CleanTechies Podcast

#126 The Value-add of Specialist VCs, Engaging with Corporate Partners, Advice to Founders & Aspiring VCs, Defending Your Moat, & More with Grant Allen (SE Ventures)

01 Oct 2023

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Why you should listen:* Discover the role of Specialist VCs in climate change solutions with SE Ventures* Learn about SE Ventures and its innovative climate and industrial tech investments* Gain insights on collaboration with large companies and startup wisdomNot already a subscriber…subscribe today and support us either financially or through sharing the post.Show Notes:In this episode Silas Mahner (@silasmahner) & Somil Aggarwal (@somil_agg) speak with Grant Allen, General Partner at SE Ventures. They are a uniquely positioned Specialist VC with a single LP, Schneider Electric. They function like a typical VC, with autonomy from Schneider Electric as a whole, but can also leverage Schneider's vast global network to add value beyond capital and help their portfolio companies to succeed.Enjoy the Episode! 🌎📺 👀 Prefer to watch: subscribe on YouTube.📫 Interested in written summaries and takeaways from the episode? Subscribe to the newsletter.Want to be part of the community and engage further? Check out the Slack Channel. https://tinyurl.com/mwkn8zk5Topics:* 1:32: Intro & Career* 5:16: Relationship w/ SE* 9:09: How SE Ventures Started* 11:43: SE Thesis: Double Bottom Line* 19:46: Why the Check Size* 23:36: Milestones to Get a Check* 26:39: How To Manage Collaboration* 33:35: Areas He's Bullish On* 37:34: Building Incentive-Free Biz Models* 42:03: Advice to Founders* 44:31: How to Scale* 47:51: How to Vet Big Incumbents* 51:44: Advice to VC Aspirants* 56:11: How to Develop a Thesis* 59:15: If He Started a Biz Today He Would…Links:* Connect with Grant: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantallen/* SE Ventures: https://www.seventures.com/home.jsp* Climate Capital Summit: https://www.climatecapitalsummit.com/ * Check out our Sponsor, NextWave Partners: https://www.next-wavepartners.com/* Follow CleanTechies on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/clean-techies/* HMU on Twitter: @silasmahner, @somil_aggOther episodes you might enjoy:* Most Recent Episode: #125 Revolutionizing Heating and Cooling with Smart Radiators, Facing Rejection, and Building Hardware like Software with Marshall Cox (Kelvin)* Similar Topic: #93 Hard Truths About VC, Raising Advice, & Small Fund Limitations w/ Susan Su (Toba Capital)* Something Totally Different: #103 Revolutionizing Takeout: Tackling Plastic Waste Crisis with Reusable Containers and Gamification w/ James Wilson (reUser)CoHost.AI Write Up:Ever wondered how venture capital firms are combating climate change? Here's your chance to find out. Grant from SE Ventures guides us through a voyage into the thriving world of venture capital funds and their crucial role in climate change solutions. His journey from traditional financial models to corporate VC models is certainly a tale worth hearing. Founders and aspiring business leaders, take note! We delve deeper into how SE Ventures and Schneider Electric, its parent company, have a unique synergy that accelerates the adoption of crucial technology for climate change solutions. Learn about SE Ventures, a venture fund supported by Schneider Electric, and the crucial 'air gap' that ensures alignment with founders and speedy action. The 'double bottom line' approach and value delivery framework of SE Ventures are nothing short of revolutionary. In the final fold of our conversation, Grant shares his investment experiences in mobility companies, thoughts on government’s role in residential electrification, and the importance of self-sustaining business models. We also navigate the potential advantages of collaborating with large companies, provided you manage the relationship effectively. And for those young investors and startups out there, Grant's words of wisdom are a must-hear: humility, rapid learning, and understanding the complexity of the climate change space are key. So pull up a chair and let's get started!Thank you for listening / reading / supporting us. It means a lot to us because there is a lot of work that goes into making this happen. Please share your favorite moments and reach out if we can help in any way. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cleantechies.substack.com/subscribe

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3ª PARTE | 17 DIC 2025 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

01 Jan 1970

El Partidazo de COPE

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

12:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

13:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

01 Jan 1970

Fin de Semana

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CleanTechies Podcast

#126 The Value-add of Specialist VCs, Engaging with Corporate Partners, Advice to Founders & Aspiring VCs, Defending Your Moat, & More with Grant Allen (SE Ventures)

This episode hasn't been transcribed yet

Other recent transcribed episodes

3ª PARTE | 17 DIC 2025 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE

13:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

10:00H | 21 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

13:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

12:00H | 20 DIC 2025 | Fin de Semana

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