I started writing here more frequently about 9 months ago with the intent to provide insights about the current operating and investing environment in the early stage energy and sustainability markets. As indicated on the front page of the site, I suspected the audience would be “Entrepreneurs, Capital Providers, and Corporates Accelerating the Energy & …
With net zero emissions targets now the topic du jour across the corporate landscape, there is suddenly a ticking time bomb for these same corporates to neutralize their emissions at the specified 2030-2040 time frames. Most firms now realize that they won’t be able to fully eliminate hydrocarbons from their supply chain or materials. So, …
This deal wasn’t announced in late April so it isn’t exactly breaking news. But I have had more time to work through all of the ongoing dynamics in the supply chain for the energy and industrial transition. There seem to be 3 key trends converging here: Rapid consumer / corporate interest in transparent supply chains …
I saw this graph from the IEA a few weeks ago and it hit home on a topic those closest to the energy transition know: the energy transition is going to require a LOT of minerals. These minerals are going to require a new approach to sustainable mining and a more prepared recycling strategy for …
I’m up in Wisconsin for the long weekend and went out for a run this morning. We are surrounded by miles and miles that look just like this photo. The agriculture industry is a surprisingly strong adopter of technology: seed technology companies, drone analytics for soil conditions, autonomous farming equipment, aerial and ground based sensors, …
A friend used this phrase the other day: “They stole defeat from the jaws of victory” I have seen this a few times in my career now. An individual or company was on their way to a great outcome. And keeping course and being heads down would have guaranteed the positive outcome. But emotions ran …
Jupiter Intelligence is a climate risk technology and analytics platform. Energize initially invested in the company in Q1 2019. We invested in Jupiter because we truly believe in Rich Sorkin and Eric Wun’s vision for the future of climate risk. As covered by Jeremy at the Washington Post yesterday, Jupiter’s vision and product are no …
I am a few days late here, but we had a fair amount happening over the last week! Last week marked the one year anniversary of Mark Tomasovic’s start date with Energize. If a few years ago you had told me we would hire an Exxon chemical engineer as an investment Associate I would have …
Yesterday Aurora Solar announced their $250M Series C. When Energize led our ~$14M investment in 2019 we most certainly did not imagine this growth potential for Aurora and the solar industry at large. The industry/company is hitting new highs and COVID forced firms to accelerate digital adoption. Beginning around Q3 last year we started seeing …
A business school 101 class would tell you that excess inventory consumes cash flow and lowers the return on capital. Armed with that simple fact, an unquestioned business movement over the past decades has been the “Just in Time” (our “JIT”) supply chain. “Just in Time” means that firms are: 1) Using predictive or behavioral …