Yair Reem is a Partner at Extantia Capital, a climate-first venture capital firm accelerating the path to a decarbonized world by backing daring entrepreneurs with breakthrough ventures. He co-founded BeyondBlack, a fund for investments in technologies reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and advises European startup CEOs on strategic narratives. Formerly Managing Director at Hasso Plattner Ventures, Yair was also a cyber technology leader at Israel’s Unit 8200. He holds a B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Technion, an Executive MPA from Hertie, and an AMP from Wharton.

This episode delves into:

First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) Explained

Strategic Partnerships

Cap Table Management

VC Risk-Taking

Brand Building in VC

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(00:00) - Episode Trailer

(01:04) – Intro

(01:34) – What is The Foaking Awesome?

(04:09) – What does Foak mean?

(06:20) - Are VCs Ready to Embrace First-of-a-Kind Opportunities?

(08:10) – Which are the Sectors full of Possibilities?

(10:25) - Can Nvidia’s Success Be Replicated in Future Industries?

(11:12) - Is Investing in Nuclear Fusion the Next Big Challenge for VCs?

(11:51) – Where are we in terms of TRL?

(12:50) - Does the Stage of Funding Determine When to Build the First Factory?

(13:46) - Is Partnering with Corporates Essential for Startup Success in Climate Tech?

(16:37) - When Should Startups Add Strategic Investors to the Cap Table?

(17:54) - Do Startups Need Corporate Connections, or Can VCs Bridge the Gap?

(18:45) - Are Corporate Partnership Managers the New Must-Have in Climate Tech?

(21:11) – Deep Tech Engineer vs Software Engineer – What is the Difference?

(23:14) - What Makes Climate Hardware Sexy to Big Financial Players?

(24:40) - What Common Cap Table Errors Scare Away Investors?

(26:28) - Should Founders Fight or Fold? Navigating Long-Term Potential vs. Short-Term Survival

(30:12) - Are Ego-Driven Valuations Hurting Startup Founders?

(32:08) - Why 20% Matters: Balancing Venture Builder Impact on Cap Tables

(33:31) - Choosing Between Co-Leads or a Dominant Lead Investor: What’s Best?

(36:34) - Is Risk Aversion Stifling Innovation in VC?

(39:50) - First Principles of VC: Balancing Risk in Turbulent Markets

(41:43) - Conscious Choices: Team Effort vs. Individual Initiative

(42:05) - Authenticity vs. Quantity: The Struggle in Digital Engagement

(44:39) - Team Dynamics: Internal vs. External Strategies for Time Management

(47:26) - Risk and Reward: Inviting Others to Innovate in VC

(49:29) - Expanding Reach: Should VC Messaging Extend Beyond LinkedIn?

(50:56) – Role Models in VC

(53:14)- YouTube as a Knowledge Foundation: Do VCs Trust Video Learning?

(57:52) - Differentiation Strategy: From Tech to Brand, Creating a Category of One

(01:01:23) - Breaking the Exit Taboo: IPOs and Strategic Acquisitions in Impact Business

(01:03:41) - Exchange of Goods and Society: The Role of Money in Innovation

(01:05:04) – Outro

Ben is a climate tech expert who writes deep guides to energy topics on his blog, benjames.io. His guides to batteries, carbon removal, hydrogen and SAF are read by thousands of investors and analysts around the world.

This episode delves into:

-Fusion vs. Fission

-Levels to Unlock Fusion

-Challenges in Fusion Reactor Design

-Role of AI in Fusion Research

-Economic Viability and Policy

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our channel!

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Invest in climate moonshots with Climate Insiders. Join 300+ members and become a shareholder of the best climate tech startups alongside us, from $1,000.

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Join the Climate Insiders newsletter, The only newsletter you need to invest in climate tech. Every Saturday I share one actionable tip to invest successfully in climate tech. Join 3,500+ investors and get access to investing tips and strategies to invest today: https://climateinsiders.substack.com/

(00:00) – Intro

(01:45) - How Does Nuclear Fusion Compare to Other Clean Energy Innovations?

(16:24) - Why Are Small Fusion Reactors More Challenging to Build Than Large Ones?

(18:37) - Who Will Win the Fusion Race: Government Projects or Private Companies?

(20:48) - Are Tokamaks, Stellarators, or Laser-Based Systems the Future of Fusion Energy?

(22:47) - What Role Does Machine Learning Play in Advancing Fusion Simulations?

(24:47) - How Can Policy Frameworks Boost the Growth of Fusion Technology?

(25:52) - Which Fusion Technology Holds the Most Promise for Investors?

(26:52) - Outro

Ben is a climate tech geek who writes deep guides to energy topics on his blog, benjames.io. His guides to batteries, carbon removal, hydrogen and SAF are read by thousands of investors and analysts around the world.

This episode delves into:

• The Existing and Future Uses of Hydrogen
• Challenges with Hydrogen Production and Transport
• Comparison Between Hydrogen and Electric Vehicles
• Controversy about Blue Hydrogen
• Investment Opportunities in Hydrogen Space

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to our channel!

Want to go deeper?

Invest in climate moonshots with Climate Insiders. Join 300+ members and become a shareholder of the best climate tech startups alongside us, from $1,000.

Become a member now: https://www.climateinsiders.com

Join the Climate Insiders newsletter, The only newsletter you need to invest in climate tech. Every Saturday I share one actionable tip to invest successfully in climate tech. Join 4,000+ investors and get access to investing tips and strategies to invest today: https://climateinsiders.substack.com/

(00:00) – Intro

(02:33) - Unlocking Hydrogen: How Does It Fuel Our Future?

(13:52) - What Breakthroughs Are Needed for Affordable Green Hydrogen?

(15:30)- Electric vs. Hydrogen: Why Are Electric Vehicles Winning?

(16:59) - Why Is Transporting Hydrogen So Challenging?

(20:37) - Why Is Blue Hydrogen Controversial?

(22:06) - Where Are the Hottest Investment Opportunities in Hydrogen?

(23:23) – What is the Future of Hydrogen Economy

(24:07) - Outro