Conversations in Cleantech

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 cleantech companies and the leaders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

In this podcast episode co-hosted by Jenny & Ben, we are delighted to be joined by Adam Knudsen, CEO of Dynapower.

 

Dynapower is a leading energy storage and power conversion manufacturer based out of Vermont, USA - their products energise and strengthen vital industries, all while helping to shape a shared vision of a clean energy future.

 

In this inspiring conversation, Adam discusses Dynapower's history and evolution over the past 60+ years, and how they have adapted to remain relevant in the changing cleantech market.

 

He explores the importance of people and culture within the cleantech sector, and his focus on integrity, customer collaboration, and positive leadership.

 

A must-listen for anyone within cleantech, especially those who are managing teams and looking to cultivate a positive culture!

 

0:49 - Introduction to Adam Knutson

2:00 - Career journey and business evolution at Dynapower

5:28 - Powering a cleaner planet through technology and innovation

9:47 - Energy storage solutions and the company's unique approach

16:39 - Customer-led innovation in cleantech industry

19:58 - Leadership, culture, and talent acquisition in a business

23:44 - Retaining and recruiting talent in the clean energy industry

30:12 - Maintaining positivity in an industry with ups and downs

33:18 - Balancing business values and environmental mission

36:21 - Cleantech trends and market relevance

 

Connect with your hosts Jenny Gladman and Ben Sparks on LinkedIn.

Find your guest, Adam Knudsen on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.

This is a Loaded Hype production.

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 cleantech companies and the leaders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

In this podcast episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by one of Brightsmith’s trusted partners, Connected Kerb.

 

Connected Kerb are on a mission to create an EV charging network for everyone, with true innovation and problem-solving at their forefront.

 

An environmentalist with a PhD in biology, in this episode Chris shares his story of being a leader within the cleantech space. 

 

From the lessons learnt as a first time CEO to addressing the industry skeptics: in this episode, you can expect to discover all of the fascinating details behind Chris, Connected Kerb and start-up culture.

 

With insights such as how collaboration is crucial to progress, why local authorities hold the key to to wider electrification, maintaining a positive mindset when things get tough, plus team management and how a culture of accountability drives internal innovation: there is a cleantech pearl of wisdom for every person in this episode!

 

1:33 - Introduction to Chris Pateman-Jones

3:00 - How do you go about shaping a culture of accountability and shared decision making with your team?

5:45 - Who are Connected Curb, and where do they fit into the charging infrastructure space?

11:16 - How would you address some of the recent scepticism in the EV charging space?

14:33 - What else can the industry do to make the transition more appealing?

19:34 - What is your view on the capacity of the grid when thinking about the long game?

23:44 - I know you're a big believer that local authorities certainly hold the key to broader nationwide electrification; can you explain to our listeners why that is?

28:19 - As a first time CEO, what would you say is the biggest lesson you've learned so far?

33:26 - How do you go about maintaining positivity when things are tough? 

35:07 - W​​hat would your advice to any person be in terms of how could they navigate a route into this industry?

Connect with your host Jenny Gladman on LinkedIn.

Find your guest, Chris Pateman-Jones on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.

This is a Loaded Hype production.

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 cleantech companies and the leaders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

In this podcast episode, we’re delighted to be joined by Maria Fennis, the CEO of HyET Hydrogen. 

HyET Hydrogen is a leading SME in the field of electrochemical hydrogen compression, founded in 2008 and headquartered in the Netherlands.

Maria is somewhat of a cleantech veteran, having worked in renewable technology her whole career - from hands-on product development within solar right through to now, heading up a hydrogen company in a gripping growth phase.

In this episode, Maria shares her incredible journey from Chemistry graduate to CEO with inspiring lessons along the way. 

From taking to the helm of HyET hydrogen for the last four years and how coaching helped her to build her own leadership character, to why team spirit drives HyET forward and words of wisdom which could be the catalyst to your own career in cleantech - this episode is certainly not one to be missed!

Timestamped Agenda:
00:49 - Introduction to Maria
04:16 - Can you share the vision for HyET Hydrogen?
07:34 - How has your journey from solar to hydrogen CEO been?
11:10 - The hydrogen industry is at a tipping point right now - sitting right at the heart of the industry, what does the next year or two look like for the hydrogen space?
14:13 - Who in the sector have you really admired and think is doing some amazing work?
16:40 - How have you found the learning curve of people?
18:53 - What lessons have you learned since you've been CEO and taken on that responsibility?
20:31 - How has having a coach benefitted you?
22:18 - How do you go about keeping a positive mindset and getting a bit of downtime?
22:23 - If someone's assessing their career and how they could be a part of tackling climate change, what would you say to them?

 

Connect with your host Jenny Gladman on LinkedIn.

Find your guest, Maria Fennis on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.

This is a Loaded Hype production.

 

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 podcast episode, we’re delighted to be joined by William Bergh, the founder of Swedish cleantech company Cling Systems. 

William’s passion for climate change, love of technology and commitment to being part of the solution led him to found Cling Systems, a company that is on a mission to close the loop of electric vehicle batteries, ensuring they are reused, repurposed and recycled.

Including his background growing up in Sweden and studying in Hawaii - which sparked his passion for nature and the environment - this podcast covers William's intriguing and unique journey so far.

From playing Soccer and studying Environmental Science to meditation, motivation, how circularity works and why it’s so important - William and your host, Jen, also dive into the rewards and challenges of being a founder within the cleantech space.

Take a listen today to get your cleantech fix!

Timestamped Agenda:

00:49 - Introduction to William
04:16 - What was your reason for studying in Hawaii?
07:29 - What brought you back to Sweden?
08:14 - The Scandinavian education system is just incredible compared to almost every other country in the world, how do you feel that benefits the people there?
12:30 - Can you tell us the story of how Cling was born, from the motivation to the idea to the infancy of the business?
23:47 - Outside of people, what are the biggest challenges that you faced as a founder?
30:47 - Is there anything really important to you, to help keep that positive mindset and also to have a dual focus in life, so it's not all about work?
34:46 - Can you leave our listeners on a note about resilience and not giving up the fight for change, but also having some sense of acceptance on how we live with it?

Find out more about Cling Systems here: clingsystems.com

Connect with your host Jenny Gladman on LinkedIn.

Find your guest, William Bergh on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.

This is a Loaded Hype production.

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, we’re joined by Ana Haurie, CEO and Co-Founder at Respira International - a business that creates capital market solutions to enable long-term partnerships and aligns the interests of carbon credit project developers, buyers and capital providers.

As an inspirational woman within the carbon community, Ana shares her story behind starting Respira International and how she became an activist in her mid 50s.

Also breaking down the significance of the Voluntary Carbon Market  (VCM) and the challenges it faces, she also discusses the journey of an entrepreneur and how it is not always all exciting…

An absolute must-listen for anyone who is interested in the fascinating world of cleantech, as Ana’s honest and inspirational story gives a real account of the VCM and the challenges it faces in the years to come.

Timestamped guide: 

 

01:09 - Introduction to Ana

02:01 - Inspiration for Respira International

03:49 - The importance of the Voluntary Carbon Market

06:08 - How the Voluntary Carbon Market works

08:58 - Integrity in the Carbon Market

14:21 - Women in Carbon Community

16:47 - The highs and lows of setting up a business

21:04 - The importance of making mistakes in your career

22:49 - Advice for people who want to get into the Carbon Market

 

Connect with your hosts Jenny Gladman and Alexa Mangeant, on LinkedIn.

Find your guest, Ana Haurie on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.

This is a Loaded Hype production.

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, we’re joined by Mike Simpson, Founder and Chief Commercial and Product Officer at Cheesecake Energy. 

 

Contrary to the name, Cheesecake Energy is not a purveyor of desserts! Instead, they are a pioneering cleantech start-up developing thermal and compressed air energy storage technology.

 

Despite Mike's background in aerospace engineering, by the time he had finished studying in the field, he knew he wanted to live his purpose and work in cleantech. 

 

The perfect listen for those curious about cutting-edge cleantech or founders looking for fascinating facts about start-up life; this episode covers all you could need to know, including the challenges of innovating new technologies; funding challenges and strategies for securing grants and investments; the traits of successful entrepreneurs that Mike has observed; and the advice he would give his 16-year-old self.

 

Get ready to be inspired to live your purpose in cleantech!

 

Timestamped guide: 

 

00:49 - Introduction to Mike

02:15 - For listeners who don't know Cheesecake Energy: who are you and what is your mission?

04:25 - What is the real-world usage for energy storage?

06:39 - How was the idea of Cheesecake Energy born, and how did you bring the team together?

07:57 - How have you found trying to grow the business at the right rate, ensuring you’ve got the right grants, the right funding or the right investment?

10:21 - What are the top challenges you’ve faced to date?

13:22 - What are the things you didn’t expect with growing a team?

20:40 - How do you destress?

22:20 - How do you keep a positive mindset?

23:30 - What are some of the traits of founders that you’ve seen that you think makes them successful?

25:53 - How much impact do you believe that startups will have in their wider battle on climate change versus the corporates?

28:04 - if you had to go back and give your 16-year-old self a piece of advice, what would that advice be?

 

Connect with your host  Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.

Find your guest, Mike Simpson on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.

This is a Loaded Hype production.

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, we’re joined by Marta Krupinska, CEO and Dominque Airey, Client Partnerships Director at Cur8, a company at the forefront of carbon removal technology. 

 

Dynamic duo Marta and Dominique have some impressive accolades under their belts - 

 

CEO of Cur8, Marta is a serial tech entrepreneur, proud migrant and advocate for diversity. Alongside founding four companies with two successful exits, her contributions to the tech industry have earned her recognition from esteemed publications, including Forbes and the Evening Standard.

 

Client Partnerships Director, Dominique (Dom), has 15 years of experience across mission-driven startups, nonprofits and corporates. A passionate advocate for scaling organisations that deliver sustainable social and environmental impact, her achievements include being named one of Third Sectors “Most Promising CEOs” and featured in Management Today's 35 Women under 35.

 

In this conversation with Brightsmith Director, Jenny Gladman, Marta and Dom explore the challenges of building trust and credibility in an emerging industry surrounded by scepticism. With an emphasis on the need for education, funding and action to scale carbon removal solutions, they find motivation in the opportunity to build an industry that can make a truly meaningful impact on climate change.

 

Timestamped guide: 

 

00:48 - Introduction to Marta and Dom

06:03 - An explanation of what Cur8 is

12:33 - There's a real lack of knowledge and education about the carbon market. How do we change and navigate that? And how do we make sure that over the next few years, it looks very different?

18:58 - How are you addressing the sceptics?

28:31 - how do you both stay positive when things get tough?

32:37 - Something I always like to discuss with female leaders in businesses is your advice to other females contemplating a career in this space, either founding a business or joining a business. Is there anything you'd specifically share with our female listeners?

35:58 - What does the carbon industry need from a talent perspective?

 

Connect with your host  Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.

Find your guests, Marta Krupinska and Dominique Airey on LinkedIn.

Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.

This is a Loaded Hype production.

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.

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.

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.