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Oct 8, 2023 • 1h 2min

#127 Scalable Carbon Capture, Building as a Non-Deeptech Founder, Creative Business Models, & Navigating Funding Challenges w/ Luke Shors (Capture6)

Why you should listen:**Learn about a new breakthrough carbon capture model **How you can build a deep tech company as a non-deep-tech founder**How to raise from both public and private funding sourcesShow Notes:In this episode, Silas Mähner (@silasmahner) and Somil Aggarwal (@somilagg) interview Luke Shors, co-founder of Capture6. Capture6 is a direct air carbon capture company, applying its innovative technology and business model to revolutionize the way that carbon capture takes place. One of their claims to fame is their approach on being efficient with water usage and creating beneficial byproducts from their capture process. Luke himself is not a deep tech founder and shares great insights on how he navigated building a deep tech company in climate.Overall, a super good episode packed full of insights. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5Topics:**6:53 Starting as a public benefit company**12:50 Being a climate founder without deeptech background**16:28 Capture6 differentiator**20:01 Economic advantage of direct air capture**31:15 Price of Capture6's carbon**36:11 GTM**40:22 Messaging in public vs. private funding**50:37 Advice for founders**54:00 If he started a company todayLinks:**Connect with Luke: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luke-shors/**Capture6: https://capture6.org **Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: **HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner, @somilagg You might enjoy:**Most Recent Episode: #126 The Value-add of Specialist VCs, Engaging with Corporate Partners, Advice to Founders & Aspiring VCs, Defending Your Moat, & More with Grant Allen (SE Ventures)**Similar Topic: From Restaurants to ClimateTech: Building a Carbon Capture Concrete Company w/ Tim Sperry (Carbon Limit)**Something Totally Different: #93 Hard Truths About VC, Raising Advice, & Small Fund Limitations w/ Susan Su (Toba Capital)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!)
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Oct 1, 2023 • 1h 1min

#126 The Value-add of Specialist VCs, Engaging with Corporate Partners, Advice to Founders & Aspiring VCs, Defending Your Moat, & More with Grant Allen (SE Ventures)

Why you should listen:Discover the role of Specialist VCs in climate change solutions with SE VenturesLearn about SE Ventures and its innovative climate and industrial tech investmentsGain insights on collaboration with large companies and startup wisdom In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Grant Allen, General Partner at SE Ventures. They are a uniquely positioned Specialist VC with a single LP, Schneider Electric. They function like a typical VC, with autonomy from Schneider Electric as a whole, but can also leverage Schneider's vast global network to add value beyond capital and help their portfolio companies to succeed.Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5-----Links:**Connect with Grant: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantallen/**SE Ventures: https://www.seventures.com/home.jsp**Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner, @somil_aggOther episodes you might enjoy:**Most Recent Episode: #125 Revolutionizing Heating and Cooling with Smart Radiators, Facing Rejection, and Building Hardware like Software with Marshall Cox (Kelvin)**Similar Topic: #93 Hard Truths About VC, Raising Advice, & Small Fund Limitations w/ Susan Su (Toba Capital)**Something Totally Different: #103 Revolutionizing Takeout: Tackling Plastic Waste Crisis with Reusable Containers and Gamification w/ James Wilson (reUser)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!)
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Sep 27, 2023 • 52min

#125 Revolutionizing Heating and Cooling with Smart Radiators, Facing Rejection, & Building Hardware like Software w/ Marshall Cox (Kelvin)

In this episode, Somil Aggarwal (@somilagg) interviews Marshall Cox about his journey into being a climate tech founder, the impact of getting a Ph.D. on his journey, how he faced rejection, and how to build hardware like software.Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5Key Topics:6:00 Impact of PhD on Entrepreneurship8:32 Radiators vs. smart radiators13:59 Balancing impact vs. bottom-line15:30 Fundraising History18:27 Facing rejection27:06 New vision for Kelvin & hurdles for implementation38:56 Expanding into new hardware products43:13 How to make building in hardware like building in software44:59 Advice for founders -----  Links: Connect with Marshall: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshallcox79/ Kelvin: https://kel.vin Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn HMU on Twitter: @Somil_Agg ----- You might enjoy: Most Recent Episode: #123 Driving Adoption in Hard-to-Abate Sectors, Why Not an IP Play, Fundraising for an R&D Shop, Partnering w/ Large Corporates, Hiring PhDs, & More w/ Jeff Erhardt (Mattiq) Similar Topic: From Harvard, to D.E. Shaw, to Obama Administration, to Refrigeration w/ Manik Suri (Therma) Something Totally Different: Re-Engineering the World because the Future is Decarbonized w/ Matt Ward (4Ward.VC)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!)
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Sep 24, 2023 • 53min

#124 Timing, Team, & TAM, Removing the Friction of ESG Reporting and Data Tracking, Utilizing Your Investor Network, & More w/ Tee Ganbold (OpenESG)

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) speaks with Tee Ganbold, the Co-Founder of OpenESG on what she's doing in the ESG tech space. They have created an incredible tool that operates like ChatGPT but is specifically designed and trained on corporate sustainability data. Instead of spending time researching a company's ESG data and commitments, you can simply ask OpenESG and you have detailed data at your fingertips, along the precise references to the underlying data. Tee has a great story coming from Mongolia, being raised in London, starting a few companies, living around the world, and now choosing to build OpenESG in NYC. We had a really great conversation so it's exciting to share it with you here today. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5-----Links: **Connect with Tee: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teeganbold/**OpenESG: https://www.openesg.com/**Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/  **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner----- Other episodes you might enjoy: **Most Recent Episode: #123 Driving Adoption in Hard-to-Abate Sectors, Why Not an IP Play, Partnering w/ Large Corporates, Hiring PhDs, & More w/ Jeff Erhardt (Mattiq)**Similar Topic: #47 The Current and Future State of the ESG Software Space w/ Sondra Tosky (Measurabl)**Something Totally Different: #63 Carbon Markets and How they Work, Democratizing Forestry Carbon Credits, & More w/ Matt Smith (Finite Carbon)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!)
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Sep 17, 2023 • 1h 2min

#123 Driving Adoption in Hard-to-Abate Sectors, Why Not an IP Play, Fundraising for an R&D Shop, Partnering w/ Large Corporates, Hiring PhDs, & More w/ Jeff Erhardt (Mattiq)

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Jeff Erhardt from Mattiq. Jeff had a ton of insights and we are glad to share them with you today. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5----- Links: **Connect w/ Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferhardt/ **Follow Mattiq: https://mattiq.com/ **Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/  **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner----- Other episodes you might enjoy:**Most Recent Episode: #122 Offset Skepticism, Regulation Driving Demand, Sustainable Supply Chains, Content GTM Strategy, Climate Business Opportunities, & More w/ Saif Hameed (Altruistiq)**Similar Topic: #113 Incubating Climate Risk / Insurance Solutions as Traditional Insurers Pull Back w/ Stephen Brittain (Insurtech Gateway)**Something Totally Different: #99 Capturing Methane to Power Data Centers in Remote Areas w/ Andreas Lehner (PowerBlocks)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!)
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Sep 14, 2023 • 1h 7min

#122 Offset Skepticism, Regulation Driving Demand, Sustainable Supply Chains, Content GTM Strategy, Climate Business Opportunities, & More w/ Saif Hameed (Altruistiq)

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Saif Hameed, the CEO and Founder of Altruistiq, a leading Carbon Emissions accounting software. The conversation is full of insights because Saif has an incredible background, diverse career exposure, and a very good handle on the overall ESG & Sustainability space. Some of the key topics are, how ESG is an incorrect usage of terminology, how Scope 1,2,3 emissions were created as frameworks for governments, the difficulty of deploying money into non-renewables climate solutions, and a lot more. Enjoy 🌎📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5----- Topics: *13:27 ESG SaaS Breakdown*23:12 Critique of Corporate Promises*29:56  How CPGs Track Responsiveness*39:13 Sustainability Product Demand Insights*48:29 Advice to Founders*54:27 GTM Advice*1:01:15 Startup Ideas----- Links: *Connect w/ Saif: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saifhameed/ *Follow Altruistiq: https://altruistiq.com/ *Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/   *Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: *HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner----- You might enjoy:*Most Recent Episode: #121 Size Matters...Fund Size, Re-industrializing the World, Hardware is NOT Hard, & More w/ Matt McGraw (Anthro Ventures)*Similar Topic: How ESG Effects Design, ESG Reporting for RE Owners, Real Estate and ESG, and Sustainable Real Estate w/ Fulya Kocak Gin (Nareit)*Something Different: Combating Fast Fashion using Sustainable Cotton with Graham Stewart from Fiber52Support 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!)
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Sep 8, 2023 • 60min

#121 Size Matters...Fund Size, Re-industrializing the World, Hardware is NOT Hard, & More w/ Matt McGraw (Anthro Ventures)

In this episode Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Matt McGraw (@mjm11), Co-Founder and GP of Anthro Ventures. In the ep we cover his story, their focus, why being a VC is a hard job, how ClimateTech is essentially re-industrializing the world & why that's a good thing, he offered his advice to founders, and we closed off by discussing the role of CT startups in the governance and ESG movement towards a more equitable future. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5----- Topics: **2:42 Intro & Career Into VC**12:41 Size Matters...Fund Size**23:15 Job of a VC**25:08 Anthro's Thesis**39:22 Re-industrializing the World**41:51 Advice to Founders**48:19 Areas To Build In**50:40 Blitz Scaling Conventional Industries**55:34 Governance in Climate Startups----- Links: **Connect w/ Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjm11/  | matt@anthro.ventures**Follow Anthro Ventures: https://anthro.ventures/ **Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/  **Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: **HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner----- Other episodes:**Most Recent Episode: #120 Serial Entrepreneur Fundraising, the IRA & Home Electrification, IRA-Dependent Business Models, & More w/ Jeff Chapin (Haven Energy)**Similar Topic: #116 Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures)**Something Totally Different: #97 Cutting Building Heat Loss Via Windows & Building a Platform for Glass Technology Firms w/ Anas Kassas (INOVUES)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!)
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Sep 6, 2023 • 59min

#120 Serial Entrepreneur Fundraising, the IRA & Home Electrification, IRA-Dependent Business Models, & More w/ Jeff Chapin (Haven Energy)

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Jeff Chapin, the Co-Founder of Haven Energy. We heard how he raised the funding for Haven with 2 pitches. He taught us how the IRA aids home electrification. His thoughts on building IRA-dependent businesses. We finish up with his advice to founders. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📆 Book a time with Silas in NYC During Climate Week 🌱 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. ----- Topics: **1:03 Intro & Journey into Climate**5:41 Hiring an outsider**12:18 Advice to get going as a founder-to-be**15:09 What Haven does**26:40 Blue Collar Workers in Climate**30:11 The Raising Process**35:45 The IRA and Home Electrification**48:34 Advice to Founders----- Links: **Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-chapin-a4b63758/**Haven Energy: https://havenenergy.com/ **Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners:**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner----- Other episodes you might enjoy:**Most Recent Episode: Partnering w/ Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, Houston's Role in the Movement, Discovery Framework, & More w/ Eric Rubenstein (New Climate Ventures)**Similar Topic: Electrifying Homes, Home Air-Quality & Health, Merging Blue & White Collar Talent w/ DR Richardson (Elephant Energy)**Something Totally Different: From 30% to 90% Li Recovery, Founding a ClimateTech Co, & Talent Moat w/ Teague Egan (EnergyX)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!)
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Aug 29, 2023 • 1h 4min

#119 Partnering w/ Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, Houston's Role in the Movement, Discovery Framework, & More w/ Eric Rubenstein (New Climate Ventures)

In this episode Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) interviews Eric Rubenstein about his journey into climate tech, the importance of partnering with Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, the role of Houston in that movement, Eric's discovery framework, and his ideal founder traits. Overall, a super good episode packed full of insights. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5----- Topics: **1:36 Intro & His Climate Journey**9:42 DTD Challenges of Being a VC**13:59 New Climate Ventures**15:50 Their Verticals**22:27 His Exp Raising the Fund**30:41 Houston & The Climate Revolution**39:30 Ideal Founder TraitsAdvice Section**46:19 Discovery Mindset Framework & Tactics**50:32 VCs Required Value Props**55:10 Fundraising Advice**58:56 His Role Model VCs----- Links: **Connect with Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric--rubenstein/ **New Climate Ventures: https://www.newclimateventures.com/**Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner----- Other episodes you might enjoy:**Most Recent Episode: Carbon Negative Cement, DeepTech Development Frameworks, Hiring a Founding Team, Pointers on an IP Business, & More w/ Cody Finke (Brimstone)**Similar Topic: Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures)**Something Totally Different: Revolutionizing Takeout: Tackling Plastic Waste Crisis with Reusable Containers and Gamification w/ James Wilson (reUser)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!)
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Aug 22, 2023 • 57min

#118 Carbon Negative Cement, DeepTech Development Frameworks, Hiring a Founding Team, Pointers on an IP Business, & More w/ Cody Finke (Brimstone)

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) and Cody Finke (@cody_finke), the Co-Founder of Brimstone discuss Cody's journey into climate and how they are revolutionizing the cement space. They have created a cement product that has just been approved as certified Portland Cement - This is the main cement used in the construction of buildings. The best part, it's carbon neutral in many cases negative (depending on the energy source used). This is a truly revolutionary technology and we can't wait to see it at commercial scale in the next few years. Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter. Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5----- Links: **Connect with Cody: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-finke-ph-d-213b88ab**Brimstone Website: https://www.brimstone.com/**Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner----- Other episodes you might enjoy:**Most Recent Episode: Early Stage Hiring Decisions, Heeding the Lessons from CleanTech 1.0, Energize's $300m Growth Fund Close, & More w/ Eileen Waris (Energize Capital)**Similar Topic: From Restaurants to ClimateTech: Building a Carbon Capture Concrete Company w/ Tim Sperry (Carbon Limit)**Something Totally Different: Cutting Building Heat Loss Via Windows & Building a Platform for Glass Technology Firms w/ Anas Kassas (INOVUES)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!)

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