or redeem your trial upgrade to test it out. Subscribe now📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:04 Founding Glacier05:54 Understanding Glacier's Role in Recycling14:12 Identifying Opportunities for Disruption in Recycling18:07 The Future of Recycling Efficiency22:08 Challenges in the Recycling Industry23:07 Navigating Risk Aversion in Robotics Investment24:43 Finding Early Adopters in the MRF Industry29:07 Advancements in AI and Robotics35:07 The Future of Connectivity in Recycling37:30 Collaborating with Industry Giants42:44 Scaling GlacierLinksRebecca Hu Thrams | GlacierConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)