Raj Shekhar Singh

We had a terrific session with Saloni Multani of Galvanize Climate Solutions in our ENVRES221 class at Stanford University last week. Saloni co-leads venture and growth investing at Galvanize Climate Solutions, and is one of the leading minds in climate tech investing.   Saloni shared about Galvanize’s mission focused on decarbonization across all sectors of the economy. Galvanize was founded in 2021 and invests across strategies including venture and growth equity, public equities, and real estate.   A significant portion of the class was dedicated to Saloni’s insights on the ‘Bridge to Bankability’ that Climate Tech startups must cross to transition from early-stage risk-seeking grants and catalytic capital to project finance and infrastructure funding. She also shared a framework for founders who are working on building companies that will require ‘First of a Kind’ facilities to deliver climate solutions. This topic sparked high engagement from students in the class, and was recently covered by Sightline Climate (CTVC) here (https://lnkd.in/gMDDmQZg).   With a background in Private Equity at Blackstone and Hellman & Friedman as well as public investing at SPO Partners, early-stage venture experience at Congruent Ventures and a stint in public service, Saloni has a unique and comprehensive perspective on the capital spectrum and the efficient frontier. She shared insights about the proof points that companies need to deliver to reach the next stage of capital markets, whether moving from venture capital to growth equity, public markets, private equity or infrastructure investors. Saloni highlighted that the best founders are aware of the dynamics of capital markets and think a few steps ahead, anticipating what investors ‘down the risk curve’ need to see to provide deployment capital.   In order for the economy to successfully transition to net zero using our Speed & Scale ’60 to Zero’ path, trillions of dollars will need to be invested and hundreds of startup companies across all sectors will need to reliably cross this ‘bridge to bankability’ to de-risk and deploy. This way, founders will be able to unlock the capital markets to provide capital to scale. And as Saloni highlighted, “you can’t have impact if you don’t have scale.”   Thank you Saloni!

69

1 Comment

I congratulate Aepnus Technology, a deep-tech startup, for raising $8M to commercialize its National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded research work to develop an electrochemical platform to improve circularity and reduce emissions in battery supply chain chemicals, enabling GHG emissions reduction by an expected 3 gigatons by 2050. I congratulate Rhonda Shrader, Executive Director of UC Berkeley Haas Entrepreneurship & NSF I-Corps Bay Area. She is an inspiring instructor; I am so fortunate to be in her class during the Summer 24 #Icorps Cohort. I am an Industry Mentor (IM) to Professor Ratnesh Kumar and Professor Shawana Tabassum, PhD who are inventors of plasmonic metamaterial-based gas sensing technology, based on NSF-funded research. It offers an order-of-magnitude lower-cost alternative to techniques like gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). The technology helps with environmental compliance for GHG emissions in agriculture and manufacturing, Condition Monitoring of gases produced during process control in manufacturing plants, and monitoring of gases in Transformers (HW used in utilities - not the ones for implementing attention 😀). If you're interested in turning your NSF-funded research into a real-world product or service, consider the #Icorps program. It provides intense customer discovery training, where you'll interview 100+ potential customers in just seven weeks. This might sound grueling, but it's an invaluable experience. Remember, in startups, the founder is often the first salesperson. Understanding your customers' needs early on is crucial for success.

17

3 Comments

Thanks Benedict Paramanand for an amazing interaction and discussion over carbon markets. https://lnkd.in/g5mDdXdt Check out my interview with SustainabilityNext

20

1 Comment

Access to clean water, proper sanitation, and hygiene is still a pressing challenge in many parts of India. Startups are developing innovative solutions, but they need the right financial backing to scale their impact. At Caspian Debt, we provide financing to startups addressing these critical WASH issues. Our goal is to empower ventures that are improving health, sanitation, and water access in India. If you are an entity working on making a difference in the WASH sector, we would love to be a part of your journey. We offer financing solutions specifically designed for startups in the following categories. Click here to know more: https://lnkd.in/gaZrESaf #WASH #ImpactInvesting #SocialImpact #CleanWater #Sanitation #Hygiene #Sustainability #Startups #India

5

Thanks for the interview Connie Loizos. More to come about investments yet to be announced and the founders who are working every day to build in these spaces. Excited to have shared the gamut across where we invest from Earth to TimberEye to Monaire. We're investing out of $440m under management across 3 funds and are thankful every day that we started this focused fund to partner with entrepreneurs who are ready to turn the last bastion of old world industries into tech sectors. The physical world is driven by huge industries that need to change...and not simply by completing work incrementally better or by fitting into existing buying cycles and budgets. Many of our companies are totally reinventing how products are made or services are delivered and their customers win. We want to see more of this in every sector including industrial, transportation, energy, defense, space, manufacturing to name a few. https://lnkd.in/e-TqpvFh

144

9 Comments

What the #Global #Biofuel #Alliance means to Indian ethanol manufacturers, presenting opportunities, recognition, and growth potential in the evolving global energy landscape. Here’s what the GBA means for Indian ethanol manufacturers: 1. Increased Global #Market #Access Export Opportunities: The alliance aims to create a unified global framework for biofuels, which means a higher standardization of policies and quality benchmarks. This could open export opportunities for Indian ethanol, allowing manufacturers to expand beyond domestic markets and cater to international demand. Market Recognition: Being part of a global alliance positions India as a prominent player in biofuels, thus enhancing the credibility of Indian ethanol in the global market. It could lead to recognition and demand for Indian ethanol from countries seeking sustainable biofuel solutions. 2. #Technology Sharing and #Collaboration Access to Advanced Technologies: The GBA is expected to foster greater technological collaboration among member countries. Indian manufacturers could benefit by gaining access to advanced production technologies, such as improved fermentation processes or more efficient feedstock utilization methods, which would enhance productivity and reduce costs. Best Practices: Being a part of this alliance will allow Indian ethanol manufacturers to adopt global best practices in biofuel production, quality management, and sustainability, improving the competitiveness of their operations. 3. #Policy and #Regulatory Support Favorable Policies: The alliance might influence member countries to create more favorable biofuel policies, encouraging domestic production and consumption. For India, this means increased governmental support and possible incentives to accelerate ethanol production. Streamlined Regulations: A unified set of regulations and standards will help Indian manufacturers reduce red tape and align their products with global requirements, making it easier to engage in international trade. 4. Boost to Ethanol #Blending Programs Higher Blending Targets: India’s domestic ethanol blending program, which aims to achieve a 20% ethanol blend with petrol, will receive an added boost. Collaboration through the GBA could bring new insights into blending technologies, making it more efficient and cost-effective. Global Collaboration: GBA might facilitate partnerships between Indian manufacturers and global automakers to ensure compatibility of biofuels with advanced vehicle engines, increasing the acceptability and success of ethanol blending initiatives. 5. #Investment and #Funding Opportunities Foreign Investments: The alliance could attract foreign investments into the Indian biofuel sector, as global investors look to capitalize on opportunities in a growing, sustainable energy market. Indian ethanol manufacturers could access new funding, aiding in capacity expansion and technological advancements.

7

Microsoft's launch of a dedicated decarbonization team to reduce supply chain emissions is pivotal in addressing environmental sustainability and ESG goals. This initiative emphasizes integrating carbon reduction into enterprise supply chains, driving innovation, and setting an example for the industry. As companies face increasing pressure to meet ESG standards, Microsoft's commitment highlights supply chain emissions' critical role in achieving a sustainable future. #PINCommunityAdvocate #GreenPlanet #BetterSupplychains #ESG

1

♻️Unraveling Coke Formation in Coking Processes: Impacts and Insights ♻️ ➡️Coke formation, intricately linked to heavy unsaturated products like aromatic polynuclears in diverse reforming reactions, is a pivotal process in the industry. These reactions, encompassing dehydrocyclization and disproportionation, alongside trace olefins or diolefins from processes like dehydrocyclization and alkylation, contribute significantly to coke production. Yet, the ramifications of coke formation extend beyond mere chemical reactions, profoundly affecting catalyst performance. As coke accumulates on the catalyst, it acts as a barrier, obscuring active sites and leading to a notable reduction in catalytic activity. The elucidation of coke composition via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy reveals a landscape of condensed aromatic rings adorned with methyl groups, unveiling the molecular complexity underlying this phenomenon. In the realm of reforming processes, the manifestation of two distinct types of coke further underscores its complexity. Coke proximal to or on the metal feature, enriched with hydrogen, combusts at relatively lower temperatures (~300˚C). Conversely, coke residing on the alumina support, characterized by lower hydrogen content, demands elevated temperatures (400˚C to 500˚C) for effective oxidation during regeneration. Notably, the distribution of coke on alumina surfaces is non-uniform, featuring zones devoid of coke despite an overall high coke content on the catalyst. However, the story of coke formation is incomplete without delving into its wide-ranging effects: 1. Catalyst Deactivation: Coke deposition leads to a decline in catalyst activity, necessitating frequent regeneration or replacement, thus impacting operational efficiency. 2. Energy Intensiveness🔥: The regeneration process incurs substantial energy consumption, driving up operational costs and environmental footprint. 3. Product Quality Alteration: Coke-contaminated catalysts may yield inferior product quality, affecting downstream processes and market competitiveness. 4. Process Disruptions: Periodic catalyst regeneration interrupts production cycles, leading to downtime and reduced throughput. 5. Environmental Impact🌱: Regeneration processes emit pollutants, contributing to environmental degradation and regulatory compliance challenges. 6. Equipment Degradation: Coke deposition on equipment surfaces leads to fouling and corrosion, necessitating maintenance and potentially impacting equipment lifespan. #CokeFormation #OperationalEfficiency #ChemicalEngineering #Refiningprocess #Processengineering #reforming #alkylation #coke #Catalyst #Refining #CatalystProcess #CrudeOil #Refineryoptimization #OilAndGas

21

Mindful mountain biking is more than just a personal hobby for me—it aligns with my passion for transitioning into the realm of climate change solutions. Check out this insightful read on Nature's Heart-Shaped Wave to dive deeper into the connection between our actions and the environment. #climatechange #climatechangesolutions #climatepolicy #nativeplants #biodiversity #vote #nature https://lnkd.in/gQnsiYVJ

6

If you’re a founder looking for more than just standard advice and want to dive deep into problem-solving from the ground up, this is the opportunity for you. Every start-up in our cohort will vouch for the quality of insights, mentorship, and support we provide. We dedicate over 100 hours of personalized attention to each start-up, which is why our program is highly selective, admitting only 8 to 10 start-ups per cohort. While our formal program kicks off on January 15, the journey starts the moment you secure a spot. Early participants are offered tailored mentorship and resources, right from the point when they confirm their seat. Two amazing start-ups in HealthTech and CleanTech from our WISE Tech EarthLab Bootcamp have already secured a spot and are already benefiting from tailored mentorship and resources, even before the official start date. So if you're serious about transforming your venture, apply now and join an exclusive group of founders who receive unparalleled support. WISE Tech | SPJIMR #applytospjimrearthlabaccelerator

16

1 Comment

We're excited to announce our partnership with Kunal and Arunram (former Co-Founder and CTO of Blockdaemon) in leading a $4.0M seed round into Arya. Arya is building an AI-native human capital management system for healthcare workforces. By automating key skills across scheduling, payroll, compliance and employee onboarding, Arya's product allows healthcare services organizations to let their teams focus on care while removing considerable human intervention. We believe healthcare is one of the most compelling markets for agentic solutions, tackling a market measured in payroll instead of technology spend. Most critically, we believe solutions like Arya increase the surface area between clinicians and patients to drive better outcomes, while reducing massive costs and time delays. Since growing ARR 6x yoy, we believe Kunal and Arun represent the types of founders we are lucky to back at Twelve Below: ambitious, humble, technically-oriented and first principle thinkers. https://www.aryahealth.ai/

197

7 Comments

While most of the top investors hail from the US, technologies founded out of India attracted the most investment. That’s likely because it’s by far the most developed agtech ecosystem in the emerging markets and international investors have more comfort investing there. #climateadaptation #climatetech #climateVC

2

Thought Leadership Panel: Outage Management in Utility Industry: Innovat… EthAum Venture Partners- Zero BS Revenue Scaler and N-Smart are thrilled to host a #ThoughtLeadership Panel on, 'Outage Management in Utility Industry: Innovation, Trends and Challenges'. Thanks to the subject matter experts, Nick Rancis, Ravindra Rapeti, Anirudh P., Salim Bendris and Kiran Yeddala for supporting this initiative. Please join us to learn about Innovation, trends and policies disrupting the #UtilityIndustry. #Innovation #Utilities #PowerOutage #Electricity #PowerGeneration #PowerDistribution #Energy

18

8 Comments

We're launching the inaugural edition of Beyond Benchmarks, a deep dive into the metrics and trends observed across the early-stage enterprise cloud market. This is the first look at some of the business data around GenAI in SaaS. Some initial observations: 1) 60% of SaaS companies have already integrated GenAI into their offerings (60% of these as part of their current product and 40% as a new product), and an additional 20% are planning to do so this year. Almost half aren't monetizing these features. Those that are are primarily experimenting with both usage-based and flat fee pricing models. 2) Most companies are utilizing OpenAI as their primary LLM, but many are experimenting with multiple models - and we are noticing an early trend towards intelligently routing GenAI inference requests to different models based on cost, performance, and security. 3) Though we are in the initial innings of GenAI, we are seeing some positive signals - companies that implemented GenAI had 7% higher NDR than those that did not. Still early days, but we'll be doing this benchmarking report regularly to track and share how things progress in this new era. Link to report in comments.

104

6 Comments

This is a great article by Ed Ballard and Amrith Ramkumar. It raises issues we think about before every investment we make at REFASHIOND Ventures: The Industrial Transformation Fund.

2