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Select Quotes From This Episode:
“There are a lot of people who are not stuck in the matrix, and they’re looking for something interesting. They’re looking for adventure to call them out.” –Silas
“Because it’s not a ‘hot space’ to be part of, the companies that do survive are going to be wildly successful in a ‘hostile environment.’” –Silas
“You have to have this optimistic, ‘we’re going to build utopia’ basically. That’s kind of how you have to think about it.” –Silas
“I do not want to be the type of person who is mortgaging a future that isn’t mine to give...” –Nick
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From CleanTech 1.0 to the “Digestion Phase”
This week, we are doing something a little different. Instead of interviewing a founder, Silas joins Nick van Osdol on the Keep Cool podcast to share his own insights from the frontlines of climate tech recruiting. They reflect on how the narrative has shifted from “CleanTech 1.0” to “Climate Tech” and back again, as sustainable technology increasingly becomes absorbed into broader industrial and economic markets.
The industry is currently in a “digestion phase.” The days of zero-interest-rate policy (ZIRP) and wild, irresponsible hiring are over. Today, startups are being forced to build fundamentally sound, profitable business models without relying solely on subsidies or infinite venture capital. While the “tourists” have left the space, the founders and companies that remain are building durable products that are simply cheaper and better than the fossil-fuel alternatives.
Silas also shares his origin story—from growing up in rural Wisconsin to moving to NYC to recruit for renewable energy—and explains why he founded EarthSearch to disrupt the traditional, often parasitic recruiting industry. For early-stage founders, he offers a masterclass in hiring: why you should pitch your startup as a “call to adventure,” how to find senior talent willing to take a pay cut for the mission, and why maintaining relentless optimism is non-negotiable.
Check Out Our Sponsors!
Securing Billions in Grant Funding for Climate Tech
Since 2020, Climate Finance Solutions (CFS) has helped climate tech companies secure over $1.6 billion in government grant funding, with a success rate of more than 90%.
Its team has also won over €500 million in European funding and managed $275 million in grant projects.
As a global consulting firm, CFS guides clients through the full funding lifecycle, from strategy and funder engagement to proposal development and post-award management. Its Grant Identification Platform enables real-time monitoring and custom matching of opportunities, with alerts as new grants are released.
CFS also supports investors, accelerators, and ecosystem builders through its partnership program, offering pro bono support for portfolio companies.
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For the past ~6 years, I have been placing sales, engineering, and executive talent at CleanTech companies in the US (over 80 placements total).
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Past Work:
We helped ChargeScape (JV between Ford, Honda, BMW, and Nissan) make 8 key hires in 6 months, while saving them ~$380k in recruiter fees.
Hired Head of Sales, PM, and Marketing Manager at OptiGrid (resurrection of FreeWire Technologies) (PS: they are hiring again, reach out to Silas to learn more).
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📝 Show Notes:
Topics
Here are some key timestamps from the episode:
00:00 – Intro & Sponsors: Lehmann’s Terms, Climate Finance Solutions, and EarthSearch.
03:09 – Welcome to Keep Cool: Nick van Osdol flips the script and interviews Silas.
04:07 – The Evolution of Climate Tech: Shedding the 1.0 vibes and returning to “CleanTech.”
08:52 – Silas’s Origin Story: From rural Wisconsin to renewable energy recruiting in NYC.
13:33 – Disrupting Recruitment: Why Silas founded EarthSearch to offer executive-level search for early-stage startups without the massive fees.
18:30 – The End of ZIRP: Why the hiring market has shifted to slow, intentional, and skills-based recruiting.
30:24 – Building Culture: Why early-stage startups shouldn’t be afraid to hire bored, senior talent.
37:19 – The Call to Adventure: How to position your startup to attract highly motivated individuals.
43:59 – Companies to Watch: Silas shouts out Helix Earth Technologies and OptiGrid.
51:35 – Flipping the Table: Silas asks Nick what keeps him motivated to write and podcast about climate.
53:56 – The Value of Writing: Why authentic, human storytelling matters more than ever in the age of AI.
Links
This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.
