CleanTechies

We’re doing something a bit different…🤔We’re exploring the urgent and evolving landscape of critical minerals with Nicholaus Rohleder from Climate Commodities. Nick, an investor and expert in the field, breaks down how the U.S. went from a leader in mineral production to heavy reliance on foreign sources—and why the time is now for entrepreneurs to help rebuild domestic supply chains.Key Topics Covered:The Rise and Fall of U.S. Mineral ProductionWhy Critical Minerals Matter More Than EverOpportunities for EntrepreneursThe Capital Market ShiftU.S. Trade Policy and TariffsThe Future of Clean MineralsMistakes Founders MakeNick teaches a class on this at UPenn, so this is serious value ($$$) — if you’re a investor, policymaker, or entrepreneur looking to understand the critical minerals space, this is for you. ---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTubeLinksNicholaus Rohleder | Climate CommoditiesConnect 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.Topics 01:23 Landscape of Critical Minerals05:06 Historical Context of U.S. Mineral Production09:53 Talent and Knowledge Gaps in the Industry12:10 The Need for Domestic Production20:30 The Key Minerals28:51 Opportunities in the Critical Minerals Value Chain34:32 Technological Innovations and Local Production43:05 Cost Dynamics[Paywall Begins]44:04 Building Successful Companies in Critical Minerals46:52 Common Mistakes in the Critical Minerals Sector51:52 Current Trends in Capital Investment55:42 Investment Opportunities56:00 Advice for Start-ups in the Sector57:06 Government Involvement and Policy ImplicationsSupport 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!)

This week, we’re joined by Todd Bush, an expert in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), with decades of experience supporting oil and gas companies in their decarbonization efforts. Todd has founded and sold multiple companies and is now leading decarbonfuse, a daily newsletter tracking deal activity in carbon capture and industrial decarbonization.This conversation covers the current state of carbon capture, where the momentum is strongest, the biggest barriers to scaling CCUS, and how policy and investment shifts are shaping the industry. If you’re curious about where the carbon capture market is headed and how it intersects with industries like ethanol, hydrogen, and steel production, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!🔍 Topics Covered in This Episode**The first movers in carbon capture: ethanol, ammonia, and natural gas**The difference between Class 2 vs. Class 6 wells and why it matters**How carbon capture projects get financed and what returns investors expect**The role of policy (45Q tax credits, permitting hurdles, and regulatory uncertainty)**Utilization of CO2—who’s buying it and why**Why Houston and the Gulf Coast are primed to be the epicenter of CCUS**What’s needed for carbon capture to reach private equity scale ---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTubeNotes & Links:decarbonfuse NewsletterEnergy Tech Nexus | Digital WildcattersAbt the 45Q Tax CreditMore on Class 6 vs. Class 2 WellsParticipate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey.Connect 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.Timestamps:**0:00 Introduction to Carbon Capture **3:50 The Journey into Carbon Capture Solutions**6:55 Decarbonization Trends and Industry Perspectives**10:01 Carbon Capture Technologies and Their Applications**12:54 Regulatory Frameworks and Project Development**15:55 Community Engagement and Project Success Factors**19:41 Momentum in Carbon Capture and Community Engagement**22:57 Technological Bottlenecks and Adoption Rates**27:25 Talent Pool and Industry Transition**32:03 RegulatSupport 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!)

Yuval Bachar, Founder and CEO of Edge CloudLink (ECL), is on a mission to revolutionize data centers with hydrogen-powered, off-grid solutions.His journey spans decades, with leadership roles at Cisco, Facebook, and LinkedIn, where he built critical infrastructure for some of the biggest names in tech. Now, he’s pioneering a new wave of sustainable data centers, delivering AI-ready capacity in just nine months—compared to the industry average of three to four years.Here’s the game-changer: ECL’s modular approach eliminates reliance on traditional power grids, slashes emissions to zero, and generates its own cooling water, making it a groundbreaking solution for the energy-hungry AI revolution.With data center demand soaring and grid power in short supply, Yuval’s vision could be the key to unlocking the next generation of computing.Get the full episode today to hear:Why traditional data centers are struggling to keep up with AI growth—and how ECL is changing the gameThe secret behind delivering AI data centers in 9 months instead of 3+ yearsHow Yuval secured $18M in funding and is now raising $1.2B for large-scale deploymentsThe surprising benefits of hydrogen for both cost and sustainabilityKey lessons from scaling world-class infrastructure at Facebook, LinkedIn, and Cisco📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:46 Hydrogen-Powered Data Centers10:40 Modular and Rapid Deployment14:01 The Hydrogen Supply Chain26:30 Innovation in Data Centers28:54 Supportive Boardroom Culture32:15 Building Trust and Transparency34:40 Fostering a Culture of Innovation41:13 A Journey Through a Tech Career49:28 Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship54:57 Vision for the FutureLinksYuval Bachar | EdgeCloudLinkConnect 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!)

In This EpisodeWe are speaking with Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier, two of the founding partners at Energy Tech Nexus. Energy Tech Nexus is a Houston-based hub designed to connect EnergyTech startups with the resources they need to grow. This includes access to capital, corporate partners, direct access to pilot opportunities, as well as a community of other founders doing the same thing. In this episode, we dive into **how they're building an innovation powerhouse in the heart of the U.S. energy industry, **the evolving role of oil majors in clean tech, **and how to navigate the new regulatory landscape of the Trump administration ---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTubeTopics:(today’s show is all public)**00:00 Intro to Nada & Jason**01:51 Building the Energy Tech Nexus Community**10:16 Funding & Supporting Clean Tech Startups in Houston**14:30 Innovating in Green Chemicals and Advanced Materials**20:57 Navigating the New Administration's Energy Policies**29:46 Flaring and Methane Emissions**32:05 How to Market Climate Tech Under Trump**36:37 T36:37 How to Jump Start Nuclear Energy**46:47 Carbon Capture and the Future Role of Oil MajorsLinks:**Nada Ahmed | Jason Ethier **Energy Tech Nexus**Check out the Energy Tech Startups Podcast**Participate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey.**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.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!)

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!)