Climate CEOs: Scaling Startups

Dr. Chris Wedding — Climate Tech CEO Coach | CEO @ EFI
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The leading weekly briefing for climate founders and CEOs. Hosted by Dr. Chris Wedding, executive coach and CEO of Entrepreneurs for Impact (EFI), a peer group with 100 CEOs & investors representing $40B in enterprise value and assets under management. Climate CEOs delivers playbooks from the front lines of climate tech, with insights on raising capital, scaling startups in clean energy, batteries, carbon capture, and the circular economy, plus the founder mindset, mindfulness, daily habits, book recommendations, and resilience needed to thrive.

  1. Investor Advice Every Founder Should Hear | Voyager, SOSV, Decarbonization Partners & More

    2 days ago

    Investor Advice Every Founder Should Hear | Voyager, SOSV, Decarbonization Partners & More

    The discussion draws on insights from leading climate investors, including Voyager Ventures, Decarbonization Partners, MassMutual Ventures, SOSV, SJF Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, Spring Lane Capital, Climate Insiders, and Tailwind. Examples of what we discussed: Clarity beats complexity – If a non-expert cannot explain your differentiation after one conversation, your positioning still needs workLead with the risks – Founders who proactively surface weaknesses build trust faster than those who hide themDesperation is visible – Targeted fundraising and calm execution outperform broad outreach and forced urgencyAnd also... The $1T Industrial Heat Problem Most Startups Underestimate | Tempo Industrial heat is one of the largest decarbonization opportunities in the world. This second portion explores how to commercialize hard-tech infrastructure without falling into the common traps that slow adoption. Pasquale Romano is the CEO of Tempo and a four-time CEO with multiple successful exits. He shares lessons from building and scaling industrial energy businesses. Examples of what we discussed: Avoid rip-and-replace projects – Technologies that integrate with existing infrastructure face dramatically lower adoption barriersDesign for logistics first – Shipping, installation, and transport constraints often determine scalability more than technology performanceStart with narrow deployments – One successful plant can become the proof point that unlocks broader adoption-- Join our confidential CEO community. Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. See if you're a fit → entrepreneursforimpact.com Join 40,000 professionals who get our newsletter. Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. 2-min read. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review. If you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

    8 min
  2. The 3,000-Year-Old Battery Replacing Industrial Gas | Cache Energy

    5 days ago

    The 3,000-Year-Old Battery Replacing Industrial Gas | Cache Energy

    This limestone battery can achieve 100+ hour heat storage without lithium and zero standby losses. Industrial heat is a $1T+ problem, but most solutions ignore storage, especially those using ancient chemistry. Arpit Dwivedi is the founder and CEO of Cache Energy, building thermal storage systems for industrial decarbonization. Cache uses calcium oxide chemistry to store and release heat, targeting sub-1,000°F processes that represent ~75% of global industrial demand, with modular systems designed for rapid deployment and low cost. Here’s what we discussed: Unit economics anchored in materials, not breakthroughs – Limestone feedstock at $500/ton, 95% off-the-shelf hardware, and a small proprietary binder that enables pellet durability and repeat cycling without degradation typical of lime powders Operational performance that mimics baseload fuel – 100+ hour discharge with effectively zero standby losses over 6–9 months, allowing customers to arbitrage cheap off-peak electricity into constant, gas-like heat output Deployment speed as wedge – Containerized 2MW systems installed and operational within hours (e.g., University of Minnesota), eliminating long EPC timelines and specialized on-site labor Proven industrial ROI, not pilots – Single-process retrofit at a Fortune 500 Midwest manufacturer reduced natural gas consumption ~98%, with expansion to additional plants based on measured performance Financing unlocks adoption – Leasing model with flat monthly pricing, uptime guarantees, and full O&M removes capex friction while enabling transition to $150–200M project finance-backed scaling -- Join our confidential CEO community. Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. See if you're a fit → entrepreneursforimpact.com Join 40,000 professionals who get our newsletter. Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. 2-min read. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review. If you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

    42 min
  3. Why Smart Climate Startups Lose Focus

    22 May

    Why Smart Climate Startups Lose Focus

    When expansion feels like productivity, climate CEOs often drift into adjacent markets, new products, and endless “opportunities” that quietly dilute execution.This episode breaks down three strategic traps: timid visions, distraction disguised as growth, and rebuilding too late. Here’s what we discussed: Manifestos vs. marketing decks – Why some climate companies raise billions by selling an inevitable future, not just a product roadmap or pilot projectOpportunity overload – How “adjacencies” like new geographies, EV charging, or development capital can become strategic debt instead of growthFocus as competitive advantage – Why the best operators often win by doing fewer things deeper while competitors chase every inbound requestWhen to rebuild from scratch – Signals that your startup is compounding organizational debt instead of improving actual outputThe 80/95 rule – Why “80% good in 3 months” often beats “95% perfect in 12” in hardtech and climate markets where timing matters-- Join our confidential CEO community. Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. See if you're a fit → entrepreneursforimpact.com Join 40,000 professionals who get our newsletter. Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. 2-min read. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review. If you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

    7 min
  4. How Pyrolysis and Waste Biomass Tackle Methane and Carbon | Carba

    20 May

    How Pyrolysis and Waste Biomass Tackle Methane and Carbon | Carba

    Biomass waste is one of the largest unmanaged carbon flows, yet most climate solutions ignore it. This founder is turning landfills into carbon sinks using decentralized pyrolysis and biochar. Andrew Jones is the founder and CEO of Carba, a waste-to-value company converting biomass into permanent carbon removal. He studied catalytic fast pyrolysis and earned a PhD in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. Carba builds modular, decentralized systems that process biomass waste near aggregation points, producing biochar for landfill burial, methane reduction, and potential industrial uses. Here’s what we discussed: Site strategy that actually works – Targeting 10k–100k ton/year biomass hubs co-located with landfills to eliminate transport cost and preserve unit economics Landfill use case, not theory – Biochar used as daily cover to (1) store carbon underground, (2) stimulate methanotrophs that oxidize methane, and (3) adsorb PFAS and other contaminants Reactor advantage – Custom molten-salt pyrolysis system vs rotary kilns, enabling tighter temperature control, higher carbon yield, and more consistent biochar quality at throughput Carbon permanence bet – Converting cellulose/lignin into stable aromatic carbon structures that resist microbial decay, especially in anaerobic landfill conditions Revenue stack reality – Tipping fees exist but small; real upside is durable carbon credits, with optionality in steel, concrete, asphalt, tires, and filtration depending on local demand -- Join our confidential CEO community. Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. See if you're a fit → entrepreneursforimpact.com Join 40,000 professionals who get our newsletter. Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. 2-min read. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review. If you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

    50 min
  5. Climate Tech Debt Most Founders Ignore

    15 May

    Climate Tech Debt Most Founders Ignore

    Vendor Financing Isn’t Free Money – Extending supplier payment terms can improve runway and reduce dilution, but concentrated climate supply chains create hidden dependency risk when critical vendors effectively become reluctant lenders. Working Capital Can Distort Reality – Better short-term cash metrics may hide structural fragility if supplier leverage, component concentration, or financing assumptions shift during tougher fundraising markets. The Leadership Bias That Damages Teams – Founders often misread underperformance as character failure instead of contextual pressure, creating avoidable trust breakdowns and weaker decision-making cultures. Empathy Still Requires Accountability – Understanding context matters, but repeatedly tolerating poor execution can quietly transfer the cost of one person’s struggles onto the broader organization. Why Great Operators Ask Better Questions – The strongest long-term partnerships in climate tech often come from listening well, speaking less, and focusing on genuine curiosity over transactional networking. -- Join our confidential community Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. See if you're a fit → entrepreneursforimpact.com Newsletter Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. 2-min read. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review If you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

    9 min
  6. The $2B Investor View: Debt Should Be Your Second Round | Aligned Climate Capital

    12 May

    The $2B Investor View: Debt Should Be Your Second Round | Aligned Climate Capital

    This 6x company founder and CEO explains how to structure smarter climate tech investment rounds and actually get renewable energy projects financed. Peter Davidson is CEO and founder of Aligned Climate Capital, a $2B AUM multi-strategy firm investing across venture and infrastructure. He previously led the U.S. Department of Energy Loan Programs Office and has founded or led six companies. Aligned focuses exclusively on low-carbon investments, with a core thesis that strong returns, not concessionary capital, will scale the energy transition. Here’s what we discussed: Capital strategy most founders miss – Second round should often be debt (bank, venture debt, DOE, green banks, vendor financing), not equity, to reduce dilution and extend runway Valuation is overrated – Partner quality, capital stack design, and working capital buffer matter more than headline price Option pool trap – Negotiate “plussed up” pools to maintain ~5–10% through future rounds instead of getting diluted to zero Infrastructure playbook – Buy NTP-ready community solar (3–10MW), build in 6–9 months, return ~70% capital via tax credits in ~3 years, then sell aggregated assets in years 6–7 Market reality check – VC is constrained (few exits, fewer LP commitments), so founders must cut costs, accept lower valuations, or rethink viability -- Join our confidential CEO community Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. See if you're a fit → entrepreneursforimpact.com Newsletter Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. 2-min read. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review If you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

    47 min
  7. The Hidden Cost of Chasing Every “Yes” in Climate Tech

    7 May

    The Hidden Cost of Chasing Every “Yes” in Climate Tech

    Three decisions that determine if climate tech founders scale or stall: Customer focus, sustainable intensity, and information diet all compound into capital efficiency and judgment. Antelope vs mice – Why chasing small, fast customers can accelerate learning but trap you in low-value revenue, while large customers require patience but define the businessGTM timing – Matching customer type to runway and product maturity, not just who says yes firstStagnation vs safety – Why constant urgency degrades judgment and burns teams, especially in capital-intensive climate startupsSustainable intensity – Protecting thinking time as a core CEO function, not a luxury, to avoid reactive decision-makingNews vs history – How overconsuming short-term signals creates bias, while historical pattern recognition sharpens long-term strategy-- Join: Confidential CEO community Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. → entrepreneursforimpact.com Newsletter: 2-min read Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Your help: Leave a podcast review If you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

    7 min
  8. Waste Biomass, VC Investors, Public Parks: The Unusual Carbon Removal Playbook | Graphyte

    4 May

    Waste Biomass, VC Investors, Public Parks: The Unusual Carbon Removal Playbook | Graphyte

    Scaling carbon removal through existing supply chains, community-aligned infrastructure, and signing up JPMorgan in the process. – Barclay Rogers is the founder and CEO of Graphyte, focused on low-cost, permanent carbon removal using biomass burial.  Graphyte converts agricultural waste into dense carbon blocks and stores them underground, targeting sub-$100/ton durable carbon removal with high scalability. They’re backed by leading climate investors such as Prelude Ventures, Carbon Direct Capital, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and Overture. Here’s what we discussed: Focus on execution, not recognition – Barclay said Graphyte does not chase awards; they focus on building a good business and “the scoreboard takes care of itself.” In his framing, recognition follows disciplined execution, not the other way around. Use existing systems instead of reinventing everything – Graphyte’s model borrows from agriculture, timber, mining, and landfill engineering rather than trying to invent an entirely new stack from scratch. For CEOs, that is a reminder that practical innovation often comes from recombining proven systems. Build where supply chains already exist – A key part of the company’s logic is plugging into waste biomass streams that already exist at scale, rather than creating a brand-new supply chain. That lowers cost, complexity, and time to scale. Community alignment is a strategic advantage – Their approach of turning old quarries into parks or other public-benefit assets is not just goodwill; it helps create local support and makes projects easier to advance. CEOs should hear this as: stakeholder trust can be part of the operating model. Your unique background can become a moat – Barclay’s mix of engineering and legal experience clearly shaped the company’s design, including permanence and land-use strategy. His point was that category-defining companies often come from founders combining multiple strengths, not just going deep in one lane. Start with what works now, not only with what sounds futuristic – He made a strong case that many carbon removal solutions delivering today are biomass-based, even if more attention goes to flashier technologies. For CEOs, the broader lesson is to distinguish between what is compelling in theory and what is actually delivering in the market.Stress management is leadership infrastructure – Barclay’s routine — exercise, cold plunge, family time, meditation, and delaying phone use — reflects a serious view that managing pressure is part of the CEO job. His message was clear: as responsibility grows, personal systems matter more, not less.-- Join our confidential community Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. → entrepreneursforimpact.com Newsletter 2-min read. Climate tech finance, strategy, leadership. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review If you got value, take 30 seconds and do the community a favor. It helps push more capital and talent toward scalable climate solutions.

    53 min
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About

The leading weekly briefing for climate founders and CEOs. Hosted by Dr. Chris Wedding, executive coach and CEO of Entrepreneurs for Impact (EFI), a peer group with 100 CEOs & investors representing $40B in enterprise value and assets under management. Climate CEOs delivers playbooks from the front lines of climate tech, with insights on raising capital, scaling startups in clean energy, batteries, carbon capture, and the circular economy, plus the founder mindset, mindfulness, daily habits, book recommendations, and resilience needed to thrive.

Information

  • Creator
    Dr. Chris Wedding — Climate Tech CEO Coach | CEO @ EFI
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    304
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Chris Wedding — Climate Tech CEO Coach | CEO @ EFI
  • Show Website
    Climate CEOs: Scaling Startups

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