Welcome to Episode 17 of Series 4!

We talked a bit about Energy Storage in frontier markets in the last episode, and that’s also a major part of the theme here. While there is huge potential for solar power in hot countries, the key is to ensure that the power is available where and when you need it. 

At the same time, there is growing global dependency on Lithium-ion batteries, despite being a less than perfect solution, not least because of the lack of sustainable lithium supply.

My guest this week is Will Tope, Chief Commercial Officer of LiNa Energy, who have developed and patented an alternative based on sodium. The business was set up within Lancaster University, and Will Tope joined a couple of years ago to drive the commercialisation of the product.

He talks about the origins of lithium-ion as an energy source, the huge uptick in demand, particularly from electric vehicles and the limitations of reliance on lithium. He explains the need for constant focus on the problem and not the solutions, and ensuring product/market fit.

I also ask him about his transition to a startup from the ‘comfy couch’ of the oil & gas industry, and the appetite for renewables in India, one of LiNa’s core markets.

Will Tope is passionate about the mission and is a very engaging podcast guest. I really enjoyed the chat and I’m sure you will too.

LEARN MORE ABOUT LINA ENERGY

• Website: https://www.lina.energy/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lina-energy/ 

CONNECT WITH WIL TOPE

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamtope/ 

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 16 of Series 4!

Plenty of startup business challenges can be daunting, not least in the Clean Energy space. If anything, the urgent global need to transition to renewable energy, and the consequences of not doing so, add another level of pressure. Even if more people now understand what is at stake and what is required. 

The challenge of replacing fossil fuels with renewable supply is pretty serious in any market. But I’ll bet that it’s tougher in emerging markets like Sub Saharan Africa.

But at the same time, the potential for solar power in Africa is vast. For anyone with the drive and acumen to overcome the complexities of these emerging markets, it’s a huge opportunity for impact.

My guest this week is Mike Rosenberg, Co-Founder and CEO of Circadian, an IoT and SaaS platform that catayzes renewable energy adoption in frontier markets. Their technology empowers solar developers in West, East and Southern Africa so that they can drive the mass adoption of decentralised energy - moving from ubiquitous diesel generators to efficient solar & storage installations.

This is such an interesting business, with an enormous opportunity to facilitate energy transition where it is desperately needed. 

Mike’s own journey is remarkable and  his clarity of purpose and motivation are impressively evident in this conversation. I urge you to keep listening and be inspired by Circadian’s ambitious mission.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CIRCADIAN

• Website: https://circadian.io/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/circadiantech/ 

CONNECT WITH MIKE ROSENBERG 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikerosenberg/?originalSubdomain=uk

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 15 of Series 4!

One of the things I find most interesting about developments in the climate tech space is that they usually depend on serious, fundamental behaviour change. To make real progress towards net zero and genuine sustainability, every aspect of our way of lives has to change. 

On a corporate level, a lot of the transformation has to be pretty comprehensive, and is inevitably being driven by employees.

My guest this week is Tim Riedel, a successful Human Resources Business Leader and Entrepreneur based in Berlin. Having sold his business a few years ago, he was looking for his next challenge and decided he wanted to be part of the solution in fighting climate change. So, he began building a business that could leverage his skills in HR and organisational change.

Tim is Founder and CEO of planetgroups, an HR consulting firm whose goal is to bring about change in companies by enhancing and supporting climate and planet action from their employees. He believes this will create more successful companies, more fulfilled employees, and of course a sustainable economy.

Tim believes that HR leaders have to play a more important role in directing this corporate change, and focusing on the customer and their journey to sustainability is also key to success.

Keep listening to learn about how they work with their clients, about how they begin with the climate solution game, the impact of green teams and much more. Tim articulates the mission extremely well and it’s great to hear about the impact they are having.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANETGROUPS

• Website: https://planetgroups.net/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/planetgroups/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_planetgroups_/ 
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iHWVFqJf2PLEAPG2gswyw 

CONNECT WITH TIM RIEDEL

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/planetgroupstimriedel/ 

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 14 of Series 4!

After last episode's Foray into Hydrogen Technologies, I’m back in my comfort zone this week, or at least closer to it. The World of Recruitment.  Recruitment in terms of the urgent need to train and place people for the millions of green jobs that are required if we are going to come close to meeting our net zero goals. Cars, homes and commercial buildings have to become more energy efficient but the UK market is woefully short of the skills required to help people and companies make the transition.

My guest is Mat Ilic, Co-Founder and CEO of Greenworkx, an EdTech Startup with a Sustainability Mission. Mat Ilic is a Public Policy Expert and Former Special Advisor to the Prime Minister who describes their mission with far more eloquence - so I’ll leave that to him. But essentially they are building an app and talent portal that will match people from all backgrounds to appropriate green jobs and guide them through the whole training and placement process. 

What I particularly like is their ability to target groups who are typically under-represented in technical industries, and those who might find the traditional job market hard to access and navigate, as well as those whose job in the fossil fuel industry may soon disappear.

Greenworkx is barely 12 months old but they’ve achieved great momentum already, including funding from leading VCs/growth and impact investors and support from an array of successful and high profile business leaders.

Mat Ilic and Co-Founder Richard Ng are also another example of one of these serendipitous Co-Founding Partnerships, where skills and values seem to be perfectly aligned - which has to be a solid foundation for success.

The challenge is huge and incredibly important. And Mat Ilic articulates the vision superbly so keep listening to find out more - and of course subscribe to the podcast if you like it.

LEARN MORE ABOUT GREENWORKX

• Website: https://www.greenworkx.org/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/joingreenworkx/ 

CONNECT WITH MAT ILIC

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mat-ilic/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/IlicMat 

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 13 of Series 4!

This episode is all about fuel cell innovation and the UK hydrogen economy. It’s a subject about which I knew next to nothing before my conversation with Dr. Michaela Kendall, Co-Founder and CEO of Adelan, one of the pioneers in the sector who are based in the manufacturing heartlands of Birmingham.

Adelan develops low carbon products for the clean energy market and are on a mission to develop the hydrogen economy and deliver clean air.

Michaela is passionate about the development of a sovereign capability in hydrogen technology in the UK, and believes that our innovation ecosystem and manufacturing capability make us well-equipped to be a global leader.

Adelan was founded by Michaela and her father Professor Kevin Kendall after they invented the core microtubular solid oxide fuel cell (mSOFC) technology back in 1992.

For the unacquainted, Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are a highly efficient, stable and flexible technology that generates electricity from eco-friendly fuel sources via an electrochemical reaction. They have huge potential for success in clean energy generation. 

So keep listening for a great introduction to this extremely important and growing industry.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ADELAN:

• Website: https://adelan.co.uk/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adelan/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/AdelanLtd 

CONNECT WITH DR. MICHAELA KENDALL 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-michaela-kendall-58b35a3/?originalSubdomain=uk 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelaKenda17 

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 12 of Series 4!

This episode is all about Natural Capital, which I confess was a slightly unfamiliar concept to me. So I thought I’d kick off by defining what it is - with thanks to Wikipedia.

Natural capital is a way of thinking about nature as a stock that provides a flow of benefits to people and the economy. It consists of natural capital assets – such as water, forests and clean air, many of which provide us with free goods and services, which underpin our economy and society, and so make human life possible

My guest is Sebastien Leape, CEO of NatCap, a nature intelligence company that helps companies to measure and monitor their nature-related impact, risks and dependencies. He joined the business as CEO last year, 4 years after it was founded at Oxford University, and they are building real momentum after a recent successful fundraise. 

It’s very much a data-driven mission to allow companies and organisations to fully understand their interaction with nature and develop more sustainable practices. 

It’s an extremely topical and important space, and a really enlightening conversation. Please keep listening, let me know what you think and, of course, subscribe to the podcast!

LEARN MORE ABOUT NATCAP

• Website:https://natcapresearch.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/natcapresearch/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/natcapresearch?lang=en 

CONNECT WITH SEB LEAPE

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sebastian-leape-5a342264/ 

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 11 of Series 4!

My guest is Dan Yates, Co-founder and CEO of Greener, who has built a technology platform for match-making sustainable businesses in the Agrifood Sector. They want to make it as simple as possible for small businesses (and some larger ones) to succeed and grow, by supporting their sustainability journey.

It’s a young business but they are already getting great traction. Dan tells me their story so far, he talks about his job as a startup CEO, and the balance of strengths in the co-founding team.. He talks about their progress so far, and the challenge of having to pause and pivot midway through their recent seed funding round.

Greener has fantastic potential and I’m sure they’ll go far. Check them out on www.greener.io, including some really interesting sustainability articles on their “knowledge hub”.

Please keep listening, get in touch and, of course,  subscribe to the podcast!

LEARN MORE ABOUT GREENER

• Website: https://www.greener.io/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/greenerio/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Greener_io 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greener_io/ 

CONNECT WITH DAN YATES 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-m-yates/ 
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan.m.yates/?hl=en 

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 10 of Series 4!

I learned so much in this conversation. Starting with the massive reliance that modern humankind has on ammonia, and the huge amount of fossil fuel energy that is currently required to manufacture it. The potential for Green Ammonia, with a much more sustainable manufacturing process, is enormous - and there’s probably no other industrial innovation that alone could lead to a reduction in global carbon emissions of over 4%.

My guest is Lewis Jenkins, CEO and Co-Founder (with Dr Yubiao Niu and Phil Hunter) of Nium, a startup manufacturing Green Ammonia on Demand.  He’s spent the last year understanding the problem of ammonia production and together they’re now building a business to solve it. In this episode, he takes the time to educate me in chemistry, physics, history and geography as well as a spot of geopolitics and psychology. 

Nium has come a long way already and, with its first funding round in the pipeline, they are set to scale up and transform an outdated industrial process. It’s going to be exciting to see what impact they can have.

Thanks to Lewis for a very interesting chat - make sure you keep listening to hear the full story.

LEARN MORE ABOUT NIUM

• Website: www.wearenium.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/we-are-nium/ 

CONNECT WITH LEWIS JENKINS

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lewisjenkins
• Secret Diary of a Cleantech CEO: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/planet-work-6890218292355637248/

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 9 of Series 4!

My guest is Ofer Becker, Co-Founder and CTO of Solight Energy, an Israeli Startup that I was very kindly introduced to by Climate KIC, Europe’s largest public private initiative focused on climate change innovation. Solight has designed and developed a highly efficient solar collector that delivers healthy, energy saving sunlight indoors; with unparalleled flexibility and performance.

Ofer and I talk about the myriad health benefits of exposure to natural light and he goes on to describe the product and its success across Israel so far. He talks about their origins and early funding, and plans to expand into Europe, where there should be a very receptive market.

Given the massive amount of tech-based entrepreneurs coming out of Israel, I’m delighted to finally welcome one onto the podcast. I hope you find the conversation really interesting, about a solution to another modern world problem that affects our wellbeing and our environment. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT SOLIGHT ENERGY

• Website: https://www.solight-energy.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solight-ltd/ 

CONNECT WITH OFER BECKER

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ofer-becker-0481407

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com

Welcome to Episode 8 of Series 4!

My guest  has been at the forefront of Sustainability and Clean energy solutions for over 25 years, accelerating the impact of a vast number of cleantech businesses since she co-founded Shell Technology Ventures in the late 1990s and went on to found Carbon Limiting Technologies in 2006.

Beverley Gower-Jones is the Founder, Managing Partner and driving force behind Clean Growth Fund, which in just a couple of years has become one of the leading dedicated UK funds in the sector.

She talks me through everything from her passion for the environment as a geologist and avid scuba diver, to her long held objective to launch an early stage cleantech fund, and the enthusiasm she still feels for helping a startup sort out its sales strategy. She talks about the fund's many successes to date and plans for the future.

Beverley’s leadership in helping to fight climate change was deservedly recognised with the award of an OBE in the 2023 King’s New Year’s honours list. Which underlines what a privilege it is to speak to her on the podcast. I hope you’ll listen in and be inspired!

LEARN MORE ABOUT CLEAN GROWTH FUND

• Website: https://www.cleangrowthfund.com/ 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-growth-fund/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/cleangrowthfund/ 

CONNECT WITH BEVERLEY GOWER-JONES 

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverley-gower-jones-obe-fei-a800032/ 

CONNECT WITH MATT VENNING

• Website: https://www.theimpactinterview.com/ 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheImpactInterview/ 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/theimpactinter1 
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-venning/ 
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theimpactinterview1346 
• Email: [email protected]

Check out all other episodes of The Impact Interview at www.theimpactinterview.com