The Long Game: Clea Kolster's Mission to Solve Climate Change

This week, I talk with Clea Kolster, Head of Science and Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, a venture capital fund dedicated to solving climate change, or, as they put it, un-f***ing the planet. Lowercarbon is one of my favorite funds because they’re not just focused on making an impact—they’re also unafraid to make serious money along the way. Clea has a fascinating background, growing up between Persian and Danish cultures, and ultimately finding her passion in science, technology, and climate solutions. Over her career, she’s shifted from a policy-centric approach to tackling climate change to a venture capital perspective, where she now helps build the companies that will shape the future. We dive into Clea’s personal journey, the global challenges we face due to climate change, and how innovative companies are developing solutions. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Clea before, and I know you’ll enjoy our conversation. Let’s get to it!

In this episode:

(00:00) - Intro
(04:21) - Biking from London to Paris
(09:17) - Physical challenges and personal growth
(16:37) - Cultural identity and its Impact
(25:05) - Clea's mission-driven career in climate tech
(32:13) - From policy to capital
(38:25) - Lowercarbon and Clea's approach to solving climate change
(44:24) - The impact of the IRA bill
(47:47) - Hydrogen and its challenges
(51:53) - Evaluating investment opportunities
(54:48) - The excitement of deep tech
(58:33) - Leadership and building a strong team
(01:03:54) - The future of fusion energy
(01:11:31) - Unique carbon capture solutions
(01:20:00) - Clea's beautiful future
(01:22:01) - Who Clea is becoming

Key Takeaways

Embrace Challenges and Push Boundaries: Clea emphasizes the importance of embracing challenges outside of one’s comfort zone, both professionally and personally. Whether it’s physical feats like cycling long distances or complex projects in climate tech, these endeavors help you grow and learn new things about yourself.
Mission-Driven Work Provides Deep Fulfillment: Clea’s career demonstrates that aligning your work with a greater mission—like combating climate change—provides long-term fulfillment. Her mission-oriented focus on addressing environmental issues has shaped her professional path, showing the impact of clear values on career decisions.
Collaboration Across Sectors is Essential for Impact: Clea stresses that solving large problems like climate change requires collaboration between technology, policy, and economics. Combining these fields leads to more impactful solutions. You can apply this by recognizing the value of multidisciplinary approaches to problem-solving in your business or career.
Building Resilience and Self-Reliance is Key: Clea discusses how her love for outdoor pursuits like sailing and skiing reflects a desire to build resilience and take control of her own destiny. Developing skills and self-reliance helps prepare for the unknowns, both in personal and professional life.
Climate Tech as a Viable Business Opportunity: Climate tech is not just about social good but also presents real, lucrative business opportunities. Companies in this sector are increasingly able to offer better, cheaper solutions compared to traditional industries, making it a compelling space for investors and innovators alike.

Quotes

“Technology and policy can’t be things we talk about separately. The two need to be intertwined. In the absence of understanding technology, how could you truly design and implement relevant policy?” ~ Clea Kolster

“We’re not talking about people making concessions. We're talking about people having options that are better than the incumbents. It’s the first time I think that you can truly say that for so many sectors of the economy today.” ~ Clea Kolster

“So much of what has driven these startups to get created today in this climate tech world is the fact that technology has gotten to a place where you can say that the cleaner thing is the cheaper, better thing. And that's really exciting. That's what gets me stoked about doing the work that I do every day, because it’s not just in my heart anymore. It's in these companies.” ~ Clea Kolster

Links