Impact assessment matters less than you think – Raphaele Leyendecker (Techstars)

Impact assessment matters less than you think – Raphaele Leyendecker (Techstars)

Author: Hugo Rauch February 13, 2025 Duration: 51:23
New Wave.
BusinessScience

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

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Raphaele Leyendecker, a Managing Director at Techstars Sustainability Paris, where she has invested in 70+ climate tech startups, joins the podcast to discuss early-stage impact assessment and the french ecosystem as it compares to the global landscape.

In this episode, we discuss:

* Why early-stage impact assessment is often a myth

* The biggest challenge for climate startups in France

* How investors should really measure impact

* The role of technological readiness levels (TRLs) in deep tech investing

* How France’s climate tech ecosystem compares to the US and Nordics

* Why founders should focus on revenue before certifications

* And more...

***

TIMESTAMPS

* 00:00 – Introduction:

* 01:14 – Why Impact Assessment is Overrated for Early-Stage Startups

* 04:45 – Defining Impact Metrics That Matter

* 07:32 – Revenue vs. Impact: What Should Startups Prioritize?

* 12:10 – Tools & Frameworks for Impact Investors

* 18:25 – The Role of TRLs in Deep Tech & Hard Tech Startups

* 22:40 – The Strengths & Weaknesses of the French Climate Tech Ecosystem

* 30:15 – Why France is Slow to Scale Climate Innovation

* 35:50 – Comparing France to the US, Nordics & Germany

* 40:10 – Rapid-Fire Q&A: Advice for Founders & Investors

* 48:00 – Closing Thoughts

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CONNECT WITH RAPHAELE

▶️ Raphaele Leyendecker - https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphaeleleyendecker

***

CONNECT WITH ME

▶️ Newsletter - https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/

🔗 LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/

📧 Email - climateventuresvco2@substack.com

🔴 YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VCo2_HugoRauch

***

INVESTORS MENTIONED

* Citizen Capital

* Wind Capital

* Racine2

* Techstars Sustainability

* Bpifrance GreenTech

* Pale Blue Dot

* Planet A Ventures

* World Fund

* Revaia

* ETF Partners

* 2150 VC

* Norsken VC

ASSESSMENT TOOLS AND FRAMEWORKS

* CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive)

* SFDR Article 8 & 9 (EU impact fund classification)

* Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)

* SDGs (UN Sustainable Development Goals)

* Scope 1, 2, 3 emissions tracking

* Impact Business Model (Dutch framework)

* Mouvement Impact France (French tool)

STARTUPS MENTIONED

* Kumulus

* Miners AI

* NDB Technologies

* BiB Batteries

* Pelikan Mobility

* CarbonBright

* SustainSoft

BOOKS MENTIONED

* Ralentir ou Périr by Timothée Parrique

***

PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE

* Heidi Lindvall on Impact Assessments (Pale Blue Dot)

* Eric Gossart on Impact VCs vs Traditional VCs (Racine2)

* August Solliv on cleantech 1.0 lessons (Impact Supporters)

* Tim Schumacher on selling to climate deniers (World Fund)

***

LEAVE A REVIEW

💜 Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

🟢 Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

Hugo Rauch hosts New Wave, a podcast that lives at the intersection of business ambition and scientific reality. This isn't about distant predictions or abstract science; it's a grounded exploration of the technologies and companies being built right now to address our environmental future. Each episode focuses on the practical journey, dissecting the models, the breakthroughs, and the hard decisions that define the climate tech landscape. You'll hear from founders, researchers, and investors who are actively shaping this space, getting into the specifics of what works, what doesn't, and why. The conversations move beyond hype to examine the tangible mechanics of creating viable solutions, from energy storage and sustainable materials to carbon removal and regenerative agriculture. It’s for anyone who thinks about the climate challenge not just as a crisis, but as a complex and urgent field of innovation. By tuning into this podcast, you gain a clearer understanding of the economic forces and scientific principles driving the next generation of environmental solutions. New Wave connects the dots between the lab, the boardroom, and the impact we need to see in the world, offering a sober yet optimistic look at where substantive progress is truly being made.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 89

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