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The “Green Premium” is officially dead. If you think a great invention is enough to save the planet—and a business—think again. In this eye-opening breakdown, Sophie Purdom (General Partner at Planeteer Capital) pulls back the curtain on the brutal reality of climate tech. While there’s an $82 billion “gold mine” of dry powder waiting, most founders are looking in the wrong places.

Whether you’re curious about how the world’s biggest industries (Energy, Food, and Transport) are being rebuilt or you want to know why your favorite “eco-friendly” startup might vanish tomorrow, Sophie provides the unfiltered truth on what it actually takes to win the climate war.
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Common Questions
Why are climate tech startups failing? Many rely on a “green premium” (charging more for being eco-friendly), which fails in a tough economy. Success now requires being cheaper or better than the “dirty” alternative.

Is there still money for new climate companies? Yes, but the “dry powder” is concentrated. Investors are pivoting away from pure software toward “hardware-enabled” solutions that solve real-world industrial problems.

How is AI affecting climate change? AI requires massive amounts of energy for data centers (the “Hungry Hippo”), creating a massive challenge—and opportunity—for the energy grid.

What is the best way to get involved in climate tech? According to Sophie, the world needs more builders and founders in heavy industry and risk mitigation rather than more venture capitalists.

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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.

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Dawn Owens, Fervo Energy’s Head of Project Development and Commercial Markets and VP, sits down with Steph Speirs to discuss enhanced geothermal energy. Enhanced geothermal is a 24/7 clean energy solution that’s rapidly becoming cheaper than fossil fuels and can provide stable power to the grid without raising your electricity bill. Dawn breaks down the biggest myths, from induced earthquakes to water contamination, and shares the vision for a world with clean air and affordable power.
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Common Questions
How does Fervo’s technology avoid induced seismicity (man-made earthquakes)?
Is enhanced geothermal like fracking, and how does it prevent water contamination?
How can geothermal meet the massive, growing energy demand of AI and data centers?
Why is geothermal important for achieving 24/7 clean energy?
How is the geothermal industry providing a “just transition” for oil and gas workers?
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#geothermalenergy #fervoenergy #cleanenergy #aienergy #climatetech #deeptech
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Future in Bloom bridges climate tech and human nature. Hosted by clean energy entrepreneur Steph Speirs, Future in Bloom brings together innovators, scientists, and investors working on the world’s most promising planetary solutions.

Adapted from the Yale School of Management course “Climate Tech Innovation and Commercialization,” learners discover next generation technologies through data-driven lectures, deep dive studio interviews, and vivid short documentaries. Future in Bloom is here to show that a thriving future is within reach.

Future in Bloom is supported by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment.
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About Me:
Steph Speirs is a clean energy entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and teacher. She founded Future in Bloom, a media studio about intelligent solutions for a thriving world. Steph teaches climate entrepreneurship at Yale School of Management and is a Resident Fellow at the Center for Business and the Environment. She keynotes and advises philanthropists, investors, and companies on the future of climate tech and clean energy. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club Foundation, Vote Solar, and on the Credit Committee of the Community Investment Guarantee Pool. Steph most recently cofounded and was CEO of Solstice, an enterprise dedicated to radically expanding the number of American households that can take advantage of clean energy using community-shared solar farms (acquired by MyPower/Mitsui). Steph previously worked at the White House National Security Council and in clean energy companies in India and Pakistan.

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What happens when the next generation of clean energy lands in a small rural town?

After suffering from economic “boom and bust” cycles of mining, railroad, and hog production, Milford, Utah was ready for change.

This documentary explores how Fervo Energy’s cutting-edge geothermal project is breathing new life into the community, providing 24/7 green power, stable clean energy careers, and tripling local business in just a few years. Discover how a project developer’s connection to the community and commitment to hiring locals is fundamentally changing the town’s economic outlook, and how oil and gas workers are meaningfully transitioning to a better future.

Revival is supported by the Clean Economy Project.
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❓ Common Questions
Why is Milford, Utah important for renewable energy?
How does Fervo Energy’s geothermal project differ from previous geothermal plants?
What are “careers” as opposed to “jobs” in a rural community?
How is the oil and gas industry experience transferable to clean energy?
What is baseload 24/7 power?
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Future in Bloom bridges climate tech and human nature. Hosted by clean energy entrepreneur Steph Speirs, Future in Bloom brings together innovators, scientists, and investors working on the world’s most promising planetary solutions.

Adapted from the Yale School of Management course “Climate Tech Innovation and Commercialization,” learners discover next generation technologies through data-driven lectures, deep dive studio interviews, and vivid short documentaries. Future in Bloom is here to show that a thriving future is within reach.
—
About Steph Speirs:
Steph Speirs is a clean energy entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and teacher. She founded Future in Bloom, a media studio about intelligent solutions for a thriving world. Steph teaches climate entrepreneurship at Yale School of Management and is a Resident Fellow at the Center for Business and the Environment. She keynotes and advises philanthropists, investors, and companies on the future of climate tech and clean energy.

She serves on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club Foundation, Vote Solar, and on the Credit Committee of the Community Investment Guarantee Pool. Steph most recently cofounded and was CEO of Solstice, an enterprise dedicated to radically expanding the number of American households that can take advantage of clean energy using community-shared solar farms (acquired by MyPower/Mitsui). Steph previously worked at the White House National Security Council and in clean energy companies in India and Pakistan.

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Why are clean energy projects being banned across America? The answer isn’t technology, it’s trust.

In this panel from the Aspen Institute’s Clean Econ: Revival In The West, we uncover the unscalable secret to success: enduring community trust. Learn how the same expertise used in oil and gas is delivering zero-emissions, 24/7 geothermal power, and why local relationships are the most vital part of project development. The discussion features Milford High School Principal David Kluff and Fervo Energy’s Senior SVP of Strategy Sarah Jewett.

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💡 The panel answers the biggest questions facing the energy transition:
Shifting Economics: Learn how to shift the economic outlook in boom-and-bust towns and create long-term careers.
Culture Over Policy: Understand why “policy follows culture” is increasing opposition to clean energy projects.
Durable Projects: Discover how to build durable, bipartisan projects by focusing on people and community needs.
Base Load Power: Explore how the oil and gas workforce is essential to delivering clean, 24/7 geothermal base load power.
The Unscalable Key: The most important secret to project success—enduring trust—is fully revealed.
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About this video:
The video features a panel discussion at the Aspen Institute, a prominent “think tank”, where experts address pressing global issues. This “climate change forum” explores strategies for organizations and governments to take greater action on “climate change” and “environmental protection”. Discover how leaders are working towards solutions for a “warming planet”.

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Intelligent solutions for a thriving world 🌎
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📧 Subscribe to Our Substack: /@futureinbloom
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Future in Bloom bridges climate tech and human nature. Hosted by clean energy entrepreneur Steph Speirs, Future in Bloom brings together innovators, scientists, and investors working on the world’s most promising planetary solutions.

Adapted from the Yale School of Management course “Climate Tech Innovation and Commercialization,” learners discover next generation technologies through data-driven lectures, deep dive studio interviews, and vivid short documentaries. Future in Bloom is here to show that a thriving future is within reach.

Future in Bloom is supported by the Yale Center for Business and the Environment.

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About Me:
Steph Speirs is a clean energy entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and teacher. She founded Future in Bloom, a media studio about intelligent solutions for a thriving world. Steph teaches climate entrepreneurship at Yale School of Management and is a Resident Fellow at the Center for Business and the Environment. She keynotes and advises philanthropists, investors, and companies on the future of climate tech and clean energy. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Sierra Club Foundation, Vote Solar, and on the Credit Committee of the Community Investment Guarantee Pool. Steph most recently cofounded and was CEO of Solstice, an enterprise dedicated to radically expanding the number of American households that can take advantage of clean energy using community-shared solar farms (acquired by MyPower/Mitsui). Steph previously worked at the White House National Security Council and in clean energy companies in India and Pakistan.