#121: 🌎 Join my three webinars on Climate Tech Startup Funding (+3 other nuggets)
Climate, startups, productivity, leadership (2-min read)
Good morning, folks.
In today’s 2-minute read, we’ll cover these 4 nuggets below — as delightful as the first September morning when you feel autumn is coming (and you get to stop living in the outdoor sauna that is North Carolina’s summer).
Climate Startups & Investment:
#1 — 🏆 35 climate tech startups to watch (you have NOT heard of most of these, but you should)
#2 — 🎙️ “If I want to have a bigger impact on climate change, what should I do?”
Productivity & Leadership:
#3 — 💲💲 Join my 3 free webinars in September on Climate Tech Startup Funding
#4 — 🧘🏾♂️ A lesson on clear communication, and a story about monks and sex.
Onward and upward,
Chris
P.S. Want more? Read 120+ prior newsletter issues here.
#1 — 🏆 35 climate tech startups to watch (you have NOT heard of most of these, but you should)
First, who created the list?
Greenbiz, via their annual VERGE conference
Second, how were they picked?
In their words: “This year, of 120 companies that applied, we identified seven of the most promising startups in each of five categories: energy, carbon, transport, food, and buildings. The Climate Tech 35 were selected based on strength in six criteria: the solution, business model, customer need, customer traction, team, and pitch presentation.”
Third, can I see a 1-minute video pitch from all 35 teams?
Yep, click here to watch them on the Greenbiz site.
Finally, a shout-out to some friends on this list!
New Sun Road and CEO Adrienne Pierce — “Cloud-based software that monitors and controls fleets of renewable energy microgrids.”
Windlift and CEO Rob Creighton — “Uses drones to cut wind turbine installation costs and material use.”
#2 — 🎙️ “If I want to have a bigger impact on climate change, what should I do?”
In my recent Ask Me Anything (AMA) podcast, I covered these five questions below from listeners of the Entrepreneurs for Impact podcast and readers of this newsletter.
Hopefully, some of these are useful to you or a friend.
“What are some of the best non-financial resources that are available to entrepreneurs (aside from badass climate CEO peer groups at Entrepreneurs for Impact)?” – Nick
“If I want to have a bigger impact on climate change, should I work for a big firm or smaller one?” – Tyler
“I want to help female founders in climate tech succeed. I would love to start off by working pro bono and helping them raise funds and learn as I go. But where do I start?” – Helena
“If I’m raising VC capital for my startup, what do I need to create for investors, besides a pitch deck?” – Brook
“You always ask your guests what books they’re reading, but how about you? What books do you like to recommend?” – Casey
#3 — 💲💲 Join my 3 free webinars in September on Climate Tech Startup Funding
Sign up here: https://forms.gle/as1P5SoWt6ytYS7i6
The 3 topics are…
Webinar #1: "Top 10 Mistakes in Startup Fundraising"
Sept. 6, Wednesday
12:00-1:00 pm ET
Webinar #2: "Live Coaching: 3 Founders Raising Capital"
Sept. 13, Wednesday
12:00-1:00 pm ET
Webinar #3: "Ask Me Anything: Climate Tech Startup Capital Raising"
Sept. 22, Friday
2:00-3:00 pm ET
#4 — 🧘🏾♂️ A lesson on clear communication, and a story about monks and sex.
OK, first a story and then the takeaway.
The short story comes from Tara Brach: a Buddhist teacher, author, and podcast host.
I think you’ll chuckle at the end, as I did.
There is a story of a young monk who arrives at a monastery, and he’s assigned to help the other monks copying the canons and the laws of the church by hand.
He notices that the monks are copying from copies.
He goes to the old abbot, and he questions this.
He points out that if there were even a small error earlier on, that it would never be picked up.
In fact, it would be continued in all subsequent copies.
The abbot says, “We’ve been copying from copies for centuries, but you have a good point.”
So he goes down to the vaults, way down deep in the caves under the monastery where the original manuscripts have been sitting for ages, for hundreds of years.
Hours go by. Nobody sees the old abbot.
Finally, the young, new monk gets really worried so he goes downstairs. He finds the old abbot, who is banging his head against the wall and crying uncontrollably.
Concerned he asks him, “Father, father, what’s wrong?”
And in a choking voice, the old abbot replies, “The word was ‘celebrate!’ (not celibate).” 🤣
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So, what’s the lesson?
Don’t be a monk?
No.
For me, it’s a reminder to take ownership of the clarity of our communication with others, whether it be in writing or in speech.
Said differently, it’s not to assume they *just* misheard or misinterpreted what I said.
I recall times in the past when I was frustrated by the performance or behavior of a work colleague or family member.
My first thought was:
“Why can’t they do/be better?”
My fifth or sixth thought (after my morning meditation!) was:
“Hmm, what was my role in (mis)communicating what was needed in those situations? How can I take my responsibility for that outcome?”
When I’m too busy, I’m reactive. The result is: “They’re flawed. I’m pretty great.”
When I have my 6 a.m. meditations, there is more space between stimulus and response throughout the day (thanks, Victor Frankl). The result can be: “What’s my role in this? How can I diffuse and listen, instead of asserting my own perspective?”
#WorkInProgress 😆
📓 Pretty please…
If you enjoyed this newsletter, I’d be super appreciative if you sent it to a friend or two (or 20). 🙏
That’s all, y’all.
Make it a great week, because it’s usually a choice.
Cheers,
Chris
Founder: Entrepreneurs for Impact
Join our climate CEO PEER GROUP (#1 in North America)
Join my climate tech startup funding LIVE COURSE (late September)
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(As evidenced by these photos, I’m an actual human. Not an AI. 🤫 I promise.)
