Climate Cowboys

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Jeff Erhardt from Mattiq.

Jeff had a ton of insights and we are glad to share them with you today.

Enjoy the Episode! 🌎

📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6

📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5

-----
Links:
**Connect w/ Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jefferhardt/
**Follow Mattiq: https://mattiq.com/
**Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ 
**Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/
**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

-----
Other episodes you might enjoy:
**Most Recent Episode: #122 Offset Skepticism, Regulation Driving Demand, Sustainable Supply Chains, Content GTM Strategy, Climate Business Opportunities, & More w/ Saif Hameed (Altruistiq)
**Similar Topic: #113 Incubating Climate Risk / Insurance Solutions as Traditional Insurers Pull Back w/ Stephen Brittain (Insurtech Gateway)
**Something Totally Different: #99 Capturing Methane to Power Data Centers in Remote Areas w/ Andreas Lehner (PowerBlocks)

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]

Welcome back to another episode of the CleanTechies Podcast! 🌎 So good to see you again. 🤝

There are a few people who should benefit from this episode.

1: People curious to learn about the ESG SaaS market. He offers a bit of history on the origin of these companies and the current landscape, as well as where they are likely to go (hint, it’s more specific and niche).

This is covered mostly between 13:00 and 23:00.

2: Founders seeking GTM advice and are open to a community & content-driven model. He has an entire section on this at around 54 min in.

3: Aspiring climate founders. Starting at about 59:00 he talks a bit about his perspective on investing an angel and then about the areas of opportunity in CT. (Sneak peek, it has to do with the specialization of products inside the E, S, & G of ESG

Let us know your favorite topic when you finish listening.

How can you seriously think of passing this over after we hacked ourselves, sharing with you the data you need…c’mon man! Subscribe! 👇

Show Notes:

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Saif Hameed, the CEO and Founder of Altruistiq, a leading Carbon Emissions accounting software.

The conversation is full of insights because Saif has an incredible background, diverse career exposure, and a very good handle on the overall ESG & Sustainability space.

Some of the key topics are, how ESG is an incorrect usage of terminology, how Scope 1,2,3 emissions were created as frameworks for governments, the difficulty of deploying money into non-renewables climate solutions, and a lot more.

Enjoy the Episode! 🌎

📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6

📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5

Topics:

* 2:40 Intro & Career

* 9:00 What is Altruistiq

* 13:27 ESG SaaS Breakdown

* 19:45 Scope 1, 2, & 3 Emissions

* 23:12 Critique of Corporate Promises

* 29:56  How CPGs Track Responsiveness

* 39:13 Sustainability Product Demand Insights

* 42:09 Regulation Driving Demand

* 48:29 Advice to Founders

* 54:27 GTM Advice

* 59:03  On Angel Investing

* 1:01:15 Startup Ideas

Links:

* Connect w/ Saif: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saifhameed/

* Follow Altruistiq: https://altruistiq.com/

* Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/

*  Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/

* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/

* HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

You Thought I was Done w/ These CTAs? Ha! Given that we put a lot of work into making this show, please share it with 3 people individually that you think will like it. (There are rewards for the referring types)

Other episodes you might enjoy:

* Most Recent Episode: #121 Size Matters...Fund Size, Re-industrializing the World, Hardware is NOT Hard, & More w/ Matt McGraw (Anthro Ventures)

* Similar Topic: #42 How ESG Effects Design, ESG Reporting for RE Owners, Real Estate and ESG, and Sustainable Real Estate w/ Fulya Kocak Gin (Nareit)

* Something Totally Different: #72 Combating Fast Fashion using Sustainable Cotton with Graham Stewart from Fiber52

CoHost.AI Summary:

Prepare to embark on an insightful journey with Saif Hamid, the seasoned founder and CEO of London-based Carbon Accounting Platform, Altruistic. With a rich background varying from political activism and disaster relief to consulting with McKinsey and running a flower farm, Saif dishes out a wealth of knowledge on carbon accounting. He pulls back the curtain on ESG metrics, corporate sustainability, consumer demand, and the intriguing market for carbon offsets. We unpack the impacts of consumer concerns on companies, with special attention on the role of corporate response mechanisms. Saif enlightens us on the opportunities and pitfalls in the carbon offset market, particularly for businesses grappling with small residual emissions. If you're in the sustainability and climate tech sectors, you won’t want to miss Saif’s insight into the sectors with the most demand for sustainable products. Brace yourself for an insider's perspective on the highs and lows of helming a climate tech startup. From pacing to customer problems and organizational setup, Saif's expert advice is invaluable. He further explores different business opportunities in the climate space and shares his insights on scaling a GTM program for maximum returns. Saif wraps up by highlighting four areas ripe for entrepreneurs to venture into the climate space: direct air capture technical offsets, alternative materials and inputs, data and certification, and classic SaaS. This episode is bursting with practical knowledge and thought-provoking ideas that will leave you fascinated and better informed. Join us!

You might consider connecting with Somil or Silas to learn more about their work at Schmidt Future and NextWave Partners, respectively.

Become a paid subscriber today for more perks like messaging us, participating in extracurricular events, getting access to service providers’ discounts, and some walled content…

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Saif Hameed, the CEO and Founder of Altruistiq, a leading Carbon Emissions accounting software.

The conversation is full of insights because Saif has an incredible background, diverse career exposure, and a very good handle on the overall ESG & Sustainability space.

Some of the key topics are, how ESG is an incorrect usage of terminology, how Scope 1,2,3 emissions were created as frameworks for governments, the difficulty of deploying money into non-renewables climate solutions, and a lot more.

Enjoy 🌎

📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6

📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5

-----
Topics:
*13:27 ESG SaaS Breakdown
*23:12 Critique of Corporate Promises
*29:56  How CPGs Track Responsiveness
*39:13 Sustainability Product Demand Insights
*48:29 Advice to Founders
*54:27 GTM Advice
*1:01:15 Startup Ideas

-----
Links:
*Connect w/ Saif: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saifhameed/
*Follow Altruistiq: https://altruistiq.com/
*Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/   
*Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn:
*HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

-----
You might enjoy:
*Most Recent Episode: #121 Size Matters...Fund Size, Re-industrializing the World, Hardware is NOT Hard, & More w/ Matt McGraw (Anthro Ventures)
*Similar Topic: How ESG Effects Design, ESG Reporting for RE Owners, Real Estate and ESG, and Sustainable Real Estate w/ Fuly

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]

Before we get into the show, we have an ask!

You may or may not be familiar with what goes into creating a podcast and doing all this, so we figured we’d tell you.

Making each of these episodes, takes about 3 - 5 hours of work from setting up the interview, to prep, recording, and then post-production and promotion.

Why are we educating you on podcasting? Well, we want your support. If you enjoy this work please consider becoming a Paid Subscriber of the show. It allows us to pay for the costs of the show.

If you really can’t part with $5 a month, then we ask you at least become a free subscriber and then share this episode with at least 3 people.

Thank you for your help - it means a lot and goes a LONG way! 🙏

Show Notes:

In this episode Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Matt McGraw (@mjm11), Co-Founder and GP of Anthro Ventures.

In the episode we cover his story, their focus, why being a VC is a hard job, how ClimateTech is essentially re-industrializing the world & why that's a good thing, he offered his advice to founders, and we closed off by discussing the role of climate tech startups in the governance and ESG movement towards a more equitable future.

Enjoy the Episode! 🌎

📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6

📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5

Topics:

* 2:42 Intro & Career Into VC

* 12:41 Size Matters...Fund Size

* 23:15 Job of a VC

* 25:08 Anthro's Thesis

* 39:22 Re-industrializing the World

* 41:51 Advice to Founders

* 48:19 Areas To Build In

* 50:40 Blitz Scaling Conventional Industries

* 55:34 Governance in Climate Startups

Links:

* Connect w/ Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjm11/ | [email protected]

* Follow Anthro Ventures: https://anthro.ventures/

* Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/

* Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/

* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/

* HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

Other episodes you might enjoy:

* Most Recent Episode: #120 Serial Entrepreneur Fundraising, the IRA & Home Electrification, IRA-Dependent Business Models, & More w/ Jeff Chapin (Haven Energy)

* Similar Topic: #116 Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures)

* Something Totally Different: #97 Cutting Building Heat Loss Via Windows & Building a Platform for Glass Technology Firms w/ Anas Kassas (INOVUES)

CoHost.AI Write Up

Ready to uncover the trends and opportunities in climate tech investing? Get set to be enlightened as we sit down with Matthew McGraw, co-founder and GP of Anthropocene Ventures (Anthro Ventures). Matt takes us on his journey from Silicon Valley to venture capitalism, revealing his unique approach to deep tech and science technology in the climate tech space. He also shares the challenging path of starting a venture capital fund and the crucial role of understanding financial modeling and the historical context of potential investments.We delve deeper into the unique focus of Anthro Ventures on deep tech and engineering leveraged companies in the climate space. We unmask the benefits and misconceptions of investing in hardware, and why their focus has shifted to enabling technologies rather than consumer end point solutions. The conversation is not just about investments, but also about the potential of businesses that utilize deep science and novel engineering to create innovative solutions to combat climate change. Wrapping up our insightful discussion, we highlight the importance of business strategy, valuation in fundraising, and the power of intentional decision-making. Matthew sheds light on the key role that climate tech startups play in promoting biodiversity and responsible governance, and how they're transforming the physical economy. Whether you're an entrepreneur or an investor, you won't want to miss this deep dive into the world of climate tech investing. Join us as we explore the power of deep science and hard tech, and invite entrepreneurs to connect with their ideas.

Thank you for tuning into the CleanTechies Podcast and being a Substack Subscriber! It means a lot and helps us do the work we ❤️ - Let’s Save the Planet Together 🌍 🤝

- Silas & Somil

In this episode Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Matt McGraw (@mjm11), Co-Founder and GP of Anthro Ventures.

In the ep we cover his story, their focus, why being a VC is a hard job, how ClimateTech is essentially re-industrializing the world & why that's a good thing, he offered his advice to founders, and we closed off by discussing the role of CT startups in the governance and ESG movement towards a more equitable future.

Enjoy the Episode! 🌎

📆 Book a time w/ Silas during Climate Week in NYC (IRL): https://calendar.app.google/STXX7pMNmsWRsafd6

📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5

-----
Topics:
**2:42 Intro & Career Into VC
**12:41 Size Matters...Fund Size
**23:15 Job of a VC
**25:08 Anthro's Thesis
**39:22 Re-industrializing the World
**41:51 Advice to Founders
**48:19 Areas To Build In
**50:40 Blitz Scaling Conventional Industries
**55:34 Governance in Climate Startups

-----
Links:
**Connect w/ Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjm11/  | [email protected]
**Follow Anthro Ventures: https://anthro.ventures/
**Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ 
**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn:
**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

-----
Other episodes:
**Most Recent Episode: #120 Serial Entrepreneur Fundraising, the IRA & Home Electrification, IRA-Dependent Business Models, & More w/ Jeff Chapin (Haven Energy)
**Similar Topic: #116 Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ve

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]

Show Notes:

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Jeff Chapin, the Co-Founder of Haven Energy. We heard how he raised the funding for Haven with 2 pitches. He taught us how the IRA aids home electrification. His thoughts on building IRA-dependent businesses. We finish up with his advice to founders.

Enjoy the Episode! 🌎

📆 Book a time with Silas in NYC During Climate Week 🌱

📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5

Not already a subscriber? What are you waiting for? Your ClimateTech founder’s and VC’s insights are at your fingertips…

Topics:

* 1:03 Intro & Journey into Climate

* 5:41 Hiring an outsider

* 12:18 Advice to get going as a founder-to-be

* 15:09 What Haven does

* 26:40 Blue Collar Workers in Climate

* 30:11 The Raising Process

* 35:45 The IRA and Home Electrification

* 48:34 Advice to Founders

Links:

Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-chapin-a4b63758/

Haven Energy: https://havenenergy.com/

Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/

Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/

HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

You know what they say, “Actions speak louder than words”… 🚀

Other episodes you might enjoy:

* Most Recent Episode: Partnering w/ Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, Houston's Role in the Movement, Discovery Framework, & More w/ Eric Rubenstein (New Climate Ventures)

* Similar Topic: Electrifying Homes, Home Air-Quality & Health, Merging Blue & White Collar Talent w/ DR Richardson (Elephant Energy)

* Something Totally Different: From 30% to 90% Li Recovery, Founding a ClimateTech Co, & Talent Moat w/ Teague Egan (EnergyX)

CoHost.AI Write Up

Join us for a fascinating exploration into the world of cleantech entrepreneurship with Jeff Chapin, the visionary founder behind Haven Energy. Our discussion traverses his unique journey, from the origins of his business to his innovative approach to securing seed funding with just two pitches. We uncover the importance of creating a product that serves customers better, moving beyond simply playing to people's goodwill. Venture with us into the realm of battery technology, where Jeff shares his insights on the shifting focus of pitch presentations. From emphasizing climate benefits to enthralling investors with a superior product that reduces electricity costs, enhances resilience and lowers carbon footprint. Jeff’s journey takes a detour as he shares his experience of taking a hiatus to renovate a 110-year-old house in rural Wyoming. This leads us back to his passion for climate resilience and the basic human needs that drive him.We round off with a deep dive into the world of home electrification, exploring its potential and the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on it. We also examine the incentives offered through the Internal Revenue Act of 2018, shedding light on how they're reducing ownership costs and accelerating the shift to home electrification. Jeff also shares his wisdom for other founders, emphasizing the importance of a robust business model and pitching an idea while it's being built. Don't miss this enlightening conversation with a trailblazer in the climate tech space.

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Jeff Chapin, the Co-Founder of Haven Energy. We heard how he raised the funding for Haven with 2 pitches. He taught us how the IRA aids home electrification. His thoughts on building IRA-dependent businesses. We finish up with his advice to founders.

Enjoy the Episode! 🌎

📆 Book a time with Silas in NYC During Climate Week 🌱

📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel.

-----
Topics:
**1:03 Intro & Journey into Climate
**5:41 Hiring an outsider
**12:18 Advice to get going as a founder-to-be
**15:09 What Haven does
**26:40 Blue Collar Workers in Climate
**30:11 The Raising Process
**35:45 The IRA and Home Electrification
**48:34 Advice to Founders

-----
Links:
**Connect with Jeff: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-chapin-a4b63758/
**Haven Energy: https://havenenergy.com/
**Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners:
**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/
**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

-----
Other episodes you might enjoy:
**Most Recent Episode: Partnering w/ Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, Houston's Role in the Movement, Discovery Framework, & More w/ Eric Rubenstein (New Climate Ventures)
**Similar Topic: Electrifying Homes, Home Air-Quality & Health, Merging Blue & White Collar Talent w/ DR Richardson (Elephant Energy)
**Something Totally Different:

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]

CleanTechies is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

CoHost.AI Writeup

Ever wondered what the intersection of climate change and venture capital looks like? In our latest podcast episode, we have a riveting conversation with Eric Rubenstein, founding managing partner at New Climate Ventures. Eric opens up about his journey from corporate investing in ONG to climate tech VC investing, shedding light on the pivotal role of energy majors in the energy transition and the climate revolution.We don't just stop there! Together with Eric, we delve into the pressing issue of global warming, discussing viable strategies for developing a carbon tech ecosystem to help decarbonize our planet. We explore high-emission sectors like the built environment and the food and agricultural industry, and how technologies such as sustainable aviation fuels can be leveraged for decarbonization. Eric also offers invaluable insights into the fundraising process for climate tech, and the significance of attracting the right investors for early-stage growth.Things get real as we talk about the impact of the conflict in Eastern Europe on the venture capital industry and the subsequent shift in investor mindset. Eric shares his experiences from the fundraising trenches, emphasizing the critical need for energy security in these conversations. We also discuss his work with energy majors and chemical companies, and how understanding traditional industries is key to effective change. So tune in as we navigate the fascinating world of startup investments, sales trends, funding, and deliver some priceless advice for founders. You won't want to miss this!

Summary

In this episode Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) interviews Eric Rubenstein about his journey into climate tech, the importance of partnering with Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, the role of Houston in that movement, Eric's discovery framework, and his ideal founder traits.

Overall, a super good episode packed full of insights.

Enjoy the Episode! 🌎

* 📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

* 📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

* Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5

Topics:

* 1:36 Intro & His Climate Journey

* 9:42 DTD Challenges of Being a VC

* 13:59 New Climate Ventures

* 15:50 Their Verticals

* 22:27 His Exp Raising the Fund

* 30:41 Houston & The Climate Revolution

* 39:30 Ideal Founder Traits

Advice Section

* 46:19 Discovery Mindset Framework & Tactics

* 50:32 VCs Required Value Props

* 55:10 Fundraising Advice

* 58:56 His Role Model VCs

If you enjoy this episode, please consider sharing it with someone who might also find it interesting.

Links:

* Connect with Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric--rubenstein/

* New Climate Ventures: https://www.newclimateventures.com/

* Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/

* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/

* HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

Other episodes you might enjoy:

* Most Recent Episode: Carbon Negative Cement, DeepTech Development Frameworks, Hiring a Founding Team, Pointers on an IP Business, & More w/ Cody Finke (Brimstone)

* Similar Topic: Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures)

* Something Totally Different: Revolutionizing Takeout: Tackling Plastic Waste Crisis with Reusable Containers and Gamification w/ James Wilson (reUser)

In this episode Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) interviews Eric Rubenstein about his journey into climate tech, the importance of partnering with Energy Majors in the Climate Revolution, the role of Houston in that movement, Eric's discovery framework, and his ideal founder traits.

Overall, a super good episode packed full of insights.

Enjoy the Episode! 🌎

📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5

-----
Topics:
**1:36 Intro & His Climate Journey
**9:42 DTD Challenges of Being a VC
**13:59 New Climate Ventures
**15:50 Their Verticals
**22:27 His Exp Raising the Fund
**30:41 Houston & The Climate Revolution
**39:30 Ideal Founder Traits

Advice Section
**46:19 Discovery Mindset Framework & Tactics
**50:32 VCs Required Value Props
**55:10 Fundraising Advice
**58:56 His Role Model VCs

-----
Links:
**Connect with Eric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric--rubenstein/
**New Climate Ventures: https://www.newclimateventures.com/
**Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/
**HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

-----
Other episodes you might enjoy:
**Most Recent Episode: Carbon Negative Cement, DeepTech Development Frameworks, Hiring a Founding Team, Pointers on an IP Business, & More w/ Cody Finke (Brimstone)
**Similar Topic: Consultative VC, Understanding Customers (as a VC), Developing Industry Networks for Your PortCos, & More w/ Rick Zullo (Equal Ventures)
**Something Totally Different: Revolutioniz

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]

(CoHost.AI Writeup)

Ever wonder how a chemist turned into a green entrepreneur tackling the enormous environmental issue of cement production? Our latest episode of the CleanTechies podcast brings you the fascinating journey of Cody Finke, the brain behind Brimstone, a unique venture that's transforming cement production with a carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative approach. From his days in graduate school to receiving the instrumental influence of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Cody takes us through his transition into a business founder, the challenges of securing initial funding, and the strategies that won over investors for his world-improving cause.

CleanTechies is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

We delve into the heart of Brimstone's innovation - a groundbreaking method of creating Portland cement that passively sequesters CO2. Cody opens up about their plans for scaling this climate-friendly process and the hurdles they face in retrofitting cement plants. He emphasizes the importance of advanced market commitments in scaling their process. But it's not all about the technicalities; listen in as Cody shares his personal insights on the power of persistence, risk-taking, and maintaining focus as a deep tech founder.As we round off our discussion, Cody shares his experiences recruiting chemical engineers and navigating the construction of facilities. He highlights the crucial role of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in shaping Brimstone's distinctive approach. For anyone contemplating a dive into the deep-tech domain, Cody has pearls of wisdom on the necessity of risk-taking and staying focused. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about the intersection of science, entrepreneurship, and environmental conservation. Tune in for a peek behind the scenes of a climate-positive startup!

If you enjoy this content, please share it with someone - do your part to help save the planet! 🌎

Summary

In this episode, Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) and Cody Finke (@cody_finke), the Co-Founder of Brimstone discuss Cody's journey into climate and how they are revolutionizing the cement space.

They have created a cement product that has just been approved as certified Portland Cement - This is the main cement used in the construction of buildings. The best part, it's carbon neutral in many cases negative (depending on the energy source used).

This is a truly revolutionary technology and we can't wait to see it at commercial scale in the next few years.

Enjoy the Episode! 🌎

📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.

📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.

Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5

Topics:

* 2:30 Intro & Climate Journey

* 11:04 How he became an entrepreneur

* 14:09 Experience closing his skills gap as a founder

* 17:16 What brimstone is / How Cement is Made

* 22:09 How they got C150 Certification

* 27:36 The Supply Chain Problem

* 30:11 Their Biz Model

* 32:40 Building the Pilot Plant

* 33:52 Fundraising

* 41:54 Where the Rock is Found

* 44:15 Corporate Partners

* 45:20 Receptivity of the Industry

* 46:35 DeepTech Development Framework

* 50:18 Choosing Founding Team

* 51:51 Funding Advice

Start writing today. Use the button below to create your Substack and connect your publication with CleanTechies

Links:

* Connect with Cody: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cody-finke-ph-d-213b88ab

* Brimstone Website: https://www.brimstone.com/

* Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/

* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/

* HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

Other episodes you might enjoy:

* Most Recent Episode: Early Stage Hiring Decisions, Heeding the Lessons from CleanTech 1.0, Energize's $300m Growth Fund Close, & More w/ Eileen Waris (Energize Capital)

* Similar Topic: From Restaurants to ClimateTech: Building a Carbon Capture Concrete Company w/ Tim Sperry (Carbon Limit)

* Something Totally Different: Cutting Building Heat Loss Via Windows & Building a Platform for Glass Technology Firms w/ Anas Kassas (INOVUES)