The Role of Hardware in the Climate Tech Revolution (ft. Yair Reem – Partner at Extantia Capital)

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