The Climate Cycle

What does it actually take to build first-of-a-kind climate projects inside some of the world’s most risk-averse industries?In this episode, three leaders share how they’re scaling climate hard tech in the real world.Saad Dara from Mangrove Lithium, on scaling electrochemical lithium refining and standing up their first commercial plantSean Lowrie from Arca shares how they’re deploying carbon mineralization at active mines and integrating carbon removal into mining operationsJonathan Rhone from CO280 on partnering with pulp and papers mills to scale carbon removal and building a pipeline of billion-dollar projects across North America.Recorded live at Converge 2025, hosted by NorthX.Three home-grown leaders building the next generation of industry in Canada and around the world.In this episode, we cover:The real challenges of moving from lab validation to commercial scaleHow to work with large industrial partners and navigate risk-averse industriesTactical lessons from building pilot plants and hundred-million-dollar projectsThe economic edge for Canada to transform existing industryIf you’re building in climate tech - or trying to understand how hard-tech companies actually scale - this episode offers three grounded, first-hand perspectives from the people working to transform industry and move the needle on climate change.📬 ⁠Sign up for our weekly briefing⁠ to get the latest deals, real-world projects, and policy signals in Canadian climate tech.More→ ⁠Show notes for this episode⁠→ Support the show by leaving a review on Spotify or Apple!→ Follow us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠→ Send feedback and episode ideas to ⁠⁠[email protected]

In this episode, I’m joined by Sarah Goodman, President and CEO of NorthX. NorthX deploys non-dilutive catalytic capital at the early stages of commercialization, where founders face high risk, limited funding options, and a real need for industry traction. Their model has now supported more than 80 projects and helped unlock nearly half a billion dollars in follow-on investment from commercial partners and investors.In this episode:The unique challenges faced by early-stage hardtechWhy NorthX thinks like a VC fund to deploy non-dilutive fundingHow catalytic capital unlocked real traction for Arca, Mangrove Lithium, Moment Energy and othersWhat founders need to know about securing their first industry partnersWhy Canadian climate startups need to think globally from day oneThe strategic opportunity for Canada to lead on climate techThe NorthX model is truly unique in Canada, and is making real progress on scaling up climate hardtech. If you're interested in how climate tech actually makes it to market, this one's for you. 📬 Sign up for our weekly briefing. Get the latest deals, market insights, and policy signals in Canadian climate tech.Enjoying the show? Help us grow by leaving a rating or review.More→ Show notes for this episode→ Follow us on LinkedIn→ Send feedback and episode ideas to [email protected]

We sit down with Hayden Smith, founder and CEO of FeX Energy, to unpack why energy storage matters to the energy transition and how their new iron-based storage solution could challenge incumbent technologies like lithium-ion.FeX is developing an Iron Arc reactor that has the potential to hold energy for days or weeks, and release it as clean energy and high-temperature heat that could power industries like mining, provide heating for buildings, or balance load for the grid. By using one of Earth’s most abundant and affordable materials, FeX aims to close the gap between intermittent renewables and reliable, dispatchable power.In this conversation, we cover:Why energy storage is the “missing link” in the clean-energy transitionHow FeX’s iron-based system compares to lithium and hydrogen storageThe role of long-duration storage in decarbonizing heavy industry and remote sitesWhat Canada needs to do to accelerate storage deployment and grid resilienceHayden’s journey from corporate innovation at Siemens Energy Ventures to climate tech founder📬 Sign up for our weekly briefing to get the latest deals, real-world projects, and policy signals in Canadian climate tech.More→ Show notes for this episode→ Support the show by leaving a review on Spotify or Apple!→ Follow us on LinkedIn→ Send feedback and episode ideas to ⁠⁠[email protected]

Corey Ellis is the co-founder and CEO of Growcer, an Ottawa-based company building modular farms & food infrastructure used by communities, schools, and grocers across Canada and around the world.We talk about the impact our food system is having on the climate and how vertical farming can help solve those problems. We also talk about lessons learned from the vertical farming hype cycle, Growcer’s $30M infrastructure fund, and building a company for the long-term.About CoreyCorey started Growcer in 2014 with his co-founder Alida Burke after seeing firsthand how northern communities struggle with food security. What began as a social enterprise project in Nunavut grew into a mission-driven company tackling food affordability, waste, and access.Growcer has deployed over 800 farms worldwide, acquired its US competitor Freight Farms, and launched a $30M Growcer Fund to finance climate infrastructure.In this conversation, we cover:7:40 - What’s broken in our food system and why boring problems like distribution and shelf life matter11:03 - How modular farms cut food waste and fertilizer use - but aren’t a silver bullet16:51 - How Growcer turned customer criticism into their best R&D engine19:19 - What real food sovereignty looks like when communities own their infrastructure24:34 - The “vertical farming” hype cycle and why most players got it wrong39:37 - Borrowing lessons from real estate to finance climate infrastructure50:59 - Solving hard problems and building culture from first principles📬 ⁠⁠Sign up for our weekly briefing⁠⁠ for the latest deals, real-world projects, and policy signals. More→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Show notes & resources for this episode⁠→ Support the show with a review on Spotify and Apple!→ Follow us on ⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠→ Send feedback and episode ideas to ⁠⁠[email protected]

Kevin Krausert is the co-founder and CEO of Avatar Innovations, a Canadian venture studio reshaping how energy technologies are developed, funded, and scaled. From Calgary to Houston and beyond, Avatar is working with industry insiders to turn ideas into deployable solutions for the energy transition.Kevin brings a unique perspective to climate tech. He began his career on the rigs in northern Alberta, became CEO of one of Canada’s largest drilling companies, and later co-founded Avatar to bridge the gap between researchers, corporate engineers, and operators. His goal: create a new model of innovation that can move the needle on emissions while making economic sense.Talking Points(6:02) How Avatar’s venture studio model differs from traditional VC and why it may be better suited to capital-intensive energy tech(10:58) The evolution of energy innovation - from wildcatters to corporates to today’s startups - and why the old venture model is breaking down(17:32) The role of corporates, governments, and founders in building smarter risk–return structures to accelerate climate solutions (not just throwing public money at the problem)(21:12) Why Canada is positioned as a “middle power” in climate tech(34:24) Tactics for founders and startups to break through the noise selling to corporatesYou’ll walk away with a clear-eyed look at where energy innovation is headed, what models might actually work in Canada’s climate tech landscape, and how founders can better navigate this uncertain but opportunity-rich moment.Show Notes📬 ⁠Sign up for our weekly briefing⁠ for the latest deals, real-world projects, and policy signals. More→ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check out the full show notes & resources for this episode⁠→ Support the show with a review on Spotify and Apple!→ Follow us on ⁠LinkedIn⁠→ Send feedback and episode ideas to ⁠⁠[email protected]