Why Boring Technology Could Save Our Planet - Dan Bowyer

Why Boring Technology Could Save Our Planet - Dan Bowyer

Author: Hugo Rauch December 20, 2024 Duration: 38:17

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

***

Dan Bowyer, a partner at SuperSeed VC, a £50M UK fund investing in startups transforming the way the world works, joins the podcast to challenge conventional definitions of impact and climate tech.

In our conversation, we explore:

* The definition of impact and climate-tech

* Doing more with less as a way to save the planet

* How to transform industries through productivity and efficiency

* Why B2B Startups can drive meaningful climate impact

* The role of venture capital in creating scalable, sustainable change

* Aligning economic and environmental goals in startup ecosystems

* AI’s potential to revolutionize climate innovation

***

TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Dan Bowyer and SuperSeed VC01:26 Dan's Investment Philosophy and Impact Definition02:46 Exploring Climate Tech and Impact05:45 Efficiency and Productivity in Business12:31 Examples of Impactful Investments26:05 The Role of Venture Capital in Climate Tech30:41 Rapid Fire Questions and Final Thoughts

***

REFERENCED• ThingTraxMessiumAI Build• Maslow’s hierarchy of needs• Impact Reporting (sfdr 9)• GenCast by DeepMind• PACT.VC

***

GUEST▶️ Dan Bowyer - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danbowyer

***

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. My goal is to help you become a better climate-tech entrepreneur and smarter impact investor.

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

***

🏁 PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVECarbon Removal 101 with Lisa Mangertseder (Carbon Removal Partners)Jacqueline Van Den Ende (Carbon Equity)

LEAVE A REVIEW 💜 Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg 🟢 Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR

***

SUPPORT 💻 Logo and brand design - Alexander Villinsky📹 Logo animation and transitions - Timothe Lucas



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

New Wave.
Podcast Episodes
Maex & Philip: 2x Unicorn Founders, Now Climate Investors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:52
How two founders turned a decade of building too-early ideas into a climate investment thesis for the next industrial wave.We’re joined by Maex Ament and Philip Stehlik, co-founders of two unicorns (Taulia and Centrifuge…
Thibaud Martin (Altrove): $10M to Reinvent Materials Discovery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:00
Today on New Wave: Altrove just raised $10M to reinvent how new materials are discovered, using AI and robotics to replace the world’s rarest elements. This week, I sat down with Thibaud Martin, Altrove’s co-founder and…
How LPs Pick Climate Funds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:01
This week on New Wave Weekly: 👉 How LPs really select climate fundsFrom 500 decks to a handful of checks, LPs reveal how they go about screening and selecting funds at the top of the funnel.👉 What due diligence really lo…
Guillaume Gras (ECBF): Investing In Growth-Stage Circular Startups [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:01
🌊 The Fifth Swell Has ArrivedWhat does circularity really look like when the hype fades?I sat down with Guillaume Gras, Investment Director at ECBF and former Innovafeed co-founder (raised over €250M), to unpack how clim…
The Case For "Boring" Industries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:43
This week on New Wave Weekly: 👉 The case for “boring” industriesWhy old-school sectors like steel, cement, mining, and logistics may be the best places for climate founders to win (if you can crack GTM and avoid CapEx tr…
Laura Fox (Streetlife Ventures): Investing in Sustainable Cities [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:24
Supported by:Accelerating Impact - an independent non-profit advancing impact finance by mobilizing capital toward sustainable development and running free accelerator programs for emerging fund managers (ICFA, ISFA). Jo…
A Few Thoughts on Stegra | Collaborative Capital | AI Meets Fusion [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:48
This week on New Wave Weekly: 👉 Stegra and the Billion-Euro GapSweden’s Stegra (formerly H2 Green Steel) raised €6.5 billion to build Europe’s largest green-steel plant, then the FT called it a “funding crisis.” Is this…
Base Power Raises $1B | EIP’s Mega Fund | Germany’s CCS Push [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:15
Brought to you by:D-CRBN - a Belgian startup turning industrial CO₂ emissions into valuable feedstock using cutting-edge plasma technology. If you want to learn more, reach out directly to David Ziegler or Gill Scheltjen…
Terhi Vapola (Greencode VC): Can Software Drive The Green Transition? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:15
Brought to you by:Accelerating Impact - an independent non-profit advancing impact finance by mobilizing capital toward sustainable development and running free accelerator programs for emerging fund managers (ICFA, ISFA…