We’re back with another episode featuring Jonathan, a founder shaking up the battery tech industry!Jonathan, a UC Berkeley Chemical Engineering grad, spent years in wastewater treatment before realizing the key driver of adoption was economics. In 2017, he and his co-founders, frustrated with their jobs, started their own company after working in thin film membrane industries. (Psst! This is a free version of the episode. To get the whole enchilada, become a paid subscriber on our substack) Today they are building Coreshell, a company helping replace the use of Graphite in batteries while also making us less reliant on China, the main global supplier of Graphite. In this episode, we cover:The lack of true innovation in battery tech over the last 20 years.How luxury EVs focus on range, while China slashes prices.How Coreshell’s tech could reduce reliance on China’s graphite monopoly.The EU’s take on battery recycling vs. US policy.Join us for more insights!🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack CommunityJonathan Tan | CoreshellConnect 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!)

In this episode, we are joined by Till Stenzel, Partner at SET Ventures, a European venture capital firm that has been in operation in 2007 which makes them one of the first climate VCs out there. They invest $2-$5M in rounds that range from $3-10M at the Series A/A+ stage. SET Ventures focuses on innovative business models and typically like to lead or co-lead rounds. Their investments range over 6 focus areas: distributed energy systems, digital utilities, AI & enabling technologies, built environment, industrial energy management, and mobility & transport.On a personal note, Till takes us on a fascinating ride through his career, from his early inspiration drawn from Amory Lovins and the Rocky Mountain Institute, to his venture into renewable energy projects across Northern Africa during the early solar boom, and his pivotal role at E.ON, where he navigated their corporate energy strategy towards renewables. In the age old debate of investing in the “now” of tech — tech we already have commercializable vs. investing in the future (i.e. more expensive breakthroughs), Till believes in the now, saying I quote “we don’t really need major science and energy breakthroughs to turn our energy system carbon free.” Mind blowing — listen to the ep to find out why.He talks about:How Europe's regulatory environment is shaping the energy transitionThe challenges of scaling EV and grid technologiesWhy the future of freight electrification might be closer than we thinkEnjoy!---🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview.  ---🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack CommunityTopics 00:00 Introduction01:28 Innovative Business Models 24:45 The Impact of Europe's Regulatory Environment26:39 Challenges Faced by Utilities32:15 The Power of Storytelling and EducationPaid Version Starts35:27 Exit Modeling and Fund Strategy48:57 Looking Forward for SET Ventures50:21 Helpful Resources in Climate TechLinksTill Stenzel | SET 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 thisSupport 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 is a masterclass on investing in the future 🌍💰.Today, we're sitting down with Peter Sofer, Investment Partner at Clean Energy Ventures (CEV). Based in Austin, Texas, Peter tackles investing in the toughest-to-decarbonize sectors. CEV is known for backing companies that could be the only game in town for the long haul, with potential to achieve multi-gigaton greenhouse gas reductions.Peter’s journey is packed with insights, from his time at the Environmental Defense Fund to leading Clean Energy Ventures' second fund, targeting $305 million in Seed and Series A investments.This episode dives into an issue not often discussed in detail — the future of climate tech amid political and economic uncertainty. Peter breaks down how the evolving political landscape and macroeconomic factors will influence the availability of non-dilutive funding, and why a company's storytelling is critical for fundraising success. In this conversation, we explore:How Clean Energy Ventures chooses companies that are addressing the most challenging sectorsThe potential impact of a new administration on climate tech, especially around the IRA His thoughts on geopolitical tensions, China’s dominance in renewables, and the future of onshoring production ---🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview.  ---🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack CommunityTopics Clean Energy Ventures' Investment Philosophy Challenges of Hard-to-Decarbonize Sectors Navigating Political and Economic Uncertainty Paid Version Starts HereOnshoring vs. Global Competition Evaluating Startup SuccessExit Landscape for Climate Tech Startups Empowering the Next Generation of Climate Entrepreneurs LinksPeter Sopher | Clean Energy 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 thisSupport 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 is special to me! When I first learned about ClimateTech, I dreamed of building a Venture Studio in the space. Although I didn’t even know what a Venture Studio was back then, I quickly realized that founder-market fit is crucial for success. While I’m not there yet, I started my own recruitment firm to gain the freedom and impact I wanted in a field with a huge need for affordable services.Maybe one day, I’ll follow in Ben’s footsteps. But for now, this conversation with Benjamin, who co-founded Ouishare in France and has been building companies ever since, was incredibly fulfilling. We dive deep into his latest venture, Marble, discussing what they do, how their business model works, and how they’re funded. We also explore how to find the right co-founder and the role of policy in advancing ClimateTech.There’s so much more to uncover, and I’m excited to have him back on one day. Enjoy the show!---🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview.  ---🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack CommunityTopics Intro Ben's BackgroundWhat They DoFundraising for MarbleChallenges of Building in ClimateFinding a Co-Founder—(end of free preview)—Policy and Regulation in Climate TechKey Opportunity Areas in Climate TechLinksBenjamin Tincq | MarbleConnect 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!)

Karl Burkart, Co-Founder and Deputy Director of One Earth, dives into the world of biodiversity investing and nature tech. With a background in sustainable architecture, Karl shares how biodiversity is becoming an essential, investable sector. He discusses the challenges of measuring and valuing biodiversity and how major corporations are getting involved. The conversation also highlights the importance of clarity in communicating complex climate issues and the urgent need to address the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss.

Discover innovative strategies in electric vehicle battery swapping as a startup dives into its unique playbook. Hear how they pivoted to focus on commercial fleet operators to tackle market challenges. The discussion also highlights their creative financial approaches and exciting future plans for consumer EV infrastructure. This breakdown serves as a guide for hardware climate startups looking to thrive in a competitive landscape.

Today, our guest is John de Souza. Co-founder of Ample Inc. A startup betting that battery swapping is the future. If you're at all like me, you're thinking that sounds bat shit crazy. Well, listen to today's episode, and you'll realize it's the opposite. It's the only logical conclusion to EVs. We can't gloss over this -- John is special. This is his 4th major startup endeavor, and it's clear that it is because he brings a level of maturity and wisdom that very few founders do. He could have ridden off into the sunset, but he decided to stay in the arena because it's what he does. I guarantee you will learn a lot from John today. I'm not even going to thank you for tuning in today because you're doing yourself a favor by listening to this episode.   ---🌎 Want the full PodLetter? Go to our substack to see the written content that supplements the audio interview.  ---🌴 https://linktr.ee/cleantechies📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube 🗣️ Take the Listeners Survey 📫 Get Written Summaries of Each Episode in Your Inbox 🌐 Become a paid Subscriber to get access to the Slack CommunityTopics (free preview time stamps are slightly different) 03:26 John's Career & Entrepreneurial Origins05:20 The Inspiration for Ample09:06 Battery Swapping13:51 OEM Partnerships16:15 A Universal Battery Module18:38 Integration w/ OEMs & Production Lines22:54 Deployment & Scale23:22 Business Model & Global Expansion24:47 Ample's GTM Strategy: (Partnering with Uber and Commercial Fleets)28:07 Efficiency & Cost Control: In-House Battery & Swapping Station Production—(end of free preview)—(get the full episode by becoming a paid subscriber on our Substack today! https://cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe LinksJohn de Souza | Ample Inc.Connect 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!)

Drew D'Alelio, Co-Founder and Investor at Connecticut Innovations, shares his insights on managing a $100M Climate Tech fund. He discusses the significance of a triple bottom line, balancing job creation, financial returns, and environmental impact. Drew highlights the complexities of evaluating climate tech investments amid infrastructure challenges. He also emphasizes Connecticut's advantages in manufacturing and its collaboration with Yale and UConn to foster innovative solutions, ensuring sustainability while supporting local startups.

Woo Hoo! Episode #200 🎉🎉🎉We are thrilled to release our 200th episode with the one and only Moji Karimi. Moji is a co-founder of Cemvita, the biotech powerhouse that has also birthed GoldH2 and Endolith (now individual companies). This is the free version of the episode. To get the full thing, go to our Substack and become a paid subscriber. Any paid tier gets full access to the episode. Today, Moji shares with us,His journey into entrepreneurship and Cemvita What in the world they do and what they've done so far The basics of the biotech space Then we talk a lot about the future of biotech -- specifically, how we will start taking nature's lead in engineering industrial production We even discussed what a Trump administration could look like for the climate sector It's a wonderful conversation full of value. Enjoy! TOPICS:**02:22 Dinner with George Mitchell**05:39 Personal Journey & Origin of Cemvita**08:05 Sustainable Oil Production**13:01 Understanding Biotech & Synthetic Biology**15:46 Success in Biotech & Tips for Fundraising**19:44 End of Free Episode--In the full episode--**Considerations if Trump gets in**Disruption in Fundraising | Focus on Cost**What is a Durable Biotech Biz Model**Using Waste as a Feedstock**Redesigning Biotech Processes**Approaching Different Investors**Future Applications of Biotech**Finding the Right Cos and InvestorsLINKS:**Connect with Moji | Follow Cemvita**Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn**Follow 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!)

Vivin Hegde is a visionary in the built environment space — from leading innovation efforts at Hilti to co-founding Zacua Ventures, Vivin is on a mission to redefine how we think about construction and infrastructure. In this episode, he dives deep into the challenges and opportunities of investing in the built environment, sharing his journey from managing corporate venture capital at Hilti to launching Zacua Ventures, where he backs early-stage startups focused on decarbonization, productivity, and infrastructure resiliency.Vivin unpacks:**The importance of "gentle disruption" in the construction industry 🛠️**The strategic shift from corporate innovation to independent VC investing 💼**How global perspectives inform better investment decisions 🌍**The key traits he looks for in founders, especially in the construction tech space 👥Topics:**02:04 Intro**03:08 Defining the Built Environment**04:56 Automation and Robotics in Construction**08:40 Sales and Building Relationships**24:59 Supporting Startups at the Earliest Stages**26:35 Investing Globally to Fund the Best Entrepreneurs**31:55 The Importance of Sector Specialization**42:53 The Role of Data Centers in the Digital Age**44:27 The Potential of Mass Timber in Construction**45:48 Addressing Challenges in the Design Space**47:22 Impressing Investors: Deep Understanding, Knowledge, and Learning AgilityLinks:**Vivin Hedge | Zacua Ventures**Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn**Follow 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!)