CleanTechies Podcast

The #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs

We are CleanTechies, the #1 Podcast for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs. Whether you’re an active ClimateTech entrepreneur, an aspiring one, an investor, a service provider…anything that touches supporting early stage climate tech, this is the place for you.

Each week, we publish two interviews with leading experts in the field telling their stories, insights, and advice to help ClimateTech Entrepreneurs like you be inspired by their successes and learn from their mistakes. cleantechies.substack.com

Episodes

Mentioned books

Apr 30, 2025 • 36min

#244 $1bn Pipeline for Solid State Transformers | Haroon Inam & Michael Wood III (DG Matrix)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comListen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIn This Episode:* What is a Solid State Transformer * How Solid State Transformers are Reshaping the Energy Industry* How They Built a $1bn Pipeline 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? Check Out Our Sponsors! Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs Every 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!)-----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. _____What’s up, everyone! Today, we have a great episode with Haroon Inam & Michael Wood III from DG Matrix. We’re talking about a simple technology that can fundamentally reshape the energy industry by transforming electricity more efficiently and with way less physical space, than what’s been done traditionally. Take an EV charger, for example. You need to get the exact electricity flow right. Usually, that would take a few parking spaces’ worth of transformers. With DG Matrix, you can do it with a simple power stand smaller than your refrigerator. This is still the case even if you’ve got solar, batteries, or other distributed resources all mixed in together. They can handle all the streams of electricity in and out. It’s clear the industry is loving this too. They have over $1bn of pipeline to date. We got Haroon and Michael, so it’s a great episode. _____Want to access all our content? Upgrade to paid today. Act fast! Annual subscriptions increase to $100 on May 1st (currently $80). 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel_____📝 Show Notes:Topics Free Version:03:21 The Journey to DG Matrix05:51 Understanding Solid State Transformers09:11 Market Position and Economic Impact10:00 Goodwin AD12:06 Solid State Transformer Advantages13:26 Company AD17:14 Building a Strong Advisory Network18:51 Call to Action21:10 Overcoming Challenges in Clean Tech24:54 The Future of DG Matrix and Market Fit26:29 Building from the Ground Up27:51 Transforming Energy Markets30:55 Streamlining Manufacturing and Supply ChainLinks* Haroon Inam, Michael Wood III | DG Matrix* 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.Hey there! Thanks for being a paid sub! Means a lot - (code for, we like money) just kidding. For real though, as a paid subscriber, feel free to reach out to us with questions, if you’re looking for support, or if you have suggestions on future topics. If you’re not already in the group chat, let us know and we’ll get you in there. 😄

Apr 23, 2025 • 41min

#243 Battery Storage Supply Chains & Future in US-China Trade War | Danny Lu | Powin

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comListen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIn This Episode: * How Powin went from a family business manufacturing a wide range of products to a leading provider of BESS* Solving supply chain challenges and the future of partnership with the US and China on batteries* What the future of energy looks like and the important role that BESS plays Take the Listeners Survey to Help Us ImproveCheck Out Our Sponsors! * Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs * ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmWhat’s up, everyone! Today, we have a great episode with Danny Lu from Powin. Powin is one of the leading providers of battery energy storage systems, with 8 GWh of systems built and 9 in the pipeline. They are an absolute powerhouse. Battery storage is a critical part of the future of a renewable energy grid. Powin is doing its part to make it possible. As the Trump admin pushes for more drilling and a seemingly anti-clean energy policy (despite that not being the definition of abundance) we are seeing the value of battery storage. Prior to tariffs, building a speaker plant would be more expensive and take longer than building energy storage systems to manage grid flexibility issues. (It’s tbd what the situation will be with huge Chinese tariffs). Powin has years of experience working in this space to solve supply chain issues and is always improving its business to adapt to whatever battery chemistry is most feasible and affordable for its clients. Given all this, it was great to speak with someone who can help us understand where the market is going and what the key challenges and opportunities are that lie ahead. Want to access all our content? Upgrade to paid today. Act fast! Annual subscriptions increase to $100 on May 1st (currently $80). 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelTopics Free Preview: * 00:00 Cold Open & Intro to Our Guest * 04:00 Origins & Evolutions of Powin* 08:10 What They Do * 10:00 Creating the Market and Finding Their First Customers* 12:00 Check Out Goodwin for all Your Legal Support Needs* 13:00 Stepping Into a Leadership Role Out of University * 16:55 Check out ErthTech Talent for your Hiring Needs* 18:10 From Permit to Commissioning in Months* 19:10 What an IPP/Utility Wants — Single Point of Blame* 23:00 The Evolution of Battery Chemistry for BESS vs EV * 24:30 Become a Paid Supporter of CleanTechies* 25:30 Powin’s Current Scale* 26:50 Storage Project Market Projections Considering Tariffs* 31:30 AI & Data Centers | BESS vs Peaker Plants* 39:00 Manufacturing in the US? (teaser clip & paywall) Links* Danny Lu | Powin* 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.

Apr 16, 2025 • 58min

#239 Climate Risk, a New Era for Climate Tech | Grace & Adam from Equal Ventures

Mar 19, 2025 • 37min

#238 ClimateTech is Mainstream but so is The Vibe Shift | Tommy Leep (Jetstream)

In This Episode:* Why Tommy is broadening his investing scope* Why there is a vibe shift in climate tech * What he means when he says that climate tech is mainstream now 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? Hey everyone! Today we’ve got a great episode with Tommy Leep from VC, Jetstream. Some of his PortCos include David Energy, Pachama, Rhizome, and past pod guests Pathways & Glacier. He’s been on the show in the past with some great advice on fundraising. Check it out — episode 85. Recently there have been a bunch of people shifting their focus or branding to be more inclusive and not always sound ‘pure climate tech’ — Tommy is one of those people. He recently claimed “ClimateTech is Mainstream now.” Because of it, he’s broadening his fund thesis. This is the first of at least two conversations on this exact topic (stay tuned for next week’s episode with Grace and Adam from Equal Ventures). Don’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. 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics * 00:00 The Shift in Climate Tech Perspectives* 10:06 Mainstreaming Climate Tech* 20:03 Investing in Health, Wealth, and Resilience* 30:08 The Future of Education and Community BuildingLinks* Tommy Leep | Jetstream* 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

Mar 12, 2025 • 30min

#237 Using Robotics to Transform Recycling & Building Data Moats with Hardware w/ Rebecca Hu Thrams (Glacier)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn this episode:* How Rebecca Hu is using AI-powered robotics to revolutionize recycling and fix inefficiencies in waste sorting* Why proprietary physical data is the key to building a defensible AI business in climate tech* How new regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) are reshaping the recycling industry—and how Glacier is helping brands adaptHave 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? Rebecca Hu Thrams, co-founder of Glacier, is on a mission to transform recycling using AI-powered robotics and proprietary physical data to fix one of the biggest inefficiencies in waste management.Glacier isn’t just another AI company—it’s tackling the physical world problem of waste sorting, giving recyclers and major brands unprecedented visibility into where materials actually go. By deploying intelligent sorting robots, Glacier is not only increasing efficiency but also building a defensible data moat, positioning itself as the source of truth for the circular economy.With growing consumer demand for sustainability and new regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on the horizon, companies are scrambling for solutions. Glacier’s technology is bridging the gap between recyclers and producers—helping brands measure, track, and improve their sustainability efforts with real, actionable data.Get the full episode today to hear:✅ How AI and robotics are unlocking new efficiencies in recycling✅ Why proprietary physical data is the key to an enduring AI-powered business✅ How Glacier is helping major brands and recyclers prepare for new regulations✅ Rebecca’s journey from reluctant founder to leading a climate-tech startup✅ What the future of circular supply chains could look like with AI-driven insightsDon’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. 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics * 02:04 Founding Glacier* 05:54 Understanding Glacier's Role in Recycling* 14:12 Identifying Opportunities for Disruption in Recycling* 18:07 The Future of Recycling Efficiency* 22:08 Challenges in the Recycling Industry* 23:07 Navigating Risk Aversion in Robotics Investment* 24:43 Finding Early Adopters in the MRF Industry* 29:07 Advancements in AI and Robotics* 35:07 The Future of Connectivity in Recycling* 37:30 Collaborating with Industry Giants* 42:44 Scaling GlacierLinks* Rebecca Hu Thrams | Glacier * 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.

Mar 4, 2025 • 43min

#236 Critical Minerals: A Master Class on How to Win w/ Nicholaus Rohleder

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn This Episode:* Why critical minerals are at the heart of national security, energy transition, and AI-driven infrastructure.* A deep dive into the U.S. critical mineral supply chain—where we lost ground and how we can regain self-sufficiency.* The biggest entrepreneurial opportunities in the critical mineral space—from waste-to-value startups to reshoring production.* How capital markets are evolving to support mineral projects outside of China and the key factors investors look for.* The impact of tariffs, trade policy, and geopolitical tensions on mineral supply and innovation.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? 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 Production: A historical perspective on how the U.S. lost its dominance in the metals and mining industry and why environmental regulations, labor costs, and capital market shifts played a major role.* Why Critical Minerals Matter More Than Ever: The convergence of three mega-trends—energy transition, national defense, and AI infrastructure—is driving unprecedented demand for minerals like nickel, tungsten, gallium, lithium, and fluorospar.* Opportunities for Entrepreneurs: Where to build in the value chain, why waste-to-value startups have a major advantage, and how to navigate project financing in the critical mineral space.* The Capital Market Shift: Why Western investors are finally paying attention to mineral security, the barriers to financing mining projects, and how startups can position themselves for success.* U.S. Trade Policy and Tariffs: How the Trump administration’s focus on national security and reshoring could impact domestic production and investment in minerals.* The Future of Clean Minerals: Will other countries buy cleaner, more expensive minerals from the U.S., or will cost pressures drive continued reliance on China?* Mistakes Founders Make: The biggest pitfalls in critical mineral startups—from failing to understand financing structures to relying on speculative price spikes.Nick 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. Don’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. 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics * 01:23 Landscape of Critical Minerals* 05:06 Historical Context of U.S. Mineral Production* 09:53 Talent and Knowledge Gaps in the Industry* 12:10 The Need for Domestic Production* 20:30 The Key Minerals* 28:51 Opportunities in the Critical Minerals Value Chain* 34:32 Technological Innovations and Local Production* 43:05 Cost Dynamics[Paywall Begins]* 44:04 Building Successful Companies in Critical Minerals* 46:52 Common Mistakes in the Critical Minerals Sector* 51:52 Current Trends in Capital Investment* 55:42 Investment Opportunities* 56:00 Advice for Start-ups in the Sector* 57:06 Government Involvement and Policy ImplicationsLinks* Nicholaus Rohleder | Climate Commodities* 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.

Feb 18, 2025 • 58min

#235 This $100 BILLION Industry Is Hiding in Plain Sight! Big Oil's Bet on Carbon Capture

🚀 We’re back with another special episode of the CleanTechies Podcast—recorded live in Houston!In this issue:* Todd’s background and what he’s working on today (the deal tracker of carbon capture projects)* What it takes to successfully develop a carbon capture project (all the parts) * Why oil & gas is taking a continued interest in carbon capture * Why he thinks the 45Q tax credit is here to stay even under Trump Listen Time: Full Show 57:38 (unless you listen sped up 😉)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?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 Don’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.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel🎙 Guest: Todd BushTodd is a veteran in the energy and industrial decarbonization space, having built and exited multiple companies in energy analytics and decarbonization tracking. His current venture, Decarbon Fuse, provides real-time deal tracking for the carbon capture industry. He brings deep insights into how CCUS projects are developing, the hurdles they face, and where the biggest opportunities lie.📝 Show Notes & Links* 🔗 decarbonfuse Newsletter – Visit Here* 🔗 Energy Tech Nexus & Digital Wildcatters – Visit Here* 🔗 PRIMER: 45Q TAX CREDIT FOR CARBON CAPTURE PROJECTS – Read More* 🔗 More on Class 6 vs. Class 2 Wells – EPA Guide* 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.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 Regulatory Landscape and Future Outlook* 40:14 Infrastructure and Project Viability* 40:58 Carbon Utilization and Demand Areas* 42:26 Scaling Carbon Projects* 43:27 Challenges in CO2 Storage and Utilization* 45:17 Gulf of Mexico Assets and Storage Solutions* 46:37 Monitoring and Materials in CO2 Projects* 47:37 Cost Structures and Financial Viability* 51:32 Point Source Collection and Future Utilization* 52:53 Tax Credits and Financial Incentives* 54:47 Impact of Global Conflicts on Clean Energy Investment💡 Favorite Quote from the Episode"The real challenge isn’t just capturing CO2—it’s securing long-term agreements, navigating permitting, and building the financial case. The projects that solve for those will be the ones that scale." – Todd BushSupport the PodcastWant to help us grow? Here’s how:* Subscribe: Never miss an episode.* Share: Send this episode to a friend in climate tech.* Rate & Review: It helps more people discover the show. 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

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