CleanTechies

When you think of Houston, you probably think, Big Oil - but the truth is - it's actually the epicenter of the Energy Transition 🤔 This week we released an episode of CleanTechies with Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier, two of the founding partners at Energy Tech Nexus. With this venture, they are bringing together all the key ingredients an energy transition company needs to succeed. - A wide spectrum of capital types - Pilot project opportunities - Access to corporate partners who work on 10-year timescales - Talent that has built physical energy infrastructure - A community that understands electrons AND molecules In short, they are at the epicenter of the future of energy. If you want to know more about what they are doing, and hear our discussion about Trump, Nuclear, Carbon Capture, and the Unique aspects of Houston's ecosystem, tune in today. You'll enjoy it I'm sure of it. (link to the show in the comments)

⚡ Building the Future of Energy in Houston ⚡ Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier came on the pod to tell us about how Energy Tech Nexus is accelerating the energy transition in Houston This episode covers 5 major themes shaping the future of clean energy: 1️⃣ Trump’s Energy Policy & Its Impact on Clean Tech - The new administration’s focus on oil and gas creates uncertainty for clean energy projects. - While some federal funding is on hold, there’s still state-level and private capital available for climate tech. 🔥 Takeaway: Clean tech startups must adapt by securing private investment, strategic partnerships, and global markets. 2️⃣ Will Nuclear Finally Scale? - The administration is pro-nuclear, pro-geothermal, and pushing baseload power options. - Key challenge: Public perception & long permitting timelines. ⚛️ Takeaway: If nuclear can fast-track permitting and gain public trust, it could see major momentum. 3️⃣ Can Carbon Capture Thrive? - Oil & gas majors are investing in CCS to meet corporate sustainability targets. - CCS is essential for hard-to-abate sectors (steel, cement) & securing net-zero goals for data centers. 🌱 Takeaway: Carbon capture will continue to grow, but its long-term viability depends on policy and private funding. 4️⃣ How Can Clean Tech Startups Win? - Pilot projects are critical—startups need to prove technology, secure offtakers, and attract investors. - Houston is a prime location for developing and deploying large-scale energy projects. 🚀 Takeaway: Successful startups act as project developers, not just tech providers—integrating EPC, financing, and corporate buy-in. 5️⃣ Houston’s Role in the Energy Transition - Houston is not just for oil & gas—it’s a growing hub for industrial-scale clean tech innovation. - Energy Tech Nexus connects startups with corporate partners, investors, and pilot projects. 🏗 Takeaway: The next wave of billion-dollar clean energy companies ("Thunder Lizards") will likely emerge from Houston. 🎧 Listen now for expert insights on building clean energy startups, navigating the new administration, and why Houston is the future of energy innovation. #EnergyTech #CarbonCapture #Nuclear #Houston #CleanTech 🔗 Listen now: (link in comments)

Holocene is reshaping DAC. Here's how.

Anca Timofte, CEO and co-founder of Holocene, is revolutionizing direct air capture and landed Google as a customer Here's how. 1️⃣ A New Way to Capture Carbon - Holocene’s liquid-based, low-temperature system removes CO2 continuously, unlike traditional solid adsorbent approaches that require cartridges. - The process functions like a chemical plant, making it more energy-efficient and scalable. - Takeaway: Aqueous-based carbon capture is a game-changer—faster, cheaper, and more efficient than many existing systems. 2️⃣ Why Google Chose Holocene - Holocene secured Google’s first DAC carbon credit purchase outside of the Frontier Fund. - They’re selling carbon removal credits at $100/ton, a price point that could unlock mass adoption of DAC. - Takeaway: Big Tech is betting on scalable carbon removal—and Holocene is leading the charge. 3️⃣ Beyond Storage: CO₂ Utilization for Synthetic Fuels - In addition to underground storage, Holocene sells CO₂ to partners producing synthetic fuels, chemicals, and refrigerants. - Their process repurposes carbon, turning emissions into valuable products. - Takeaway: Carbon capture isn’t just about storage—it’s about reusing CO₂ in new and sustainable ways. 4️⃣ Scaling Fast: From Pilot to Commercial Deployment - Holocene launched a pilot plant in Tennessee in 2023, testing its system in real-world conditions. - The company is now engineering its first commercial-scale demonstration plant, 200–500x bigger than their pilot. - Takeaway: Scaling a DAC company requires strategic engineering and early customer buy-in—Holocene is making both happen. 5️⃣ Carbon Capture in the Biden-Trump Era - DAC has bipartisan appeal—even if climate policy shifts, carbon removal remains a key industry. - Holocene is focused on technology development and customer-driven funding rather than relying solely on government incentives. - Takeaway: The carbon removal industry is here to stay—even in uncertain political times. 🎧 Listen to the full episode to hear Anca's insights on scaling climate technology, securing big-name partnerships, and building a climate tech company from scratch. (link in comments) #CarbonCapture #DAC #Holocene #CleanTech #ClimateTech

Looking to land meaningful climate tech coverage? Here are 5 high-impact, non-traditional media outlets to pitch: 📧 Sightline Climate (CTVC) i. Climate tech deals and news every Monday ii. Written by Sightline Climate, a market intelligence platform iii. 60,000+ subscribers 📧 Volts i. 1-2x weekly newsletter covering climate tech and policy ii. Written by David Roberts, former Vox and Grist reporter iii. 77,000+ subscribers 📧 Keep Cool i. 2x weekly newsletter ii. Written by Nick van Osdol, climate writer and investor iii. 18,000+ subscribers 🎧️ Catalyst i. Hosted by Shayle Kann, an investor at Energy Impact Partners ii. Focus on leveraging tech and AI to decarbonize the planet iii. Weekly episodes 🎧️ CleanTechies i. Hosted by Somil Aggarwal, climate & AI investor ii. 2x weekly interviews with top climate tech founders and VCs iii. Smaller subscriber list but quality interviews I'd love to hear more if I missed some - feel free to chime in with any that I skipped.

Who do YOU want to see on the pod? Tag them below 👇 #CleanTechies

Congrats Syzygy Plasmonics / Trevor Best! We love seeing CleanTechies Podcast Alumni knocking it out of the park. Keep up the great work!

Anca Timofte, co-founder and CEO of Holocene, joined us to talk about her journey from oil and gas to Climeworks to building a startup from the ground up. Here's a snippet of her story and follow the link in the comments to hear the full episode.

Cutting costs, being more efficient, leading the space

Congrats to Kim Zou and the Sightline Climate (CTVC) team on the series Seed Round! Keep up the great work and thanks for all you do to help this industry move forward!