Investing in Clean Energy Innovation Keynote | Yale Clean Energy Conference
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In this keynote panel from the Yale Clean Energy Conference, we go beyond the surface of “green tech” to discuss the brutal realities of financing the energy transition. As policy support for clean energy wavers in America, we share how we navigate the shift from software-enabled “asset-light” technologies to the capital-intensive infrastructure needed to transform global industry.
We explore why the human side of venture capital is often more important than the technology itself , and how the next era of climate tech—Climate Tech 3.0—is being shaped by national security, industrial policy, and the massive power demands of AI.
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💡 We answer the biggest questions facing the energy transition:
The Policy Exposure: We explain why we believe there is no way to invest in clean energy at scale without taking a specific policy point of view.
Management Over Math: We discuss why we look for agile management teams that can “roll with the punches” as the best way to de-risk a business.
The AI Opportunity: We explore how AI load growth is making grid optimization and behind-the-meter solutions more valuable than they have ever been.
Climate Tech 3.0: We define the next era where costs are falling, but technologies must have freestanding economics with minimal reliance on subsidies.
Breaking In: We offer candid advice for students, emphasizing specificity and the importance of building trust in a tough market.
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About this podcast:
Recorded at the Yale Clean Energy Conference on November 6-7, 2025, this keynote features our panel: Amy Duffuor (Azola Ventures) , Terry Kellogg (Helios Climate Ventures) , and Rakesh Shankar (Antin Infrastructure Partners). We provide a masterclass on the “funder mindset,” detailing how we move capital from university labs to the massive infrastructure projects that define our climate future.