CleanTechies

• #237 Using Robotics to Transform Recycling & Building Data Moats with Hardware w/ Rebecca Hu Thrams (Glacier)

  Rebecca Hu Thrams, co-founder of Glacier, is on a mission to transform recycling using AI-powered robotics and proprietary physical data to fix one of the biggest inefficiencies in waste management.Glacier isn’t just another AI company—it’s tackling the physical world problem of waste sorting, giving recyclers and major brands unprecedented visibility into where materials actually go. By deploying intelligent sorting robots, Glacier is not only increasing efficiency but also building a defensible data moat, positioning itself as the source of truth for the circular economy.With growing consumer demand for sustainability and new regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) on the horizon, companies are scrambling for solutions. Glacier’s technology is bridging the gap between recyclers and producers—helping brands measure, track, and improve their sustainability efforts with real, actionable data.Get the full episode today to hear:✅ How AI and robotics are unlocking new efficiencies in recycling✅ Why proprietary physical data is the key to an enduring AI-powered business✅ How Glacier is helping major brands and recyclers prepare for new regulations✅ Rebecca’s journey from reluctant founder to leading a climate-tech startup✅ What the future of circular supply chains could look like with AI-driven insightsDon’t miss a moment! If you want to get the full discussion, become a paid subscriber today or redeem your trial upgrade to test it out. Subscribe now📺 Watch on YouTube | 🍎 Apple Podcasts | 🎧 Spotify | 🗣️ Join the Slack Channel📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:04 Founding Glacier05:54 Understanding Glacier's Role in Recycling14:12 Identifying Opportunities for Disruption in Recycling18:07 The Future of Recycling Efficiency22:08 Challenges in the Recycling Industry23:07 Navigating Risk Aversion in Robotics Investment24:43 Finding Early Adopters in the MRF Industry29:07 Advancements in AI and Robotics35:07 The Future of Connectivity in Recycling37:30 Collaborating with Industry Giants42:44 Scaling GlacierLinksRebecca Hu Thrams | GlacierConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

  --------  

  29:37
• #236 Critical Minerals: A Master Class on How to Win w/ Nicholaus Rohleder

  We’re doing something a bit different…🤔We’re exploring the urgent and evolving landscape of critical minerals with Nicholaus Rohleder from Climate Commodities. Nick, an investor and expert in the field, breaks down how the U.S. went from a leader in mineral production to heavy reliance on foreign sources—and why the time is now for entrepreneurs to help rebuild domestic supply chains.Key Topics Covered:The Rise and Fall of U.S. Mineral ProductionWhy Critical Minerals Matter More Than EverOpportunities for EntrepreneursThe Capital Market ShiftU.S. Trade Policy and TariffsThe Future of Clean MineralsMistakes Founders MakeNick teaches a class on this at UPenn, so this is serious value ($$$) — if you’re a investor, policymaker, or entrepreneur looking to understand the critical minerals space, this is for you. ---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTubeLinksNicholaus Rohleder | Climate CommoditiesConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Topics 01:23 Landscape of Critical Minerals05:06 Historical Context of U.S. Mineral Production09:53 Talent and Knowledge Gaps in the Industry12:10 The Need for Domestic Production20:30 The Key Minerals28:51 Opportunities in the Critical Minerals Value Chain34:32 Technological Innovations and Local Production43:05 Cost Dynamics[Paywall Begins]44:04 Building Successful Companies in Critical Minerals46:52 Common Mistakes in the Critical Minerals Sector51:52 Current Trends in Capital Investment55:42 Investment Opportunities56:00 Advice for Start-ups in the Sector57:06 Government Involvement and Policy ImplicationsSupport the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

  --------  

  42:33
• #235 This $100 BILLION Industry Is Hiding in Plain Sight! Big Oil's Bet on Carbon Capture

  This week, we’re joined by Todd Bush, an expert in carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), with decades of experience supporting oil and gas companies in their decarbonization efforts. Todd has founded and sold multiple companies and is now leading decarbonfuse, a daily newsletter tracking deal activity in carbon capture and industrial decarbonization.This conversation covers the current state of carbon capture, where the momentum is strongest, the biggest barriers to scaling CCUS, and how policy and investment shifts are shaping the industry. If you’re curious about where the carbon capture market is headed and how it intersects with industries like ethanol, hydrogen, and steel production, this is an episode you don’t want to miss!🔍 Topics Covered in This Episode**The first movers in carbon capture: ethanol, ammonia, and natural gas**The difference between Class 2 vs. Class 6 wells and why it matters**How carbon capture projects get financed and what returns investors expect**The role of policy (45Q tax credits, permitting hurdles, and regulatory uncertainty)**Utilization of CO2—who’s buying it and why**Why Houston and the Gulf Coast are primed to be the epicenter of CCUS**What’s needed for carbon capture to reach private equity scale ---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTubeNotes & Links:decarbonfuse NewsletterEnergy Tech Nexus | Digital WildcattersAbt the 45Q Tax CreditMore on Class 6 vs. Class 2 WellsParticipate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey.Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Timestamps:**0:00 Introduction to Carbon Capture **3:50 The Journey into Carbon Capture Solutions**6:55 Decarbonization Trends and Industry Perspectives**10:01 Carbon Capture Technologies and Their Applications**12:54 Regulatory Frameworks and Project Development**15:55 Community Engagement and Project Success Factors**19:41 Momentum in Carbon Capture and Community Engagement**22:57 Technological Bottlenecks and Adoption Rates**27:25 Talent Pool and Industry Transition**32:03 RegulatSupport the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

  --------  

  57:38
• #234 The Future of Cleaner Data Centers & Lessons from 20+ Years at Meta, LinkedIn, & Cisco w/ Yuval Bachar (EdgeCloudLink)

  Yuval Bachar, Founder and CEO of Edge CloudLink (ECL), is on a mission to revolutionize data centers with hydrogen-powered, off-grid solutions.His journey spans decades, with leadership roles at Cisco, Facebook, and LinkedIn, where he built critical infrastructure for some of the biggest names in tech. Now, he’s pioneering a new wave of sustainable data centers, delivering AI-ready capacity in just nine months—compared to the industry average of three to four years.Here’s the game-changer: ECL’s modular approach eliminates reliance on traditional power grids, slashes emissions to zero, and generates its own cooling water, making it a groundbreaking solution for the energy-hungry AI revolution.With data center demand soaring and grid power in short supply, Yuval’s vision could be the key to unlocking the next generation of computing.Get the full episode today to hear:Why traditional data centers are struggling to keep up with AI growth—and how ECL is changing the gameThe secret behind delivering AI data centers in 9 months instead of 3+ yearsHow Yuval secured $18M in funding and is now raising $1.2B for large-scale deploymentsThe surprising benefits of hydrogen for both cost and sustainabilityKey lessons from scaling world-class infrastructure at Facebook, LinkedIn, and Cisco📝 Show Notes:Topics 02:46 Hydrogen-Powered Data Centers10:40 Modular and Rapid Deployment14:01 The Hydrogen Supply Chain26:30 Innovation in Data Centers28:54 Supportive Boardroom Culture32:15 Building Trust and Transparency34:40 Fostering a Culture of Innovation41:13 A Journey Through a Tech Career49:28 Taking the Leap into Entrepreneurship54:57 Vision for the FutureLinksYuval Bachar | EdgeCloudLinkConnect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedInFollow CleanTechies on LinkedInThis podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

  --------  

  39:09
• #233 The Climate Disruptors You Haven’t Heard of (Yet)—Inside Energy Tech Nexus w/ Nada & Jason

  In This EpisodeWe are speaking with Nada Ahmed and Jason Ethier, two of the founding partners at Energy Tech Nexus. Energy Tech Nexus is a Houston-based hub designed to connect EnergyTech startups with the resources they need to grow. This includes access to capital, corporate partners, direct access to pilot opportunities, as well as a community of other founders doing the same thing. In this episode, we dive into **how they're building an innovation powerhouse in the heart of the U.S. energy industry, **the evolving role of oil majors in clean tech, **and how to navigate the new regulatory landscape of the Trump administration ---🌎 Want the full Pod? Become a paid sub today (cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe)--- 📺 Watch on YouTubeTopics:(today’s show is all public)**00:00 Intro to Nada & Jason**01:51 Building the Energy Tech Nexus Community**10:16 Funding & Supporting Clean Tech Startups in Houston**14:30 Innovating in Green Chemicals and Advanced Materials**20:57 Navigating the New Administration's Energy Policies**29:46 Flaring and Methane Emissions**32:05 How to Market Climate Tech Under Trump**36:37 T36:37 How to Jump Start Nuclear Energy**46:47 Carbon Capture and the Future Role of Oil MajorsLinks:**Nada Ahmed | Jason Ethier **Energy Tech Nexus**Check out the Energy Tech Startups Podcast**Participate in the CleanTechies Listener Survey: Take Survey.**Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn**Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn**This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.Support the showEvery ClimateTech Entrepreneur needs a reliable partner for their legal needs. Why settle for less than the best? 💪🏽Reach out to Goodwin Law today; the law firm of choice for hundreds of ClimateTech Entrepreneurs worldwide. They have you covered from funding docs to offtake contracts to IPO and M&A support. GoodwinLaw.com (and tell them CleanTechies sent you!)

  --------  

  58:42

More Technology podcasts

Trending Technology podcasts

About CleanTechies