Podcast
Conscious Tech
Hosted by Sera Tajima · EN
For investors and founders building breakthrough deep tech for planetary resilience. Sera Tajima, angel investor (portfolio of startups valued at $3.6B+) and growth operator (Y Combinator startups, Webflow, and Zendesk), explores how the tech works and how solutions get funded from pre-seed to scale. Guests include VCs and founders tackling industrial decarbonization, advanced materials, clean energy infrastructure, and moonshot technologies.
6episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Why Vinci & BMW Are Betting on 3D Wood Composites to Replace Steel
Nov 501:01:47Tap to summarizeAndres Mitnik is the CEO and founder of Strong by Form, a deeptech startup revolutionizing sustainable construction materials. With a background in civil engineering and advanced degrees from Harvard and NYU, Andres is tackling industrial decarbonization—responsible for 30% of global carbon emissions. Strong by Form has developed Wood Flow, a next-generation timber composite that replaces steel, concrete, and aluminum at a fraction of the weight and, critically, at a price point competitive with traditional materials.After seven years of development and over €5 million raised, the company has secured partnerships with industry giants including BMW, Deutsche Bahn, and Vinci. Now preparing for their Series A, Strong by Form is proving that climate tech can compete on both performance and cost in the $16 trillion construction industry.In this conversation, Andres shares the journey from prototype to commercialization, the challenges of deep tech fundraising, lessons from product-market fit research, and why he measures success not by exits, but by impact.Weekly Deep Tech Intel — https://www.conscioustech.co/Connect with Andres — https://www.linkedin.com/in/andres-mitnik/Connect with Sera — https://www.linkedin.com/in/seratajima/Chapters 📖[00:00:00] Industrial Decarbonization & the Green Premium Challenge[00:02:06] Why Hardware Matters: Beyond Software Solutions[00:05:49] From Real Estate Consulting to Climate Tech[00:08:11] Wood Flow Technology: 3D Wood Composites Explained[00:11:21] Shape Optimization & Fiber Alignment Innovation[00:13:44] Three Seasoned Founders: Dividing Technical & Business Roles[00:17:16] Global Expansion: From Chile to Europe[00:18:37] BMW Partnership & Mobility Applications[00:19:25] The Holy Grail: Price Competitive with Concrete[00:21:18] Finding Product-Market Fit in Deep Tech[00:24:31] Building Visibility: Marketing a Physical Product[00:27:27] Going to Market: Architecture, Mobility & Construction[00:31:38] Product-Market Fit Research Insights[00:36:41] The Catalog Strategy: Balancing Bespoke & Standardization[00:38:34] Regulations, Durability & Fire Resistance[00:42:18] Sustainable Wood Sourcing & Certification[00:46:02] Cost vs. Sustainability: The Reality Check[00:47:57] Seed Round to Series A: The Fundraising Journey[00:51:38] Investor Milestones: Unit Economics & Production Costs[00:54:01] Racing Through Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs)[00:56:23] Success, Challenges & Founder Lessonssponsor@conscioustechventures.com
Transcribe →Growth Hacking Pioneer Sean Ellis Says "Your Startup Needs a Growth Systems Architect"
Oct 901:07:00Tap to summarizeSean Ellis is the OG growth hacker who built growth engines for Dropbox, Eventbrite, LogMeIn, and two other unicorns—shares the frameworks climate tech founders actually need to scale sustainably. Learn the one question that predicts product-market fit (his famous 40% rule), why 80% organic growth beats paid acquisition, how to architect your initial growth engine in 6 months, and the critical mistake that kills startups: scaling before PMF. Perfect for climate tech founders, VCs, and operators who want actionable growth strategies and pattern recognition from someone who's taken five companies from zero to billion-dollar valuations.Get weekly intel conscioustech.co. Connect with Sean:seanellis.meseanellis.substack.comChapters 📖[00:00:00] Meet the OG Growth Hacker[00:00:15] From Budapest to 5 Unicorns: The Unconventional Path[00:16:00] Why "Growth Hacking" Became a Movement[00:26:48] Product-Market Fit: The 40% Rule[00:26:48] The Lookout Story: 7% to 60% in 6 Months[00:13:07] Freemium Strategy: The $4.3B LogMeIn Playbook[00:38:20] How Dropbox Hit $1B Faster Than Any SaaS[00:30:40] Growth Systems vs. Growth Hacks[00:44:34] North Star Metrics: Avoiding Vanity Data[00:54:44] When to Scale (And When to Wait)[00:57:41] AI for Early-Stage Growth Teams[01:01:21] Chemistry with Founders & Conscious Buildingsponsor@conscioustechventures.com
Transcribe →Carbon Equity Democratizes Climate Tech Investing for Private Markets
Sep 1700:38:58Tap to summarizeJacquelyn van den Ende and Liza Rubenstein reveal how they're providing never before seen access to exclusive private markets for climate investing. The Carbon Equity co-founders expose why trading ESG stocks creates zero real-world impact, how they overcame two years of European regulatory battles, and why 80% of new electricity is now solar purely on economics. From €100K minimums down to €20K access, discover the fund-of-funds strategy redirecting billions toward geothermal breakthroughs, EV manufacturing, and grid infrastructure—plus what Trump's policies actually mean for climate tech's unstoppable transition.Get weekly intel at conscioustech.coChapters 📖[00:00:00] Introduction and Climate Urgency[00:02:07] Meet the Co-founders: Backgrounds and Motivations[00:03:25] The Climate Awakening: From "An Inconvenient Truth" to "The Sixth Extinction"[00:05:08] The Power of Capital: Money as the Ultimate Allocator[00:06:21] Private Markets vs Public Markets: Where Real Impact Happens[00:07:04] Democratizing Access: Breaking Down Barriers to Climate Investing[00:09:23] Building Carbon Equity: Regulatory Hurdles and the Tesla Model Approach[00:11:26] Europe vs US: Climate Awareness and Policy Differences[00:14:30] Trump Administration Impact on Climate Investment Strategy[00:16:44] The Economics of Renewables: Why the Transition is Inevitable[00:21:50] Due Diligence and Fund Selection Process[00:24:37] Investment Strategies: Technology vs Infrastructure Funds[00:27:58] Portfolio Management and Impact Methodology[00:30:57] Promising Technologies: Geothermal, EVs, and Battery Innovation[00:33:42] Red Flags and Investment Timelines in Climate Tech[00:35:49] Carbon Equity's Future: Expanding Asset Classes and Global Reach[00:37:02] Accessing Carbon Equity: Current Markets and US Expansion Planssponsor@conscioustechventures.com
Transcribe →Critical Minerals Crisis: How Endolith's Founder Liz Dennett is Solving Copper Supply with Microbes
Aug 1900:54:15Tap to summarizeLiz Dennett, CEO of Endolith and Alaska native, reveals the hidden copper crisis threatening our digital future. Learn how biotech and microbes could solve mining's biggest challenge, why copper demand will double by 2050, and what 50% tariffs mean for tech infrastructure. From astrobiology PhD to mining innovator, discover the untold story behind every data center and electric vehicle.Get weekly intel at conscioustech.coChapters 📖[00:00:00] Introduction and D-O-G-S[00:01:32] Sera's Shaolin Training Camp Experience in Germany[00:05:25] Weightlifting and Movement Practices[00:06:14] Leadership Principles and AWS Background[00:09:36] The Hidden Copper Crisis Explained[00:12:30] What Everyone Gets Wrong About Mining[00:15:05] Endless: Using Microbes for Sustainable Mining[00:18:38] Cloud-Native Mining Technology[00:19:06] Mining Ethics and Local vs Global Operations[00:24:30] Finding Your Voice as a Female CEO[00:29:58] Building Support Systems for Founders[00:33:53] Product-Market Fit in Deep Tech vs SaaS[00:38:12] Working with Mining Giants: BHP and Rio Tinto[00:41:31] Series A Fundraising Challenges[00:45:57] Macro Forces: Tariffs and Political Impact[00:49:15] North Star and Company Values[00:50:21] Lightning Round: Books, Advice, and Successsponsor@conscioustechventures.com
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Economic Models for the Climate Transition with TED Speaker Gaya Herrington
Oct 11, 202401:12:31Tap to summarizeGaya Herrington is an internationally known sustainability researcher and wellbeing economist, living in Washington D.C. A regular guest lecturer and keynote and TED speaker, Gaya has been shaping conversations at local and global levels with her message that true sustainability will not be achieved without transforming our economic system away from an obsession with perpetual growth to one that centers around human and ecological wellbeing. Get weekly intel at conscioustech.coChapters (00:00:00) Origins of limits to growth(00:03:23) Different models in the limits to growth(00:07:04) Connection between business growth and fossil fuels(00:08:17) Conflating climate change with overall sustainability(00:10:20) What is sustainability? Why do people view it so narrowly?(00:13:05) Mainstream economic models, power dynamics, and systemic issues(00:14:50) We design the economy(00:17:17) What happens during the predicted decline?(00:19:46) Centering around wellbeing over growth(00:23:02) Humans are not meant to be 10/10, Qualitative measurements(00:24:00) Needs vs wants(00:26:33) Becoming spiritually rich(00:29:00) Pick your stakeholders & investors wisely(00:31:18) Annual sustainability reports & emissions going up(00:36:32) The role of technology in the shift(00:39:20) Techno-intentionalist(00:40:06) Planned degrowth, recessions, and collective trauma around money(00:45:39) Systems change and redesigning the economy(00:47:50) Altruism, feeling powerless, and social tipping points(00:51:41) Start with yourself and capitalism(00:59:50) Lightning Round ⚡️⚡️⚡️Where to find Gaya:LinkedInWebsite5 Insights About Avoiding Global Collapsesponsor@conscioustechventures.com
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Don Norman on Designing for Sustainability and A Better World
Jul 12, 202401:15:45Tap to summarizeDon Norman has paved the way for design as we know it. He is a retired Professor, Apple VP, and co-founder of Nielsen Norman Group. His 21 books include Emotional Design, Design of Everyday Things, and Design for a Better World. Get weekly intel at conscioustech.coChapters(00:00:00) Don Norman introduction (00:01:39) Don’s 5th retirement(00:04:10) Design Lab University of California San Diego (00:05:47) Author of 21 books(00:08:33) Design for a better world is spreading (00:10:35) What’s wrong with human centered design(00:11:50) Expanding our mind and staying curious(00:14:00) Logic is not how people think (00:16:49) The value of creativity(00:18:37) How economics is significant to design (00:20:53) Nobel Prize for economics(00:24:08) Sidetracked on profit (00:26:00) Changing human behavior (00:29:33) Prioritize the most important thing (00:31:50) Problems like climate change are invisible(00:32:33) Greenwashing is good(00:33:54) If your company is wrong, give them a solution (00:37:14) You must understand the entire company(00:39:30) How design increases the quality of life(00:44:52) Lifestyle changes since writing the book (00:49:22) The US medical system has been taken over by profit(00:51:30) Politics and lobbying for Apple(00:54:25) The world is complex(00:55:16) Design systems (00:57:34) Are ICs powerless? (01:00:02) UN Sustainable Development Goal 17(01:00:31) The Netherlands is a leader for sustainability(01:04:38) Colonialism rules the world (01:11:23) It’s not too lateDon’s Resources:Design for a Better World ResourcesDon Norman Design AwardNudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and HappinessUnderstanding Computers and Cognition: A New Foundation for DesignEmpire of Cotton: A Global HistoryWhere to find Don Norman:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnorman/sponsor@conscioustechventures.com
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