Conversations in Cleantech Brightsmith

Welcome to Season Seven of Conversations in Cleantech! 
 
From inspiring stories and words of wisdom, to financial foresight and investment insights: in this season, you can expect to learn all about the people and companies who are propelling us towards a greener tomorrow, with a spotlight on investing in a cleaner planet.
Hosted by Carmen Davis, in this episode, we hear from Linda Thrasher, who is blazing a trail in sustainable agriculture and clean tech.
Linda Thrasher's journey is as inspiring as it is unconventional: from the hallowed halls of law school to the gritty frontlines of male-dominated industries, she has shattered glass ceilings with her unwavering determination and visionary leadership.
In this episode, Linda takes us through her career journey, from her Founding Executive role at agriculture giants like Mosaic to her groundbreaking co-founding of Greenfield Nitrogen. Brace yourself as she pulls back the curtain on the challenges she faced as a woman in a man's world, and how she overcame them with grit, grace, and an unwavering belief in the power of diversity.
From the vast potential of green ammonia in agriculture, shipping, and beyond, to the details of risk tolerance, policy pieces and investor timelines, this podcast is a must-listen for anyone passionate about sustainability, entrepreneurship, and forging a greener future for us all.
00:50 - Introduction to Linda
01:27 - Can we start with a bit more about your career journey from starting out in law school on Capitol Hill, to becoming the Founding Executive at the Mosaic Company and then eventually co-founding Greenfield Nitrogen?
03:24 - How have you navigated the twists and turns of your career?
05:20 - As a female entrepreneur in the clean tech sector, what challenges have you faced and overcome throughout your career? And how have these experiences shaped your approach to business and leadership?
07:08 - Could tell us more about Greenfield Nitrogen and its mission? 
11:56 - How do you think you integrate community involvement and promoting education for girls and women into the work at Greenfield Nitrogen? 
14:40 - I'd love for you to touch upon your experience navigating Capitol Hill and the policy piece, and how that interplays with your role now?
18:53 - How is this world expanding, and what do you think the future might hold for this sector?
21:57 - What are your thoughts around investment in clean tech and what part it plays?
26:07 - Could you share some insights around the market dynamics and potential opportunities for low-carbon ammonia?
30:10 - What advice would you give to individuals aspiring to enter this sector? Or pursue entrepreneurship, especially coming from the backgrounds of law and policy?
Connect with your host, Carmen Davis on LinkedIn.
Find your guest Linda Thrasher on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Seven of Conversations in Cleantech! 
 
From inspiring stories and words of wisdom, to financial foresight and investment insights: in this season, you can expect to learn all about the people and companies who are propelling us towards a greener tomorrow, with a spotlight on investing in a cleaner planet.
Join your co-hosts, Hetty and Alexa, as they delve into the exciting world of green hydrogen with Marko Virkebau, the CEO of Stargate Hydrogen!
Stargate Hydrogen is at the forefront of innovation, developing cutting-edge ceramic-based alkaline electrolysers to produce green hydrogen, supporting the global transition to a zero-carbon economy.
From Stargate’s story so far and their scale-up efforts, the power of partnerships when it comes to R&D and commercial activities, to funding the future including the challenges of obtaining grants and the need to bring down production costs: this episode is a treasure trove of insights.
Marko's journey offers valuable lessons for leaders in the clean energy space too, with practical takeaways for clean energy enthusiasts and aspiring entrepreneurs alike. 
Finally, Marko shares the hurdles the hydrogen industry faces, such as a lack of offtake agreements, with how insights into how Stargate are tackling these challenges.
So, be sure to tune in and get a glimpse into the future of green hydrogen!
00:50 - Introduction by Hetty and Alexa
02:14 - Introduction to Marko and Stargate
04:47 - What was your journey to founding the business?
05:57 - Where did the name for your novel catalyst material come from? What makes it revolutionary in the green hydrogen space?
06:56 - As a business based in Estonia, how are you finding the green hydrogen market there?
08:27 - How are you finding the regulation side in the European market?
09:27 - What's the future for your geographies?
10:15 - The team at Stargate have a wealth of knowledge and quite diverse backgrounds. Can you share how you came together?
11:43 - How have you found the journey of growing the business to almost three times the size in two years?
14:00 - How have you achieved commercialisation so early in your journey?
15:17 - How have you gone through your fundraising journey to achieve these key milestones?
16:54 - Can you tell us more about your EU funding story?
17:52 - How do you see these trends emerging from an investment perspective within hydrogen?
19:10 - What's the next stage you're anticipating for Stargate hydrogen?
20:02 - How important have partnerships been for you so far?
21:30 - What attracted you to green hydrogen being the solution for the climate crisis and the net zero transition?
22:27 - For those who are in the early stages of their business, is there any specific advice that you would give?
Connect with your hosts, Hetty Lowther and Alexa Mangeant on LinkedIn.
Find your guest Marko Virkebau on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Seven of Conversations in Cleantech! 
From inspiring stories and words of wisdom, to financial foresight and investment insights: in this season, you can expect to learn all about the people and companies who are propelling us towards a greener tomorrow, with a spotlight on investing in a cleaner planet.
Join your host, Ben Sparks, for this episode with Juan Muldoon, Partner at Energize Capital. 
Energize is on a mission to scale sustainable innovation through climate software and in this episode, Juan, a clean energy finance pioneer, dives into this exciting world where tech is transforming how we power our planet.
Taking a leap of faith with his career to go from working on Wall Street to now fueling Energize Capital, Juan shares all about his journey, how Energize Capital works, and plenty of cleantech wisdom, particularly for those in the cleantech SaaS space.
From investment case studies like Aurora Solar and Monta who are making solar power installation a snap and EV charging a seamless experience, to first-time founder advice and investment industry insights, this episode with Juan packs in plenty of value. 
Buckle up, the future of energy is bright and brimming with software-powered innovation!
00:50 - Introduction to Juan
04:02 - How are you living your purpose, inside and outside of work?
05:15 - What inspired you to move into cleantech?
07:35 - What gives Energize Capital a competitive edge?
10:53 - Can you give us a macro view of why mobility as a service, or how SaaS platforms, are pivotal in the energy transition in the US and globally?
14:35 - Are there any niche market segments that you're super excited by at the moment?
16:37 - What are some of the “stretch” moments you’ve had in your career to date?
19:11 - If you could go back to that time and give yourself one piece of advice, what would it be?
19:45 - Since you’ve been at Energize, what are some of the landscape shifts in investing that you’ve seen?
22:54 - Do you have to coach people to invest in cleantech? What are the main differences between a traditional, enterprise SaaS player and clean tech SaaS startup?
26:27 - How would you be coaching a first-time founder right now?
29:58 - Any thoughts for the sector moving forward, as you look into your crystal ball?
Connect with your host, Ben Sparks on LinkedIn.
Find your guest Juan Muldoon on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Seven of Conversations in Cleantech! 
 
From inspiring stories and words of wisdom, to financial foresight and investment insights: in this season, you can expect to learn all about the people and companies who are propelling us towards a greener tomorrow, with a spotlight on investing in a cleaner planet.
Join your hosts for this episode, Hetty Lowther and Alexa Mangeant, to crack the code of clean hydrogen with Nick Van Dijk, CEO at Oort Energy!
From innovation through collaboration to the passion behind the cleantech, in this conversation, you can expect to uncover fascinating insights into both the hydrogen technology Oort Energy is pioneering and Nick’s career in clean energy so far.
Key conversational points include why Nick made the switch from batteries to hydrogen electrolysers; how Oort is unlocking super-efficient and affordable hydrogen and why fundraising is key to this; Nick’s passion for the hydrogen industry and how he believes it can change the world; the challenges cleantech organisations face when it comes to commercialisation and unexpected setbacks; and much, much more.
If you’re looking to learn about the next frontier in clean energy and be inspired to live your purpose, this episode is a must-listen! 
00:50 - Introduction to Nick
02:09 - The electrolyser landscape has really picked up in the last couple of years. What is it that allows you to stand out in the market?
04:50 - All hydrogen businesses are aiming to become commercial and have a commercial product. How is Oort approaching that? And what challenges are you seeing in the future?
07:53 - Do you think that having that scientific background has also allowed you to see the route to market from a different perspective?
09:26 - You came from the battery space; why is green hydrogen the way you want to take your career?
12:25 - What's been one of the most rewarding moments for you in this transition?
16:11 - I'm interested to hear a bit more about how your investment journey is going, and where you are at in that process?
21:07 - Do you see any kind of significant investment trends within the hydrogen sector specifically?
22:29 - in terms of partnerships, have there been any interesting alliances for Oort?
26:10 - Is there any advice that you would either give kind of your younger self or other business owners on this journey?
Connect with your hosts, Hetty Lowther and Alexa Mangeant on LinkedIn.
Find your guest Nick Van Dijk on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.

Welcome to Season Seven of Conversations in Cleantech! 
 
From inspiring stories and words of wisdom, to financial foresight and investment insights: in this season, you can expect to learn all about the people and companies who are propelling us towards a greener tomorrow, with a spotlight on investing in a cleaner planet.
Join this episode’s host, Carmen Davis, for a dive into the world of sustainable fuels with Jessica Elwell, the COO who is leading cleantech company OxEon Energy.  Buckle up as we journey from Jessica's unique career path - from Wisconsin to working with NASA - to her current mission of developing clean energy solutions.
As well as her role at OxEon, Jessica is Secretary Board of Directors for the United States Hydrogen Alliance, Board of Governors for 47G, and a founding member of Women Who Succeed - an impressive range of roles!
In their conversation, Carmen and Jessica tackle the challenges and triumphs of being a woman in a male-dominated industry, with Jessica sharing her experiences and the importance of mentorship for aspiring leaders. We then take flight and explore OxEon's innovative technologies for sustainable aviation fuels and space travel propellants (as found onboard the Mars 2020 Rover!).
But innovation isn't a solo mission. The episode emphasises the power of collaboration – Jessica discusses how partnerships, education, and community involvement are crucial for scaling up clean energy production and building a thriving hydrogen economy.
Thinking of getting investment for your cleantech company? Want to know more about funding future tech? This episode is your pre-flight briefing! We explore the latest trends and the skills needed to navigate the exciting – and rapidly evolving – world of hydrogen and clean energy.
00:50 - Introduction to Jessica
02:43 - Can you share more about your background and what sparked your interest in science and technology?
05:01 - What do you think have been some of your defining moments or experiences in your journey that have shaped that career path, and driven your passion around sustainability and innovation?
07:57 - You mentioned transitioning from R&D to entrepreneurship can be quite a leap. So can you tell us about that decision, and some of the challenges and rewards from that?
09:45 - Can you tell us about mentorship throughout your career?
13:04 - In terms of being a leader in a more male-dominated field, how have you faced some of those unique challenges or barriers along your journey?
15:54 - What advice would you have for other women aspiring to break into these STEM fields?
18:06 - One of OxEon’s claims to fame involves Martian propellant production and breathable oxygen, making your team the first ever to produce a useful commodity off the face of the Earth. Tell us about the challenges and triumphs involved in that milestone.
22:15 - You mentioned you have been working on a project with the Navy regarding jet fuel production, can you provide a little bit of insight into this?
25:23 - What are your main priorities in scaling up operations and navigating the intricacies of product development, compliance and customer acquisition?
27:46 - Could you discuss the role of venture capital and strategic partnerships in advancing the shared vision - especially considering regulatory challenges?
30:26 - What would you say are some of the larger trends you've seen across investment within the hydrogen and green gas sector?
31:51 - What do you think we can do as a collective to keep the momentum for the sector and encourage funding, both public and private?
34:28 - What advice would you give to others considering careers in the sector and where could they find mentors?
36:25 - What skills and knowledge do you think are essential for success in this rapidly evolving field?
Connect with your host Carmen Davis on LinkedIn.
Find your guest Jessica Elwell on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.

Welcome to Season Seven of Conversations in Cleantech! 
 
From inspiring stories and words of wisdom, to financial foresight and investment insights: in this season, you can expect to learn all about the people and companies who are propelling us towards a greener tomorrow, with a spotlight on investing in a cleaner planet.
 
Join Nick McCullough for an enlightening conversation with Ken Scott, Managing Director at Tevva! Tevva are leading the charge with their electric trucks, aiming to make EVs the unarguable choice.
From projects with UPS to rare earth-free motors, Ken shares the remarkable journey and fascinating technology that is enabling the team at Tevva to sustainably scale up their truck tech.
 
In this episode, Ken highlights some of the challenges scaling cleantech companies like Tevva face, such as attracting talent, and balancing payload/range/cost. Ken also shares insights on securing investment - something which has become more difficult industry-wide, Ken tells his investment story, and also provides his advice for people and organisation who are currently seeking investment in cleantech.
 
Ken’s motivation to decarbonise transportation is truly inspiring, with his thoughts on the opportunities in the growing electric vehicle market and the benefits of Tevva establishing themselves as an early mover in the market sure to inspire and engage cleantech novices and experts alike!
 
01:16 - Introduction to Ken
02:30 - Can you share more about your role and Tevva and what you’re working on?
05:59 - What would you say have been the biggest achievements so far?
08:09 - What are some of the challenges you’ve had to deal with?
10:33 - How do you keep motivated in the face of challenges?
11:57 - What originally inspired your move into the decarbonisation side of the industry?
12:38 - What lessons could you share with those also shaping their journeys in the sector?
15:05 - What are your thoughts on the trends and observations you've made when it comes to investment in the sector?
18:30 - How do you see investment situation changing in the coming years?
20:53 - How has your personal experience been when it comes to seeking investment within Tevva?
23:48 - What advice can you give to the people and companies who are searching for investment at the moment?
25:07 - When it comes to the EV market in general, what's your take on the state of the market?
29:01 - What advice can you give to others for success in the rapidly evolving field of cleantech?
 
Connect with your host Nick McCullough on LinkedIn.
Find your guest Ken Scott on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.