Climate Cowboys

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 69.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

Today we are joined by David Welch the Bureau Chief at Bloomberg News in Detroit to discuss his new book, Charging Ahead. The book is generally about how Mary Barra rose to become the CEO of GM and the first Female CEO in the Legacy Auto Industry. And then goes on to describe how she has led GM into the future by making the shift to Electric Vehicles. 

We talk about a lot of things but some of the key topics in this episode are...

• [6.12] GM's history. From the most respected company in the world to bankruptcy
• [11.11] How Mary Barra made her rise to CEO and her battles with Trump
• [31:35] The legacy automaker sentiment and the future for them
• [38.07] Tesla & Joe Biden
• [45.05] The benefits of EVs
• [51.17] The success of the EV regulatory frameworks
• [59.46]The challenges for the next 2-3 years for EV

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• Order the book, Charging Ahead: https://www.amazon.com/Charging-Ahead-Barra-Reinvention-American/dp/1400233593
• Connect with David: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-welch-9031185/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 68.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

Today we are joined by Celyn Brown and Kristen Castell to discuss what ShareChange is doing in the Micro Finance space. This conversation spans broadly across what ShareChange is doing with Micro Lending to Entrepreneurs in unbanked regions but also more broadly about the importance of Micro Finance. 

Key topics: 

• How big financial institutions can stand to change and how they originally were against Impact Finance 
• How the unbanked populations are also more affected by Climate Change
•  How, in many countries, women are unable to get loans without a man's signature
•  How learning through doing is the best way to get into impact finance 

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• ShareChange Website: https://wesharechange.com/
• Connect with Kristen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kriscastell/
• Connect with Celyn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celynbrown/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 67.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

Today we speak with Tucker Perkins who is the President and CEO of the Propane Education & Research Council (aka PERC) and we discussed Renewable Propane. 

Broadly speaking, we covered the basics of the propane industry, how it's made, what the environmental impacts are, and how renewable propane is being made. This was our first time talking about this topic, and for me, it was the first time I really have ever heard the argument for Propane. 

This was a really fascinating topic as it appears Propane could serve as a really great interim fuel to make immediate impacts on reducing carbon emissions. 

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• Propane Education & Research Council: https://propane.com/
• Connect with Tucker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tucker-perkins-8972a510/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 66.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

Today we are joined by Greg Fasullo from Elevation.  They are helping holistically transform residential energy usage. They do 3 things primarily. 

1. Help  visualize energy usage for homeowners in a very easy way
2. Install solar to help reduce environmental impacts and save money
3. Help utilities manage demand response programs

We talk in detail about all these things along with some other things including...

• how their data tracking can offer feedback to appliance manufacturers 
• how an energy-efficient home affects real estate values
• how his time at Berkeley shaped him 
• virtual power plants

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• Elevation Website: https://www.poweredbyelevation.com/
• Connect with Greg: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfasullo/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 65.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

Today we are speaking with Eddy Badrina the CEO of Eden Green Technologies. Eden is a vertical farming technology company that is, currently, focused on the growing of lettuce at a commodity scale. 

In today's episode, Eddy walks us through,

• the challenges of other vertical growers, 
• compares some of the business models, 
• discusses food insecurity due to climate change,
• of course how their tech works, 
• what their future and the future of vertical growing looks like generally, 
• as well as how they are not only farming lettuce but their own talent and bringing career growth to the farming industry in a way not previously seen. 

Really fascinating episode with Eddy. Super glad we can bring this to you. 

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• Eden Green Technology Website: https://www.edengreen.com/
• Connect with Eddy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddybadrina/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 64.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

On today's episode of the podcast, we are joined by Bahruz Mammadov discussing how he and his team at BERKM Inc are helping reduce plastic usage through their innovative technology. 

The key areas covered are 

1. how their additive allows bottle makers to reduce the total volume of plastic used in the creation of bottles 
   --and--
2. how they are working to increase recycling to a full circle

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• BERKM Inc Website: https://www.linkedin.com/company/berkm-inc/
• Connect with Bahruz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bahruzmammadov/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 63.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

What is carbon sequestration? Isn't it a scam? How does it work? Who decides the price? 

We cover these and more questions about the carbon sequestration and carbon markets space in today's conversation with Matt Smith from Finite Carbon. 

Finite Carbon is a platform helping land owners get verified Carbon Credits, as well as connect them with the buyers of these credits. And soon, this will be available to landowners with as little as 40 acres. 

Very exciting work they are doing at Finite Carbon. We are glad we can bring this episode to you. 

Main talking points of today's discussion are:

• How the carbon markets work 
• What a carbon baseline is
• Being a self-regulated industry
• Verification and transparent reporting 
• How to get into the space 
• The future of Carbon Markets

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• The Finite Carbon Website: https://www.finitecarbon.com/
• Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smith-matthew09/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 62.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

How can we solve food waste at the grocer level? This is the key thing we discuss in this episode with Johannes Olejnik from Afresh. Afresh is helping solve the problem with Fresh Food inventory and supply chain management. In helping reduce waste, they are also saving grocers money. 

The Main talking points of today's discussion are:

• How Afresh is helping Grocers manage their fresh food inventory
• The impacts of their tech as a whole on the company
• The "green edge" of being a sustainable grocer
• Regulatory landscape of the space

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• Afresh Website: https://www.afresh.com/
• Connect with Johannes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jolejnik/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 61.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

Today our conversation is with Nicholaus Rohleder. Nick does many things, including teaching at Columbia and running Climate Commodities (a commodity trading and logistics company). Our conversation was one of my favorite conversations since it was very high level and tackled many macro problems. 

We discussed Geo Politics, Globalization/De-globalization, Mining, Mineral Availability, and the unique problems faced by climate tech companies building hardware solutions. 

An all-around great conversation with Nick. Enjoy! 

The Main talking points of today's discussion are:

• Intro to Nick
• What they do at CCI
• The issue they wanted to solve 
• Off-take and input finance 
• Clean Mining 
• Geo-Political climate and the zero-sum mentality of smaller nations 
• Supply Chain Issues
• Energy Independence 
• Education / University Landscape

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• Climate Commodities Website: https://www.climate-commodities.com/
• Connect with Nicholaus: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholaus-rohleder-190526156/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]

#60 - Cleaning up Steel Production with Boston Metal's Adam Rauwerdink

Hello everyone and welcome back to CleanTechies the Podcast. This is episode 60.

If you are a climate tech founder with specific questions you'd like us to ask -- OR -- looking for capital and strategic partner introductions, please reach out to me via the Slack Channel or LinkedIn and we are glad to help in any way we can.  

Today we are speaking with Adam Rauwerdink the Sr VP of Business Development at Boston Metals, a Breakthrough Energy Ventures-backed company. BEV is a fund founded by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos along with other Philanthropists. 

In today's episode, we go through the conventional way of making steel and then walk through how Boston Metal is cleaning it up along with all the other benefits of their modular production model. 

It's a fascinating show so we are excited to bring this to you. 

The Main talking points of today's discussion are:

• Intro to Adam
• The impetus for joining Boston Metals
• Intro to Boston Metal
• Materials
• No Coal = Easier 
• Plan for Growth 
• Location of production facilities
• Supply Chain, changing it 
• Speed of Permitting Facilities
• Regulatory Landscape
• Demand for Green Steel
• Other Benefits of Green Steel
• Workforce Concerns 
• Partnerships 
• Talent in the Space
• Next Steps / Problems to Solve
• Wrap Up

We hope you enjoy today's episode - please reach out with any specific questions or discussion points. If you're interested in being a show sponsor you can reach me at [email protected]

• Boston Metal Website: https://www.bostonmetal.com/
• Connect with Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamrauwerdink/
• Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/
• Join the Slack Channel:  https://cleantechies.slack.com/join/shared_invite/zt-pd2drz6d-N~9nURU5JlyMXv2ZiO5bAQ#/shared-invite/email
• Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/ 
• HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner

__________

We are proud to continue working with NextWave as our official show sponsor for this podcast. NextWave and all of its staff are highly motivated to advance the ClimateTech revolution and are constantly innovating ways that they can help affect that transition. From experts in the talent space to ESG experts, NextWave is taking on Climate and Social responsibility head-on and helping companies build great cultures that not only make the world a better place but also increase workplace satisfaction. Reach out to NextWave Partners today to learn more about how we might partner with you today. https://www.next-wavepartners.com/ / [email protected]