AI-powered agtech infrastructure is growing climate-friendly crops while boosting farmer profitability—backed by horticultural expertise and data science.

🎧 Episode Summary

IUNU is a Seattle‑based ag‑tech startup using AI‑driven computer vision and autonomous sensors—via its LUNA platform—to monitor greenhouse crop growth in real time, optimize operations, and boost farm productivity across 100 facilities in 18 countries.

They've raised over $60 million to scale up, including a recent $20M round led by our friends at S2G Investments.

Adam Greenberg is the CEO and co-founder. As a servant leader, he believes that "true leaders base their success on the success of those around them." Amen, brother!

His prior roles include consulting for Fortune 100 companies, volunteering with youth programs, and co-founding Pure Blue Tech (a reverse osmosis water tech co).

🔑 Highlights

• How they recently raised $20 million in a challenging market by demonstrating strong market pull from customers
• Why they help farmers, retailers, and breeders with real business benefits before mentioning their environmentally friendly attributes
• What he means by Chief Translation Officer
• How great leaders create an environment where everyone is willing to go the extra mile
• The inverse correlation between high-impact work and personal balance
• How Wim Hof breathing and meditation keep him healthy and sane

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

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📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

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No sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.

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🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:

👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 20,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Learn how to dramatically lower HVAC energy use via metal organic frameworks with Sorin Grama, CEO of Transaera.

🎧 Episode Summary

Transaera is reimagining air-conditioning with solid desiccant materials that strip out moisture before cooling.

Translation: less energy, fewer emissions, and a planet that sweats less.

It’s a plug‑and‑play upgrade across residential and commercial HVAC systems.

Sorin is an MIT-trained engineer, inventor, and serial entrepreneur.

He’s also the co-founder of Greentown Labs, a lecturer at MIT, and a Climate CEO Fellow in our EFI peer group program.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• “Don’t fall in love with tech. Fall in love with the customer’s pain.”

• Promethean Power Systems and the art of keeping dairy cold in rural India

• The weird science of Metal Organic Frameworks

• Leadership lessons from Hard Thing About Hard Things + Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

  His 5-minute journal + the radical act of slowing down to think clearly

Learn 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 20,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Legendary VC investor Brad Feld explains why “giving first” (his new book) is the key to building resilient founders, impactful startups, and thriving startup communities—especially in climate tech and turbulent times.

🎧 Episode Summary

Brad Feld, co-founder of Foundry Group and Techstars, joins Dr. Chris Wedding to discuss why his “Give First” philosophy—mentorship without expectation of immediate return—matters more than ever. Brad shares lessons from four decades as a VC investor, board member, and mentor. These include how startup founders can survive near-death experiences, embrace long time horizons, and create positive-sum relationships that outlast cycles of hype, political polarization, and shifting government priorities.

Brad dives into the difference between being a mentor, advisor, coach, and investor—and why setting boundaries and focusing on the long arc of reputation and karma is critical for mental health and sustained impact. He also shares insights from his latest book, Give First, and how the practice of non-transactional mentorship can unlock new opportunities and durable communities in climate innovation.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Private sector innovation—and founders with grit—are more important than ever for climate solutions, especially as government support and data become more fragile.

• Most startups fail, but even failures drive learning, progress, and future breakthroughs—long-term impact compounds through experimentation.

• The best founders are resilient, adaptive, and motivated by mission, not just market conditions; they see setbacks as “type 2” fun (enjoyable in hindsight).

• “Give First” means engaging in relationships without upfront transactional expectations—positive outcomes flow back in unpredictable ways over time.

• Mentorship is distinct from advisory, coaching, or investing: mentors give with no guarantee of return; advisors and coaches are transactional; investors have skin in the game.

• Healthy boundaries are essential: founders and mentors must balance generosity, mental health, and financial realities.

• Community building in climate tech—and beyond—relies on trust, shared learning, and a willingness to help without keeping score.

• Reputation and “karma” accrue over decades, not quarters; the most satisfying business relationships are long-term, peer-based, and founded on authenticity and empathy.

• Brad’s Mentor Manifesto (from Techstars) and the concept of “entrepreneurial tzedakah” (righteous giving) offer frameworks for effective, fulfilling mentorship.

• Giving first in business isn’t altruism; it’s a philosophy for creating positive-sum games in a world fixated on transactions.

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow—North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

For entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick points on climate data, CEO to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments—drawn from 400+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/

⭐ Leave a Review

No sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it.

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups and leadership on LinkedIn:

👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Learn these 5 quick insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness in leadership — straight from my newsletter. Join 20,000 who get it. https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Learn how Realta Fusion raised a giant Series A VC round to commercialize university tech for affordable fusion energy in industrial heating.

🎧 Episode Summary

Kieran Furlong, Co-Founder and CEO of Realta Fusion, joins host Dr. Chris Wedding to reveal how his team is commercializing a breakthrough approach to fusion energy, spinning out of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Realta’s “CosmoFusion”—compact, scalable, and modular—aims to bring affordable, zero-carbon energy to hard-to-abate sectors much sooner than the world expects.

Kieran shares why their recent funding round was oversubscribed, details the world record 17 Tesla magnetic field their team achieved, and demystifies the practical steps from deep science to the first-of-its-kind commercial fusion plant. He digs into how Realta’s engineering mindset speeds up the path to market, why industrial heat (not just electricity) is an overlooked fusion product, and how the company is tackling public perception, regulation, and customer partnerships head-on.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• Realta Fusion’s CosmoFusion approach centers on building compact, modular, and scalable fusion plants—right-sized for private industry, not just distant grid-scale promises.

• Their team achieved a world-record 17 Tesla magnetic field strength in plasma containment, a major technical milestone for fusion’s viability.

• Realta targets delivering industrial heat directly to energy-intensive sectors (like petrochemicals and data centers), unlocking decarbonization beyond the electric grid.

• The business model: ‘build-own-operate’ for the first commercial plant, with future expansion to OEM and global partnerships, rather than risky licensing.

• Realta’s cost curve strategy borrows from the modular scaling seen in wind and solar, aiming for rapid cost declines as more units are built.

• Fusion’s safety profile is fundamentally different from fission: no long-lived radioactive waste, no runaway reactions, and intrinsic fail-safety—the technical and public education challenge is a top priority.

• Regulators in the US, UK, and Japan are already treating fusion differently from fission, making a faster, cheaper path to market possible.

• The fusion industry benefits from bipartisan support and national interest in reshoring high-precision manufacturing and energy security.

• Kieran’s advice for founders: set your personal red lines (e.g., defense work) early and align your team before pressure hits; build healthy routines (like biking year-round in Wisconsin!); and learn from big project management history.

• Recommended reads: “How Big Things Get Done,” “Energy and Civilization” by Vaclav Smil, and “The Prize” by Daniel Yergin.

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — North America’s top invite-only community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉⁠ ⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

Written for entrepreneurs and investors, we cover five quick points on climate data, CEOs to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments, drawn from working with 400+ climate CEOs and investors and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉⁠ ⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/⁠⁠

⭐ Leave a Review

This podcast has no sponsors—just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found it valuable, please take a minute to leave a review so more people can discover these stories.

👉⁠ ⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups, leadership, and finance on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding/

Learn these 5 insights in climate & clean energy, startup investment, AI tips, and mindfulness leadership. Join 20,000 who get my newsletter: https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com

Discover how World Tree combines regenerative forestry, carbon sequestration, and impact investing to scale climate solutions across North America and Latin America.

🎧 Episode Summary

Doug Willmore, CEO of World Tree, shares how the company is commercializing the world’s fastest-growing hardwood, Paulownia, and how their EcoTree program enables retail investors to support regenerative forestry while earning returns.

Doug explains the unique regenerative qualities of Paulownia, why biodiversity matters in timber projects, and how World Tree is educating investors on the environmental and financial benefits of sustainable forestry.

🔑 Key Takeaways

• World Tree is scaling Paulownia, a fast-growing hardwood that regenerates from the stump.

• Their EcoTree program allows retail investors to offset carbon and earn financial returns.

• Over $17M in non-dilutive capital has supported their tree-planting efforts.

• Investors can target potential returns of 5–6x over 8–11 years.

• World Tree avoids commodity markets by focusing on high-value wood products.

• They’re working on off-take agreements to build long-term market demand.

• Biodiversity is crucial for achieving optimal climate and financial outcomes.

• The ideal EcoTree farmers vary by geography and practice.

• Tax benefits are a key part of their investor education efforts.

⏱️ Chapters 

• 00:00 – Intro & Doug’s background

• 02:18 – World Tree’s mission

• 04:41 – The unique Paulownia tree

• 08:00 – EcoTree investment model

• 16:11 – Investor education & expectations

• 22:25 – Challenges of ag and forestry

• 24:12 – Productizing the timber

• 30:30 – Market performance & potential

• 35:24 – Who the right EcoTree farmers are

🌎 Join EFI’s Climate CEO Peer Group

Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re capped at 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets.

👉 ⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠

📨 Get Our 4-Minute Newsletter

Written for entrepreneurs and investors, we cover five quick points on climate data, CEOs to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments, drawn from working with 400+ climate CEOs and investors and 25 years of meditation practice.

👉 ⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com/⁠

⭐ Leave a Review

This podcast has no sponsors — just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found it valuable, please take a minute to leave a review so more people can discover these stories. Here’s how to leave a podcast review.

👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews

🎙️ About the Host

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Follow daily insights on climate tech startups, leadership, and finance on ⁠LinkedIn⁠: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Explore how Marilyn Waite and the Climate Finance Fund mobilize trillions in capital, proving each dollar delivers more climate impact in the Global South.

The Climate Finance Fund is a philanthropic platform that helps to mobilize capital for climate solutions. Supported by the Hewlett Foundation and hosted by the European Climate Foundation, they’re focused on China, the European Union, and the United States.–

Previously, Marilyn led energy and cleantech investments at Village Capital, managed nuclear and renewable energy projects at AREVA (now Orano), and served as a Senior Research Fellow at Project Drawdown, where she led a team to analyze, model, and forecast energy solutions to climate change. Marilyn also worked at the intersection of science and policy at the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and in economic development at the United Nations in Madagascar. She is a multilingual speaker and author of Sustainability at Work: Careers that Make a Difference.

–In this podcast, we talked about the $450T of global capital relative to the $4T needed each year to mitigate the worst economic and public health effects of climate change, her blended finance work with BlackRock, why each dollar can accomplish more climate mitigation inthe Global South, what a hummingbird in Jamaica might have foretold about her work at the Global Climate Finance Forum, and how to find a job in this field in her book, Sustainability at Work.

–

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS

Marilyn Waite - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilynwaite

Climate Finance Fund - https://climatefinance.fund

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Please give Marilyn and Climate Finance Fund a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.

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We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions.

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🤔 PODCAST HOST:

Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding