Pitching Progress

When BCG’s Global Chair, Rich Lesser, agreed to come on the show, we were looking to get a five minute sound bite to use in a previous episode. We ended up getting that sound bite… and so much more.

Among other things, Rich shared his thoughts on the state of corporate climate commitments and the ongoing efforts to unlock the value of AI. After a season full of discussions about evolving attitudes towards sustainability and decarbonizing data centers, his words felt especially pertinent.

So enjoy this bonus episode where you can hear the conversation with Rich in its entirety, and please continue to keep an eye on the feed for announcements about season 3.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

We’ve known how to trap CO2 from smokestacks for decades, but the sheer size of many carbon capture solutions has been a barrier to adoption. Today we’re featuring a company solving that problem, with a compact and modular solution that can be tailored to suit a wide range of industrial applications.

Aniruddha Sharma is the Co-founder and CEO of Carbon Clean, a company with tech that has shrunk the size of carbon capture solutions by ten to fifteen times, allowing deployment even where physical space is at a premium. And now, with a pivot to project development, they’re hoping to make carbon capture a more attractive proposition for even more large emitters, like hyperscalers.

With nearly half of global emissions coming from boilers and gas turbines, capturing carbon from that machinery could have a massive climate impact. So what will it take to make that happen? And how does a company like Carbon Clean stay on course when the politics of climate keep shifting under its feet?

Let’s find out.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about Flashfood, you can check them out at: https://www.carbonclean.com/

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

While millions of people struggle to afford adequate nutrition, 40 percent of all the food produced in North America ends up wasted. And a lot of that food is perfectly edible, but sent to landfill simply because it’s getting too close to its best before date. Today’s company is working very hard to change that.

Jordan Schenck is the CEO of Flashfood, a company with a platform that lets grocers sell near-expired food to deal-hungry consumers at a discounted rate. And through their marketplace, they’ve compiled reams of data on user preferences that give grocers unprecedented insight into where shrink is occurring, and how to prevent it.

So will grocery giants be willing to let inventory go at a discount? And if they are, what's to stop them from just doing it themselves?

Let’s find out.

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about Flashfood, you can check them out at: https://flashfood.com/

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

In hard-to-abate sectors, carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be useful in curbing emissions, while keeping vital assets like cement factories and gas power plants online. But the traditional methods of point-source CCS employ an amine solvent-based system that draws power out of the process, and carries some concerns around toxicity. Today, we’re featuring a company doing things a bit differently.

Wendy Lam is the CEO of Capsol Technologies, a Norway-based, publicly traded CCS company that’s using a substance called hot potassium carbonate (HPC) to strip CO2 from industrial emissions, while generating power at the same time. And their tech has attracted the attention of some large US utilities as a way to help them power the data center boom without running afoul of emissions regulations.

So which industrial partners will help Capsol scale beyond the testing phase? What sort of advantage does their HPC-based solution give them in a crowded carbon capture field? And how do they plan to maintain their growth even as some of the enthusiasm around CCS seems to be waning?

Let’s find out.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about Capsol, you can check them out at: https://www.capsoltechnologies.com/

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

For years the pattern in consumer electronics has been ‘use, update, discard.’ And ready access to Asian manufacturing meant there was little incentive for companies to even try recovering scrapped components. But now, as governments wake up to the scale of the global e-waste problem, and geopolitical instability threatens vital supply chains, the tech industry is recognizing the need to do things differently.

Enter Rob Lawson-Shanks, the CEO and Co-founder of Molg, a company using robotics and automation to make tech recycling economically viable. Headquartered in northern Virginia’s so-called ‘Data Center Alley’, Rob and his team have become an indispensable tool for hyperscalers looking to squeeze as much life as possible out of their (increasingly) expensive server assets.

So why has it historically been such a struggle to make tech recycling work at scale? How does Molg’s circular manufacturing platform change that calculus? And will they be able to branch out from data centers to the broader consumer tech industry?

Let’s find out.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about Molg, you can check them out at: https://www.molg.ai/

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

India’s thriving quick-commerce industry has led to an explosion of two-wheeled vehicles criss-crossing the streets of large cities, delivering everything from bananas to AC units within minutes. But some local governments are restricting diesel vehicle use to combat pollution, which is just one of the many reasons behind the growing demand for electric vehicles in the market.

Kunal Mundra is the founder and CEO of Astranova mobility, an EV leasing company that provides fleets of two, three, and four-wheeled vehicles to industrial operators. And on top of that, they’ve built an impressive tech stack that gives them real-time insight into how their EVs are being deployed, to help them mitigate risk on every asset.

So the tailwinds for EV adoption in India are obvious, but does the country have the infrastructure to keep up with the demand? And will industrial uptake provide a springboard for more widespread adoption?

Let’s find out.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about Astranova, you can check them out at: https://astranovamobility.com/about-us

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

To limit the release of pollutants onto nearby communities, The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has strict guidelines around ships powering themselves at port. That means large vessels must either connect to shore power, or employ another strategy to capture their emissions. Today’s company is that other strategy.

Michael Walker is the CEO of STAX Engineering, a company with a mobile emissions capture technology that’s currently being deployed on container ships, car carriers and oil tankers up and down the California coast. STAX’ technology connects directly to the ship's stack, and prevents the spread of harmful pollutants like PM2.5 and nitrous oxide to port-adjacent neighbourhoods.

Their tech is impressive, and in California, concerted government efforts to improve air quality have created some serious tailwinds for STAX. But will their value prop hold up in places with less stringent regulation?

Let’s find out.

—---------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about STAX, you can check them out at: https://www.staxengineering.com/

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

Most businesses want their suppliers to operate ethically and sustainably. But even mid-sized companies might be dealing with thousands of vendors spread across the globe, and getting an accurate sense of what’s going on within such a complex supply chain can be a herculean task.

Pierre-François Thaler is the visionary Co-founder and Co-CEO of EcoVadis, one of the world’s biggest and most trusted sustainability verification platforms. They provide in-depth supply chain assessments to give firms a holistic view of their operations, and empower them with the data that can help reduce emissions, and improve resilience.

But global focus on sustainability seems to be waning, and companies are racing to adapt their supply chains in response to geopolitical tensions. Amidst these competing priorities, does EcoVadis’ value proposition still hold up?

Let’s find out.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about EcoVadis, you can check them out at: https://ecovadis.com/

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

Tom O’Leary is the CEO and Co-founder of JetZero, a company trying to get so-called ‘blended-wing’ aircraft into the fleets of some of the world’s biggest airlines. And with their first test flight scheduled for 2027, JetZero sits on the precipice of aviation history.

Tom joins us along with Adam Gordon, the head of BCG’s aviation practice, for an in-depth discussion about the advantages of blended-wing aircraft, and the challenges of being a disruptor in one of the world’s most heavily regulated sectors.

Tom’s certain that blended wing is the future of flight, but will he be able to convince the broader industry?

Let’s find out.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To learn more about JetZero, you can check them out at: https://www.jetzero.aero/

If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at: [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

Pitching Progress is back with a new slate of visionary entrepreneurs, and a host of solutions to some of the world’s most intractable climate issues.

Tune in every other Thursday as Vinay Shandal, the Global Lead of BCG’s Sustainable Investing business, challenges these founders to make the case that their businesses are good for the planet, and good for investors.

From more efficient planes, to preventing shipping pollution, tune in to Season 2 of Pitching Progress, and get inspired by the people working to build a better future.

—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you have any ideas for companies who should be featured on the show, shoot us an email at [email protected]

For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity