What’s up, everyone! 

Today we’re sharing an episode with Joseph Vellone, the CEO of ChargeScape — a Joint Venture between Ford, Honda, BMW, and Nissan. 

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Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts

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As the grid continues to buckle under the pressure of ever-increasing demand, it’s more important than ever to find ways to manage the existing load. 

However, it’s not all bad. One of the main demand drivers might be the core solution to these demand problems—namely, EVs, when paired with smart charging software. 

You see, all these EVs are essentially backup batteries. Currently, not all are equipped with bi-directional charging, but most new vehicles hitting the roads are. 

So, not only can a smart charging software, managed by utilities, alleviate demand on the grid, it can also pull energy from the vehicles when the time is right (again, when the hardware capabilities are present). 

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This fundamentally shifts our perspective on vehicles. Instead of a cost center, it could earn you money by purchasing cheap energy, or charging on solar for free, and selling back to the grid at peak demand times. 

This is the type of utopian future we work towards — and the best part, it’s becoming reality in front of us. 

Topics 

**01:35 Revolutionizing EV Charging

**05:21 Joseph Vellone's Journey in Renewable Energy

**07:47 The Unique Opportunity at ChargeScape

**12:00 Transforming the EV Charging Experience

**13:30 Make Money w/ Smart Charging

**18:04 The Future of EVs + Renewable Energy

**20:03 Building a High-Performance Team

**23:10 Managing Startup Intensity Without Burnout

**25:58 How to Successfully Sell to Utilities

**28:50 The Benefits of Having Automakers as Strategic Investors

**31:17 The Role of AI in ChargeScape's Strategy

**33:44 Understanding EV Industry Backlash

**37:59 Resilience of EV Charging Amid Political Pushback

Links

**Joseph Vellone | ChargeScape

**Connect with Somil on LinkedIn |

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Today, we’re speaking with Sophie Purdom, Managing Partner of Planeteer Capital. 

After co-creating CTVC with Kim Zou, the climate deals and deep-dives newsletter that has become canon in climate, with 75k+ readers, Sophie announced Planeteer Capital. 

(We discussed on the pod) 

They are going full speed with their investing thesis, investing in companies at the incorporation stage. Something they have been able to do well, given the history and network that Sophie has. 

Aside from teasing the future of Planeteer and discussing their unique advantage, Sophie gave us some insights on where the market is now. 

One thing that surprised us is how, despite all the negative news, more deals are being done year over year than in years past. 

Sophie shares the 4 types of climate tech founders, what they look for picking the right team, and core things to get right when navigating the climate capital stack. 

This interview is one we’ve been chasing down for some time, so we’re glad to finally make it. We hope you enjoy the show! 

Fill out our listener survey. 

If you want to support our work, upgrade to paid today!

Topics 

**2:08 The Current State of Climate Tech
**5:31 Long-Term Impact of the Climate Boom
**8:44 [Check out ErthTech Talent for your Hiring Needs]
**9:28 Identifying Long-Term & Durable Trends
**13:04 Tracking High-Potential Niche Markets
**17:57 How Her View of Venture Investing Has Changed 
**20:20 Where Planeteer Investments
**23:15 The Value Planeteer Adds
**24:30 The Role CTVC Played In Her Ability To Run Planeteer Well
**28:00 Investing at Incorporation
**32:15 How They Support Founders & Incentive Alignment
**35:05 What to Know When Partnering with Incumbents
**39:29 Will Climate Disruptors Scale?
**43:10 The Future Vision of Planeteer Capital

Links
**Sophie Purdom | Planeteer Capital
**Discussing the Planeteer Fund Announcement
**Somil on LinkedIn |

Support the show

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

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We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]

Today’s episode features Felix Krause, founding partner of Vireo Ventures, one of Europe’s leading early-stage energy tech investors. Felix is based in Berlin and brings decades of experience across solar project development, corporate VC, and now independent fund management.

We dig deep into why electrification is the real unlock for climate, and why Felix and his team believe the software that manages energy flows—not new forms of generation—is where VC dollars can make the biggest impact.

Felix also talks candidly about:

• How Vireo built a reputation as a hands-on, brutally honest investor
• Why “doing good and making money” aren’t mutually exclusive
• How to spot founders with true grit and fire in their eyes
• Why Europe is at a critical inflection point for tech sovereignty

We also cover how AI and increasing data availability are quietly enabling new software business models in energy—from optimizing legacy boilers in multifamily buildings to managing distributed assets securely.

If you're wondering how to build (or back) meaningful energy tech in today’s shifting market, this episode is packed with pragmatic insights—and just the right amount of optimism.

Topics

Short Version

• 04:36 Founding Vireo Ventures: The Transition to Investment
• 09:20 Building Relationships with Founders
• 14:20 The Importance of Honesty in Investment
• 17:52 Navigating the Future of Energy
• 22:44 Data and Cybersecurity in Clean Tech
• 25:12 Navigating the Go-To-Market Strategy
• 25:57 Investing in Early-Stage Software Companies
• 27:27 The Role of Data Extraction in Electrification
• 29:55 Understanding Business Models in Climate Tech
• 31:11 Evaluating Software Sales Strategies
• 34:13 AI's Impact on Electrification and Business Models

Links

• Felix Krause | Vireo 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

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

• 70+ Placements
• 5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)
• The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)
• 90-day placement guarantee

It's really hard to say no to that.

Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company.

We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]

Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket Casts

In This Episode:* What is a Solid State Transformer * How Solid State Transformers are Reshaping the Energy Industry* How They Built a $1bn Pipeline

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 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.

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Topics
Free Version:
**03:21 The Journey to DG Matrix
**05:51 Understanding Solid State Transformers
**09:11 Market Position and Economic Impact
**10:00 Goodwin AD
**12:06 Solid State Transformer Advantages
**13:26 Company AD
**17:14 Building a Strong Advisory Network
**18:51 Call to Action
**21:10 Overcoming Challenges in Clean Tech
**24:54 The Future of DG Matrix and Market Fit
**26:29 Building from the Ground Up
**27:51 Transforming Energy Markets
**30:55 Streamlining Manufacturing and Supply Chain

Links
* Haroon Inam, Michael Wood III | DG Matrix
* Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn
* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn

This podcast is NOT investment advice.

Support the show

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

• 70+ Placements
• 5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)
• The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)
• 90-day placement guarantee

It's really hard to say no to that.

Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company.

We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]

 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). 

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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
*

Support the show

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

• 70+ Placements
• 5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)
• The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)
• 90-day placement guarantee

It's really hard to say no to that.

Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company.

We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]

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
Conne

Support the show

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

• 70+ Placements
• 5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)
• The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)
• 90-day placement guarantee

It's really hard to say no to that.

Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company.

We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]

Follow us on YouTube

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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

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

• 70+ Placements
• 5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)
• The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)
• 90-day placement guarantee

It's really hard to say no to that.

Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company.

We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]

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

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Act fast! Because our annual subscription is going from $80 up to $100 as of May 1st. 

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📝 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

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

• 70+ Placements
• 5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)
• The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)
• 90-day placement guarantee

It's really hard to say no to that.

Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company.

We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]

 📺 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 anythi

Support the show

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

• 70+ Placements
• 5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)
• The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)
• 90-day placement guarantee

It's really hard to say no to that.

Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company.

We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]

 📺 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

If you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.

• 70+ Placements
• 5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)
• The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)
• 90-day placement guarantee

It's really hard to say no to that.

Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company.

We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank.

Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. [email protected]