Follow on YouTube | Listeners Survey

Check Out Our Sponsors!
* Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs
* ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search Firm

What’s up, everyone! 

Today, we have a great episode with Danny Lu from Powin. Powin is a leading provider of BESS, w/ 8 GWh of systems built and 9 in the pipeline. 

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). 

🗣️ Join the Slack Channel

Topics
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
* 13:00 Stepping Into a Leadership Role Out of University 
* 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 
* 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 LinkedIn
This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

Support the show

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!)

In This Episode:

• The story of him co-launching the Goodwin climate practice
• What’s happening in climate tech right now? (Market update)
• The 3 Biggest Mistakes Climate Founders Make

Check Out Our Sponsors!

• Goodwin: The Law Firm of Choice for ClimateTech Entrepreneurs
• ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search Firm

What’s up, everyone! 

Today’s episode is special since we’re speaking with David Brekke from Goodwin. In case you somehow missed it, Goodwin is the sponsor of our podcast, so yes, this is sponsored content. (tbh, even if it were not, we’d still have David on — but don’t tell him that)

With everything going on in the world of climate tech right now, it’s hard to know which end is up. But David has a great perspective. 

You see, he’s always interacting with tons of founders and investors in climate. He sees the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

For this reason, he’s one of the best people to get a read on the market from. 

In addition to a market update, we get to hear the story of him going to Goodwin to start the climate practice. 

Then he walks us through the greatest hits of what to do and what not to do. He’s been around the block, and in addition to his experience, they have an entire team with even more grey hair that knows how to guide founders. 

This episode is value-packed — enjoy! 

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

Topics
03:11 Building a Climate Practice at Goodwin
06:08 Law x Climate Innovation
09:12 Personal Motivations in Climate Tech
12:04 Navigating the Climate VC Landscape
15:10 Challenges and Opportunities for Climate Founders
17:56 The Role of Legal Advisors in Startups
21:00 Current Climate Market Dynamics
24:03 The Future of Climate Investments
27:13 Rebranding in the Climate Sector
30:02 Reorienting Climate Tech Pitches
33:19 The Evolution of Climate VC Participation
36:42 Navigating Fundraising Challenges
37:11 Common Mistakes in Climate Tech Startups
48:01 Investor Relations and Stakeholder Management

Links
David Brekke | Goodwin
Book: Venture Deals
Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn
Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn

This podcast is NOT investment or legal advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

Support the show

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!)

Follow us on YouTube

---------

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. 

Support the show

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!)

Today, we have a great episode with Andrew Chan from Atas Ventures.

Surprise surprise…we’re continuing the conversation about the climate tech vibe shift, climate tech 3.0, climate risk…whatever you want to call it. 

However, our conversation with Andrew Chan of Atas Ventures is a little bit different. Andrew has, from the very beginning, thought about climate investing from first principles, placing profitability and tangible impact at the core of his strategy. He refers to this next wave as "Climate 3.0," an evolution beyond traditional impact investing towards applied technologies like robotics, IoT, and advanced energy solutions.

Our conversation today focuses on these themes, including how venture capital can meaningfully intersect with antiquated industries such as mining, agriculture, and manufacturing to drive both profits and genuine environmental outcomes. Andrew also shares why the venture capital playbook may need to evolve, emphasizing smarter portfolio construction, disciplined investing, and leveraging real-world experience to build lasting companies.

Overall, it's an amazing episode and we're really excited to share this with you.

Sidenote, we recorded this remotely while Andrew was traveling—he joined us from Bangor, Maine. 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!)

Follow us on YouTube

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.

📝 Show Notes:

Topics 

• 06:10 Understanding Climate 3.0
• 11:53 Journey to VC
• 17:56 Investment Strategies for Antiquated Industries
• 23:45 Portfolio Construction
• 26:33 Future of Fund Management
• 30:02 Emerging Managers
• 32:49 Taking Risks in VC
• 36:46 Essential Skills
• 40:19 Trends in Deep Tech and Robotics
• 47:55 Learning and Growth

Links

• Andrew Chan
• 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.

Support the show

Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽

Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

 📺 Watch on YouTube

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)

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 Trends

Links

• 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.

Support the show

Every ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽

Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

 📺 Watch on YouTube

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. 

#85 How to Raise Money for your ClimateTech Startup w/ Tommy Leep, founder of Jetstream VC

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). 

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 Building

Links

• 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.

Support the show

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!)

Rebecca Hu Thrams, co-founder of Glacier, is on a mission to transform recycling using AI-powered robotics and proprietary physical data to fix one of the biggest inefficiencies in waste management.

Glacier isn’t just another AI company—it’s tackling the physical world problem of waste sorting, giving recyclers and major brands unprecedented visibility into where materials actually go. By deploying intelligent sorting robots, Glacier is not only increasing efficiency but also building a defensible data moat, positioning itself as the source of truth for the circular economy.

With growing consumer demand for sustainability and new regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on the horizon, companies are scrambling for solutions. Glacier’s technology is bridging the gap between recyclers and producers—helping brands measure, track, and improve their sustainability efforts with real, actionable data.

Get the full episode today to hear:

✅ How AI and robotics are unlocking new efficiencies in recycling
✅ Why proprietary physical data is the key to an enduring AI-powered business
✅ How Glacier is helping major brands and recyclers prepare for new regulations
✅ Rebecca’s journey from reluctant founder to leading a climate-tech startup
✅ What the future of circular supply chains could look like with AI-driven insights

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. 

Subscribe now

📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel

📝 Show Notes:

Topics 

• 02:04 Founding Glacier
• 05:54 Understanding Glacier's Role in Recycling
• 14:12 Identifying Opportunities for Disruption in Recycling
• 18:07 The Future of Recycling Efficiency
• 22:08 Challenges in the Recycling Industry
• 23:07 Navigating Risk Aversion in Robotics Investment
• 24:43 Finding Early Adopters in the MRF Industry
• 29:07 Advancements in AI and Robotics
• 35:07 The Future of Connectivity in Recycling
• 37:30 Collaborating with Industry Giants
• 42:44 Scaling Glacier

Links

• Rebecca Hu Thrams | Glacier
• Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn
• This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

Support the show

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!)

We’re doing something a bit different…🤔

We’re exploring the urgent and evolving landscape of critical minerals with Nicholaus Rohleder from Climate Commodities. Nick, an investor and expert in the field, breaks down how the U.S. went from a leader in mineral production to heavy reliance on foreign sources—and why the time is now for entrepreneurs to help rebuild domestic supply chains.

Key Topics Covered:

• The Rise and Fall of U.S. Mineral Production
• Why Critical Minerals Matter More Than Ever
• Opportunities for Entrepreneurs
• The Capital Market Shift
• U.S. Trade Policy and Tariffs
• The Future of Clean Minerals
• Mistakes Founders Make

Nick teaches a class on this at UPenn, so this is serious value ($$$) — if you’re a investor, policymaker, or entrepreneur looking to understand the critical minerals space, this is for you. 

---
🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)
---
 📺 Watch on YouTube

Links

• Nicholaus Rohleder | Climate Commodities
• Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn
• This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

Topics 

• 01:23 Landscape of Critical Minerals
• 05:06 Historical Context of U.S. Mineral Production
• 09:53 Talent and Knowledge Gaps in the Industry
• 12:10 The Need for Domestic Production
• 20:30 The Key Minerals
• 28:51 Opportunities in the Critical Minerals Value Chain
• 34:32 Technological Innovations and Local Production
• 43:05 Cost Dynamics

[Paywall Begins]

• 44:04 Building Successful Companies in Critical Minerals
• 46:52 Common Mistakes in the Critical Minerals Sector
• 51:52 Current Trends in Capital Investment
• 55:42 Investment Opportunities
• 56:00 Advice for Start-ups in the Sector
• 57:06 Government Involvement and Policy Implications

Support the show

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!)

This week, we’re joined by Todd Bush, an expert in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), with decades of experience supporting oil and gas companies in their decarbonization efforts. Todd has founded and sold multiple companies and is now leading decarbonfuse, a daily newsletter tracking deal activity in carbon capture and industrial decarbonization.

This conversation covers the current state of carbon capture, where the momentum is strongest, the biggest barriers to scaling CCUS, and how policy and investment shifts are shaping the industry. If you’re curious about where the carbon capture market is headed and how it intersects with industries like ethanol, hydrogen, and steel production, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!

🔍 Topics Covered in This Episode

**The first movers in carbon capture: ethanol, ammonia, and natural gas
**The difference between Class 2 vs. Class 6 wells and why it matters
**How carbon capture projects get financed and what returns investors expect
**The role of policy (45Q tax credits, permitting hurdles, and regulatory uncertainty)
**Utilization of CO2—who’s buying it and why
**Why Houston and the Gulf Coast are primed to be the epicenter of CCUS
**What’s needed for carbon capture to reach private equity scale 

---
🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)
---
 📺 Watch on YouTube

Notes & Links:

• decarbonfuse Newsletter
• Energy Tech Nexus | Digital Wildcatters
• Abt the 45Q Tax Credit
• More on Class 6 vs. Class 2 Wells
• Participate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey.
• Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn
• This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

Timestamps:
**0:00 Introduction to Carbon Capture 
**3:50 The Journey into Carbon Capture Solutions
**6:55 Decarbonization Trends and Industry Perspectives
**10:01 Carbon Capture Technologies and Their Applications
**12:54 Regulatory Frameworks and Project Development
**15:55 Community Engagement and Project Success Factors
**19:41 Momentum in Carbon Capture and Community Engagement
**22:57 Technological Bottlenecks and Adoption Rates
**27:25 Talent Pool and Industry Transition
**32:03 Regulat

Support the show

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!)

Yuval Bachar, Founder and CEO of Edge CloudLink (ECL), is on a mission to revolutionize data centers with hydrogen-powered, off-grid solutions.

His journey spans decades, with leadership roles at Cisco, Facebook, and LinkedIn, where he built critical infrastructure for some of the biggest names in tech. Now, he’s pioneering a new wave of sustainable data centers, delivering AI-ready capacity in just nine months—compared to the industry average of three to four years.

Here’s the game-changer: ECL’s modular approach eliminates reliance on traditional power grids, slashes emissions to zero, and generates its own cooling water, making it a groundbreaking solution for the energy-hungry AI revolution.

With data center demand soaring and grid power in short supply, Yuval’s vision could be the key to unlocking the next generation of computing.

Get the full episode today to hear:

• Why traditional data centers are struggling to keep up with AI growth—and how ECL is changing the game
• The secret behind delivering AI data centers in 9 months instead of 3+ years
• How Yuval secured $18M in funding and is now raising $1.2B for large-scale deployments
• The surprising benefits of hydrogen for both cost and sustainability
• Key lessons from scaling world-class infrastructure at Facebook, LinkedIn, and Cisco

📝 Show Notes:

Topics 

• 02:46 Hydrogen-Powered Data Centers
• 10:40 Modular and Rapid Deployment
• 14:01 The Hydrogen Supply Chain
• 26:30 Innovation in Data Centers
• 28:54 Supportive Boardroom Culture
• 32:15 Building Trust and Transparency
• 34:40 Fostering a Culture of Innovation
• 41:13 A Journey Through a Tech Career
• 49:28 Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship
• 54:57 Vision for the Future

Links

• Yuval Bachar | EdgeCloudLink
• 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.

Support the show

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!)