CleanTechies Podcast

Here is a scannable, engaging show description tailored for your RSS feed based on the episode details:#286 A Media Training Expert Gives Away His Most Powerful Secrets | Michael Lehmann (Lehmann's Terms)In clean tech, building a groundbreaking solution is only half the battle—you also have to know how to explain it clearly when it matters most. Whether you are pitching investors, taking the stage at a conference, or presenting on Capitol Hill, a wordy explanation can cost you massive opportunities.In this episode, we sit down with Michael Lehmann, founder of Lehmann’s Terms, a premier climate communications and media training firm. Michael has prepared leaders for hundreds of national media appearances and navigated high-stakes political landscapes. He shares his ultimate playbook on how founders can deliver potent, concise messages, avoid the "PhD-level explanation trap," and frame climate tech in a way that wins bipartisan support.📝 Key Topics Covered:00:00 – Intro & Special Announcement: The CleanTechies AI Chatbot.03:58 – Getting to know Michael Lehmann and the origin of Lehmann’s Terms.09:21 – Core Messaging: Why clarity and being concise are your ultimate weapons.13:06 – Panel Tactics: Talk less, be potent, and stop reading bulleted lists.16:04 – Bipartisan Growth: Why alienating half the political aisle prevents your startup from scaling.21:18 – Adapting your framing for different audiences without losing your authenticity.31:08 – The TV Formula: Hitting the 45-second sweet spot with a headline and a punchy close.36:29 – Pitching Investors: Stop reading your slides and avoid the “PhD level” explanation trap.41:21 – Surviving Capitol Hill: How to navigate lawmakers and defuse hostile questions.55:06 – The ultimate bipartisan hook: Lowering emissions while making money and boosting American business.01:01:01 – Optimism over Doom: Why building the future is a better pitch than climate fear.🔗 Helpful Links:Connect with the Guest: Connect with Michael Lehmann or visit Lehmann's Terms to elevate your next media or pitch opportunity.Connect with Silas: Follow Silas Mähner on LinkedIn.Follow the Show: Join the community on the CleanTechies LinkedIn Page and subscribe to our YouTube Channel.🤝 Check Out Our Sponsors:Climate Finance Solutions (CFS): A global consulting firm that has helped climate tech companies secure over $1.6 billion in government grant funding with a 90%+ success rate.ErthSearch: Fast, accurate, and affordable CleanTech recruiting. Leverage an unparalleled network to find specialized engineering, sales, and executive talent with a guaranteed placement model.Disclaimer: 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

00:00 – Intro & Sponsors: Lehmann's Terms, Climate Finance Solutions, and EarthSearch.03:27 – Robert’s background: 30+ years in semiconductors to 3D printing batteries.06:59 – Reinventing additive manufacturing: Printing multi-material active devices.14:27 – Addressing the 5 battery pillars: Safety, cost, performance, longevity, and recyclability.20:24 – The economics: Cutting production costs by 60% and waste to under 1%.24:01 – Sakuu's asset-light business model and equipment licensing.32:14 – Gigafactory vs. Microfactory: The extreme flexibility of 3D printing.41:42 – Re-industrializing America and making onshoring a bipartisan issue.52:19 – Team building: Why you should hire for attitude and train your replacement. 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

00:00 – Intro & Sponsors: Lehmann's Terms, Climate Finance Solutions, and EarthSearch.03:19 – The Origin of Reservoir: Why target the water heater?06:33 – The Data: Why heating water uses more energy than driving an EV.16:06 – The Innovator's Dilemma: Why legacy appliance companies struggle to innovate beyond incremental updates.20:20 – Pricing Strategy: How vertical integration allows Reservoir to stay cost-competitive while offering a premium product.25:16 – Smart Features: Predictive recirculation (no-wait showers), freeze protection, and leak mitigation.36:08 – "Party Mode": How an inline booster heater gives a 50-gallon tank the capacity of a 150-gallon tank.40:58 – The Faucet Remote Control: Using an ultrasonic flow meter to operate your water heater by simply tapping your sink faucet.44:24 – Building a Hardware Team: The Formlabs Mafia and why every startup employee needs the "take out the trash" mentality.49:56 – Thermal Batteries & VPPs: How connecting 50,000 smart water heaters equals the capacity of a data center. 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

00:00 – Intro & Sponsors: Lehmann's Terms, Climate Finance Solutions, and EarthSearch.03:48 – What is Dreamstar Lines?: Bringing overnight sleeper trains to the LA-SF route.04:39 – The Strategy: Using existing Union Pacific tracks to bypass the nightmare of building new rail infrastructure.08:03 – The Bottleneck: Why building new rail in the US is a million-variable problem.14:38 – Making Trains Sexy: Why you must start with a premium product to change consumer behavior (The Tesla Model).26:29 – Customer Discovery: Why they added an auto-ferry service and pet-friendly private accommodations.31:28 – The Autonomous Future: How Robotaxi fleets will solve the last-mile problem for train travelers.39:40 – Regulation vs. Innovation: Why the US needs a new generation of "builder" legislators.46:52 – Zoning is Anti-American: The housing crisis and the case for creating special economic zones for experimentation.55:09 – Sustainability: The carbon emissions of rail vs. flying, and the future of hybridized rail tech. 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

00:00 – Intro & Sponsors: Lehmann's Terms, Climate Finance Solutions, and EarthSearch.03:09 – Welcome to Keep Cool: Nick van Osdol flips the script and interviews Silas.04:07 – The Evolution of Climate Tech: Shedding the 1.0 vibes and returning to "CleanTech."08:52 – Silas’s Origin Story: From rural Wisconsin to renewable energy recruiting in NYC.13:33 – Disrupting Recruitment: Why Silas founded EarthSearch to offer executive-level search for early-stage startups without the massive fees.18:30 – The End of ZIRP: Why the hiring market has shifted to slow, intentional, and skills-based recruiting.30:24 – Building Culture: Why early-stage startups shouldn't be afraid to hire bored, senior talent.37:19 – The Call to Adventure: How to position your startup to attract highly motivated individuals.43:59 – Companies to Watch: Silas shouts out Helix Earth Technologies and OptiGrid.51:35 – Flipping the Table: Silas asks Nick what keeps him motivated to write and podcast about climate.53:56 – The Value of Writing: Why authentic, human storytelling matters more than ever in the age of AI. 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

00:00 – Intro: Coral's $7.5M Seed Round and mission.02:46 – What is Coral?: The FinTech platform for energy-efficient building upgrades.04:46 – The Pain Point: Why HVAC experts don't want to be "rebate experts."06:15 – The Financing Mechanism: How Coral advances funds to make the rebate instant.08:19 – Contractor Benefits: Saving time, avoiding bad reviews, and winning more deals.11:44 – The Economics of Rebates: Why most incentives come from local utilities trying to lower grid demand.15:43 – The Origin Story: Quitting jobs to solve the $8,000 savings bottleneck for homeowners.21:00 – Mission Alignment: Balancing climate goals with helping small businesses grow.24:17 – The "Chicken and Egg" Funding: Using early VC dollars to prove the rebate float model.31:24 – Depoliticizing Clean Tech: Leading with comfort, safety, and pure energy savings.36:09 – Co-Founder Dating: How Samir and Nizar built trust before building a company.42:37 – Pragmatism and Empathy: Why climate founders must be chameleons to succeed.46:27 – Raising Capital: Why they pitched FinTech VCs instead of traditional Climate funds. 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

00:00 – Intro: Andrew Beebe’s background in Cleantech since 2002.03:34 – Obvious Ventures & Fund V: Deploying a new $360M fund.04:59 – The Next Vintage: Why the tourists are gone and the real builders remain.08:23 – The Branding Problem: Why "Climate Tech" mirrors the 1990s Internet boom.16:30 – Global Markets vs. US Politics: The inevitability of the energy transition.20:46 – The AI Energy Crisis: Utilities facing 50% demand growth from data centers.25:53 – Generative Science: How AI is accelerating materials science and geothermal exploration.28:20 – Local Politics: Why hyperscalers must win over local communities to build.34:01 – Texas as a Mecca: Why low-regulation red states are building the most clean energy.38:56 – Physical AI & Autonomy: From robotic shipping vessels to electric aviation.47:01 – The Hardware Playbook: Why you want to be a buyer (not a seller) on a plummeting cost curve.51:50 – The Ultimate Arbitrage: Making money when you know the transition is inevitable. 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

00:00 – Intro: Cody Finke returns to the podcast.04:30 – The "Rock Refinery": Moving beyond cement to co-produce aluminum and critical minerals.05:39 – The Physics of Scale: Why cost parity is impossible with small reactors.08:12 – The History of Co-Production: From whale oil to Standard Oil's catalytic cracking.12:39 – "Bad Geologic Luck": Why traditional limestone cement plants can't co-produce.18:54 – De-Risking Deep Tech: How Brimstone uses off-the-shelf components to build a massive patent moat.28:33 – Fundraising Strategy: Raising ~$90M and executing pilot plants.33:44 – PR for Founders: When to stay in stealth and when to reveal your grand vision.38:18 – The $189M DOE Grant: Winning the money under Biden, losing it under Trump, and why it wasn't a disaster.45:54 – Geopolitics & Manufacturing: Why critical materials and heavy industry must return to democratic countries.50:28 – The Ultimate Climate Strategy: Why capitalism only rewards lower costs, not moral outcomes. 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

00:00 – Intro: The $500M deal with Jupiter Power.02:15 – Landon’s Background: Lessons from Tesla and Northvolt.06:30 – The "Magnet Hire": How to attract A-Players by hiring one star first.12:00 – Why Sodium-Ion?: The cost and supply chain advantage over Lithium.18:45 – The Jupiter Power Deal: How they negotiated a massive off-take agreement.24:10 – "Engineering Bankability": Selling the manufacturing roadmap, not just the cell.32:00 – Supply Chain: Why Peak Energy avoids conflict minerals and China reliance.41:00 – The Grid Challenge: Why batteries need to last 25 years in the desert.48:00 – Scaling Speed: How to move faster than traditional industrial giants.53:00 – Hiring: The specific traits Landon looks for in executives. 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

00:00 – Intro: Recording in-person at 9Zero in San Francisco.02:45 – Antonio’s Background: From Stanford PhD to Flow Batteries.06:00 – The History: What is the "Zebra Battery" and why did it fail in EVs?10:15 – The Chemistry: How Sodium, Iron, and Salt work together.12:30 – The Economics: Why $1/kWh material cost changes everything.17:00 – Safety First: No thermal runaway and safer than Lithium-Ion.22:00 – Manufacturing Strategy: Leveraging existing UK talent and factories.28:00 – The "Bankability" Challenge: Proving a "new" old technology.34:00 – Commercialization: Who buys these batteries? (Utilities vs Developers).41:00 – The Grid Reality: Why "Non-Wires Alternatives" are the immediate market.46:00 – Founder Advice: How to hire A-players for a hardware startup. 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

00:00 – Intro: Why energy regulation is the "unsexy" bottleneck of the transition.03:11 – Hudson’s Background: From SEC Attorney to rewriting federal data laws.05:55 – What HData Does: The platform for rate cases, compliance, and wildfire plans.06:40 – The Natural Monopoly: Explaining the "Regulator vs. Regulated" conflict.10:13 – The Rate Case Process: How utilities get paid (and why it takes so much paper).14:00 – The ROI of AI: Moving from "Control-F" to vertical AI agents.22:20 – The Urgency: Why grid modernization creates a compliance explosion.35:00 – Hyperscalers & AI: How data center demand is changing the regulatory game.46:18 – The Future of Work: Will AI replace regulatory lawyers?48:00 – Founder Story: The 2022 cash crisis and the "Dark Night of the Soul."53:00 – Hiring Framework: The 3 motivations Hudson looks for in talent. 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

What happens when an oil well dries up? Usually, it becomes a "zombie" liability—leaking methane and waiting to become a taxpayer burden. Kemp Gregory, CEO and Co-founder of Renewell Energy, joins the show to explain how he’s turning these multi-million dollar liabilities into clean energy assets.Renewell converts idle wells into mechanical gravity batteries. By using existing deep wellbores to raise and lower heavy weights, they’ve created long-duration energy storage that is cheaper than lithium-ion and uses the infrastructure we already have.Key Takeaways:The Problem: Why the "Orphan Well Pocalypse" is a looming global crisis.The Tech: How gravity storage works and why it doesn’t degrade like chemical batteries.The Business: Convincing oil companies to hand over wells instead of plugging them.The Grid: Why "stranded assets" are actually perfectly positioned for grid stability.Building Deep-Tech: Why "agency" is the #1 trait Kemp looks for in early hires.Timestamps:01:40 – Kemp’s journey from Oil & Gas to CleanTech.05:00 – The Scale: 900k active wells vs. 2 million idle wells.14:15 – Gravity storage vs. Lithium-Ion: Cost and mechanics.18:00 – Turning abandonment costs into revenue shares.40:15 – Hiring for "Evidence of Agency."Connect & Links:Guest: Kemp Gregory | Renewell EnergyHost: Connect with Silas on LinkedInCommunity: Follow CleanTechies on LinkedInWatch: Subscribe on YouTubeOur Sponsors:Climate Finance Solutions (CFS): Secure government grant funding with a 90% success rate. Learn more at ClimateFinanceSolutions.com.ErthSearch: Specialized CleanTech recruiting. Fast, accurate, and guaranteed. Get started with Silas today.Disclaimer: This podcast is NOT investment advice. Please do your own due diligence. 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

Speed Strapping: How to Reach Breakeven on The era of easy money is over. For CleanTech hardware startups, the old playbook—raise a Seed, build a prototype, and pray for a Series A—is leading companies straight off a cliff. Shaun Abrahamson, Managing Partner at Third Sphere, returns to the pod to unveil the "Speed Strapping" playbook: a survival guide for 2026.Shaun explains why the graduation rate from Seed to Series A has plummeted and why founders must stop building "bridges to nowhere." The new goal? Reach profitability on less than $6M of paid-in capital to control your own destiny.🎧 Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts💡 Key Takeaways:The $6M Limit: If you can’t reach breakeven on $5–$6M of capital, you are at the mercy of a volatile market.Avoid the CapEx Trap: Don't build a factory until you’re hitting $10M–$20M in revenue. Use contract manufacturers instead.The "LEGO" Strategy: Use existing, off-the-shelf components for your V1 instead of reinventing every part.Negative Churn: In hardware, losing a customer isn't just lost marketing spend—it often means getting a broken product back.📝 Key Moments:08:15 – Defining “Speed Strapping”: Why breakeven is the new Series A.15:58 – The “Bridge to Nowhere”: The danger of planning for non-existent funding.28:38 – The CapEx Trap: Why you shouldn’t build a factory too early.36:50 – The “LEGO” Strategy: Moving faster with existing parts.🗣️ Select Quote:"Most of the companies that we see failing right now are failing because they were building a bridge to a Series B that doesn’t exist." — Shaun Abrahamson🚀 Check Out Our Sponsors:Climate Finance Solutions (CFS): Secure government grants with a 90%+ success rate. ClimateFinanceSolutions.comErthSearch: Specialized CleanTech recruiting for sales, engineering, and execs. ErthSearch.comConnect with Silas: LinkedInFollow CleanTechies: LinkedInDisclaimer: This podcast is NOT investment advice. 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

Eclipse Energy: The $0.50/kg Geologic Hydrogen Breakthrough with Prab SekhonPrab Sekhon, CEO of Eclipse Energy (formerly Gold H2), joins us to detail their disruptive technology that is poised to solve the green hydrogen cost problem. Eclipse Energy is taking end-of-life oil fields—which are massive liabilities for oil and gas companies—and turning them into clean energy assets by producing Geologic Hydrogen at an unprecedented $0.50 per kilogram.Key Topics Covered in the Episode:Introduction and Rebrand (01:06, 05:16): Prab introduces himself and discusses the recent rebranding from Gold H2 to Eclipse Energy, reflecting a broader strategy to move beyond just hydrogen.The Moonshot Goal (06:54): Breaking down why the 50 cents per kilogram price is crucial and why their process avoids the high costs and potable water consumption associated with traditional Green Hydrogen.The Technology & Feedstock (08:38, 14:46): Learn how Eclipse Energy uses "uneconomic oil"—a waste stream—as a free feedstock. Prab explains the process using the "gut biome" analogy: injecting specific microbes into deep reservoirs to stimulate the bacteria to produce pure hydrogen.The Business Model & O&G (11:20, 49:10): Discover the "accidental" business model that allows oil companies to defer billions in Plug & Abandon (P&A) liabilities by transforming non-producing wells into 20-year assets. Prab also addresses the role of energy pragmatism in working with oil and gas incumbents.Energy for the Future (18:40): Hear about the Armada partnership to co-locate data centers directly on-site, using the hydrogen to power the AI boom off-grid, and the benefit of hydrogen combustion producing water for cooling.Costs and Macro Trends (21:00, 42:55): A comparison of hydrogen costs (Gray at $1-$1.5/kg vs. Eclipse's $0.50/kg) and an update on the core macro trends in the global hydrogen space.Talent & Scaling (26:50, 54:10): Insights on the "niche field of petroleum microbiology," why the best talent for the energy transition comes from the oil and gas industry, and their partnership with Weatherford to help scale and deploy.Guest: Prab Sekhon, CEO of Eclipse EnergyA quick shoutout to our sponsors: Climate Finance Solutions and ErthSearch. 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

JOIN US FOR THE HACK SUMMIT!The HackSummit returns to Newlab on December 10-11, bringing together 500 founders, funders, and industry leaders in Climate Deep Tech. Together we’ll explore abundance, alongside Founders and Investors at Andreessen Horowitz, Brimstone, Crux, DCVC, Durin, Earth AI, Endolith, Navier, Radical AI, Rainmaker, Voyager Ventures and SOSV. Sign up for 10% off here.How Ivy Energy Finally Cracked the Code on Multi-family SolarIf you’ve ever looked at a massive apartment building and wondered why the roof is empty… yeah, Dover Janis wondered the same thing.Except instead of complaining about it, he built a company to fix it.Dover — co-founder and CEO of Ivy Energy — joined me on the show to break down how his team solved one of the most stubborn problems in clean energy: getting solar onto multi-family buildings where the owner pays the bill, the tenant gets the savings, and everyone assumes it’s impossible.Turns out it wasn’t impossible. It was just missing the right business model.Dover calls the untouched roof on apartment buildings the “naked rooftop.” Owners had zero reason to install solar because they’d get zero financial benefit. And tenants couldn’t install it themselves. So the whole market was stuck.Ivy Energy flipped the entire equation by building a platform that makes solar a new revenue stream for the building owner — not a charity project for tenants. The magic is their software layer, something Dover describes as the “easy button” that tracks energy production, energy use, utility bills, and every transaction between the owner and the tenant. In other words, a virtual grid inside each community.And it’s not just bookkeeping. It’s defensible, transparent financial settlement that regulators trust and tenants benefit from. Owners install solar, tenants keep a slice of the savings, and owners pocket the rest. Profit. Every year. No more split incentives. No more naked rooftops.The wildest part? Investors realized they could install solar, run it for a year, boost the building’s NOI — and then sell the property at a higher valuation. In some deals, that means an instant return before factoring in any long-term cash flow.Ivy’s model is simple: SaaS fees per unit, plus a planning product that uses their massive dataset to help investors deploy capital smarter across their entire portfolio. And the market is huge — 27 million renter households, with more than half viable for on-site energy.They’ve already scaled to 400 communities and 60,000 households, and they’re moving fast through channel partners instead of trying to educate every owner one by one.What’s next? Dover wants Ivy to become the transaction engine for shared energy communities — not just solar, but EV charging, storage, and anything that touches the building’s energy ecosystem. And he’s building the team to get there, hiring people who treat the mission like an inevitability.If you want to understand how one software layer can open wide gigawatts of clean energy on buildings that were previously untouchable, give this episode a listen. 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

JOIN US FOR THE HACK SUMMIT!The HackSummit returns to Newlab on December 10-11, bringing together 500 founders, funders, and industry leaders in Climate Deep Tech. Together we’ll explore abundance, alongside Founders and Investors at Andreessen Horowitz, Brimstone, Crux, DCVC, Durin, Earth AI, Endolith, Navier, Radical AI, Rainmaker, Voyager Ventures and SOSV. Sign up for 10% off here.Imagine if every commercial building and data center in a city acted like a smart, flexible battery. That’s the world Charles Conwell is building.Charles, CEO of Novele and a former commercial real estate guy turned energy founder, joined me on the show to break down how they’re transforming buildings from passive energy hogs into active grid assets. And his insight into how the built environment actually works will probably change how you think about energy forever.Novele’s system starts inside the building, at the point of consumption. Their Energy Boards are these thin, wall-mounted batteries that slip into unused space instead of eating up rentable square footage. But the real unlock is the software, a “swarm architecture” that syncs hundreds of distributed devices in real time. Instead of reacting to energy spikes, the system predicts them and reshapes load before it ever hits the meter.Why does this matter?Because commercial buildings have been stuck in a broken model for decades.Charles explained how landlords constantly overbuild electrical capacity because tenants wildly overestimate their needs. Add in the classic “split incentive”, landlords pay for upgrades, tenants reap the savings, and no one invests in efficiency. The result? Massive waste and massive bills.But the world changed. Fast. New rules like Local Law 97 created real financial pain for inefficient buildings. Energy prices started climbing double digits. Demand charges blew past the cost of the energy itself. And suddenly Novele’s solution went from “interesting” to “we need this yesterday.”The kicker?Novele runs on a Hardware-as-a-Service model. No CapEx fight. No landlord-tenant politics. Just a monthly fee that’s usually covered. Customers are seeing IRRs in the 20–30% range.We also got into Novele’s Ripple Board for data centers and why AI’s power spikes are becoming one of the biggest electrical problems no one is talking about. Charles lays out how distributed storage smooths those swings and why storage + nuclear is the most underrated combo in clean energy.If you want to understand better where urban energy is heading and why buildings are about to become one of the most important assets on the grid, tap play for this episode. 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

Hey everybody! It’s Thanksgiving week, and I’m shooting a short, solo episode to share some gratitude for an incredible year and drop a few major announcements.Podcast Announcements* Farewell to Somil: Our co-host, Somil, is moving on! He accepted an amazing offer in the fast-growing AI space with Decagon to advance his product management career. We’re sad to see him go, but wish him the best! He deserves a lot of credit and thanks for helping us kick the podcast into high gear and grow our listenership.* The Podcast is Now Part of ErthSearch: ErthSearch (my cleantech recruitment firm, formerly ErthTech Talent) has acquired the podcast, bringing everything in-house under one P&L. The content won’t change, but we have more resources and are exploring deep-dive content on hiring, talent, and team building.* A Little Surprise is Coming! We have a new project brewing, and we’re hoping to launch it before the end of the year. If you’re a loyal listener and want to get early access and give us some feedback, please reach out to me directly via [email protected] or LinkedIn DM.* Moving to Nashville: I’m moving to Nashville in January! I’ll be traveling in NYC for most of December. This means posting may be a bit less frequent throughout the holidays, and any content created will have lower audio quality until I rebuild the studio. Thanks for your patience!A Look Back and Forward* Gratitude for the Past Year: It’s been an absolute pleasure to build this podcast over the last (almost) five years. We’ve continued to grow our listenership, hosted two live pods (in Houston with Energy Tech Nexus and during Climate Week), and invested more heavily in our social media content.* Optimism for Cleantech: Despite some of the bad news, I’m seeing massive growth coming for cleantech. Founders are building strong business models and making real money—it’s not just a “green premium” frenzy anymore. Companies are investing heavily in teams, and while we’re seeing fewer “climate tourists,” there are still plenty of jobs and growth opportunities!Support the Show* Sponsorship: We have a few anchor sponsor openings for the first half of next year. Our audience is primarily CleanTech investors and founders in the US and Europe. Reach out to discuss rates if you’re looking to sell to this audience! [email protected] * Thank You to Our Sponsor: A huge shout-out to our current anchor sponsor, Climate Finance Solutions, who has helped cleantech startups raise $1.6 billion in grant funding since 2020.* Join Us at Climate Hack Summit: Don’t forget to register for the Climate Hack Summit on Dec 10th and 11th at New Lab in NYC. We’ll be there creating content!Happy Thanksgiving to you all! We’ll see you next week on CleanTechies. 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

JOIN US FOR THE HACK SUMMIT!The HackSummit returns to Newlab on December 10-11, bringing together 500 founders, funders, and industry leaders in Climate Deep Tech. Together we’ll explore abundance, alongside Founders and Investors at Andreessen Horowitz, Brimstone, Crux, DCVC, Durin, Earth AI, Endolith, Navier, Radical AI, Rainmaker, Voyager Ventures and SOSV. Sign up for 10% off here.What happens when an ex–Amazon Robotics leader looks at the housing crisis and says, “Yeah… I can fix that”?You get Reframe Systems. And honestly, this might be one of the boldest climate-tech swings happening right now.Vikas Enti joined me on the show, and within five minutes, it was clear: the home construction industry we have is broken. Slow builds. Sky-high costs. Massive waste. Homes are leaking energy like crazy. And absolutely zero scalability.Reframe Systems is flipping the entire industry on its head.They’re building homes like you’d build hardware: in micro factories, with robots, software, and tight quality control. Their houses use about 80 percent less energy, slash embodied carbon, and cut the chaos of job-site construction. And they’re doing it with these insanely flexible robotic work cells that cost under $200k and fit inside a garage.Here’s another thing that will blow your mind away.They cracked the code on mass customization. Everyone else tries to copy-paste the same house. Reframe built the software that turns any custom design into robot-ready instructions.The economics hit just as hard. Developers are paying $350 to $450 per square foot today. Reframe comes in at $275 to $325 — and builds faster. Their long-term target? Under $100 per square foot. If they get to hit that, game over. Housing changes forever.Also… insurance companies are pushing this wave faster than anyone. With wildfire and climate risk exploding, insurers want buildings that actually perform. Reframe homes check every box: airtight, fire-rated, flood-resilient, and way cheaper to run.Vikas and the team built their first full micro factory and delivered a permitted home in just 18 months. Now they’re scaling through joint ventures and laying the tracks for a network of small, fast factories that can pop up anywhere housing is needed.If you care about climate tech, housing affordability, robotics, or the future of cities… this is really one of those episodes you should listen to. 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

JOIN US FOR THE HACK SUMMIT!The HackSummit returns to Newlab on December 10-11, bringing together 500 founders, funders, and industry leaders in Climate Deep Tech. Together we’ll explore abundance, alongside Founders and Investors at Andreessen Horowitz, Brimstone, Crux, DCVC, Durin, Earth AI, Endolith, Navier, Radical AI, Rainmaker, Voyager Ventures and SOSV. Sign up for 10% off here.Hey everyone, Silas here. Welcome back to CleanTechies, the show where we talk with the founders, funders, and visionaries building our clean future.In today’s episode, we’re heading deep (literally) into one of the most untouched frontiers on Earth. My guest, Oliver Gunasekara, is the co-founder and CEO of Impossible Metals, a company on a mission to mine the ocean floor without wrecking the planet.Now, before you picture some massive vacuum ripping up the seabed, forget it. That’s how it’s always been done for fifty years. Impossible Metals flipped the script. Instead of tractors and dredges, they’ve built fleets of autonomous underwater robots. Battery-powered, self-piloting, and armed with computer vision, these things hover above the seabed, picking up polymetallic nodules one by one like it’s a sci-fi claw machine.These nodules are loaded with four critical metals: nickel, copper, cobalt, and manganese. The stuff that powers EVs, wind turbines, batteries, and AI data centers. Every piece of the clean economy runs on metals like these. But here’s the problem: land-based mining is running out of high-grade ore. It’s also slow, expensive, and environmentally brutal.Oliver’s approach? Ten times cheaper. Zero deforestation. No child labor. And every operation runs off clean electricity.The world needs metals but we need a better way to get them.The geopolitical angle makes this even crazier. China currently controls between 40 and 90 percent of the world’s mineral supply. Deep-sea mining could flip that balance, giving the West a new, independent source of critical minerals.Impossible Metals already secured its own licensed exploration area through the Kingdom of Bahrain. And since the US never signed the UN’s Law of the Sea, it’s basically a two-track race to secure access. Oliver says the deep ocean is “the new real estate rush” and his team’s staking claim on the highest-grade zones before anyone else.And here’s the kicker: the market is massive — a half-trillion-dollar metals industry today that’s projected to hit a trillion by 2035.Oliver’s story goes beyond the tech, though. We talk about what it takes to build world-class teams, people who are “orders of magnitude better,” as he puts it, and how to align them on mission. We talk about fundraising clarity, why first-of-a-kind technologies need patient capital, and what it means to build something the world has literally never seen before.It’s a conversation about innovation, geopolitics, and the future of clean materials.Make sure to hit follow or subscribe wherever you’re listening, because we’ve got a huge announcement coming this quarter. Enjoy listening! 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

JOIN US FOR THE HACK SUMMIT!The HackSummit returns to Newlab on December 10-11, bringing together 500 founders, funders, and industry leaders in Climate Deep Tech. Together we’ll explore abundance, alongside Founders and Investors at Andreessen Horowitz, Brimstone, Crux, DCVC, Durin, Earth AI, Endolith, Navier, Radical AI, Rainmaker, Voyager Ventures and SOSV. Sign up for 10% off here.Hey everyone, welcome back to the podcast where we talk to founders, investors, and leaders building the future of climate tech. I’m Silas Mahner, the host of Cleantechies and today we’re diving into one of the biggest climate opportunities, clean steel.If steel were a country, it’d be the third largest emitter in the world, right behind China and the U.S. And 90% of those emissions come from one step — ironmaking.That’s exactly where Electra comes in. Co-founded by Sandeep Nijhawan, Electra is rethinking how we make iron from the ground up, literally. Instead of melting ore in a 1600°C blast furnace, they’re doing it at 60°C using a unique process.Think about that for a second: they’re turning iron ore into pure metallic iron without the heat, smoke, or fossil fuels that have defined the industry for centuries.That shift paves the way to a few massive advantages such as slashing energy use and cost and it works with intermittent renewables like solar and wind. It can also process low-grade ores that miners usually throw away, turning waste into value.Sandeep also talks about the economics of clean iron, how Electra’s modular design lets them scale like solar, and how they’re partnering with major players in steel and mining to prove that clean iron can be cost-competitive today. We also get into:How the automotive and data center industries are driving demand for low-carbon steel.What it takes to innovate in a commodity market where “cost parity” is king.Why Sandeep focused early on building a “minimum viable ecosystem” And what it means to be intentional about your team, investors, and mission when you’re building something this big.This episode is a masterclass in scaling deep tech and rebuilding the raw materials that make our world. So, if you’ve ever wondered how we’ll clean up one of the dirtiest industries on Earth, this conversation is going to open your eyes. 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

JOIN US FOR THE HACK SUMMIT!The HackSummit returns to Newlab on December 10-11, bringing together 500 founders, funders, and industry leaders in Climate Deep Tech. Together we’ll explore abundance, alongside Founders and Investors at Andreessen Horowitz, Brimstone, Crux, DCVC, Durin, Earth AI, Endolith, Navier, Radical AI, Rainmaker, Voyager Ventures and SOSV. Sign up for 10% off here.Hey everyone, welcome back to CleanTechies!Today, we’re diving into one of the most overlooked but fast-growing parts of climate tech right now: grid resilience. When we think about the clean energy transition, most of the attention goes to building more solar, more batteries, more generation. But what about protecting the systems we already have from extreme weather?That’s where Rhizome comes in.My guest today, Mishal Thadani, is the Co-Founder and CEO of Rhizome, a climate resilience software company helping utilities prepare for the future. Their platform helps grid planners and operators assess vulnerabilities, model investment scenarios, and understand how climate change will hit their systems over time.In simple terms: they’re helping utilities figure out where to spend every dollar smarter so they can keep the lights on when the next hurricane, wildfire, or heatwave hits.We dig into:How Rhizome turns weather data, climate projections, and utility failure history into real, actionable investment mapsWhy insurers and credit agencies are pushing utilities to start taking climate risk seriouslyThe behind-the-scenes of selling into utilities — and why a 6–12 month sales cycle isn’t for the faint of heartHow Mishal’s background in engineering and regulatory strategy shaped Rhizome’s design from day oneHow rising energy prices and the AI data center boom are reshaping utility priorities, putting a new spotlight on affordable solutions like energy efficiency and demand response.And here’s what I love best about this conversation: Mish shows how the climate tech space is expanding, showing adaptation and resilience. If you’re building in climate tech, especially in data, software, or infrastructure, this episode will give you a front-row seat into where the next wave of opportunity is.P.S. We’ve got a big announcement coming this quarter, stay tuned and keep listening so you don’t miss it. 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

JOIN US FOR THE HACK SUMMIT!The HackSummit returns to Newlab on December 10-11, bringing together 500 founders, funders, and industry leaders in Climate Deep Tech. Together we’ll explore abundance, alongside Founders and Investors at Andreessen Horowitz, Brimstone, Crux, DCVC, Durin, Earth AI, Endolith, Navier, Radical AI, Rainmaker, Voyager Ventures and SOSV. Sign up for 10% off here.Hey everyone, welcome back to CleanTechies!Today, we’re diving into one of the biggest non-dilutive funding opportunities out there: the EU Innovation Fund.We’re talking about €40 billion euros being deployed between now and 2030 to scale up the world’s most promising low-carbon technologies…and the crazy part? Only a fraction of it has been spent.To break it all down, I’m joined by Joel Armin-Hoiland, Founder and CEO of Climate Finance Solutions, and the go-to expert on non-dilutive funding.You might remember Joel from Episode 258, where we unpacked critical minerals funding from the DOE, and now he’s back to take us global.In this episode, Joel explains how the EU Innovation Fund is fueling deployment-ready tech (think steel, cement, hydrogen, CCUS, renewables, and energy storage) and how founders can actually win a slice of that €40 billion.We talked about several things such as the €5.5 billion call expected to drop this December and why the EU is favoring commercial-scale over early R&D. Plus Joel’s insider advice on how to phrase your applications because yes, reviewers are literally searching for keywordsSince 2020,CCUSJoel and his team have already helped raise over $1.6 billion with a 90% success rate, so if you’re serious about securing non-dilutive capital, this is a must-listen.Tune in today because this funding window is opening fast, and the founders who prepare well are the ones who’ll win big later. 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

JOIN US FOR THE HACK SUMMIT! The HackSummit returns to Newlab on December 10-11, bringing together 500 founders, funders, and industry leaders in Climate Deep Tech. Together we’ll explore abundance, alongside Founders and Investors at Andreessen Horowitz, Brimstone, Crux, DCVC, Durin, Earth AI, Endolith, Navier, Radical AI, Rainmaker, Voyager Ventures and SOSV. Sign up for 10% off here.Silas here! 👋 Before we jump into today’s episode, quick shoutout to Goodwin Law, CSC Leasing, and ErthTech Talent, the backbone behind our CleanTechies Live Podcast at Climate Week. (If you haven’t listened to that yet, check it out first — I’ll be referencing it a lot in this recap.)Quick plug: We also caught a bunch of raw takes from founders and investors between panels and events through candid man on the street interviews you’ll definitely want to see.I’ve finally had some time to process New York Climate Week. This solo episode is part recap, part reflection, but more importantly, it’s my honest take on where we are as a space and why I’m more bullish than ever on clean tech, and here are some of the things that stood out: I’ve never seen founders and investors this locked in. Everyone there was focused, sharp, and hungry. It honestly felt different this year, like the movement finally grew up.Let me walk you through it.Over the past year-ish, people have been asking:“Is the hype gone?”“Will funding drying up?”“Is the climate space cooling off?”What I saw at Climate Week says the exact opposite.Now is the best time to build if you’re a founder.In this episode, I break it down into a few key reasons, but before you dive in, chew on this:“When things get harder, only the best founders stay at the party.”The hype-cycle might be over, but that’s because we’re entering a much more mature version of the movement. So stick around for the mission.P.S. CleanTechies, we have some exciting news for you in the coming weeks/months, so be sure to stick around for that. Check Out Our Sponsor! 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. Get Started TodaySupport the show! Upgrade to paid today! It’s $10/month or $100/year. You probably spent that much on random amazon stuff last week. What’s stopping you from upgrading to paid? Upgrade to Paid📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics 00:00 – Intro and Sponsor Shoutouts02:35 – Energy Recap of Climate Week 2024Why this year felt “different” — investors and founders were laser-focused, no fluff, no tourists.04:55 – From Insecurity to CertaintyHow the climate space matured — no longer driven by hype, but grounded in conviction and real results.06:10 – Oil, Defense, and Climate Tech?A fascinating shift, former “outcasts” from oil and defense now welcome in clean tech spaces, blending worlds for impact.07:13 – Inside the Climate Capital SummitOne of my personal favorites event this year— a reunion of world-class founders and investors09:40 – Founders More Bullish Than EverThe main-character energy is real — the best founders are staying in the game and hungrier than ever.10:30 – Why Now Is the Best Time to Be a Climate Tech FounderWhere I break down the five powerful reasons driving opportunity right now.11:00 – Reason #1: A Mature Capital StackInvestors have learned, the ecosystem is organized, and strong capital flows continue despite a cooling market.11:50 – Reason #2: Energy Prices Fuel AdoptionHigh costs are pushing consumers and corporations toward electrification and renewables faster than ever.13:00 – Reason #3: Co-Motivating Factors Beyond ClimateNational security, insurance, supply chain, and convenience are all now aligned with climate tech solutions.14:44 – Reason #4: Ruthless Competition Breeds Excellence17:30 – “Climate Tech” Is Dead — Long Live the Chameleon EraThe term “climate tech” no longer fits. Founders are now building in energy, defense, materials, and national security , adapting like chameleons to each industry they serve.19:30 – The Challenge of FragmentationWith so many new labels, finding “your people” might get trickier, but the mission remains united.LinksConnect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis 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

Below are the show notes for the audio RSS feed version of the episode.Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsEpisode Summary:With the massive increase in demand for electricity, having the capacity to flex the grid is more important than ever. To date, utility-scale energy storage uses lithium-ion technology, but there's a problem: lithium-ion needs perfect conditions to work.There is a solution, and that's what we're talking about today. Cameron Dales, co-founder of Peak Energy, is pioneering sodium-ion utility-scale battery storage to solve the needs of the grid. He discusses the economics of battery storage, the advantages of sodium-ion technology, and Peak Energy's strategy for scaling up.NY Climate Week Event: How to Win in the Anti-Climate EraJoin our panel during climate week with Augustus from Rainmaker, Liz from Endolith, Grant from 8090, and Joel from Climate Finance Solutions. Register TodayShout out to our sponsors: ErthTech Talent, Goodwin, and CSC Leasing.Sponsor:ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmTo build a successful CleanTech startup, you need the right people. ErthTech Talent is an affordable and specialized search firm that works ONLY with CleanTech startups. Reach out today and tell them you saw this ad.Support the show!Upgrade to paid today! It’s just $10/month or $100/year. Upgrade to PaidLinks:Cameron Dales: LinkedIn | Peak EnergyConnect with the hosts: Somil on LinkedIn | Silas on LinkedInFollow the podcast: CleanTechies on LinkedInThis 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

Episode Title: How to Win in the Anti-Climate Era (Live from NY Climate Week!)This week, we're sharing our live audience podcast from NY Climate Week: "How to Win in the Anti-Climate Era."We assembled a fantastic panel to discuss the strategies founders need to thrive in this new landscape:Augustus Doricko (Founder, Rainmaker)Liz Dennett (CEO, Endolith)Grant Brown (Partner, 8090 Industries)Joel Armin-Hoiland (Founder, Climate Finance Solutions)🔑 Key Discussion Topics Include:Strategies for Winning in the Anti-Climate EraAdapting to Talent & Hiring ChallengesNavigating Government Relations and Bipartisan IssuesCritical Minerals, National Security, and Public PerceptionThe Role of Tech and Innovation⚠️ Producer's Note on Audio Quality: Due to unexpected technical difficulties, the audio quality for this episode is below our usual standard, as we had to use a backup recording. We are confident the exceptional content will make up for the low audio. Thank you for your understanding!SPONSORS: This live event was supported by:Goodwin (goodwinlaw.com) — Legal partner for Climate Tech.CSC Leasing (CSCleasing.com) — Non-dilutive equipment financing.ErthTech Talent (ErthTechTalent.com) — Specialized climate tech recruiting.Mark Your Calendars! We're partnering with Climate Hack at HackSummit NYC (Dec 10-11) for founders & funders in Climate Deep Tech. Get 10% off your sign-up [link to sign-up for 10% off].Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsThis podcast is NOT investment advice. 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

Below are the show notes for the audio RSS feed version of the episode.Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsEpisode Summary:With the massive increase in demand for electricity, having the capacity to flex the grid is more important than ever. To date, utility-scale energy storage uses lithium-ion technology, but there's a problem: lithium-ion needs perfect conditions to work.There is a solution, and that's what we're talking about today. Cameron Dales, co-founder of Peak Energy, is pioneering sodium-ion utility-scale battery storage to solve the needs of the grid. He discusses the economics of battery storage, the advantages of sodium-ion technology, and Peak Energy's strategy for scaling up.NY Climate Week Event: How to Win in the Anti-Climate EraJoin our panel during climate week with Augustus from Rainmaker, Liz from Endolith, Grant from 8090, and Joel from Climate Finance Solutions. Register TodayShout out to our sponsors: ErthTech Talent, Goodwin, and CSC Leasing.Sponsor:ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmTo build a successful CleanTech startup, you need the right people. ErthTech Talent is an affordable and specialized search firm that works ONLY with CleanTech startups. Reach out today and tell them you saw this ad.Support the show!Upgrade to paid today! It’s just $10/month or $100/year. Upgrade to PaidLinks:Cameron Dales: LinkedIn | Peak EnergyConnect with the hosts: Somil on LinkedIn | Silas on LinkedInFollow the podcast: CleanTechies on LinkedInThis 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

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsHey folks! It’s that time of year again. Prepare for NY Climate Week 2025! Last year, one of our most popular episodes was our “Pre climate week podcast” on how to get the most out of climate week. We are back this year, but with two incredible (and popular) guests! Nick van Osdol — creator of the Keep Cool newsletter & podcast, and climate investor at Climate Capital. ANDSteven Zhang — creator of ClimateTechList.com and now his new project Interconnection.fyi We cover what we are looking forward to — what to avoid — what topics we want to see discussed — what events we are excited for — and much more! Don’t forget to sign up for the live podcast — “How to Win in the Anti-Climate Era”Register TodayShout Out To Our Sponsors! Goodwin For all your legal needs, turn to Goodwin. They were the first major practice to create a dedicated climate practice. We are big fans of their work. Goodwin.comErthTech TalentWhen it comes time to find top talent for your clean tech startup, reach out to ErthTech Talent. We’ll save you a fortune. ErthTechTalent.comLinksNick van Osdol:Keep Cool NewsletterKeep Cool PodcastClimate CapitalEvents: Climate Proof X Keep Cool Adaptation Happy HourClimate Adaptation: Moving to ActionSteven Zhang: Climate Tech List (job board of all public jobs in climate) Interconnection.FYI Climate Week DirectorySomil Aggarwal:Schmidt FuturesSilas Mähner:ErthTech Talent Events: Climate Capital SummitNew Climate FuturesThis 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

Winning as a Climate founder has always been tough. It’s even tougher with the current administration.Despite that, there are many founders and investors who are winning. We’re bringing some of those together for our live podcast during NY Climate Week. When: Tuesday, September 23rd, from 2:00 to 4:30 pm Where: Chelsea (address revealed upon accepted registration) Panelists: Augustus Doricko (Rainmaker Technologies) | Liz Dennett (Endolith) | Grant Brown (8090 Industries) | Joel Armin-Hoiland (Climate Finance Solutions)Who: Climate Founders, Investors, and Ecosystem SupportersFormat: * 2:00 pm — Welcome and Refreshments * 2:30 pm — Live Podcast Begins * Networking / Hangout After Pod* 4:30 Depart Shoutout to our SponsorsThis event is made possible by: Goodwin: your go-to for all legal needs. They were the first major law firm to develop a climate-specific practice. As a result, they have a huge number of resources specific to climate founders. ErthTech Talent: hire the best talent in the market and save time without it costing you a fortune. See you all there! 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

University Climate Incubators: Can They Really Drive the Next Wave of Innovation?Are universities just ivory towers—or can they actually launch climate startups that scale? At NYU’s Urban Future Lab, the answer is clear: yes.In this episode, we sit down with Austin Evarts, Director of the Acre Incubator, the longest-running cleantech incubator in New York. Austin has mentored hundreds of founders, raised billions in follow-on funding through UFL’s programs, and seen firsthand what separates the winners from the rest.He shares why adaptation startups are suddenly outpacing mitigation, how universities give founders an unfair advantage, and why “anti-hustle culture” might be the smartest path to scale.💥 Key TakeawaysAdaptation Rising: Year-over-year, adaptation startups in UFL’s pipeline grew 33%, and are showing 2× the revenue of mitigation peers.Founder First: Austin breaks down what traits he looks for most—coachability, passion, and commercial muscle.The Anti-Hustle Incubator: Why working smarter, not harder actually produces more resilient founders.NYU’s Edge: Access to labs, researchers, and grants gives climate startups non-dilutive R&D and real validation.NYC as the Testbed: Utilities, real estate giants, and state agencies make New York a launchpad for pilots.Listen to the full episode now to understand how universities can be the hidden powerhouse behind the next generation of climate tech.Episode Topics:(00:44) What the Acre Incubator Does(05:32) How Skiing Shaped Austin’s Entrepreneurial Mindset(09:37) Anti-Hustle Culture & Founder First Lessons(15:16) UFL’s Programs Beyond the Incubator(20:36) The Shift Toward Adaptation Startups(26:22) Novel Startups: Aquaria & Levitree(28:32) Mapping the Adaptation Landscape (Flood, Fire, Heat)(32:58) Common Misconceptions About Incubators(39:06) The Power of NYU Partnerships(43:40) Why New York Is Becoming the Climate Commercialization Capital(45:34) Skills for Program Managers & Future of UFLSPONSOR:ErthTech Talent: Fast, Accurate, and Affordable Headhunting for your CleanTech Startup.👉 Get Started TodayDisclosures: This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your own due diligence. 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

The Trump Administration's Critical Minerals Grant: What's the Real Story?Is the Trump administration really putting a billion dollars into critical minerals? Not exactly. Most of it is just a re-packaging of existing funds.But this isn't about politics—it's about opportunity.In this episode, we sit down with Joel Armin-Hoiland, founder of Climate Finance Solutions, who has secured over $1.6 billion in grants for climate tech companies. He's here to reveal where the real grant money is, how to get it, and what language you absolutely must avoid in your applications.💥 Key TakeawaysThe "Billion Dollar" Announcement: We break down what's really behind the headlines and where this funding is coming from.The Control-F Problem: Joel shares a shocking insight: grant applications are being rejected for using certain "trigger words." Find out what to avoid.Strategic Partnerships: Learn why a startup's best move might be to partner with an established company to unlock government funding.A-to-Z Funding: Discover a surprising list of energy and tech sectors the current administration is actively funding, from nuclear to AI.Meet Joel! He'll be at our NY Climate Week Event on Sep 23rd, 2-4:30 pm. Space is limited, so grab your spot now!➡️ Register for the NY Climate Week EventListen to the full episode now to get a competitive edge in securing your next grant!Episode Topics:(07:00) What Climate Finance Solutions Does(12:30) Overview of the Five Notices of Intent (NOIs)(23:30) The Rationale for US Onshoring Supply Chains(25:20) The Importance of Language in Grant Applications(29:40) The Likelihood of Funding Going Through(49:10) Future Funding Predictions and PrioritiesSPONSOR:ErthTech Talent: Fast, Accurate, and Affordable Headhunting for your CleanTech Startup. Get Started TodayConnect with Us:Connect with Silas on LinkedInConnect with Somil on LinkedInDisclosures: This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your own due diligence. 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.comToday’s episode dives into the nuanced world of climate finance and infrastructure with Brendan Bell, Chief Operating Officer and Partner at Align Climate Capital. Unlike most investors who play in either venture or infrastructure, Align straddles both worlds—backing early-stage companies while also owning and operating clean energy assets.Brendan shares his unusual path from the Sierra Club to the U.S. Senate, the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, and now into the private sector. Along the way, he offers candid insights into what makes a strong infrastructure investment, how venture-backed technologies eventually scale into bankable assets, and why understanding both sides of the capital stack is critical to accelerating the clean energy transition.This is a masterclass on the interplay between policy, venture innovation, and hard infrastructure. If you’ve ever wondered how moonshot technologies meet the realities of capital markets and project finance, this conversation will give you the inside view.

How can we fight climate change by focusing underground?It turns out one of the biggest untapped climate solutions isn’t in the air—or in the trees, it’s in the soil beneath our feet. Today’s guest has developed a game-changing way to measure and protect soil organic carbon, helping farmers, agribusinesses, and carbon markets work together for climate impact and economic resilience.Our guest is Chris Tolles, Founder & CEO of Yard Stick PBC.Some quotes to hook you:“Soils store way, way more carbon than all the trees and plants and animals combined.”“If you want to sell soil carbon credits, you’ve got to measure soil carbon—accurately and at scale.”“Healthy soils aren’t just about climate—they’re about keeping Cheerios on the shelves.”“Identify the application of your technology that helps someone make money or save money—that’s what all businesses do.”Check Out Our Sponsor!ErthTech Talent – Expert, Affordable CleanTech Search FirmGet the best CleanTech talent without paying absurdly high prices.Affordable: Search fee is 12–15% of first-year base salary (most charge 25–30%).Specialized: ONLY works 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 and tell him you saw this ad.Show Notes: Topics05:50 – What Yardstick does and how the tech works08:07 – Why soil organic carbon matters for climate and food security09:31 – Is higher soil carbon concentration always better?09:31 – Yardstick’s two main revenue streams14:02 – Climate product or economic solution?17:21 – How big companies will make the change30:12 – Is framing as a “climate solution” a dead end?36:45 – Balancing production and soil health42:16 – Revisiting emissions per calorie in agriculture49:10 – Messaging Yardstick to different audiencesLinks- Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas- 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

Ever wonder how we are going to decarbonize heavy industry? Well, you won't have to wonder much longer. Today's guest has an incredible solution that is 1) drop in, 2) cost parity (or better), 3) has an existing supply chain, 4) overcomes any scarcity concerns, and 5) prevents users from changing anything they do. Our guest is Peter Godart, the Co-Founder of Found Energy. Some quotes to hook you:- "We've developed what we call the world's first rechargeable fuel."- "There's really no other technology that can store energy for this long and then be dispatched as easily."- "Aluminum is just one of the best materials we have available to actually burn something."- "If you don't have a green grid, actually exacerbates the issue. At least in the short term, makes things worse."Check Out Our Sponsor!ErthTech Talent: Expert, Affordable CleanTech Search FirmGet the best CleanTech talent without paying absurdly high prices. 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 and tell him you saw this ad.📝 Show Notes:Topics1:04 Core technology & how it works?4:58 Why is a new fuel source needed for industrial decarb?13:00 What is "rechargeable fuel"?19:08 Path to cost parity w/ fossil fuels20:56 You can use aluminum waste!? 26:24 Targe industries & markets34:36 How to handle the supply chain? 40:37 Energy density comparison to traditional fuels50:51 Next milestones for scaling the technology1:01:50 Timeline for commercial deploymentLinks- Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas- 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

CleanTech founder Conor Madigan (Aether Fuels) reveals sustainable fuel tech breakthroughs, smart hiring, & building resilient climate startups.Join us as Conor Madigan, Founder and CEO of Aether Fuels, shares how their innovative tech is set to decarbonize aviation and shipping by drastically cutting costs and boosting fuel yield from waste streams. A second-time founder, Conor also unpacks his proven strategies for building high-talent, low-ego teams and fostering constructive tension for optimal results.Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsMemorable Quotes:"The overall result of that is to cut the capex of a plant by about 50%." — Conor Madigan"Until you've built a big network of your own... it's pretty invaluable to have a top-notch recruiter." — Conor Madigan"If you compare an electrified system versus a fired system, you can boost the output by about 20%." — Conor Madigan"I… try to create a constructive sort of tension inside of an organization by pairing together certain personality traits." — Conor MadiganIn this episode, we discuss:00:53 - Introduction to Conor Madigan and Aether Fuels03:55 - Aether Fuels' core technology and market05:27 - The innovation: cutting CAPEX and boosting yield28:00 - The year-long "funnel" to choose the right climate problem30:59 - Conor's philosophy on team building: high talent, low ego32:00 - Creating constructive tension in R&D vs. Engineering38:35 - Why senior hires need to be "player-coaches" at startups40:30 - Transparent communication during challenging times46:00 - Policy trends and market drivers for SAF49:50 - Cost parity expectations for Aether Fuels' productLinksConor Madigan | Aether FuelsConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis 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

Today, we're speaking with Cole Ashman, the CEO and founder of Pila Energy. Pila is democratizing access to battery backup systems through industrial-grade, consumer-priced batteries that are simply plug-and-play. No electricians, no permitting, just reliable power.Pila's innovative approach is disrupting the home energy market, from enabling demand response programs to making backup power accessible and affordable for everyone. Listen today to hear how they are reshaping energy reliability and demand response access. Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsSelect Quotes From This Episode:"Controlling loads... shutting off your air condition, technically great, but who wants their AC shut off on the hottest day of the year?" "We're able to turn entire apartment complexes into batteries by coordinating up to hundreds of these distributed batteries." [Sponsor] 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.LinksCole Ashman | Pila EnergyConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis 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

In this episode, we talk with Eric McShane, co-founder and CEO of Electroflow Technology (backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures). Eric is on a mission to revolutionize lithium production, a vital battery material.We discuss the "Big Beautiful Bill's" impact on the battery industry and how Electroflow Technology's innovative approach addresses the critical need for domestic lithium production, especially given that "99% of this crucial battery material [LFP] is made in China." Eric shares how their unique process transforms brine into LFP, helping the U.S. become competitive again by "building real stuff" and using abundant low-concentration lithium brine resources.Key Topics:BBB's Impact: The "Big Beautiful Bill's" role in boosting U.S. battery capacity and achieving self-sufficiency in materials like lithium iron phosphate (LFP).Electroflow's Innovation: Details on Electroflow Technology's unique method for transforming brine into LFP and its benefits.Go-to-Market Strategy: Electroflow's plan for market entry and key differentiators.Climate Tech Perspective: Eric's insights on being a climate tech founder and the excitement of "building real stuff."Future Goals: Electroflow Technology's objectives and plans for utilizing U.S. lithium brine resources.Get Involved: How investors and engineers can connect with Electroflow Technology.Support the Show!Upgrade to paid today! It’s $10/month or $100/year. Your support helps us continue to bring you valuable CleanTech insights.Upgrade to Paid 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.comIn this episode, we sit down with Nikhil Vadhavkar, co-founder and CEO of Raptor Maps, to uncover how the company is tackling the invisible crisis in clean energy: operational inefficiency across $250B+ worth of solar assets.

Wow - 250 Episodes! Thank you all for being part of this journey so far. Stick with us as it’s only getting better.Quotes From This Episode:"Operating an electric vehicle in your fleet is insanely cheap..." - Tyler Phillipi"Level 3 chargers without utility upgrades... Think garden hose in, fire hose out." - Silas Mähner"Amazon and Walmart... are doing the same exact thing from every portion of their fleet because it makes financial sense." - Tyler PhillipiAnnouncement! We’re hosting a CleanTechies meetup in San Francisco!If you’re around on the 10th of July in San Francisco, join us for a friends of CleanTechies meetup! Register today as space is limited!In this episode, we speak with Tyler Phillipi, CEO of OptiGrid. OptiGrid revolutionizes EV charging with innovative, easy-to-install units that cut installation time from 18 months to as little as 4 weeks. Partnering with Orange EV, OptiGrid tackles the fleet electrification bottleneck with a "garden hose in, fire hose out" approach, bypassing power constraints. Learn why giants like Amazon and Walmart electrify fleets for financial benefits, and how OptiGrid makes EV charging "dumb easy," driving a quiet revolution.Topics00:00 Operating electric vehicles in fleets is cheap (Cold Open)00:28 Intro to OptiGrid04:57 OptiGrid's technology 07:52 Why fleets are electrifying despite challenges12:52 OptiGrid's installation process19:07 Advantages of working with Orange EV24:03 Economic drivers for EV adoption30:40 Corporate sustainability commitments and EV adoption32:23 Grid challenges and the role of utilities35:12 Supply chain and battery manufacturing37:38 Tyler's thesis on team building43:36 Getting the best out of people44:45 Future of OptiGridLinksTyler Phillipi | OptiGridConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInThis 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

Matt Ellis (Measurabl): Building a Climate Tech EmpireJoin us with Matt Ellis, Founder & CEO of Measurabl, as he shares how they're transforming the green building industry. Discover how they're leveraging data and AI to drive sustainability, navigating policy, and helping building owners lower emissions. Matt dives into building a billion-dollar climate tech company, the importance of constant reinvention, and lessons in fostering a thriving company culture.In this episode:(01:23) Reinventing Measurabl(05:57) AI and Data's Impact on Measurabl(15:43) Advice for Climate Tech Founders(35:42) Lessons Learned in Talent & Team Building(48:41) Emerging Trends in Sustainability Data & Business ModelsConnect:Matt Ellis on LinkedIn | Measurabl WebsiteConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow 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

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsIn This Episode:How cities are still trying to hit their electrification goals without federal funding assistance What is really happening in the EV charging market How Tiya is building an A-Team What’s up, everyone! Today, we’re excited to have Tiya Gordon, founder of It’s Electric, back on the pod to discuss their progress since we last spoke in early 2024. She also gives us a big update on what’s happening in the curbside charging space across the US. With the federal funding support being pulled, a lot of cities are facing challenges in meeting their electrification goals. It’s Electric is thriving by helping them get curbside chargers in place with ZERO up-front costs. As if that wasn’t enough, they also help building owners earn extra revenue. A true win-win solution. Tune in for some golden nuggets on what the market is doing now and an absolute master class on how to build a high-performance team at an early-stage clean tech startup. 📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack ChannelWant to access all our content? Upgrade to paid today to support our work. Subscribe now[Sponsor] ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmTiya is a huge proponent of getting superstars into her team. Do you care about talent the same way? If so let’s chat! ErthTech helps CleanTech startups hire top US-based talent. And we do it for ~half of what other firms charge. 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. Get Started Today📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:03 It's Electric Introduction03:39 Key Innovation in Public Charging05:52 Recent Milestones and Company Progress07:32 City Responses to Electrification Efforts09:14 EV Adoption Continues Amid Infrastructure Challenges11:16 Cities Maintaining Momentum on Electrification13:15 Early Traction and Market Response to Zero-Cost Solution15:24 Community Engagement and Innovative Financing Model20:41 Evolving City Strategies and Scaling Public Charging24:36 How Tiya is Building a Team of Superstars 39:25 Upcoming Goals and Roadmap for It's Electric41:05 Upcoming Bottlenecks LinksTiya Gordon | It’s ElectricListen to the first episode we did with Tiya - $167#167 Urban Charging, Electrifying Cities, Pilots & Partnerships, & More w/ Tiya Gordon (It's Electric)Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedIn to fill your feeds with educational content 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

In This Episode:* Was this continued ClimateTech Vibe shift inevitable, or is it just Trump?* The intersection of ClimateTech Startups and InsuranceTech startups?* What role are insurance companies playing in the climate crisis?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?What’s up, everyone!Today, we have a great episode with Grace Penders and Adam Chadroff from Equal Ventures. If you're not familiar with Equal, I recommend checking out episode 116 where we had on Rick Zullo, the Founder of Equal.Today, we’re continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift. However, our conversation with Equal is a little bit different. Equal has, from the very beginning, had a thesis broader than just climate. One of those other areas is insurance. This is an area that is increasingly intersecting with climate. This is becoming especially acute given the rise in natural disasters and the catastrophic financial impacts that follow.Our conversation today focuses on these themes as well as what the insurance industry’s role is in helping solve the climate investing challenge. There are plenty of ways. This is playing into how governments engage.Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you.Sidenote, we recorded this in person in the equal offices during my recent visit to New York. So if you'd like to watch, check it out on YouTube. (Also, be sure to give us a follow on YouTube to help us grow the channel)If you're enjoying the content, consider upgrading to become paid subscriber today.Act fast! Because our annual subscription is going from $80 up to $100 as of May 1st.To upgrade, click the “upgrade” button on the top right of your screen here.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics* 00:00 Cold Open & Intro* 03:00 The Climate Tech Vibe Shift* 05:58 The Intersection of Climate and Insurance* 09:01 Investment Trends in Climate Risk* 12:05 Quantifying and Mitigating Climate Risks* 15:03 Innovations in Climate Risk Management* 17:55 Preventative Measures and Market Impacts* 26:05 Understanding Market Compression and Its Impacts* 29:50 The Role of Insurance in Value Creation* 32:54 Government Involvement in Climate Risk* 35:00 Navigating Innovation in Insurance and Utilities* 40:18 Exit Opportunities in the Insurance Sector* 44:10 The Climate Capital Summit and Future TrendsLinks* Grace Penders | Adam Chadroff | Equal Ventures* 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

In This Episode:* Was this continued ClimateTech Vibe shift inevitable, or is it just Trump?* The intersection of ClimateTech Startups and InsuranceTech startups?* What role are insurance companies playing in the climate crisis?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?What’s up, everyone!Today, we have a great episode with Grace Penders and Adam Chadroff from Equal Ventures. If you're not familiar with Equal, I recommend checking out episode 116 where we had on Rick Zullo, the Founder of Equal.Today, we’re continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift. However, our conversation with Equal is a little bit different. Equal has, from the very beginning, had a thesis broader than just climate. One of those other areas is insurance. This is an area that is increasingly intersecting with climate. This is becoming especially acute given the rise in natural disasters and the catastrophic financial impacts that follow.Our conversation today focuses on these themes as well as what the insurance industry’s role is in helping solve the climate investing challenge. There are plenty of ways. This is playing into how governments engage.Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you.Sidenote, we recorded this in person in the equal offices during my recent visit to New York. So if you'd like to watch, check it out on YouTube. (Also, be sure to give us a follow on YouTube to help us grow the channel)If you're enjoying the content, consider upgrading to become paid subscriber today.Act fast! Because our annual subscription is going from $80 up to $100 as of May 1st.To upgrade, click the “upgrade” button on the top right of your screen here.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics* 00:00 Cold Open & Intro* 03:00 The Climate Tech Vibe Shift* 05:58 The Intersection of Climate and Insurance* 09:01 Investment Trends in Climate Risk* 12:05 Quantifying and Mitigating Climate Risks* 15:03 Innovations in Climate Risk Management* 17:55 Preventative Measures and Market Impacts* 26:05 Understanding Market Compression and Its Impacts* 29:50 The Role of Insurance in Value Creation* 32:54 Government Involvement in Climate Risk* 35:00 Navigating Innovation in Insurance and Utilities* 40:18 Exit Opportunities in the Insurance Sector* 44:10 The Climate Capital Summit and Future TrendsLinks* Grace Penders | Adam Chadroff | Equal Ventures* 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn This Episode:The European Electrification OpportunityInvesting in Energy Software, Not Just “Climate Tech”Hard Conversations with Founders (and Why They Matter)AI, Grid Resilience & The Real Infrastructure Behind Clean EnergyWhy Climate Messaging Needs to Sound More Like Tesla

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. 😄

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.

In This Episode:* Was this continued ClimateTech Vibe shift inevitable, or is it just Trump?* The intersection of ClimateTech Startups and InsuranceTech startups?* What role are insurance companies playing in the climate crisis?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?What’s up, everyone!Today, we have a great episode with Grace Penders and Adam Chadroff from Equal Ventures. If you're not familiar with Equal, I recommend checking out episode 116 where we had on Rick Zullo, the Founder of Equal.Today, we’re continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift. However, our conversation with Equal is a little bit different. Equal has, from the very beginning, had a thesis broader than just climate. One of those other areas is insurance. This is an area that is increasingly intersecting with climate. This is becoming especially acute given the rise in natural disasters and the catastrophic financial impacts that follow.Our conversation today focuses on these themes as well as what the insurance industry’s role is in helping solve the climate investing challenge. There are plenty of ways. This is playing into how governments engage.Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you.Sidenote, we recorded this in person in the equal offices during my recent visit to New York. So if you'd like to watch, check it out on YouTube. (Also, be sure to give us a follow on YouTube to help us grow the channel)If you're enjoying the content, consider upgrading to become paid subscriber today.Act fast! Because our annual subscription is going from $80 up to $100 as of May 1st.To upgrade, click the “upgrade” button on the top right of your screen here.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics* 00:00 Cold Open & Intro* 03:00 The Climate Tech Vibe Shift* 05:58 The Intersection of Climate and Insurance* 09:01 Investment Trends in Climate Risk* 12:05 Quantifying and Mitigating Climate Risks* 15:03 Innovations in Climate Risk Management* 17:55 Preventative Measures and Market Impacts* 26:05 Understanding Market Compression and Its Impacts* 29:50 The Role of Insurance in Value Creation* 32:54 Government Involvement in Climate Risk* 35:00 Navigating Innovation in Insurance and Utilities* 40:18 Exit Opportunities in the Insurance Sector* 44:10 The Climate Capital Summit and Future TrendsLinks* Grace Penders | Adam Chadroff | Equal Ventures* 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

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit cleantechies.substack.comIn This Episode:* How they went from tech discovery to pilot in 3 years * Why this business model is the only way to make eFuels work for now* The future of the E-Fuels/SAF market under Trump SPONSORS: * Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for CleanTech Companies around the world. * ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Headhunter Helping Hire US-Based Sales & Engineering Talent. What’s up, everyone! Today, we have a great episode with Joe Rodden from Lydian. And we are talking all things eFuels and their story. Lydian uses Co2, Water, and abundant Green Energy to create eFuels/SAF. And because of their flexible run method, they can do it profitably, consistently. In the recent past there has been a huge demand for SAF that has been hard for major airlines to procure. In part because the technology was not there, but mostly because there were no plants up and operating. SAF plants are assumed to look like chemical production facilities… ie: always on. This way the cost of the investment is paid back soon. Lydian made sure they used inexpensive materials to create their system. And they made it to start and stop whenever there is excess electricity being produced. It’s a game changer. On top of this, Joe has a great story. A story that I’m sure you’ll enjoy on today’s episode. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment and giving us 5 stars on your favorite podcast app. Topics 00:00 Understanding eFuels and Lydian's Mission03:00 The Journey to Clean Technology06:05 The Role of Leadership in Innovation09:06 The Science Behind eFuels11:57 Operational Flexibility and Economic Viability15:01 The Future of Energy and Technology Integration18:03 Business Models in the eFuel Industry26:35 Building Sustainable Technology28:01 Vision for Energy Abundance30:47 The Accelerationist Movement in Climate Tech32:09 Rapid Development of Pilot Projects33:56 Current Trends in the eFuel Market40:30 Carbon Credits and Market Demand42:10 Traction and Interest in Sustainable Aviation Fuel43:23 Funding Strategies for Innovation46:51 Challenges in Building a Climate Tech Company49:44 Finding Guidance and Mentorship50:27 Resources for Climate EntrepreneursLinksJoe Rodden | LydianConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis 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 Episode:* Was this continued ClimateTech Vibe shift inevitable, or is it just Trump?* The intersection of ClimateTech Startups and InsuranceTech startups?* What role are insurance companies playing in the climate crisis?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?What’s up, everyone!Today, we have a great episode with Grace Penders and Adam Chadroff from Equal Ventures. If you're not familiar with Equal, I recommend checking out episode 116 where we had on Rick Zullo, the Founder of Equal.Today, we’re continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift. However, our conversation with Equal is a little bit different. Equal has, from the very beginning, had a thesis broader than just climate. One of those other areas is insurance. This is an area that is increasingly intersecting with climate. This is becoming especially acute given the rise in natural disasters and the catastrophic financial impacts that follow.Our conversation today focuses on these themes as well as what the insurance industry’s role is in helping solve the climate investing challenge. There are plenty of ways. This is playing into how governments engage.Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you.Sidenote, we recorded this in person in the equal offices during my recent visit to New York. So if you'd like to watch, check it out on YouTube. (Also, be sure to give us a follow on YouTube to help us grow the channel)If you're enjoying the content, consider upgrading to become paid subscriber today.Act fast! Because our annual subscription is going from $80 up to $100 as of May 1st.To upgrade, click the “upgrade” button on the top right of your screen here.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics* 00:00 Cold Open & Intro* 03:00 The Climate Tech Vibe Shift* 05:58 The Intersection of Climate and Insurance* 09:01 Investment Trends in Climate Risk* 12:05 Quantifying and Mitigating Climate Risks* 15:03 Innovations in Climate Risk Management* 17:55 Preventative Measures and Market Impacts* 26:05 Understanding Market Compression and Its Impacts* 29:50 The Role of Insurance in Value Creation* 32:54 Government Involvement in Climate Risk* 35:00 Navigating Innovation in Insurance and Utilities* 40:18 Exit Opportunities in the Insurance Sector* 44:10 The Climate Capital Summit and Future TrendsLinks* Grace Penders | Adam Chadroff | Equal Ventures* 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 Episode:* Was this continued ClimateTech Vibe shift inevitable, or is it just Trump?* The intersection of ClimateTech Startups and InsuranceTech startups?* What role are insurance companies playing in the climate crisis?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?What’s up, everyone!Today, we have a great episode with Grace Penders and Adam Chadroff from Equal Ventures. If you're not familiar with Equal, I recommend checking out episode 116 where we had on Rick Zullo, the Founder of Equal.Today, we’re continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift. However, our conversation with Equal is a little bit different. Equal has, from the very beginning, had a thesis broader than just climate. One of those other areas is insurance. This is an area that is increasingly intersecting with climate. This is becoming especially acute given the rise in natural disasters and the catastrophic financial impacts that follow.Our conversation today focuses on these themes as well as what the insurance industry’s role is in helping solve the climate investing challenge. There are plenty of ways. This is playing into how governments engage.Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you.Sidenote, we recorded this in person in the equal offices during my recent visit to New York. So if you'd like to watch, check it out on YouTube. (Also, be sure to give us a follow on YouTube to help us grow the channel)If you're enjoying the content, consider upgrading to become paid subscriber today.Act fast! Because our annual subscription is going from $80 up to $100 as of May 1st.To upgrade, click the “upgrade” button on the top right of your screen here.📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics* 00:00 Cold Open & Intro* 03:00 The Climate Tech Vibe Shift* 05:58 The Intersection of Climate and Insurance* 09:01 Investment Trends in Climate Risk* 12:05 Quantifying and Mitigating Climate Risks* 15:03 Innovations in Climate Risk Management* 17:55 Preventative Measures and Market Impacts* 26:05 Understanding Market Compression and Its Impacts* 29:50 The Role of Insurance in Value Creation* 32:54 Government Involvement in Climate Risk* 35:00 Navigating Innovation in Insurance and Utilities* 40:18 Exit Opportunities in the Insurance Sector* 44:10 The Climate Capital Summit and Future TrendsLinks* Grace Penders | Adam Chadroff | Equal Ventures* 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.

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