Mar 04 2025 42 mins
We’re doing something a bit different…🤔
We’re exploring the urgent and evolving landscape of critical minerals with Nicholaus Rohleder from Climate Commodities. Nick, an investor and expert in the field, breaks down how the U.S. went from a leader in mineral production to heavy reliance on foreign sources—and why the time is now for entrepreneurs to help rebuild domestic supply chains.
Key Topics Covered:
- The Rise and Fall of U.S. Mineral Production
- Why Critical Minerals Matter More Than Ever
- Opportunities for Entrepreneurs
- The Capital Market Shift
- U.S. Trade Policy and Tariffs
- The Future of Clean Minerals
- Mistakes Founders Make
Nick teaches a class on this at UPenn, so this is serious value ($$$) — if you’re a investor, policymaker, or entrepreneur looking to understand the critical minerals space, this is for you.
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Links
- Nicholaus Rohleder | Climate Commodities
- Connect with Somil on LinkedIn | Connect with Silas on LinkedIn
- Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn
- This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.
Topics
- 01:23 Landscape of Critical Minerals
- 05:06 Historical Context of U.S. Mineral Production
- 09:53 Talent and Knowledge Gaps in the Industry
- 12:10 The Need for Domestic Production
- 20:30 The Key Minerals
- 28:51 Opportunities in the Critical Minerals Value Chain
- 34:32 Technological Innovations and Local Production
- 43:05 Cost Dynamics
[Paywall Begins]
- 44:04 Building Successful Companies in Critical Minerals
- 46:52 Common Mistakes in the Critical Minerals Sector
- 51:52 Current Trends in Capital Investment
- 55:42 Investment Opportunities
- 56:00 Advice for Start-ups in the Sector
- 57:06 Government Involvement and Policy Implications
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