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Aidan Madigan-Curtis's path to becoming a partner at Eclipse hinges on fundamental and generalizable takeaways about the U.S. economy that are coming to the fore again. When she was on the manufacturing team at Apple, helping to launch the first Apple Watch, she realized many of the best minds in the world where whittling away at B2B SaaS even as 85% of global GDP, concentrated on how we make, move, and power things, would require step-changes in both hardware, production processes, and decarbonization and sustainability. To address that gap, Aidan and partners have built Eclipse Capital into a $10 billion venture firm that invests in and support companies combining novel approaches to both atoms and bits-focused businesses to rebuild American manufacturing, energy infrastructure, and industrial capacity.
Fast-forward to 2026, and the results validate the insight into the core needs and the opportunity to address it: Eclipse recently raised another $1.3 billion across two new funds to back everything from sodium-ion battery storage (Peak Energy) to next-generation nuclear reactors to radiopharmaceutical manufacturing facilities. The firm's portfolio also spans advanced metal 3D printing (Vulcan Forms), autonomous construction equipment (Bedrock Robotics), and cell therapy manufacturing (Solaris). And the thesis remains largely the same, namely that physical-world companies with durable advantages will define the next market cycle, especially as AI demand collides with infrastructural realities.
There's a lot more to Nick and Aidan's convo than this, too. Nick and Aidan also zoomed out to examine topics such as:
• How data center build-out could accelerate renewable deployment and other elements of the push to decarbonize and advance sustainability prerogatives
• How and why public market narratives are shifting to reward companies with physical assets whereas these were less privileged even a few years ago
• The power of manufacturing scale to create geopolitical advantages whether economically or in terms of national security.
Tune in for all that and more! To learn more about Eclipse and to explore their portfolio, you can also explore their website here: https://eclipse.capital/
Plus, to learn more about their recent fundraising and their theses moving forward, catch up on news articles like this one:
https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/vc-firm-eclipse-raises-1-b-physical-industries-university-endowments/818546/
Timestamps:
00:02:21 - Eclipse's New Funds and Capital Raising
00:03:34 - Eclipse's Focus on Industrial Technologies
00:05:47 - Watching the Market Catch Up to Eclipse's Theses
00:07:03 - Aidan's Experience at Apple
00:08:43 - How COVID and Supply Chain Disruptions Catalyze Change
00:09:14 - The Need for Domestic Manufacturing
00:11:07 - Company Case Study: Peak Energy and Battery Storage
00:12:23 - Company Case Study: The Nuclear Company and "Pre-approved Nuclear"
00:15:38 - Geographic Dispersion of Technological Innovation and Impact
00:18:23 - Grassroots Resistance to Data Centers
00:22:14 - The Opportunity Inherent to Data Centers and Decarbonization
00:24:46 - The Industrial Revolution and Rapid Transitions of The Past
00:27:09 - The Role of Venture Capital in Sustainability
00:28:27 - Shifting Public Market Appetite for Physical Companies
00:31:13 - Public Market Dynamics and Narratives
00:34:07 - Industrial Innovations and Manufacturing
00:38:23 - Advanced Manufacturing in the U.S.
00:40:01 - U.S. vs. China in Manufacturing Scale
00:43:23 - An Eye Towards the Future of Energy and Climate Tech
00:45:01 - Non-linearity in Climate Change
Final notes:
To keep up with Aidan and her work, you can also follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aidan-madigan-curtis
Plus, you can stay up to date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/
Thank you so much.
In this episode, Nick sits down with Silas Mähner, founder of ErthTech Talent and the host of the CleanTechies podcast, to unpack how climate tech has evolved since 2020. Starting from Silas’s upbringing in rural, conservative Wisconsin and his accidental entry into renewable energy recruiting, they trace his journey from a deep skepticism of renewables to seeing cleaner, greener, more sustainable technologies and businesses as a once in a century industrial opportunity as part of which “everything we touch physically can be reinvented.” Nick and Silas also explore how political backlash, culture wars, and corporate pragmatism have reshaped the climate narrative: Even as the term "climate" loses favor in many business circles, especially in the U.S., many of the world’s largest companies are still quietly committing to technologies that cut emissions and drive other sustainability outcomes because they make good business sense, too.
From there, Nick and Silas zoom out to discuss Silas' priviledged vantage point into the recruiting and company building side of the space. Drawing on his work placing sales talent and hardware engineers into early stage companies, Silas explains why traditional recruiting models are structurally misaligned with pre-seed and seed stage climate tech startups, and how Earthsearch flips that script by stripping out overhead and lowering fees so founders can access high impact hiring support far earlier. For Silas, helping a first time founder land a key early hire is another way of bending the curve on the energy transition.
Finally, Nick and Silas use their joint focus on storytelling and media to probe bigger questions surrounding who feels “invited” and excited about climate work, how to tell compelling narratives without needing to rely on climate prerogatives, and why narrative and incentive design are often just as, if not more important, than the technologies, policies, and businesses in question themselves.
Timestamps:
00:01:46 - Guest introduction: Silas Mähner, founder of ErthTech Talent
00:02:08 - Evolution of "climate tech" and narrative semantics
00:02:44 - Silas background and entry into Clean Tech
00:07:29 - Silas' founding of EarthTech Talent and the Cleantechies podcast
00:13:25 - Innovations in recruitment business models
00:18:12 - Hiring, narrative, and market trends across the climate tech landscape
00:25:18 - Insights on building a durable company culture
00:32:15 - The role of storytelling in recruitment and capital raising generally
00:39:20 - The importance of maintaing and creating a positive worldview and vision
00:41:00 - Challenges and opportunities in the current climate tech environment
00:45:00 - The human touch to all things capital allocation, recruiting, and fund raising
For more from Silas, be sure to follow him on LinkedIn, check out his podcast, and connect with ErthTech Talent, whether you're a job seeker or a company looking for stellar hires.
For more from Nick, follow him on LinkedIn, X, and subscribe to his newsletter, Keep Cool.
Thank you so much.
Will Wiseman's path to founding Climatize started with a stark realization. When he and a hundred thousand people participated in the 2019 Barcelona climate strikes, he realized there was massive, palpable passion, but not necessarily an actionable channel for everyone to activate afterward. To fill that gap, he and his co-founder got to work building a platform that transforms capital into climate infrastructure. The product, Climatize, is an SEC-registered funding portal that democratizes renewable energy investment by giving everyday investors access to crowdfund community-scale solar and storage projects.
Fast-forward to 2025, and the results validate the thesis: $12M deployed across 26 projects in 12 states, with $3.5M already returned to investors, though past performance does not guarantee future results. Now, the platform is gaining traction and scale; in fact, a battery energy storage project in New York raised $124K in three days on Climatize, with the final $50K snowballing in less than an hour.
And there’s more to the story than just the numbers. Much more, in fact. In discussing the business, energy markets and trends, and the evolution of renewable energy technologies, Nick and Will also zoom out to appreciate the power of identifying and creating new narratives that resonate across diverse stakeholders, including farmers in rural Tennessee and Georgia, and reflect on the power of flywheel dynamics in general to accelerate positive change across society.
To learn more about Climatize and to get $50 towards investing in renewable energy projects, Keep Cool listeners can explore this dedicated landing page and/or use https://climatize.earth/keep-cool code “COOL50” when signing up for Climatize.
For a visual feel, check out videos exploring Climatize’s work in the field, see here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZJmvjw1SwrJIBt1tOrp1g9Nm3FCWTazA
Timestamps:
00:01:06 - Introduction of Will Wiseman, CEO of Climatize
00:02:47 - Will Wiseman's Background in Renewable Energy
00:03:42 - The Genesis of Climatize
00:05:07 - The Power of Collective Capital
00:06:14 – Emphasizing the Importance of Individual Agency in Climate Action
00:08:14 - Changes in the Renewable Energy Sector Over the Last Decade
00:13:05 - The Versatility of Renewable Energy Projects
00:17:59 - Empowering Communities Through Renewable Energy Projects
00:18:33 - The Speed and Efficiency of Climatize's Funding Model
00:20:03 - Mechanics of Climatize's Investment Platform
00:22:09 - Climatize's Project Evaluation and Underwriting Process
00:24:15 - Types of Projects Funded by Climatize
00:27:08 - Potential for Global Expansion
00:30:20 - Overcoming Early Platform Challenges
00:31:10 - The Role of AI in Climatize's Operations
00:35:04 - Future Initiatives and Priorities for Climatize
00:36:15 - The Importance of Collective Action and Self-Actualization
00:38:19 - The Flywheel Effect and Future Acceleration
00:39:03 - Closing Remarks and Call to Action
Final notes:
To keep up with Will and his work, you can follow him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-wiseman/
Plus, you can stay up to date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/
Thank you so much.
On this episode, Nick is joined by Maya Poncelet, Head of Partnerships at Una Terra, an early growth fund investing in the circular economy and other regenerative businesses and technologies. Together, Nick and Maya discuss Una Terra’s growth equity investment theses surrounding the circular economy, what broader systems change accompanies and extends beyond the requisite responses to climate change, and how to work towards a more sustainable, equitable future with those key themes in mind.
Further, Maya offers stellar examples of the investment work she’s focused on at Una Terra and grounding reflections on building an impactful career with sustainability at its center.
Timestamps:
00:01:13 - Guest Introduction: Maya Poncelet from Una Terra
00:05:05 - Challenges in Traditional Finance and the Need for Systemic Change
00:06:48 - The Club of Rome and New Economic Models
00:07:57 – On Systems Change and Economic Reform Theory
00:10:28 - Using Current Systems to Build Future Systems
00:15:28 – Una Terra's Focus on the Circular Economy
00:19:33 – A Focus on Biodiversity Loss and Its Impact
00:22:16 – Defining and Outlining Investment Opportunities in the Circular Economy
00:26:28 - Recent Developments and Exciting Projects at Una Terra
00:36:48 - Europe's Role in the Climate and Energy Transition
00:40:00 - Optimism for Future Systems and A Rapid Transition
Learn more about Maya and Una Terra’s work here: https://unaterra.vc/
Thank you so much.
Plus, you can stay up to date on all things Keep Cool here:
https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/
Tune is as Nick is joined by Johanna Wolfson, co-founder and General Partner of Azolla Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in breakthroughs that have the potential to avert catastrophic climate change. Together, Nick and Johanna explore Azolla Ventures’ unique approach to combining catalytic capital—philanthropic and risk-tolerant funding designed to prioritize impact over returns—with traditional venture capital to fill critical early-stage gaps left by traditional investors and accelerate innovation in and adoption of climate tech solutions.
Johanna also explores how this approach enables her and her team to support “big swings” in climate solutions—including in under-discussed and under-supported areas of technological innovation—by bridging high-risk deployments from ideation and spin-out stages through commercialization, particularly for technologies often considered too risky.
Further, they discuss:
Timestamps:
00:01:28 – Introductions and Azolla Ventures' investment strategy
00:05:39 - Portfolio companies: Sublime Systems and lower-carbon cement production
00:10:15 - Role of catalytic capital in climate tech startups formation and scaling
00:11:19 – Portfolio companies: Zanskar Geothermal & Minerals
00:14:25 – The primacy of long-term climate tech investment perspectives
00:16:58 - Current climate tech investment environment across geographies
00:22:36 - Balancing short-term realities with long-term goals
00:25:23 - Methane moonshots and a focus on Biolumic
00:27:24 – Massive opportunities in methane and nitrous oxide mitigation
00:29:02 - Stratospheric aerosol injection and other emerging climate interventions
00:30:30 - Final thoughts and calls to action
Learn more about Johanna’s work and Azolla Ventures by following both on LinkedIn and exploring Azolla Ventures’ website and portfolio here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannawolfson/ + https://www.linkedin.com/company/azolla-ventures/ + https://azollaventures.com/
If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me
a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcool
Plus, you can stay up to date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/
Thank you so much.
On this episode, Nick is joined by John Tough, the Managing Partner of Energize Capital, a leading venture capital firm that invests in climate solutions across sectors, including energy and the grid, as well as industrial operations, electrification in mobility, and more.
Listen in as Nick and John chart Energize Capital’s journey and break down its investment and portfolio company support strategies. Further, Nick and John discuss the state of climate tech markets in the U.S. and Europe in 2025, make predictions for the coming decades, and home in on positives even as uncertainty abounds with shifting U.S. policy.
Further, Nick and John dive into:
Timestamps:
00:01:52 - Introductions
00:02:39 - Announcement of $430 million fundraise
00:03:57 - Growth and trajectory of Energize Capital
00:04:43 - John's background and early career
00:09:03 - Echoes of Cleantech 1.0 in Climate Tech 2.0
00:11:15 - Energize Capital's approach to supporting portfolio companies
00:15:07 - Commoditization trends in core climate technologies
00:16:59 – Energize Capital’s electrify everything focus
00:20:03 - Challenges of marrying consumer behavioral change to climate mitigation
00:23:44 - Geographic diversity in climate tech investments
00:26:39 - Navigating uncertainty in the U.S. markets
00:29:43 - Record energy demand as a catalyst for innovation
00:31:11 – A focus on positive developments in climate tech
00:31:38 - Upgrading the electricity grid for resilience
00:34:57 - Importance of a complete perspective on the climate capital stack
00:36:21 - Advice for founders and climate curious individuals alike
00:38:07 - Highlighting Energize Capital portfolio companies
Learn more about John’s work and Energize Capital by following both on LinkedIn and exploring Energize Capital’s website and portfolio here: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energize-cap + https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnjtough/ + https://www.energizecap.com/
If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcool
Plus, you can stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/
Thank you so much.
Listen in as Nick is joined by Darren Clifford, the Founder of Adapt [us] Capital, a new venture capital fund and venture builder focused on investing and building companies at the intersection of climate adaptation and scalable, profitable businesses.
In this episode, Nick and Darren discuss how the climate change, climate investment, and climate mitigation “moment” in 2025 requires new conversations, narratives, and solutions, including more focus on and concerted capital allocation to promoting adaptation-focused efforts alongside other mitigation strategies and innovation.
Nick and Darren also explore:
… and much more.
Timestamps:
00:01:37 - Introductions
00:05:41 – Distinguishing between demand adaptation and resilience adaptation
00:09:25 – Reframing outdated climate narratives like net zero
00:15:02 - Sustainability and human quality of life: intersections and trade offs
00:26:03 - Fund launch and investment strategy
00:28:12 - Market opportunities in demand-driven adaptation
00:36:05 - The future of demand-driven adaptation
Learn more about Darren’s work and keep up to date with Adapt [us] Capital on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adapt-us-capital/
+ https://www.linkedin.com/in/djclif/
If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcool
Thank you so much.
Plus, you can stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://subscribe.keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/
𖥔 Note 𖥔 This is a syndicated podcast from the Climate Capital Podcast, which Nick hosted. Nick also works at Climate Capital. You'll find the format very similar to past Keep Cool podcast content - hope you enjoy!
Follow the Climate Capital Podcast in general here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cc-pod/id1709396247
Nick will host episodes over there more often & syndicate some here on Keep Cool's podcast.
//
In this episode, Nick van Osdol sits down with Mohamed Badawy, CEO of Scalvy. Scalvy is redefining how electrical energy moves. Initially focused on electric mobility powertrains, surging demand for Scalvy’s modular integrated technology has driven expansion into stationary energy storage and data centers. With 6+ patents and Fortune 500 partnerships, Scalvy is driving electrification at scale.
Mohamed’s journey from a tenured professor at San Jose State University to the CEO of a venture-backed startup is both inspiring and insightful. He founded Scalvy with a clear vision: to commercialize innovative technology that addresses real-world problems.
At the heart of Scalvy's innovation is its software-defined energy management module, which integrates seamlessly with energy storage systems. Unlike traditional battery management systems, Scalvy’s modules offer a range of functionalities, including the ability to invert DC power to AC, regulate DC output, and charge batteries—all without the need for additional electronic systems in vehicles. This modular approach not only simplifies design but also significantly reduces costs and enhances performance.
The technology is particularly relevant for electric vehicles (EVs), but its applications extend beyond that realm. Scalvy also focuses on stationary energy storage solutions that provide grid services and data center applications. As Mohamed noted, the initial skepticism about the applicability of their technology in sectors beyond EVs has transformed into a strong market pull, validating Scalvy's versatile approach.
One of the standout features of Scalvy's technology is its modularity. Traditional powertrains are often bulky and require customization for different vehicle models, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs. In contrast, Scalvy’s system allows manufacturers to use the same hardware across various applications while configuring it to meet specific needs. This flexibility not only streamlines production but also accelerates the electrification process for diverse vehicle types, including off-road machinery and material handling equipment.
Since launching commercial engagements just a few months ago, Scalvy has already secured multiple agreements with OEMs in the electric truck and off-road vehicle sectors. The company is witnessing a growing interest in its technology, particularly in industries that require efficient electrification solutions. As Scalvy continues to build its customer base, the focus will shift towards scaling production and obtaining necessary certifications.
To learn more about Scalvy, visit http://www.scalvy.com/.
Description: Stephan Herrmann, Co-founder & CEO of Reverion, and Sebastian Heitmann, Co-Founder and Partner at Extantia Capital—an investor in deep decarbonization technologies—joined Nick for a live discussion in New York City to explore breakthroughs in Reverion’s biogas energy technologies and discuss the state of energy and climate tech in general across the world. Reverion is redefining biogas, enabling up to 5x revenue additions for biogas plant operators by converting excess renewable energy into green gas, all while enhancing grid stability.
In this episode, the trio discusses the following:
Listen in for insights on balancing innovation, energy demands, a changing world, and expanding climate solutions globally.
Timestamps:
00:02:07 - Live Podcast from Climate Week NYC
00:03:07 - Guest Introductions
00:04:14 - Stephan's Journey to Reverian
00:07:35 - Extantia Capital
00:10:12 - Technical Overview of Fuel Cells
00:13:41 - Market Applications of Fuel Cells
00:16:59 - Summary of Energy Grid Transition
00:20:10 - Introduction to Biogas
00:24:20 - Importance of Methane Emissions
00:25:50 - Reversion’s Commercialization Journey
00:28:00 - Technical Components of Reverian's System
00:33:35 - Hydrogen and Methane Production
00:36:39 - Series A Fundraising
00:39:44 - Audience Q&A: Logistics and Transportation
00:45:08 - Audience Q&A: Ideal Customer Locations
00:46:26 - Audience Q&A: Efficiency Comparison
00:48:18 - Audience Q&A: Green Ammonia Production
Learn more about Reverion here: https://reverion.com/
…and Extantia Capital here: https://extantia.com/
If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcool
Thank you so much.
Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter (X): https://x.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/
Description: Nick is joined by Tim Hill, the General Manager of Sustainability Solutions for Nucor Corporation. Nucor is the largest steel producer and recycler in North America. Plus, Nucor produces steel via a larger circular and electricity-powered process; their steel uses recycled scrap and is made in electric arc furnaces (EAF) instead of blast and basic oxygen furnaces (BF/BOF). This makes Nucor not just one of the largest steel producers in the world, but a leader in steel decarbonization. Whereas green steel is often something that’s referred to as a future possibility, much greener steel is already available domestically today. In addition to these points, Nick and Tim discuss the following…:
… and much more!
Timestamps:
00:02:17 - Guest Introduction: Tim's Career at Nucor
00:04:47 - Nucor's Enterprise Strategy and Decarbonization
00:05:08 - Common Misconceptions About U.S. Steel Industry
00:07:08 - Nucor's Leadership in Steel Recycling
00:11:19 - U.S. vs. Global Steel Production Methods
00:14:17 - Nucor's CO2 Emissions Compared to Global Averages
00:17:06 - History of Nucor's Decarbonization Journey
00:21:46 - Market Evolution and Customer Demand
00:25:56 - Catalytic Demand for Clean Energy
00:28:12 - Decarbonizing Remaining Emissions
00:31:05 - Investments in Fusion and Hydrogen Technologies
00:34:42 - Policy and Regulatory Frameworks
00:38:39 - Opportunities for Nucor in Global Markets
00:42:26 - Broader Climate and Energy Topics
Learn more about Nucor and their sustainability efforts here: https://nucor.com/sustainability
If you love listening to The Keep Cool Show, please leave me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast: https://ratethispodcast.com/keepcool
Thank you so much.
Plus, stay up-to-date on all things Keep Cool here: https://keepcool.co/ and follow Nick on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickvanosdol and LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholasvanosdol/
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