Why Are Energy VCs Investing BILLIONS Here? A Discussion With Thomas Bajas

Why Are Energy VCs Investing BILLIONS Here? A Discussion With Thomas Bajas

Author: Hugo Rauch January 7, 2025 Duration: 51:24
New Wave.
BusinessScience

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

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Thomas Bajas, a VC at Founders Future, joins the podcast to discuss the energy market and how startups are trying to disrupt it.

In our conversation, we explore:

* The role of energy in modern economies and its link to climate change.

* Innovations driving renewable energy, electrification, and smart grid technologies.

* How to decarbonize energy and how we need to rethink the grid

* Challenges for energy startups, from funding gaps to regulatory hurdles.

* Venture capital’s role in driving innovation within the energy sector.

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TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction 05:52 The Role of the Grid08:22 Decarbonizing the Energy Mix09:13 Energy Efficiency and Smart Grids19:59 The Future of Energy Startups41:57 Venture Capital in Energy48:40 Final Thoughts and Predictions

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REFERENCED• Vaclav Smil's "How the World Really Works"• First of a Kind (FOAK) Infrastructure• Green Premium Concept• Transmission System Operators (TSOs)• Distribution System Operators (DSOs)• Behind the Meter• Front of the Meter• V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) and V2H (Vehicle-to-Home)• Startups: Plexigrid, Ampere Cloud, Plug

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GUEST▶️ Thomas Bajas - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-bajas/

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If you’re new here, I'm Hugo Rauch, the founder of VCo2 media and an aspiring climate tech VC who shares insights, interviews, and research about venture capital and climate tech. I aim to help you become a better climate-tech entrepreneur and smarter impact investor.

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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

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PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVECarbon Removal 101 with Lisa Mangertseder (Carbon Removal Partners)Dan Bowyer on Climate Tech, Efficiency, and Sustainable Innovation

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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.
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