New Wave.

Artificial Intelligence is seen as a critical tool for solving climate change. We talk about optimizing grids, accelerating material discovery, and predicting extreme weather.

But can AI really help us solve the climate crisis faster than it contributes to it?

Today I’m joined by three sharp thinkers in the world of climate:

- Hampus Jakobsson: founding partner at Pale Blue Dot and a bullish believer in AI for climate

- Pippa Gawley: founding partner at Zero Carbon Capital and a cautious observer of the AI hype

- Matteo Turchetta: co-founder and CTO at KoraLabs and PhD in AI for sustainable agriculture from ETH Zürich

Together, we answer the question: Is AI a good thing for the climate?

***

We talk about:

Why adding “AI” to your pitch won’t save a climate startup

How smaller, smarter models could reduce emissions

Whether climate data is good enough to train real solutions

When AI crosses the line from helpful to harmful

How small AI wins might unlock massive physical world impact

When regulation makes sense, and when it stifles innovation

… and more!

***

Where to find Hampus, Pippa & Matteo:

Hampus | Pale Blue Dot | The Drop

Pippa | Zero Carbon Capital

Matteo | KoraLabs

***

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(01:30) AI Solution Categories

(03:57) Investor Skepticism

(06:54) Practical Use Cases

(12:30) Data Quality Matters

(17:17) Environmental Impact of AI

(23:05) Solving Real Problems

(33:57) Accelerating Dirty Industries

(40:05) Responsible Use of AI

(46:06) Key Takeaways

***

Other episodes you might like:

- How Climate Startups Get Their FIRST Investor

***

Sign up for my free newsletter:

- VCo2 | The Climate Investing Podcast | Hugo Rauch | Substack

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

Batteries are the backbone of the energy transition. From grid-scale storage to next-gen chemistries, the world is racing to shape a trillion-dollar industry.

But what are the fundamental differences between battery types? And which are actually game-changers?

To explore the battery market, I’m joined by Dave Borlace, the voice behind Just Have a Think, a YouTube channel trusted by 600,000+ people for its break down of complex climate and energy topics into compelling narratives.

***

What we discussed:

Why battery tech is essential for the future of the grid

A breakdown of 6 battery types (from lithium-ion to aluminium-ion)

How China took the lead in battery manufacturing

What metrics matter: energy density, cycle life, cost, safety, and weight

… and more!

***

Where to find Dave Borlace:

YouTube: Just Have a Think

LinkedIn: Dave Borlace

***

(00:00) Introduction

(01:33) Batteries and the Energy Transition

(10:45) Lithium-Ion Dominance

(24:49) Exploring Lithium-Sulfur

(31:04) Is Sodium-Ion Viable?

(35:07) The Promise of Solid-State Batteries

(38:53) Incumbents vs. Innovators

(42:07) What’s Up with Flow Batteries?

(47:06) The Potential of Aluminum Batteries

(49:58) Rapid Fire Questions 🔥

***

This episode is a bit different from our usual format. Typically, I sit down with climate investors, angels, VCs, and PEs. But this time, I wanted to try something new.

It's summer, and I thought it was the perfect moment to invite Dave Borlace, creator of Just Have a Think and one of the clearest voices on climate technology, to break down the battery landscape for us.

He's not an investor, but he’s a brilliant educator.

I hope you enjoy this special episode as much as I did.

***

Leave a review:

Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

How do you secure that first yes from a climate investor?

And how do you build the conviction needed to write the first check?

***

Co-hosted by Climate Drift and VCo2, this brutally honest conversation features three of the sharpest minds in early-stage investing, Hampus Jakobsson (Pale Blue Dot), Jonny Everett (Marble), and Andreas Klinger (Prototype Capital), to lift the curtain on how decisions are made when there’s barely a product, let alone traction.

You’ll learn:

→ Why traction isn’t what gets deals done

→ What “founder-problem fit” really means

→ The checklists behind venture decisions

→ How to cut through the noise and get noticed

→ … and more!

This conversation is gold if you’re raising a first round, backing pre-seed startups, or trying to figure out how to stand out in a crowded fundraising market.

***

⌛TIMESTAMPS

00.00 Introduction

01:28 What Hampus Looks For

02:31 Investors Can Be Fast

04:11 Checklist to Build A Startup

06:25 An Investor's Checklist

17:27 Matching People and Ideas

22:50 Market Shifts 2025

35:19 Getting Investor Attention

40:48 Planning for Returns

42:19 What is a Good Investor?

47:38 Planning Future Rounds

52:35 The Dynamics of Fundraising

56:02 Honesty in Rejections

1:02:04 Engineering Momentum

1:05:09 Seek a No

1:10:06 Building Real Relationships

1:13:35 Getting Noticed by Marble

1:16:22 The Upside of Failure

1:17:52 Closing Thoughts

***

Pale Blue Dot: https://paleblue.vc/

The Drop: https://thedropconf.com/

Prototype: https://www.prototypecap.com/contact/

Andreas' Channel:  ⁨@prototypecap⁩ 

Marble: https://marble.studio/about

Climate Drift: https://www.climatedrift.com/

VCo2: https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/

***

📚 STARTER PACK

We have prepared this Starter Pack as your crash course in early-stage climate investing, the people doing it, the psychology behind it, and the playbook that gets the first check over the line. Enjoy!

***

💚 LEAVE A REVIEW

Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

This week, we sit down with Tove Larsson, General Partner at Norrsken VC, one of the largest climate VCs in Europe with already 3 unicorns in their portfolio and built on top of Norrsken Foundation, launched by Niklas Adalberth (founder of Klarna).

We discuss why the geopolitical landscape is creating new opportunities, how Europe’s startup ecosystem is maturing, and what VCs need to change about their approach to impact investing.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why Europe is a more attractive climate tech market than ever before

How the European policy landscape (Green Deal, CBAM, etc.) is shaping startups

The sectors with the strongest unicorn potential in climate

Examples of booming sectors from Norrsken’s portfolio

How to support startups during and after failure

What LPs really think about impact funds, and why that’s changing

… and more!

***

Thank you to DealMaker for sponsoring this episode. 💚 

Big raises. No gatekeepers. DealMaker helps cleantech companies bypass traditional funding barriers and raise millions on their own terms, by going directly to investors online. Ready to fuel your vision? Visit DealMaker.tech to learn more.

***

⌛TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction & Europe's Investment Boom

04:49 Norssken & Klarna's Story

06:44 Key Sectors in Climate

09:28 AI For Climate?

16:09 European Policy Landscape

20:05 It's Time for Climate Unicorns

26:37 We Need More LPs In Climate

31:10 Embracing Risk & Failure

38:41 Rapid Fire Questions 🔥

***

💚 LEAVE A REVIEW

Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

This week, we sit down with Helena Wasserman, the co-founder of Investors for Climate, a global network of over 400 climate-focused investors across 24 cities. In this episode, we dive into the engine behind that momentum: a community that connects capital with founders at seed stage, and creates deep relationships between VCs, angels, and family offices worldwide.

***

Thank you to DealMaker for sponsoring this episode. 💚 

Big raises. No gatekeepers. DealMaker helps cleantech companies bypass traditional funding barriers and raise millions on their own terms, by going directly to investors online. Ready to fuel your vision? Visit DealMaker.tech to learn more.

***

⌛TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction to Investors For Climate

04:16 How the Community Started

06:43 The Community Playbook

09:58 Why Community Matters

14:28 Investor Preferences

17:56 City Expansion Strategy

19:18 Notable Investment Examples

20:36 You Need Strict Rules

21:45 Fire Questions

***

💚 LEAVE A REVIEW

Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

As industrial greentech scales, it faces hypertransformation: disrupting value chains, deploying new tech, demanding huge capital, and struggling with rapid growth. This is a stage at which traditional startup playbooks can’t keep up.

So, how do founders and investors survive, and thrive, through this chaos?

Laurits Bach Sørensen, Co-Founder of Nordic Alpha, shares a powerful new framework: Hypertransformation. This is how Nordic Alpha sold Spirii to Edenred for €175M and Wiferion to Tesla for €80M+.

In this conversation, we cover:

- Why green tech needs more than capital to win- The $215 trillion reindustrialization opportunity- How U.S. and China outplay Europe on policy- The 4 forces of hypertransformation- Why Northvolt failed, and how it could’ve been saved- … and more!

⌛TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction

02:13 Introduction to Nordic Alpha

5:24 The Need for Re-Industrialization

11:42 Skepticism in Climate Tech

15:18 Understanding Hyper Transformation

19:01 Four Forces of Hyper Transformation

27:54 Capital Expenditure in Hypergrowth

36:48 Managing Hypergrowth

39:20 Northvolt Case Study

49:50 Free Tools You Can Use

53:34 Rapid Fire Questions 🔥

📚 STARTUPS AND FRAMEWORKS

Hyper-Transformation Framework

BCSA - Better, Cheaper, Simpler, Available

Hyper-Replication Model

Auto-Projections & BTM Model

Spirii – sold to Edenred for €175M

Wiferion – sold to Tesla for €82M

Northvolt – Swedish EV battery company

STABL – Nordic Alpha portfolio company using second-life batteries

💚 LEAVE A REVIEW

Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

This week, we sit down with Desirée Petterson, Head of Impact at Satgana, to dive deep into climate investing in Africa, a region often overlooked by mainstream VC but holding the key to many climate challenges.

***

Thank you to DealMaker for sponsoring this episode. 💚 

Big raises. No gatekeepers. DealMaker helps cleantech companies bypass traditional funding barriers and raise millions on their own terms, by going directly to investors online. Ready to fuel your vision? Visit DealMaker.tech to learn more.

***

⌛TIMESTAMPS

00:00 Introduction3:12 Journey to Satgana 7:54 Climate Realities in Kenya 9:56 Africa’s Venture Capital Landscape 18:14 Leveraging Africa’s Unique Strengths 21:32 Rethinking VC: A New Playbook 27:41 Why Bottom-Up Investments Work in Africa 32:04 Not Investing in Africa Is the Bigger Risk 34:24 Rapid Fire Round

***

📚 STARTUPS AND FUNDS

Revivo - Refurbished electronics marketplace in Kenya

Kubik - Turning hard-to-recycle plastics into low-carbon building materials

Sirona - Direct air capture startup utilizing Kenya’s geothermal energy

Satgana - Climate and frontier market-focused VC fund

Grounded Investment Company - Fund innovating in agri-value chains

***

💚 LEAVE A REVIEW

Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

In this episode, we dive into one of Europe’s greatest climate venture studios: Marble.

Ben Tincq, founding partner at Marble, joins us to discuss how they build companies from scratch that aim to solve the hardest climate problems.

Here’s what we cover:

- Finding hard climate problems and solutions

- Recruiting great deep tech founders

- Going from “minus one to one”

- Trading market risk for technical risk

… and more!

Watch the full conversation on YouTube 👇***

Thank you to DealMaker for sponsoring this episode. 💚 

Big raises. No gatekeepers. DealMaker helps cleantech companies bypass traditional funding barriers and raise millions on their own terms, by going directly to investors online. Ready to fuel your vision? Visit DealMaker.tech to learn more.

***

⌛TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction

02:09 The Genesis of Marble

07:54 Building the Right Team

11:41 Picking Climate Problems

17:51 Creating Startups Systematically

23:22 Balancing Ambition and Returns

26:42 Clean Energy Abundance

30:33 Traits of Great Founders

37:43 Rapid Fire Questions

📚 STARTUPS MENTIONED

Renaissance Fusion: Fusion energy startup

Vema: Geologic Hydrogen

Stealth methane-reduction company from Marble

🤝 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST

Fill in this form: Become a sponsor of the podcast

💚 LEAVE A REVIEW

Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

From COVID-19 to the war in Ukraine, recent shocks have exposed a hard truth, Europe isn’t resilient yet. With the climate crisis accelerating, can we upgrade our infrastructure, economy, and innovation systems in time? To explore this topic, today we’re joined by Craig Douglas, founding partner at World Fund, one of Europe’s largest climate-tech VC.

⌛TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction

1:05 Craig’s VC Path

4:17 What Is Resilience?

10:20 Europe’s Weak Spots

19:19 VC Lens on Resilience

24:40 Case Study: Cylib

31:06 The European Bottleneck

39:52 Predictions for Europe's Resilience

42:14 Fast Fire Round

📚 REFERENCES

STARTUPS

Cylib – battery recycling

InstaGrids – portable power units

FUNDS

World Fund

Scottish Equity Partners

Set Ventures

NATO Innovation Fund

EIB (European Investment Bank)

PROGRAMS AND POLICIES

European Commission energy policy

IRA (Inflation Reduction Act) – U.S.

SFDR Article 9

Germany’s “Debt Brake” removal

DOE Loan Program (US)

🤝 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST

Fill in this form: Become a sponsor of the podcast

💚 LEAVE A REVIEW

Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

From improving food security to decarbonizing heavy industries and even transforming human health, microbes are emerging as a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.

But could they also be the next multi-billion-dollar opportunity? And can generalist VCs understand the space well enough to back the right teams?

In this episode, I’m joined by Olivier Mougenot, partner at Wind, a French deep-tech climate VC firm. Olivier is not a scientist. He’s not a biologist either. But he’s convinced that microorganisms will reshape our industries for the better and that biotech is now a business-first game where traditional VCs can support startups.

We discuss:

- What VCs can learn from SaaS to back the next generation of biotech startups- How to evaluate microorganisms projects (hint: performance, price, scale)- What AI can’t do yet in synthetic biology (but might soon)- How the best biotech startups de-risk their business- … and more!

⌛TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Introduction2:59 Wind: A Deep Tech VC Firm6:34 Microorganisms & Sustainability12:37 Biotech Beyond Scientists16:46 Ethics of Microorganisms21:23 Why Impact Funds Fit Biotech27:00 Wind’s Investment Thesis34:27 AI in Biotech37:45 Biotech Predictions41:54 Advice for Founders & VCs

🤝 SPONSOR THIS PODCASTFill in this form: Become a sponsor of the podcast

💚 LEAVE A REVIEWApple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcgSpotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com