Hardware to Save a Planet

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Deep Sea Mining: A Responsible Approach to Resource Extraction with Oliver Gunasekara Jun 06, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Our guest today is Oliver Gunasekara, Co-Founder and CEO of Impossible Metals Inc., a company focused on responsible seabed mining to drive a transition to circularity in mining.
Join us as we discuss the controversial topic of deep-sea mining and its potential impact on the environment. Oliver shares his personal journey to climate tech and explains their innovative approach to collecting battery metals from the ocean floor without harming marine ecosystems. They discuss the economic factors, regulatory aspects, and challenges involved in deep-sea mining.
Oliver is a business leader with thirty+ years of experience that encompasses three major technology trends: mobile computing, cloud computing, and multimedia technologies. He is a three-time Founder, two-time CEO, Investor, and advisor in DeepTech / ClimateTech and an early employee at ARM.
Episode resource

Oliver Gunasekara on LinkedIn
Impossible Metals Inc. Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

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Previous guests include: Peter Reinhardt of Charm Industrial, Carlos Araque of Quaise, Noah McQueen of Heirloom, Areeb Malik of Glacier, Jeff Satwicz of Bigbelly, Abe Schneider of Natel Energy, Insiya Jafferjee of Shellworks, Paul Gross of Remora, Erika Boeing of Accelerate Wind and Daniel Betts of Blue Frontier.
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Nurturing Companies that Have a Net Positive Impact on Nature: Insights from Tom Chi of At One Ventures May 23, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Our guest today is Tom Chi, Founding Partner of At One Ventures, a VC with the mission to invest in companies that work towards a world where humanity has a positive impact on nature. Tom's background includes being an astrophysicist and electrical engineer, developing products at Microsoft and Yahoo, and working as a founding member of Google X.
Tom's background in technology and his personal experience witnessing the death of a coral reef in Hawaii have instilled in him a deep sense of urgency to address climate change. We discuss the slow pace of progress, the challenges of scaling companies, and the need for innovative solutions in venture capital.
Tom not only highlights the importance of mass transfer in carbon sequestration and the limitations of closed-loop plastics recycling but also stresses the power of collaboration and utilizing diverse skills to accelerate progress. He is optimistic about the future, and his optimism is contagious.
Tom has worked in a wide range of roles, from astrophysical researcher to designer to corporate executive, developing new hardware/software products and services. He's played a significant role in establishing projects with global reach (Microsoft Outlook, Yahoo Search, Google) and scaling new projects from conception to significance (Yahoo Answers from 0 to 90 million users). Tom wears multiple hats, including that of an inventor, coach, leader, and keynote speaker. He is also a Board Member at Cuby and a Partner at Hack VC. Tom is inspired by Ayana Young’s podcast series For the Wild.
Episode resource

Tom Chi on LinkedIn
At One Ventures Website
For the Wild Podcast
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

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The Role of Energy Storage Systems in Combating Climate Change with Mike Wietecki of Powin and John Thomas of ESS May 09, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this special episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Today, we are at the Wings Conference in Portland, Oregon, where Dylan is joined by Mike Wietecki of Powin and John Thomas of ESS for a live panel discussion. Both Powin and ESS are engaged in deploying battery energy storage systems on the grid.
Join us as we delve into the crucial role of energy storage in combating climate change as Mike and John share their insights about their innovative battery energy storage systems and the challenges they face in scaling the industry. We also explore the impact of incentives and regulations on the market and gain valuable insights into the future of clean energy.
Mike is responsible for the commercial negotiation and closing of hundreds of millions of dollars of battery energy storage contracts globally. He is an experienced general counsel and chief operations officer with a diverse background in renewable energy, securities, litigation and risk management, M&A, sustainability, regulatory compliance, and operations. His work history includes advising both public and private businesses, ranging from start-ups to multi-billion dollar multinationals.
John is involved in weaving integrated infrastructure and mobility solutions that meet customer requirements while being sustainable, resilient, and economically viable. His fields of play include renewable power generation through microgrids, energy storage, V2X, virtual power plants (VPP), green hydrogen supply and distribution, renewable biofuel supply and distribution, serving passenger and commercial vehicles—both human-driven and autonomous. He is working on optimizing the intersection of user experience, site operations management, and smart energy management.
Episode Resource

Mike Wietecki on LinkedIn
Powin Website
John Thomas on LinkedIn
ESS Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

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Marine Electrification to Reduce Costs and Environmental Damage: A Conversation with Marcelino Alvarez, CEO of Photon Marine Apr 25, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Today, we’re looking at the potential of electrifying ships, hauling cargo, and those involved in tourism to cut up to 3% of the emissions of greenhouse gases on water. If cars can go green, why not ships? Joining me today is Marcelino Alvarez, CEO of Photon Marine, a company manufacturing electric propulsion products for the marine environment.
Join us as we delve into the electrification of commercial boat fleets. Marcelino, the CEO of Photon Marine, shares his inspiration for developing cutting-edge electric propulsion systems for commercial boats. He also discusses the significant environmental benefits of reducing emissions and noise pollution.
We'll explore the challenges and opportunities in this industry, including the growing interest and demand from fishing communities and tourism operators. Discover how Photon Marine's innovative products are making a tangible difference and their strategic plans for supplying motors and batteries to boat operators.
Marcelino is a lifelong boater who grew up fishing and scuba diving in South Florida. As the CEO of Photon Marine, his vision is to preserve the planet’s waterways and oceans through the adoption of electric propulsion technology. Compared to boats powered by internal combustion engines, their product will reduce the total cost of ownership by almost half and require less maintenance without sacrificing performance while eliminating the use of fossil fuels.
He began his career in advertising, producing digital campaigns at Crispin Porter + Bogusky and Wieden + Kennedy. Afterwards, he founded Uncorked Studios, a product design firm that helped companies such as Samsung, Nike, Google, Intel, and Adidas bring innovative software and hardware products to market. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Duke University.
Episode resource

Marcelino Alvarez on LinkedIn
Photon Marine Website
Photon Marine Project Images
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

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50th Episode Special: Checking in with early guests Accelerate Wind, Charm Industrial, and Heirloom Apr 12, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. To mark our 50th episode, we decided to bring back a few of our earliest guests to talk about all things climate tech, and what has changed since our last chat. Erika Boeing of Accelerate Wind expands on bold new developments in turbine technology; Heirloom’s Noah McQueen shares the opening of Heirloom's commercial direct air capture facility, and Peter Reinhardt from Charm Industrial discusses the development of mobile pyrolysis units for carbon removal and carbon negative steel production.
Join us as we explore innovative solutions in the renewable energy industry, with a focus on rooftop wind power and carbon removal. Discover why our guests are optimistic about the future. Listen in to find out how Erika, Noah, and Peter’s companies are making a positive impact on climate change while prioritizing social justice and environmental initiatives.
Erika Boeing is a systems engineer and entrepreneur. She is the CEO and Founder at Accelerate Wind, a company that aims to transform rooftop wind energy in the commercial and industrial sectors by dramatically cutting the cost of small wind turbine technologies. She used to work as a systems engineer at DRS Technologies, where she oversaw the design and development of cutting-edge new energy, water, and waste technologies.
Noah McQueen is Head of Research and Co-Founder at Heirloom, where he creates and scales up the next generation of direct air capture technology. Before joining Heirloom, Noah worked as a graduate research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Peter Reinhardt is the CEO and Founder of Charm Industrial, a company that converts carbon-rich biomass into a liquid that can then be pumped back underground for permanent storage. Prior to Charm Industrial, Peter was the CEO and Co-Founder of Segment, a SaaS customer data platform that was acquired by Twilio for $3.2 billion in 2020. Peter is also a member of the Arcadia board of directors.
Episode resource

Erika Boeing on LinkedIn
Accelerate Wind Website
Noah McQueen on LinkedIn
Heirloom Website
Peter Reinhardt LinkedIn
Charm Industrial Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

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Keeping Microplastics Out of Nature: A Discussion with Adam Root, Founder of Matter. Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Today, we’re looking at overcoming the environmental challenge of 1.7 million tons of microfibre pollution in our oceans that impacts human health and the ecosystem and biodiversity of the oceans. We do a root cause analysis of the problem, and Adam Root, Founder of Matter., presents a filtration solution that addresses the problem at its source. It captures and recycles microplastics in our washing machines.
Join us as we discuss the detrimental effects of microplastics on the environment and human health while also exploring the importance of education, research, and legislation in tackling this issue. Discover how Matter.'s technology captures and recycles microplastics, and gain insights into the challenges and opportunities faced in scaling their business. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone passionate about protecting our planet.
Adam is a skilled, passionate, thoughtful, and principled designer. His views on global issues, sustainability, and environmental activism are well-informed and nuanced. Combine that with his industrial experience and well-researched product development knowledge, and you have a formidable eco-friendly designer!
As the founder of Matter., Adam is focused on delivering a scalable filtration solution to address the problem at its source in our washing machines. He is also the founder of Inheriting Earth, a company focused on sustainable design, which is also the holding company of Matter. Adam has also worked for over five years at Dyson as a Senior Design Engineer and was the recipient of the Young Innovator grant in 2018 and 2019. Adam is a Mechanical Engineer with a B.Eng degree from Kingston University.
Episode resource

Adam Root on LinkedIn
Matter. Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

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Driving Towards Sustainability with Electric RVs: Insights from Ben Parker, Co-Founder at Lightship Mar 14, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Today, we’re looking at sustainability and CO2 emissions from the lens of electric RVs and their impact on reducing gas usage. Joining Dylan today is Ben Parker, Co-Founder and CPO of Lightship, America’s first electric recreational vehicle company.
Join them as they discuss the development of Lightship, an electric and aerodynamic solar-powered recreational vehicle (RV). They also delve into the impact of RVs on gas usage, the potential for EV adoption, and the challenges of building an electric vehicle from scratch. Discover how Lightship aims to revolutionize the RV industry and make sustainable lifestyles more accessible.
Ben describes himself as an entrepreneur, engineer, car junkie, and an evangelist for the electric vehicle movement. His professional career began with engineering design and automation development for the Tesla Model 3 battery. As the co-founder and CPO of Lightship, he is working on electrification in RV travel and camping. He is focused on slowing climate change by leading teams and efforts that make transportation cleaner and more joyful.
Episode resource

Ben Parker on LinkedIn
Lightship Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

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If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

A Mission to Decarbonize the Construction Industry with Keegan Kirkpatrick, Founder and CEO of RedWorks Feb 29, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Today, Dylan is joined by Keegan Kirkpatrick, Founder and CEO of RedWorks Construction Technologies, a company with a mission to decarbonize the construction industry.
Join them as they discuss how RedWorks manufactures bricks on-site using dirt sourced from the construction site, a solution which can replace concrete and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They also touch on the challenges of introducing new technology to the conservative construction industry and the lack of regulatory standards for structural materials.
Keegan is an entrepreneur, public speaker, consultant, and engineer all rolled into one. He was passionate about being an astronaut when he grew up and has worked on rockets and satellites in his career. As the founder of RedWorks, he brings technology made for Mars back to Earth. RedWorks uses patented technology to make masonry using the dirt at the construction site, thereby reducing greenhouse emissions. Keegan is also a strategic advisor at Spira and a partner at Space Advisors.
Episode resources

Keegan Kirkpatrick on LinkedIn
Keegan Kirkpatrick on Twitter
RedWorks Construction Technologies Website
RedWorks Machine
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

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If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

Going Big on Clean Energy with Small Fusion Reactors with Robin Langtry, Co-Founder and CEO of Avalanche Energy Feb 15, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to a very special episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. It’s the first time we will be talking about fusion technology as a solution to the sustainability crisis. Joining Dylan today is Robin Langtry, Co-founder and CEO of Avalanche Energy, a company producing the world’s first fusion microreactor.
Join the discussion as they delve into the world of fusion energy. Robin shares insights on the potential of fusion technology, the challenges it faces, and the significance of fusion in decarbonizing industries. Discover how fusion could revolutionize the world and pave the way for a carbon-free future. Don't miss out on this optimistic and informative conversation!
Robin has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with 15+ years of experience in executing complex research and design projects at Boeing and Blue Origin. Avalanche is a VC-backed fusion energy start-up based in Seattle, WA. Robin is designing, testing, and building fusion batteries small enough to hold in your hand with power output from Kw to Mw. Carbon-free microgrids, long-haul trucking, maritime shipping, and aviation are just some of the applications of micro-reactors.
Episode resource

Robin Langtry on LinkedIn
Avalanche Energy Website
Avalanche Energy Project Images
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

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If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

Addressing Climate Change in Agriculture with Plasma Technology with Daniel White, Co-Founder and CEO at Clean Crop Technologies Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet. Today, Dylan is joined by Daniel White, Co-Founder and CEO of Clean Crop Technologies, a company on a mission to get more food onto people's plates with fewer resources.
Join the discussion as Daniel unpacks Clean Crop Technologies’ innovative plasma technology to improve crop yields and reduce food waste. We also discuss the challenges of contamination in the food supply chain and the importance of addressing climate change in agriculture. If you're interested in learning about cutting-edge solutions to food waste and climate change in agriculture, this podcast is a must-listen.
Daniel is an Agtech Entrepreneur with 16+ years of experience across horticulture, nut, and grain value chains in the US, Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. As the first commercial plasma seed treatment company in the US, they combine food-grade gases and electricity to create preservative-free food. Their novel, highly customizable technology treats seeds and food surfaces in minutes, does not compromise food and seed quality, and leaves no residue behind.

Episode resource

Daniel White on LinkedIn
Clean Crop Technologies Website
Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
Synapse Website

Rate & Review Hardware to Save a Planet:

If you have an interesting hardware solution to the climate crisis and would like the opportunity to share this with our audience, please complete this Guest Application form: https://fame.so/syn

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