How Should We Go About Solving Climate Change?
Interviewing Emily McAteer: opening up about woman in tech and delighting us with an energy masterclass
Woman-Led Startups - Let’s Cherish the Wins!
Numbers speak for themselves. It’s incredibly hard to fundraise as a woman, with ~2% of the entire VC money going to female founders only. Emily shares her insights on how she’s achieved it. The last round she raised was earlier this year, a $15mm Series A led by Union Square Ventures, with our participation at FJ Labs. We explore how the tide might be changing, and if maybe (hopefully), this 2% is more of a lagging indicator that fails to reflect a broader shift in sentiment.
Emily’s Energy Masterclass
Emily also treats us to a masterclass on all things energy – renewables, electrification, and mini-grids. We delve into the fundamentals and the latest trends in this space. We're bombarded with buzzwords like 'climate tech,' 'access to energy,' and 'zero emissions' daily, but do we truly grasp what’s behind these megatrends? Some even clash with each other! Emily bridges these gaps, helping us connect the dots.
You can listen now on Spotify, Apple or watch the video below.
In this Sobremesa, we chat about:
(00:00) Coming next
(00:18) Introducing Emily McAteer
(01:23) How did Emily get into the energy space?
(03:21) Fundraising as a woman: Was it a struggle? What set her up for success?
(09:00) Emily’s best tips and advice for woman trying to raise
(09:53) Are the stats we see about women and VC lagging indicators?
(13:40) Throwing up in between Series A pitches while being pregnant
(15:34) Energy Masterclass: All you need to know
(20:30) Why solar is the most economical choice in certain places
(23:18) Latest trend in energy: What are mini grids?
(28:23) Connecting the dots: Clean energy vs energy access vs electrification
(30:30) Are carbon and renewable credits the solution?
(32:00) If we want to solve climate change, we cannot ignore emerging market
(33:53) What’s Odyssey and why is it important?
(40:04) Where will the first trillionaire in climate change come from?