CleanTechies

#223 Everything You Need to Know About ClimateTech Politics (DoE, DoD, GovTech, Partnerships, & More) w/ Nate Loewentheil (Commonweal Ventures)

• Silas & Somil • Season 1 • Episode 223

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Nate Loewentheil is the founder and managing partner of Commonweal Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on solving America's biggest challenges through entrepreneurship. Nate’s career spans angel investing, politics, and public policy. Previously, he served in the Obama White House, advising President Obama on emerging technologies such as clean energy and broadband expansion. His background includes roles in the Yale Entrepreneurial Society, founding the Roosevelt Institution, and advising startups during his time running venture investments for a family office.

Commonweal Ventures invests in pre-seed and seed-stage companies tackling generational challenges such as climate change, competition with China, and an aging population. The firm focuses on startups that leverage government partnerships as a strategic advantage, tapping into resources like national labs, regulatory data, and long-term infrastructure projects.

The firm's investment philosophy distinguishes itself from traditional GovTech by emphasizing the unique ability of government to unlock enterprise value rather than solving it as a "problem to fix." With a bipartisan advisory board that includes former Trump, Bush, Obama, and Clinton administration officials, Common Weal Ventures excels at navigating regulatory landscapes and creating opportunities for impactful innovation.

📝 Show Notes:

Topics 

  • 05:54 The Role of Government in Innovation
  • 12:07 Investing in Early-Stage Companies
  • 14:55 Understanding Political Dynamics in Climate Tech
  • 17:52 Preparing for Trump 2.0
  • 27:19 Shifting Political Economy and Government's Role
  • 31:05 Future of Government Involvement in Commercialization
  • 32:56 Engaging with Government Agencies
  • 35:19 Best Practices for Founders in Government Relations
  • 38:08 Investing Dynamics in Climate Tech
  • 42:49 Encouraging Generalist Investors in Climate Tech
  • 44:15 America's Competitive Edge: Entrepreneurship
  • 45:40 Impact of Monopolies on Startups
  • 48:04 Political Landscape and Antitrust Dynamics
  • 49:51 Looking Ahead: Opportunities in Climate Tech

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People on this episode

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Silas Mahner

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Somil Aggarwal

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