Built for Earth

Hosted by Samuel Beskind

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Dec 2024

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About the show

Saving our planet is the most important business out there. The good news is we have the knowledge, technology, and power to do it. On this podcast, hear first hand from entrepreneurs, scientists, and innovators who are taking on that challenge by founding companies that are Built For Earth. In particular, the show will highlight founders who are building hardtech solutions that enable meaningful greenhouse gas reduction.

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38 recent

December 16, 2024Episode 343 min

Decarbonizing Ammonia | Karen Baert - Co-Founder and CEO of Ammobia

Ammobia is enabling low cost clean ammonia production through their Haber-Bosch 2.0 technology - a low-capex, flexible ammonia production process. Karen Baert founded Ammobia in 2022 during her time at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Previously, she spent time with Breakthrough Energy Ventures, the GSB Impact Fund, Bain Consulting, and multiple climate tech startups include Germany-based energy startup GWAdriga and US-based Redwood Materials. In this episode we cover... [1:15] Why Ammonia is the “beer” of the energy transition [6:10] How ammonia is an enabler of the hydrogen economy [8:45] How Ammobia synthesizes hydrogen and nitrogen [12:45] How Ammobia uses the Le Chatelier principle [14:35] How Ammobia reduces costs by 2x [15:35] How Ammobia will scale up their production [19:10] Ammonia’s GTM approach [22:50] How farmers apply ammonia directly as a fertilizer [24:40] The downsides of ammonia and how we can mitigate them [29:40] What Karen has learned in the process of starting Ammobia [33:25] What the future looks like for Ammobia [38:50] Karen’s advice for aspiring climate contributors [41:15] Karen, the Queen of Type 2 fun Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X This episode was recorded on November 22, 2024.

December 2, 2024Episode 240 min

Next-Generation Transmission | Jason Huang - CEO of TS Conductor

TS Conductor is tackling one of the biggest challenges associated with the energy transition: modernizing the grid. TS has developed a novel high-performance conductor that can increase the amount of current carried on transmission lines by up to 3x, leading to a 40% reduction in line energy losses. Jason Huang is CEO of TS Conductor. Before starting TS Conductor in 2018, Jason worked with U.S. government agencies such as NIST, contributed to special projects for American defense aircraft like the F22 and F35, and held a series of engineering leadership and C-suite roles with advanced energy, chemical, and infrastructure companies. [1:30] Intro to the US Energy Grid [3:10] Why our transmission technology needs an upgrade [6:45] How TS Conductor can triple transmission capacity [14:40] How TS Conductor reduces line losses [17:00] How reconductoring can save your tax dollars [21:25] What does the future look like for TS [26:15] The conductor manufacturing process [26:15] Product development lessons for hard tech [30:00] Funding TS Conductor + reaching profitability [33:20] TS Conductor’s Biggest Challenges [36:30] The value of an extra minute of effort [39:30] A fun fact about Jason Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X This episode was recorded on November 11, 2024.

November 18, 2024Episode 147 min

Clean Ammonia Nanocatalysts | Lewis Jenkins - Co-Founder & CEO of Nium

Nium is using novel nanotechnology to decarbonize and decentralize the most polluting chemical industrial process on the planet: ammonia production. Lewis Jenkins is co-founder and CEO of Nium. He is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in launching and scaling businesses across more than 20 countries. In 2022, he joined Carbon 13, the venture builder for the climate emergency in Cambridge, where he co-founded Nium. In this episode we cover... [1:20] What even is Ammonia? [4:15] The history of Ammonia and why we need clean production [7:25] How Nium’s nanotechnology can change production [11:00] Decentralization and flexibility of ammonia production [18:40] How Nium's minions create ammonia [22:25] What makes Nium cost competitive [26:30] Bringing ammonia production to clean hydrogen sites [32:00] What the future looks like for Nium [33:40] Planeteer’s: A global team for climate action [44:05] Why nothing will stop Nium [45:00] A fun fact about Lewis Jenkins As mentioned during the episode, if you were inspired by Nium's mission and would like to join the team, apply to the The Planeteers Project. Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X This episode was recorded on October 11, 2024.

August 6, 2024Episode 1138 min

Tackling Climate Change and Setting World Records | Erin Sprague - CEO of Protect Our Winters

Protect Our Winters (POW) is one of the world's largest communities of outdoor enthusiasts including professional athletes, scientists, and creatives, who all leverage their love for the outdoors to drive climate action. Erin Sprague is CEO of Protect Our Winters. She has previously led major divisions at various outdoor fitness companies, started her own non-profit called In the Running, and still serves as an advisor to climate startups like Quilt and Mill. She is also a world record holder, as the youngest woman to run a marathon on all seven continents. In this episode we cover... [1:30] The outdoor community’s platform [2:55] POW’s theory for driving cultural change [5:15] The best messaging to drive action on climate [11:15] The most important climate actions you can take today [15:00] POW’s creative current initiatives [18:55] Leading in the non-profit setting & movement building [25:35] The future of POW and their work on the grid [30:15] The mindset behind Erin’s world record [33:30] The power of curiosity and combinations [36:55] What gives Erin climate optimism Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X This episode was recorded on July 30, 2024.

July 17, 2024Episode 1034 min

Battery-Equipped Appliances | Sam Calisch - Co-Founder and CEO of Copper

Copper is developing battery-equipped appliances, where a battery and an appliance are coupled into one. Copper just released, Charlie, the world's first energy storage equipped induction range. Sam Calisch is co-founder and CEO of Copper. Previously, Sam helped start Rewiring America, a nonprofit focused on electrification, where he was the head of Special Projects. He is a MIT PhD, a former Activate research fellow, and is one of the true experts in the electrification movement. In this episode we cover... [1:05] Deploying a billion machines [4:30] The battery trojan horse [7:05] How appliances make it easier to deploy batteries [9:40] The magic of an induction stoves [12:55] Why safety isn’t a concern with Copper’s batteries [16:15] How you can keep cooking when the power is out [17:35] IRA tax credits = $ in your pocket [19:15] Where else Copper hopes to electrify your home [22:00] The next 12 months and 5 years for Copper [24:40] The biggest challenge facing Copper [26:50] Copper’s strength is in the community [29:55] Independence, Hunger, and Openness [33:00] A fun fact about Sam Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X This episode was recorded on July 9, 2024.

June 24, 2024Episode 945 min

Super Sexy Heat Pumps | Paul Lambert - Co-Founder and CEO of Quilt

Quilt is building a smaller, smarter, more efficient, and more beautiful heat pump system to drastically reduce emissions coming from the home. Paul Lambert is co-founder and CEO of Quilt. Through his career he has taken mission-driven startups from 0 to 1 and led product development at some of the top companies in the world – most recently leading Area 120, Google’s in-house incubator. In this episode, we covered... [1:25] Why Paul saw HVAC as the biggest climate opportunity [4:40] What truly is a heat pump [10:10] What differentiates Quilt’s design [15:00] A quick dive on mini-splits [18:55] The efficiency gains of Quilt’s system [21:45] Heat pump’s dirty secret and how Quilt is addressing it [26:30] Where Quilt is at today and the vision for the future [33:50] The opportunity in HVAC installation [38:00] What Paul has learned as a software and hardware founder [41:25] A fun story about Quilt [43:35] Paul Lambert, the citrus tree king Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X This episode was recorded on June 18, 2024.

June 10, 2024Episode 838 min

Building an Aluminum-Powered Future | Peter Godart - Co-Founder & CEO of Found Energy

Found Energy is decarbonizing heavy industry by extracting clean energy from aluminum metal. Found's aluminum-thermal power systems are compact and modular, allowing energy to be extracted at double the energy density of diesel and at a competitive cost. Peter Godart, co-founder and CEO of Found Energy, is a former NASA scientist and MIT PhD whose background in developing aluminum-powered rocket landing systems positioned him to start Found Energy. Now, he is on a mission to address the climate crisis by turning waste materials into carbon-free, energy-dense replacements for fossil fuels. In this episode we cover... [1:10] The Found-ing story [3:45] The energy density of aluminum [5:10] How Found pulls energy from aluminum [8:10] The different applications for Found’s platform technology [10:50] A deeper dive into Found’s aluminum reaction [13:00] The scale of Found’s technology today [13:55] The response to Found’s technology from stakeholders and customers [17:20] Found’s go-to-market strategy [19:20] The positive climate impact of Found’s energy solution [22:00] The useful byproducts of Found’s process [24:25] The biggest challenges for Found [27:25] What the next 12 months look like for Found [29:00] What geographies Found is going after [31:10] What Peter has learned starting Found [35:15] Found is hiring! + Found’s humanitarian focus [37:00] Peter, the jazz musician Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X This episode was recorded on June 4, 2024.

April 15, 2024Episode 736 min

Autonomous Solar-Powered Agricultural Robots | Kenny Lee - Co-Founder & CEO of Aigen

Aigen is aiming to revolutionize agriculture with a pesticide-free, solar-powered robotics platform. Kenny alongside his co-founder, Richard Wurden, launched Aigen in late 2021 and since then have quickly become one of the hottest start-ups in ag and climate. Kenny Lee is co-founder and CEO of Aigen. He is a multi-time founder with a previous successful exit of a cybersecurity startup. Most recently, his focus has been learning and investing in ESG, climate change, and technologies that can transform people’s lives for the better. In this episode we cover... [1:20] The inspiration for Aigen [2:50] Why Kenny decided to focus on agriculture [5:45] Why regenerative agriculture is the north star [7:55] Farmers willingness to adopt new practices [10:25] Introduction to the Aigen Element Robot [12:10] How the Element removes weeds [14:45] Why weeds cause such a big problem for growers [15:45] Why Aigen is beginning with sugar beets [18:50] The most challenging aspect of building the Aigen Element [21:50] How Aigen will save farmers money [25:15] How Aigen is enabling regenerative practices [29:10] Kenny’s fun founding stories [34:35] A fun fact about Kenny Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X This episode was recorded on April 10, 2024.

March 25, 2024Episode 637 min

Farms to Food Banks | Ben Collier - Co-Founder & CEO of Farmlink

The Farmlink Project rescues surplus produce from farms and delivers it to communities around the country. Alongside other college students around the country, Ben Collier started the Farmlink Project during the pandemic while he was studying applied mathematics at Brown. Now, Farmlink has moved over 165M lbs of food, preventing over 200,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions while also delivering over 137M meals. In this episode we cover... [1:45] The inspiration for Farmlink [3:20] When Ben recognized the climate impact Farmlink could have [5:00] What has made Ben stay at Farmlink [7:45] What has surprised Ben the most about his interactions with farmers [11:25] Going from Farmlink’s first farm to now [14:30] The key to Farmlink’s agility and success [18:20] How Farmlink has been able to build successful partnerships [22:00] What Ben views as the biggest opportunities in food waste [25:00] The deep need for persistent collaboration [27:45] De-stigmatizing food assistance [31:05] The biggest challenge of leading an organization straight out of school [35:35] A fun fact about Ben Learn about the FIELD fellowship HERE. Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Episode recorded on March 11, 2024

March 11, 2024Episode 540 min

Putting Oil Back Underground | Harris Cohn - Head of Sales at Charm Industrial

Charm Industrial is a leading carbon removal company that is leveraging earth’s natural carbon capture process to put gigatons of sequestered carbon back underground. Harris Cohn is Head of Sales at Charm. Previously, he led business development and sales for leading climate technology companies including ClearTrace Technologies and Carbon Lighthouse. Earlier in his career, he spent time at Bloom Energy and led renewable investments at Pacific Gas and Electric. In this episode we cover... [1:15] Harris’s climate inspiration and journey to Charm [4:38] How Charm is using nature to capture carbon [7:41] How Charm’s pyrolyzers work to condense captured carbon [11:46] What allows Charm’s pyrolyzers work with minimal fossil fuels [15:30] The additionally and permanence of Charm’s carbon removal [21:15] How Charm has earned trust with their partners and customers [28:25] Charm’s wildfire risk reduction co-benefit [31:10] The biggest challenges facing Charm currently [34:20] Harris’ biggest takeaways from scaling Charm [38:24] Two fun facts about Harris Connect with us: ⁠ Instagram⁠ | ⁠LinkedIn⁠ | ⁠X⁠ Episode recorded on February 21, 2024