The biggest industrial transformation of our lifetime is happening now and it’s not AI. It’s climate industrialism.

Shawn Xu, Partner at Lowercarbon Capital (founded by Chris Sacca), discuss how Lowercarbon backs outlier founders, why “cheaper, better, faster” wins over green premiums, and where the biggest opportunities are emerging: energy, carbon removal, fusion, materials, resilience, and the AI-power bottleneck.

If you’re an investor, founder, or operator ; or just tracking where smart money is moving- this episode is a must-watch.

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Timestamps / Key Takeaways

03:36 – The climate industrial revolution & “unfuck the planet”

12:30 – AI, energy demand & the $500 billion program

17:00 – From Silicon Valley kid to VC

23:23 - Becoming a climate investor in a trillion dollar market

37:32 - “Greedy capitalist” & a Series A $900M fusion round

44:54 - 40-Page memo, the biggest lessons on conviction

57:41 - Q&A: The one “billion dollar move” takeaway

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About Shawn Xu

Shawn is a Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, focused on backing audacious founders building bold solutions to the climate crisis.

An accomplished early-stage investor, he was previously a Partner at On Deck’s venture fund and accelerator, backing companies across 20+ countries and earning a founder NPS of 100. He also invested at Floodgate and First Round Capital’s Dorm Room Fund, was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 (Venture Capital), and has partnered with ~50 companies, helping founders go from zero to one—from ideation to product-market fit.

Follow Shawn:

https://lowercarbon.com/team/shawn-xu/

Resources:

Chris Sacca — How to Succeed by Living on Your Own Terms | Tim Ferriss

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIBo69EsAzw

Chris Sacca Interview (Full Episode) | The Tim Ferriss Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqaXz2BPsfY

Chris Sacca: Drifting Back to Real | Dialectic with Jackson Dahl

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acwhhgGGdX8

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Billion Dollar Moves Podcast | The Top Global VC Podcast for Founders & Funders | Backed by HubSpot Podcast Network

In venture, every move can make—or break—a billion-dollar outcome. Hosted by Sarah Chen-Spellings, award-winning entrepreneur, investor, and venture insider, Billion Dollar Moves pulls back the curtain on the strategies, stumbles, and breakout moments that define the world’s most iconic companies.

From boardroom power plays to investor backchannels, you’ll hear the untold stories behind iconic companies like YouTube, Canva, and Vimeo, and go inside the minds of those moving capital at firms like Sequoia, Lightspeed, and beyond.

Whether you're chasing your first $10M—or your next billion—this show is your front-row seat to how the smartest founders and funders win. Think raw, unfiltered, no-BS insight—designed to help you move faster, smarter, and bolder.

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PODCAST INFO:

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