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. The $1T industrial heat problem most startups underestimate | Tempo

    1D AGO

    The $1T industrial heat problem most startups underestimate | Tempo

    Shipping containers, pilot sites, and conservative warranties. Why Tempo is scaling industrial heat the slow-and-steady way on purpose. -- Tempo is commercializing an ultra-high-temperature thermochemical energy storage technology for the $1T+ industrial heat market. Pasquale has over 35 years of executive management experience, including roles as CEO of ChargePoint with four exits under his belt. In this podcast, you’ll learn about the following: Simplify Innovation: Thermal batteries that integrate seamlessly with existing systems reduce operational friction and accelerate market adoption. Sustainable Growth: Avoid rushing for unicorn status; focus on building solid foundations and long-term value over quick exits. Strategic Supply Chains: Designing products to fit standard shipping containers allows for efficient distribution and scalability without custom solutions. Phased Adoption: Deploying small batches at pilot sites helps clients validate performance and gradually increase energy shifts. Innovative Constraints: Engineers optimized battery design within strict shipping limits, turning constraints into practical solutions. Flexible Market Channels: Partnering with energy services companies while maintaining direct sales balances customer trust with scalable reach. Reliable Foundations: Emphasizing conservative warranties and pilot testing builds a dependable reputation, essential for scaling. -- Work with me Private CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. → entrepreneursforimpact.com Newsletter 3 decisions, 2 minutes. Climate finance, strategy, leadership. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a 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.

    54 min
  2. The 100-Year Energy Asset Hiding Under Cities | Brightcore Energy

    MAR 30

    The 100-Year Energy Asset Hiding Under Cities | Brightcore Energy

    Former NHL All-Star Mike Richter leads Brightcore Energy, building energy-efficiency and geothermal systems for commercial and municipal buildings. Geothermal basics - Uses stable ~55°F ground temp as thermal battery; far more efficient than air-source systems in extreme tempsMarket gap - techGeology matters - Bedrock (e.g., Manhattan schist) lowers cost; sand and landfill increase complexity and capexFinancing wins deals - Energy-as-a-Service + 40–50% tax credits remove upfront cost barriers; nonprofits now eligibleCapital strategy - Took outside capital to fund equipment + long sales cycles; dilution vs bigger pie tradeoffFounder lesson - Transitioning domains requires humility; persistence beats speed in infrastructure markets-- Work with mePrivate CEO group for VC/PE-backed climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale. Capped at 45 CEOs. → entrepreneursforimpact.com Newsletter3 decisions, 2 minutes. Climate finance, strategy, leadership. → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a 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.

    51 min
  3. When CEOs Should Ignore Their Team

    MAR 26

    When CEOs Should Ignore Their Team

    CEOs, "I want input." Teams, "My vote matters equally." That mismatch kills trust and speed. How to balance leadership judgment vs team input in climate tech. The Decision: “This is not a democracy, but I want your opinion” - How to balance authority vs inclusion“I know best” vs “We know best” - CEO judgment vs collective intelligence“I hired you because you’re smart” vs “Stop being so smart right now” - When input helps vs slowsWhy this matters: Climate tech = high stakes - capital-intensive, long timelines, few second chancesStrong teams improve decisions - but only with clear rolesMismanaged input creates resentment - asking, then ignoring, erodes trustNot all opinions are equal - experience and accountability matterWhat to do: “Help me think” - signal input, not consensusDefine decision rights - who decides vs who inputsWeight expertise - don’t treat all views equallyClose the loop - explain decisions, especially when you disagreeThe shift: Input is not a voteClarity is kindnessIf it fails, own it fullyShare lessons, earn trust, decide again-- Work with me (EFI) Private CEO group (capped at 50) for climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale → entrepreneursforimpact.com Newsletter (Climate CEOs) 3 decisions, 2 minutes. Climate finance, strategy, leadership → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a 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.

    5 min
  4. How a $475M Climate VC Investor Picks Winners | Voyager Ventures

    MAR 24

    How a $475M Climate VC Investor Picks Winners | Voyager Ventures

    Voyager Ventures backs early-stage climate companies at seed and Series A with ~$475M AUM. Leo Banchik shares how they evaluate opportunities across unit economics, technology risk, and founder-market fit in a capital-constrained environment. In this episode: Unit economics > climate narrative - Companies like Arbor stand out because they work without subsidies. That’s becoming table stakes. Clean-sheet innovation still wins, but only selectively - Conifer’s motor redesign shows VCs will back first-principles tech, but only when the performance delta is clear and defensible. Battery assumptions are being reset - Investors are revisiting prior “no-go” categories as chemistries and cost curves shift. “No” is often provisional  - Voyager tracked companies like Electroflow over time. Relationship building can convert early rejection into later investment. AI is now embedded, not differentiated  - Tools like Allie AI show that automation is expected. It’s not a moat unless tied to proprietary data or workflow lock-in. Founder profile: conviction + adaptability  - Best teams combine strong technical beliefs with a willingness to update assumptions quickly. Key decision for founders Build a climate company that needs subsidies to survive… or one that works on pure economics? -- Work with me (EFI) Private CEO group (capped at 50) for climate tech founders navigating capital, strategy, and scale → entrepreneursforimpact.com Newsletter (Climate CEOs) 3 decisions per week on climate finance, strategy, leadership → entrepreneursforimpact.substack.com Leave a 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. Plan for Your Exit Now, Before It's Too Late

    MAR 19

    Plan for Your Exit Now, Before It's Too Late

    Three NEW topics on climate tech finance, decision tools, and mindful leadership: Finance — Plan for your exit at the beginning (not the end)Tools — Jobs To Be Done framework (from the Father of Disruptive Innovation)Leadership — The monkey lesson (from Google’s Moonshot Factory) ------------ Join EFI's CEO group — The private room for climate CEOs making nine-figure decisions Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow: a confidential peer community for VC- and private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 50 CEOs and 50 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

    11 min
  6. Is Your Idea Wrong?

    MAR 16

    Is Your Idea Wrong?

    Hard Choices: One decision. Why it matters. So what? Do you want to work on your idea? Or the best idea in the room?Founders are paid to have conviction. The risk is confusing conviction with correctness.------------ Join EFI's CEO group — The private room for climate CEOs making nine-figure decisions Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow: a confidential peer community for VC- and private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 50 CEOs and 50 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
  7. Quiz: The 5 Types of Wealth | Gross Margin: Quality > Percent | Motivation: Identity > Consequences

    MAR 12

    Quiz: The 5 Types of Wealth | Gross Margin: Quality > Percent | Motivation: Identity > Consequences

    Three NEW topics on climate tech finance, decision tools, and mindful leadership: Finance — Gross Margin: Quality > PercentTools — Quiz: The 5 Types of WealthLeadership — Motivation: Identity > Consequences------------ Join EFI's CEO group — The private room for climate CEOs making nine-figure decisions Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow: a confidential peer community for VC- and private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 50 CEOs and 50 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
  8. Lithium Extraction: 40% Lower Costs with Electrochemistry | Mo Alkhadra, CEO of Lithios

    MAR 9

    Lithium Extraction: 40% Lower Costs with Electrochemistry | Mo Alkhadra, CEO of Lithios

    MIT PhD tech to mine lithium in low-concentration domestic reserves without chemical reagents or excess water use 🎧 Episode Summary Lithios is an advanced materials company developing a high-performance electrochemical platform to unlock untapped lithium brine resources, especially those previously considered uneconomic due to low concentrations. Mo earned his PhD at MIT and then became an Activate Fellow to transition from academic to entrepreneur. You’ll appreciate his strong focus on family and community, and his dual love of weightlifting and kittens. (Not related) In this podcast, you’ll learn about the following: Innovative Extraction: Lithios' technology processes brines with as low as 10 ppm lithium, redefining economic viability in resource extraction. Strategic Alignment: By focusing on US projects, Lithios supports national lithium independence and aligns with systemic priorities to enhance credibility. Supply Chain Efficiency: Lithios' method cuts costs by up to 40% and minimizes environmental impact, transforming global lithium supply dynamics. Patience in Sales: With long development cycles, Lithios balances immediate equipment sales with future royalties, emphasizing strategic patience. Entrepreneurial Mindset: Transitioning from academia, Lithios' founder leverages community support and embraces discomfort for real-world impact. Community Support: Consistent routines, such as weightlifting, provide grounding for Lithios' leadership amid technological uncertainties. Resource Innovation: Lithios' focus on US lithium supplies ties directly to economic growth and national security, beyond just environmentalism. OK, here we go! ----------- Join EFI's CEO group — The private room for climate CEOs making nine-figure decisions Become an EFI Climate CEO Fellow: a confidential peer community for VC- and private equity-backed CEOs in climate tech and sustainability. Capped at 50 CEOs and 50 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 tech 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

    48 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
    289
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Dr. Chris Wedding — Climate Tech CEO Coach | CEO @ EFI
  • Show Website
    Climate CEOs: Scaling Startups

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