We are taking a short break ahead of New York Climate Week (NYCW) but stay tuned for some amazing guests in the coming months. If you are attending NYCW and want to connect in person, please message me on LinkedIn or at [email protected].

In this episode, Dr. Staffan Qvist, talks about how to get an edge in science tech due diligence using his expert network, DeepSense. DeepSense is a network of scientists, engineers and industry specialists that provide tailored support for your science tech due diligence. The company helps investors evaluate startups' technical feasibility connecting them with experts in specific fields. The process involves reviewing the startup's materials, engaging experts to assess the technology, and co...

In this conversation, Martin Kessler, Chief Business Officer at Flowcarbon, discusses the company's role in securing asset-level financing for carbon removal projects. He explains that Flowcarbon is a vertically integrated carbon finance company focused on arranging project finance for carbon removal projects, assisting project developers with carbon credit issuance, and helping buyers procure carbon credits for their net zero goals. Martin emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of the carbo...

In this conversation, Patrick Flynn discusses the importance of making the business case for sustainability and leveraging the power of companies to drive change. He emphasizes the need for systemic interventions and highlights the role of leading companies in influencing policy and market signaling. Additionally, Patrick addresses the challenge of bridging the gap between the CSO and CFO and suggests that mandatory disclosure of greenhouse gas emissions is bringing these teams closer togethe...

The conversation with Jeppe Høier covers various topics related to corporate venture capital (CVC). Jeppe discusses the structure of CVCs, the different types of investments they make, the challenges and benefits of working with CVCs, and the differences between European and US CVCs. The discussion also touches on the lengthy process of engaging with CVCs and provides tips for startups to navigate this process. Overall, the conversation aims to provide insights and understanding of CVCs for s...

Susana Lopez discusses her journey into clean tech and the importance of infrastructure development in emerging markets. She shares her experiences in working with private equity funds and the challenges of aligning the goals of different investors. She also explains the concept of blended finance and how it can be used to finance infrastructure projects. The conversation highlights the need for sustainable and impactful infrastructure development considering social and environmental factors....

Aira is a one-stop shop for heat pumps, providing installation, maintenance, and financing solutions. They have a vertically integrated model and have their own installation and sales force. They also offer a comfort guarantee and focus on customer service. Heat pumps are more efficient, saving customers 40% on heating costs and reducing carbon emissions by 75%. Aira has acquired heat pump installation providers in each of their three initial markets: Germany, Italy, and the UK, and has plans...

In this episode, Lara Pierpoint discusses the Trellis climate program developed by Prime Coalition to address the gap in first-of-a-kind financing for climate technologies. The program focuses on providing catalytic capital to support the scaling and commercialization of climate innovations. Lara explains that the program aims to bridge the gap between early-stage venture funding and infrastructure investment, which is crucial for the successful deployment of climate technologies. She also hi...

This conversation with Nolan Lindquist at the Center for Active Stewardship (CAS) covers various topics, including CAS’s focus of CAS on climate transition risk and the limitations of using emissions as a universal metric. The conversation emphasizes the importance of fundamental analysis and developing a real rapport with companies to navigate the complex process of decarbonization. The discussion also introduces a tool called Splice, which provides a visualization of a company’s emiss...

SummaryThis conversation with James Vaccaro discusses the work of the Climate Safe Lending Network, a multi-stakeholder network focused on accelerating the transition to a sustainable economy. The network brings together banks, investors, NGOs, regulators, and academia to share knowledge, provoke thought, and drive change in the banking sector. James highlights the importance of understanding the emissions generated by a company's banking practices, particularly the financing of fossil fuel i...

This conversation with Kajsa Ryttberg-Wallgren, EVP of Global Growth at H2 Green Steel, explores the milestones achieved by H2 Green Steel in securing funding for its first-of-a-kind Boden plant. The discussion covers topics, such as early financing, partnerships and value chain support, securing site and power allocation, team structure and growth, joint ventures, and the massive fundraising round. The conversation also delves into the debt structure and equipment financing, working with...

This conversation with Petros Lekkakis explores the concept of 'first of a kind’ (FOAK) in the climate tech space, which refers to hard asset companies developing technologies at the demonstration or pilot scale and seeking to deploy their first commercial minimum viable product. The discussion highlights the importance of FOAK technologies in achieving net-zero targets and the need for collaboration between venture capital and infrastructure investors to bridge the financing gap. Key players...

This episode explores the investment focus of Syngenta Group Ventures, Syngenta’s venture capital group with Michael Lee.  The conversation covers an overview of what Michael categorizes as Agtech vs Agmarkets, as well as the technologies within those segments that are of particular interest to the company. We discuss exit opportunities for companies in these segments as well as the historical average valuation at exit and whether there is a cap. The episode concludes by discussing the...

This episode explores the topic of offtake agreements in the context of climate technology projects with Kobi Weinberg. The conversation covers the challenges faced by early-stage companies in transitioning from venture capital funding to debt financing, and the role of offtake agreements in this process. We discuss the basics of offtake agreements, including their definition, key considerations for buyers and lenders, and the variability of terms across different industries. We also discuss...

Dr. Jonathan Foley discusses the time value of carbon and the importance of taking immediate action on climate change. He emphasizes the need to prioritize solutions that can be deployed now rather than waiting for long-term technological advancements. Dr. Foley highlights the mismatch between investment and carbon reduction, urging investors to align their capital with low-carbon solutions. He also discusses the role of technology in various sectors, including electricity, industry,...

This conversation with Hayn Park provides a trader’s perspective on carbon markets and pricing, with a focus on the EU ETS. The discussion covers the current global targets for carbon reduction, the compliance markets and carbon pricing mechanisms, the need for carbon reduction, and the challenges of expanding coverage in the EU ETS. The conversation also explores the role of economic indicators in carbon trading, the liquidity and size of the carbon market, and the day-to-day activities of a...

Bailey Morrow from HSBC Innovation Banking discusses the structure and mandate of the climate tech team, as well as the services they provide to startups. She explains the different types of debt financing they offer, including venture debt, equipment financing, and hardware as a service. She highlights the role of HSBC in connecting startups with corporates and the diligence process for debt financing, emphasizing the importance of business metrics and key performance indicators to qualify...

This conversation with Akshat Rathi explores the concept of climate capitalism and how capitalism can be a driving force for climate change mitigation. It discusses the modification of capitalism to align with climate goals as well as the challenges of partnering with fossil fuel companies in the context of climate hardware startups, the Breakthrough Energy model, enabling factors for climate technologies, the importance of storytelling in climate tech, and Akshat’s current focus as a senior...

Naomi Sakamoto, Studio Director and Practice Area Leader at Gensler, discusses the firm's net-zero goals and the technologies they need to achieve them. She explores the use of new low-carbon materials and the need for better tools to make informed decisions. Naomi also highlights the importance of collaboration with startups and the potential for technology to revolutionize the industry. She shares examples of Gensler's collaboration with companies working on direct air capture and liquid...

This conversation with Zeev Krieger, Partner at Third Sphere and Managing Partner at Third Sphere Credit, explores the topic of financing climate hardware companies. Various financing options for climate hardware companies are explored, including equipment leasing, corporate loans, venture debt, project finance, and asset-based financing. The episode concludes with examples of how companies in the portfolio of Third Sphere have utilized different financing strategies. It delves into the...

Jeremiah Lim, Director in the Sustainable & Impact Investment Banking group at Barclays, discusses how climate hardtech companies can raise debt / project finance to help grow and scale their businesses. He discusses how a climate tech startup can get ready to raise debt, considerations ahead of structuring offtake agreements, when to start collaborating with groups such as his, as well as his take on the “low hanging fruit” within climate tech or technologies that should be...