CleanTechies Podcast

CleanTech founder Conor Madigan (Aether Fuels) reveals sustainable fuel tech breakthroughs, smart hiring, & building resilient climate startups.Join us as Conor Madigan, Founder and CEO of Aether Fuels, shares how their innovative tech is set to decarbonize aviation and shipping by drastically cutting costs and boosting fuel yield from waste streams. A second-time founder, Conor also unpacks his proven strategies for building high-talent, low-ego teams and fostering constructive tension for optimal results.Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsMemorable Quotes:"The overall result of that is to cut the capex of a plant by about 50%." — Conor Madigan"Until you've built a big network of your own... it's pretty invaluable to have a top-notch recruiter." — Conor Madigan"If you compare an electrified system versus a fired system, you can boost the output by about 20%." — Conor Madigan"I… try to create a constructive sort of tension inside of an organization by pairing together certain personality traits." — Conor MadiganIn this episode, we discuss:00:53 - Introduction to Conor Madigan and Aether Fuels03:55 - Aether Fuels' core technology and market05:27 - The innovation: cutting CAPEX and boosting yield28:00 - The year-long "funnel" to choose the right climate problem30:59 - Conor's philosophy on team building: high talent, low ego32:00 - Creating constructive tension in R&D vs. Engineering38:35 - Why senior hires need to be "player-coaches" at startups40:30 - Transparent communication during challenging times46:00 - Policy trends and market drivers for SAF49:50 - Cost parity expectations for Aether Fuels' productLinksConor Madigan | Aether FuelsConnect 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. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

Today, we're speaking with Cole Ashman, the CEO and founder of Pila Energy. Pila is democratizing access to battery backup systems through industrial-grade, consumer-priced batteries that are simply plug-and-play. No electricians, no permitting, just reliable power.Pila's innovative approach is disrupting the home energy market, from enabling demand response programs to making backup power accessible and affordable for everyone. Listen today to hear how they are reshaping energy reliability and demand response access. Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsSelect Quotes From This Episode:"Controlling loads... shutting off your air condition, technically great, but who wants their AC shut off on the hottest day of the year?" "We're able to turn entire apartment complexes into batteries by coordinating up to hundreds of these distributed batteries." [Sponsor] ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmTo build a successful CleanTech startup, you need the right people.Affordable: Our search fee is 12-15% of first-year base salary (most charge 25-30%).Specialized: We ONLY work with CleanTech startups.Proven: 70+ placements since 2020 (Aypa Power, ChargeScape, QCells, & more). Save time and money when you work with ErthTech Talent. Plus, Silas runs it, so you already know him. — Reach out today and tell him you saw this ad.LinksCole Ashman | Pila EnergyConnect 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. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, we talk with Eric McShane, co-founder and CEO of Electroflow Technology (backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures). Eric is on a mission to revolutionize lithium production, a vital battery material.We discuss the "Big Beautiful Bill's" impact on the battery industry and how Electroflow Technology's innovative approach addresses the critical need for domestic lithium production, especially given that "99% of this crucial battery material [LFP] is made in China." Eric shares how their unique process transforms brine into LFP, helping the U.S. become competitive again by "building real stuff" and using abundant low-concentration lithium brine resources.Key Topics:BBB's Impact: The "Big Beautiful Bill's" role in boosting U.S. battery capacity and achieving self-sufficiency in materials like lithium iron phosphate (LFP).Electroflow's Innovation: Details on Electroflow Technology's unique method for transforming brine into LFP and its benefits.Go-to-Market Strategy: Electroflow's plan for market entry and key differentiators.Climate Tech Perspective: Eric's insights on being a climate tech founder and the excitement of "building real stuff."Future Goals: Electroflow Technology's objectives and plans for utilizing U.S. lithium brine resources.Get Involved: How investors and engineers can connect with Electroflow Technology.Support the Show!Upgrade to paid today! It’s $10/month or $100/year. Your support helps us continue to bring you valuable CleanTech insights.Upgrade to Paid This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn this episode, we sit down with Nikhil Vadhavkar, co-founder and CEO of Raptor Maps, to uncover how the company is tackling the invisible crisis in clean energy: operational inefficiency across $250B+ worth of solar assets.

Wow - 250 Episodes! Thank you all for being part of this journey so far. Stick with us as it’s only getting better.Quotes From This Episode:"Operating an electric vehicle in your fleet is insanely cheap..." - Tyler Phillipi"Level 3 chargers without utility upgrades... Think garden hose in, fire hose out." - Silas Mähner"Amazon and Walmart... are doing the same exact thing from every portion of their fleet because it makes financial sense." - Tyler PhillipiAnnouncement! We’re hosting a CleanTechies meetup in San Francisco!If you’re around on the 10th of July in San Francisco, join us for a friends of CleanTechies meetup! Register today as space is limited!In this episode, we speak with Tyler Phillipi, CEO of OptiGrid. OptiGrid revolutionizes EV charging with innovative, easy-to-install units that cut installation time from 18 months to as little as 4 weeks. Partnering with Orange EV, OptiGrid tackles the fleet electrification bottleneck with a "garden hose in, fire hose out" approach, bypassing power constraints. Learn why giants like Amazon and Walmart electrify fleets for financial benefits, and how OptiGrid makes EV charging "dumb easy," driving a quiet revolution.Topics00:00 Operating electric vehicles in fleets is cheap (Cold Open)00:28 Intro to OptiGrid04:57 OptiGrid's technology 07:52 Why fleets are electrifying despite challenges12:52 OptiGrid's installation process19:07 Advantages of working with Orange EV24:03 Economic drivers for EV adoption30:40 Corporate sustainability commitments and EV adoption32:23 Grid challenges and the role of utilities35:12 Supply chain and battery manufacturing37:38 Tyler's thesis on team building43:36 Getting the best out of people44:45 Future of OptiGridLinksTyler Phillipi | OptiGridConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

Matt Ellis (Measurabl): Building a Climate Tech EmpireJoin us with Matt Ellis, Founder & CEO of Measurabl, as he shares how they're transforming the green building industry. Discover how they're leveraging data and AI to drive sustainability, navigating policy, and helping building owners lower emissions. Matt dives into building a billion-dollar climate tech company, the importance of constant reinvention, and lessons in fostering a thriving company culture.In this episode:(01:23) Reinventing Measurabl(05:57) AI and Data's Impact on Measurabl(15:43) Advice for Climate Tech Founders(35:42) Lessons Learned in Talent & Team Building(48:41) Emerging Trends in Sustainability Data & Business ModelsConnect:Matt Ellis on LinkedIn | Measurabl WebsiteConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedIn-----This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIn This Episode:How cities are still trying to hit their electrification goals without federal funding assistance What is really happening in the EV charging market How Tiya is building an A-Team What’s up, everyone! Today, we’re excited to have Tiya Gordon, founder of It’s Electric, back on the pod to discuss their progress since we last spoke in early 2024. She also gives us a big update on what’s happening in the curbside charging space across the US. With the federal funding support being pulled, a lot of cities are facing challenges in meeting their electrification goals. It’s Electric is thriving by helping them get curbside chargers in place with ZERO up-front costs. As if that wasn’t enough, they also help building owners earn extra revenue. A true win-win solution. Tune in for some golden nuggets on what the market is doing now and an absolute master class on how to build a high-performance team at an early-stage clean tech startup. 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelWant to access all our content? Upgrade to paid today to support our work. Subscribe now[Sponsor] ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmTiya is a huge proponent of getting superstars into her team. Do you care about talent the same way? If so let’s chat! ErthTech helps CleanTech startups hire top US-based talent. And we do it for ~half of what other firms charge. Affordable: Our search fee is 12-15% of first-year base salary (most charge 25-30%).Specialized: We ONLY work with CleanTech startups. Proven: 70+ placements since 2020 (Aypa Power, ChargeScape, QCells, & more). Save time and money when you work with ErthTech Talent. Plus, Silas runs it, so you already know him. — Reach out today and tell him you saw this ad. Get Started Today📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:03 It's Electric Introduction03:39 Key Innovation in Public Charging05:52 Recent Milestones and Company Progress07:32 City Responses to Electrification Efforts09:14 EV Adoption Continues Amid Infrastructure Challenges11:16 Cities Maintaining Momentum on Electrification13:15 Early Traction and Market Response to Zero-Cost Solution15:24 Community Engagement and Innovative Financing Model20:41 Evolving City Strategies and Scaling Public Charging24:36 How Tiya is Building a Team of Superstars 39:25 Upcoming Goals and Roadmap for It's Electric41:05 Upcoming Bottlenecks LinksTiya Gordon | It’s ElectricListen to the first episode we did with Tiya - $167#167 Urban Charging, Electrifying Cities, Pilots & Partnerships, & More w/ Tiya Gordon (It's Electric)Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedIn to fill your feeds with educational content This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

In This Episode:* Was this continued ClimateTech Vibe shift inevitable, or is it just Trump?* The intersection of ClimateTech Startups and InsuranceTech startups?* What role are insurance companies playing in the climate crisis?Have you filled out our Subscriber Survey yet? We’ve put in thousands of hours to create this project — won’t you spare 5 min to help us make the show even better?What’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)If 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.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics* 00:00 Cold Open & Intro* 03:00 The Climate Tech Vibe Shift* 05:58 The Intersection of Climate and Insurance* 09:01 Investment Trends in Climate Risk* 12:05 Quantifying and Mitigating Climate Risks* 15:03 Innovations in Climate Risk Management* 17:55 Preventative Measures and Market Impacts* 26:05 Understanding Market Compression and Its Impacts* 29:50 The Role of Insurance in Value Creation* 32:54 Government Involvement in Climate Risk* 35:00 Navigating Innovation in Insurance and Utilities* 40:18 Exit Opportunities in the Insurance Sector* 44:10 The Climate Capital Summit and Future TrendsLinks* Grace Penders | Adam Chadroff | Equal Ventures* 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 is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

In This Episode:* Was this continued ClimateTech Vibe shift inevitable, or is it just Trump?* The intersection of ClimateTech Startups and InsuranceTech startups?* What role are insurance companies playing in the climate crisis?Have you filled out our Subscriber Survey yet? We’ve put in thousands of hours to create this project — won’t you spare 5 min to help us make the show even better?What’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)If 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.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics* 00:00 Cold Open & Intro* 03:00 The Climate Tech Vibe Shift* 05:58 The Intersection of Climate and Insurance* 09:01 Investment Trends in Climate Risk* 12:05 Quantifying and Mitigating Climate Risks* 15:03 Innovations in Climate Risk Management* 17:55 Preventative Measures and Market Impacts* 26:05 Understanding Market Compression and Its Impacts* 29:50 The Role of Insurance in Value Creation* 32:54 Government Involvement in Climate Risk* 35:00 Navigating Innovation in Insurance and Utilities* 40:18 Exit Opportunities in the Insurance Sector* 44:10 The Climate Capital Summit and Future TrendsLinks* Grace Penders | Adam Chadroff | Equal Ventures* 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 is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn This Episode:The European Electrification OpportunityInvesting in Energy Software, Not Just “Climate Tech”Hard Conversations with Founders (and Why They Matter)AI, Grid Resilience & The Real Infrastructure Behind Clean EnergyWhy Climate Messaging Needs to Sound More Like Tesla