GigaWhat: Fuelling startups

GigaWhat: Fuelling startups

Author: Mongabay.com November 30, 2022 Duration: 20:18

India has an ambitious clean energy target that needs technology and innovation. While government and private sectors have their role to play, startups are critical for innovation and faster execution. They identify local, national and global problems, find opportunities and develop solutions.

India is home to the third-largest startup ecosystem, with about 57,000 startups. A fraction of this number is working in sustainability and solving climate change issues. Worldwide, it's noted that the number of government policy measures to help startups get new clean energy technologies to the market, has risen sharply since the Paris Agreement was signed in 2015.

From bringing solar power-based products to provide job opportunities in rural India, to companies innovating to increase the life of batteries, startups are addressing various needs of the different stages in the renewable energy journey.

But are they enough ideas? Enough startups? And enough support for such startups?

And more importantly, is there money to be made? Is there money to invest?

In this episode, we will speak to stakeholders involved in a startup's journey to success. A co-founder, an investor and an incubator.

Listen to GigaWhat and explore some of the biggest questions, challenges, and opportunities in India's transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources.

Guests:

Pankaj Sharma , co-Founder, Log 9 Materials

Smita Rakesh, Vice President and Partner at Social Alpha

Arpit Agarwal, Director, Blume Ventures              

Credits:

Hosted by Mayank Aggarwal

Produced and scripted by Kartik Chandramouli.

Edited and mixed by Tejas Dayananda Sagar

Copy edits by Priyanka Shankar

Episode artwork is by Pooja Gupta


From the team at Mongabay.com comes Everything Environment by Mongabay India, a podcast that digs into the complex and often overlooked stories shaping India's natural world. This isn't just about headlines; it's about connecting the dots between biodiversity, climate change, and the natural resources that underpin daily life across the subcontinent. Each episode is a deep dive, whether it's examining the real-world impacts of the country's clean energy transition, uncovering lessons from ancient paleoscience, or giving a voice to lesser-known species fighting for survival. The conversations move beyond abstract problems to focus on tangible solutions and the people on the front lines. By weaving science and news into compelling narrative, this podcast places environmental discussions exactly where they belong: central to our understanding of India's present and future. You'll hear clear analysis and on-the-ground reporting that makes intricate topics accessible, fostering a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of ecology, policy, and community. For anyone curious about the forces shaping our environment, this series offers essential listening.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 28

Everything Environment by Mongabay India
Podcast Episodes
Wild Frequencies #3: Us and Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:20
If we listen closely, a bird's call reflects what humans have done to its landscape, and a forest soundscape tells us about habitat health. Listen to the third episode of Wild Frequencies to learn how scientists use bioa…
Wild Frequencies #2: Know Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:10
Can we figure out animal behaviour by listening to the sounds they produce? In this episode, you'll hear from scientists who listen closely to wildlife ranging from large mammals to insects. Wild Frequencies is a three-p…
Wild Frequencies #1: Find Them [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:28
Most wild animals are not easy to spot. They are often hidden, camouflaged, or just not around when you are. But instead of trying to 'see' them, what if we try and 'listen' to them? After all, animals communicate. For s…
Trailer: Wild Frequencies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02
Animals communicate. And some researchers listen to what they are saying. Hosts Shreya Dasgupta and Kartik Chandramouli travelled to different parts of India and spoke to multiple scientists to hear stories of sounds fro…
Environomy #6: A Challenge Across Generations [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:34
In this sixth and final episode of Environomy, we will explore how India has dealt with issues related to biodiversity and climate change since the 1991 economic reforms. Since the national government has taken a strong…
Environomy #5: The One That Got Missed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:37
Though farming contributes less than 20% of India's GDP, it provides livelihood support to nearly half of the country's population. It is an extremely challenging occupation, with many from the younger generation unwilli…
Environomy #4: India Buys A Fast Car [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:53
There are traffic jams on India's hill stations and mountain roads across the year. It wasn't always like this. Increased incomes of the Indian middle class after the 1991 economic reforms translated to improved mobility…
Environomy #3: Playing With The Pillars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:04
The legislature, the executive, and the judiciary, form the three pillars of Indian democracy. The legislature consisting of the parliamentarians, and legislators are the policy makers who draw up acts and policies. The…
Environomy #2: They Came, They Rapped, They Lobbied [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:47
In the early 1990s, the anti-Tehri dam and anti-Narmada dam movements were India's most well-known environmental protests. It was not as if only environmental activists were involved with these movements. The development…
Environomy #1: The Middle Class Unbottled [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:48
How did the 1991 economic reforms impact the course of the Indian environment in the past three decades? Listen to Environomy's first episode, where we will look at how the Indian middle class acquired a distinct economi…