Mar 04 2025 56 mins
Tackling the 40-gigaton CO2 problem isn’t for the faint of heart, but Yao Huang is all in, turning climate challenges into financial opportunities with some seriously cool tech. After two decades in the tech world, a pandemic epiphany sent her full speed into climate investing, and now she’s using algae photobioreactors (yes, algae!) to capture carbon at scale while creating useful byproducts like oils and fertilizers. She breaks down why traditional VC thinking doesn’t cut it in climate tech, how industries like coal and cement can actually profit from going green, and why collaboration—not competition, is the key to making real change happen. If you think climate solutions are all about sacrifice, Yao’s going to make you rethink everything.
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00:00 - Intro
00:49 - Climate Investing Journey
08:27 - Venture Capital in Climate Tech
13:57 - Role of Finance in Startups
18:00 - Energy Transition vs Climate Problem
24:22 - Carbon Clean Technology
32:46 - Carbon Optima Business Model
34:37 - Unique Aspects of Current Climate Tech
37:30 - Factors Behind Carbon Optima's Success
40:04 - Activating Support for Climate Initiatives
45:15 - Houston's Climate Tech Ecosystem Gaps
49:35 - Houston Startup Scene
51:03 - Wonder Women Networking Dinners
54:27 - Closing Remarks
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