Podcasts about elemental excelerator

Episode 44 is with Jim Mann, Founder and CEO of UNDOA few weeks ago, Microsoft inked a new 15,000 ton carbon removal deal with UNDO and similar deals with other enhanced rock weathering (ERW) companies. Na'im speaks with Jim Mann, Founder and CEO of UNDO, about the company's efforts in scaling carbon removal through ERW both in the U.K. and in Canada.In this episode, Na'im and Jim discuss:* The origin of UNDO and the reasons for exploring ERW as the key CDR method; * The operational processes at UNDO;* UNDO's experience going through the XPRIZE Carbon Removal competition;* The company's approach to measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV);* Partnerships with academia, local community, and businesses in the supply-chain;* UNDO's expansion into Canada and future goals; and* Impactful policy supportRelevant Links:* UNDO Website* UNDO LinkedIn* UK Government memo on ERW* Canadian Wollastonite website * UNDO X Newcastle Peer-reviewed paper in Plos One* Xprize Carbon Removal - Top 20 Finalists AnnouncementAbout JimWith a background in ecology, combined with extensive experience in scaling businesses, Jim was drawn to the fight against climate change and the ecological disaster it's bringing with it. In 2019, Jim co-founded The Future Forest Company - a reforestation effort with a mission to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and restore biodiversity across the UK.  Realising that tree planting could only go so far in helping solve the climate crisis, UNDO was born with the aim of delivering large-scale carbon removal projects with a permanence of 100,000+ years. When Jim is not busy creating a liveable planet for future generations, he runs competitively at ultra-distance, his favourite events being 100-mile or more mountain races. He lives in Scotland with his partner Liz and their two young children. About UNDOWith pioneering enhanced rock weathering technology, UNDO generates durable, high-quality carbon removal to support businesses on their pathway to net zero. This nature-based process also improves soil fertility, food security and the health of our oceans. Since 2022, UNDO has worked at the cutting edge of science alongside experts in the climate, carbon and agricultural sectors to develop an ERW technology which accelerates natural weathering processes to remove carbon from the atmosphere while bringing soil and crop benefits to agricultural communities. The UNDO operational, scientific and technical model leverages existing infrastructure, with a carbon efficiency of greater than 90 percent, allowing UNDO to quickly scale operations whilst offering carbon removal at competitive prices. UNDO aims to be the first company to remove one million tonnes of CO₂, a first step towards billion-tonne scale global operations. They operate primarily in the United Kingdom and now, Canada.This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of carbon removal to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Message Master, Tamsen Webster shares powerful ways to communicate and say what they can't unhear. Messager Master, Tamsen Webster discusses the pivotal role of effective messaging in achieving transformational change. She explores the dichotomy of messaging from recent political conventions, and the importance of framing messages positively. Tamsen delves into the science behind persuasion, the necessity of aligning with shared values, and the broader implications of these principles in both personal and professional spheres. The conversation emphasizes the potential of strategic communication to foster meaningful and sustainable change, urging listeners to adopt a more thoughtful and empathetic approach to messaging.BIOPart message designer, part English-to-English translator, part magpie, Tamsen Webster helps leaders craft their case for large-scale change. A sought-after speaker and consultant, she's spent more than 25 years developing the field and practice of persuasive message design, with a particular focus on the principles and processes that build buy-in that lasts.In addition to her work in and for major organizations such as Harvard Medical School, Fidelity Investments, and Klaviyo, she built and delivers the message design curriculum for Elemental Excelerator, a leading investor in impact startups. She's a judge and mentor for the Harvard Innovation Labs and a professional advisor at the Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship. She's also spent over 10 years as the Idea Strategist for one of only nine legacy-level TEDx events and was named to the Thinkers50 Radar in 2022. She published her first book, Find Your Red Thread: Make Your Big Ideas Irresistible, in 2021. Her next book, Say What They Can't Unhear: The 9 Principles of Lasting Change is available in bookstores everywhere in October 2024.Tamsen was a reluctant marathoner… twice; is a champion ballroom dancer (in her mind); and learned everything she knows about messages, people, and change as a Weight Watchers leader. True story.She lives in Boston with her husband, two sons, and her two brindle Greyhounds, Hazel and Walnut.CHAPTERS00:09:04 How to use Tamsen's book and possible resistance to it.00:14:00 Have we lost optimism bias?00:20:34 It's about change communications00:27:00 Mindset and ego00:33:45 Finding common ground00:39:42 Primal beliefs and squandering human potential00:47:39 Stories in messaging00:53:02 People are not willing to go back into the machine00:56:16 Benefits of adult learningLINKSJer Clifton - Primal World BeliefsTamsen Webster's WebsiteThe Ladder of Inference - Chris Argyris and Donald SchoenFind Your Red Thread by Tamsen WebsterSay What They Can't Unhear - by Tamsen WebsterHarvard Innovation LabsThe Martin Trust Centre for MIT EntrepreneurshipIMAGE CREDITS (see images on Youtube video)Book graphics - Amazon.caOther Images and Graphics - CanvaHarvard Innovation Labs logo - Harvard...

Episode 43 is with Luke Connell and Shannon SterlingAs we wrap up Climate Week NYC today, I wanted to share a special episode with the CarbonRun leadership team on their exciting $25M offtake agreement with Frontier Climate - probably the biggest carbon removal news of Climate Week. It even hit the front page of the New York Times. We talk about what they've been up to leading to this announcement, and what this major milestone means for their company and the communities they work with.In this episode, Na'im, Luke, and Shannon discuss: * The origins and mission of Carbon Run; * Luke's journey into carbon removal and entrepreneurship; * Shannon's extensive background in environmental science and working in communities* The science and benefits of river alkalinity enhancement;* Challenges and opportunities in scaling this technology;* The significance of their recent offtake agreement with Frontier;* The economic and ecological co-benefits of their approach;* Effective community engagement and maintaining public trust; and * Policy and regulatory needs for advancing carbon removal.Relevant Links:* CarbonRun Website* New York Times article on CarbonRun* Frontier Climate CarbonRun offtake details* What is CarbonRun - YouTube* Nova Scotia's rivers still suffer from acid rain. Restoring them could also help the climate - CBC News* Where Ideas Meet Impact: Hydrologist's research positions her to take a global lead in atmospheric carbon dioxide removal - Dalhousie University* Frontier Climate websiteAbout CarbonRunFounded and developed in Nova Scotia by an environmental scientist and freshwater ecologist, CarbonRun's team of experts are dedicated to restoring rivers damaged by pollution to protect aquatic life. Its founders are global experts on river ecosystem health with decades of applied experience restoring rivers.About Luke ConnellOver his career, Luke Connell has strived to bridge the gap between social impact and entrepreneurialism, finding his path to CDR in 2020. Prior to co-founding CarbonRun, he led an innovation based, national charity and co-owned a popular, 3 location Toronto restaurant. He has a proven track record as a small-business founder and team builder. Luke sits on various charitable boards and actively invests in promising sustainability companies. He lives in Toronto with his wife, 2 children and dog Rudy.About Shannon SterlingShannon Sterling, PhD (Duke) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Earth and  Environmental Sciences at Dalhousie University, and an internationally-recognized expert in  catchment hydrology and biogeochemistry, with specific expertise in freshwater acidification and  climate change. Her research group has studied the hydrology and watersheds of Nova Scotia for the  past 15 years and led the discovery that aluminum levels were still at toxic concentrations in Nova  Scotia due to a legacy of acid rain. Dr. Sterling earned her Bachelor of Science in Geography at McGill University, Master of Science in Fluvial Geomorphology at the University of British Columbia, her Ph.D. in Earth Sciences at Duke University and was a Chateaubriand and a Marie Curie Intra European Fellow at the Universite de Pierre et Marie Curie (Sorbonne Université) in Paris.This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of carbon removal to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 42 is with Sebastian Manhart, Senior Policy Advisor at CarbonfutureSebastian Manhart discusses recent carbon dioxide removal (CDR) policies in Europe and the U.S. He points out key policy achievements, compares the EU's and U.S.'s different CDR approaches, and emphasizes the importance as well as the challenges of integrating CDR into compliance markets. He also mentions his own projects aimed at advancing the CDR industry.In this episode, Na'im and Sebastian discuss:* recent developments in carbon removal policies across Europe and the U.S.;* significant policy wins over the past year;* key legislative approaches to the EU's carbon removal policies* Progress from individual European countries in CDR;* the approaches of the EU and the U.S.;* the potential and readiness of integrating CDR into compliance markets;* the importance of government roles and the need for developing domestic CDR industries;* the founding of the German CDR Association, DVNE, the U.S. Biochar Coalition, and CDRjobs.Relevant Links:* How the EU is shaping policies to pursue global leadership in carbon removal (2023)* Carbonfuture website * CDRjobs website * US Biochar Coalition website* Enhanced Weathering Alliance website* Deutscher Verband für Negative Emissionen (DVNE) website* Carbon Gap funding EU vs US analysis* Sebastian Manhart (LinkedIn, Website, Newsletter)* Compliance Market Poll* Denmark's Livestock TaxAbout Sebastian:Sebastian Manhart is a CDR policy expert. He is the Senior Policy Advisor of Carbonfuture, the world's leading CDR platform. Sebastian is also the Chair of the Board of the DVNE, the German CDR Association, as well as a founding Director of the US Biochar Coalition. Sebastian also recently founded CDRjobs, the sector's leading job platform. Previously, Sebastian spent a decade as a tech entrepreneur, advised Angela Merkel´s Chancellery, and worked with governments globally through the World Bank. Sebastian is an economist with a BA from UCL and an MPhil from Cambridge University.About Carbonfuture: Carbonfuture builds the trust infrastructure needed to scale CDR. It operates across pathways, focused on developing both MRV and marketplaces services.The DVNE is the German CDR association, supporting the German government in achieving its ambitious 2045 net-zero target.The US Biochar Coalition aims to establish high-quality, permanent biochar carbon removal as a key pillar in American industrial and climate strategy.CDRjobs is the one stop shop for anyone transitioning into, or within CDR with all jobs in CDR in a single place.This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of carbon removal to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 41 is with Noah Deich, Senior Advisor for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon ManagementToday Na'im speaks with Noah Deich about how the US Department of Energy (DOE) is contributing to the carbon removal landscape through innovative programs and policies aimed at decarbonizing the energy sector and advancing carbon removal technologies. In this episode, Na'im and Noah discuss:* Noah's journey into the carbon removal space; * The role of DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management;* Key innovation programs and initiatives supporting carbon removal; * The Carbon Negative Shot initiative and its goals;* The importance of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) in carbon removal projects;* The DOE's pilot program for purchasing carbon removal credits;* Community benefits and engagement in carbon removal projects;* Approaches in driving market demand for carbon removal.Relevant Links:* DOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management* Carbon Negative Shot* Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize* Direct Air Capture Pre-Commercial Technology Prize* Commercial Direct Air Capture Pilot Prize* The Roads to Removal (R2R) Report* Na'im's reflections on the unveiling of Mammoth in IcelandAbout Noah:Noah Deich is a Senior Advisor for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. Noah came to FECM from Carbon180, which he co-founded to catalyze the development of a portfolio of carbon removal solutions. Prior to that, Noah was an economic and management consultant with Accenture and ICF international, where he gained experience in many fields including environmental market and carbon offset modeling and renewable and fossil energy power plants valuations. Noah received his MBA from the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and his BA from the University of VirginiaAbout DOE FECM:The DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) minimizes environmental and climate impacts of fossil fuels and industrial processes while working to achieve net-zero emissions across the U.S. economy. Priority areas of technology work include carbon capture, carbon conversion, carbon dioxide removal, carbon dioxide transport and storage, hydrogen production with carbon management, methane emissions reduction, and critical minerals production. To learn more, visit the FECM website, sign up for FECM news announcements, and visit the National Energy Technology Laboratory website.This episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of carbon removal to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Elemental Excelerator is a nonprofit investor focused on scaling climate technologies with deep community impact. They bring more than a decade of experience across the climate sector, with an active and maturing portfolio of more than 150+ companies. Elemental fills two gaps fundamental to addressing climate change: funding projects for climate technologies in communities, and embedding equity and access into climate solutions. They invest in transformative technologies to create a system change for a more resilient, equitable future. Amir Chireh Mehr is the Senior Investment Director at Elemental Excelerator. He is responsible for managing all aspects of transactions over the investment lifecycle at Elemental, from investment strategy formulation and origination to execution and asset management. His expertise and responsibilities extends to fundraising and building partnerships with investors, leveraging these relationships to enhance outcomes for climate-focused companies with the potential to catalyze meaningful decarbonization pathways across communities. In this episode, Amir shares the company's investment approach and the impact of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. He also discusses promising trends as well as advice and common pitfalls of entrepreneurs seeking financing. Show Notes: [1:56] - Amir shares his background and what motivated him to join Elemental. [4:30] - Elemental began with an interest in applying for a grant with the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and it caught Amir's eye. [6:42] - Amir explains some of the investment criteria they look into when deciding on what projects to invest in. [9:08] - They have to evaluate the quality of the cash flow relative to the investment type. [12:09] - The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund is $27 billion that was set aside to capitalize not-for-profit institutions to provide low cost capital. [14:35] - It's been a challenging process for Elemental Excelerator to apply and navigate the application for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. [17:12] - The idea was to use government dollars but to marry that with the efficiency of private sector approaches and methods. [19:17] - For entrepreneurs, the program requirements are pretty straightforward, but certain things can seem a little complicated. [21:57] - Amir shares some of the challenges in applying and some of the ways projects receive financing. [23:23] - If an entrepreneur would like access to these types of dollars, they need to have an eye for reframing things through the lens of structured finance. [26:50] - Amir describes some of the promising trends in the industry and some of the areas that are seeing a lot of forward momentum and advances. [28:21] - Follow where the opportunity is. We need new business models and solutions. [30:53] - You have to dutifully manage your scarce cash, but also have a line of sight in building your business in such a way that you're meeting the needs of stakeholders. Links and Resources: Elemental Excelerator Website

Episode 40 is with Anu Khan, Founder and Executive Director at Carbon Removal Standards InitiativeAnu founded the Carbon Removal Standards Initiative or CRSI in early 2024 while an Entrepreneur in Residence at Carbon180. She previously led the Science & Innovation team at Carbon180 where her work focused on measurement, reporting, and verification (or MRV) as a crucial level for building a just, equitable, and highly accountable carbon removal (or CDR) sector. Prior to Carbon180, Anu worked in climate philanthropy at Founders Pledge. Her academic background is in electrochemistry and materials science. CRSI is a new nonprofit initiative that provides technical assistance and capacity building for carbon removal policy, focused specifically on carbon quantification. As a nonprofit, CRSI is able to provide financially unconflicted information to policymakers, regulators, and other NGOs working in CDR, decoupled from the sale of carbon credits or the growth of carbon markets. In this episode, Na'im and Anu discuss:* The Carbon Removal Standards Initiative (CRSI);* the importance of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) in ensuring justice and accountability;* efforts to provide technically unconflicted information to policymakers and regulators;* bridging gaps in carbon quantification standards and build industry trust; and* the need for robust and scientifically sound standards tailored to various industries and jurisdictions.Relevant Links:* Carbon Removal Standards Initiative - Website* High Accountability MRV (2024) - Carbon180* CRSI Quantification Resource Database* Quantification Beyond Crediting (Blog) - CRSIThis episode was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Consecon Foundation.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of carbon removal to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 39 is with Mark Cyffka, Co-Founder and COO of AirMyne. Today Na'im speaks with Mark Cyffka about common barriers to scaling the different approaches of direct air capture technologies, how AirMyne is looking to bypass those barriers with its technology, what the cost trajectory of DAC will be between now and 2050, and how to think about the modularity versus large-system approaches of developing DAC technologies.In this episode, Na'im and Mark discuss:* AirMyne's progress since the company was launched;* Common barriers to scaling direct air capture today;* AirMyne's technology;* Cost trajectory for DAC by 2050;* AirMyne's partnership with CO2 offtakes and its' role in in the two Regional DAC Hub projects in parallel to its partners;* Policy initiatives to address gaps in the scaling of DAC; and* The importance of social acceptance for DAC to scale.Relevant Links:* AirMyne's website* “Hello world, we're AirMyne.”* TechCrunch - “AirMyne taps geothermal energy to scale direct air carbon capture”* ETH Zurich - Cost of direct air carbon capture to remain higher than hoped* Berkeley Lab - Exploring Community-Centered Direct Air Capture* U.S. Department of Energy - Project Selections for FOA 2735: Regional Direct Air Capture Hubs – Topic Area 1 (Feasibility) and Topic Area 2 (Design)About Mark:Mark Cyffka is the co-founder at AirMyne where he leads day to day operations. Before AirMyne, Mark spent more than a decade in operations roles in the deeptech ecosystem, including sales, engineering, and product management roles. At BASF, Mark helped invent & commercialize products used to manufacture EVs and solar power systems. After the success of that product led to a spin-out, Mark advised the Finnish government on deeptech innovation with a focus on climate. Mark studied chemistry at Harvey Mudd College.About AirMyne:AirMyne is a company working to scale high-quality carbon removal through direct air capture (DAC). The company is based in Berkeley, California and employs 19 people. AirMyne has built, demonstrated, and patented a low-temperature, solvent-based DAC approach designed for low cost, safety, and scalability. This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of carbon removal to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 38 is with Dai Ellis (Co-founder and CEO) and Vilas Rao (Co-founder) of Cascade Climate.Today Na'im speaks with Dai Ellis and Vilas Rao about how Cascade Climate is working to address key challenges in open-system carbon dioxide removal (CDR), particularly around quantification of enhanced rock weathering (ERW), why a community-built quantification standard is key to increase consistency in MRV practices across the ERW market, and how to encourage industry adoption and data sharing to advance understanding of ERW.In this episode, Na'im, Dai, and Vilas discuss:* The co-founders' vision for launching and building Cascade;* The problem Cascade was founded to solve;* The reason for focusing on ERW and the key challenges associated;* The current state of net removal quantification and the reason for creating a community-built standard;* Incentives to encourage adoption and implementation of the community-built standard;* The importance of having data-access and encouraging data-sharing in driving shared learning and building trust;* The role policymakers play in ERW;* Responsible deployment of ERW in the Global South; and* The good-movie and the bad-movie versions of open-system climate intervention.Relevant Links:* Carbon Curve Podcast Ep. 3 - “Dai Ellis on what scaling up HIV medicines can teach us about building a thriving carbon removal market”* The Great Unwind - Substack by Dai Ellis* Carbon Travels - Substack by John Sanchez* Foundations for a Healthy ERW Market Cycle - Blog Post* Cascade Climate on OpenAir's This is CDR webinar series* Cascade Climate websiteAbout Dai:Dai Ellis is CEO and co-founder at Cascade Climate. Dai is an entrepreneur with deep experience founding and scaling high-performing nonprofit and for-profit ventures across climate, health, and education. He has co-founded five different ventures and paid forward what he's learned the hard way as an executive coach to climate tech founders and CEOs. Earlier in his career, Dai led the Clinton Health Access Initiative's pioneering work on market shaping for drugs, vaccines, and other health products in the Global South. More recently, he has been at the forefront of efforts to import learning and tools from global health market shaping into climate tech.About Vilas:Vilas Rao is a co-founder at Cascade Climate. Vilas has been growing businesses in the agriculture technology space for the past decade, looking for ways to apply technology to agricultural production systems to drive a more sustainable and secure food supply. Prior to Cascade, Vilas was the Chief Revenue Officer for Arable Labs, which delivers a real-time crop monitoring solution for farming. Earlier in his career, Vilas led the scale up of FieldView, the largest data platform and partner ecosystem in agriculture while at The Climate Corporation. Vilas got his start in agriculture working with smallholder farmers in Nepal, which led to his lifelong fascination with the connections between the food system, economic opportunity, and our planetary footprint.About Cascade Climate:Cascade Climate works to accelerate progress in climate interventions that leverage Earth's natural systems—from soils to oceans to glaciers—to stabilize our climate. As a philanthropically-backed nonprofit, Cascade coordinates and resources ambitious initiatives across science, industry, philanthropy, and policy to overcome the core bottlenecks that are holding back the most promising open-system climate interventions. Its initial focus is advancing the development of a healthy market for enhanced rock weathering (ERW), underpinned by its scientific evidence base and its potential for durable, gigaton-scale carbon dioxide removal.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of carbon removal to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

⭐ My guest today is Mark Bruinooge, CIO of 2040 Fund. 2040 Fund manages philanthropic capital for the 2040 Foundation and its founder, Jay Faison. Investments include private and publicly listed securities focused on climate adaptation and resilience. The 2040 Fund The Fund focuses on water systems and technology, the future of food, and energy transition. They plan to spend down all of its assets by the year 2040 maximizing impact in the near term. Mark is also a board member at PosiGen, investment committe member at Upwell Water, and former SVP at Bank of America. --

⭐ My guest today is Mike Jackson, Managing Partner of Earthshot Ventures. Earthshot is an early-stage venture capital firm backing entrepreneurs making a dent in climate change. Their team has collectively invested in 200+ startups over the last fourteen years. Mike is an investor, entrepreneur, board member, and advisor to companies in clean energy, food & agriculture, buildings, and mobility sectors. He is formerly an Investor in Residence at Elemental Excelerator and Developer in Residence at Generate Capital. --

Episode 37 is with Lukas May, Head of Policy and Expansion at IsometricThe traditional carbon offset market is riddled with problems. We've seen reporting on this from The Guardian, Bloomberg, and other media outlets. Researchers at CarbonPlan have also done some excellent work exposing just how broken some of these systems really are. As we build a new carbon removal industry, we now have an opportunity to build trust in a high integrity carbon removal market. One company, Isometric, is working to figure that out, building scientific integrity, transparency, and incentive alignment into their business model. The company just launched its own carbon registry this week, and the question is, can the company avoid the same pitfalls of the legacy actors in the traditional carbon offset market?In this episode, Na'im and Lukas discuss:* Isometric's mission and why trust is the central job of scaling carbon removal;* Definitions of the terms standards, methodologies, and protocols;* Ways that Isometric's products improve on incumbent models that exist today;* How Isometric addresses problem around misaligned incentive in the market today;* How Isometric defines quality;* Isometric's approach in developing protocols and partnering with the wider community;* The role of policy in helping build trust and rigor;* Alternatives to countries' building their own methodologiesRelevant Links:* Launch of Isometric Registry* Isometric receives ICROA Conditional Endorsement* Isometric Website* Isometric Registry* Isometric Protocols* Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot PrizeAbout LukasLukas May is the Head of Policy and Expansion at Isometric. He has spent over a decade working between government and start-ups. He was most recently a Senior Civil Servant in the UK Government, where he led post-Brexit trade negotiations in the Asia-Pacific region. Before that he led international expansion at fintech start-up Wise, and he started his career at the UK financial services regulator.About IsometricIsometric is a new kind of registry on a mission to ensure the transition to carbon removal happens responsibly and fast. As carbon markets mature, buyers are rapidly shifting their attention and purchases from low-quality, temporary carbon offsets to high-quality, durable carbon removals. The Isometric Standard sets the world's most stringent set of rules for removing carbon, raising the bar for scientific rigor, transparency, and incentive alignment. The Isometric Registry provides a permanent audit trail for all credits issued by Isometric, allowing the information behind every credit to be reviewed and scrutinized. Isometric was founded in 2022 by CEO Eamon Jubbawy, who previously co-founded Onfido. The company is based in London and New York and has raised over $25 million from Lowercarbon Capital, Plural, and more.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of CDR to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Avra van der Zee is the COO of Elemental Excelerator, a global climate technology accelerator started in Honolulu with over 150 portfolio companies that have received over $8B in follow-on funding. We talk about using entrepreneurship for social change, catalytic capital, how to scale new technologies and the role of corporates in solving the climate challenge and the economic benefit of societal impact – including great case studies of United Airlines and Amazon.

Earthshot Ventures isn't just any climate tech venture firm. Having grown out of the Elemental Excelerator, one of the biggest and best-reputed accelerators in the industry, Earthshot is deeply rooted in the early-stage ecosystem. And it turns out there's something else that sets them apart. Managing Partner Mike Jackson has a knack for coaching founders on what he thinks of as the art and science of fundraising. We're joined today by Mike and Earthshot Partner Ramsay Siegal to hear about their firm, approach, portfolio, and outlook on the market. We dive deep into Mike's insights to helping founders raise money. We talked about non-dilutive project financing and hard-to-abate sectors, the opportunities AI is bringing to climate tech, several of their portfolio companies, and much more. If you're interested in early-stage climate investing, or startups, there's lots to learn in this one. Hope you enjoy. Here we go.In today's episode, we cover:[02:47] Mike's background & experience[04:52] Ramsey's background & expertise[07:51] The relationship between Earthshot VC & Elemental Excelerator[09:39] Earthshot's investment thesis, what they're interested in & what sets them apart[12:22] Earthshot's network[14:13] Mike's approach to fundraising & coaching the portfolio[17:54] Fundraising tips and tricks for founders[22:17] Earthshot's success stories[24:38] How is AI showing up[30:41] Investing in hard-to-abate sectors and Kanin Energy[33:06] Kanin Energy's business model and non-dilutive funding[38:15] Earthshot's commitment, DEI & tips for achieving a diverse portfolio[42:38] Outlook & opportunities for climate tech investingResources MentionedEarthshot VenturesElemental ExceleratorMitra ChemKanin EnergyGenerate CapitalWestly GroupConnect with Mike Jackson & Ramsay SiegalConnect with Mike on LinkedInConnect with Ramsay on LinkedInConnect with Jason RissmanOn LinkedInOn TwitterKeep up with Invested In ClimateSign up for our NewsletterLinkedInInstagramTwitterHave feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or...

In this episode of Cause & Purpose, we sit down with the COO of Elemental Excelerator, Avra van der Zee.Avra's dedication to combatting climate change has spanned her entire career. From e-bikes, to sustainable pre-fabricated construction materials, to the 150+ startups in Elemental Excelerator's portfolio, Avra has worked, across her career, to help build and scale the innovative climate solutions that will help shape our environment for generations to come. A litigation attorney turned social entrepreneur, Avra has tons of great insights to share about everything from working with government programs, to storytelling, to climate justice issues, to storytelling, and building performance measurement and evaluation frameworks that empower organizations to maximize their impact.Join us as we learn a bit about Avra's background, and the way she, and Elemental Excelerator, are tackling global climate change at a massive scale.

Episode 36 is with Nikki Batchelor of XPRIZE and Ben Rubin of Carbon Business Council.Carbon removal can be a force for good - not just in creating lasting climate benefits - but in delivering social, economic, and ecological benefits as well. Indeed, the future of carbon removal depends on that promise playing out. But it isn't a foregone conclusion that large scale carbon removal is uncompromisingly and unequivocally good for people and planet. As we build this new industry - an intentional approach to its responsible deployment is absolutely necessary. Today, Na'im speaks with Nikki Batchelor and Ben Rubin about the recently launched Carbon Dioxide Removal Responsible Deployment Training (CDR RDT).In this episode, Na'im, Nikki, and Ben discuss:* Achievements the Carbon Business Council has made since launch;* The XPRIZE Carbon Removal Competition and the final stage of the competition;* Findings from XPRIZE's Carbon Removal Innovation Landscape and the 2024 Outlook report;* The meaning and importance of deploying carbon removal responsibly;* Carbon Business Council's Responsible Deployment Training program;* Embedding environmental justice and community engagement approaches into XPRIZE competition criteria;* The adaption of key principles of the training program to a broader global context;* The implication of the framework for stakeholders beyond carbon removal tech developers; and* Upcoming announcements and initiatives from XPRIZE and Carbon Business Council.Relevant Links:* Breaking Ground: Guidance for Carbon Removal Companies and Funders on Responsible Project Deployment* CDR Innovation Landscape and 2024 Outlook* From the Ground Up: Recommendations for Building an Environmentally Just Carbon Removal Industry* CDR RDT, A Training Course & Suite of Foundational Resources for the Responsible Deployment of Carbon Removal  * CDR RDT: Carbon Dioxide Removal Responsible Deployment Trainings* Responsible & Regional Deployment of Carbon Removal: A Pacific Northwest Symposium* Marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR): Issue Brief* Sources of opposition to renewable energy projects in the United StatesAbout Nikki:Nikki Batchelor is the Executive Director for the $100M XPRIZE Carbon Removal, a competition supported by the Musk Foundation to drive innovation, market adoption, and responsible deployment of carbon removal solutions. In this capacity she oversees program operations, develops partnerships, and leads strategic initiatives on topics such as environmental justice and investor engagement, including the Circular Carbon Network that provides market insights for the growing carbon tech and carbon removal sectors. Nikki also supports XPRIZE's work across the Energy & Climate Domain and previously managed operations and impact programs for the $20M NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE from 2015-2021. She also serves on the Carbon Business Council Board of Directors and Puro.Earth Advisory Board.About XPRIZE:XPRIZE is an established global leader in designing, launching, and executing large scale competitions to solve humanity's greatest challenges. The XPRIZE unique model democratizes innovation by incentivizing crowd-sourced, scientifically viable solutions to create a more equitable and abundant future for all. About Ben:Ben Rubin is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Carbon Business Council. Ben serves on the Environmental Technologies Trade Advisory Committee at the U.S. Department of Commerce, a federal appointment position. He is a Research Fellow with the Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal. Ben has been advancing climate action throughout his career, leading initiatives for companies, accelerators, governments and nonprofits. His work has galvanized billions of dollars in climate infrastructure funding, passed legislation, and reached hundreds of millions of people through media campaigns.About Carbon Business Council:Carbon Business Council (CO2BC), a member-driven and tech-neutral trade association of companies unified to restore the climate, is the preeminent industry voice for carbon management innovators. Together, the nonprofit coalition represents more than 100 companies and organizations across six continents with more than $16.5 billion dollars in combined assets.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of CDR to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Today, we are speaking with a representative of the legendary Rockefeller Foundation. For those unaware, this foundation is one of the oldest well-organized institutions of its type and has been responsible for a massive number of efforts over the past 100 years. Our guest is Thomas Belazis, Director of Innovative Finance. He runs their Climate & Impact Investing arm. Some of the notable things we cover today are... Their $1bn Climate and Net Zero CommitmentsHow they end up unlocking a lot of other capital when they investAnd why high integrity in EVERY investment matters because of the weight their name carries Enjoy this episode with Thomas from The Rockefeller Foundation.

Episode 35 is with Anastasia Pavlovic, CEO of Eion and Elliot Chang, Co-founder and CSO of Eion.Today Na'im speaks with Anastasia Pavlovic, CEO of Eion and Elliot Chang, CSO of Eion. Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is an area of carbon removal that I've been really intrigued by. When I think about ERW, I think about high potential for scale, benefits to farmers, and potentially challenging MRV.So 35 episodes into this podcast, I'm finally doing an episode on ERW. Today I'll be speaking with Eion's co-founder, alongside a newly minted CEO, to educate me about what has evolved in the ERW space over the last few years and what the future has in store for this promising but still nascent carbon removal technology.About Anastasia PavlovicAnastasia Pavlovic is the CEO of Eion, which she joined in December 2023 bringing deep expertise in global operations and software with a passion for driving global change through local impact. Before joining Eion, Pavlovic led operations, commercialization, and growth for the Agoro Carbon Alliance, which works with farmers to sequester carbon in soil. Prior to the Alliance, Pavlovic commercialized software solutions in the US and Canada for Yara's Digital Farming organization. She has worked for venture-backed software companies scaling agtech and security products around the world. From West Virginia, Pavlovic holds dual B.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Systems Engineering. About Elliot ChangElliot Chang is Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at Eion. With over ten years of research experience in ion interactions with abiotic and biotic surfaces found in both subsurface terrestrial and marine systems, Elliot focuses on the research and development of technology at Eion. Elliot provides a unique perspective on technology and innovation through his work in academia, national laboratories, and industry-based companies. Elliot has completed postdoctoral research positions at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, where he studied the physio-chemical properties of swelling clays in soils, and at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he developed new computational modelling approaches for radionuclide and metal transport in soils and nuclear waste repositories. He received his Ph.D. at UC Berkeley in Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, studying rare earth element interactions with bacteria in engineered bioreactor and natural soil systems. He received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering at Princeton University with a certificate in Sustainable Energy. Elliot is a member of the American Geophysical Union, American Chemical Society, and Sigma Xi Honor Society. About EionEion is a carbon removal company responsibly scaling enhanced rock weathering (ERW) on agricultural lands. It holds an industry-first patent for directly measuring the carbon removed by mineral weathering in soils using immobile trace elements. Combining scientific rigor with agricultural know-how, Eion fits into routine farming practices to unlock scale without compromising safety and rigor. That includes using olivine, a naturally abundant mineral that balances soil pH while efficiently absorbing carbon dioxide, and relying on routine soil samples and standard equipment to measure carbon removal and monitor soil conditions. By working with the agricultural system, Eion is on track to deliver 10 million tons of permanent carbon removal annually starting in 2030 while creating stable jobs in rural communities. In this episode, Na'im, Anna, and Elliot discuss:* Eion's beginning and journey thus far;* Anna's new role as the CEO and her experience getting into CDR from a background in agtech;* Eion's approach to enhanced rock weathering* Eion's ‘direct measurement approach' to MRV;* The different minerals used in ERW and the advantage of using olivine for Eion;* The scalability and potential of ERW in reaching the scale required;* The constraints in scaling ERW;* Eion's partnership with its feedstock partner, Sibelco;* The significance of Eion's recent delivery of carbon removal to Stripe;* Policy supports needed going forward for ERW;* Anna's mandate and the company's key priorities for 2024;Relevant Links:* The basics of enhanced rock weathering* How Eion Measures Enhanced Rock Weathering (Or How to Find Something That's No Longer There) * Eion's Delivery of Carbon Removal to Stripe, Inc.* The US Agriculture Improvement Act (Farm Bill)* Eion's websiteThis episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of CDR to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 34 is with Phil De Luna, Chief Carbon Scientist and Head of Engineering at Deep Sky. In this episode, Na'im speaks to Phil De Luna, Deep Sky's Chief Carbon Scientists and Head of Engineering. Na'im and Phil cover a broad range of what Deep Sky - a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) project developer that raised C$75M last year - has done to date, how they think about new technology adoption, why Canada is well suited for large scale carbon removal, and the policies that would help advance their work. And we get a few hints of what's in store for the rest of 2024.In this episode, Na'im and Phil discuss:* Phil's journey into CDR and the reasons he joined Deep Sky;* Deep Sky's philosophy on removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere;* Deep Sky's criteria for choosing partners and how partnerships work;* The reasons for the company's focusing on Quebec and Canada;* The exciting innovations in carbon removal;* Deep Sky's partnership with Isometric and their approach to MRV;* Opportunities and challenges to large scale deployment, and the importance of community engagement;* Different kinds of policies and actions from the Canadian government that could help develop and scale carbon removal technologies; and* Deep Sky's plan for 2024.Relevant Links:* “Why Canada Is Poised To Become A Carbon Removal Superpower” (Forbes)* “The Race Is On: 5 Steps To Rapidly Develop Carbon Removal Technology” (Forbes)* “Why 2023 Was A Breakout Year In Carbon Removals” (Forbes)* Canada's Investment Tax Credit for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (Gov't of Canada)* Deep Sky Website* Isometric Website* Carbon Removal Canada Website* Ready to Removal: A Decisive Decade for Canadian Leadership in Carbon Dioxide RemovalAbout PhilPhil De Luna is Chief Carbon Scientist and Head of Engineering at Deep Sky, a carbon removals venture building large scale infrastructure to remove CO2 from the atmosphere to reverse climate change. Prior to Deep Sky, Phil led Carbontech at McKinsey & Company's sustainability practice. He is a Governor General Gold Medal winning scientist, ranked in the top 0.1% in the world in his field, a mentor at Creative Destruction Lab, and chair of Carbon Management Canada. Phil was the youngest-ever Director at the National Research Council where he built and led a $57M R&D program developing disruptive technologies to decarbonize Canada. He was on the founding team of CERT Technologies, a carbontech startup and finalist in the $20M Carbon XPRIZE. He is a Member of the College of the Royal Society of Canada, an adjunct Professor of Materials Science & Engineering at the University of Toronto, a former Member of Parliament candidate, a Globe & Mail Top 50 Changemaker, and a Forbes Top 30 Under 30.About Deep SkyDeep Sky is the world's first carbon removal project developer deploying the best carbon capture technology from around the world under one roof. Tech agnostic, Deep Sky brings together the most promising direct air and ocean capture technologies from around the world. Powered by renewable energy, Deep Sky's facilities are strategically located in Quebec, a region with an abundance of hydroelectric power, immense wind power potential and a vast territory with the rich geological makeup required for carbon storage. Deep Sky will bring the largest supply of high quality carbon credits to the market and commercialize carbon removal and storage solutions like never before. This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of CDR to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 33 is with Dr. Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct, and with Tim Bushman, Director of Policy and Research at Carbon Removal Canada.Today Na'im speaks with Dr. Julio Friedmann and Tim Bushman about Canada's potential to scale up carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Late last year, Carbon Removal Canada released a report on Canada's readiness to scale carbon removal and the policies needed to unlock its potential. Today, Na'im speaks to two leading experts on carbon removal's future in Canada: Tim Bushman, who co authored the report and who has surveyed the Canadian landscape to understand the carbon removal potential here; and Julio Friedman, Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct, a world renowned expert on carbon removal and related industries, who was kind enough to review the report and has been a huge inspiration to so many in the carbon removal field.Tim and Julio will talk about the global CDR landscape, trends and developments to watch, Canada's advantages in scaling CDR, the policies currently in place, like an investment tax credit and a carbon management strategy, and the additional policies we will need to succeed in this new industry. In this episode, Na'im, Julio, and Tim discuss:* The current global CDR landscape, major developments and trends in the industry;* The important use cases and benefits for scaling CDR;* The scale of CDR needed for individual countries to achieve net-zero emissions, the steps required to get there, and the need to start building capacity now;* The potential leading role that Canada can play in scaling the global CDR industry;* Reasons governments should support the carbon removal industry and the ancillary benefits for doing so;* The most important near-term policy actions to support the sector, including a government procurement program, innovation investments, and standard-setting; and* Challenges and opportunities going forward.Relevant Links:* Ready to Removal: A Decisive Decade for Canadian Leadership in Carbon Dioxide Removal (Carbon Removal Canada, 2023)* Criteria for High-Quality Carbon Dioxide Removal (2023)* Capturing the opportunity: A Carbon Management Strategy for Canada (2023)* British Columbia's Low Carbon Fuels Act* Carbon Direct's website* Carbon Removal Canada's websiteAbout Dr. Julio FriedmannDr. Friedmann recently served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Fossil Energy at the Department of Energy where he was responsible for DOE's R&D program in advanced fossil energy systems, carbon capture, and storage (CCS), CO2 utilization, and CO2 removal. More recently, he was a Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia. He has held positions at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, including Chief Energy Technologist. Dr. Friedmann is one of the most widely known and authoritative experts in the U.S. on carbon removal (CO2 drawdown from the air and oceans), CO2 conversion and use (carbon-to-value), hydrogen, industrial decarbonization, and carbon capture and sequestration.About Carbon DirectCarbon Direct helps organisations turn industry-leading carbon science into action through its end-to-end platform and advisory services. Their team consists of over 40 leading scientific advisors who have collectively published over 1,000 peer-reviewed papers on carbon measurement, management, and removal and engaged in meaningful climate action from restoration and conservation through to carbon project design and innovative tool development for project monitoring. This scientific foundation is enhanced by a broader team of over 20 carbon market advisors drawing upon finance, consulting, and software expertise. Carbon Direct's scientific and market base spans decarbonisation frameworks and strategies, emissions tracking, engineered, hybrid, and nature-based solutions, and cross-cutting issues such as governance and equity in carbon markets. About Tim BushmanTim Bushman is the Director of Policy and Research at Carbon Removal Canada where he helps to inform policies and regulations to support the rapid and responsible scale-up of carbon removal in Canada. We're very lucky to have him on the team. Tim has a background in climate science and has worked extensively across the field of carbon management. His research has focused on mitigation strategies for the difficult-to-abate sectors and carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere. Prior to joining our team, he was a Senior Science Analyst at Carbon Direct and a Senior Analyst at Energy Futures Initiative.This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of CDR to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

The Startup Tank Climate Investor Pitch Show: the ultimate climate tech pitch contest where top cleantech & sustainability founders pitch leading climate VCs looking to fund world-positive companies! https://thestartuptank.com *Presenting Climate Startups:* - Green Urban Scenarios: Making trees tangible, investable assets, using our open-source, science-backed digital twin framework - PlugZen: Disruptive Electric Vehicle charging solution that will permanently change the EV Charging landscape forever. - Droneqube: Your autonomous farm assistant, like a home cleaning robot but for vineyards. - Solnce Energy: Accelerating the adoption of solar through our one-stop solar platform. - Zero Labs Zero Labs offers digital renewable energy as a service to make it easy for companies everywhere to power their global operations with renewable energy and prove it. *Investor Panelists:* - Gabriel Scheer @ Elemental Excelerator -- Want to Connect & Network? Join 3k+ Other Climate Techies - On Whatsapp: https://4ward.vc/WAgroup - On Slack: https://4ward.vc/startupslack Want to Fundraise for Your Climate Tech Startup? - Download our Free 1000+ Climate VC/Accelerator Database: https://4ward.vc/VCdatabase - Apply for The Startup Tank: https://thestartuptank.com/apply Interested in Investing in Climate Tech? We can help: - For VCs: Join Climate Tech Deal Share: http://4ward.vc/applydb - Same for Family Offices & LPs: http://4ward.vc/familyofficeform - For Angel Investors: Our Climate Syndicate: https://4ward.vc/syndicate Check out our list of Special Offers & Resources to help you on your climate adventure: - For Startups: https://4ward.vc/offers - For Investors: https://4ward.vc/VCoffers - For Corporates: https://4ward.vc/corporatesoffers -- The Startup Tank is brought to you by 4WARD.VC's "Partner in Clime" Climate Accelerator program and Climate Investor Syndicate 4WARD.VC's “Partner in Clime” Climate Accelerator is disrupting the outdated venture industry with the world's most hands-on, sales & traction-focused accelerator for elite early stage climate companies led by CRAZY ASS, world class climate founders tackling MASSIVE problems in areas including Food & Agriculture, Construction & Manufacturing, Commerce & Circularity, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Energy & Renewables, Transportation & Mobility For more info and to apply, please visit: http://4ward.vc/accelerator __ Subscribe to our newsletter to never miss a thing! Via Linkedin: https://4ward.vc/cleanandgreen Via Substack: https://mattward.substack.com

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Today, we have something special for you. 2023 has been an amazing year of growth for the Climate Tech industry, with a ton of new companies being founded, new funding rounds, purchase agreements, and technology breakthroughs. Amidst all of that, there are more and more people who are not working in Climate today but want to move their careers in that direction. So, for today's episode, we'll revisit ten guests who shared advice on that topic. These clips are all responses to the question I ask everyone, which is, “What advice do you have for someone not working in climate today who wants to do something to help?”

Episode 32 is with Na'im Merchant and Rahima Dosani.Building off of the special episode they did a year ago, Na'im and Rahima are back to reflect on all things carbon removal in 2023 and what's in store for 2024. They also get into launching Carbon Removal Canada, the role Canada can play in scaling carbon removal (CDR), managing changing professional demands, and other personal questions that Na'im was clearly not prepared for!We hope you enjoy the episode and wish everyone a happy 2024!About Rahima DosaniRahima Dosani is the Director of Strategy, Learning, and Innovation at Global Health Visions, a woman-owned and operated company helping to improve access to global health products and services in low-income countries. She previously worked for the Center for Innovation and Impact at USAID and the Clinton Health Access Initiative in Myanmar and Malawi after doing strategy consulting in New York City. Rahima holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from the Harvard Business School, and a masters in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health. She spends her spare time teaching yoga and being a private chef, and recently graciously agreed to relocate to Toronto, Canada with Na'im.Special note: A huge thanks to Tank Chen for his support with The Carbon Curve podcast over the last few months and I'm excited about the next set of episodes we're working on together. If you're interested in collaborating with a brilliant and dedicated individual on your carbon removal company or project, do reach out to him on LinkedIn!This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely Na'im Merchant's and do not reflect those of any other individual or entity.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 31 is with Paul Needham, CEO of Arca.Today Na'im speaks with Paul Needham about the potential for accelerated carbon mineralization using mine waste as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) method to decarbonize mining. Mining will play a huge role in the energy transition given the huge need of critical metals - and CDR can help ensure it's done in a net-zero fashion.Arca is working to stop - and reverse - climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the air and transforming it into rock, where it is safely stored forever. Co-founded by Professor Greg Dipple and other geoscientists from the University of British Columbia, Arca has developed technologies that accelerate a natural geochemical process called carbon mineralization. Arca works with producers of critical metals, such as nickel, repurposing mine waste to deploy industrial-scale carbon dioxide removal solutions.Arca just announced a partnership with BHP, one of the world's largest producers of nickel for the EV industry, to launch the world's first accelerated carbon mineralization project at an active nickel mine in Western Australia. The company's technology has been recognized with a $1 million XPRIZE Milestone Award for Carbon Dioxide Removal. About Paul NeedhamPaul is a multi-time company founder and CEO, with three exits. Paul serves as board member to a venture fund that invests in African clean energy entrepreneurs, and is Senior Advisor to the D-REC Organization which is accelerating investment in clean energy in developing countries. Paul co-founded, built, and sold India's largest rooftop solar leasing company, providing access to clean energy to at least 250,000 people in rural India. Paul has a Masters Degree in Development Economics from the University of Cambridge and is now CEO of Arca, the carbon mineralization company.In this episode, Na'im and Paul discuss:* Paul's journey into carbon removal and Arca's founding history, from its academic roots to becoming a CDR company;* The clean energy paradox;* The science behind Arca's approach;* Arca's solution to help the mining industry decarbonize;* The process of partnering with mining companies;* Arca's role in mining industry's objective to decarbonize;* Arca's partnership with BHP;* Arca's technologies in development around measurement and verification and their methodology;* Ways in which government around the world could support CDR; and* The company's current and future priorities.Relevant Links:* Arca's partnership with BHP to launch a new pilot project at BHP's Mt Keith Nickel West mine in Australia* Arca's People Page* Arca's LinkedIn page* Arca's Dr. Greg Dipple and Paul Needham on This Is CDR [Webinar]* Arca winning the XPRIZE Milestone Award for Carbon Dioxide Removal* BC Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE)This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of CDR to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Amy Cortese speaks with both Marilyn Waite of the Climate Finance Fund and Dawn Lippert of Elemental Excelerator about their experiences this week in the green and blue zones of COP28. Plus, Monique Aiken has the headlines.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/impact-alpha/message

Amy Cortese speaks with both Marilyn Waite of the Climate Finance Fund and Dawn Lippert of Elemental Excelerator about their experiences this week in the green and blue zones of COP28. Plus, Monique Aiken has the headlines.   --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/impact-alpha-briefing/message

Today we'll not only kick off the End of Year Membership Drive but we'll also talk about the latest happening with Elemental Excelerator. We'll find out about cohort 12 and Elemental's investments in climate change companies.

Episode 30 is with Bilha Ndirangu, CEO of Great Carbon Valley.Today Na'im speaks with Bilha Ndirangu. Bilha is the CEO of Great Carbon Valley. She is also the co-founder of Jacob's Ladder Africa, a non-profit focused on green workforce preparation.  In this and other roles, she is at the intersection of climate action, technology, and education, positioning Africa as an investment destination for the green economy, identifying and scaling relevant technologies, and preparing its youth to provide the requisite skills mix. She has had previous roles as CEO of the African Leadership Academy and CEO of Africa's Talking (a communications technology company), where she expanded the company into 20 markets in African countries. She also worked at Dalberg, where she helped launch the Nairobi office. Bilha holds a degree in Electrical Engineering from MIT and is a Yale Emerging Climate Leaders Fellow.Great Carbon Valley (GCV) is a systems integrator and project development company working to harness the abundant resources of the Great Rift Valley towards the global decarbonization efforts by developing large scale green industry and carbon removals projects. GCV aims to develop comprehensive DACS-anchored industrial parks that serve as complete solutions for energy-intensive businesses, enabling them to operate with enhanced efficiency and achieving net zero targets. GCV is seeking and working with a network of actors, including energy developers, Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology ventures, carbon storage providers, green industries, and project financiers, to develop the hubs. Earlier this year, GCV announced a partnership with Climeworks to explore development of large-scale direct air capture and storage projects in Kenya.In this episode, Na'im and Bilha discuss:* The mission and vision of Great Carbon Valley;* Attributes that make Kenya and East Africa ideal for hosting carbon removal projects;* The political wil behind carbon removal in Kenya and the potential political leaders see;* The employment and innovation opportunities that could come out of Africa;* Policies that will support industrial-scale carbon removal in East Africa;* Challenges and opportunities in attracting companies to build up the ecosystem in Kenya; and* The biggest disconnect in conversations around scaling carbon removal solutions between Europe, North America, and Africa.Relevant Links:* Envisioning African CDR Innovation with Bilha Ndirangu, Great Carbon Valley - Carbon Removal Africa Webinar* Africa's Great Carbon Valley - TED Talk by James Mwangi* Climeworks and Great Carbon Valley chart path to large-scale direct air capture and storage deployment in KenyaThis episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of CDR to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Three months ago, deadly wildfires swept across the western shore of Maui. It was the deadliest environmental disaster in Hawaii's history. Now the community is rebuilding, and around the state residents are preparing for more extreme weather events.  Elemental Excelerator, a Honolulu-based non-profit investor in climate technology, relies on local knowledge to create a wide range of climate solutions. The organization pairs technology startups with local nonprofits, which have a deep understanding of community needs. This model aims to address the unique challenges that Hawaii faces in the ever-worsening climate crisis. Elemental says these solutions can scale well beyond the islands.  So, in the aftermath of the Maui fires, what is the community doing to rebuild? What other projects are underway across Hawaii? And how can local solutions be used at a global level? This week host Bill Loveless talks with Dawn Lippert about community-oriented technology investments. Dawn is the founder and CEO of Elemental Excelerator. In 2009, she created a climate focused investment platform called Energy Excelerator, which merged with the Emerson Collective eight years later to form Elemental Excelerator. Dawn also chaired the advisory board for the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative from 2015 to 2020. In addition to leading Elemental, Dawn is a founding partner at Earthshot Ventures, and the founder and board member of Women in Renewable Energy.

Episode 29 is with Anna Stukas, Vice President of Business Development at Carbon Engineering Ltd.Today Na'im speaks with Anna Stukas about how Carbon Engineering is helping the aviation industry to decarbonize, and what roles direct air capture (DAC) technologies play in the sector's overall strategy to reach net-zero.Anna Stukas is a Vice President of Business Development at Carbon Engineering Ltd.  Anna is a professional engineer with nearly two decades experience bridging the gap between technology and business to overcome barriers to cleantech commercialization. She currently leads a variety of CE's partnering and business development efforts, with a focus on the aviation ecosys tem.  Anna previously worked with Angstrom Power and BIC developing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, where her responsibilities spanned IP and licensing strategy, product safety, and international regulatory development, including at the United Nations and International Civil Aviation Organization. Anna currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, and of Science World. Anna's work has been recognized by the Minerva Foundation's Women In™ Energy Award for Philanthropy and Business in Vancouver's Forty Under 40 Award. Carbon Engineering (CE) is a climate solutions company. CE is focused on the global deployment of large-scale Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology that captures carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, enabling two complementary solutions to reach true net zero: permanent carbon dioxide removal and sustainable aviation fuel. With its partners, CE is working to deploy large-scale, commercial DAC facilities. In this episode, Na'im and Anna discuss:* The aviation industry's emissions problem and its progress in decarbonization;* Challenges with sustainable aviation fuel;* Carbon removal's role in counter-balancing residual emissions;* The role of direct air capture in decarbonizing aviation;* Carbon Engineering's recent agreement with airlines;* The role of other carbon removal solutions play in addressing aviation emissions;* The future of DAC in decarbonizing aviation;* The need for government procurement of carbon removal;* The critical pieces in ensuring sufficiency DAC capacity scale-up; and* Impacts of the Oxy acquisition.Relevant Links:* Na'im's report with Clean Air Task Force - “Decarbonizing Aviation: Challenges and Opportunities for Emerging Fuels”* Mission Possible Partnership - “Making Net-Zero Aviation Possible”* IATA's Net Zero Roadmaps* ANA Group Environmental Targets* Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) * Robert Höglund on the like-for-like removal principle for offsetting* U.S. DOE's $35 Million “Carbon Dioxide Removal Purchase Pilot Prize”* Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)* Oxy's announcement to acquire Carbon Engineering (Press Release)Special Note: Carbon Removal Canada's official (in person) launch event is in Ottawa on November 8th from 4-6pm. Register here while there's still space!This episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Tank Chen. Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.Tank Chen is a carbon removal advocate based in Taiwan whose focus is on communicating the importance of CDR to policy makers, corporate leaders, and the broader public through education, communications, and policy advocacy.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 28 is with Marty Odlin, Founder and CEO of Running Tide.Today Na'im speaks with Marty Odlin about how Running Tide is navigating the waters of open ocean CDR.Marty Odlin is the Founder and CEO of Running Tide, a global ocean health company. A systems engineer from a 4th generation fishing family, Marty founded the company in 2017 after seeing the devastating implications of climate change on his own community. Running Tide designs and deploys cutting-edge diagnostics and comprehensive interventions that rebalance the carbon cycle, decarbonize global supply chains, restore marine ecosystems, and revitalize coastal communities. Proudly headquartered in Portland, Maine, Running Tide is scaling worldwide in partnership with leading investors, companies, scientific institutions, and governments.Since the original recording, Running Tide has completed its first carbon removal deployment season in Iceland, which resulted in the delivery of the first ever ocean-based carbon removal credits to their first customer, Shopify. The company is also founding signatory and Marty was an author of the recently released Reykjavik Protocol, a set of supplier best practices designed to responsibly grow the nature-deployed credit industry, reduce uncertainties, and clarify conflicts of interest.In this episode, Na'im and Marty discuss:* Carbon removal's “victory conditions” and the critical need to engage the general public in order to reach gigaton scale carbon removal;* The fast and slow carbon cycles;* Running Tide's work on ocean CDR;* The advantages and challenges of open systems;* The importance of following the best available science;* The UN High Seas Treaty and implications on Running Tide's work.Relevant Links:* Running Tide announcing their credit delivery (also see interview between Running Tide & Shopify regarding credit delivery)* Blog post announcing RT signing onto the Reykjavik Protocol* Running Tide's Ocean CDR Research Roadmap* Running Tide's Framework Protocol for Open Ocean CDR* Ocean Visions* Ocean Frontier Institute at Dalhousie University* UN High Seas TreatyThis episode was created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Lucia Simonelli.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via Twitter and LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

It's been a few months since our business panel has gathered to break down the many headlines coming from the world of CDR. On this episode we'll talk about some of the biggest news from September: new funds, new deployments, new corporate purchases, and a gathering of the who's who in carbon removal in New York City. You'll hear news about Amazon + Occidental Microsoft + Heirloom DOE's DAC Hubs Microsoft + Carbon Streaming Climeworks The Reykjavik Protocol Climate Weeks NYC & more… Joining us on this episode is our business panel: Susan Su, a partner focused on climate investing at TOBA capital, a board member at the Carbon Business Council, and a board advisor to the Environmental Voter Project and Na'im Merchant the Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, an Elemental Excelerator policy fellow and the author of the The Carbon Curve, a newsletter about the policies and technologies needed to grow the carbon removal market. On This Episode Radhika Moolgavkar Susan Su Na'im Merchant Resources Amazon's deal with Occidental Microsoft's deal with Heirloom Heirloom DAC Hub Microsoft's deal with Carbon Streaming Climeworks in Kenya Our interviews with Octavia's CEO The Reykavik Protocol Web Summit Climate Track Carbon Removal Canada's launch event Connect with Nori Nori Nori's Twitter Nori's other podcast Reversing Climate Change Nori's CDR meme twitter account --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/carbonremovalnewsroom/support

⭐ My guest today is Dawn Lippert, the CEO of Elemental Excelerator, Partner at Earthshot Ventures, and Senior Climate Advisor at Emerson Collective. Elemental Excelerator advances solutions to climate change and deploys them in the communities that need them the most. Each year, they fund 15-20 companies up to $1 million to improve systems across categories such as energy, mobility, water, agriculture, and beyond. To date, they have invested in 150 companies.   Earthshot Ventures is a venture capital firm backing entrepreneurs making a dent in climate change, and it spun out of Elemental in 2021. Emerson Collective was established and led by Laurene Powell Jobs, and is working to renew some of society's most calcified systems, creating new possibilities for individuals, families, and communities. ---

Episode 27 is with Sebastian Manhart, Senior Policy Advisor at Carbonfuture and Board Chair of DVNE, a new German carbon removal association.In the last year, carbon removal news has been dominated by policy wins in the United States. But we know that climate change is the ultimate collective action problem, and I've been keen to learn what other jurisdictions are doing to scale carbon removal globally. The EU is likely to be a big player in the carbon removal field.My guest today, Sebastian Manhart, will tell us about a number of meaningful policy developments underway that will have serious implications for the carbon removal field across Europe and around the world.In this episode, Na'im and Sebastian discuss:* The political landscape in EU* Major policy developments in the EU* Heavy policy focus on direct air capture vs. newer carbon removal methods* The EU's approach to carbon removal policy compared to the approach in the United States* Launching the DVNE, a new German carbon removal associationReading list:* Understanding Carbon Removal Policy Across Europe: An Exclusive Analysis * EU COM 2040 targets * EU Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF) * EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) explainer * Carbonfuture Blog on ETS* DVNE About Sebastian:Sebastian Manhart is a climate advocate, leveraging his skills and experiences to support policy makers in making better decisions for our planet. He is the Senior Policy Advisor of Carbonfuture, the world´s leading platform for high-quality carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Sebastian is also the Chair of the Board of the DVNE, the German CDR Association, as well as a founding Director of the US Biochar Coalition, a trade association unifying the voice of the US biochar industry. Previously, Sebastian spent a decade as a tech entrepreneur, advised Angela Merkel´s Chancellery, and worked with governments globally through the World Bank. Sebastian is an economist with a BA from UCL and an MPhil from Cambridge University.About Carbonfuture:Carbonfuture is the Trust Infrastructure for durable carbon removal with two products that seamlessly connect the entire carbon removal lifecycle: Carbonfuture MRV+, the most comprehensive MRV solution for durable CDR, and the Carbonfuture Marketplace, the leading marketplace for durable CDR. Carbonfuture empowers suppliers by providing the essential project support and finance needed to transform their carbon removal projects into fully certified carbon credits. For corporate buyers, Carbonfuture offers access to portfolios of carbon removal credits adhering to the established third-party standards.Last call:I'm looking for someone to support the production, editing, and promotion of this podcast. I'm looking for someone who is passionate about carbon removal, who can help brainstorm guest ideas, develop thought provoking interview questions, schedule and join recordings, edit recordings, write up the show notes, and promote the episode on various channels.It's an important job and an exciting opportunity to plug into the carbon removal field. This is a fully remote contract position starting October 1st amounting to about 8 to 10 hours of work per episode. You don't need to be an expert in podcasting. I certainly wasn't when I started. Just a lot of passion, diligence, organization, and a willingness to learn. If you're interested, send an email to naim@carboncurve.co with your resume and a letter of interest by September 15th.This podcast is created and published by Na'im Merchant.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via Twitter and LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 26 is with Rahul Shendure, CEO of CarbonBuilt.There are many different storage pathways for carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere.One storage medium that we don't talk about enough is storage of CO2 in long-lived products like concrete. Storing CO2 in concrete not only helps solve the CO2 storage problem - especially for smaller, modular carbon removal deployments - but helps decarbonize a very carbon intense product.My guest today, Rahul Shendure, leads a company that is developing ultra low carbon concrete that is coming off the production line today and demonstrates the exciting potential for integrating carbon removal technologies alongside other decarbonization technologies in existing industrial processes.Rahul Shendure is a serial entrepreneur and investor focused on sustainability and health. He is the CEO of CarbonBuilt, whose technology enables the production of ultra-low carbon concrete, reducing emissions by 70-100%. He previously served as Co-Founder and CEO at Bellwether Bio, whose acquisition by Guardant Health led to the launch of the first blood-based colorectal cancer screening test. Rahul's earlier engineering and commercial roles span a wide range of climate-related industries ranging from plastics (GE), hydrogen fuel cells (Ballard Power Systems), renewable fuels and chemicals (Amyris) and next generation renewable electricity (Oscilla Power). Rahul earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT and received his MBA from Harvard Business School.CarbonBuilt, winner of the NRG COSIA Carbon XPRIZE, enables concrete manufacturers to produce ultra-low carbon concrete products with 70-100% less embodied carbon. CarbonBuilt's technology replaces most of the expensive, high-carbon Portland cement typically used during concrete manufacturing with a proprietary low-cost cement alternative made from widely-available low carbon materials. These materials harden after chemically reacting with CO2, to not only strengthen the blocks, but also permanently store the CO2 in solid form, diverting it from the atmosphere. Because it can be cost-effectively installed at existing concrete manufacturing plants and delivers products that meet ASTM C90 and other applicable industry standards without increasing costs, CarbonBuilt's technology can be rapidly adopted by the nearly 800 concrete plants in the U.S. alone. In this episode, Na'im and Rahul discuss:* Concrete and its carbon footprint;* CarbonBuilt's technology for producing ultra-low carbon concrete;* The distinction between emissions avoidance and removal both in CarbonBuilt's technology as well as its credit system;* CarbonBuilt's commercial partnership with Blair Block;* CarbonBuilt's participation in the Four Corners Carbon Coalition's first project;* Barriers to scaling low carbon concrete technology and the role of policy in addressing these barriers.Relevant Links:* CarbonBuilt* CarbonBuilt and Blair Block commercial partnership* Four Corners Carbon Coalition* CarbonBuilt and Four Corners Coalition* Paving the Way for Low-Carbon Concrete: Recommendations for a Federal Procurement Strategy* Concrete: Square one for scaling distributed direct air capture?Special note:I'm looking for someone to support the production, editing, and promotion of this podcast. I'm looking for someone who is passionate about carbon removal, who can help brainstorm guest ideas, develop thought provoking interview questions, schedule and join recordings, edit recordings, write up the show notes, and promote the episode on various channels.It's an important job and an exciting opportunity to plug into the carbon removal field. This is a fully remote contract position starting October 1st amounting to about 8 to 10 hours of work per episode. You don't need to be an expert in podcasting. I certainly wasn't when I started. Just a lot of passion, diligence, organization, and a willingness to learn. If you're interested, send an email to naim@carboncurve.co with your resume and a letter of interest by September 15th.This podcast is created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Lucia Simonelli.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via Twitter and LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 25 is with Jack Andreasen (Breakthrough Energy) and Dr. Claire Nelson (Cella).Today Na'im digs deep into the safe and secure storage of CO2 with Jack Andreasen and Dr. Claire Nelson.Jack Andreasen covers carbon management policy for Breakthrough Energy. In this role he works on policy across NGOs, federal and state governments, industry and start-ups in DAC, CCS and carbon storage. Previous to this role he was an energy policy analyst at The Climate Reality Project and worked for Duke Energy. Dr. Claire Nelson is a geochemist with expertise on geologic carbon storage and  in-situ mineralization in basalt. She is currently a postdoctoral research scientist at Columbia University as well as the co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Cella, a start-up developing a new technology for mineral carbon storage.In this episode, Na'im, Jack, and Claire discuss:* Various geologies and methods involved in geologic storage of CO2;* The potential global capacity to store CO2 geologically as well as the challenges in scaling to meet this potential;* The federal permitting process of Class VI wells in the United States as well as state primacy;* Cella's novel storage technology; and* What makes Kenya an ideal location for durable carbon removal.Relevant Links:* Carbon Miners Club* Net Zero: Science, Origins, and Implications* CellaThis podcast is created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Lucia Simonelli.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via Twitter and LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 24 is with Professor Gregory Nemet, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the La Follette School of Public Affairs and Convener of the State of CDR report.Today Na'im speaks with Professor Gregory Nemet to learn more about the current state of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) globally, the varying magnitudes of carbon removal needed by midcentury as they correspond to different decarbonization scenarios, and the gap between the amount of carbon removal needed and the amount countries are planning to deploy. Greg Nemet is a convener of the State of CDR report - the first comprehensive global assessment of the current state of CDR. It describes the gap between how much CDR countries are planning to deploy and what is needed in scenarios to meet Paris climate goals. It finds that the size of the “CDR gap” differs across scenarios, depending on how the global economy is transformed to achieve net-zero emissions. It also finds that there are currently few plans by countries to scale CDR above current levels, exposing a substantial shortfall - which we'll get into today.About Prof. Gregory NemetGregory Nemet is a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the La Follette School of Public Affairs.  He teaches courses in policy analysis, energy systems, and international environmental policy.  Nemet's research focuses on understanding the process of technological change and the ways in which public policy can affect it.  He received his doctorate in energy and resources from the University of California, Berkeley. His A.B. is in geography and economics from Dartmouth College.  He received an Andrew Carnegie Fellowship in 2017 and used it to write a book on how solar PV provides lessons for the development of other low-carbon technologies: “How Solar Energy Became Cheap: A Model for Low-Carbon Innovation” (Routledge 2019).  He was awarded the inaugural World Citizen Prize in Environmental Performance by APPAM in 2019.  He is currently a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's 6th Assessment Report.In this episode, Na'im and Greg discuss:* Past emerging technologies such as ammonia and solar PV that can serve as useful analogues to carbon removal;* The varying magnitudes of carbon removal needed by midcentury as they correspond to different decarbonization scenarios;* The gap between the amount of carbon removal needed and the amount countries are planning to deploy;* The urgency of investing in carbon removal in the next 10-15 years to ensure that we reach the needed scale by midcentury;* Trends and gaps across academic literature on carbon removal;* The importance of public perception and acceptance of carbon removal;* What comes next after the State of CDR Report.Relevant Links:* How Solar Became Cheap: A Model for Low-Carbon Innovation* State of CDR Report* Follow Professor Greg Nemet on LinkedIn and TwitterThis podcast is created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Lucia Simonelli.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via Twitter and LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 23 of The Carbon Curve is with Dr. Julio Friedman (Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct), James Mwangi (Co-Founder and CEO of Africa Climate Ventures), Ugbaad Kosar (Director of Environmental Justice at Carbon180), and Marcius Extavour (Chief Climate Solutions Officer at TIME CO2). This episode was recorded from the 2023 Direct Air Capture Summit hosted by Climeworks on June 6, 2023.A couple of weeks ago, I attended the 2023 Direct Air Capture (DAC) Summit hosted by Climeworks and had the chance to moderate a discussion on setting up policy frameworks for scaling up carbon removal.The summit attracted 400 participants in person and thousands more online. It has become a central convening of DAC and carbon removal experts from around the world. As I stand up a new initiative aimed at scaling carbon removal in Canada, the sessions and networking provided useful insights on where the industry is going, the opportunities on the horizon, and challenges we should expect to contend with. I personally came away from the event re-energized about the prospects of DAC and carbon removal more broadly.The team at Climeworks did a great job organizing and hosting this event, and they worked with me to facilitate a handful of interviews live from the event venue with leaders in the carbon removal field to discuss their reflections from the summit and what is energizing them at this important juncture of this new industry. I had a chance to speak with:* Dr. Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct (LinkedIn, Twitter)* James Mwangi, Co-Founder and CEO of Africa Climate Ventures (LinkedIn, Twitter)* Link to: Africa Climate Summit 2023* Ugbaad Kosar, Director of Environmental Justice at Carbon180 (LinkedIn, Twitter)* Dr. Marcius Extavour, Chief Climate Solutions Officer at TIME CO2 (LinkedIn, Twitter)I think the substance of these conversations reveal some valuable themes coming out of the event itself that I hope will be orienting and enlightening as we navigate this rapidly growing sector.This podcast is created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Lucia Simonelli.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via Twitter and LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 22 is with Dr. Sifang Chen, a Managing Science and Innovation Advisor at Carbon180 and author of the recent white paper, Depending on the Ocean: Research and Policy Priorities for Responsible Ocean Carbon Removal.We continue to see growing interest in enhancing the ocean's ability to remove and store carbon dioxide. In the last month alone, we've seen the largest investment to date in an ocean-based carbon removal startup, California-based Ebb Carbon.Soon after, Dalhousie University announced it received CA$154 million - its largest grant ever - from the Canadian government to investigate the ocean's role in climate change, including advancing the science and technology around ocean-based carbon removal. In the face of economic uncertainty, it looks like ocean-based carbon removal isn't going anywhere, but a number of critical questions remain about its future.Today Na'im speaks with Dr. Sifang Chen from Carbon180 to learn more about ocean carbon removal pathways and how policy can help clarify efficacy, ecosystem impacts, and necessary regulations and governance.Dr. Chen authored the recently published Carbon180 white paper entitled, Depending on the Ocean: Research and Policy Priorities for Responsible Ocean Carbon Removal. This paper explores how policy can help lower existing uncertainties around ocean carbon removal and offers specific recommendations aimed at clarifying efficacy, ecosystem impacts, and necessary regulations and governance. In this episode, Na'im and Sifang discuss:* Fun facts about the ocean and the immense amount we still don't know about it;* Categories and types of ocean carbon removal methods;* Major challenges facing ocean carbon removal;* A responsible vs. irresponsible future for ocean carbon removal;* Policy's role in ensuring the responsible future; and* Centering environmental justice in ocean carbon removal.Relevant Links:* Depending on the Ocean: Research and Policy Priorities for Responsible Ocean Carbon Removal* Ebb Carbon's $20M Series A raise* Dalhousie University receives CA$154M to study the ocean's pivotal role in climate change* Follow Sifang on Twitter and LinkedInAbout Dr. Sifang ChenDr. Sifang Chen is a Managing Science and Innovation Advisor at Carbon180 and currently leads the organization's ocean CDR focus. Sifang works to ensure Carbon180's policy work is informed by the most up-to-date science and industry knowledge. She has previously worked in science policy, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. Sifang holds a BS in physics from the University of British Columbia and PhD in physics from the University of Washington.This podcast is created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Lucia Simonelli.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via Twitter and LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

Episode 21 of the Carbon Curve is with Dr. Shuchi Talati, founder of the recently launched nonprofit, The Alliance for Just Deliberation for Solar Geoengineering.In this episode, Na'im and Dr. Shuchi Talati talk about shifting the conversation on two major climate interventions in the course of her career. First, we discuss her experience working with the Department of Energy to help facilitate a major shift in mandate for the Office of Fossil Energy and making it the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management. Second, we discuss an exciting new nonprofit that proposes a major shift in how we advance deliberations on a contentious topic that is often wrongly conflated with carbon removal - solar geo engineering.In this episode, Na'im and Dr. Talati discuss:* Dr. Talati's experience as Chief of Staff of DOE's Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management;* DOE's CDR initiatives including the Carbon Negative Shot, Direct Air Capture Hubs, and Mission Innovation;* The growing focus on environmental justice and community engagement in CDR;* The important distinction between CDR and solar geoengineering;* The need for inclusive governance structures and capacity building in the context of solar geoengineering; and* The launch of her new nonprofit, The Alliance for Just Deliberation for Solar Geoengineering.Relevant Links:* Our New Name is also a New Vision (DOE)* DOE's Carbon Negative Shot* Mission Innovation - CDR* How Direct Air Capture Succeeds: A framework for Effective DAC Hubs* The Alliance for Just Deliberation for Solar GeoengineeringAbout Dr. Shuchi TalatiDr. Talati is the founder of the recently launched nonprofit, The Alliance for Just Deliberation for Solar Geoengineering. She is also a Senior Visiting Scholar at Carbon180 where she is focusing on how to build just and sustainable carbon removal at scale. She most recently served as a Presidential Appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration as Chief of Staff of the Office of Fossil Energy & Carbon Management at the U.S. Department of Energy. She has also worked for multiple nonprofits as well as in the U.S. Senate. Dr. Talati earned a BS in environmental engineering from Northwestern University, an MA in climate and society from Columbia University, and PhD from Carnegie Mellon in engineering and public policy.This podcast is created and published by Na'im Merchant. Episode production and content support provided by Lucia Simonelli.Na'im Merchant is the co-founder and Executive Director of Carbon Removal Canada, a policy initiative focused on scaling carbon removal in Canada. He is also a policy fellow with Elemental Excelerator. He previously ran carbon removal consulting practice Carbon Curve, and publishes The Carbon Curve newsletter and podcast. Every two weeks, Na'im will release a short interview with individuals advancing the policies, technologies, and collective action needed to scale up carbon removal around the world.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to this podcast on your favorite podcast app or subscribe via The Carbon Curve newsletter here. If you'd like to get in touch with Na'im, you can reach out via Twitter and LinkedIn. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit carboncurve.substack.com

This bonus episode provides a peek into a second podcast series hosted by Brandon Bartneck, the Capital Light Assembly podcast. This podcast focuses on what it takes to successfully launch complex mobility and energy products in volumes that are below industry standard.  You can find the Capital Light Assembly podcast wherever you listen to your podcasts, including: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0gtQE3QTqxRRGbEm53688s?si=ca292fb879da4b2f YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@edisonmfg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capital-light-assembly-with-edison/id1661691887 This clip features Gabriel Scheer. Gabriel is the Director of Innovation for Elemental Excelerator, a Hawaii-based climatetech accelerator founded in 2009. He leads the mobility and energy portfolio and is responsible for pipeline development, cohort management, policy guidance and support, and partnership development. Gabriel joins this episode to explore topics including: How start-ups should think about manufacturing strategy What it takes for a contract manufacturer to be a great partner for a growing start-up Elemental Excelerator's work and why Gabriel is so excited about climate tech right now Prior to his work at Elemental Excelerator, Gabriel was on the founding team of Lime, the leading dockless smart shared mobility company. As the first government relations hire for the company, he developed state and local go-to-market strategies for much of the United States and Canada. He helped grow the company from zero markets to more than 130 cities across more than 20 countries. He also served as Senior Director of Data Policy and Strategic Partnerships, responsible for leading the company's approach to data policy/data sharing, managing and developing relationships with transit agencies and related industry organizations as well as third-party stakeholders, and coordinating and prioritizing GovTech initiatives with the product and engineering teams. Before joining Lime Gabriel worked as Senior Strategist and frogVentures Partner at frog. Gabriel has founded numerous initiatives, some of which succeeded. Highlights include Seattle Greendrinks, a 4000+ member social network designed to connect and grow Seattle's environmental community; Agent Green, a company focused on leveraging the power of the crowd to catalyze energy efficiency retrofits for small businesses; and Re-Vision Labs, a social innovation consultancy whose clients included government agencies and global non-profits and corporations. About Elemental Excelerator: Elemental Excelerator is a nonprofit investor focused on scaling climate solutions and social impact for all communities. Elemental fills two gaps fundamental to addressing climate change: funding first-of-a-kind projects for climate technologies in real communities, and embedding equity and access into climate solutions. Elemental has invested in over 150+ growth-stage companies and celebrated more than 25 exits, funded 115+ technology projects and built a platform for scaling equitable, market-driven solutions to climate change. Apply here to be considered for their next round of funding opportunities: https://elementalexcelerator.com/applicants/ About Edison: Edison Manufacturing and Engineering is your low volume contract manufacturing partner for capital light assembly of complex mobility and energy products that don't fit neatly within traditional high volume production. https://www.edison-mfg.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/edison-manufacturing-and-engineering/

Today on Bytemarks Cafe, we'll find out from Elemental Excelerator about the impact of Silicon Valley Bank on Hawaii startups. We'll also talk about their new $43 million investment fund and how this is being used to build new clean tech companies.

What is Next, New, NSM. The host for this show is Peter Rosegg. The guest is Gabriel Scheer. Elemental Excelerator has a director of innovation for transportation and energy matters. What does he think will be the next, new or the NSM (not so much) development? The ThinkTech YouTube Playlist for this show is https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQpkwcNJny6kU_cZUnGeflQymC9FfbEqt Please visit our ThinkTech website at https://thinktechhawaii.com and see our Think Tech Advisories at https://thinktechadvisories.blogspot.com.

In this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, Dylan is joined by Kim Baker, Senior Director of Innovation at Elemental Excelerator, a non-profit startup accelerator that works with companies at the intersection of climate and social justice, supporting entrepreneurs with innovative ideas and functional prototypes. Kim explains today's water management problem and the steps required for sustainability. She shares details of three companies addressing different aspects of the problem. She also mentions that funding applications for Cohort 12 investments open on March 13th.

Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) grew its programming by 40% over the past 2 years. Clean energy fellowship & internship programs like these are critical to enable the industry to scale by educating & training new talent & connecting them with leaders in the industry. In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Esther Morales, Executive Director of CELI, about the recent growth & shifts in their programming & the ways in which the organization is enhancing its focus on diversity, equity, inclusion & energy justice, including through its EDICT fellowship, a joint program offered by CELI, Elemental Excelerator & FutureMap. From working on Obama's campaign, to working in the White House & for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) & U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Esther has clearly brought a wealth of knowledge & experience to CELI. We are excited to see what more CELI will accomplish this year as a result of Esther's leadership, as CELI's fellowship & internship programs are needed now more than ever to help those from outside the industry transition into clean energy. Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry leading cleantech companies first post new job openings, from development to finance to marketing, by checking out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.

Welcome to The Startup Tank Climate Investor Pitch Show presented by 4WARD.VC, the ultimate startup investor pitch contest where top climate tech founders pitch to a panel of VCs looking to fund world-positive cleantech & sustainability startups looking to move the world forward. If you've ever wanted a chance to pitch your company or get in front of VCs and angel investors, now is your time to shine. https://thestartuptank.com/apply Today's Investor Panelists Include: - Gabriel Scheer @ Elemental Excelerator - David Galaviz @ Social Wealth Partners - Armin Greinocker @ SET Ventures Presenting Companies: - GKinetic: A flow accelerating hydrokinetic turbine for streams, rivers and tidal power generation - Reviv Energy: Turning plastic waste into sustainable biofuels - Locoal: Mobile, modular clean energy generation and carbon capture - Ethosa: Waterless, refillable plant-based personal care products - Catalyco: Creating high performance Zinc Oxide from waste streams - KleenHub: Reducing single use packaging with an innovative circular system The Startup Tank is brought to you by 4WARD.VC's "Partner in Crime" Climate Accelerator program and Climate Investor Syndicate 4WARD.VC's “Partner in Crime” Climate Accelerator is disrupting the outdated venture industry with the world's most hands-on, sales & traction-focused accelerator for elite early stage climate companies led by CRAZY ASS, world class climate founders tackling MASSIVE problems in areas including Food & Agriculture, Construction & Manufacturing, Commerce & Circularity, Recycling & Waste Reduction, Energy & Renewables, Transportation & Mobility for more info and to apply, please visit: http://4ward.vc/accelerator 4WARD.VC's Climate Investor Syndicate also allow accredited investors to participate in the post-program investments in our portfolio companies. For more information on 4WARD.VC's accelerator and accredited investor syndicate, please visit: https://4WARD.VC -- BONUS: Free 850+ Climate VC & Accelerator Database 4WARD.VC made a searchable index of 750 climate, sustainability and impact investors, LPs, incubators, accelerator programs and angel investor groups worldwide. Filter climate tech VCs by stage, sector, geography & check size to find your ideal investor and/or co investors! https://4ward.vc/VCdatabase -- About The Startup Tank Climate Investor Pitch Show Welcome to The Startup Tank Climate Investor Pitch Show presented by 4WARD.VC, the ultimate startup investor pitch contest where top climate tech founders pitch to a panel of VCs looking to fund world-positive #cleantech & #sustainability startups looking to move the world forward. If you're combating climate change by building the next sustainable development (SDG) superstar or circular economy unicorn and looking to fundraise from top tier VCs and angel investors, you've come to the right place Founders apply: http://thestartuptank.com Investors apply: http://4WARD.VC

Josh Stanbro developed and led the Office of Climate, Sustainability and Resilience for the City and County of Honolulu as its first Chief Resilience Officer. Josh is now in Washington DC and is Deputy Director of the Policy Lab with Elemental Excelerator, a global nonprofit accelerator for climate tech which was founded in Hawai'i.  His path from California to Hawai'i of itself tells a valuable story of 21st Century Hawai'i. And because Hawai'i was once and hopes to again be a place of sustainable agriculture, his previous work at the Trust for Public Land and the Hawai'i Community Foundation, leading up to the Mayor's office,  tells a story of the transformation efforts underway, and the expanding reach of the Hawai'ian Renaissance.   From Josh we learn about the landmark case on Hawai'ian property law that inspired him to go to law school; about the sustainable agriculture projects he worked on while at the Trust for Public Land and the Hawai'i Community Foundation. We talk about the dozen good reasons to buy local; about inclusive, community driven governance; and how politics is like surfing. Overall we get some info on Hawai'ian activist history, a fair amount of historical and modern land use info, and a lot of good wisdom about leadership in governing.  And finally, we learn what three wishes he would have, to help Hawai'i achieve its Aloha Plus challenge goal of getting to 30% locally grown food by 2030.For more info: Elemental ExceleratorThe Resilience Office of the City and County of HonoluluThe Hawai'i Community Foundation The Trust for Public Land, Hawai'i Credits: Sound editing: Keola Iseri of the University of Hawai'i, West Oahu and Rob PeraLogo design: Sue Woodard, and Waipahu High School student Reiko Quitevis Theme music: Waipahu High Schools students  Caryssa Shinozawa, Landon Guzman, Syd Sausal 

We'll talk to Solstice Power, one of Elemental Excelerator's portfolio companies. We'll find out how their customer management software gained the attention of global Japanese conglomerate Mitsui & Co.

Meet Naveen Sikka:Naveen Sikka is the founder and CEO of TerViva, a food and agriculture technology company that is building a more sustainable plant protein and vegetable oil supply chain. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Elemental Excelerator and a Fellow for Unreasonable Impact Americas. Previously, Naveen worked as a management consultant at Gemini Consulting and TPI. He received a bachelor's from Columbia University and an MBA from UC Berkeley.  Key Insights:TerViva is bringing a new crop to the global market: pongamia.  Food as Medicine. TerViva is centered around pongamia, which grow well in poor quality soil and is climate resilient. TerViva is breeding the plant to create a domesticated version that has more consistent crop yields and is creating consumer products from the plant's proteins and oil.Optimism during Recession. Traditional capital from Wall Street will be harder to access for climate tech companies. However, Naveen points to a silver lining. People and companies around the world recognize climate change as an existential threat. Incumbents are willing to invest and partner with startups that make the world more sustainable. Stay Focused.Naveen advises founders to find the intersection of what you believe in from a mission perspective and what the market is interested and able to fund. Don't spread yourself too thin.This episode is hosted by Rishi Sikka, M.D. He is a guest host for Day Zero and is a Venture Partner at Lifeforce Capital and Professor at Brown University School of Public Health. Relevant Links:Learn more about TerVivaRead “Beyond Catastrophe A New Climate Reality Is Coming Into View” from The New York Times Magazine 

Just coming off an install of the SPAN load control Panel in Makawao, Maui - we talked with Chad Conway at SPAN as well as Elemental Excelerator and Hawaii Energy Folks on how this technology changes the solar plus battery game in Hawaii.

Teaghan Brostrom interviews Christina Angelides ('02), Co-Director, Policy Lab at Elemental Excelerator. Angelides previously spent time working in the White House and at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Nneka Kibuule is a Senior Vice President for Aligned Climate Capital LLC. In this role she focuses on investing in growth equity companies in energy, sustainable land use, clean transportation, resilient and efficient infrastructure. Previously, Nneka was the Director of Energy Innovation at Elemental Excelerator and worked at Pacific Gas & Electric and NextEra Energy Resources in several finance and strategy roles. She has experience in capital investments, stakeholder engagement, customer strategy and experience, innovation, and organizational design. Nneka holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management, a Masters in Energy Finance from Tulane, and a BS in Finance from Hampton University. She is the founder of GreenTech Noir a collective for elevating Black people working in ClimateTech. https://www.alignedclimatecapital.com/ https://www.greentechnoir.com/ https://nexuspmg.com/

This episode comes from the panel discussion portion of the first Future of Mobility LIVE virtual event, recorded on November 11, 2021. The conversation features Chris Thomas, Co-Founder and Partner at Assembly Ventures and Gabriel Scheer, Director of Innovation at Elemental Excelerator. Future of Mobility LIVE is designed to bring together individuals who are working towards the common mission of making transportation safer and more sustainable. The event includes live networking sessions designed to plant the seeds for future collaboration, as well as a panel discussion focused on having a transparent discussion about the optimal path forward. If you missed this event, make sure to follow me (Brandon Bartneck) on LinkedIn to catch the next LIVE event in early 2022. For now, please enjoy the audio from the panel discussion. Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/FoMLIVE1 Gabrielle's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielscheer/ Elemental Excelarator's website: https://elementalexcelerator.com/ Chris's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopherthomas/ Assembly Ventures Medium page: medium.com/assembly-ventures Chris's bio: Chris Thomas is a Co-Founder of the Detroit Mobility Lab, an entity dedicated to helping Detroit become one of the world's foremost future mobility ecosystems. He is also Co-Founder and Partner of Assembly Ventures. Prior to the Detroit Mobility Lab he co-founded Fontinalis Partners and worked to build it into one of the premier investment firms in next-generation mobility. While at Fontinalis, he participated in some of the largest exits in the mobility space, including nuTonomy, Karamba Security, ParkMe, Parkmobile, Life360, Ouster, and SmartKargo. Prior to Fontinalis Chris served in the U.S. Army as a Communications Officer in the U.S. and Iraq. Before joining the military, Chris worked as an Investment Banker at UBS within its Technology and Energy groups in New York and San Francisco. Gabriel's Bio: Gabriel Scheer is Director of Innovation at Elemental Excelerator, working with the organization's energy and mobility portfolio companies and partners. He leverages his deep experience with mobility, renewables, and energy efficiency to help companies grow and thrive, with the aim of shifting the global paradigm away from carbon-based solutions. Prior to Elemental, Gabriel worked for three different micromobility companies, and was on the founding team at Lime as the first government relations staffer. He has also previously served as General Manager for car-sharing company Zipcar. Additionally, he spent three years at Frog Design and built his own social innovation consultancy. Future of Mobility: The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, and equitable mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields. linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/ Music credit: Slow Burn Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

When Joe Sutter was faced with a difficult problem, he got to do what all of us dream of doing...he got to assign his problem to someone else. He was approached by his bosses to create the world's first jumbo jet, and he was stumped. So he went against his basic instincts and approached his fellow Boeing engineers, customers, and stakeholders, and asked for help.Joe put trust in others, and innovation ensued. And that's what we need to facilitate with our customers as well. Danielle Harris, Managing Director of Engagement & Innovation at Elemental Excelerator, is doing just that. She and her team work with climate startups to address climate change—which automatically demands a high level of trust. Let's find out she does it. --------"The reality is climate change is coming and we need climate solutions." - Danielle Harris--------Time Stamps* (0:00) What it took to get the first jumbo jet off the ground* (5:46) What is Elemental Excelerator?* (9:04) Who are their cohorts?* (13:08) The nuances of customer relationships* (16:18) The technological valley of death--------SponsorThis podcast is presented by Oracle CX. Hear more executive perspectives on CX transformation at Oracle.com/cx/perspectives--------LinksConnect with Danielle on LinkedInCheck out Elemental Excelerator

The green revolution won't be cheap, but there is enough money to make it happen - if it goes to the right places. What role can finance play in steering economies towards a low-carbon future?Elemental Excelerator's Dawn Lippert tells us why Hawaii is the best place to help climate start-ups find funding. Tariq Fancy, who ran sustainable investments for Blackrock, asks whether environmental investing makes any difference at all. Hosted by Vijay Vaitheeswaran, The Economist's global energy and climate innovation editor, with environment editor Catherine Brahic, and Oliver Morton, our briefings editor. For full access to print, digital and audio editions as well as exclusive live events, subscribe to The Economist at economist.com/climatepod and you can sign up to our fortnightly climate newsletter at economist.com/theclimateissue. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The green revolution won't be cheap, but there is enough money to make it happen - if it goes to the right places. What role can finance play in steering economies towards a low-carbon future?Elemental Excelerator's Dawn Lippert tells us why Hawaii is the best place to help climate start-ups find funding. Tariq Fancy, who ran sustainable investments for Blackrock, asks whether environmental investing makes any difference at all. Hosted by Vijay Vaitheeswaran, The Economist's global energy and climate innovation editor, with environment editor Catherine Brahic, and Oliver Morton, our briefings editor. For full access to print, digital and audio editions as well as exclusive live events, subscribe to The Economist at economist.com/climatepod and you can sign up to our fortnightly climate newsletter at economist.com/theclimateissue. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Today we'll catch up with Elemental Excelerator and learn what they're doing to scale climate and social equity solutions. We'll also find out about the companies in Cohort 10 and their new initiative called Earthshot Ventures.

Fighting the climate crisis requires investment, innovation, and on-the-ground know-how. Dawn Lippert works at the intersection of all three. She's the founder and CEO of Elemental Excelerator, a non-profit incubator that helps climate-focused startups deploy and scale their technologies. She joins Azeem Azhar to discuss how innovative climate tech companies can make it to market, and why workers at Silicon Valley's biggest companies are flocking to fight climate change.

“It takes a village to empower founders tackling Climate Change”. Discover how Elemental Excelerator is bringing an enormous contribution into it. Part 1: Meet the Investor: In today's episode, we are speaking with Kim Baker, Director of Innovation at Elemental Excelerator, a global program supporting early stage Climate Tech founders. I was excited to have Kim on the show and learn more about how the all Elemental team is on a mission to redesign the systems at the root of climate change. So far they invested in over 100 growth-stage companies and celebrated more than a dozen exits, funded more than 70 technology projects, and built a platform for scaling equitable, market-driven solutions to climate change. Kim will share with you her overview of the ClimateTech ecosystems today, Where we are at and what needs to happen to ensure the ClimateTech ecosystems can fully support the 2050 Net Zero Goal. She will cover with you in detail how Elemental selects and supports founders with their different initiatives in place. Finally, Kim will  share how they evaluate impact in companies they support with their programs.   Part 2: My secret sauce: In the second part of the show, Kim will give her secret sauce for founders seeking to fundraise. Then, Kim will cover the challenges that she sees for ClimateTech teams seeking to scale and go global. Finally she will give her insights on how she maintains a healthy work life balance as a mother, an investor and or founder.

Danielle Harris is Managing Director of Engagement & Innovation at Elemental Excelerator. Key topics in this conversation include: How Danielle is helping to inspire action in the push for social justice and climate action goals Why we should be optimistic, despite all of the climate challenges we're facing Proactively identifying and overcoming the common challenges that founders face Common misconceptions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion Elemental Excelator's 5-Year Strategy Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/danielleharris Danielle's Twitter: https://twitter.com/innovation_dj Danielle's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/djlanharris/ Elemental Excelarator's website: https://elementalexcelerator.com/ Elemental Excelerator's 5-Year Strategy: https://elementalexcelerator.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Elemental-5Y-Strategy-Scaling-Climate-x-Social-Equity-Solutions.pdf Danielle's Bio: A passionate advocate for environmental and racial justice, Danielle oversees Elemental's “Inspire Action” pillar of its 5-Year Strategy, committed to invigorating the hearts and minds of the many to reach our social justice and climate action goals. Previously, Danielle led Elemental's mobility strategy and portfolio as Director of Mobility Innovation, working directly with Elemental's mobility portfolio companies, partners and cities to catalyze collaboration within the transportation industry. As a thought leader in new mobility, Danielle provides a systems approach to help both startups and companies strategize and thrive within the ever-evolving transportation revolution. She sees mobility as a vital tool to resolve the challenges of today and unlock the potential of tomorrow. At Elemental, Danielle has worked with notable water companies such as Xos Trucks, ChargerHelp!, Ampaire, Scoot, Proterra. Prior to Elemental Excelerator: Danielle was the Innovation Strategist for San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency's (SFMTA) Office of Innovation. She integrated her background in land use and transportation planning to create dynamic teams with both city departments and tech companies. Danielle used the city's physical and companies' digital infrastructure to implement pilots that focus on the user experience. By designing for hearts and minds, these pilots successfully improved roadway safety, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and addressed environmental inequities. After nine years with the City and County of San Francisco, she came to Elemental Excelerator to harness the power of tech to solve the big problems of climate change and environmental injustice. A proud Bay Area Native and Oakland resident, Danielle's approach is rooted in genuine curiosity, collaboration, and compassion. She is committed to bringing different voices to the table to build unconventional teams that together develop innovative and holistic solutions centered around people. Future of Mobility: The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, and equitable mobility solutions, with a spotlight on the people and technology advancing these fields. linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/ brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/

Welcome Dawn Lippert, CEO, Elemental Excelerator & Innovation, Emerson Collective, to Experts Only. Dawn, a.k.a. the Bruno Mars of clean energy, spoke with host Jon Powers live during the RISE Consortium. Hear from an expert on funding the improvement of systems that impact the planet and people's lives through energy, water, agriculture, transportation, and beyond.

Andy Karsner is a highly influential entrepreneur, investor, diplomat, and strategist working to transform the world's energy systems.In June, he was voted onto ExxonMobil's board by activist shareholders as a way to hold the oil giant accountable on climate change.Back in the 90s, Andy was developing large gas and diesel power plants. But then he found the wind business. Andy started a company called Enercorp, which developed some of the earliest large-scale wind farms around the world.In 2005, Andy was chosen by President George W. Bush to lead the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. That meant directing R&D and deployment efforts across wind solar, fuel cells, biofuels and other up-and-coming technologies. Today, he's a Senior Strategist and Space Cowboy X, the innovation lab run by Google's parent company Alphabet. He also co-founded a non-profit investment group called Elemental Excelerator, which has invested $43 million into climate tech startups.Emily sat down with Andy at the 2021 MIT Energy Conference earlier this year, just after the Texas blackouts. They talked about his early days in renewables, the massive tech and market changes he oversaw in government, and the new challenges for entrepreneurs in today's maturing industry. We're brought to you by Google. Google is pioneering the electricity systems of the future with its effort to source 24/7 carbon-free energy by 2030 -- so that everyone can have round-the-clock, carbon-free energy everywhere they operate, in every hour of the day. Learn more.We're also brought to you by Nextracker. Nextracker is advancing the connected power plant of the future across five continents.Powerhouse partners with leading corporations and investors to help them lead the next century of clean technology innovation. Our fund, Powerhouse Ventures, invests in founding teams building innovative software to rapidly transform our global energy and mobility systems. You can learn more about Powerhouse at powerhouse.fund

Elemental Live: Mobility x Social Equity[06:00 - 09:20]Intros and host — Danielle Harris, Director of Innovation, Mobility[09:20 - 26:45]How Equity is Evolving & What's Coming Next with Danielle, Tiffany Chu, CEO of Remix and Darnell Grisby, Executive Director of TransForm[26:45 - 34:40]Jamario Jackson, Senior Community Planner, TransForm and Tamika L. Butler, Founder & Principal of Tamika L. Butler Consulting

Produced by Foundersuite (www.foundersuite.com), "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders who have raised capital. This episode is with Donnel Baird of Blocpower.io, a Brooklyn-based climate technology startup that is making American cities greener, smarter, and healthier by retrofitting older buildings with more efficient energy systems. In this episode, Donnel talks about how he got started by "greening" some barber shops in Harlem and then landed a government contract, getting past 200 "no's" when raising early capital, pitching Ben Horowitz and Mitch Kapor for his pre-seed round, understanding the "Silicon Valley Archetype" of what VCs are looking for and how to close the gap if you are different from that archetypes, tips for Black founders, and much more. The Company recently raised a $63 million Series A round ($55 million debt, $8 million equity). The round was led by American Family Insurance Institute for Corporate and Social Impact, AccelR8 and The Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, with participation from Kapor Capital, Elemental Excelerator, CityRock Venture Partners, The Schmidt Family Foundation and Salesforce Ventures. Other investors in the Company include Kapor Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, MaC Venture Capital, Exelon, New York Ventures of the Empire State Development Corporation, Echoing Green, and The Schmidt Family Foundation. How I Raised It is produced by Foundersuite, makers of software to raise capital and manage investor relations. Foundersuite's customers have raised over $3 Billion since 2016. Create a free account at https:/www.foundersuite.com/

Today on Bytemarks Cafe, we'll get an update from Elemental Excelerator and learn what is in store for their next 5 year strategic plan. With more that 117 companies under their belt we find out what frames their mission to eliminate the global climate crisis.

Tiffany Chu was CEO and Co-founder of Remix. Now she is SVP at Via after Via recently acquired Remix. Key topics in this conversation include: - The role of transportation planning in making meaningful positive change for communities - Common challenges for transportation planners - How to think about equity - Remix’s solution to help improve planning and decision making - Remix’s unique origin story and journey to acquisition Tiffany’s Bio: Tiffany Chu is a designer, planner, and the CEO & Co-founder of Remix (remix.com). She and her team build a collaborative software platform for 350+ cities around the world to plan their mobility future. She has been named in Forbes' 30 Under 30, LinkedIn's Next Wave of Leaders Under 35, Curbed’s Young Guns, and featured at SXSW, Helsinki Design Week, the New York Times Cities for Tomorrow Conference and more. Remix has been recognized as both a 2020 World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer and BloombergNEF (New Energy Finance) Pioneer for the company’s work in empowering cities to make transportation decisions with sustainability and equity at the forefront. The company is backed by Sequoia Capital, Energy Impact Partners, Y Combinator, and Elemental Excelerator. Remix was acquired by Via in 2021 for $100M. Tiffany currently serves as Commissioner of the San Francisco Department of the Environment, and sits on the city’s Congestion Pricing Policy Advisory Committee. Previously, Tiffany was a Fellow at Code Remix website: Remix | The Collaborative Platform for Transportation Decision-Makers Tiffany’s LinkedIn: Tiffany Chu | LinkedIn Future of Mobility: The Future of Mobility podcast is focused on the development and implementation of safe, sustainable, and equitable mobility solutions, with a focus on the people and technology advancing these fields. https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/ http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/ Music credit: Slow Burn Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

On this episode, we speak with Howard Law alum Sara Chandler of Elemental Excelerator. We covered a lot in this interview! We discussed her journey into environmental equity, owning your strengths and taking up space, dealing with perfectionism, and how she's currently supporting climate innovation in vulnerable communities. To find out more about Sara Chandler and her work at Elemental Excelerator connect with her online at: Elemental Excelerator Website Elemental Excelerator Summer Internship Sara Chandler Twitter Sara Chandler LinkedIN We talked a lot about one of Elemental Excelerator's portfolio enterprises and one of my favorite social entrepreneurs in this episode, Jasmine Crowe of Goodr. To learn more about Goodr's work in tackling food waste and food insecurity visit their website at Goodr.co. So that this podcast can continue to center Black and Indigenous voices of social impact, consider supporting us with a donation here. At Consciously Funded we support Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). To learn more about Sara's alma mater, Howard University School of Law visit their website. Shop T-Shirts, Hoodies, Sweatshirts, and Mugs at ConsciouslyFunded.com to showcase your commitment to center Black and Indigenous voices. This episode was brought to you by the Social Enterprise Community and Socially Driven Magazine. Join and Subscribe! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consciouslyfunded/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/consciouslyfunded/support

Dawn Lippert is the Founder & CEO of Elemental Excelerator, an initiative supporting ClimateTech startups. Elemental is currently open for applications, you can find out more on their website: https://elementalexcelerator.com/Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/impacthustlers)

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Today, in a very special episode of the Point 01 Podcast, Aaron Cohen hosts a round table of experts on the future of sustainable food production. Joining us today is Julia Collins, Founder and CEO of Planet FWD, Keely Wachs, Head of Marketing for Full Harvest, and Danya Hakeem, Director of Innovation, Agriculture, and Circular Economy at Elemental Excelerator. If you want to stay up to date with today’s panel, you can find their websites and social media handles below. Today’s Podcast is presented by Therma, a smart refrigeration monitoring company. Don’t forget to Like, Rate, and Subscribe to Point01 Podcasts on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Google Play. You can also find us on Twitter @Point0Podcast or on the web at climate.hellotherma.com. Julia Collins: PlanetFwd.com moonshotsnacks.com twitter.com/juliacollins Keely Wachs: fullharvest.com twitter.com/kwachs Danya Hakeem: elementalexcelerator.com twitter.com/danyahakeem

Emmanuel Lagarrigue interviews Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Excelerator. They discuss the key to successful startup-corporate relationships, differentiating through diversity and sustainability, and how remote fundraising enables equal opportunities.

We have approximately 10 years to reverse the course of climate change. Some entrepreneurs are working to do just that. These are their stories.This podcast is created by the team at Elemental Excelerator. Learn more at elementalexcelerator.com

Today on Point 01, Aaron Cohen sits down with Dawn Lippert, CEO of Elemental Excelerator. Elemental Excelerator is a non-profit startup organization in collaboration with Emerson Collective, the investment, and philanthropic platform. Prior to this, she served as chair of Hawaii's Clean Energy Initiative Board, which is dedicated to the goal of providing 100% renewable energy to the state by 2045. You can follow Elemental Excelerator on Twitter @elementalexcel. Elemental has recently announced their 9th cohort. You can find out more about these groundbreaking companies at their website, elementalexcelerator.com. Point 01 Podcasts are presented by Therma, a smart refrigeration management company. Don't forget to like, rate, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Play. Please follow us on Twitter @Point01Podcast, or you can find us on the web at climate.hellotherma.com.

Kim Baker, Director of Innovation, Water, at Elemental Excelerator, pulls back the curtain on fostering innovation in the water and other climate verticals at Elemental Excelerator. Kim nimbly moves from topic to topic and illustrates how water innovators can be even more powerful when partnering with other climate innovators. In this session, you'll learn about:  The background and mission of Elemental Excelerator How Elemental Excelerator fosters innovation across multiple climate verticals, including water The targeted investments Elemental Excelerator makes in companies What Elemental Excelerator looks for when selecting companies How selected companies benefit from their peers in the Elemental Excelerator program The power of storytelling in the water sector The trends Kim is seeing in new water technologies Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:  Kim's LinkedIn page Elemental Excelerator's website TWV #166: Challenges with and Innovations in Small Utility Systems with Austin Thompson TWV #050: Advancements in Water Testing with OndaVia CEO Mark Peterman Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven't done so already. And don't forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don't forget to join The Water Values mailing list!

Kim Baker, Director of Innovation, Water, at Elemental Excelerator, pulls back the curtain on fostering innovation in the water and other climate verticals at Elemental Excelerator. Kim nimbly moves from topic to topic and illustrates how water innovators can be even more powerful when partnering with other climate innovators. In this session, you’ll learn about:  The background and mission of Elemental Excelerator How Elemental Excelerator fosters innovation across multiple climate verticals, including water The targeted investments Elemental Excelerator makes in companies What Elemental Excelerator looks for when selecting companies How selected companies benefit from their peers in the Elemental Excelerator program The power of storytelling in the water sector The trends Kim is seeing in new water technologies Resources and links mentioned in or relevant to this session include:  Kim’s LinkedIn page Elemental Excelerator’s website TWV #166: Challenges with and Innovations in Small Utility Systems with Austin Thompson TWV #050: Advancements in Water Testing with OndaVia CEO Mark Peterman Thank You! Thanks to each of you for listening and spreading the word about The Water Values Podcast! Keep the emails coming and please rate and review The Water Values Podcast on iTunes and Stitcher if you haven’t done so already. And don’t forget to tell your friends about the podcast and whatever you do, don’t forget to join The Water Values mailing list!

First up, this Friday, Sept. 18, from 10-11 a.m., Elemental Excelerator will host a live conversation with David Schlosberg, Enel X Vice President of Energy Market Operations, to unpack project results and discuss smart charging’s role in grid modernization efforts, electric vehicle adoption in Hawaii, broader clean transportation initiatives for utilities, and COVID’s impact on … Continue reading "Episode 629: TRUE Initiative + Maestros Vibe – Sept 16, 2020"

Business incubators or accelerators have helped launch some of the greatest companies of our time and one is hoping to fund the next unicorn looking to save our world. Dawn Lippert is the CEO of Elemental Excelerator, a company investing big money in the hopes of a better tomorrow. Dawn joined IT Visionaries to discuss the work her company is doing in places like Hawaii, California and Asia.And she underscores the importance of investing in communities and why we cannot afford to stop funding a solution for climate change. Key Takeaways Move the needle: In order to push the needle forward with climate change, you have to work across three key areas — technology, policy and communities where you can succeed and grow  All in the Community: Focus on the communities you are investing in. In order to have a full understanding of what technologies are needed and how they can best be utilized and scaled, you have to build relationships with those communities Keep the Momentum Going: The climate change industry cannot afford to take a year off when it comes to funding. There is a strong need to continue to invest in these companies in order to prevent the stunting of technology growth --- IT Visionaries is brought to you by the Salesforce Customer 360 Platform - the #1 cloud platform for digital transformation of every experience. Build connected experiences, empower every employee, and deliver continuous innovation - with the customer at the center of everything you do. Learn more at salesforce.com/platform

Arcady Sosinov is the cofounder and CEO of FreeWire Technologies which provides smart battery systems for EV charging and mobile distributed power. The company has raised $45 million from investors such as EASME, Silicon Valley Bank, Alumni Ventures Group, Total Access Fund, Elemental Excelerator, BP Ventures, ABB Technology Ventures, Momenta Ventures, Chestnut Street Ventures, Spike Ventures, Blue Bear Capital, Strawberry Creek Ventures, Stanley Ventures, and Energy Innovation Capital to name a few.

Arcady Sosinov is the cofounder and CEO of FreeWire Technologies which provides smart battery systems for EV charging and mobile distributed power. The company has raised $45 million from investors such as EASME, Silicon Valley Bank, Alumni Ventures Group, Total Access Fund, Elemental Excelerator, BP Ventures, ABB Technology Ventures, Momenta Ventures, Chestnut Street Ventures, Spike Ventures, Blue Bear Capital, Strawberry Creek Ventures, Stanley Ventures, and Energy Innovation Capital to name a few.

In today’s episode, we cover:What is Elemental ExceleratorDawn’s journey to climate changeHawaii Clean Energy InitiativeApplying the startup accelerator model to energy and clean techInvesting focus and criteriaHolistic support for portfolio companiesGeographic focus for its projectsSources of funding for Elemental ExceleratorPurpose of pilotsCoaching supportLinks to topics discussed in this episode:Elemental Excelerator: https://elementalexcelerator.com/Emerson Collective: https://www.emersoncollective.com/Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative: http://www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org/CarbonCure Technologies: https://www.carboncure.com/Zero Mass Water: https://www.zeromasswater.com/Cyclotron Road: https://www.cyclotronroad.org/Trove (f.k.a. Yerdle): https://www.trove.co/

Hong Kong economy reeling from coronavirus; Elemental Excelerator wants startups solving climate change; Former House Speaker eyes Honolulu City Council seat; Society of Professional Journalists seeks more members

Brenden Millstein is CEO & Co-founder of Carbon Lighthouse which is on a mission to stop climate change by making it easy and profitable for building owners to cut carbon emissions caused by wasted energy. The company has raised over $130 million from investors like Elemental Excelerator, CEAS Investments, Cox Enterprises, SV Tech Ventures, The Social Entrepreneurs Fund, JCI Ventures, and GRC SinoGreen Fund to name a few.

Brenden Millstein is CEO & Co-founder of Carbon Lighthouse which is on a mission to stop climate change by making it easy and profitable for building owners to cut carbon emissions caused by wasted energy. The company has raised over $130 million from investors like Elemental Excelerator, CEAS Investments, Cox Enterprises, SV Tech Ventures, The Social Entrepreneurs Fund, JCI Ventures, and GRC SinoGreen Fund to name a few.

Produced by Foundersuite.com, "How I Raised It" goes behind the scenes with startup founders who have raised capital. This episode is with Jack Beuttell, CEO of the Kunoa Cattle Company (https://kunoacattle.com/). Kunoa is a Hawaii-based meat company that runs 2000 head of cattle on Kauai, along with a slaughterhouse on Oahu. The Company has raised over $5 million from HNW individuals as well as the Elemental Excelerator. In this episode, Jack talks about his process for finding and targeting high net worth (HNW) investors, the challenges of raising capital for a vertically integrated food company, the emerging investment opportunities in "impact assets" and donor-advised funds, and much more.

Today we sit down with the CEO of Elemental Excelerator , Dawn Lippert. Elemental Excelerator is a startup accelerator, supporting companies who seek to improve communities through technology, innovation, economic opportunity, and sustainable modernization. They've awarded over $22 million to over 60 companies working in energy, transportation, water and agriculture. Dawn has had an incredible career that's taken her from Washington State to Yale to India, Africa, Latin America, and of course, ending up living in Hawaii where she’s help set Hawaii's goal of 100% renewable by 2045. We hope you enjoy today's conversation. Experts Only is made possible by CleanCapital. Learn more: http://www.cleancapital.com Follow on Twitter: @CleanCapital_ Learn more about Elemental Excelerator here: https://elementalexcelerator.com/, follow on Twitter: @elementalexcel

Today on Bytemarks Café, Burt and Ryan will find out how the renewable energy sector is getting kickstarted by going through Elemental Excelerator. Companies in this sector are using sensors, data and analytics to minimize the carbon footprint and help Hawai?i meet its clean energy goals.

Times are a-changing, and with it, comes new efforts to keep our planet healthy, which we are major supporters of at I Want Her Job. Today’s interview is with someone hustling to change the future of clean energy, Dawn Lippert. As the co-founder of Elemental Excelerator (formerly Energy Excelerator), a startup accelerator program based in Hawaii, Dawn and her team helps budding businesses change the world, one community at a time. As co-founder of the organization, Dawn talks to I Want Her Job: The Podcast Host Polina Selyutin about the iteration she went through to refine and design the model Elemental Excelerator uses to fund and support startups. With many startups having different needs and time frames to scale, Dawn says, the nonprofit helped develop a model that works by partnering with corporations to test products and services, as well as non-competing companies that can support and complement one another. Dawn also discusses her initial inspiration for the nonprofit, largely driven by the realization that the change the world needs to see, needed to be accelerated. “As I was working on these issues in Washington, D.C. on the policy side, it became really clear to me that the speed at which we needed to find solutions was astonishing,” she says. “Entrepreneurship to me is that tool … It’s our theory of change that by empowering entrepreneurs who are building quickly scalable business models that can really address these challenges at scale. That’s how we’re really going to change the world.” As of press time, Elemental Excelerator has awarded $20 million to 53 portfolio companies (up to $1 million per company), co-funding 28 demonstration projects across areas affecting infrastructure, the environment and quality of life (including energy, water, agriculture and transportation systems). The nonprofit was created in collaboration with Emmerson Collective, an investment and philanthropic platform.