VCo2 | The Climate Investing Podcast

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.Thank you to BioEsol for sponsoring this episode. 💚BioEsol is an AI-powered energy company bringing Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) to industrial and SME clients, enabling energy autonomy, cost savings, and sustainability - with no upfront investment. In April, the company will open its Series A round to accelerate its expansion in France & Europe.This week, we’re joined by Dr. Hendrik Brandis, co-founder and partner at Earlybird Venture Capital, to explore the surprising role space technology can play in fighting climate change.We discuss:* How satellite imagery helps monitor earth activities* Why space-based solar farms could be a game-changer * The economic & environmental impact of launching satellites* The opportunities and risks of "sun shields" to combat global warming* Why venture capital needs to think bigger about climate tech scalability.* … and more! If you’re passionate about climate innovation and frontier technologies, this episode is for you. 👇⌛TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 Introduction to the episode* 02:06 The Role of Space Technology in Climate Solutions * 09:47 The Debate on Space Pollution * 14:47 Personal Motivation Behind Climate Action * 19:21 Investment Opportunities in Space Technology * 25:01 Net Zero Space Launch * 26:31 Investment opportunities in space tech * 33:14 Investment Strategies in Deep Tech * 40:46 Synergies Between Space Tech and Climate Tech * 43:13 Rapid Fire Questions ▶️ CONNECT WITH HENDRIK* Dr. Hendrik Brandis - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbrandis/🤝 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST* Fill in this form: Become a sponsor of VCo2 Podcast💚 LEAVE A REVIEW * Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg * Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Annick Verween, Head of Biotope at VIB, where she backs early-stage biotech startups working to improve planetary health. With Biotope recently named one of Europe's leading startup hubs by the Financial Times, it's the perfect time to dig into what’s really going on in early-stage biotech.In this episode, we explore:* Why investors are hesitant to back early biotech startups* How incubators like Biotope bridge the pre-seed funding gap* The “valley of death” in biotech, and how to survive it* What makes a startup fundable at the seed stage* How scientists can become founders and sellers* The growing opportunity in biotech x AI* … and more! If you’re a founder raising capital, an investor exploring biotech, or just curious about what’s next for the sector, this is a must-listen. 👇***⌛TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 Introduction to the episode* 03:12 Early Stage Biotech Startups* 05:35 Understanding the Funding Gap in Biotech* 07:24 Supporting Early Stage BioTech* 09:45 How Biotope Impacts Startups* 11:49 What Makes a Biotech Startup Fundable?* 15:13 Navigating the Valley of Death* 18:50 Trends in Early Stage Biotech Investment* 26:00 Approaching Investors for Funding* 29:32 Investment Timelines in Biotech* 30:51 Scientific Validation and Funding* 32:17 Opportunities in Biotech Startups* 38:18 The Role of Advisors in Biotech* 40:51 Rapid Fire Questions on Biotech******▶️ CONNECT WITH ANNICK* Annick Verween (Head of Biotope at VIB) – LinkedIn***📚 REFERENCES AND MENTIONS* Technology Readiness Levels (TRL)* “Valley of Death” in startup financing* Pre-seed to seed funding gap* VIB (Flemish Institute for Biotechnology)* Biotope (early-stage investment and incubation arm)*** 🎙️PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE* How to Exit a Deep Tech Startup - Matt Jones (Syensqo)* USA vs Europe: Who Wins In Climate? - Matthew Blain (Voyager Ventures)* Founders Should Operate Like Athletes – Romain Vidal (Teampact Ventures)* Climate Change Is a Social Issue - Alina Klarner (Impact Shakers)***💚 LEAVE A REVIEW * Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg * Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com

Matthew Blain, Principal at Voyager Ventures and a climate tech enthusiast, shares insights on the contrasting climates of investment between Europe and the US. He discusses how Europe's software climate startups are excelling and delves into the deep tech commercialization gap. The conversation highlights the advantages of European research universities and the pivotal role of government support. Blain emphasizes the need for a global mindset among founders and explores collaboration opportunities between US and European investors to drive meaningful climate innovation.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Matt Jones, Managing Partner at Syensqo, to break down one of the toughest challenges in climate tech: how to exit.With 25 years of experience and a front-row seat to both successful and failed exits, Matt shares:* How to recognize the right window for exiting* The biggest red flags in corporate partnerships* How CVCs think about alignment, strategy, and exits* What founders get wrong when they pitch to corporations* How to make deep tech exits work* … and more! ***⌛TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 Introduction to the episode* 0:54 Climate Tech Exits 101* 02:22 Understanding Exit Strategies for Investors* 04:55 How to assess the exit environment?* 05:47 The IPO Dream: Are Startups Ready?* 07:33 Taking a company public as a CVC?* 08:38 Navigating Acquisitions: Finding Potential Buyers* 11:23 The Role of Corporates in Exit Strategies* 13:53 Is it important for founders to have an exit strategy?* 15:37 Common Mistakes in Engaging with Corporate VCs* 17:35 Rapid Fire Questions: Insights and Advice***▶️ CONNECT WITH MATT* Matt Jones – LinkedIn* Syensqo | Advancing Humanity***🔗 CONNECT WITH ME * Newsletter - https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/* Email - climateventuresvco2@substack.com* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VCo2_HugoRauch***📚 REFERENCES AND MENTIONS* The Lean Startup – Startup playbook on building fast & learning from customers.* Syensqo Ventures – Corporate VC backing climate and materials startups.* Breakthrough Energy Ventures – Climate tech fund backed by Bill Gates.* M&A – Mergers & acquisitions as startup exits.* IPOs – Taking a private company public.* SPACs – A faster alternative to IPOs via shell companies.* EBITDA & Accretive – Key financials in exit deals.* Corporate VC (CVC) – Corporates investing in startups.* Exit Windows – Timing matters for exits.*** 🎙️PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE* Founders Should Operate Like Athletes – Romain Vidal (Teampact Ventures)* Solving the Energy Crisis with Software - Jan Lozek (Future Energy Ventures)* Climate Change Is a Social Issue - Alina Klarner (Impact Shakers)***💚 LEAVE A REVIEW * Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg * Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***Thank you to BioEsol for sponsoring this episode. 💚BioEsol is an AI-powered energy company bringing Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) to industrial and SME clients, enabling energy autonomy, cost savings, and sustainability - with no upfront investment. In April, the company will open its Series A round to accelerate its expansion in France & Europe.***This week, we’re joined by Alina Klarner, the General Partner at Impact Shakers - a fund, accelerator, and ecosystem built to back diverse impact founders. In this episode, we explore how climate and social challenges intersect, and why investing at that intersection leads to stronger outcomes.We discuss:* Why investing in diverse teams is a competitive advantage* The business case for aligning climate and social impact* Embedding systemic thinking into startup models from Day 1* What VCs can do to make the ecosystem more inclusive* … and more! ***⌛TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 - Introduction* 04:31 - Co-Founder Dating is Key* 06:29 - Investing at the Intersection of Climate and Social Issues* 08:52 - The Economic Rational Behind Climate + Social** 12:33 - Embedding Social Impact in Business Models* 14:29 - Investment Criteria for Diverse Founders* 16:22 - Tools for Assessing Impact* 20:18 - Investment Criteria for Diverse Founders* 23:58 - Access to Capital for Diverse Founders* 25:48 - Encouraging VCs to Invest in Climate and Social* 27:41 - Policies for Impact Investing* 32:26 - VCs talk to VCs* 35:24 - Fire Questions***▶️ CONNECT WITH ALINA* Alina Klarner – Alina Klarner | LinkedIn* Impact Shakers - Impact Shakers***🔗 CONNECT WITH ME * Newsletter - https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/* Email - climateventuresvco2@substack.com* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VCo2_HugoRauch***📚 REFERENCES AND MENTIONS* Byway – Flight-free travel company* Nibs Etc. – Upcycled juice pulp into granola* Circular Library Network – Hardware/software for peer-to-peer sharing* Farcorda – Aggregates secondhand product listings across platforms* Vested Impact – Impact due diligence tool used by Impact Shakers* Impact Principles (Impact Shakers internal framework – link it)*** 🎙️PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE* Dr Benedikt Buchspies - How to Use LCAs for VC Investments (Planet A)* Tina Dreimann on Community Investing in Climate Tech (better ventures)***💚 LEAVE A REVIEW * Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg * Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Jan Lozek, founder and managing partner at Future Energy Ventures, to discuss energy-tech investment opportunities and why software is the missing piece in this value chain.In this episode, you’ll learn:* Why AI is crucial for managing decentralized energy systems* How software turns homes and EVs into virtual power plants* How to build partnerships with utilities and navigate regulations* What every founder should know about scaling in energy markets* … and more! ***⌛TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 - Introduction* 01:01 - Most Exciting Energy Technologies* 02:22 - Current Trends in Energy Technology* 04:41 - Do We Need More Hardware Startups?* 06:14 - The Role of AI in The Energy Transition* 08:36 - There Are Two Large Challenges In The Grid* 10:49 - How Much Can We Power Europe with Renewables?* 11:58 - Are we consuming more energy than before?* 13:07 - The Future of Energy: Hardware vs. Software* 15:35 - Risks and Challenges For Energy Startups* 18:34 - Building The Dream Team for Energy* 23:40 - Scaling in the European Market* 25:42 - Support from VCs to Founders* 28:24 - Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Thoughts***▶️ CONNECT WITH JAN* Jan Lozek – https://www.linkedin.com/in/lozekjan/?originalSubdomain=de* Future Energy Ventures - https://fev.vc/***🔗 CONNECT WITH ME * Newsletter - https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/* Email - climateventuresvco2@substack.com* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VCo2_HugoRauch***📚 REFERENCES AND MENTIONS* Piclo – Flexibility marketplace for energy systems* Reev – Smart EV charging infrastructure* Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)* Grid congestion & curtailment* Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G)* AI for real-time energy trading* Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)* Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) ***🎙️PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE* Romain Vidal on How Elite Athletes’ Mindset Can Transform Startups (Teampact)* Yair Reem on The Death of The Green Premium (Extantia)***💚 LEAVE A REVIEW * Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg * Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Romain Vidal, co-founder of Teampact Ventures, a VC firm leveraging high-performance methodologies from professional sports to support climate and health startups. In this episode, we cover:* Why startups should learn from sports teams, not from corporates* How delayed gratification and resilience create long-term success* The mindset of elite athletes that founders should adopt* The importance of team culture in driving performance* … and more! ***⌛TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 - Introduction* 01:34 - The Philosophy Behind Teampact Ventures* 06:04 - The Importance of the Mission and Values* 07:50 - Lessons from Elite Athletes for Startups* 13:54 - Building Disciplines and Resilience in Startups* 16:24 - Individual vs. Collective Performance in Startups* 23:08 - Common Challenges For Startups* 24:48 - Peak Performance and Startups Readiness* 26:32 - The Value of Teamwork in Individual Sports* 29:02 - You Need to Collaborate with Your Ecosystem* 31:11 - The Role of Team Culture in Startups* 34:30 - Diversity in Investor Profiles* 39:08 - Athletes x Investors* 41:16 - The World Needs Better Role Models* 43:37 - Fire Questions***▶️ CONNECT WITH ROMAIN* Romain Vidal – https://www.linkedin.com/in/vidalromain/* Teampact Ventures - https://www.teampact.ventures/***🔗 CONNECT WITH ME * Newsletter - https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/* Email - climateventuresvco2@substack.com* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VCo2_HugoRauch***📚 REFERENCES AND MENTIONS* Delayed gratification (Stanford marshmallow experiment)* Sports team models (All Blacks, Spurs, French handball team)* Nikola Karabatic (Handball)* Raphaël Varane (Football)*** 🎙️PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE* Tina Dreimann on Community Investing in Climate Tech (better ventures)* Yair Reem on The Death of The Green Premium (Extantia)***💚 LEAVE A REVIEW * Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg * Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Yair Reem, Partner at Extantia Capital, to break down why the green premium is dead, and what’s next for climate-tech startups. In this episode, we explore:* The death of the green premium & rise of the green discount* How climate startups should price & pitch their solutions* What VCs really look for in climate investments* The future of climate tech & the biggest investment opportunities* … and more! ***⌛TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 – Introduction* 02:15 – What is the green premium, and why did it fail?* 06:42 – Why customers won’t pay more for green solutions* 11:30 – The rise of the green discount & new pricing strategies* 17:05 – Why startups must focus on industry problems, not sustainability* 28:45 – Case study: How Magnotherm found the right value proposition* 35:00 – The biggest investment opportunities in climate tech today* 42:15 – AI’s role in climate startups & competitive pricing* 48:10 – Rapid-fire questions* 54:20 – Final thoughts***▶️ CONNECT WITH YAIR* Yair Reem – https://www.linkedin.com/in/yairreem/* Extantia Capital - https://www.extantia.com/***🔗 CONNECT WITH ME * Newsletter - https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/* Email - climateventuresvco2@substack.com* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VCo2_HugoRauch***📚 REFERENCES AND MENTIONS* Extantia Capital – Climate VC firm* Magnotherm – Reinventing refrigeration* Vamo – Heat pump company focusing on cost efficiency* Northvolt – European battery manufacturer*** 🎙️PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE* Dr Benedikt Buchspies - How to Use LCAs for VC Investments (Planet A)* Tina Dreimann on Community Investing in Climate Tech (better ventures)* Tim Schumacher on selling to climate deniers (World Fund) ***💚 LEAVE A REVIEW * Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg * Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Tina Dreimann (thank you, Tim Schumacher, for the introduction), founder and General Partner of better ventures. Instead of following a traditional VC model, better ventures operates as a community of entrepreneurs investing in and supporting the next generation of impact-driven founders.In this episode, we explore:* Why community investing could outperform traditional VC* The formula: Community + Tech = Impact + Returns* The biggest challenges for impact entrepreneurs today* Why climate is just one piece - biodiversity, water, and soil are just as urgent* How tech and AI help scale early-stage investing* …and much more!***⌛TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 – Introduction* 03:45 – Better Ventures: The Origin Story* 07:30 – The Biggest Global Risks & Where to Invest* 12:10 – How Better Ventures Finds & Selects Startups* 17:40 – Smart Capital: What Founders Need from Investors* 22:50 – Why Community Investing Outperforms Traditional VC* 27:15 – The Role of Tech & AI in Investment Decisions* 32:40 – The Future of Impact Investing & VC Evolution* 38:25 – Challenges in Partnering with Large Corporations* 42:10 – Fire Questions* 49:00 – Final Takeaways & Closing Thoughts***▶️ CONNECT WITH TINA* Tina Dreimann – https://shorturl.at/ndhKS* better ventures - https://www.betterventures.io/***🔗 CONNECT WITH ME * Newsletter - https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/* Email - climateventuresvco2@substack.com* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VCo2_HugoRauch***📚 REFERENCES AND MENTIONS* Ocell (AI-driven forestry & carbon credit trading)* Everdrop (Eco-friendly consumer goods, plastic-free cleaning products)* Oxyle (Water filtration for PFAS & microplastics)* Planetary Boundaries Framework* World Economic Forum Global Risk Report* En-ROADS Model by MIT*** 🎙️PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE* Dr Benedikt Buchspies - How to Use LCAs for VC Investments (Planet A)* Heidi Lindvall on Impact Assessments (Pale Blue Dot)* Tim Schumacher on selling to climate deniers (World Fund) ***💚 LEAVE A REVIEW * Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg * Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.***This week, we’re joined by Dr. Benedikt Buchspies, a scientist at Planet A Ventures, one of Europe's leading climate-tech VC funds. Benedikt has been pioneering the use of lifecycle assessments (LCAs) in venture capital for years and is showing that science + VC = impact.In this episode, we cover:* What an LCA is and how it measures climate impact* Why most VCs ignore environmental data (and why they shouldn’t)* How impact and financial returns align in early-stage startups* The challenges of modeling long-term systemic impact* What VCs should do to implement LCAs in their funds* And much more.. 👉 If you’re an impact investor, this is a must-listen episode.***⌛TIMESTAMPS * 00:00 Introduction and the Journey from Science to VC* 05:30 Understanding Impact Assessment in Venture Capital* 10:20 Quantifying Environmental Impact and Systemic Change* 15:10 Correlation Between Financial and Environmental Performance* 20:02 Guiding Investment Thesis with Impact Assessments* 24:15 Integrating Sustainability into Investment Processes* 32:36 Pros and Cons of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)* 38:05 Implementing LCA in Investment Firms* 40:23 Fire Questions and Conclusion***▶️ CONNECT WITH BENEDIKT* Dr. Benedikt Buchspies – https://shorturl.at/f40rA***🔗 CONNECT WITH ME * Newsletter - https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/* Email - climateventuresvco2@substack.com* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VCo2_HugoRauch***📚 REFERENCES AND MENTIONS* LCA - A scientific method for measuring environmental impact* Emissions scopes – Different levels of carbon accounting for companies* Monte Carlo Simulation – A technique for modeling uncertainty * Systemic Impact Modeling – Assessing the broader effects of a startup* SFDR & EU Taxonomy – Sustainability regulations that apply to impact VCs* Scenario Analysis – A way to estimate how different variables affect an LCA result*** 🎙️PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE* Heidi Lindvall on Impact Assessments (Pale Blue Dot)* Tim Schumacher on selling to climate deniers (World Fund) ***💚 LEAVE A REVIEW * Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg * Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit climateventuresvco2.substack.com