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. Some revenue is bad revenue

    5H AGO

    Some revenue is bad revenue

    Hard Choices: One decision. Why it matters. So what? Over-reliance on a few major customers may feel like a win but creates fragility and triggers valuation discounts from wary investors. Leaders must prioritize revenue diversification and cap exposure before a single buyer gains "veto rights" over the business. ------------ Join the top climate CEO peer group in North America. Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — a confidential peer community for Series A to private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 100 CEOs and investor mentors, representing $40B in market value or investment assets. 👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com Get my 3-minute newsletter: Climate CEOs For climate CEOs: 3 decisions each week in climate finance, strategy tools, and mindful leadership — based on work with 300+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice. 👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review to help others discover these guests. I don't take any sponsors, so this 30-second favor really helps lot. We need millions more people to get to work on profitable climate solutions. Thanks in advance! 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews About the host: Dr. Chris Wedding Climate CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, follow daily posts on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

    6 min
  2. $40M for Virtual Power Plant Startup and Battery Backup-As-A-Service | Vinnie Campo, CEO of Haven Energy

    3D AGO

    $40M for Virtual Power Plant Startup and Battery Backup-As-A-Service | Vinnie Campo, CEO of Haven Energy

    How micro power plants on residential rooftops are reducing electricity costs and removing power utility bottlenecks. 🎧 Episode Summary Haven Energy is an energy tech company that deploys distributed energy resources at residential and small C&I sites to build virtual power plants (VPPs) at scale. Through strategic partnerships with utilities, non-profits, EPCs, and government agencies, Haven is helping to lead the rebuild of America’s grid infrastructure. Prior to founding Haven, CEO Vinnie Campo served as a key leader at Bulb Energy, where he was part of the founding team that launched the U.S. arm of the then-largest renewable energy supplier in the U.K.  Before that, Vinnie led growth and operations at Uber and launched their e-bike division in Texas. His experience spans strategic operations and product growth, with a consistent emphasis on scaling products and services and on building a vision customers can believe in. In this podcast, you'll learn about: How they raised $40M in December 2025 in a tough capital-raising environment How Hurricane Katrina inspired Vinnie to launch this company based on personal experience How their residential customers determine the return on investment for these residential installs Why backup-as-a-service is key to their model succeeding How many states have utilities where this VPP model is attractive How do you reduce friction for customers to get the biggest bang for their buck in residential batteries Why it's good not to make annual plans and hard things about hard things ----------- Join the top climate CEO peer group in North America — Entrepreneurs for Impact (EFI) Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — a confidential peer community for Series A to private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 100 CEOs and investor mentors, representing $40B in market value or investment assets. 👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com Get my 3-minute newsletter — Climate CEOs Dive into three decisions each week in climate finance, strategy tools, and mindful leadership — based on my work with 300+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice. 👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com If you liked this podcast, can you do me a 30-second favor? Leave a podcast review. I don't take any sponsors, so this is my only ask. Writing reviews helps others discover these great podcast guests. We need millions more people to get to work on profitable climate solutions. Thanks in advance! 👉 Here are instructions: https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews About the host: Dr. Chris Wedding Climate CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, follow frequent posts on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

    47 min
  3. Optionality creates balance sheet risk

    6D AGO

    Optionality creates balance sheet risk

    Here are three NEW topics on climate tech finance, decision tools, and mindful leadership: 📊 Finance — Optionality has a balance sheet cost. ⚙️ Tools — Three Horizons of Growth (McKinsey & Company) ⛰️ Leadership — Busy is the new stupid. ------------ Join the top climate CEO peer group in North America. Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — a confidential peer community for Series A to private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 100 CEOs and investor mentors, representing $40B in market value or investment assets. 👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com Get my 3-minute newsletter: Climate CEOs For climate CEOs: 3 decisions each week in climate finance, strategy tools, and mindful leadership — based on work with 300+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice. 👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review to help others discover these guests. I don't take any sponsors, so this 30-second favor really helps lot. We need millions more people to get to work on profitable climate solutions. Thanks in advance! 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews About the host: Dr. Chris Wedding Climate CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, follow daily posts on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

    12 min
  4. $100M on Wildfire Defense: AI That Actually Gets Used | Bryan Spear, CEO of Technosylva

    FEB 9

    $100M on Wildfire Defense: AI That Actually Gets Used | Bryan Spear, CEO of Technosylva

    The leading provider of wildfire and extreme weather risk mitigation solutions protecting communities and assets for utilities, insurance, and fire agencies 🎧 Episode Summary Technosylva provides advanced AI and predictive modeling solutions to reduce wildfire and extreme weather risks for leading utilities, fire agencies, and insurers worldwide. Backed by pirate equity capital and generating over $100M of revenue, they’re meeting mission critical needs around the country. CEO Bryan Spear shapes and drives Technosylva’s global efforts to reduce wildfire and extreme weather risk through powerful, science-backed tools. Bryan focuses on long-term vision and near-term execution — building a world-class team, cultivating strategic partnerships, and ensuring Technosylva remains at the forefront of wildfire resilience innovation. Bryan brings a background in scaling innovative companies and solving complex problems through collaboration. He’s built global partnerships and led cross-disciplinary teams in industries where public safety, infrastructure, and technology intersect. Bryan believes a strong company culture is the foundation for extraordinary results — and it’s that shared ethos of passion and humility that drives Technosylva’s real-world, life-saving impact. ----------- Join the top climate CEO peer group in North America. Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — a confidential peer community for Series A to private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 100 CEOs and investor mentors, representing $40B in market value or investment assets. 👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com Get my 3-minute newsletter: Climate CEOs For climate CEOs: 3 decisions each week in climate finance, strategy tools, and mindful leadership — based on work with 300+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice. 👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review to help others discover these guests. I don't take any sponsors, so this 30-second favor really helps lot. We need millions more people to get to work on profitable climate solutions. Thanks in advance! 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews About the host: Dr. Chris Wedding Climate CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, follow daily posts on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

    49 min
  5. Beware of Hidden Costs of “Cheap” Capital in Climate Tech

    FEB 5

    Beware of Hidden Costs of “Cheap” Capital in Climate Tech

    Here are today’s three NEW topics on climate tech finance, decision tools, and mindful leadership: 📊 Climate Finance — Non-dilutive capital is not free money ⚙️ Decision Tool — Take the Four Tendencies Quiz ⛰️ Mindful leadership — Speed vs. direction (don’t get this backwards) ------------ Join the top climate CEO peer group in North America. Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — a confidential peer community for Series A to private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 100 CEOs and investor mentors, representing $40B in market value or investment assets. 👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com Get my 3-minute newsletter: Climate CEOs For climate CEOs: 3 decisions each week in climate finance, strategy tools, and mindful leadership — based on work with 300+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice. 👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review to help others discover these guests. I don't take any sponsors, so this 30-second favor really helps lot. We need millions more people to get to work on profitable climate solutions. Thanks in advance! 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews About the host: Dr. Chris Wedding Climate CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, follow daily posts on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

    14 min
  6. Rare-Earth-Free Electric Motors: $200B Markets Without Supply-Chain Risk | Ankit Somani, CEO of Conifer

    FEB 2

    Rare-Earth-Free Electric Motors: $200B Markets Without Supply-Chain Risk | Ankit Somani, CEO of Conifer

    VC backing for the world's most compact, modular, and cost-effective electric powertrains without rare earth minerals risk 🎧 Episode Summary Conifer has created the only rare-earth free electric motor and powertrain that is also better across power density, efficiency and cost metrics, compared to incumbents with rare-earths. Conifer’s in-wheel powertrains and NEMA compatible motors are designed to fuel the fast growing $200B electric mobility, agriculture, and industrial markets. They raised a $20M seed round last year, which is a good sign in a tough market for hardtech startups. Ankit Somani, CEO and Co-founder of Conifer, and a repeat entrepreneur and has raised $80M+ across his startups. Prior to Conifer, Ankit co-founded AllyO, an enterprise AI agent that served Fortune 500 companies like Walmart and Amazon. Following its acquisition by HireVue, he served as HireVue's Chief Product Officer. Previously, he was a part of Google’s Data Center R&D and Electrification teams, creating products that serve all of Google infrastructure. ----------- Join the top climate CEO peer group in North America. Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — a confidential peer community for Series A to private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 100 CEOs and investor mentors, representing $40B in market value or investment assets. 👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com Get my 3-minute newsletter: Climate CEOs For climate CEOs: 3 decisions each week in climate finance, strategy tools, and mindful leadership — based on work with 300+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice. 👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review to help others discover these guests. I don't take any sponsors, so this 30-second favor really helps lot. We need millions more people to get to work on profitable climate solutions. Thanks in advance! 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews About the host: Dr. Chris Wedding Climate CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, follow daily posts on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

    41 min
  7. Be Boring to Get Funding: Unit Economics > Bold Visions

    JAN 29

    Be Boring to Get Funding: Unit Economics > Bold Visions

    Here are today’s three NEW topics on climate tech finance, decision tools, and mindful leadership: 📊 Finance — This one metric quietly kills climate tech fundraises. ⚙️ Tools — Return on Effort (RoE): Fewer hours. Better outcomes. ⛰️ Leadership — “Don’t do anything that someone else can do.” ------------ Join my EFI Climate CEO Peer Group: Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — North America’s top invite-only peer community for growth-stage CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. 100 CEOs and Mentors representing $40B in market value or investment assets. 👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com Get my 4-Minute Newsletter: Climate CEOs For entrepreneurs and investors: 5 quick ideas on climate data, CEOs to know, investor spotlights, AI insights, and mindfulness moments — drawn from lessons working with 400+ climate CEOs and investors, plus 25 years of meditation practice. 👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a Podcast Review. (All the cool kids do it.) No sponsors — just real conversations with climate leaders. If you found this episode valuable, please leave a review to help others discover it. 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews About the Host: Dr. Chris Wedding is a climate CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, connect on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

    10 min
  8. $75M for AI Efficiency: 3-5x Better Performance/Watt than NVIDIA | Mitesh Agrawal, CEO of Positron AI

    JAN 26

    $75M for AI Efficiency: 3-5x Better Performance/Watt than NVIDIA | Mitesh Agrawal, CEO of Positron AI

    Producing the highest performance, lowest power, and best total cost of ownership solution for AI transformer model inference. 🎧 Episode Summary Positron AI is an AI hardware startup developing energy-efficient solutions optimized for transformer model inference, critical for applications like ChatGPT. They’ve raised about $75M and achieve 3-5x better performance per dollar and per watt versus most other chips today. They recently raised $51.6 million in an oversubscribed Series A round led by Valor Equity Partners, Atreides Management, and DFJ Growth. They also ranked #3 in The Information’s 50 Most Promising Startups. Mitesh Agrawal, CEO of Positron, recently transitioned from his role as chief operating officer and cofounder of Lambda, a multibillion-dollar-valued cloud infrastructure company focused on AI and NVIDIA GPU-powered services.  ----------- Join the top climate CEO peer group in North America. Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow — a confidential peer community for Series A to private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 100 CEOs and investor mentors, representing $40B in market value or investment assets. 👉 https://www.entrepreneursforimpact.com Get my 3-minute newsletter: Climate CEOs For climate CEOs: 3 decisions each week in climate finance, strategy tools, and mindful leadership — based on work with 300+ climate CEOs and 25 years of meditation practice. 👉 https://entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a podcast review to help others discover these guests. I don't take any sponsors, so this 30-second favor really helps lot. We need millions more people to get to work on profitable climate solutions. Thanks in advance! 👉 https://ratethispodcast.com/guides/where-can-people-leave-podcast-reviews About the host: Dr. Chris Wedding Climate CEO coach, investor, serial founder, board member, professor, and occasional monk. For more on climate tech startups and leadership, follow daily posts on LinkedIn: 👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherwedding

    52 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
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    279
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Chris Wedding — Climate Tech CEO Coach | CEO @ EFI
  • Show Website
    Climate CEOs: Scaling Startups