By 2030, global water demand will outpace supply by 40%. In this episode, we explore how Brian Sheng, CEO of Aquaria, is tackling the big questions such as “How to stop a water crisis”. He and his team are pioneering a scalable solution – harvesting water from the air itself to provide safe and abundant drinking water. Driven by a personal story of loss linked to water pollution, Brian shares how Aquaria is building decentralized water infrastructure, creating resilient communities, and moving f...
May 06, 2025•39 min
What if venture capital could truly solve the world’s biggest problems? In this episode, Helmer Schukken, Managing Partner at Rubio Impact Ventures, reveals how his firm invests where purpose meets profit – backing businesses that are not only scalable and feasible, but fundamentally underserved. From energy transition and sustainable agriculture to inclusive employment and education, Helmer shares how systemic change happens when impact is embedded into the business model. Tune in to discover w...
Apr 29, 2025•46 min
What if the key to reversing climate change lies right beneath our feet? In this episode, EarthOptics CEO Lars Dyrud reveals how cutting-edge soil tech is transforming sustainable agriculture and carbon sequestration. With a background in space science and a mission to decode Earth’s carbon secrets, Lars shares how data-driven insights and soil science are revolutionizing farm profitability and climate resilience. Discover how soil DNA, machine learning, and high-resolution mapping can create su...
Apr 22, 2025•44 min
Is climate tech hype distracting us from true transformation? In this episode, Andrew Haughian, Partner at Pangaea Ventures, dives into the reality behind scaling hard tech solutions for planetary health. From cutting through inflated valuations to rethinking sustainability narratives, Andrew shares critical insights from 18+ years of climate investing. Discover why profitability now trumps growth, where food and agtech are stuck, and how contrarian bets could unlock game-changing returns. This ...
Apr 15, 2025•42 min
What if a tractor could change the future of farming? In this episode, Monarch Tractor CEO Praveen Penmetsa reveals how electric, autonomous machines such as electric tractors are reshaping sustainable agriculture—one farm at a time. With 500+ robots already sold, in excess of $20M revenue for 2024 and a bold energy-data-autonomy platform, Monarch is solving one of the toughest innovation puzzles in Agtech. Praveen shares hard-won lessons on risk, policy advocacy, and what it takes to lead an in...
Apr 08, 2025•45 min
What if the climate crisis isn’t just about carbon—but about people, systems, and resilience? In this episode, I sit down with Hampus Jakobsson, General Partner at Pale Blue Dot, a $100M early-stage climate tech fund. Hampus shares why he left a life of “freedom and bliss” to go all-in on climate innovation—and why the next great founders must be both visionary and gritty. From navigating uncertainty to betting big on bold ideas, this episode is a masterclass in investing at the frontlines of gl...
Apr 02, 2025•50 min
The future of business is AI-driven, data-informed, and sustainability-focused. But how do we fund the startups shaping this new reality? In this episode, Tim Chiang, Co-Founder and Partner at Myriad Ventures, unpacks his journey from engineering to venture capital and how Myriad is reshaping AI, deep tech, and clean tech investing. Learn how AI changes venture capital and how Myriad connects startups with industry giants, accelerates commercialization, and tackles today’s biggest market challen...
Mar 18, 2025•44 min
Can we truly decarbonize cities without disrupting daily life? Shane Johnson, CEO & Co-Founder of CarbonQuest, is proving it's possible. In this episode, Shane shares his journey from engineer to entrepreneur, pioneering on-site carbon capture for hard-to-abate sectors like real estate and industry. Discover how his team built the world’s first distributed CO2 capture system in an NYC high-rise, the commercial viability of carbon as a commodity, and why scaling this technology could rev...
Mar 11, 2025•37 min
What if the biggest investment opportunity of our time is also our greatest challenge? In this episode of Leaders on a Mission, host Simon Leich sits down with Adrian Bührer, Managing Partner at Übermorgen Ventures, to explore the intersection of venture capital and climate innovation. Adrian shares his journey from entrepreneur to impact investor, the critical role of long-term capital in decarbonization, and why climate tech is the next big frontier. From nuclear fusion to carbon removal, tune...
Mar 04, 2025•45 min
What if we could revolutionize agriculture with biology instead of chemicals? Join Tim Schnabel, CEO of Switch Bioworks, as he delves into the company’s mission to replace 50% of traditional nitrogen fertilizers with engineered microbes. Tim shares the scientific breakthroughs powering this shift, including microbial symbiosis, ammonia production, and precision field testing. From raising $28M in funding to building a mission-driven team, Tim unpacks the challenges, cultural values, and vision d...
Feb 25, 2025•36 min
Why is “tough tech” set to revolutionize the next wave of energy transition? Michael Kearney, General Partner at The Engine Ventures, shares how startups tackling hard engineering problems are unlocking clean, firm baseload power like geothermal, fusion, and fission. With renewable energy making up 96% of new U.S. production in 2024, Michael explores the rapid scaling of technology, overcoming talent gaps, and the role of team culture in startup success. From AI-driven power demand to industrial...
Feb 18, 2025•41 min
Cement accounts for 8% of global CO₂ emissions, but what if it could be reimagined to help solve the climate crisis? Join Simon Leich as he sits down with Ryan Gilliam, CEO of Fortera, to explore how they’re transforming the cement industry, using scalable, economically competitive, and low-carbon technologies in sustainable cement production. Ryan shares hard-earned insights from 20 years in climate tech, the strategic shift from competition to collaboration with cement producers, and Fortera’s...
Feb 11, 2025•40 min
From growing up in poverty in upstate New York to coining the term "cloud computing" and revolutionising venture capital, Sean O’Sullivan’s story is nothing short of remarkable. As Founder and Managing Partner of SOSV, Sean has backed over 1,000 startups through world-renowned programs like IndieBio and HAX, driving breakthroughs in synthetic biology, climate tech, and more. In this episode, Simon Leich dives into Sean’s journey, exploring his passion for empowering entrepreneurs, tack...
Feb 04, 2025•49 min
What does it take to lead an advanced materials company from the brink of bankruptcy to becoming a global innovator in nano-composites? In this episode, Simon sits down with Craig Bandes, CEO of Pixelligent Technologies, to unpack his extraordinary 15-year journey. Craig reveals how Pixelligent’s dispersion technology is revolutionising augmented and mixed reality devices with brighter displays, longer battery life, and sharper optics. From overcoming funding challenges to forging a strategic co...
Jan 28, 2025•43 min
Which early-stage startups are poised for success in the climate tech world? Venture expert Josh Posamentier reveals the telltale green flags that signal a winning investment opportunity. In this episode, Josh shares how early-stage venture capital is driving transformative innovations in climate tech, from renewable energy and food systems to mobility and manufacturing. Josh dives into the critical funding gaps for climate startups, the importance of high-quality teams, and the evolving opportu...
Jan 21, 2025•47 min
Microsoft opens up a new data center globally every three days. We need to make sure there’s enough clean energy to power this! In this episode, Tim Vail, CEO of ION Clean Energy, explains how his company is revolutionizing clean power and decarbonization for hyperscalers. Vail shares his decades-long journey in the energy industry and how he found his calling in the fight against climate change. ION Clean Energy's unique solvent-based carbon capture technology is poised to make a significa...
Jan 14, 2025•46 min
Hendrik Van Asbroeck shares Astanor Ventures' exciting approach to venture capital, fueling groundbreaking, impact-driven startups revolutionizing the future of food and agriculture. In this insightful conversation, Hendrik discusses his firm's mission to create a more sustainable and regenerative food system globally, drawing on his own journey from corporate finance to clean tech. He explains Astanor's focus on balancing financial returns with measurable positive impact, using p...
Jan 07, 2025•42 min
Sky NRG is revolutionizing aviation with sustainable fuel to tackle climate change and decarbonize the skies. In this episode, Philippe Lacamp, CEO of SkyNRG, delves into the challenges and opportunities of transforming the aviation industry through sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). He shares the incredible journey of SkyNRG, from its early efforts to create demand for SAF to its role in building a global infrastructure for cleaner aviation. Learn how waste oils, fats, and emerging technologies l...
Dec 19, 2024•36 min
Is nuclear energy a dinosaur from the past? Ed McGinnis talks about exciting new nuclear energy innovations that are leading the path for clean energy transition, as well as solving nuclear waste issues. The CEO of Curio shares his unique journey from working in high-level government nuclear policy to leading Curio, a fascinating company transforming clean nuclear energy. He explains how Curio’s new recycling technology can drastically reduce nuclear waste and make the most of the energy from fu...
Dec 10, 2024•46 min
Explore how Zenobē Energy has raised over 1 billion pounds with their innovative energy storage and electric vehicle technology. Steven Meersman, Founder Director of Zenobē Energy, is leading the clean energy revolution, tackling grid challenges, scaling electric mobility, and shaping the future of sustainable energy. From financing breakthroughs to revolutionizing public transport such as electric buses, Zenobē is transforming the energy landscape with their new electric battery technology. You...
Dec 03, 2024•44 min
Qorium is revolutionizing the leather industry with lab-grown, animal-free leather that's sustainable, cruelty-free, and set to reshape the future of fashion. In this episode, Michael Newton, CEO of Qorium, takes us on an exciting journey through the groundbreaking world of sustainable leather. He explains how Qorium pioneered the creation of real leather without harming animals, using innovative technology and synthetic biology. From tackling the environmental issues caused by the traditio...
Nov 19, 2024•37 min
Bart Biebuyck, CEO and founder of Green Energy Park, discusses how they are driving the transition to affordable, renewable hydrogen. From his early career with Toyota to leading Europe’s largest hydrogen research program, Bart shares his passion for hydrogen energy and its potential to revolutionize the global energy landscape. Bart explains how his personal concerns for climate change led him to focus on green hydrogen as a key part of the global energy mix. He shares insights into the challen...
Nov 05, 2024•40 min
Jeremy Wrathall, founder and CEO of Cornish Lithium, is revolutionizing the way lithium and other vital battery metals are sourced in the UK. He shares his bold vision for sustainable extraction methods that are helping to shape the future of the UK’s green economy. Jeremy’s passion for geology and his understanding of lithium’s growing importance in the global energy transition sparked the creation of Cornish Lithium. The company has hit major milestones, from groundbreaking crowdfunding campai...
Oct 22, 2024•36 min
LanzaJet, led by CEO Jimmy Samartzis, is pioneering the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from waste materials. LanzaJet has developed an amazing technology that transforms ethanol from sources like municipal waste and agricultural residues into bio jet fuel , offering a greener alternative to fossil-based fuels. By avoiding the extraction of new carbon, LanzaJet’s approach recycles existing waste, making it a vital player in reducing aviation’s carbon footprint. ✈️ Despite challenge...
Oct 08, 2024•46 min
Aaron Rudberg of S2G Ventures shares his firm's unique approach to sustainable investing, focusing on positive environmental and social impact. Aaron addresses the question "what is sustainable investment?" and explains how S2G invests in "tough tech" industries like energy and agriculture, providing patient capital and hands-on support to help these companies scale. Discussing sustainability in VC, he also talks about the evolving sustainable investments landscape and i...
Oct 01, 2024•42 min
In this episode, host Simon Leich chats to Greg about his carbon conversion company's pioneering work in CO2 capture and carbon conversion – turning it into valuable products like sustainable aviation fuel in partnership with @NASA. Greg discusses @aircompanynyc 's innovative "artificial photosynthesis" technology that combines CO2 and hydrogen to create sustainable fuels, chemicals, and other materials. 🚀 Wondering "can carbon be used as fuel?" Heck yes! Their car...
Sep 24, 2024•39 min
Chad Mason, CEO of Advanced Ionics, shares how they're pioneering the efficient, cost-effective green hydrogen tech of the future. Advanced Ionics play a leading role in the transition to a sustainable energy future with hydrogen green energy. In this episode, Chad discusses his personal journey, from growing up on a family farm to developing a passion for green hydrogen systems. 🌊 He explains how Advanced Ionics is innovating in the electrolysis space, designing a unique technology that u...
Sep 17, 2024•42 min
CEO Rory Brown explains how Airhive are using CO2 capture technology to reduce the carbon footprints of major brands like Coca-Cola. The UK-based green tech company is revolutionizing the world of direct air capture. Airhive has developed a cutting-edge fluidized bed system that can efficiently removes CO2 from air on an industrial scale. 🥤But the story doesn't stop there. Airhive has forged a groundbreaking partnership with global beverage giant Coca-Cola, using its carbon capture technol...
Sep 11, 2024•42 min
Robert Fryers’ company, Spotta, are shaking up the pest control world with some seriously cutting-edge tech. In this episode, I chat with him about their not-so-secret methods of eco friendly insect control. Robert takes us on his journey from the medical devices field to becoming a leader in pest control solutions, tackling a $400 billion problem head-on! He shares how his insect control company’s AI-powered sensors are delivering smart, eco-friendly pest solutions—from alerting hotels about be...
Sep 03, 2024•43 min
Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts! Searching for new podcasts on sustainability? Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up, their journey and how their cutting edge pr...
Aug 27, 2024•41 min
