Bridging the Climate Tech Valley of Death: How Breakthrough Energy Nurtures Early-Stage Startups

Caleb Boyd and Kevin Bush started their company, Molten Industries, in a garage, using readily available resources to develop their technology for capturing hydrogen from methane without releasing carbon dioxide.

While the garage provided a suitable environment for initial experiments, securing funding for further development is a common obstacle for climate tech startups.

To address this, organizations like Breakthrough Energy, founded by Bill Gates, are providing early-stage funding and support to promising startups like Molten Industries through programs like Breakthrough Energy Discovery.

This program, along with their earlier Fellows program, offers grants, resources, and networking opportunities, aiming to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and attracting venture capital, which has historically been hesitant to invest in early-stage climate tech companies.