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Highlights

 

Welcome to another episode of Category Visionaries — the show that explores GTM stories from tech’s most innovative B2B founders. In today’s episode, we’re speaking with Michael Belenkie, President and CEO of Entropy, a carbon capture company that’s raised $300 million in funding.

Here are the most interesting points from our conversation:

  • Carbon Capture Defined: Michael breaks down the concept of carbon capture and storage (CCS), explaining how it involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and storing it permanently to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Advancing Carbon Capture Technology: Entropy leverages decades of experience in gas processing to innovate post-combustion carbon capture, making it economically viable for large-scale deployment.
  • The Glacier Gas Plant: Michael shares insights into the Glacier Gas Plant project, the first commercial application of Entropy’s carbon capture technology, highlighting its significance in the global energy transition.
  • Navigating Clean Tech Challenges: Michael discusses the complexities of building a clean tech company, particularly the need for strong partnerships, government policy alignment, and the patience required to navigate regulatory landscapes.
  • Strategic Fundraising and Growth: Unlike typical startups, Entropy’s growth was fueled by strategic investments from Advantage Energy and private equity firm Brookfield, enabling them to scale without traditional venture capital rounds.
  • Future Ambitions: Michael outlines Entropy’s vision to expand globally, with plans to IPO within two years and deploy carbon capture projects across multiple continents, contributing to significant reductions in global carbon emissions.

 

Actionable
Takeaways

Government Policy Is Key:

In the clean tech space, particularly in carbon capture, government policy plays a crucial role in creating the market and driving adoption. Aligning with policy developments is essential.

Focus on Economic Viability:

To scale globally, technologies like carbon capture must be economically viable. Innovate not just for functionality but for cost-effectiveness to ensure widespread adoption.

Strategic Partnerships Drive Success:

Building strong partnerships with industry experts, research institutions, and financial backers is critical to overcoming the technical and regulatory challenges in clean tech.

Prepare for Long Timelines:

In industries dependent on evolving regulations, patience and persistence are vital. Prepare for long timelines and adjust expectations accordingly.

Think Globally from the Start:

For technologies with global implications, such as carbon capture, plan for international expansion early on. Understand regional differences in policy and market dynamics.

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