#123: $1.2B for Investment in Climate Software — John Tough⁠, Managing Partner at ⁠Energize Ventures

Chuck Templeton is an ex-operator, including founding OpenTable and serving as lead investor and operating Chairman in companies such as Grubhub and Venmo (Braintree Payment Systems). He is focused on helping the S2G team, entrepreneurs, and executives take their ideas, validate them, institutionalize processes, and ultimately scale their business innovations to address today’s urgent environmental and societal problems.S2G is a multi-stage investment firm with $2.5B under management and 100+ portfolio companies. They focus on venture and growth-stage businesses across food and agriculture, oceans, and energy. With a commitment to creating long-term, measurable outcomes, S2G structures flexible capital solutions that can range from venture funding through growth equity to debt and infrastructure financing.–Here are 6 topics we covered in the podcast:1. S2G’s Investment PhilosophyChuck Templeton debunks the myth that impact means weak returns—S2G invests where sustainability and strong financials align. Their focus spans food, ag, energy, and oceans, which together drive 90% of global emissions.2. Why Food & Ag Is UndervaluedFood systems cause one-third of emissions but get just ~4% of climate capital. Chuck sees massive upside in climate-friendly, great-tasting, and healthier food products.3. How S2G Operates DifferentlyThey invest $20M–$50M per deal, with dedicated teams per sector and an in-house acceleration platform that supports hiring, growth, and commercialization. Their capital stack includes both equity and flexible credit options.4. What Founders MissToo many founders obsess over tech and forget commercialization. S2G backs companies with $10M+ revenue, clear product-market fit, and capital discipline.5. Flashfood & Sunday: Climate by StealthFlashfood cuts grocery waste while saving consumers money; Sunday makes lawn care safer and easier for families. In both cases, climate benefits are real—but come after convenience, cost, and safety.6. Chuck’s Personal FuelInspired by fatherhood and minimalism, Chuck shifted to climate after OpenTable and Venmo. Running, stoicism, and a love for leadership learning keep him grounded—plus, he’s big on “raising your hand” to lead.--🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Chuck Templeton - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ctemp S2G - https://www.s2ginvestments.com--🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:Please give Chuck and S2B a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people. --📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Jigar Shah served as Director of the Loan Programs Office (LPO) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from March 2021 to January 2025, where he oversaw a $400B budget. Prior, Shah was co-founder and President at Generate Capital, where he focused on helping entrepreneurs accelerate decarbonization solutions through the use of low-cost infrastructure-as-a service financing. Generate has raised over $10 billion, investing in 50+ technology and development partnerships with more than 2,000 assets globally.Prior to Generate Capital, Shah founded SunEdison, a company that pioneered “pay as you save” solar financing (i.e., PPAs).After SunEdison, Shah served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson to help entrepreneurs address climate change.--Here are six topics we covered in the podcast:1. Post-LPO ResetAfter managing $107B in deals at DOE’s Loan Programs Office, Jigar Shah hit pause and rebranded as a “podcaster.” He’s taking time to reflect before diving into the next chapter.2. Climate VC Is BrokenShah says the 100x-return VC model doesn’t fit climate tech’s reality. He pushes for an “East Coast” model: aim for 18% IRR, win 7 of 10 bets, and skip the moonshots.3. Evergreen Capital > 2-and-20At Generate Capital, Shah turned down big checks to build an evergreen structure that aligns with long-term climate infrastructure. It’s less lucrative for managers, but way better for founders.4. FOAK Risk, ExplainedHe breaks project finance into five risks: tech, feedstock, offtake, construction, and ops. LPO, unlike most investors, can stomach execution risk, like 12 methane pyrolysis reactors, not just one.5. Think Like a DeveloperClean tech needs dev capital like real estate: risky early bets, then stable returns once built. It's not “risk-free”—just “risk-you-can-understand.”6. Deep Tech’s Fatal FlawToo many founders chase giant, low-margin markets. Shah says to start with high-margin niches (like InventWood selling to data centers) and then scale.--🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Jigar - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jigarshahdcHis Open Circuit podcast - https://www.latitudemedia.com/podcasts/open-circuit/--🙏 SHOUT-OUTS:Please give Jigar a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people. I’m sure his 745,000 LinkedIn followers would welcome that.--📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Climactic is an early-stage venture fund investing in the energy, AI, automation, and robotics sectors to address climate change and its effects. It is backed by folks like Chris Sacca, Reid Hoffman, Mio Partners, and StepStone.Prior to Climactic, Josh co-founded Freestyle Capital, where he sourced or invested in the unicorns: Airtable, Patreon, Betterup, and Intercom. He was a pioneer in the early days of the Internet where he co-founded Spinner, the first Internet music startup, acquired by AOL for $320M, and Crackle, a viral video startup, acquired by Sony for $65M. Josh’s commitment to the environment is long-standing; he started a nonprofit app in 2014 to connect influencers (NBA, Guns N Roses, Mark Ruffalo, Al Gore, Evan Williams) to the most important climate actions from the leading nonprofits. --Here are six topics we covered in the podcast:Origins with Rock Stars and PresidentsJosh Felser co-founded ClimateX, connecting users to 100+ environmental nonprofits with partners like Al Gore, Guns N’ Roses, and the NBA.Why He Left Traditional VCAfter success at Freestyle Capital, COVID and a five-month role in California’s government led Josh to shift from consumer tech to climate venture, realizing business’s role in systemic change.Climactic’s EvolutionJosh and Raj Kapoor launched Climactic as a B2B climate tech fund, later narrowing their focus to AI and automation for enterprise sustainability and profitability.Two Portfolio BetsClimactic invested in Grit (robotics for faster, cheaper solar installs) and Copper (battery-integrated induction stoves for apartment electrification).Climate Messaging in the MAGA EraJosh advocates re-framing climate language—e.g., using “conservation” over “environmentalism”—to resonate with conservative audiences without losing authenticity.Personal WellnessJosh finds balance through humor, avoiding the 5 AM club, emotional resilience, and grounding reminders like a Buddha statue at his Stinson Beach home.--🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Climactic - ⁠https://www.climactic.vcJosh Felser - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshfelser⁠ --🙏 SHOUT OUTS:Please give Josh and Climactic a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.--📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Earth AI is discovering untapped critical metal deposits at half the cost in a fraction of the time. They combine machine learning and new modular drilling technology to move from detecting a prospect to drilling in just three to six months. They recently announced $20M in Series B funding in an oversubscribed round led by Tamarack Global and Cantos Ventures. Participating investors include Overmatch, Alpaca, Sparkwave Capital, Y Combinator, and Scrum Ventures.Roman is a YC alum, ex-PhD candidate at the University of Sydney,  and geologist with 10 years of industry and research experience in Europe, the Middle and Far East, and Australia.Here are 6 topics we covered in the podcast:1. The Problem The world faces a projected $10T demand for critical metals by 2050, yet new mineral discoveries have declined by 70% over the last decade. Current exploration methods are expensive, slow, and increasingly inefficient.2. AI-Powered Discovery Roman’s team developed a machine learning model trained on 50 years of exploration data. The AI identifies geological proxies—subtle clues that indicate where valuable minerals may lie beneath the surface.3. Vertical Integration After realizing the industry wasn’t ready to adopt their tech, Earth AI built its own exploration and drilling systems. This vertical integration slashed costs and sped up testing, allowing them to confirm mineral targets rapidly.4. Breakthrough Results Their AI led to the first-ever discovery of magnetic nickel on Australia's East Coast. They’ve since found lithium, silver, and lead deposits, securing land cheaply and unlocking high-value prospects.5. Founder Wisdom Roman emphasizes sustainable work habits and a strong internal compass. He credits storytelling as crucial to convincing investors and the broader industry of Earth AI’s potential.--🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Roman Teslyuk - https://www.linkedin.com/in/roman-teslyuk-a344881aEarth AI - https://earth-ai.com/--🙏 SHOUT OUTS:Please give Roman and Earth AI a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.--📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. ⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Presto Charging is like Stripe for EV charging, providing a marketplace for EV fleet owners and EV charging networks via an app and API. They recently raised a $15 million seed round led by Union Square Ventures and included investments from Congruent Ventures, Jetstream, and Powerhouse Ventures.Ashwin is also a “papa to two feisty girls, weekend road bike cruiser, and photographer in hibernation.” Before Presto, he led the Vehicles and Electrification program at Uber. Here are 5 topics we covered in the podcast:1. Founding PrestoAshwin and co-founder JJ Rayner left Uber after facing the fragmented EV charging ecosystem firsthand. They created Presto to simplify access to public charging, turning a many-to-many problem into a one-to-many platform.2. Business Model & CustomersPresto serves B2B partners like Hertz, Avis, and Uber, offering a unified app and API for seamless EV charging. Their bottom-up approach won customer trust by delivering exceptional UX and fast support.3. Tech & ImpactPresto acts like "Stripe for EV charging," using data and machine learning to recommend reliable stations. Their system supports dynamic pricing and grid integration to drive long-term charging infrastructure growth.4. Founder JourneyAshwin encourages aspiring founders to “just do it,” with eyes wide open and a partner they trust. He stresses building in a sector you love, even if the leap from corporate life feels uncertain.5. Routines & ResourcesTo stay focused, Ashwin prioritizes recharge time with family and biking, emphasizing deliberate rest. He recommends books like Fall in Love with the Problem and Delivering Happiness for aspiring entrepreneurs.--🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Ashwin Dias - https://www.linkedin.com/in/diasashwinPresto Charging - https://www.prestocharging.com--🙏 SHOUT OUTS:Please give Ashwin and Presto a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.--📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. ⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Cambium is on a mission to build better supply chains for the timber industry. Through their operating system, Traece, they make it easy to source sustainable and local Carbon Smart Wood™ from fallen trees at large scales. They’ve won awards, including Fast Company’s “Most Innovative” and TIME’s Best Invention 2024.Before Cambium, Ben worked at Sandia National Laboratories and Global Hydrologic Solutions. He is also a Forbes 30 under 30 and NOLS-certified Wilderness First Responder.--✅ Here are 6 topics we covered in the podcast:1. Founder OriginsBen traces his passion for forestry to his childhood in rural New Mexico. He combined that love with advanced studies at Yale, shaping Cambium’s mission.2. Massive Market OpportunityGlobal wood demand will triple by 2050, yet half of U.S. needs could come from salvaged timber. Cambium’s platform unlocks this potential through streamlined sourcing.3. How Cambium WorksBy connecting tree-care services, sawmills, and manufacturers, they reduce waste and shorten procurement cycles. Major buyers include furniture, millwork, and mass timber firms.4. Leadership and CultureBen’s leadership style reflects lessons from backcountry guiding, where proactive teamwork can prevent crises. He also applies extreme ownership principles, ensuring accountability for missed goals.5. Scaling with IntentionCambium is expanding its team across forestry, tech, and sales, seeking low-ego, high-impact talent. Ben emphasizes adaptability and shared values over industry-specific experience.6. Staying GroundedBen stays focused with daily checklists, intentional routines, and physical play like soccer. He recommends The Hard Thing About Hard Things and Deep Survival for fellow builders.--🙏 SHOUT OUTS:Please give Ben and Cambium some love by sharing this podcast with your people on LinkedIn, Slack, or X.--🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Ben Christensen - https://www.linkedin.com/in/btchrCambium - https://cambiumcarbon.com--📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. ⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Activate helps scientists and engineers bring their transformative technologies to life. Through a two-year paid fellowship, these science entrepreneurs receive the support they need to turn their ideas into hard-tech startups. Fellows work on climate solutions, advanced manufacturing and robotics, new uses of chemistry and materials, reimagined food and agriculture, space innovations, and more. As a nonprofit organization, Activate partners with philanthropies, universities, government programs, the corporate sector, and VC investors to help fellows bridge the gap from lab to commercialization — all without taking any equity in their startups.Cyrus Wadia is the CEO of Activate. He was previously director of worldwide product sustainability at Amazon, vice president of sustainable business & innovation at Nike, and assistant director of clean energy and materials R&D in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Cyrus was also a Silicon Valley entrepreneur, a senior program officer at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and the founding co-director of the Haas School of Business CleanTech to Market initiative. He holds a Ph.D. in energy and resources from UC Berkeley and an M.S. in chemical engineering from MIT.--✅ PODCAST TOPICS:Activate has supported 249 fellows, catalyzed $3.6 billion, and helped launch 197 startups. Fellows receive a salary and a $100,000 recoverable grant to develop deep-tech startups addressing societal challenges, especially in climate.Technical founders, particularly PhD scientists, face challenges shifting their mindset from research to business objectives. They must quickly learn skills like hiring, culture-building, fundraising, and balancing technical tasks with managing a business.Cyrus emphasizes stronger university collaborations to foster entrepreneurial thinking among scientists and clearer corporate guidance about market needs and significant industry challenges. This clarity would help Activate choose Fellows aligned with commercial demand.Activate currently receives around 1,000 high-quality fellowship applications each year but can only support 50 due to limited resources. Personally, Cyrus advises prioritizing mentorship early in one’s career. He maintains balance through cycling and clear work-life boundaries. He also recommends Rick Rubin’s book "The Creative Act: A Way of Being" to founders and innovators.--🙏 SHOUT OUTS:Please give Cyrus and Activate some love by sharing this podcast with your people on LinkedIn, Slack, or X.--🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Cyrus Wadia - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyruswadiaActivate - https://www.activate.org--📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re an invite-only community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--📣 GET EFI'S NEWSLETTER:We share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, our guests really appreciate your reviews!Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is a CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. Daily LinkedIn posts on climate tech startups, CEOs, and finance here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

Alsym is developing a new generation of high-performance, low-cost, non-flammable batteries to help enable a zero-carbon electrified future for all. Using readily-available materials that are inherently non-toxic, Alsym’s breakthrough battery technology is an alternative to lithium-ion at less than half the cost, with the same performance and with no lithium or cobalt.Mukesh Chatter is CEO, president and co-founder of Alsym Energy. Previously, he co-founded Nexabit Networks and was CEO until its acquisition by Lucent Technologies, and co-managed NeoNet Capital LLC. He was named to Red Herring Magazine’s Top 10 Entrepreneurs in 1999, and Rensselaer Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001. Mukesh received his Master's degree in Computer and Systems Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.--On the personal side:Chatter was inspired to launch Alsym Energy after his mother’s passing, leading him to focus on solving problems that impact at least a billion people. His goal was to create an energy storage solution that could bring electricity access to underserved communities while also addressing global industrial decarbonization needs.In our conversation, he also stressed the importance of thinking non-linearly, embracing pivots, and prioritizing a strong team culture where leadership leads by example. He highlighted meditation and intentional pauses between tasks as key strategies for maintaining focus and resilience in high-stress environments.--🙏 Please give Mukesh and Alsym a shout-out on LinkedIn, Slack, or X by sharing this podcast with your people.--🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Mukesh - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mukesh-chatter-1698478Alsym Energy - https://www.alsym.com--📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--📣 GET MY NEWSLETTER:I share 4 insights in 4 minutes from working with 400 climate CEOs and investors. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--✍🏼 LEAVE A REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠--🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups and executive coaching), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (clean energy investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, and a super humble human being (as evidenced by this long bio).

Amperon is a Houston-based technology company specializing in AI-powered electricity forecasting and analytics solutions. Founded in 2018, Amperon provides high-precision demand, renewable generation, and price forecasts to enhance grid reliability, manage financial risk, and support decarbonization efforts. Their platform serves a diverse clientele, including utilities, financial traders, and independent power producers, by leveraging advanced AI models and real-time analytics to navigate the complexities of modern energy markets. In October 2023, Amperon raised $20 million in Series B funding led by Energize Capital, underscoring their commitment to innovation in the energy sector.For almost 20 years, Sean Kelly has been at the forefront of the energy trading industry, working for Tenaska, Lehman, EDF, and E.On. While at EDF, he led the transition of two nuclear plants (Nine Mile and Ginna) into the NYISO market, then led the buildout of E.On’s North American trading desk. Next, he co-founded Bridge Power Consulting and sold it to Albireo Energy in 2019. He co-founded Amperon in 2018.In this podcast, you’ll learn these takeaways and much more.How to utilize AI and machine learning for accurate energy demand and price forecastingWhat is the significance of automatic weighting in analyzing diverse weather data for energy predictionsWho said this wonderful quote: “I’ll build it if you can sell it”How founders should not sell themselves short or sacrifice on their long-term thesis when working with investorsWhy building strong long-term non-transactional relationships with investors and early adopter customer prospects is crucial for company growthWhy he finds value in books like The Tao of Bill Murray and The Devil in the White CityHow boxing keeps him sane and healthy on the founder journey🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Sean - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-kelly-0792626Amperon - https://www.amperon.co📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📣 GET MY NEWSLETTER:I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups and executive coaching), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (clean energy investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, and a super humble human being (as evidenced by this long bio).

Blue Bear Capital is a venture and early-growth equity fund focused on digital technologies for the energy industry. On their third fund, their companies harness IoT, machine learning, and cyber security across solar, wind, and the broader energy infrastructure.Ernst Sack is a founding partner at Blue Bear. Previously, he spent nine years at Riverstone, a leading energy private equity firm that has invested over $45B since 2000, and worked on the Mergers & Acquisitions team at Citigroup. He has held board roles for over 15 energy and software companies, including Raptor Maps, Pani, Axiom Cloud, and Shoreline.In this podcast, you’ll learn these takeaways and much more. 🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:Ernst - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ernst-theodor-sack-056a5211aBlue Bear Capital - https://bluebearcap.com📈 JOIN EFI’S CLIMATE CEO PEER GROUP:Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — Join North America’s top private peer group community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. We’re a community of 100 CEO Fellows and Mentors (investors and post-exit CEOs) representing over $40B of market value or financial assets for climate solutions. Apply here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📣 GET MY NEWSLETTER:I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors, meditating for 25 years, teaching 90,000 students, and reading 50 books per year. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠✍🏼 LEAVE A PODCAST REVIEW:To help more people discover the climate tech CEOs and investors we interview, please take one minute to review or rate this podcast. Since we don’t take any sponsors for this podcast, we appreciate this small gesture of your appreciation. Here are instructions: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠🤔 PODCAST HOST:Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups and executive coaching), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (clean energy investment banking), Board member at World Tree (regenerative forestry), Board Advisor at DG Matrix (next-gen power electronics), Duke & UNC professor, ex-private equity investor, ex-investment banker, occasional monk, and a super humble human being (as evidenced by this long bio).