#212: Matt Eggers, Managing Director at Prelude Ventures – Investing Billions in Climate Tech. Financing First-of-a-Kind Facilities. Supporting Biogenic Carbon Removal. Leading with Mindfulness.

Prelude Ventures is a climate tech investment firm focusing on early-stage startups. They invest primarily in seed and Series A rounds, supporting founders with innovative technologies addressing climate challenges. They began in 2009 and have about $2 billion under management.

Matt Eggers, Managing Director at Prelude Ventures, has a wealth of experience in climate tech investing and manufacturing. Plus, he serves on one of our boards at Duke University, the EDGE Center at our Fuqua School of Business, so you know he can pick great teams! Prior roles include Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures and operational roles at Sunrun, Tesla, Genentech, and Bloom Energy. 

Here are four topics we covered:

1. Climate Tech Investment Strategy: Prelude focuses on strong teams, scalable technologies, and significant markets for venture-backed growth. A great team can overcome deficiencies in technology or business models and drive a startup's success.
2. Creative Financing Solutions: Examples of combining venture capital, grants, and equipment financing for first-of-a-kind manufacturing facilities like Lux Wall.
3. Biogenic Carbon Capture: Insights into innovative approaches like Graphyte and Vaulted Deep, which address both carbon removal and waste management.
4. Personal Habits for Leaders: Matt highlights outdoor activities, meditation, and self-reflection as critical practices for mental well-being and leadership focus.

🔗 PODCAST SHOW LINKS:

Company Website: https://www.preludeventures.com

Matt Eggers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eggersmatt

Lux Wall: https://luxwall.com

Graphyte: https://www.graphyte.com

Vaulted Deep: https://www.vaulteddeep.com

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Dr. Chris Wedding is the CEO of EFI (climate CEO peer groups), cofounder of Terraset (carbon removal), Senior Advisor at Javelin Capital (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, father of three, 2x ax-throwing champ (huh?), Time Magazine Person of the Year in 2006 (Google it), and super humble guy (as evidenced by this long bio).