Built to Last: The Capital and Companies Behind Climate Hard Tech

The hardest problems in climate are physical. Decarbonizing steel, concrete, chemicals, heavy industry, agriculture, and the built environment requires real hardware, real facilities, and real capital. These companies do not look like software startups, and theyMost climate hardware companies do not fail in the lab. They fail between the pilot and the commercial contract. The capital structures, timelines, and risk tolerances required to get physical climate technology to scale are fundamentally different from what the venture world defaults to. This event is about what it actually takes.

Two panel discussions. One from the funder side. One from the founders who are living it.

The investor panel brings together VCs, project finance professionals, and allocators actively backing climate hard tech. The conversation will cover what makes hardware ventures different from software: the capital intensity, the longer development timelines, the role of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) project risk, and the dilution math that founders and investors need to understand. Panelists will address the growing role of government in de-risking hard tech through grants, contracts, loan guarantees, and procurement commitments, and when project finance, venture capital, or a blended approach is the right path forward.

The founder panel features climate hard tech CEOs and operators building real companies in this space. They will share what it actually takes to go from lab to market, how they have navigated fundraising for capital-intensive businesses, what surprised them about scaling physical technology, and what they wish investors understood.

Full speaker line up will be announced in mid-March.

Founder Panel

Matt of Skouria - Mining copper economically, environmentally, and at scaleRory of Torev - The world’s highest performance rare-earth free traction motorRakesh of Rushnu - Redefining the chemical industryModerated by Julie - CEO, Abrams Advisors, LLC

Investor Panel

Dominic of Nomadic Venture PartnersJillian of Azolla VenturesMichelle of The Synergos FundModerated by Justin of Lichen Ventures

Who this is for: Founders building hardware, materials, energy, industrial, or infrastructure climate companies. Investors (VCs, angels, LPs, family offices) interested in hard tech. Corporate development and innovation leads exploring climate technology partnerships. Policy professionals working on climate technology deployment.

Drinks and appetizers follow the program.

DC Climate Week is not responsible for this event. It is organized by the organizing group, and being listed on the DCCW calendar is not an endorsement of content or partners.