Gigascale Capital

Meet Josh Agenbroad, Investor at Gigascale Capital! Josh is one of Gigascale’s go-to investors for early-stage deal sourcing, diligence, and techno-economic analysis. Before joining Gigascale, Josh invested in energy, manufacturing, and transportation startups at Prime Movers Lab. He also co-founded Third Derivative, a climate-tech accelerator dedicated to advancing startups on their path to commercialization. Josh’s passion for climate tech began with his love for mechanical engineering and motorsports. Let’s dive into his journey. 🏎 Background: As a kid, Josh was fascinated by how things worked, often taking them apart to explore their mechanics. This curiosity led him to study mechanical engineering, with aspirations of becoming a Formula 1 engineer. However, his encounter with Amory Lovins’ work at the RMI shifted his focus. Lovins' vision of solving environmental challenges through smarter design and technology captivated Josh. It wasn’t just about environmental conservation—it was about optimizing performance, cost, and security. ⛰ Climate Tech Journey: Josh eventually landed his dream job at the Rocky Mountain Institute, where he worked with Fortune 500 companies, governments, and regulators to make the business case for energy efficiency and renewables. From there, Josh combined his technical expertise and business insights to co-found Third Derivative, a startup accelerator that has helped over 190+ climate tech startups raise more than $1.5 billion. 🚀 What Excites Him: Josh is excited about more corporations getting involved in climate tech as strategic partners and investors. This shift makes it easier for startups to secure funding and gives them more time to grow. What really energizes him, though, is seeing top talent and successful entrepreneurs from other industries diving into climate tech. Their fresh perspectives are sparking new ideas and driving innovation forward. 🌲 Favorite Place in Nature: Josh loves the Grand Canyon and recently rafted 280 miles from Lake Powell to Lake Mead, which he calls "paradise on Earth.” 🔑 Advice: “In climate tech, balancing skepticism with optimism is crucial. The ability to scale production while maintaining strong margins is what sets great companies apart.” 📚 Go-To Resources: Josh is a fan of The Economist for broad insights and Sightline Climate (CTVC) for climate-specific news. He also recommends EIA Kids—especially their energy calculator—for an easy way to calculate energy usage on things like transportation and electricity in the United States. #vc #climatetech #cleanenergy #climatetech #venturecapital #climatetechcareers #climatecareers #climatechange

🌱 Join the Fight Against Climate Change at Pasture Bio! 🌍 Pasture Bio is on a mission to stop climate change by vaccinating cattle to reduce their burps 🐮 🌬 . We're seeking a passionate and driven Research Associate to be a part of our incredible team in San Francisco! 🧪 If you have hands-on experience working with mice and are excited about making a real impact on the planet, we want to hear from you! 🔗 Learn more and apply now: https://lnkd.in/gjcV-NPM Help us create a greener, more sustainable future—one breakthrough at a time! https://lnkd.in/gjcV-NPM #hiring #research #researchassociate #climatejobs #biotech #biotechjobs

At Gigascale, we look at technologies that are assumed to take years to scale and ask: How can we make it happen faster? One of the most exciting trends to watch in climate tech is the way that entrepreneurs are using breakthrough technologies from other fields to scale solutions faster. One example is through scientific advancements, like those driving progress in fusion energy, which create a ripple effect across industries. Thanks to recent breakthroughs in predictive tools and AI, fusion is no longer just a slow and steady field with commercialization far off. We're now seeing rapid developments that bring it much closer to reality. The switch to predictive modeling enabled the monumental scientific achievement of the first self-sustaining fusion energy reaction, or fusion ignition, by the National Ignition Facility in 2021. This success proved that controlled fusion energy is possible and significantly advanced the timeline for fusion research and development. Researchers at Princeton University are using machine learning to predict and prevent plasma instabilities before they occur. This is critical because plasma must be controlled every millisecond to maintain a stable fusion reaction. With AI, these decisions are made more rapidly, keeping the plasma stable and allowing the reaction to continue without interruption. Companies like Xcimer Energy Corporation, a Gigascale portfolio company, are building on NIF’s work and other recent developments, to create a powerful and cost-effective laser system with the aim of commercializing fusion within the next decade. Their advancements are setting the stage for a new era in energy production, where fusion could become a viable and sustainable power source. As technological developments from a variety of fields enable breakthroughs for climate solutions, entrepreneurs are expanding what’s possible, shortening time to market, and putting impact that once seemed distant now within reach. For further reading, see Steven Cowley's op-ed in the The Washington Post linked in our comments. What other breakthroughs have you seen enabling rapid advancements in climate tech? #AI #cleantech #climatechange #fusion #climatetech #physics #energy #cleanenergy #science

Investment in clean energy is on the rise, with the majority of funding directed toward key sectors such as retail (clean energy purchases made by individual households and businesses), energy and industry, and manufacturing. 🌱 In just the first half of 2024, U.S. clean tech investments hit $147 billion, according to new data from the Clean Investment Monitor—a joint effort by Rhodium Group and MIT - Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research. That’s a 30% jump from the first half of 2023. Full article in comments. With so much momentum, it’s clear that climate tech is rapidly evolving. #climatechange #climatechange #environment #sustainability #cleanenergy

One of the many fun things about working with Gigascale Capital is learning about how the companies they support are building pragmatic, scalable climate solutions. Cocoon is the latest example. In just 15 months, Cocoon has developed technology that enables the steel and concrete industries to decarbonize in tandem. This is a big deal because as steelmakers adopt electric furnaces, the slag byproduct that concrete manufacturers use as a green alternative to polluting cement is no longer usable. Cocoon's modular units fit into electric steel plants and turn this e-slag into a replacement for what the concrete industry has long relied on to reduce their emissions. By repairing this broken link, they're providing new a revenue stream for steelmakers, enabling concrete to lower their carbon footprint, and creating a blueprint for sustainable construction . TechCrunch has the story on the incredible headway they've made and what's ahead! https://lnkd.in/gbp-ZCyk

The numbers are in, and they’re impressive: over 3 million households tapped into $8.4 billion in Inflation Reduction Act subsidies last year for solar panels, heat pumps, and more. Here’s what you need to know: 📊 Rising Adoption: Households claiming these credits have increased by 30% compared to earlier versions of the tax breaks with California, Texas, and Florida leading the way. 🏡 Smart Investments: Last year, most people claimed the credit for rooftop solar panels, with about $6 billion in tax credits. Home insulation, windows, and skylights followed closely, with over $2 billion in credits. 💡 Solar Savings: On average, solar panels helped people save a median of $2,230 annually on utility bills while boosting home energy efficiency and decreasing dependence on non-renewable energy sources. 👨👩👧👦 Broader Accessibility: Nearly half of those claiming the credits earned under $100,000, showing that going green is becoming more accessible for everyone. The shift towards greener homes is not just a trend—it’s becoming a reality for millions of households. Check out the comments for more details and insights. #inflationreductionact #climatechange #environment #solar #taxcredits #climatetech #sustainability

It’s very exciting to see Massachusetts investing in #affordablehousing decarbonization. Affordable housing is a sector where building decarbonization is both difficult and extremely high impact – emissions reductions make a major difference in tenant health and quality of life. The need for programs like this will only increase as more cities enact building emissions regulations like #BERDO in Boston and #LocalLaw97 in New York. These investments not only help cities meet their climate goals, but also improve air quality and comfort in low- and moderate-income communities. https://lnkd.in/eGXejp3m

Ready to be part of the solution for climate-friendly buildings? Thalo Labs is hiring for engineering, sales, and policy roles in NYC. 🗽 Many people don’t realize that buildings are among the largest contributors to global carbon emissions, accounting for nearly 40% worldwide and up to 70% in cities like New York. Brendan Hermalyn and his team at Thalo Labs are addressing this problem with technology that helps building operators measure, reduce, and capture greenhouse gases in real-time. This results in more efficient buildings with lower emissions. You'll work alongside a team of innovators who have built self-driving cars at Waymo, developed satellite imagery at Google, engineered space missions for NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and more—all united by a single goal: decarbonizing today and accelerating global drawdown. Whether you're an expert in deploying advanced tech, driving strategic growth, or shaping policy, there’s a place for you at Thalo. Ready to make a real impact? Check out the open roles below. Engineering 👩🏿💻 → Field Engineer (Part-Time) Get hands-on with Thalo's equipment installations across NYC, managing the entire process end-to-end while also recommending improvements and upgrades. Sales & Business Development 🤝 → Business Development and Sales Lead Supercharge Thalo's Commercial Real Estate sales by turning your climate policy know-how and partnership skills into big wins. → Head of Commercialization and Finance Drive Thalo's go-to-market strategy and new business opportunities in the emerging world of sustainable and carbon finance markets. Policy 🏙 → Policy and Government Relations Lead Help Thalo navigate the intricate landscape of climate regulations, policies, and stakeholder relations, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment. #climatetech #cleantech #climatejobs #techjobs #hiring #jobs #engineeringjobs #salesjobs #policyjobs #bizdevjobs #startupjobs

The urban landscape is hiding a surprising climate culprit in plain sight: buildings. 🏢 In major cities like New York, up to 70% of greenhouse gas emissions come from heating and cooling buildings, not cars as you might imagine. Thalo Labs, founded by Brendan Hermalyn, is tackling this overlooked source of climate change with an end-to-end system that measures building emissions in real-time, pinpoints ways to boost efficiency, and can even remove anything remaining with small, modular direct air capture units that enable targeted carbon capture right onsite. Curious to know more? Dive into Thalo Labs' innovative approach in this month's newsletter. #climatetech #cleantech #sustainability #innovation #climatechange

The chemical industry, particularly the ethylene industry, is often overlooked despite being a $200B market. Ethylene, the world’s most used organic chemical, is essential for products like clothing, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, window springs, pipes, and even sustainable aviation fuels. Today, ethylene production primarily involves breaking down fossil fuels—a high-temperature, highly emitting process that releases over 800M tons of CO2 equivalent annually, factoring in both process emissions and potential end-of-life product emissions. Sarah Lamaison, PhD, Co-Founder and CEO of Dioxycle, and her team are revolutionizing this process. Instead of breaking down fossil fuels, Dioxycle builds ethylene from recycled carbon emissions using renewable electricity. At the heart of this innovation is a novel electrolyzer that uses electricity to recycle carbon emissions and water into ethylene. By replacing fossil fuels with Dioxycle's process, the company can abate over 1% of the world’s emissions and reinvent a $200B market. Watch Sarah Lamaison discuss this groundbreaking technology at this year’s Breakthrough Energy Summit. Full video in comments. #besummit #climatetech #climatechange #sustainability #innovation