Talking Climate Tech 007 redux
Last week's newsletter - startups + startups vs wildfires, stories, geothermal, Redford is Redwood, Pylon of the Month + Roger Moore 007
Yes, we are still slogging through January. I heard about 'Blue Monday' yesterday for the first time ๐ค
Blue Monday 2025 is a day to acknowledge and address feelings of sadness and depression that some individuals may experience, especially during the winter months. It serves as a reminder to prioritise mental health and seek support if needed. Blue Monday is typically observed on the third Monday in January. In 2025, it falls on January 20th.
So, there's that to look forward to kick-off next week! On a serious note, please check on your friends, colleagues and family. It's a challenging time in the world right now for so many reasons.
On with the show...
Note: Also was inauguration day in the US, so turned out to be double depressing for many reasons - more on the next newsletter....
๐ธ Startup News | ๐ Deeper Dive | ๐ก Konfab News | ๐ Other Stuff
๐ธ Startups to Watch
Some interesting picks this week from startup-land - a selection from across the wider climate tech market.
Later on, we have more startups to check out in the ๐ Deeper Dive section, with solutions that relate to combating wildfires - can those companies prevent a repeat of LA in the future for other locations?
๐ธ๐ช Qvantum - heat pump manufacturer secures โฌ108m Series C for European expansion plans. Investments from IMAS Foundation [Linked to INGKA Group/IKEA], Munters, SEB Greentech, DIG Investment [Linked to H&M].
๐ฎ๐ช XOOcean - secured โฌ115m investment to further ocean data solutions offshore energy and civil hydrographywith S2G Ventures, S2G, Climate Investment, Morgan Stanleyโs 1GT fund.
๐ฉ๐ช 1KOMMA5ยฐ - secures โฌ150m in pre-IPO round for it's home-electrification SaaS solution, with CalSTRS [US Pension fund] G2 Venture Partners, 2150, Norrsken, Hamilton Lane, b2venture, Eurazeo, and eCAPITAL.
๐ Deeper Dive
All about the wildfires and the apolocyptic movie unfolding before our eyes ๐ฝ๏ธ
The battle rages still - not just in trying to control the fires themselves, support the residences, secure water, food and shelter - but as you might expect, to apportion blame and politicise.
DJT blames the Democrats, of course, and not climate change obviously! Er, it's January Don, not typically wildfire season and LA hasn't had any rain for 8 months!
California is 15% dryer, 5ยฐC warmer and 20% windier (Climameter)
More on DJT misinformation here.
After some more. Read up on whether 'controlled burns' and forestry practice could have made a big difference here.
Wildfire Startups
Future life savers, insurance cost reducers, regional saviours and scale-ups? Let's hope so and take a look;
๐บ๐ธ Gridware - ๐ธ $26.4 million Series A
๐บ๐ธ Pano AI - ๐ธ $20 million Series A + $17m additional
๐ณ๐ฑ Overstory - ๐ธ $14 million Series A
Notable mentions also go to;
๐ฉ๐ช Dryad Networks - solar-powered gas sensor and LoRaWAN technology can detect a wildfire in a matter of minutes, revolutionising response time.
๐บ๐ธ AIDash - AI and satellite tech to predict areas vulnerable to wildfires for mitigative action, and the likely path of a fire to help firefighting resources tackle a blaze.
Thanks Gemma Tuck for adding those last two to my LinkedIn post!
Food for Thought
Is 'Climate Tech' dead, or just in need of a rebrand? More in my view in a longer article soon, but some context here.
More from the IEA on unlocking global Geothermal here with technology, following their December report.
And a final bit of likely nonsense from DJT [my goodness he's not even in the job yet ๐คฏ] on his proposed US offshore-wind shut-down.
๐ก Konfab News
Working up a storm this end, not much to show for it this week though ๐ The challenges of being a one-person industry!
Scoping out the next few video podcasts, working up those guest collaborator articles โ ๐
Geothermal to Accelerate the Decarbonisation of UK Heat from Simon Todd of UK Geothermal specialists Causeway Energies shows us the way forward with his piece here;
Simon Todd - Causeway Energies
๐ Other Stuff
Nature
Carniverous snails, who knew ๐คทโโ๏ธ Least of all that we would discover 9 new ones in Papa New Guinea! ๐
It's going to take some big investment and philanthropy to restore our natural environments. New Forests has $9.5bn in assets under management and has just closed another โฌ400m fund for forest restoration projects.
The fund will invest in sustainable forestry projects across Europe, including reforestation, forest conservation, and carbon credit programmes. These investments are designed to combat climate change, enhance biodiversity, and deliver attractive financial returns
If we can make nature investment a double-positive, we will be halfway there. Afterall, it's always about the money.
Tell Your Climate Story
A friend of the show, Guy Loftus, is a filmaker and wants to help some lucky person, venture or startup tell their story. Take a look at the award winning 'New Story Run' here.

By the way, I have it on good authority that Guy did the run with them!
The best bit - current 50% off special offer for you lovely konfab subscribers. And if you need some extra help and special support for your mission, fill in this and you might win a freebie!
Are you seizing the opportunities to make this emerging world a better place - this is your chance to experience firsthand how powerful storytelling can help you in your mission... Guy Loftus
Raising Engagement
This weeks is from Robert Redford, as The Redwood, who mainly resides in California and and Pacific Coast. ๐ฅ
Pylon of the Month
Checking back to January 2024 for this tower of power โก

The Pylons of Cรกdiz, also known as the Towers of Cรกdiz, are two 158 m (518 ft)-tall pylons..........running from Puerto Real Substation to the substation of the former Cรกdiz Thermal Power Station, situated on the peninsula upon which the city of Cรกdiz stands.
More on these champions of Spain here.
That's it for this week!
Thanks as always, stay warm/cool and safe, where ever you are ๐
Kane ๐ฑ
What's that, nothing on Newsletter 007 ๐ซ relating to James Bond?
I couldn't let it pass - a tribute to Roger Moore, the greatest to ever wear a safari suit - technically it's climate tech right?
