Bill Gross

Data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) illustrates the current "readiness" of #ClimateTechs + their potential impact on carbon reduction. As shown, many techs are at an early stage of being able to have a material impact. Concerningly, some tech funds recently returned capital back to investors recently + closed their funds - citing inability to fund capital intensive techs, found in areas like ClimateTech. This in part may be contributing to the $2 trillion shortfall in ClimateTech, that Deloitte estimates. What this may mean for the future? - The migration of LPs to global, super VC funds within ClimateTech, given the large capital pools needed to fund tech development - Greater specialization from smaller funds, energizing more niche elements of the ClimateTech market - but also altering their / LP's risk profile - A greater role to be played by debt financing in funding growth entities at an earlier stage - impacting cashflow dynamics Will be an interesting space to watch moving forward. We at The Proptech Connection are constantly working with all parts of the Proptech ecosystem. From the leading LPs, funds, techs and adopters in market, providing an independent view. Reach out to us today to find out how we can help. #InvestorTrends #Strategy #Global Ivo van Breukelen Stuart Daun Kiki C. Ethan Ward

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Today I want to put the spotlight on Arelys Sosa, Thomas Tingelöf and Kent Moore who are the amazing founders of DREV.🔦 The problem they are tackling is that battery gigafactories, semi-conductor factories, and battery recycling plants face big challenges collecting hazardous metal micro-particles, slowing production, and they are squandering precious materials, and endangering staff. These are all individually big problems and combined this is huge.☣️ Drev has the solution to all to this with The Vault, an innovative technology powered by patent-pending dry brush technology and a revolutionary canister design, eliminates water and chemicals from the cleaning process, improves safety, and enables the adaptive reuse of valuable materials that would otherwise be thrown away with save manufactures millons. 🧹 The Drev team has the unique domain experience for solving a particular problem that we're always looking for when we are backing founders at the Norrsken Accelerator. Arelys is an industrial engineer who was part of the original team at Panasonic Energy at Tesla’s Gigafactory 1 so she has seen this problem first hand for years. Thomas has a PhD and he has been the CTO of PowerCell and VP at Volvo Cars and has massively scaled technologies before.🤩 The interest from the industry is huge and they are currently running projects with some of the leading battery manufacturers. You can read more and contact them here: https://lnkd.in/d7V-mKrx

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🚨 Breaking! 8090 Industries portfolio company Exowatt led by industrialist Hannan P. launches P3, fundamentally unleashing a new dawn for the energy industry! ☀️ Catch the story from Michelle Ma at Bloomberg below: https://lnkd.in/gkfHENST ⚡ Setting the stage: The power requirements to scale AI are astronomical. Within a decade AI will require 650TWh of new power generation – more than the electricity demand of South Korea. In the U.S. alone, data centers will require the equivalent amount of electricity to power 40 million households by 2030. Exowatt P3s can generate electricity at scale at just a $0.04 LCOE and with entirely baseload renewable tech. That’s lower than the cost of most fossil fuels and doesn’t account for subsidies. We have already amassed a 1.2 GW backlog, worth $Billions from the mega tech hyperscalers, energy and data center companies. 💡 How does it work? The system works by capturing the sun’s energy in the form of heat, storing it in a heat battery and converting it to electricity via a heat engine even when the sun is no longer out. This changes the economics of solar by solving a problem called the “Duck Curve” where all conventional solar producers are forced to sell their power at the same time while at maximum output, driving the electricity cost sometimes to zero or negative intraday and leaving no supply at night. Data centers need to operate 24/7 and typically have 60% of their OPEX from energy costs, so an inexpensive and ever available alternative is very important to them. Data centers are straining to bring capacity online and without solutions like Exowatt, are being forced to turn to fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. Keep a close eye on this one, we have no doubt Hannan P. Jack Abraham and the Exowatt team will be pushing forward an exciting, abundant and carbon-free powered future!⚡️ cc Kerem Ozmen Wes Mendenhall Filip Vurdelja Haluk Sabanci Dincer Grant Brown Charles Oppenheimer Ishan Meswani Garuth A. Andrew Irwin

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I really enjoyed recording this episode of The Digital Industrial Podcast with Ty Findley. We talked about common misconceptions for deep tech, the "Why Now" for the category, and differences between investor diligence for deep tech and traditional tech. https://lnkd.in/eKtwjauu

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Heirloom Carbon raises $150M to remove CO2 from the air using rocks | TechCrunch https://buff.ly/49uuPFv Heirloom Carbon has successfully secured $150 million in funding to advance their innovative carbon dioxide removal technology, which captures CO2 from the atmosphere using mineral-based processes. By utilizing naturally occurring rocks, Heirloom aims to address climate change by sequestering carbon more effectively and sustainably. This substantial investment highlights the growing interest and urgency in developing scalable carbon capture solutions to mitigate global warming. #CarbonCapture #ClimateTech

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With the rapid rise of AI and increased focus on electrification and EV adoption, the economics of the energy market have shifted dramatically — energy demand in the U.S. is skyrocketing. However, there's a very clear imbalance between the need for grid-scale energy storage solutions and the lack of available supply. Without a viable storage solution for the grid, the increase in energy demand will be met by gas-powered peaker plants and coal-burning plants — reversing all progress to date on reducing carbon emissions. Less than a year ago, Peak Energy was founded with the mission to revolutionize energy storage with the development of low-cost, large scale sodium-ion battery technology. Today, the company has announced its $55M Series A to commercialize and scale its grid storage technology. Peak Energy's momentum over the last year not only reflects strong market demand, but also is indicative of the team behind the mission: Liam O'Connor, who led operations and supply chain at some of the world's largest technology companies like Tesla and Apple; Landon Mossburg, who built and scaled large battery manufacturing at Northvolt and Tesla; and Cameron Dales, who helped build from scratch leading-edge battery company ENOVIX Corporation. From the deep expertise the company's leadership brings to the table, to the all-star team they've assembled, and the innovative technology they are developing, the Eclipse team believes Peak Energy brings the ample firepower to secure the future of renewable energy. https://bit.ly/3Y8LniO Congratulations!

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Excited for DCVC portfolio co Alta Resource Technologies to emerge from stealth! The design space of biology is many orders of magnitude larger than inorganic chemistry, and Alta uses it to massively reduce the cost of extracting rare earth metals. https://lnkd.in/g_q5UwRF

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Last week, I had the pleasure of moderating a discussion on navigating FOAK in climate tech at the Greentown Labs Summit in Boston (which had >600 people!!). Here’s a quick rundown of what was shared by Katherine St. James of Spring Lane Capital, Paris Smalls, PhD of Eden GeoPower, and Hannah Friedman of Planeteer Capital: 🌱 What is the definition of FOAK? We discussed how the term can be controversial - it's almost too general because it doesn't identify what kind of "First" FOAK refers to - first team project? First geography? First of a technology in a sector? First time for the integration of a system? It's also too specific because it has the word "first" in it, which can be anathema to later stage / project finance investors. 💰 Partnerships for Funding FOAK Projects We discussed how important it is to build a blended capital stack & use off-balance sheet capital for a project so you're not using the most expensive equity dollars to fund an infrastructure project with low-ish IRR. We also talked through being creative about using corporate partners to provide in-kind services or ink some agreement (at least an LOI) to attract this funding. 🏛 Role of Government We talked about how government capital is seen by investors & how it can be catalytic for FOAK. Government capital can provide validation that a startup has passed a rigorous diligence process by a third party - and incentives like grants or credits can help improve returns for the first project- but it's important to be doing this in conjunction with getting customer validation and to be able to present line of sight to competitive economics without concessionary capital. 👥 Advice for FOAK startups The panelists offered some very specific pieces of advice for startups going through FOAK: how to get creative with things like revenue sharing agreements or convertible notes, getting smart with project development early on (like with DeveloperU), being careful about using FOAK too liberally with certain investor groups, getting the right commercialization / FOAK talent in and around you early Huge thanks to the panelists and the team at Greentown Labs (Jill Kirkpatrick, Julia Travaglini, Aisling Carlson, etc you rocked it!!) for hosting this discussion on bridging the FOAK gap. Also immensely enjoyed the rest of the agenda. Check out the full recap & videos here: https://lnkd.in/d9ApYe9Y #ClimateTech #FOAK #ClimateFinance #ProjectDevelopment #GreenTech #CleanEnergy

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Check out my recent post on why President Trump is the forcing function for us to solve the “Missing Middle” and catch the industrial Tsunami of onshoring coming to the US!

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Who Will Win the Race for Next-Generation Battery Technologies? The race to dominate next-generation battery technologies is intensifying, driven by venture capital, governments, startups, and established players, all vying to control key innovations and raw materials. https://lnkd.in/gTnUfFz4 Innovative battery technologies are a key focus area for us at Ventioneers #Venture #Capital #Startups #Battery #Ventioneers

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$80 million for carbon removal? That's not just an investment—it's a bold statement about our climate future. The Frontier coalition, led by tech giants Google and Stripe, is pushing the envelope in carbon removal technology. Here's why it matters: 1. Premium pricing strategy: Paying up to $447 per ton of CO2 removed to jumpstart innovation 2. Beyond emission reduction: Recognizing the critical need for large-scale carbon removal to meet climate goals 3. Advance Market Commitment: De-risking innovation by guaranteeing future demand for carbon removal credits 4. Spotlight on innovation: Supporting groundbreaking technologies from CO280 and CREW Carbon 5. Market potential: Projections suggest a $20-$135 billion market for durable carbon removal by 2040 This move signals a shift from traditional offsetting to investing in scalable, permanent carbon removal solutions. It's a prime example of how private sector collaboration can drive climate tech innovation. What are your thoughts on this approach to tackling climate change? Are high-priced carbon removal credits the key to unlocking a sustainable future? #ClimateInnovation #CarbonRemoval #CleanTech #SustainableInvesting #ClimateAction Share your perspective in the comments!

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From an outsider's perspective, it looks like direct air capture (DAC) companies are battling a two-front war. Last week, VC-backed startup CarbonCapture announced that it was scrapping plans to build its first commercial-scale DAC project in Wyoming, one of the world's largest facilities, expected to remove 5M metric tons of CO2 annually by 2030. To put that in context, there are only ~50 DAC facilities operating in the US, Canada, and Europe today, capturing about 0.1M metric tons of carbon annually. One the one hand, DAC and many other carbon-abating/sequestering technologies rely on clean electricity to power their operations. However, they face increasing competition from emerging, energy-intensive industries like AI and crypto for that resource. These industries, backed by some of the largest enterprises in the world like Microsoft and Alphabet, reflect a buying base that utilities are likely incentivized to service first. CarbonCapture's CEO directly mentioned competition for clean power as a core reason for pausing its Wyoming development. On the other hand, the product that comes out of DAC - carbon credits - has faced criticism as a form of greenwashing because it does not incentivize companies to address carbon emissions in their own operations. It's clear that technologies like DAC are needed as we look to achieve our target emissions, but there will inevitably be challenges in its rollout. I would love to learn more about what's going on at the heart of the industry if you're an operator or investor in the space!

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I find it hard to believe that with millions of EVs entering the market and the proliferation of AI compute that PGE is actually going to have excess capacity in 2040 without any additional generation from 3rd parties. I am also curious if there are enough transmission lines and if PGE views that as someone else’s problem. Maybe they are planning on AI and ACTUAL figuring it all out! https://lnkd.in/gybsMmaw

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Partnering with startups can help companies to "solve a product problem, create a new avenue for revenue, accelerate R&D, or accelerate time to market for a specific product," according to Otilia Barbuta, principal at HP Tech Ventures, the venture capital arm of HP. She was talking at a breakout session at Circularity 2024. "There are solutions in the market created by startups and in this circularity realm, I think it's more important than ever to partner with [them]." #climatetech #startups #climateVC

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🌍 11 Startups Spearheading the $1.8 Trillion Climate Tech Revolution 🚀 Despite facing headwinds from various sectors, BloombergNEF's annual Pioneers competition has spotlighted 11 startups leading the fight against global warming. Here's the breakthrough: 1️⃣ Innovative Startups: From companies optimizing clean power integration into the grid, like envelio with its rapid grid study software, to those like CoverCress Inc.., turning pennycress into sustainable jet fuel, these pioneers are at the forefront of technological innovation. 2️⃣ Strategic Challenges: Addressing major industry bottlenecks—speeding up clean power deployment, reducing building carbon footprints, and creating new net-zero fuels—are this year's focus. 3️⃣ Global Impact: As the world grapples with the need to decarbonize, these companies are setting the stage for a more sustainable future. Whether it’s retrofitting old buildings for energy efficiency or pioneering low-carbon fuels, their impact can't be overstated. As an advocate for sustainable innovation and someone who's deeply involved in clean tech, I find these developments quite promising. We’re on the brink of major shifts in how we manage our environmental footprint, and it’s thrilling to see these companies take the lead. Now, let’s also look at our Pangea.ai ai weekly news update from the #emergingtech industry, including #AI, #tech, & #Web3 space. 🚀 HyLight (YC S23) Nets €3.7M for Eco-Friendly Airship Drones, advancing aviation technology. 🔥 Fotokite Raises $11M for Firefighting Drones, enhancing public safety. 🤖 Collaborative Robotics Snags $100M for Human-Robot Collaboration, transforming workplace automation. 🌐 Microsoft's $1.5B Investment in UAE’s G42 leveraging Azure for strategic pivot. 🧠 Google to Pour Over $100 Billion into AI via Google DeepMind, a massive tech advancement push. 🌎 Quilt Secures $33M Series A Amid Heat Pump Boom, promoting sustainable heating. 🛠️ Intel Corporation and Partners to Develop Open AI Tools for Enterprises, fostering accessible technology. 🎵 Amazon Music Introduces 'Maestro', an AI Playlist Generator, enhancing music experiences. 🏛️ GovDash (YC W22) Uses AI to Simplify Government Contracts, optimizing business-government interactions. 🌏 OpenAI Opens Tokyo Hub, Launches Japanese-Optimized GPT-4, expanding its global AI footprint. That was a brief of this week's #EmergingTech news report featuring #CleanTech, #Medtech, #VR & & #VCfunding.

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I've been thinking a lot about waves 🌊 . In climate tech, we've experienced two significant waves so far. The first wave was dominated by hardware innovations—solar panels, wind turbines, etc. The second wave ushered in the power of software, optimizing energy use and enhancing efficiency through intelligent grids and AI. Now, we're witnessing the emergence of a third wave, where the lines between hardware and software blur and the problems addressed are far more intersectional. This wave will be focused on bringing those who've been invisible to the broader climate movement front and centre. This 3rd wave will be rooted in the following principles - 📍Partnership - organisations who may not seem like obvious allies working together. 📍Inclusion - Brining those previously invisible to the wider climate movement through the creation of ventures, tools and new platforms. 📍Activism—This wave will have politics at its heart. You can't tackle the impact of climate change without an understanding of the political and economic history that brought us here. 📍Wealth Creation - Always there but rarely mentioned. How do we create sustainable ways to allow communities to build wealth in this new net-zero world? Jobs, skills, investment...everything will be on the table. News All links in the comments 👇 🚨 The Rockefeller Foundation creates a new Climate Advisory Council 📂 Halfway to COP29 Azerbaijan: What is the Bonn Climate Change Conference and why does it matter? 🎬 Climate Innovation Ecosystem by Forbes With 46% of the solutions we need still under development or need to be built, we need innovation in business models and sales strategies, advocacy, education, policy development, and community building, among other areas. 💡 Unibloom raises £650K in Pre-Seed funding - Unibloom offers a cloud-based, data-driven platform that automates, simulates, scenario plans and integrates climate projects with business forecasts and financial targets. 👋 Innovate UK Horizon Europe Missions webinar: Climate change adaptation and smart cities opportunities (webinar) ☎️ Climate Connection Tech Collab - When: Wednesday 26 June, 6-9pm in London. A night to celebrate climate innovators & changemakers hosted by Sustainable Ventures and Climate Connection! ✍️ The 2024 Climate Tech Report by StartUs Insights provides an in-depth analysis of the sector’s current landscape, showcasing key trends, and providing market dynamics. This report explores the performance of emerging startups and innovations driving the industry towards sustainability. #climatechange #justtransition #netzero

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These VC firms just reloaded. Maybe worth approaching them if you’re actively fundraising… 🔴 London based Energy Revolution Ventures closed an $18M fund to invest in deep tech, such as energy storage, carbon capture, and, hydrogen technologies. 🔴 New York based Benchstrength closed its first $62M fund to support early stage technology companies. 🔴 Portola Valley based G2 Ventures Partners is raising its third $750M fund to focus on climate and sustainability startups. 🔴 Tel Aviv based Vgames raised its third $142M fund to invest in gaming teams across the world. 🔴 Bengaluru based Athera Venture Partners is raising its fourth $106M fund to back tech startups in consumer Internet, enterprise software, AI, and other emerging technologies.

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Renewable energy is expensive … ok Compared to what? Compared to responsible fossil fuel where emissions are fully compensated or mitigated? We have paid simply for the fossil fuel for decades but not for all the rest … History should not be a benchmark in this debate, corrected history or future oriented might be. Changing that perspective might well give a different outcome to most of the sustainability debates but should also have political and policy consequences. Who dares?

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