Conversations in Cleantech offers insight into the opportunities, challenges and rewards of working in the cleantech space from the investors, leaders, entrepreneurs, accelerators & technologists within it. We talk all things cleantech, sustainability, renewables, agritech, solar, wind, e-mobilty, hydrogen & energy storage. The time for cleantech is now – join the revolution and live your purpose. Conversations in Cleantech is bought to you by Brightsmith, the cleantech search specialists.
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023
Tuesday Jul 11, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering start-ups and the founders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this episode, Brightsmith vice president Ben Sparks and director Jenny Gladman are joined by Kobi Eisenberg, Co-Founder & CEO at Autofleet.
Kobi discusses the challenges of scaling a climate tech startup focused on fleet electrification and optimisation, with fascinating insights on hiring and culture, the role of startups in tackling climate change, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs!
The conversation also tracks the rise of EV fleets and how technology has empowered Kobi and Autofleet to deliver core solutions for their partners worldwide.
Timestamped guide:
00:48 - Introduction to Kobe
3:48 - The inspiration behind Auto Fleet
6:15 - Challenges of scaling the company
8:16 - Hiring the best talent
10:38 - Cultivating a positive mindset as a CEO
16:13 - Traits of successful entrepreneurs
18:45 - What new technology is doing for the sector
20:57 - Future trends in the marketplace
Connect with your hosts, Ben Sparks and Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Kobi Eisenberg on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
Tuesday Jun 27, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering start-ups and the founders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this episode, Brightsmith director Jenny Gladman is joined by Piotrek Lewandowski, Co-Founder and CEO of Hydrogen Prospect.
Piotrek has had a particularly intriguing journey. It’s one that’s taken him from a childhood in Poland to a PhD in the United States, where he went on to have a very successful career - and also started a family.
Now, he is back in Europe cruising around on bicycles with his four children - in where else but the Netherlands! 🚲
In recent years, Piotrek decided it was time to find something more meaningful. In this episode, you can find out just exactly what that is, and how this led him to co-found Hydrogen Prospect just under a year ago.
You can also get Piotrek’s unique insights on the cleantech industry; from pivoting from a career in oil and gas to becoming a ”Decarbonization Maximalist”; right through to insight into how and why brilliant talent from oil and gas should take the leap into cleantech, and start living their purpose!
Timestamped guide:
00:48 - Introduction to Piotrek
09:10 - What is the purpose of hydrogen storage?
16:56 - What does the hydrogen economy look like in 2030?
23:29 - How do you stay motivated and on track?
27:23 - How do we educate people on this area?
31:42 - Do you have any advice on how we encourage more brilliant talent to make the step from oil and gas into cleantech?
Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Piotrek Lewandowski on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Tuesday Jun 06, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering start-ups and the founders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In the first episode, Brightsmith director Jenny Gladman is joined by Jim Mann, the founder and CEO of UNDO Carbon Removal. Jim, a serial entrepreneur, father of two, and passionate long-distance runner, leads UNDO Carbon Removal in their groundbreaking mission to capture significant amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere using basalt rock.
UNDO Carbon Removal's innovative approach has gained attention for its potential impact on combating climate change. By spreading basalt rock on agricultural land, they trigger a chemical reaction that releases minerals and captures CO2 through carbonic acid. This process offers a double benefit of carbon removal and enhancing agricultural productivity.
A key focus for UNDO Carbon Removal is developing rigorous measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) methodologies to accurately quantify their carbon removal efforts. This enables them to obtain carbon credits, adding further value to their sustainable solution.
Jim's motivation for founding UNDO Carbon Removal stems from his lifelong ecological awareness. Recognising the need for action beyond government initiatives, he took it upon himself to explore scalable solutions and make a tangible difference. His journey serves as inspiration for aspiring founders and individuals interested in making a positive impact in the clean technology sector.
Join us in this episode as Jim shares the remarkable story behind UNDO Carbon Removal, discusses the potential impact of their technology, and imparts valuable advice for those considering their own entrepreneurial journey in the pursuit of a sustainable future.
Tune in to gain insights and guidance from a visionary leader in clean technology.
Timestamped Guide:
00.48 - Introduction to Jim
3.39 - What were the driving factors behind your decision to start a company focused on climate tech and solving the climate crisis?
5.41 - What is the scale of operation for a company like UNDO, and how does it impact us and the planet in terms of megatons, gigatonnes, and the associated timeline?
7.26 - What makes UNDO unique?
8.40 - What are the main factors or hurdles that need to be addressed for you to achieve your desired success by 2030?
9.48 - How would you describe the experience of raising capital so far, and how does it encompass both the dreams and nightmares of entrepreneurs?
11.04 - How do you keep yourself focused, motivated and positive?
13.35 - What challenges have you encountered in terms of recruiting the right people, motivating them, and ensuring that you have the strongest possible team?
19.08 - Can you share your running story and how it relates to your determination to succeed as an entrepreneur, considering the similarities between the mindset required for both endeavours?
20.13 - Do you find a sense of achievement primarily at the end of your runs, or do you genuinely enjoy the process along the way?
22.14 - What kind of traits that you think, are important for an entrepreneur to have to be successful?
25.44 - What advice would you give to aspiring founders or individuals considering starting their own business?
27.42 - How do you measure the impact of your business on the environment and society, and are there specific benchmarks you use to assess success in these areas?
29.38 - What is your perspective on the impact of climate tech startups compared to established corporations in the broader fight against climate change?
32.58 - What are your final thoughts on the emerging trends within the sector and what do you envision for its future in the next few years?
Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Jim Mann on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Tuesday May 09, 2023
Welcome to another exciting episode of Conversations in Cleantech! Today, Jenny Gladman, our Director, is joined by a true trailblazer in the world of technology and sustainability, Ellen Kugelberg. Ellen's career is nothing short of remarkable, having dabbled in engineering, consulting, telecom, and even founding a nonprofit foundation.
Ellen is currently the Chief Product Officer of Einride, a freight technology company that is revolutionising the transportation industry with its cutting-edge solutions for electric and autonomous shipping. With her extensive knowledge and experience, Ellen is leading the charge towards a more sustainable future, one truck at a time.
In this episode, Ellen shares her insights and experiences on how she transitioned from engineering to consulting and then into the tech industry, her passion for leveraging data for intelligent business decision-making, and her mission to make a real difference in children's reading ability through a nonprofit foundation.
We also dive into the challenges and opportunities in the cleantech space, the role of sensors in revolutionising the transportation sector, and how Einride is pioneering the way towards a greener and more sustainable future.
Whether you are a budding entrepreneur, a tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the future of clean tech, you do not want to miss this episode. So sit back, relax, and join us for an insightful conversation with Ellen Kugelberg.
Timestamped Guide
01.19 - Introduction to Ellen
03.03 - How did your background in engineering lead you to consulting?
05.15 - How did your focus on data-driven decision-making in your career lead you to your next move in Telenor?
06.39 - What led you to make a purpose-driven career move that was unexpected based on your previous experience and what drove your passion for this type of work?
10.20 - What is your business's elevator pitch and how does it fit into the conversation around disruption?
15.38 - How did managing teams prepare you for industry disruption, and what motivated you to seize opportunities despite challenges?
20.21 - How do you build the right team?
22.59 - How does your company navigate disruption by obtaining approvals for innovative products/services that have never been approved before, and what challenges do you face?
24.56 - Can you share your startup's funding journey, the challenges you faced, and advice for entrepreneurs seeking funding?
27.55 - What’s next for Einride, where are you heading?
30.05 - How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance?
34.22 - How have your strengths influenced your success in mentoring others and what advice would you give to those looking to develop their leadership skills in this area?
35.54 - What advice would you give to your younger self?
Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find our guest, Ellen Kugelberg on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Tuesday Apr 25, 2023
Welcome to another exciting episode of Conversations in Cleantech Season Five! Our Director Jenny Gladman is joined by two exceptional guests, Louisa O’Connell, a Sales Specialist, and Sirine Hanaf, who is the Head of Partnerships at BeZero Carbon.
BeZero Carbon is a global rating agency that plays a crucial role in the voluntary carbon market by providing market participants with the ability to price and manage risk.
BeZero Carbon's focus is on a voluntary scheme that enables companies to offset their emissions through the purchase of carbon credits while ensuring transparency. Their mission is to expedite the transition to a zero-carbon future by supporting companies in their quest to achieve net-zero emissions.
Louisa shares her story of transitioning from academia to the carbon market industry and how working with companies such as ITV and Net Zero Target has impacted her professional journey. Sirine talks about her experience of transitioning from a strong corporate background to a dynamic startup. They both discuss the challenges of working in the voluntary carbon market and provide advice for those who want to enter the carbon market.
In this engaging conversation, Louisa and Sirine share their inspiring professional journeys from the beginning to how they landed at BeZero Carbon and how their roles contribute to the fight for a cleaner future. You will be motivated to pursue a career in driving the energy transition after listening to their inspiring stories. So, tune in now to your favourite podcast platform and join the conversation!
Timestamped Guide :
01.39 - Introduction to Louisa
01.55 - Introduction to Sirine
04.44 - Can you give the 101 on Carbon Markets, and what they look like?
06.59 - What is a carbon credit?
10.20 - How do you see the carbon market and the changes in that having an impact?
17.42 - Early Careers - Sirine tell us more about your role at Disney.
20.55 - How has that experience of working in different countries & cultures shaped you into the person you are today?
24.20 - Louisa, can you share the story you told us about your decision-making process and how you made the transition from academia to the carbon market industry?
27.07 - Why you should travel, and take that sabbatical?
29.50 - Louisa, Can you share how the events of 2015, the year you started your career, and how impacted you and your professional journey and ultimately led her to where you are today?
32.17 - Sirine, as someone with a strong corporate background who has transitioned into a startup, can you share your experience of this change and how it felt for you?
36.50 - Louisa, how do you find that startup life and the constant change?
39.19 - What are the main challenges that you think the voluntary carbon market is going to face?
46.45 - Advice to people who want to enter the carbon market
Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find your guests Louisa O'Connell & Sirine Hanaf, on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
We're delighted to welcome fleet electrification advocate and market expert, Bonnie Datta, to season five, episode three of Conversations in Cleantech!
A strategic advisor and board member to a host of innovative electrification startups and scaleups, Bonnie is also front and center with legislators, regulators, and EV industry stakeholders across the US, at both federal and state levels to ensure electrification is top of the agenda.
To give you an idea about Bonnie's desire to scale businesses focussed on decarbonisation and disrupt the status quo - she describes herself as a 'fearless adventurer", whose skillsets can't be put "in a straitjacket" thanks to an unconventional journey into cleantech that has spanned "across mountains and valleys".
Hosted by Brightsmith Vice President, Ben Sparks, this episode touches on Bonnie's views on fleet electrification in general, the tailwinds and headwinds faced by the startups that she's working with, alongside the importance of cross training when it comes to closing the talent gap and invaluable career insights for anyone interested in cleantech.
Timestamped Guide:
01:03 - Introduction to Bonnie
04:26 - An overview of PlugtoGrid and the startups she's currently "playing" with
07:58 - Let's give our listeners an overview of you and what your cleantech journey has been so far
12:29 - What advice would you give yourself coming out of that corporate world?
16:30 - Digging into fleet electrification, why is it such a game changer for the US?
21:31 - What should be the next step in fleet electrification the US marketplace?
23:38 - What do you think we'll see more of in the future of electrification?
26:11 - What are some of the tailwinds and headwinds in the c-suite of startups that you're seeing at the moment?
31:29 - What other subsectors of cleantech are you super excited about at the. moment?
31:52 - What sectors should we be getting the next clean tech professionals from? What is your advice to people who are looking to take a leap of faith into cleantech and live their purpose?
Connect with your host, Ben Sparks, on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Bonnie Datta, on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
In episode two of season five, your host and Brightsmith Vice President, Ben Sparks, is thrilled to be joined by Director of Strategy and Operations, Erin Petrey.
EV enthusiast, HR whiz, communications connoisseur, bourbon buff; Erin is no stranger when it comes to wearing many, many different hats! In her role at Inspiration Mobility, Erin uses her incredible skill set and passionate nature to solve problems and build a greener, cleaner world. Aside from sustainability, Erin's other passion is writing about bourbon and cocktails at Bourbon & Banter.
From the rewards and challenges of working in a startup, to why you don't have to be perfect to make a difference; in this inspiring episode, Ben and Erin discuss her career to date, the advice she'd give to those looking to carve out their own career in cleantech, and how Inspiration Mobility is enabling her to truly live her purpose.
01:03 - Introduction to Erin
03:38 - Tells us about your career before you became part of the EV and sustainability world?
09:15 - What drew you to the people you're currently working with?
10:56 - What have been some of your key learnings from navigating the world of startups?
16:49 - What areas of sustainability are you passionate about at the moment?
19:15 - What does living your purpose mean to you?
20:59 - How do you navigate the challenges of the skills gap, and equal representation and diversity?
23:50 - What are your top tips top someone who has just moved into a leadership role?
26:28 - What would the one piece of advice you'd give to a younger Erin?
Connect with your host, Ben Sparks, on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Erin Petrey, on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
Tuesday Mar 28, 2023
In this first episode of Conversations in Cleantech season five, Brightsmith Director Jenny Gladman is delighted to be joined by two special guests; Nicky Dee and Natalia Dorfman. Nicky and Natalia are co-founders of Carbon13, a venture builder founded in 2019 which is committed to addressing the climate emergency.
Their mission is to launch approximately 200 ventures capable of collectively reducing CO2e emissions by 400 million tonnes. They've already launched 32 successful startups through their Venture Builder program in sectors like agriculture, renewable energy, food, and materials. Having established 44 preceding investments, Carbon13 is now opening in Berlin and gaining significant momentum. They have attracted exceptional talent, and other stakeholders are rallying around their mission, pushing for progress.
In this conversation, Nicky explains how she identified a gap in the market and established a successful business around it. She also shares insights on team member selection and the power of community in the industry.
Natalia discusses the achievements of her own company as CEO and co-founder of Kita, a carbon insurance firm for the climate crisis. Additionally, she explains how she connected with Nicky and Carbon13.
Offering valuable advice for those embarking on their career in cleantech, listen in to learn about the co-founder's journey in establishing a venture builder as well as Carbon13's mission and innovative approach to addressing the climate crisis.
Timestamped Guide:
01.28 - Introduction to Nicky Dee
02.00 - Introduction to Natalia
02.55 - Tell our listeners a little more about yourselves and how you both met.
07.31 - What is Carbon13?
11.19 - Can you describe the moment when you realized that Carbon13 was the path you wanted to pursue?
13.56 - What successes have you realised thus far from Carbon13?
15.33 - Natalia, How did you find Nicky and Carbon13?
22.33- How does the process of selecting team members and having them choose to work for you ultimately work?
34.08 - Natalia, How did you discover the gap in the market for Kita and create a thriving business around it?
45.50 - How have you both experienced the power of community within this industry?
52.15 - Advice for those starting their own startup or in the early stages of their journey.
Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find your guests, Nicky Dee & Natalia Dorfman, on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
Tuesday Mar 07, 2023
In our final episode of Conversations in Cleantech series four, all about hydrogen, we are delighted to welcome Fredrik Mowill, Co-Founder and CEO of Hystar.
Hystar is a high-tech company specialising in PEM electrolysers for the production of green hydrogen from electrolysis. What differentiates Hystar is their patented thin membrane which allows for significantly improved efficiency in the production of their green hydrogen.
Although the company has only been operational for two years, they are already about to launch their first semi-commercial project and have just completed their Series B funding round.
Fredrik joined our host Jenny Gladman to discuss the Hystar journey from its early stages to its future plans. This is also not Fredrik's first cleantech business, as such, he knows a thing or two about what it takes to be successful in the space and was kind enough to offer his wisdom to first-time cleantech founders.
Timestamped Guide:
00:55 - Introduction to Fredrik
01:56 - Fredrik's career to date
03:00 - What lessons have learned through your different experiences living in different countries?
04:56 - Can you talk us through the early stages of Hystar.
08:52 - How have you built such a unique culture at Hystar with many different nationalities?
14:46 - How is your technology different from everything else on the market?
18:33 - How did you develop a relationship with your Co-Founders?
21:40 - Can you tell us more about the recent two incredible announcements Hystar has made?
26:31 - Is there anything you would have done differently over the last two years of running Hystar?
30:08 - What advice you would give to a first-time founder?
34:03 - How important are networks for founders?
Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Fredrik Mowill, on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
Tuesday Feb 21, 2023
In the latest episode of the Conversations in Cleantech podcast, we are thrilled to welcome Enass Abo-Hamed, Co-Founder and CEO of H2GO Power.
H2GO Power was founded eight and a half years ago by Enass and her fellow co-founders, who met as they all completed their PhDs at Cambridge University. The core technology behind H2GO Power's offering actually came from Enass' IP from her PhD.
Since deciding to leap from the lab to the boardroom, Enass and the H2GO Power team have worked tirelessly to refine the technology and are now at the deployment stage of their model.
With several large-scale industry partnerships announced and many more in the pipeline, there really is no stopping H2GO Power on its mission to deliver clean, accessible and reliable hydrogen energy.
During this insightful conversation, Enass details the H2GO Power journey and what the future looks like for the firm. She also discusses how mastering their technology has been and will always be their priority.
Timestamped Guide:
00:56 - Introduction to Enass
01:54 - Please could you give us a brief introduction to who you are in and outside of work
04:19 - What made you make the leap to founding a start-up?
07:35 - How is H2GO Power different from other companies in the space?
09:09 - How did you connect with your co-founder, Luca?
12:50 - What exactly was your PhD and how did it transform into H2GO Power?
19:18 - What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them?
25:48 - How is the public perception of hydrogen continuing to change?
28:40 - What do you think is slowing the hydrogen sector down?
31:02 - What challenges have you faced attracting talent?
36:32 - What does the future hold for you and the business?
Connect with your host, Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Enass Abo-Hamed, on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.