CleanTechies Podcast

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn this issue:* Martin’s journey of noticing the opportunity for commercial energy storage (high heat) and how he founded the company.* A masterclass on how to get customers to pay for your pilot project. * A summary of the energy storage landscape.Listen Time: Full Show 57:21 (no ads) | Free Preview 34:49On 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 globallyDon’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. Sponsor Message: 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!)📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics (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.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comJoshua 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.

2024…what a year. We saw some big wins…and some big losses in ClimateTech this year. The future is uncertain, but we’ll be here like we always have to tell the stories of the best of the best fighting for a better planet.A huge thank you to all the CleanTechies out there. We couldn’t be more happy with our growth, our (new) community of supporting, paid subscribers, and every single person who engaged with us…your support keeps us going. From the CleanTechies team, here’s to an even better 2025 🥂Sponsor Message: 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!)📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelDon’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 * 01:28 2024's Top CleanTechies Episodes* 07:37 Insights* 12:49 Reflections on Branding and Storytelling* 20:22 Milestones and Achievements in 2024* 26:12 Key Lessons for Climate Tech Startups* 34:59 Future OutlookLinks* 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.If you’re seeing this, you’re a paid subscriber! Thank you for your support of this project. We can’t do it without you. Don’t miss out! Given that you’re a paid subscriber, you get access to our WhatsApp backchannel discussions. Hit us up to join. 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.comJulia Kumari Drapkin is the CEO and founder of ISeeChange, a data platform that combines resident-generated insights with AI to address climate adaptation challenges. Julia’s background as a climate science reporter, covering disasters like Hurricane Katrina, inspired her to bridge the gap between people’s lived experiences and actionable climate solutions. Her expertise in storytelling and data-driven insights shapes ISeeChange's people-first approach to building climate resilience.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn this issue:* How to use multiple revenue streams to ensure success as a climate startup * How the Trump admin could accomplish it’s goals (re-industrialization) while also helping advance climate * How climate founders need to approach their attachment to their tech Listen Time: Full Show 58:31 (no ads) | Free Preview 37:14On today’s episode, Owen Cadwalader, the COO of Travertine, delivers one of the most value-dense episodes we’ve ever released. Hear how they are solving the massive sulfur waste problem while also capturing carbon and producing sulfuric acid and hydrogen. In a short time, they are on track to build their first plant, producing ~100 tons a year near Rochester, NY. They have also navigated the startup landscape masterfully. There is a lot to learn here. Some of the discussion topics: * How to interact with the chemical industry * How to reframe CO2 emissions as waste * How to get the Trump admin to back climate * The sulfate waste landscape Sponsor Message: 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!)📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelDon’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 (time stamps are accurate for the full episode and approximate for the free preview)* 00:00 Intro* 02:54 Owen's Journey to Tech* 06:08 Travertine’s Tech* 08:53 Multiple Revenue Streams* 12:06 Customer Base and Market Challenges* 14:55 Environmental Impact of Sulfate Waste* 17:47 Navigating the Chemical Industry Landscape* 21:09 Pricing Strategies & Market Competition* 29:22 Identifying Beachhead Markets in Climate Tech* 30:48 Navigating Political Landscapes for Climate Tech—(Free Version ends here)—* 32:13 Building Resilient Climate Tech Businesses* 34:04 On-shoring * 35:59 Global vs Local Impact of Resource Extraction* 36:29 The Future of Carbon Dioxide Removal* 37:52 Focusing on Outcomes Over Technology* 40:43 Funding Strategies for Climate Tech Projects* 43:05 Advocating for Continued Innovation Funding* 45:22 Reframing CO2 as Industrial Waste* 50:00 Lessons from Fundraising in Climate TechLinks* Owen Cadwalader | Travertine* 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 free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn this issue:* A masterclass at how to produce and bring to market a new battery component. * Serious lessons on how to fund your pilot commercial production facilities — the key ingredient “Job Creation”* Why you should build a battery tech startupListen Time: Full Show 1:09:26 (no ads) | Free Preview 41:27On today’s episode, Gleb Yushin, the CTO of Sila Nanotechnologies, pours out the wisdom he has from 14 years working on and scaling up Sila Nanotechnologies to the point where their Anode tech is in millions of batteries around the world. Not many companies reach this scale and even less so among climate companies. The lessons he has for you will benefit you massively. There are incredibly potent lessons on: * A successful GTM strategy for a battery chemical (Anode in this case) * How to fund your small and commercial scale production facilities. * Why there will likely be bi-partisan support for clean technology * Key lessons on team building and talent acquisition Sponsor Message: 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!)📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelDon’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 * 00:00 Intro* 02:57 The Journey of Gleb Yushin* 05:49 Founding Sila Nanotechnology* 09:03 The Role of Silicon in Battery Production* 11:53 Scaling Up Production* 15:12 Market Integration and Collaboration* 18:09 Challenges in Manufacturing* 20:51 Future of Battery Technology* 24:03 The Importance of Job Creation* 34:51 Rapid Iteration and Automation in Production—(Free Version ends here)—* 38:05 Funding Strategies and Equity vs. Debt* 42:08 Government Support and Job Creation in Clean Tech* 45:57 Bipartisan Support for Clean Technology* 51:46 Talent Acquisition and Team Building in Startups* 01:02:10 Challenges and Trends in the Battery Industry* 01:04:32 Startup Opportunities in Battery Recycling and Supply ChainLinks* Gleb Yushin | Sila Nanotechnologies* 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 free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comNate Loewentheil is the founder and managing partner of Commonweal Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on solving America's biggest challenges through entrepreneurship. Nate’s career spans angel investing, politics, and public policy. Previously, he served in the Obama White House, advising President Obama on emerging technologies such as clean energy and broadband expansion. His background includes roles in the Yale Entrepreneurial Society, founding the Roosevelt Institution, and advising startups during his time running venture investments for a family office.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn this issue:* It’s essential for late career professionals to go back into the arena and to mentor the next generation. * How O&G firms captured carbon and released it again by selling to greenhouses and how Skytree is solving this. * The way to achieve low-cost carbon capture is scalable, mass-manufactured, and co-located with carbon demand. Listen Time: Full Show 57:04 (no ads) | Free Preview 41:09On today’s episode, Rob van Straten, the CEO of Skytree captures our attention with his deep wisdom on how to scale a successful carbon capture technology company. Why you should trust him? He brings a long career of experience building and scaling companies that he parlayed into Skytree where they are currently crushing it with their modular, mass-production capable carbon capture system. Spoiler alert, you can’t do this successfully if you’re doing it on a project basis - you need to do it with a modular system that you can mass produce (it allows for faster iteration of the design). Learn:* How they build their team culture and value young talents * How Oil & Gas has been catching and releasing carbon for years and how Skytree is now actually solving this problem — also related, why their largest investor is the largest owner/operator of greenhouses in the Netherlands* Why you MUST set out to achieve scale from day one. Sponsor Message: 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!)📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelDon’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 * 00:00 Intro* 03:03 Rob’s Journey Into Climate* 05:57 Mentorship & the Next Gen of Entrepreneurs* 09:05 Skytree's Origin and Technology Overview* 15:09 The Future of Carbon Capture: Machines vs. Plants* 28:30 Innovative Approaches to Carbon Capture* 32:45 How They Partner with Greenhouses* 38:23 Scaling Up: Lessons from the Solar Industry* 41:35 Collaboration with Large Emitters* 45:50 The Future of Oil and Energy Transition* 48:03 The Carbon Capture Startup LandscapeLinks* Rob van Straten | Skytree* 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 free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comAmy Duffuor is a co-founder and General Partner at Azolla Ventures and Managing Director at Prime Impact Fund, Azolla's predecessor vehicle. She has a diverse background that spans immigration research, management consulting, impact investing, and renewables investment banking. Amy began her career studying marginalized West African migrants and later pursued an MPhil in Migration Studies at Oxford University. Transitioning into management consulting, she worked on supply chain and procurement projects in London and Southeast Asia, where she developed a passion for climate change solutions. Her experience running venture accelerator programs in Southeast Asia for impact-driven startups inspired her to focus on early-stage climate tech investing. Prior to Azolla, Amy worked at Bank of America as a renewables investment banker, contributing to projects like the IPO of Sunnova, a leading residential solar company.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn this issue:* Without exits, the venture ecosystem doesn’t work. That’s why it’s important to achieve outcomes sooner than later or ‘ClimateTech’ as a class will be doomed. * Under Trump, there are a few possible outcomes. 1) A Frankenstein IRA that is focused on ‘Energy Abundance’. 2) The M&A tap will be turned back on. 3) Lots of mergers and 1+1=3 situations. * Engaging with CVCs early, focusing on revenue, and conserving cash are the most important things ClimateTech founders can do to ensure survival. Listen Time: Full Show 38:51 (no ads) | Free Preview 31:19Today, we are speaking with Shaun Abrahamson from Third Sphere. Third Sphere is a leading ClimateTech investor that also has a debt strategy for high-volume production startups in the hardware space. They have backed companies like ChargeLab, ClimateBase, Gradient, OneWheel, Therma, Revivn, & Wasted (check out the episode we did with Revivn). This is Shaun’s third time on the pod — if this is your first time hearing him, you’ll understand why because he is very thoughtful. Check out the last episodes we did with him: Sponsor Message: 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!)📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelDuring NY Climate Week, the Third Sphere team put on a great event titled “Climate Tech Exits.” It was really well beloved by many NY CW attendees. They covered:* Why exits are so crucial to the success of Climate investing * The state of climate tech exits* How it looks compared to tech broadly* What to learn from the original tech winners like Google & Apple * What the paths forward might be* The patterns of successful founders In today’s episode, we recap the key points of their event and then dig into Shaun’s advice to founders on how to ensure they are doing things right, in order to see an exit. We are sure you’ll find it educational. 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. 📝 Show Notes:Topics * 00:00 The Importance of Climate Tech Exits* 02:48 Current State of Climate Tech Investments* 06:06 Challenges in the IPO Market* 08:50 Corporate Venture Capital's Role* 12:08 Future Opportunities in Climate Tech* 14:56 The Shift from Mitigation to Adaptation* 18:11 Building Sustainable Business Models* 21:01 Navigating M&A Opportunities* 23:55 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysLinks* Shaun Abrahamson | Third Sphere* 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.