Earth First

Applications are now open for our first-ever pitch competition! ?? Who Should Apply: Early stage founders looking to raise pre seed / seed funding with a bold climate tech idea ready to make waves ?? What’s on the Line? Five selected startups will pitch to a panel of five climate tech investors (stay tuned for the reveal ??) and compete for a cash prize! ?? Apply here:?https://lnkd.in/gzi9WEXg ???Application Deadline:?December 7 ?? ??Where:?9Zero, 350 California St., San Francisco ??When: January 23rd, 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM Let’s drive change—apply today and shape the future of climate tech! ??

9Zero SF is hiring! If you are are super-connector (or know one) check out our newest role as SF Community Manager at the 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub! #9Zero #climatetech #hiring

???Up Next: Meet Tom McQuillen of ReGen Ventures! Straight out of Byron Bay, Australia, Tom McQuillen is a partner at ReGen Ventures—a fund that’s all about backing #regenerative tech startups and betting on bold, game-changing teams on a mission to reshape our world for the better. ReGen’s philosophy? It’s as natural as it gets, zeroing in on three key areas: ?? Food & Agriculture? ??Materials & Products? ???Decarbonization ???Fun Fact:?Their portfolio includes cutting-edge players like Clean Crop Technologies, Inc., Aigen, Banyu Carbon, BurnBot, Inc., meati?, Pachama, Asterix Foods, and more! Yep, these folks are reshaping the future as we speak. A quick look at Tom’s Journey: ???BA?in Business Info Systems, Monash University ???MBA?from University of Oxford ?? Former Consultant at?PwC?& Senior Consultant at?Grant Thornton Australia ???Business Director?at SONATI Nicaragua ???Head of Product?at Yume Food Australia ???Growth Manager?at Prolific ???Managing Director?at Oxford Seed Fund ???First Believer & Hive Leader?at Startmate ?? Lifesaver with?Surf Life Saving Australia??? In his own words: “What really drives it is the chance just to work with incredible people. I can't think of anything more interesting, motivating, or fulfilling than getting to spend my days surrounded by people much smarter than me who are dedicating their lives to changing the world. They're ambitious, brave and courageous enough to try and do something that most people don't think is possible.” ?? Dive into Tom’s story and see how he’s leveling up regenerative tech. From his consulting days in Australia to running an environmental nonprofit in Nicaragua, he's been on a wild ride that led him right to the climate sector. He’s pumped about all the fresh talent flooding into this space—and let’s be real, we are too! ???Newsletter:?https://lnkd.in/g2A9uNFY

???Up next: Meet Edo Perry, CEO and Co-founder of Elements World Elements is making serious moves in the corporate world by helping large companies (1,000+ employees) tackle their employee emissions. The company hones in on three biggies from Scope 3 emissions: 1?? Business travel 2?? Commuting 3?? Remote work How do they do it? By integrating with the company’s existing systems—think HR software, expense reports, travel booking—Elements gathers precise data and gets straight to the core of?reducing?emissions, not just offsetting them. Bonus: this approach saves companies a lot of money in the process. ???Fun Fact:?Global estimates suggesting that business travel accounts for?15-20% of?an organization's total Scope 3 emissions, releasing over 50 million metric tons of CO2 annually. ???Edo’s Snapshot: ?? CEO & Co-Founder,?Elements World ??Climatech Advisor at?J-Impact Fund ??Founder of Climatech Jobs community ??Sustainability Project Manager at Apple ??Ambassador at?ClimateHack?Bay Area ??Chapter Lead at?VOYAGERS.io?Bay Area ??Mentor & Guest Lecturer at Reichman University + additional universities ??Officer in the Israeli Military Intelligence (NBD) ??Founder of NATURESTEVE Edo’s all about being a “problem finder,” not just a solver. His take? “Flexibility is definitely something founders have to have. I believe in focusing 80% on the problem and 20% on the solution.” ?? We’re diving into Edo’s epic climate journey, from organizing beach cleanups to working at Apple and evolving into a sustainability leader. Elements is aiming for a jaw-dropping goal: reaching 154 million employees, which would cut emissions by a whole?gigaton. Talk about making waves! Subscribe:?https://lnkd.in/g2A9uNFY

Hey, rising college juniors and seniors ?? Last call to apply for the True Ventures Fellowship! If you're interested in VC, the startup ecosystem, and making a ton of awesome new friends (including my now co-worker, Shan Reddy), I can't recommend this fellowship enough. It had a huge impact on my life — with a big shoutout to Julie Walker, Lydia Delios Morrison, Bryan Mason, and Grace P.. Applications are due tonight at 11:59 pm ;) https://lnkd.in/gMg_EEPT

?? Next up, let’s meet Michael Smith, Co-Founder and General Partner of Regeneration.VC VC. Regeneration.VC is all about tackling the 45% of emissions tied to materials and supply chains through ClimateTech solutions in areas like apparel, packaging, and food. Their mission? Creating abundance within planetary boundaries through regenerative consumer value chains. ?? Fun Fact: Their portfolio is packed with groundbreaking companies like Cruz Foam, Greyparrot, VitroLabs Inc, CleanO2 Carbon Capture Technologies, PANGAIA, and TULU. ?? A quick look at Michael: ?? Earned his B.S. in Communication and Media Studies from Northwestern University ?? Founded Michael Smith Event Music ?? Founded Creative Space? ?? Chair of the Shared Mission ?? Founded The Playlist Generation ?? Mentor to grad students at UC Santa Barbara ?? Advisor for the Harnessing Plants Initiative at Salk Institute for Biological Studies ???Principal at Ponvalley Michael hit us with this gem of advice: “There is a role and need for you that no one else is working on, and can make you a ton of money and be incredibly rewarding, So find it and go for it. All in.” ?? So let’s dive into Michael’s story—from TV, DJing, and building a music streaming service to going all in on climate tech investing. He’s all about adding value beyond just the cash, and he shows us why climate tech is where the future (and rewards) are. P.S. This chat was so fire we have to drop it on Spotify/Apple Podcast. Details to come! Newsletter:?https://lnkd.in/g2A9uNFY #climatetech #investors #earthfirst #innovation #sustainability #leadership #climatechange

???Next up, meet Peter Godart, CEO and Co-founder of Found Energy Found Energy is on a mission to decarbonize heavy industry by tapping into a powerful and abundant resource: aluminum. They’ve developed rechargeable aluminum fuel power systems that extract energy from aluminum, offering a strong alternative for energy transport and storage. These systems initially target industrial heating (7% of global CO2 emissions), with plans to grow into maritime shipping (3% of global CO2 emissions) and other?difficult to decarbonize sectors. Their tech is honestly game-changing—combining storage, transport, and energy generation into one system, addressing some of the biggest pain points in renewable energy storage and transmission! ???Fun Fact:?Aluminum is the most abundant metal in Earth’s crust. ???Snapshot of Peter: ?? Master's of Science and PhD from Massachusetts Institute of Technology ?? Former NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist, worked on robotics and aluminum-fueled Europa lander concepts ?? Fellow at Activate We loved Peter’s take on ‘climate jobs’—because honestly, we’re?all?in one: “Climate is overarching. Everyone is working in climate. If you're an engineer working for a petroleum company, you’re working in climate. If you're working for Nike and designing shoes that get manufactured and have to be shipped around the world and made with different materials, you’re working in climate. It’s whether you’re doing something positive, negative, or neutral.” Peter’s point hits hard. Climate change touches every industry, every job. It’s not just people working directly on climate solutions who are involved—everyone plays a role. Even those in “climate-negative” industries are part of the climate equation. That’s real talk. We’re all in this together, and we all have a part to play. ?? Join us as we dive deeper into Peter’s story—from crushing it at MIT and working on space tech at NASA, to his shift toward tackling climate change head-on. We also touch on his research into using aluminum as a high-energy-density fuel and how that led to the formation of Found Energy. Plus, we talk #policy and the need for government support to level the playing field with fossil fuels. It’s an inspiring and timely convo—don’t miss it! Subscribe:?https://lnkd.in/g2A9uNFY

???Next up, meet Vicky Regan, Ecosystem Lead at Unruly Capital in England! Unruly is investing in the crazy before it becomes normal. They back founders building at the frontiers of what’s possible?today?- investing in?important-tech -?any breakthrough technology that has the potential to solve the world’s most crucial issues. They invest across pre-seed and seed with tickets from $250k to $500k. Their strategy is investing in deeptech, e.g. biotech, computing, space, quantum etc, but Climate is a major component. They invest early, when it's all about the potential of the founders and their raw vision of what the world might look like. ??Fun Fact:?Some of Unruly’s investments include?Seabound, Beyond Aero, Global OTEC,?Renaissance Fusion,?Volteras, Ecosafi, the Better Cooking Company ,?and more! ???Snapshot of Vicky: ???Masters in Chemical Engineering from the University of Bath ???Engineering Leaders Scholar at the Royal Academy of Engineering ???Research Assistant at the The University of Queensland focusing on wastewater treatment ???Project Engineer at The Panacea Group ???Head of Accelerator at Acceler8 Talent, supporting student entrepreneurs ???Sustainability & Operations Associate at Infyos ???Part of the FIND cohort with Entrepreneur First Discovering science at a young age, Vicky became infatuated with the design process and improving new industries. Her proactive career journey, from working on deep tech hardware to networking in London, is a testament to her belief: “Anyone can make a difference, you just have to start.” ???Join us as we dive into the climate tech ecosystem in Europe, exploring the importance of technical and scientific components in investment decisions, and the long-term thinking (and patience!) required for climate tech investments! Subscribe:?https://lnkd.in/g2A9uNFY

?? Next up, let’s dive into the world of fusion energy with Brian Berzin, Co-founder and CEO of Thea Energy! Founded in 2022, Thea Energy is on a mission to revolutionize fusion energy by harnessing the latest breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering. They’re taking a faster, simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy, ditching the complex, modular magnets in favor of sleek, computer-controlled arrays of planar coils. Talk about a game-changer! Brian first set his sights on the fusion space in 2016, when there were only two VC-funded fusion startups in the U.S. Fast forward to today, and that number has skyrocketed to over 40! We’ll uncover what sparked Brian’s interest back then and how he’s continued to master this rapidly evolving field. ?? Fun fact: Fusion energy boils down to largely two buckets- Magnetic confinement: Using powerful magnets to keep plasma in check. Inertial confinement: Using lasers or other techniques to quickly heat or compress plasma, creating the perfect fusion conditions. ?? Quick Glance at Brian’s Journey: ?? BS in Finance and Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University ?? Founder of LUMENESSENCE ?? Investment Banking Analyst at Houlihan Lokey ?? VP Strategy at General Fusion ?? Investor at Aeterna Capital Partners Brian shares some wisdom on building a successful company: “There’s always something to learn, and often, you can learn it from those who’ve been there before.” We love his growth mindset! And let’s not forget the powerful reminder: no matter how tough the problem you’re tackling, if you’re resourceful, you don’t have to go it alone. The magic of learning from others is real! Why do we think this so cool? Brian’s work is set to reshape the future—manufacturing energy without depending on natural resources. Talk about changing the way humanity functions! Tune in next week as we explore some of the most impactful tech set to shape the world for centuries, tackling climate change and the geopolitics of energy. Oh, and did we mention there’s a massive opportunity for #AI and #ML in this space too? ?? Subscribe:?https://lnkd.in/g2A9uNFY #climatetech?#startups?#earthfirst?#innovation?#technology?#sustainability?#leadership #climatechange #fusion #FusionEnergy

Calling all Bay Area Founders and Investors! This Thursday, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM, we’re hosting an approval only Founder & Investor Happy Hour with 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub (Our new official Earth First HQ!)! Tickets are almost gone—don’t miss your chance to connect with top climate investors and discover your next big opportunity. ???? Feel free to cowork at 9Zero earlier in the day! https://lu.ma/4zxr4jc5