Invested In Climate

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Valley of Death? It’s the phase of development that often kills off startups before they can reach scale. One key challenge is needing to test and refine their technology and gain true validation.  

For a few lucky startups, this is where the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator comes in to help them develop pilots that provide the insights and credible third-party endorsement needed to grow their technology. The incubator is part of the Department of Energy-backed National Renewable Energy Lab, an institution that’s central to the United State’s investment in renewable energy. 

Today, we’re joined by Trish Cozart, the Director of NREL's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, who oversees the Incubator. And, we’re also joined by the founders of two startups that recently participated in the lab: Adam Cohen from NineDot Energy and Tanya Barham from Community Energy Labs. We talk about what makes the incubator unique, how it’s helped these two companies, what they’re aiming to achieve and much more. Enjoy! 

• [3:15] National Renewable Energy Laboratory & the role it plays
• [5:01] Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator & the types of companies it supports
• [7:07] Tracking growth after participation in the Incubator
• [7:29] Advice for companies that need to get through the Valley of Death
• [9:01] Community Energy Labs, the problem it’s aiming to solve & what led Tanya to start the company
• [11:09] NineDot Energy, the problem it’s aiming to solve & Adam’s founding story
• [13:32] Tanya’s experience with the Incubator & differences in the NREL experience
• [17:39] Adam’s experience with the Incubator: focuses & outcomes
• [19:55] Trish on the support offered by the Incubator
• [22:07] Energy storage & why its important, especially in New York
• [24:03] How is NineDot different
• [25:45] NineDot’s partnerships & learnings
• [28:15] NineDot’s overall traction & current measurements
• [29:23] What are community buildings & why focus on them
• [34:56] Community Energy Lab’s technology & what makes it different
• [39:40] Community Energy Lab’s overall traction & achievements so far
• [42:04] New cohorts for the Incubator & what to expect for the future
• [43:04] NineDot’s role & what is needed to get there
• [43:58] What the future looks like for Community Energy Labs

• Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator
• National Renewable Energy Lab, 
• NREL's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center
• NineDot Energy 
• Community Energy Labs

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Today’s episode focuses on sustainable consumption. I know what you’re probably thinking – that the climate crisis requires systemic change and that shifting consumer behavior is slow, it's difficult and it simply won’t add up to enough in terms of the emissions reductions we need. And, I agree – sustainable shopping isn’t enough, but it’s still essential. Demand for climate-positive products helps accelerate new markets. And when consumers see that their choices matter, it influences what they work on, invest in and vote for.

Over the years, there have been many attempts to get consumers to go green, but today’s guests have novel approaches that are gaining real traction. Jean-Louis Warnholz is the Co-Founder and CEO of Future, a recommendation and rewards engine driving sustainable purchasing. And Amandine Durr is the Head of Product at Back Market, an online marketplace serving the fast-growing interest in refurbished technology. We talk about both of their companies, how they got started, how they’re saving consumers money while protecting the environment, where they’re headed, how AI is helping, how refurbished goods have become a new category, the potential for everyday people to transform our economy and much more. Lots to learn and think about in this one. Enjoy. 

• [3:19] Future & the problem it’s aiming to solve
• [4:27] Jean-Louis’ journey & how he got involved in climate work
• [5:15] Back Market & the problem it’s aiming to solve
• [6:48] Amandine’s journey & how she got involved in climate work
• [8:01] Future’s products & what sets it apart 
• [10:13] Future’s traction & consumer adoption
• [11:49] Future’s impact on climate & the environment
• [13:34] Future’s rewards system
• [14:39] Back Market’s products, its refurbishing process & how it stands out in the space
• [17:47] How the market for refurbished & secondhand goods has changed 
• [20:17] Conveying Back Market’s refurbishment process to consumers
• [23:38] Handling the issue of planned obsolescence
• [25:55] The partnership between Back Market & Future
• [29:01] Future’s personalized recommendations feature
• [31:29] Spending areas where consumers could save money & improve their climate impacts
• [35:37] What’s next for Back Market
• [38:21] The B2B market
• [40:54] The future of shopping in 5-10 years & what needs to change

• Future
• Back Market

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Today, we’re going to talk about mushrooms. More than a delicious pizza topping, fungi can be useful in many different ways and it might even play a heroic role in addressing climate change. How might mushrooms help? Let's count some of the ways. They can be eaten and help reduce our dependence on animal protein. They can replace animal-based leather, sequester carbon, serve as a biofuel, improve soil health, and thereby reduce our need for fertilizers. They can accelerate reforestation, create an alternative to petroleum-based plastics and packaging, and finally, they can help break down and absorb pollutants. 

This last use case is called bioremediation and it’s the focus of the startup Mycocycle – a company that’s making impressive progress using mushrooms to clean up waste. 

We’re joined by Mycocycle Founder and CEO Joanne Rodriguez, as well as one of her investors Ryan Jeffrey, Senior Managing Director at the venture firm and accelerator, Gener8tor. We chatted about the opportunity to transform the waste management sector, how fungi can help, Mycocycle’s traction, Gener8tor’s investment thesis and how they’ve helped Joanne’s journey, and much more.

Hope you enjoy this one, mushroom jokes and all. Here we go.

• [3:25] Joanne’s background & how she got to where she is today
• [4:23] Ryan’s background & how he got to where he is today
• [5:52] What is Gener8tor?
• [7:11] Mycocycle, the problem it's aiming to solve & the company’s approach
• [9:37] The process of leveraging the power of fungi & nature to break down waste
• [13:47] Why did Gener8tor decide to invest in Mycocycle?
• [16:14] The role of fungi in battling climate change & the opportunity
• [18:06] The fungi-for-bioremediation business model
• [20:45] Surprises & lessons of working with fungi
• [21:19] The Department of Energy's Argonne National Labs & what it allowed Mycocycle to do
• [24:08] Mycocycle’s experience with Gener8tor’s accelerator
• [25:39] Mycocycle’s milestones
• [26:46] The types of companies that Mycocycle is looking to partner with right now
• [28:05] Mycocycle’s environmental impact & carbon measurement
• [29:34] John’s view of milestones & risks for Mycocycle to reach commercial success
• [30:57] How John sees the space in 3-5 years
• [33:15] How Joanne sees the space evolving & opportunities to improve waste management
• [36:34] What’s next for Mycocycle
• [37:36] A final mushroom joke

• Mycocycle 
• Gener8tor

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When it comes to climate policy we hear a whole lot about what’s happening or not at the federal level, and it's easy to miss the critical role of states and cities in responding to climate change. Whether you know it or not, your local government is shaping how your community is preparing for and responding to climate impacts. It’s also making choices driven by the climate transition that affect your daily life. Building codes, electric vehicle infrastructure, public transportation, waste management, green spaces – maybe these things don’t sound sexy, but they’re central to cutting emissions and creating more resilient, livable communities.

Today’s episode focuses on cities, and we’re joined by two City Councilmembers who are leading the climate efforts of two major US cities. Yassamin Ansari is Vice Mayor and Councilmember of Phoenix, Arizona, and Nithya Raman is a Councilmember of Los Angeles. Both Councilmember Ansari and Raman care deeply about climate action, and in this conversation, we discussed how they’re setting their priorities, the progress they’ve made, their goals for the future, and much more. I learned a lot from this conversation and suspect you will as well. Here we go.  

• [3:28] Councilmember Ansari’s background, city & focus on climate
• [6:59] Councilmember Raman’s background, city & focus on climate
• [9:13] The role of cities & establishing priorities
• [14:43] Phoenix’s Office of Heat Response and Mitigation
• [17:39] Climate justice & equity in LA
• [20:43] Zero emission policy & decarbonizing the built environment in LA
• [25:43] New rules & incentives for climate in Phoenix
• [28:30] LA’s biggest priorities & opportunities
• [30:41] Phoenix’s biggest priorities & opportunities
• [32:17] The role of public-private partnerships & examples
• [37:11] How cities influence the broader climate fight
• [41:00] How listeners can make a difference at the local level

• Phoenix: City Council District 7
• Los Angeles: City Council District 4
• Vice Mayor Ansari's Climate Record
• Councilmember Raman's Environment Initiatives
• Phoenix's Climate Action Plan
• Phoenix Office of Heat Response and Mitigation
• LA Ordinance: Zero-Emission Construction
• Phoenix Awarded $25M RAISE Grant to Build Rio Salado Bike/Ped Bridge
• LA Region's South Coast Air Quality Management District

• Connect with Councilmember Ansari on LinkedIn
• Connect with Councilmember Raman on D4 Website

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Today, we're taking a deep dive into the ocean. Oceans are central to our planet’s climate system. They regulate temperatures, host a vast array of biodiversity, and here's a crucial point - they absorb about a quarter of all CO2 emissions, acting as a massive carbon sink.

But this isn't without consequence. Ocean acidification is a direct result of climate change. It's a silent crisis happening beneath the waves, triggering a mass extinction of coral reefs and the diverse ecosystems that depend on them. 

And, then there’s the crisis of plastics – 10 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year.

These threats are real and immediate, but so is the potential for innovation. In this episode, we’re joined by two people working hard to restore ocean health. Brandon Levy is Chief Product Officer at the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and Bodhi Patil is an activist and organizer who founded Ocean Uprise, a platform enabling thousands of young people to support ocean activism. Both Brandon and Bodhi have their fingers on the pulse of the global effort to restore our oceans’ health. 

Despite the daunting challenges facing our oceans, this conversation was truly inspiring and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Here we go. 

• [3:37] Brandon’s story & role at SOA
• [8:46] Bodhi’s story & role at Ocean Uprise
• [15:10] The state of ocean health & how it’s linked to climate change
• [20:28] The state of ocean investment & SOA’s diversified strategy
• [24:30] The role of young people & the importance of youth leadership in creating sustainable oceans
• [30:44] Insights on SOA’s Ocean Solutions Accelerator
• [34:44] Current initiatives that Bodhi is excited about
• [41:02] What we need to know about deep-sea mining
• [44:51] How can listeners support SOA’s work
• [46:41] Bodhi’s calls to action for people inspired to do more to protect our oceans

• Sustainable Ocean Alliance
• Ocean Uprise
• Parley for the Oceans
• Sustainable Ocean Alliance: Ocean Solutions Accelerator
• Seabird Ventures
• Finless Foods
• AKUA
• OnDeck Fisheries AI
• Symbrosia
• Invested in Climate: Saving the planet with seaweed, Symbrosia & Sway, Ep #25
• Coral Gardeners
• International Seabed Authority
• No Deep Sea Mining: Business Statement Supporting a Moratorium on Deep Seabed Mining
• Look Down Action
• InnerLight
• One World Breath

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Addressing climate change is not just about eliminating emissions and removing as much carbon from the atmosphere as possible. It's also about people – how their lives, livelihoods, and communities are disrupted by climate impacts as well as by investments in climate solutions. It’s an issue of equity. Pollution and climate-induced extreme weather are disproportionately felt by people of color and low-income communities. And, historically, large-scale investments in new industries have often disproportionately benefited wealthy people with privileged access. 

This is where the environmental and climate justice movement comes in. It's a movement that's grown in numbers, strength, and sophistication in recent years. It’s won hard-fought advocacy battles at all levels of government and has also influenced how stakeholders from all sectors think, talk about, and pursue climate action. 

At the center of this movement is the organization Climate Justice Alliance, a coalition of nearly 100 grassroots organizations, working to create what's called a Just Transition. In this interview, I’m joined by Marion Gee, Co-Executive Director of the Climate Justice Alliance, for a truly informative conversation on the state of the climate justice movement, the principles of a just transition, the role and strategies of the Climate Justice Alliance, and much more. Listen to this one with an open mind, give some thought to how equity issues show up in your work, and enjoy.

• [3:53] The just transition movement, its history & the role Climate Justice Alliance is playing to support it
• [6:40] About Marion & how she got involved in this work
• [8:15] The core principle of equitably redistributing resources & power
• [10:53] What does a regenerative economy look like
• [12:47] Climate Justice Alliance’s member organizations & how they work together
• [14:21] How Climate Justice Alliance is creating more collaboration & why community-based organizations are important
• [16:35] Climate Justice Alliance’s six strategies
• [22:20] Move the Money: How it’s going & what should we expect to see in the future
• [24:37] The influx of interest & support for climate action in recent years
• [30:57] Unpacking the term technofix
• [33:07] The Inflation Reduction Act: Excitement, concerns & challenges
• [36:04] Exciting policy efforts & new programs
• [38:13] Things that must happen in the next few years to achieve a just transition
• [39:41] How can listeners help

• Climate Justice Alliance
• Justice40 Initiative
• White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council
• Bezos Earth Fund
• Detroit Black Food Security Network - Detroit Food Commons
• The Inflation Reduction Act
• Community to Community
• Numa’lo Refillery

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You probably know that buildings and the built environment account for 40% of our emissions and about 40% of our energy use. Many bright minds are working on this problem, but it remains a tricky one. In the residential market, homeowners are often reluctant to undertake renovations, and when they do, they usually lack the information and contractors they need to consider energy-efficient and climate-positive options.

Now, imagine a world where all homes were rated based on their energy efficiency and environmental impact, and that rating influenced their financial value. Furthermore, imagine if the rating included a recommended retrofitting strategy. That would be a game-changer, right? This is the world that a start-up called Pearl Certification is attempting to create. I have to say, I really love this systems change approach that could shift incentives and behavior in real estate.

In this episode, I'm joined by Pearl CEO and Founder Cynthia Adams, as well as one of her investors, Lou Schick from Clean Energy Ventures. We discuss Cynthia and Lou's extensive experience in the built environment and real estate markets, Pearl's growth and potential, how this space will evolve in the future, what we need to do to get there, and much more. Enjoy!

• [3:29] Pearl, Cynthia’s role & why she got involved in climate work
• [6:37] Clean Energy Ventures, Lou’s role & why he got involved in climate work
• [7:43] CEV’s investment thesis, their approach to potential climate investments & what led to their investment in Pearl
• [9:26] The business opportunity with Pearl
• [11:00] Pearl’s climate impact through certifying buildings
• [12:38] Pearl’s demand, target market, reach & the evidence for demand 
• [16:12] Consumer interest in retrofitting homes & investing in clean energy products
• [19:17] Partnerships to Pearl’s growth
• [22:10] How Pearl’s helping homeowners in the next phase
• [23:59] What Lou is excited about in these spaces 
• [25:32] The gaps in electrification
• [31:15] The future outlook in 5-10 years
• [36:02] The most concerning problems within the built environment 
• [41:01] The government’s role in building markets
• [43:10] How the Inflation Reduction Act benefits homeowners
• [47:09] Call to action for listeners who want to support the built environment transition

• Pearl Certification
• Clean Energy Ventures
• National Association of Realtors
• The Appraisal Institute
• Ferguson Ventures
• Green Door

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The US Department of Energy (DOE) plays a key role in the rollout of climate funding and policies, so I was thrilled to chat with Chris Castro. Chris is the Chief of Staff of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs at the DOE. Chris brings entrepreneurial instincts and experience, along with clear passion to his role. We talk about Chris’ journey, the implementation of policies you’ve heard of like the IRA, as well as dozens of lesser-known initiatives managed by the DOE that are helping communities across the country decarbonize. There’s lots to learn in this one – enjoy.

• [2:57] Chris’ journey in environmental policy, how it started & the different roles he played before being appointed by President Biden
• [8:23] Chris’s current role & what he’s trying to accomplish at the DOE
• [15:42] The Chips and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law & the IRA
• [21:54] Realizing climate opportunities equitably for communities
• [24:34] The biggest barrier to these laws not creating their intended impact
• [26:51] Signs the IRA will spark other investments in decarbonization, electrification & energy efficiency retrofits
• [29:07] The path to decarbonizing building
• [33:37] The umbrella of grant programs available
• [38:08] What else needs to happen to address climate change
• [41:05] Advice for listeners & entrepreneurs/intrapreneurs looking to get started

• US Department of Energy 
• Office of State and Community Energy

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Late in 2022, I noticed a BBC News article stating that HSBC – one of the world’s largest banks – had committed to end funding for all new oil and gas drilling. The commitment alone was noteworthy, but what really caught my eye, as I was looking to understand what drove such a powerful commitment, was the mention of a small nonprofit group based in the UK called ShareAction. I learned that their investigative work, pressure, and collaboration with financial service firms and other companies are accelerating the climate transition. The secret to their sauce is what’s known as shareholder activism, and here to explain it today is Simon Rawson, ShareAction’s Director of Corporate Engagement & Deputy CEO. A former British diplomat, Simon helped build the social responsibility practice at McKinsey & Company. He brings real sophistication to his advocacy work, understanding the need for quality data and balancing pressure and collaboration. I learned a lot from this conversation and if you’re interested in understanding how the financial system can help accelerate climate action, I think you’ll enjoy it. Here we go.

• [3:14] ShareAction, how it got started & the problem it's aiming to solve
• [4:57] Simon’s career switch & why his work today is important
• [6:41] The power of shareholder activism
• [8:48] The transformation of the financial system
• [10:56] ShareAction’s Voting Matters Report
• [14:10] Divergence in the US & Europe in relation to ESG backlash
• [16:22] The importance of the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative & Climate Action 100+
• [18:19] The hyperpolarization of ESG & next steps
• [19:57] The HSBC commitment & ShareAction’s role
• [21:43] The balance between pushing aggressively & being collaborative
• [23:33] What’s involved in creating a shareholder resolution
• [26:00] Coalition building & keeping the pressure on
• [27:25] Climate action & investor returns
• [30:02] Focusing on the petrochemical industry 
• [32:54] Other focus areas for ShareAction
• [34:44] What everyday people can do when it comes to shareholder activism
• [37:05] What the future will look like in 10-15 years

• ShareAction
• ShareAction’s Voting Matters Report
• The Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative
• Climate Action 100+
• BBC News: HSBC to end funding for new oil and gas fields

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Today’s episode is a deep dive into climate finance. I’m joined by Marilyn Waite, Managing Director of Climate Finance Fund. Marilyn is one of the world’s leading thinkers, writers and leaders working in several different ways to stimulate the kind and scale of investment needed to address climate change. She brings a deep commitment to climate justice and using finance to ensure the climate transition happens more equitably. As she works to make investments in the US, Europe and China, Marilyn brings a truly global lens. This is a really thoughtful conversation, reflecting on the role of philanthropy in climate finance, the banking sector’s role in addressing climate change, the implications of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse, the likely impact of disclosure rules, innovative finance, systemic change in finance and much more.  If you’re interested in the big picture of climate finance there’s a lot here for you.

• [3:21] Marilyn’s background & what drives her
• [4:57] Climate Finance Fund & Marilyn’s role
• [6:25] Why is philanthropic capital needed
• [8:45] How much climate financing is needed & the role of philanthropic capital 
• [11:38] Capital accelerants that can help unlock more investment
• [13:41] Innovative finance & the systemic decarbonization of capital
• [15:16] The climate financing market in the US, Europe & China
• [19:36] The opportunity for collaboration across markets
• [21:32] The integration of equity into Marilyn’s work
• [22:59] Where does climate justice get challenged most often
• [25:34] The Bank for Good campaign & why it’s needed
• [27:16] The role of Silicon Valley Bank & the gap its collapse created
• [31:59] The short & longer-term influence of the SEC disclosure rules
• [33:37] The highly politicized backlash to ESG investing
• [36:32] Excitement & hopes over the next 3-5 years
• [39:02] Advice for listeners interested in climate finance

• Climate Finance Fund
• Publications by Marilyn Waite
• Hewlett Foundation
• Inside the Movement (ITM) Newsletter
• Greenbiz: 3 green economy insights from China’s quintessential convening

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