CleanTechies

Hosted by Silas & Somil

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256

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Aug 2025

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Welcome to the CleanTechies Podcast, the #1 Podcast for Climate Tech Entrepreneurs ----- Support the show more directly via our Substack where we also publish writing on the episodes we record. https://cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe ----- Interested in Advertising: info@cleantechiespod.com

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August 20, 2025Episode 25728 min

#257 Betting on $2 Trillion in Climate Infrastructure & Lessons from the DOE Loan Programs Office | Brendan Bell (Aligned Climate Capital)

What does it take to scale the clean energy transition—both at the bleeding edge of new technology and in the nuts-and-bolts of infrastructure?Today’s episode dives into the nuanced world of climate finance and infrastructure with Brendan Bell, Chief Operating Officer and Partner at Aligned Climate Capital. Unlike most investors who play in either venture or infrastructure, Align straddles both worlds, backing early-stage companies while also owning and operating clean energy assets.Brendan shares his unusual path from the Sierra Club to the U.S. Senate, the Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, and now into the private sector. Along the way, he offers candid insights into what makes a strong infrastructure investment, how venture-backed technologies eventually scale into bankable assets, and why understanding both sides of the capital stack is critical to accelerating the clean energy transition.This is a masterclass on the interplay between policy, venture innovation, and hard infrastructure. If you’ve ever wondered how moonshot technologies meet the realities of capital markets and project finance, this conversation will give you the inside view.📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:43 – Dual Strategy: Venture vs Infrastructure04:05 – Evaluating Infrastructure Projects06:06 – Career Journey to Aligned Climate Capital07:55 – Inside the Loan Programs Office10:10 – Impact of Early Loans and Technology Bets12:25 – Evolution of the LPO15:42 – Lessons from Oil and Gas22:48 – Current State of Infrastructure Investment24:40 – Community Solar and Storage27:55 – Global Trends and Race for Electrons32:45 – Successful Investment Example34:32 – Team Structure and Investment Philosophy39:48 – Policy and International Markets44:59 – Global Impact on Costs and AdoptionLinksBrendan Bell | Align Climate CapitalConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com

August 13, 202556 min

#256 Soil Health, Carbon Markets & Measuring the Hidden Climate Solution Beneath Our Feet | Chris Tolles (Yard Stick PBC)

How can we fight climate change by focusing underground?It turns out one of the biggest untapped climate solutions isn’t in the air—or in the trees, it’s in the soil beneath our feet. Today’s guest has developed a game-changing way to measure and protect soil organic carbon, helping farmers, agribusinesses, and carbon markets work together for climate impact and economic resilience.Our guest is Chris Tolles, Founder & CEO of Yard Stick PBC.Some quotes to hook you:“Soils store way, way more carbon than all the trees and plants and animals combined.”“If you want to sell soil carbon credits, you’ve got to measure soil carbon—accurately and at scale.”“Healthy soils aren’t just about climate—they’re about keeping Cheerios on the shelves.”“Identify the application of your technology that helps someone make money or save money—that’s what all businesses do.”Check Out Our Sponsor!ErthTech Talent – Expert, Affordable CleanTech Search FirmGet the best CleanTech talent without paying absurdly high prices.Affordable: Search fee is 12–15% of first-year base salary (most charge 25–30%).Specialized: ONLY works with CleanTech startups.Proven: 70+ placements since 2020 (Aypa Power, ChargeScape, QCells, & more).Save time and money when you work with ErthTech Talent.Plus, Silas runs it—so you already know him. Reach out and tell him you saw this ad.Show Notes: Topics05:50 – What Yardstick does and how the tech works08:07 – Why soil organic carbon matters for climate and food security09:31 – Is higher soil carbon concentration always better?09:31 – Yardstick’s two main revenue streams14:02 – Climate product or economic solution?17:21 – How big companies will make the change30:12 – Is framing as a “climate solution” a dead end?36:45 – Balancing production and soil health42:16 – Revisiting emissions per calorie in agriculture49:10 – Messaging Yardstick to different audiencesLinks- Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas- Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn- This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com

August 6, 2025Episode 2551 hr 5 min

#255 Burning Aluminum is Clean & Replaces Fossil Fuels | Peter Godart (Found Energy)

Ever wonder how we are going to decarbonize heavy industry? Well, you won't have to wonder much longer. Today's guest has an incredible solution that is 1) drop in, 2) cost parity (or better), 3) has an existing supply chain, 4) overcomes any scarcity concerns, and 5) prevents users from changing anything they do. Our guest is Peter Godart, the Co-Founder of Found Energy. Some quotes to hook you:- "We've developed what we call the world's first rechargeable fuel."- "There's really no other technology that can store energy for this long and then be dispatched as easily."- "Aluminum is just one of the best materials we have available to actually burn something."- "If you don't have a green grid, actually exacerbates the issue. At least in the short term, makes things worse."Check Out Our Sponsor!ErthTech Talent: Expert, Affordable CleanTech Search FirmGet the best CleanTech talent without paying absurdly high prices. Affordable: Our search fee is 12-15% of first-year base salary (most charge 25-30%).Specialized: We ONLY work with CleanTech startups.Proven: 70+ placements since 2020 (Aypa Power, ChargeScape, QCells, & more).Save time and money when you work with ErthTech Talent. Plus, Silas runs it, so you already know him. — Reach out and tell him you saw this ad.📝 Show Notes:Topics1:04 Core technology & how it works?4:58 Why is a new fuel source needed for industrial decarb?13:00 What is "rechargeable fuel"?19:08 Path to cost parity w/ fossil fuels20:56 You can use aluminum waste!? 26:24 Targe industries & markets34:36 How to handle the supply chain? 40:37 Energy density comparison to traditional fuels50:51 Next milestones for scaling the technology1:01:50 Timeline for commercial deploymentLinks- Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas- Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn- This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com

July 30, 2025Episode 25456 min

#254 The Path to Cost Parity Between Sustainable Fuels & Fossil Fuels | Conor Madigan, Aether Fuels

CleanTech founder Conor Madigan (Aether Fuels) reveals sustainable fuel tech breakthroughs, smart hiring, & building resilient climate startups.Join us as Conor Madigan, Founder and CEO of Aether Fuels, shares how their innovative tech is set to decarbonize aviation and shipping by drastically cutting costs and boosting fuel yield from waste streams. A second-time founder, Conor also unpacks his proven strategies for building high-talent, low-ego teams and fostering constructive tension for optimal results.Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsMemorable Quotes:"The overall result of that is to cut the capex of a plant by about 50%." — Conor Madigan"Until you've built a big network of your own... it's pretty invaluable to have a top-notch recruiter." — Conor Madigan"If you compare an electrified system versus a fired system, you can boost the output by about 20%." — Conor Madigan"I… try to create a constructive sort of tension inside of an organization by pairing together certain personality traits." — Conor MadiganIn this episode, we discuss:00:53 - Introduction to Conor Madigan and Aether Fuels03:55 - Aether Fuels' core technology and market05:27 - The innovation: cutting CAPEX and boosting yield28:00 - The year-long "funnel" to choose the right climate problem30:59 - Conor's philosophy on team building: high talent, low ego32:00 - Creating constructive tension in R&D vs. Engineering38:35 - Why senior hires need to be "player-coaches" at startups40:30 - Transparent communication during challenging times46:00 - Policy trends and market drivers for SAF49:50 - Cost parity expectations for Aether Fuels' productLinksConor Madigan | Aether FuelsConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com

July 23, 2025Episode 25354 min

#253 The Plug-and-Play Battery Solution for Modern Home Energy | Cole Ashman (Pila Energy)

Today, we're speaking with Cole Ashman, the CEO and founder of Pila Energy. Pila is democratizing access to battery backup systems through industrial-grade, consumer-priced batteries that are simply plug-and-play. No electricians, no permitting, just reliable power.Pila's innovative approach is disrupting the home energy market, from enabling demand response programs to making backup power accessible and affordable for everyone. Listen today to hear how they are reshaping energy reliability and demand response access. Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | Pocket CastsSelect Quotes From This Episode:"Controlling loads... shutting off your air condition, technically great, but who wants their AC shut off on the hottest day of the year?" "We're able to turn entire apartment complexes into batteries by coordinating up to hundreds of these distributed batteries." [Sponsor] ErthTech Talent: Affordable CleanTech Search FirmTo build a successful CleanTech startup, you need the right people. Affordable: Our search fee is 12-15% of first-year base salary (most charge 25-30%).Specialized: We ONLY work with CleanTech startups. Proven: 70+ placements since 2020 (Aypa Power, ChargeScape, QCells, & more). Save time and money when you work with ErthTech Talent. Plus, Silas runs it, so you already know him. — Reach out today and tell him you saw this ad.LinksCole Ashman | Pila EnergyConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com

July 19, 2025Episode 25237 min

#252 The Big Battery Bill: What the OBBB Means for Batteries in America | Eric McShane (Electroflow Technologies)

In this episode, we talk with Eric McShane, co-founder and CEO of Electroflow Technology (backed by Breakthrough Energy Ventures). Eric is on a mission to revolutionize lithium production, a vital battery material.We discuss the "Big Beautiful Bill's" impact on the battery industry and how Electroflow Technology's innovative approach addresses the critical need for domestic lithium production, especially given that "99% of this crucial battery material [LFP] is made in China." Eric shares how their unique process transforms brine into LFP, helping the U.S. become competitive again by "building real stuff" and using abundant low-concentration lithium brine resources.Key Topics:BBB's Impact: The "Big Beautiful Bill's" role in boosting U.S. battery capacity and achieving self-sufficiency in materials like lithium iron phosphate (LFP).Electroflow's Innovation: Details on Electroflow Technology's unique method for transforming brine into LFP and its benefits.Go-to-Market Strategy: Electroflow's plan for market entry and key differentiators.Climate Tech Perspective: Eric's insights on being a climate tech founder and the excitement of "building real stuff."Future Goals: Electroflow Technology's objectives and plans for utilizing U.S. lithium brine resources.Get Involved: How investors and engineers can connect with Electroflow Technology.Support the Show!Upgrade to paid today! It’s $10/month or $100/year. Your support helps us continue to bring you valuable CleanTech insights.Upgrade to PaidSupport the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com

July 14, 2025Episode 25127 min

#251 How to Fix a Quarter Trillion Solar Assets at Scale | Nikhil Vadhavkar (Raptor Maps)

In this episode, we sit down with Nikhil Vadhavkar, co-founder and CEO of Raptor Maps, to uncover how the company is tackling the invisible crisis in clean energy: operational inefficiency across $250B+ worth of solar assets.Nikhil explains why the solar industry’s problems aren’t just about building more — they’re about getting the existing infrastructure to perform. From labor shortages to rising insurance costs, from underperforming fields to unscalable maintenance methods, Raptor Maps is turning traditional solar operations on its head. Their secret? A software platform built on digital twins, computer vision, and robotics that lets field techs do more of what matters.You'll hear how Raptor Maps found product-market fit by replacing the most dangerous and manual tasks on solar farms with drone- and robot-driven workflows, and how that foundation has evolved into an AI-ready platform used across tens of gigawatts of global deployments. Nikhil shares the journey from MIT and NASA to Y Combinator and utility-scale solar, reflecting on what it means to build something technically excellent, deeply customer-embedded, and truly scalable.We cover:How climate-driven damage (hail, fire) and tariffs are reshaping solar economicsWhy investors are demanding deeper visibility into solar asset performanceWhat it takes to operate robots and AI in the middle of nowhereAnd how Raptor Maps built a customer-led culture — even as it scaled---Upgrade to paid today! It’s $10/month or $100/year. You probably spent that much on random Amazon stuff last week. What’s stopping you from upgrading to paid? Upgrade to Paid📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:51 Shifting Value Toward Operational Assets03:02 Core Challenges in Solar06:26 The Insights Behind Raptor Maps11:06 From Doing a PhD to Raptor Maps 20:31 Creating Scalable Solutions24:44 Shifts in the Ecosystem and Market Positioning31:45 Building Trust Through Industry Collaboration40:36 Looking AheadThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com

July 2, 2025Episode 25047 min

#250 How This Company Installs Level 3 Chargers Without Utility Upgrades | Tyler Phillipi (OptiGrid)

Wow - 250 Episodes! Thank you all for being part of this journey so far. Stick with us as it’s only getting better.Quotes From This Episode:"Operating an electric vehicle in your fleet is insanely cheap..." - Tyler Phillipi"Level 3 chargers without utility upgrades... Think garden hose in, fire hose out." - Silas Mähner"Amazon and Walmart... are doing the same exact thing from every portion of their fleet because it makes financial sense." - Tyler PhillipiAnnouncement! We’re hosting a CleanTechies meetup in San Francisco!If you’re around on the 10th of July in San Francisco, join us for a friends of CleanTechies meetup! Register today as space is limited!In this episode, we speak with Tyler Phillipi, CEO of OptiGrid. OptiGrid revolutionizes EV charging with innovative, easy-to-install units that cut installation time from 18 months to as little as 4 weeks. Partnering with Orange EV, OptiGrid tackles the fleet electrification bottleneck with a "garden hose in, fire hose out" approach, bypassing power constraints. Learn why giants like Amazon and Walmart electrify fleets for financial benefits, and how OptiGrid makes EV charging "dumb easy," driving a quiet revolution.Topics00:00 Operating electric vehicles in fleets is cheap (Cold Open)00:28 Intro to OptiGrid04:57 OptiGrid's technology 07:52 Why fleets are electrifying despite challenges12:52 OptiGrid's installation process19:07 Advantages of working with Orange EV24:03 Economic drivers for EV adoption30:40 Corporate sustainability commitments and EV adoption32:23 Grid challenges and the role of utilities35:12 Supply chain and battery manufacturing37:38 Tyler's thesis on team building43:36 Getting the best out of people44:45 Future of OptiGridLinksTyler Phillipi | OptiGridConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com

June 25, 2025Episode 24953 min

#249 Why There's a Trillion-Dollar Green Building Boom Happening | Matt Ellis (Measurabl)

Matt Ellis (Measurabl): Building a Climate Tech EmpireJoin us with Matt Ellis, Founder & CEO of Measurabl, as he shares how they're transforming the green building industry. Discover how they're leveraging data and AI to drive sustainability, navigating policy, and helping building owners lower emissions. Matt dives into building a billion-dollar climate tech company, the importance of constant reinvention, and lessons in fostering a thriving company culture.In this episode:(01:23) Reinventing Measurabl(05:57) AI and Data's Impact on Measurabl(15:43) Advice for Climate Tech Founders(35:42) Lessons Learned in Talent & Team Building(48:41) Emerging Trends in Sustainability Data & Business ModelsConnect:Matt Ellis on LinkedIn | Measurabl WebsiteConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedIn-----This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com

June 11, 2025Episode 24845 min

#248 Without Federal Funding, How are Cities Deploying Curbside Charging? | Tiya Gordon (It's Electric)

Today, we’re excited to have Tiya Gordon, founder of It’s Electric, back on the pod to discuss their progress since we last spoke in early 2024. She also gives us a big update on what’s happening in the curbside charging space across the US. With the federal funding support being pulled, a lot of cities are facing challenges in meeting their electrification goals. It’s Electric is thriving by helping them get curbside chargers in place with ZERO up-front costs. As if that wasn’t enough, they also help building owners earn extra revenue. A true win-win solution. Tune in for some golden nuggets on what the market is doing now and an absolute master class on how to build a high-performance team at an early-stage clean tech startup. Links**Tiya Gordon | It’s Electric**Listen to the first episode we did with Tiya - $167**#167 Urban Charging, Electrifying Cities, Pilots & Partnerships, & More w/ Tiya Gordon (It's Electric)**Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn to fill your feeds with educational content **This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showIf you're gonna change the world, you're gonna need a world-class team. Partner with ErthTech Talent to help you do that, for less.70+ Placements5+ Years (exclusively in CleanTech)The Lowest Fees in the Market (12-15% of first-year salary)90-day placement guaranteeIt's really hard to say no to that. Wait?! -- The best service is also the cheapest? Seems too good to be true, but it's the entire reason we started this company. We believe that Climate entrepreneurs are doing important work, and there should be a firm to help them find the best talent, without it breaking the bank. Reach out today for a free assessment of your hiring process. hello@erthtechtalent.com