In This EpisodeIn today’s episode of CleanTechies, we’re joined by Anca Timofte, the CEO and Founder of Holocene, a direct air capture (DAC) company revolutionizing carbon removal through a continuous-loop liquid system. With over a decade of experience in carbon capture—including being one of the first employees at Climeworks—Anca offers unparalleled insight into the challenges and opportunities of building climate solutions.Anca walks us through:**How Holocene's low-temp carbon capture slashes energy costs with novel organic chemistry.**Solid vs. liquid DAC: Why Holocene’s approach is a game-changer for scaling carbon removal.**Holocene's milestones: Securing Google as a customer and advancing major projects.**Startup lessons: Co-founder alignment, mission-driven hiring, and thriving in Knoxville.**Why DAC matters: Tackling legacy and ongoing emissions in a decarbonized world.---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTubeTopics: (time stamps are accurate for the full episode and approximate for the free preview)**00:00 Intro**02:51 Understanding Direct Air Capture**05:54 Business Model and Customer Segments**08:54 Partnerships and Market Dynamics**11:48 Scaling and Project Deployment**15:06 Founding Story and Entrepreneurial Journey**24:52 Navigating Co-Founder Dynamics**25:48 Adapting to Political Changes**27:09 Embracing Uncertainty in Entrepreneurship**28:30 Bipartisan Support for Carbon Capture—(Free Version ends here)—**30:19 Public Perception of Carbon Capture**32:15 Survival vs. Success in Carbon Capture**34:01 Building a Team in Knoxville**39:30 Engaging with the Local Community**41:07 Hiring Lessons Learned**43:20 Balancing Parenthood and Entrepreneurship**45:13 Unexpected Challenges in the Startup Journey**46:31 Valuing Team Dynamics**47:26 Resources for Climate Tech Founders**48:36 Encouragement for Carbon Capture StartupsLinks:**Anca Timofte | Holocene**Read the DOE report on direct air capture technologies here.**Participate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey.**Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn**Recommended Book: Horizon by Barry Lopez – A lyrical exploration of travel, nature, and climate.This 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!)

Jane Melia is the CEO and Co-Founder of Harvest Thermal, revolutionizing home heating with heat batteries.Jane’s journey began with a vision to make home electrification both cost-effective and climate-friendly. Harvest Thermal has developed a patented system that combines heat pumps with thermal storage, reducing household emissions by 90% and energy bills by 30%, all while providing unparalleled comfort.Here’s the kicker: Jane and her team have successfully navigated the challenges of hardware deployment, secured millions in grant funding, and built a business that’s not only scalable but also grid-friendly and future-proof.With heating and hot water responsible for 10% of global emissions, Harvest Thermal is tackling one of the toughest climate challenges, turning it into a win for homeowners and the planet.Get the full episode today to hear:How Harvest Thermal is cutting bills and emissions while keeping homes cozyThe secrets to scaling hardware technology in a competitive marketWhy heat batteries are the key to making electrification affordable and sustainableHow Jane balances product innovation with deployment strategy to drive impact at scaleDon’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. 📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:14 Jane Melia's Background and Journey04:36 Understanding Thermal Storage Technology08:22 Consumer Demand for Home Electrification10:18 Key Ingredients for Success in Home Heating12:41 Differentiators in Customer Experience14:06 Geographic Expansion and Market Strategy18:01 Installer Relationships and Deployment Strategy20:22 Balancing Product Development and Deployment22:17 Building a Strong Team for Growth28:57 Fundraising Strategy and Market Positioning36:01 The Role of Policy in Supporting Innovation40:23 Vision for the Future of Home ElectrificationLinksJane Melia | Harvest ThermalConnect 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!)

Martin Freimüller, the CEO and Co-Founder of Octavia Carbon, a cutting-edge Direct Air Capture (DAC) company based in KenyaMartin’s journey began with a deep appreciation for Africa’s potential and the realization that Kenya, with its abundant geothermal energy and skilled talent pool, is the perfect location for DAC. In just two and a half years, Octavia Carbon has developed patented technology, grown to a team of 61 (40 of them engineers), and even built Kenya’s first DAC pilot facility.Here’s the kicker: they’ve managed to secure millions in prepaid carbon revenue to fund their projects — all before raising their $5M seed round. Octavia’s tech pulls CO2 from the air, stores it underground as minerals, and leverages Kenya’s unmatched renewable energy resources to make the process both cost-effective and scalable.Reliable and affordable carbon removal is critical to the fight against climate change, and Octavia Carbon is showing that emerging markets can lead the charge.Get the full episode today to hear:How they got customers to prepay millions for their pilot projectsWhy Kenya is the global sweet spot for DACThe role clean energy and carbon storage play in shaping Africa’s economyWhat makes Direct Air Capture the hardest engineering challenge in the world—and why Octavia is ready to solve it📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:25 Octavia Carbon05:35 Founding Octavia Carbon09:07 Understanding Direct Air Carbon Capture (DAC)13:24 Kenya: The Ideal Location for DAC14:44 The Climate Tech Scene in Africa21:15 Opportunities in Emerging Markets27:45 Navigating Skepticism in DAC30:35 Cost Advantages of Operating in Emerging Markets35:46 Best Practices for Founders in Emerging Markets38:31 Verifying DACLinksMartin Freimüller | Octavia CarbonConnect 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!)

On today’s episode, we’re speaking with Martin Schichtel, the CEO and Founder of Kraftblock, a thermal energy storage solution for industrial clients that use high heat. Today, they’re delivering their 5th project. All of which have been paid for by their customers — yep, you read that right. They have not used equity to pay for these pilot and demonstration projects. Their tech takes excess heat or electricity and turns it into heat, stores it in these engineered rocks. When demand is needed, they deliver the power. Reliable and affordable energy storage is the key to the energy transition. Get the full episode today to hear….**How they managed to get their customers to pay for their pilots and demonstration projects**The role consumer demand for cleanly produced products is having on the world**The importance of validating the idea WITH CUSTOMERS before you build your pilot**The energy storage landscape globally---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTubeTopics (time stamps are accurate for the full episode and approximate for the free preview)**00:00 Market Education and Heat Storage Innovations**03:08 The Journey of Kraft Block and Its Technology**05:51 Transitioning from Technical to Commercial**09:12 Understanding the Customer Base and Revenue Models**11:56 Global Demand for Clean Products**15:11 The Evolution of Thermal Energy Storage**18:07 Prototyping and Development Challenges**20:57 The Current State of Energy Storage Industry**24:08 Market Conditions Driving Change**26:52 Sustainability and Waste Management in Technology**28:44 Innovative Material Development for Energy Storage**31:59 Validation Principles for Hardware Startups**35:07 Funding Strategies for Hardware Projects—(Free Version ends here)—**39:41 Building Trust in Hardware Industries**42:30 Navigating Speed to Market in Hardware**45:22 Climate Tech Trends and Political Influences**49:58 Future of Energy Storage and Startup Opportunities**53:52 Underrated Climate Founders and ResourcesLinks**Martin Schichtel | KRAFTBLOCK**Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn**William Kamkwamba (the CleanTech OG that Martin would love to have dinner with)This 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!)

Joshua Posamentier is the co-founder and managing partner at Congruent Ventures, an early-stage venture capital fund focused exclusively on climate tech. With a background in physics and a career that began in the semiconductor industry, Josh transitioned into climate investing after holding various roles at Intel and Prelude Ventures. Widely regarded as an OG in the climate tech space, Josh has been investing in climate solutions since well before the current wave of interest, making him one of the most experienced voices in the field. His deep technical expertise, combined with over a decade of focused climate investing, has given him a unique perspective on the evolution of the sector from its early clean tech days to today’s thriving climate tech ecosystem. Josh’s experience includes navigating the highs and lows of the market, from the early 2010s downturn in clean tech investing to today’s booming climate sector, providing invaluable insight to founders.Congruent Ventures is an early-stage climate tech fund based in San Francisco that invests across a wide range of sectors, including energy transition, food and agriculture, urban mobility, and sustainable production. The firm has made over 60 investments in companies that focus on delivering measurable, impactful climate solutions while achieving top-quartile venture returns. Congruent Ventures is known for its hands-on approach, staying actively involved with portfolio companies from seed through later funding stages.📝 Show Notes:Topics 00:00 The Journey into Climate Tech Investing10:05 Congruent Ventures19:50 Navigating the Climate Tech Landscape29:47 Challenges of Measuring Impact39:52 Hardware vs. Software & Insights from Semiconductors30:15 Navigating NIMBYism34:37 Investment Strategies39:52 The Future of Energy Demand and Policy45:59 Exciting InnovationsLinksJoshua Posamentier | Congruent VenturesConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedIn@Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This 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!)

Our reflections and musings as we close out the year...Topics01:28 2024's Top CleanTechies Episodes07:37 Insights12:49 Reflections on Branding and Storytelling20:22 Milestones and Achievements in 202426:12 Key Lessons for Climate Tech Startups34:59 Future OutlookSupport 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!)

Julia Kumari Drapkin is the CEO and founder of ISeeChange, a data platform that combines resident-generated insights with AI to address climate adaptation challenges. Julia’s background as a climate science reporter, covering disasters like Hurricane Katrina, inspired her to bridge the gap between people’s lived experiences and actionable climate solutions. Her expertise in storytelling and data-driven insights shapes ISeeChange's people-first approach to building climate resilience.ISeeChange leverages ground-truth data—stories, photos, and observations—from residents and combines it with sensor, satellite, and proprietary AI models. The platform delivers actionable insights to cities, counties, and utilities, enabling them to prioritize real-time responses and long-term infrastructure design to adapt to 21st-century climate risks. By creating a feedback loop between communities and decision-makers, ISeeChange helps build trust, improve climate outcomes, and unlock the value of previously siloed data.In this episode, Julia shares insights on:Ground-Truth Data Integration combining resident observations with existing satellite and sensor data, delivering more granular and actionable insights for managing floods, heat waves, and infrastructure failuresAdaptation Over Politics, evident by how they are growing fastest in Republican-led states, showing that climate impacts are bipartisan and adaptation solutions resonate when framed around local needs like infrastructure protection and economic resilienceAI-Driven data processing, enabling faster prioritization of critical tasks while transforming anecdotal community feedback into validated, actionable intelligence for utilities and governmentsEnjoy!📝 Show Notes:Topics 03:01 Data-Driven Solutions for Climate Adaptation05:50 The Role of AI in Climate Data12:08 The Importance of Ground Truth Data15:04 Government and Climate Tech: A Complex Relationship17:54 The Future of Climate Adaptation and Mitigation20:48 Challenges and Opportunities in GovTech24:13 Political Resilience in Climate Solutions27:08 Insurance and Climate Risk29:59 Building Community Trust in Climate Data32:47 The Human Element36:07 Feedback Loops and Learning from Mistakes38:59 Sales Cycles and Market Dynamics41:49 Finding Common GroundLinksJulia Kumari Drapkin | ISeeChangeConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedIn@Silas & @Somil_Agg on X This 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!)

Learn how this carbon capture startup also produces green chemicals AND hydrogen -- how they funded their first demo plant -- their secrets to building a resilient business model -- and what he would advise Trump's admin in order to help keep climate on track while also competing with China. Listen Time: Full Show 58:31 (no ads) | Free Preview 37:14On today’s episode, Owen Cadwalader, the COO of Travertine, delivers one of the most value-dense episodes we’ve ever released. Hear how they are solving the massive sulfur waste problem while also capturing carbon and producing sulfuric acid and hydrogen. In a short time, they are on track to build their first plant, producing ~100 tons a year near Rochester, NY. They have also navigated the startup landscape masterfully. There is a lot to learn here. Some of the discussion topics: **How to interact with the chemical industry **How to reframe CO2 emissions as waste **How to get the Trump admin to back climate **The sulfate waste landscape ---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTubeTopics (time stamps are accurate for the full episode and approximate for the free preview)**00:00 Intro**02:54 Owen's Journey to Tech**06:08 Travertine’s Tech**08:53 Multiple Revenue Streams**12:06 Customer Base and Market Challenges**14:55 Environmental Impact of Sulfate Waste**17:47 Navigating the Chemical Industry Landscape**21:09 Pricing Strategies & Market Competition**29:22 Identifying Beachhead Markets in Climate Tech**30:48 Navigating Political Landscapes for Climate Tech—(Free Version ends here)—**32:13 Building Resilient Climate Tech Businesses**34:04 On-shoring **35:59 Global vs Local Impact of Resource Extraction**36:29 The Future of Carbon Dioxide Removal**37:52 Focusing on Outcomes Over Technology**40:43 Funding Strategies for Climate Tech Projects**43:05 Advocating for Continued Innovation Funding**45:22 Reframing CO2 as Industrial Waste**50:00 Lessons from Fundraising in Climate TechLinks**Owen Cadwalader | Travertine**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!)

Hear the story of how Sila Nanotechnologies has successfully developed, taken to market, and scaled up a new Anode technology for the battery industry. -- Learn the importance of Job Creation in landing funding -- Understand why CleanTech is actually bi-partisan -- and Understand where the puck is going with the battery industry.Listen Time: Full Show 1:09:26 (no ads) | Free Preview 41:27On today’s episode, Gleb Yushin, the CTO of Sila Nanotechnologies, pours out the wisdom he has from 14 years working on and scaling up Sila Nanotechnologies to the point where their Anode tech is in millions of batteries around the world. Not many companies reach this scale and even less so among climate companies. The lessons he has for you will benefit you massively. There are incredibly potent lessons on: A successful GTM strategy for a battery chemical (Anode in this case) How to fund your small and commercial scale production facilities. Why there will likely be bi-partisan support for clean technology Key lessons on team building and talent acquisition ---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTube ---Topics**00:00 Intro**02:57 The Journey of Gleb Yushin**05:49 Founding Sila Nanotechnology**09:03 The Role of Silicon in Battery Production**11:53 Scaling Up Production**15:12 Market Integration and Collaboration**18:09 Challenges in Manufacturing**20:51 Future of Battery Technology**24:03 The Importance of Job Creation**34:51 Rapid Iteration and Automation in Production—(Free Version ends here)—**38:05 Funding Strategies and Equity vs. Debt**42:08 Government Support and Job Creation in Clean Tech**45:57 Bipartisan Support for Clean Technology**51:46 Talent Acquisition and Team Building in Startups**1:02:10 Challenges and Trends in the Battery Industry**1:04:32 Startup Opportunities in Battery Recycling and Supply ChainLinks**Gleb Yushin | Sila Nanotechnologies**Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn**This 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!)

Nate Loewentheil, founder of Commonweal Ventures and former advisor to President Obama, shares his insights on the intersection of government and climate tech innovation. He discusses how political factors shape climate tech investments and the importance of partnerships with government agencies. The conversation highlights the need for a non-partisan approach to attract talent and funding in a politically charged environment. Nate also emphasizes the crucial role of the Department of Defense in fostering resilience in energy systems through collaboration with startups.