Bridging the Climate Tech Valley of Death: Breakthrough Energys Early Intervention

Caleb Boyd and Kevin Bush started their company, Molten Industries, in a garage, aiming to develop a method for producing hydrogen from methane without releasing carbon dioxide. While the garage provided a suitable environment for initial experiments, scaling up their technology presented a challenge often faced by climate tech startups: bridging the gap between research and attracting investment. This challenge, known as the "valley of death," is increasingly being addressed by investors like Breakthrough Energy, founded by Bill Gates. Breakthrough Energy`s Discovery program, led by Ashley Grosh, identifies and supports early-stage climate tech companies through grants, resources, and networking opportunities. The program aims to fill the funding gap between government initiatives and traditional venture capital, which often hesitate to invest in early-stage companies. Breakthrough Energy`s approach is driven by the belief that while government programs excel at scientific research, they are less equipped to identify and support commercially viable technologies.