CREtech Talks

Greg Jones, Director of Hoare Lea, discusses the importance of sustainability and decarbonization in the built environment. He highlights the progress that has been made in the UK, particularly in terms of legislative and regulatory policies, as well as the establishment of networks and collaborations to drive sustainability initiatives. Jones also shares examples of sustainable technologies being implemented, such as mass timber and energy networks, and emphasizes the need for a mindset shift and thinking differently to make a real impact. He expresses optimism for the future, citing the growing awareness and engagement of younger generations.

Takeaways:

• The UK has made significant progress in embracing sustainability and decarbonization in the built environment through legislative and regulatory policies.
• Collaboration and networks play a crucial role in driving sustainability initiatives and sharing best practices.
• Examples of sustainable technologies being implemented include mass timber and energy networks.
• A mindset shift and thinking differently are necessary to make a real impact in the built environment.
• There is optimism for the future, as younger generations are increasingly aware and engaged in sustainability efforts.

In this episode of the Cretech Climate Cast podcast, host Michael Beckerman interviews Josh Felser, Co-founding partner of Climactic VC. They discuss the mission of Climactic VC and its focus on investing in software-first climate tech companies that aim to make the built environment more efficient. Felser emphasizes the importance of authenticity and adaptability in founders, and shares examples of portfolio companies like Weave Grid and Orange Chargers that are addressing key challenges in the industry. He also expresses optimism about the role of CEOs in driving decarbonization efforts.

Takeaways:

• Climactic VC focuses on investing in software-first climate tech companies that aim to make the built environment more efficient.
• Authenticity and adaptability are key qualities that Climactic VC looks for in founders.
• Portfolio companies like Weave Grid and Orange Chargers are addressing key challenges in the industry, such as EV load shaping and charging infrastructure.
• CEOs play a crucial role in driving decarbonization efforts, and their commitment is essential for the success of climate tech solutions.
• Despite the challenges, there is optimism about the potential for significant progress in decarbonizing the built environment.

In this episode, Michael Beckerman interviews Johnathan Axelrod, the co-founder and managing partner of Remarkable Ventures. They discuss the mission of Remarkable Ventures to drive investment and adoption in climate technologies focused on the built environment. Johnathan emphasizes the importance of entrepreneurship in solving climate change and highlights the need for both incremental impact and moonshot solutions. He also shares insights on what makes a remarkable founder and provides advice for founders looking to pitch to investors. The conversation concludes with a discussion on the role of technology and entrepreneurship in addressing the challenges of the energy grid and the importance of collaboration and adaptation in achieving climate goals.

Takeaways:

• Entrepreneurship is necessary to solve the biggest problems, including climate change.
• Investing in climate technologies for the built environment requires both incremental impact and moonshot solutions.
• A remarkable founder combines determination and flexibility, willing to go beyond what most people would quit while being open to changing direction based on market needs.
• When pitching to investors, founders should focus on understanding the problem, the solution, the market, and the customers' needs.
• The energy transition is already happening on the ground, with consensus and collaboration in many states, regardless of political affiliations.
• The role of technology and entrepreneurship in addressing the challenges of the energy grid is crucial, including grid orchestration and microgrid solutions.

In this episode of the Cretech Climate Cast podcast, Michael Beckerman interviews Raj Singh, the Managing Partner of JLL Spark Global Ventures, about the importance of sustainability in the built environment and the role of venture capital in driving climate tech solutions. They discuss JLL's commitment to sustainability and the need for innovative startups to address the climate crisis. Raj shares JLL Spark's investment criteria, which includes a focus on game-changing ideas, the maturity of the technology, and the strategic fit with JLL's mission. They also touch on the potential of AI in accelerating climate technologies and the massive market opportunity for decarbonizing the built environment.

Takeaways:
- Sustainability is mission critical to JLL because buildings are a major source of carbon emissions and have a significant impact on climate change.
- JLL Spark is actively looking to invest in early stage climate tech startups that have a game-changing idea and the potential for a material impact on sustainability.
- The intersection of AI and climate tech presents a lot of promise, but the technology is still in its early stages and requires further development and implementation.
- The market for climate tech in the built environment is massive and technology will play a crucial role in decarbonizing the planet.
- Collaboration between venture capitalists, startups, and industry leaders is essential for driving innovation and accelerating the adoption of climate tech solutions.

Join us for a deep dive into real estate decarbonization with Genevieve Gravina, CRE Sales Lead at Omnidian. In this conversation, we delve into the intricate workings of Omnidian, exploring how the platform collaborates with real estate entities to strategize and execute effective decarbonization strategies, touching on the tangible benefits that Omnidian's platform offers to its customers and the ideal customer profile for maximum effectiveness. 

Genevieve paints a vivid picture of the evolving real estate ecosystem, where sustainability and profitability harmonize seamlessly and expresses how this innovative platform is not just adapting to change but leading the charge towards a more sustainable and resilient future for the real estate industry.

Discover more: https://www.omnidian.com/

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Mike Kazmierczak, Vice President of the Decarbonization Office at Schneider Electric, to unravel the complexities of achieving sustainability and decarbonization goals in the built environment. Mike shares insights into his personal commitment to sustainability and dives into Schneider Electric's unique position as an "Impact company."

Retrofitting buildings has a pivotal role in the journey towards decarbonization. Mike sheds light on the evidence supporting the benefits and payback of retrofitting, providing a compelling case for organizations to embrace this transformative approach.

Schneider Electric's visionary approach to bridging the gap between ambition and action offers a roadmap for organizations to navigate the sustainable transformation of their buildings.

Discover more: www.se.com/decarbonize

Join Anneli Tostar, CEO & Co-Founder, and Nicole Granath, Co-Founder of Tangible, as they discuss their professional journeys and why sustainability matters to them. Explore the vision behind the inception of the Tangible platform and how it addresses marketplace challenges. Their recent successful fundraising journey provides valuable lessons for fellow founders; OWN YOUR POWER. 

As we all know the built world contributes to 40% of global carbon emissions, we'll also delve into how the industry can embrace better ESG practices, especially in the context of the supply chain crisis, for a more sustainable future. Keep an eye on Tangible in the coming years as they continue to make a meaningful impact.

Discover more: https://tangiblematerials.com/

Martin Powell, Axa's Group Sustainability Director and editor of "The Climate City" book, delves into groundbreaking solutions for urban resilience amid climate change. Discover the pivotal role of technology in emission reduction and the far-reaching impact of our choices on the planet and infrastructure. Explore AXA's unwavering commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and the path to achieving ambitious goals through constant innovation. Gain insight into the consequences of a 4-degree temperature rise, the imperative for real estate to address broader issues like flooding and sewage, and the contrasting approaches of EU and US governments and private sectors in green deal collaborations. Join us for a deep dive into sustainable urban living and the path forward.

Discover more: https://www.axa.com/

Join us in this episode as we delve into the world of sustainable and tech-driven investments with Micah Kotch, Partner at Blackhorn Ventures. We'll explore their investment thesis and strategy, focusing on the future of climate technology and the evolution of sustainable investments. Discover the pivotal role of green startups in the real estate industry and gain insights from Micah, a seasoned expert, about the influential power of venture capital in propelling sustainable innovation. Tune in for why the real estate sector can act as a catalyst for positive change.

Discover more: https://blackhornvc.com/

Stonly Blue, Managing Partner & Co-Founder at Third Sphere characterizes the core philosophy of Third Sphere, which focuses on supporting founders who transform theory into action going beyond altruism and embracing nuanced thinking to bring their amazing solutions into the world. Stonly delves into the influencing factors, that shape Third Sphere's investment decisions of why, what, and who whilst also challenging the narrative that hardware is hard, demonstrating that it doesn't have to be a barrier to success. Advice is provided on how technology companies can best grow and scale in the built environment.

Discover more: https://thirdsphere.com/