Worried about retaining your best employees? Our guest on this episode is helping you do just that. Lindsay McGregor is the CEO and Co-Founder of Factor.ai and co-author of the bestselling book "Primed to Perform: How to Build the Highest Performing Cultures Through the Science of Total Motivation." Lindsay has one of the best track records of working with fast-growing startups like Slack, Grab, and Flexport byhelping them build a high-performance team culture. Previously, Lindsay led impactful ...
Jun 05, 2024•55 min•Ep. 75
The value of water to water security is $4 trillion today and is likely to triple in the next 10 years. [Source: Global Water Intelligence] To put that $12 trillion into perspective, it is higher than the GDP of every other country other than the US and China. Meet Peter Yolles, General Partner at Echo River Capital, a seasoned entrepreneur and strategic investor in early-stage water technology companies. Peter founded WaterSmart Software (acquired by Vertex One), serving 200 water utility custo...
May 24, 2024•40 min•Ep. 74
As many have attested, there's nothing romantic about being a founder. It's about doing what has to be done. And that’s what makes entrepreneurship difficult. In Episode 073 of CLIMB, Zach Coelius, Managing Partner at Coelius Capital, maintains that being a founder is 10x harder than being a VC. Talking about an investor’s MO, Zach equates being in the stands, drinking a beer, with the same as being a VC and deciding which companies will survive, and which will die. Zach is known for his investm...
May 15, 2024•52 min•Ep. 73
Ann Bordetsky , partner at New Enterprise Associates (NEA) , joins us in this episode to discuss how AI is creating new business categories and transforming the tech industry. Ann shares her journey through the tech world, her role in supporting startups, and the keys to building successful businesses today. She highlights the importance of understanding market trends and customer needs to innovate and stay ahead. Listen to Ann's unique experiences and get valuable advice for entrepreneurs and i...
May 01, 2024•58 min•Ep. 72
Join us in this episode as we talk with Jason Shuman , a General Partner at Primary Ventures . Jason shares his journey from selling shoes to becoming a big name in venture capital and we dive deep into how venture capitalists like him support and grow startups. Jason talks about his early days of starting his own business, his experiences, and how he moved into the world of investing. He explains what startups need to do to succeed and how investors can really help them grow. You’ll hear storie...
Apr 24, 2024•52 min•Ep. 71
In this episode, we welcome Sunil Paul , a pioneer in ride-sharing and a significant figure in sustainable transportation. Paul, who started Sidecar and influenced the early stages of Getaround , dives into his newest venture, Spring Free EV . With his extensive experience, including his early work as a NASA contractor and AOL's first internet product manager, Paul brings a rich history of innovation and policy analysis. Join us as Sunil Paul shares his journey from a technology policy analyst i...
Apr 17, 2024•42 min•Ep. 70
We welcome Peter Relan , a seasoned Silicon Valley veteran with a rich 40-year history of entrepreneurship and investment. Renowned for founding the YouWeb Incubator , Relan has been instrumental in the early stages of companies that have become household names, such as Discord. His early engagement with VSC Ventures has been invaluable, and his participation promises a wealth of knowledge and experience. Relan shares the compelling story behind Discord's success, emphasizing the importance of a...
Apr 03, 2024•44 min•Season 2Ep. 69
This week, we host Kate McAndrew, founding partner of Baukunst. We discuss the ‘art of building’ successful startups and VC firms as well as the philosophy and practices that have driven Kate to find and invest in groundbreaking technologies over her venture career. From building and leading a $100 million Fund I to championing innovative business models, Kate shares her journey and insights on taking risks, the importance of art and design in technology, and how to be the perfect board member f...
Mar 27, 2024•56 min•Season 1Ep. 68
We're honored to host Sunil Nagaraj , a visionary investor in the intersection of deep tech and climate innovation, and founding partner of Ubiquity Ventures . Nagaraj's unique perspective on "software beyond the screen" and his commitment to supporting early-stage, tech-driven startups are at the forefront of our discussion. We dive into the essence of nurturing technologies with disciplined financing and the strategic scaling of startups to mitigate climate change. Our conversation spans a var...
Mar 20, 2024•55 min•Season 2Ep. 67
This week, we have the privilege of presenting a discussion from " Consensus in Conversation ," hosted by Conor Gaughan , featuring Matt Rogers , CEO of Mill Mills. This episode dives into Matt's impressive journey from his formative years at Apple, where he contributed to the design of groundbreaking products like the iPhone and iPod, to co-founding Nest, and now leading the charge at Mill with a mission to combat food waste through innovative consumer hardware. Matt shares his thoughts on the ...
Mar 13, 2024•52 min•Season 2Ep. 66
We are joined by Ian Samuels, founder and managing partner of New System Ventures, a climate tech investment firm dedicated to fostering transformative climate solutions. With a rich background in climate finance, policy, and technology, Ian offers deep insights into the intersection of climate innovation and investment. Our discussion dives into the role of policy in climate tech, the nuances of climate-focused investing, the challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing sectors like transporta...
Mar 06, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 65
We have the pleasure of hosting Eric Rosenblum , the Managing Partner at Foothill Ventures. Eric shares his compelling journey from his humble beginnings in a small Ohio town to making significant strides in the tech world, including his time at Google where he embraced the fast-paced culture and learned valuable lessons in building scalable solutions. We dive into Eric's expertise in guiding startups through the complex landscape of deep tech and climate technology, drawing on his vast experien...
Feb 28, 2024•56 min•Season 2Ep. 64
We are excited to welcome Alex Hall, co-founder and CEO of Concrete AI , a trailblazer in the construction industry's shift towards sustainability. With an innovative generative AI platform, Concrete AI revolutionizes the concrete mix formulation process, significantly reducing time, costs, and carbon emissions for manufacturers and the construction sector. Our discussion with Alex will explore how generative AI is transforming traditional practices and the broader implications for sustainabilit...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 63
We're excited to have Rishi Taparia , Twitter friend turned real-life companion and the founder and managing partner of Garuda Ventures. With the recent close of their first institutional fund at $31 million, Garuda Ventures is taking the early-stage startup world by storm, offering not just capital, but invaluable advice and support to entrepreneurs. Rishi shares his journey from banking to venture capital, and then as an operator in growing companies, before making his way back to venture, emp...
Feb 07, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 2Ep. 62
We sit down with Graham Brown , Managing Partner at Lerer Hippeau Ventures . Brown brings his venture capital expertise to the table, focusing on climate tech innovation. Lerer Hippeau has been the earliest investor in some of the most iconic consumer brands of the last decade, including Casper, Oscar, Buzzfeed, Mirror, Axios, and more. In late 2022, they announced $230M across two new funds. More recently, the fund has been an active investor in the kinds of climate and industrial automation co...
Jan 31, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 61
We are excited to welcome Francesca Whitehead . As a Vice President at Fifth Wall , Francesca brings a wealth of experience and a unique perspective on the intersection of property technology (prop tech) and climate innovation. Fifth Wall, known for being the largest venture fund in real estate and prop tech, plays a pivotal role in decarbonizing the built environment, aligning perfectly with Francesca’s passion for impactful climate investing. Francesca shares her journey from growing up in Hon...
Jan 24, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 60
We sit down with Nate Williams , the founding partner of Union Labs Ventures . This episode dives into the complexities of startup success and the role of sales in ensuring a startup's longevity and growth. Nate Williams begins by discussing common pitfalls in startups, particularly the tendency to over-feature products, which can hinder finding a true Minimum Viable Product (MVP). He emphasizes the importance of focusing on one customer segment and use case, and securing payment for it as a fou...
Jan 17, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 59
We're joined by Micah Kotch , an influential figure in the climate investment arena and a partner at Blackhorn Ventures . Kotch's expertise lies in investing in companies that revolutionize the way we use resources, emphasizing the integration of digital infrastructure to accelerate the energy transition. On this episode, Micah shares his experiences and insights on leveraging artificial intelligence in the fight against climate change. We explore how AI is reshaping various sectors, from energy...
Jan 10, 2024•58 min•Season 2Ep. 58
We're joined by Helena Merk , CEO of Streamline Climate . Helena, who started as a coder, now leads the charge in helping startups navigate the tricky world of climate tech funding. What led her from coding to this niche? How do startups succeed in this complex world? Helena shares insights into different grant programs, the importance of building relationships with grant issuers, and the challenges startups face in the grant landscape. Helena also emphasizes Streamline's role in aiding companie...
Jan 03, 2024•45 min•Season 2Ep. 57
Sander Dolder , Senior Vice President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation ( NYCEDC ), dives into their unique structure and goals. NYCEDC was established in the 1990s to repurpose federal properties turned over to the city, including transforming Times Square and repurposing industrial sites. Dolder discusses NYCEDC's efforts to diversify New York City's economy post-2008 recession, particularly focusing on climate transition and sustainable industries. He shares his journey fr...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 56
Susan Schofer , Partner at SOSV and Chief Science Officer at HAX provides a fascinating look at how scientists transition into entrepreneurs, identifying key traits that contribute to the success of scientific founders in the startup world. We dive into the concept of "Industrial Independence" and its global impact, alongside insights into the US-China trade war's effect on tech startups. Susan discusses the unique challenges of a Chief Science Officer in driving hard tech innovations and the jo...
Dec 13, 2023•42 min•Season 2Ep. 55
Alejandro de la Garza , a reporter for Time , takes us on a journey through the complex world of climate and energy. From the latest advancements in sustainable technology to the challenges posed by global climate change, we dive into a conversation that's not just about understanding the problems but also about exploring viable solutions and innovations. - What are the latest trends in renewable energy? - How is technology shaping our response to climate change? - What does the future hold in t...
Dec 06, 2023•55 min•Season 2Ep. 54
Shayna Harris, Co-Founder of Supply Change Capital digs deep into the critical world of food sustainability. Shayna's journey from an activist to a trailblazer in sustainable food systems offers invaluable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of our food supply chain. Under Shayna's guidance, Supply Change Capital is making significant strides in sustainable agriculture, shedding light on the impact of climate change on food production and the vital role of venture capital in driving innova...
Nov 29, 2023•54 min•Season 2Ep. 53
Frank Reig, the CEO of Revel, gives us the inside scoop on how he turned his vision into reality, from convincing Texas lawmakers to embrace his ideas to launching a fleet of electric vehicles in the heart of NYC. We're diving into Revel – a dynamic startup that's revolutionizing how we move around cities. Starting with their iconic electric mopeds in New York, Revel has grown into a powerhouse, tackling urban electrification head-on. But Revel's story is more than just cool blue Teslas and mo...
Nov 22, 2023•46 min•Season 2Ep. 52
Frederic Lalonde is a trailblazer in the tech and climate sectors. As the co-founder of Deep Sky , Lalonde is at the forefront of combating climate change through innovative carbon capture technology. Deep Sky, a state-backed venture, is dedicated to removing gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere at an unprecedented rate, embodying the belief that with the right people and resources, we can make a lasting impact on our planet. Before his work with Deep Sky , Lalonde co-founded Hopper , a travel ap...
Nov 15, 2023•1 hr 42 min•Season 2Ep. 51
Jay Kapoor & Vijay Chattha are the founders and general partners of VSC Ventures, a $21M Seed fund focused on industrial automation and climate adaptation startups. In their 50th episode of CLIMB, the duo discuss lessons from the past 49 episodes, which guests surprised them, what advice founders should never ignore as well as sectors and trends that are over and under-hyped in 2023 and beyond. About VSC Ventures: VSC Ventures is an early-stage venture capital fund led by Jay Kapoor and Vija...
Oct 19, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Lior is an investor, entrepreneur, and the Founder and Managing Partner of Eclipse Ventures , a Palo Alto-based venture firm that recently raised $1.2 billion across two new funds. Eclipse is a team of operators and investors building companies that are disrupting old-line industries. Lior Susan began his journey on a kibbutz and served in the Israeli Special Forces. In 2008, he co-developed Intucell, a software-defined networking solution, leading to its acquisition by Cisco in four years. Prio...
Oct 11, 2023•39 min
Shane Dyer is the CEO of Irrigreen . Irrigreen designs and manufactures an all-digital sprinkler system that uses software-controlled precision sprinkler heads to deliver water uniformly across your landscape and reduce unnecessary water usage. Shane has an extensive background in technology, especially in IoT development. Before Irrigreen, he was the founder and CEO of Arrayent, an IoT platform used by top brands like Whirlpool and Pentair. He also co-founded Propellerhead Studios, which collab...
Oct 04, 2023•25 min
Shaun Abrahamson co-founded Third Sphere , dedicated to shaping a post-climate change world through venture investments and founder support. Before Third Sphere, Shaun was an active angel investor, investing in more than 20 firms and 3 unicorns between 2007 and 2013 including ZocDoc, Public, Trialpay, Refinery29, Skycatch, and Tonx. During this time, Shaun also led multiple sustainability-focused projects like Life Edited to design ultra-low GHG apartments in New York City as well as Betacup to ...
Sep 27, 2023•25 min
Sarah Applebaum serves as a Partner at Pangaea Ventures. Pangaea Ventures is an unparalleled hard-tech investor that invests in firms utilizing the latest breakthroughs in materials science, chemistry and biology to solve many of society's most pressing issues Sarah brings almost a decade of venture capital and company building experience to the team. Sarah has cultivated expertise in building entrepreneurial teams, scaling early stage ventures, and venture financing. Sarah is an active mentor t...
Sep 20, 2023•40 min
