Yao Huang from Carbon Optimum Corporation

Tackling the 40-gigaton CO2 problem isn’t for the faint of heart, but Yao Huang is all in, turning climate challenges into financial opportunities with some seriously cool tech. After two decades in the tech world, a pandemic epiphany sent her full speed into climate investing, and now she’s using algae photobioreactors (yes, algae!) to capture carbon at scale while creating useful byproducts like oils and fertilizers. She breaks down why traditional VC thinking doesn’t cut it in climate tech, how industries like coal and cement can actually profit from going green, and why collaboration, not competition, is the key to making real change happen. If you think climate solutions are all about sacrifice, Yao’s going to make you rethink everything.Click here to watch a video of this episode.Join the conversation shaping the future of energy.Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.Apply today at collide.ioClick here to view the episode transcript. 00:00 - Intro00:49 - Climate Investing Journey08:27 - Venture Capital in Climate Tech13:57 - Role of Finance in Startups18:00 - Energy Transition vs Climate Problem24:22 - Carbon Clean Technology32:46 - Carbon Optima Business Model34:37 - Unique Aspects of Current Climate Tech37:30 - Factors Behind Carbon Optima's Success40:04 - Activating Support for Climate Initiatives45:15 - Houston's Climate Tech Ecosystem Gaps49:35 - Houston Startup Scene51:03 - Wonder Women Networking Dinners54:27 - Closing Remarkshttps://twitter.com/collide_iohttps://www.tiktok.com/@collide.iohttps://www.facebook.com/collide.iohttps://www.instagram.com/collide.iohttps://www.youtube.com/@collide_iohttps://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.socialhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters