#110 June events, jobs, and quantum computing and climate tech
Happy June! We are excited to host our next ‘Startups Driving Sustainability’ Showcase on June 22nd. You can RSVP now to hear from Rubicon, Re Company, Rego and Eternum Energy.
🗓 More Events
June 7: Investing in forestry and biodiversity: what is the opportunity?
June 16: Atlanta Climate Tech: Food Waste and Circularity Innovations
June 22: Understory’s Startups Driving Sustainability - June Showcase
June 22: Access to Green Tech
Do you have any events to share? Post them in our Understory Slack community.
📚 Worth Reading
McKinsey did an interview with an entrepreneur in quantum computing. The interview focused on how quantum computing could help understand climate change and potentially accelerate climate solutions.
“This is where things get really interesting. In short, quantum computing will revolutionize chemistry. And, if we can—as I am now convinced—build a million-qubit quantum computer in time, that’s great news for our climate.
Why? So many low-carbon technologies involve complex systems, particularly around chemistry and materials science, which nobody fully understands. Everyone is scrambling to find a new catalyst or electrolyte that will give us cheaper carbon capture or better electric batteries. Right now, we have to test thousands of molecular combinations, which means lengthy and hugely expensive trial-and-error lab experiments, with often disappointing, marginal improvements.
When it comes to materials and chemistry, powerful supercomputers work on the basis of approximation and will never be able to deal with the level of complexity. That is exactly where quantum computing will play such a critical role: in breaking through these scientific and technical barriers.
Let’s take an exciting example from the world today: ammonia, a molecule consisting of one nitrogen atom and three hydrogen atoms that is the basis of the fertilizer used to grow the food that feeds the world’s population. Today, we produce ammonia using hydrogen from natural gas and nitrogen from the air in a century-old industrial Haber-Bosch process that produces around 2 percent of all global CO2. There are ways to decarbonize this process—using carbon capture or green hydrogen as an alternate feedstock, for example. But both of those approaches add cost, delaying their use on a meaningful scale, and neither addresses the energy-intensive high temperature and pressure required for this industrial process.”
🚀 Funding and Congrats!
ZeroNorth raised a $50 million Series B round. The company's platform helps optimize the shipping industry to reduce carbon emission.
Novoloop raised a $10 million Series A extension. The company upcycles polyethylene which is found in grocery bags, packaging, and containers.
NASDAQ acquired Metrio and will add it to its suite of ESG solutions.
SolarCycle raised $6.6 million in growth funding. The company sits at the intersection of solar and circularity.
Hyfé Foods raised $2 million in pre-seed funding. The foodtech company upcycles wasted sugar water into low-carb, protein-rich mycelium flour.
United Airlines invested $5 million into Cemvita Factory which is exploring the production of sustainable aviation fuel.
💡 Startup Spotlight
VitroLabs - cell-based leather
🎧 Podcast
Brian Graff: beautifying solar
Justin Whitehead: investing in a greener future
Rich Mokuolu: sustainable and resilient supply chains
The Understory Podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Google Podcasts.
⚙️ Jobs
Find and share your open positions on the Understory Slack channel.
🆕 EV Sales Advisor at Spring Free EV
🆕 Strategic Engagement Manager at Partnership for Inclusive Innovation
🆕 Project Manager at Mango Materials
🆕 Data Acquisition Manager at Seqana
🆕 Director of Utility Sales at Bloc Power
🆕 Deputy Vice President of Programs at ClimateWorks Foundation
Project Manager in Sustainability at infogr8
Operations Coordinator at Re:Company
Multiple Roles at Virtual Peaker
Scientist Roles at Project Drawdown
Chief of Staff at New Age Meats
Director of Operations at Returnity
Engineering roles at Sunairio
Multiple roles at Pani Energy
Senior Mechanical Engineer at Charge Robotics
Product Owner at Return Rabbit
Product Manager, Low-Carbon Aviation at Google Climate Research
Director, Investor Relations at Closed Loop Partners
Environmental Program Officer- Thriving Communities at Patagonia
Intern at Newlab
Business Development, Marketplace Partnerships at Cloverly
📧 Stay in Touch!
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