👀 23 overlooked climate tech startups
🤖 8 AI uses for better strategy. 💰 $40B window problem. 🌎 Catalytic capital database. (#179)
Welcome to my newsletter from Entrepreneurs for Impact (EFI).
I share lessons learned from working with 300 climate tech CEOs and investors to help you all be more effective climate entrepreneurs, investors, innovators, and maybe even happier human beings. 😅
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Today’s topics:
🏆 The Diamond List — 23 promising climate tech startups with < $5M in dilutive capital raised
📚 Catalytic Capital Library — Lessons learned from Prime mobilizing $300M for climate startups
🎙️ Podcast — NASA tech to tackle the $40B window problem
🤖 The AI-driven leader — Eight ways to use AI for strategy, not tactics
1.
🏆 The Diamond List — 23 promising climate tech startups with < $5M in dilutive capital raised
Why does this list exist?
Many early-stage investors have a risk appetite for young startups but lack the staff and resources to conduct the necessary due diligence and deal sourcing.
VCs turn down hundreds of the deals they see due to fit or stage, even if the startups have big potential and savvy teams.
What is the list inspired by?
Hollywood’s Black List for under-the-radar screenplays: “Since 2005, the Black List has uncovered hidden gems such as ‘Argo’ and ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ that have grossed over $25 billion and been nominated for over 240 Academy Awards.”
🎯 So what?
Think of one way to support just one of these climate startups below. Do it today. It takes a village.
For example:
Share this list with an investor friend.
Promote the startups’ content on social media.
Ping the team on LinkedIn to ask what they need most right now.
Do a primal dance for abundance by a wintry campfire in the nude. (We need all tools at our disposal.)
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2.
📚 Catalytic Capital Library — Lessons learned from mobilizing $300M for climate startups
I joined a small group of catalytic capital providers two years ago for a snowy two-day seminar at MIT.
(I was wearing my hat as Co-founder of Terraset, an NGO moving millions of dollars to pre-purchase carbon dioxide removal.)
We were there to learn how Prime launched five different impact-first investment programs from 2014 to 2022 to move over $300M to climate startups:
Trellis Climate
Azolla Ventures
Prime Impact Fund
CRANE
Project Frame
Their goal was to help us shortcut the process they went through to build these.
In this library they shared, they’re as generous as a grandma with Tupperware—always ensuring you leave with extra home-cooked food. So many databases, templates, playbooks, and more! 🙏
Below are the groups that can best utilize these assets.
🎯 So what?
Get access here. Don’t reinvent the wheel. There is too much at stake.
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3.
🎙️ Podcast — NASA tech to tackle the $40B window problem
Elise Strobach, founder and CEO of Aeroshield, was my guest on a recent Entrepreneurs for Impact (EFI) podcast.
Aeorshield is unlocking the next generation of energy-efficient windows. They do this by developing the world’s most transparent silica aerogel inserts, which reduce energy loss through windows by 50%.
Elise’s prior experience includes roles at Johnson Controls, Activate, and a PhD from MIT where the research on aerogels all began.
In this episode, you’ll learn these four important takeaways.
How windows lead to 35% of energy loss in buildings
How they’re using $25M in funding to expand beyond their pilot facility and scale up next year
How to make this super-insulating material called aeroseal, aka frozen smoke
Why you should ignore criticism from people from whom you wouldn’t proactively seek advice
(Reminds me of Winston Churchill, "You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks." But we love dogs, so put those stones down.)
🎯 So what?
Listen to the episode and share your thoughts on my LinkedIn post.
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4.
🤖 The AI-driven leader — Eight ways to use AI for strategy, not tactics
AI is overhyped.
But it’s also hype-worthy.
Like Zen master Shunryu Suzuki told his San Francisco Zen Center community, "You're perfect just as you are, and you could use a little improvement.”
Recently, I learned of three actionable and strategic uses for AI in “The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster, Smarter Decisions” by Geoff Woods.
AI as a Challenger: Woods recounts an instance where a manufacturing company faced potential bankruptcy due to inflexible debt structures with Japanese partners. By prompting AI to act as an investment banker with expertise in debt restructuring, the AI posed critical questions that led the CEO to leverage influential relationships, resulting in a successful debt restructuring strategy.
AI as an Interviewer: In preparation for a pivotal meeting with Whole Foods' CEO, a client used AI to analyze the executive's publicly stated priorities. By instructing the AI to assume the CEO's persona and critique their presentation, the client identified and addressed gaps in their proposal, notably the omission of fair trade and sustainability aspects, which were crucial to Whole Foods.
AI in Board Meeting Simulations: Woods describes how a company with a challenging board used AI to create detailed personality profiles of each board member. The executive team refined their approach using AI to simulate interactions and get likely feedback on their presentation materials before the actual meeting, leading to more effective and less contentious board meetings.
🎯 So what?
Ask AI to assume five different personas and give you strategic insights:
The Skeptical Challenger:
"Assume the role of a critical advisor. Here's my proposed strategy: [insert strategy]. Identify flaws, risks, or overlooked considerations and propose solutions."The Data Whisperer:
"Act as a data analyst. Given this dataset [attach data or summary], provide clear, actionable insights, trends, and areas of concern for decision-making."The Market Scout:
"You are a market researcher. Based on these industry trends [insert details], what potential threats and opportunities should we prioritize?"The Devil's Advocate:
"Play the role of a devil's advocate. Here's our current plan [insert plan]. What are potential weaknesses or risks, and how might they undermine success?"The Efficiency Guru:
"Be an operations expert. Here's an overview of our current processes [insert details]. Suggest ways to reduce costs, improve speed, and increase accuracy."
🌎 How else can I help you?
Climate CEO peer group: Capped at 100 people, representing $40B of value or assets under management. Don’t be so “lonely at the top.” No one understands CEOs like other CEOs. Find your tribe here. Join the waiting list today.
Executive coaching with me: I serve as a private thought partner to 2-3 CEOs, investors, or post-exit founders at a time. We cover business and personal opportunities for growth.
Apply at our website: www.entrepreneursforimpact.com
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High fives and such,
Chris