What do product leaders need to consider when building a differentiated decarbonization platform? The scale and urgency of the transformation required to fight climate change has never been more clear. Building hardware and software products, acquiring the funding and creating a diverse community to enhance talent capacity and to drive innovation, is essential to tackling this global environmental crisis. In this podcast, host and Silicon Valley Bank, a division of First Citizens Bank, Climate Tech & Sustainability SVP Maggie Wong will be interviewing Gravity Climate Founder & CEO Saleh ElHattab to discuss combining software and physical solution in decarbonization, positioning their product to provide sustainable value and how diversity impacts understanding customer needs and product go-to-market.
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Show Notes
- Gravity Climate is a startup addressing climate change through sustainable products and solutions.
- Salah is the co-founder of Gravity Climate, which marries software and hardware to help industries reduce emissions.
- Gravity Climate’s platform aims to make climate transition economical for industries through tailored solutions.
- Gravity Climate focuses on underserved industries like manufacturing and warehousing.
- Gravity Climate differentiates by addressing supply chain emissions often overlooked by other carbon accounting companies.
- Gravity Climate offers a comprehensive decarbonization platform including emissions identification, strategy, supply chain engagement, and project execution.
- Transitioning from software to physical solutions introduces new complexities in hardware deployment.
- Government programs like the IRA and Jobs Act have funneled capital toward climate technologies.
- Target customers may abstain from participation due to perceived economic setbacks of climate action.
- Pragmatic approach will help Gravity scale through economic headwinds by focusing on value-driven solutions.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion are emphasized in Gravity’s founding and product development.
- Personal experiences help understand target customers like those in warehouses.
- On-the-job learning is inevitable for those new to climate tech due to its broad impact.
- Functional skills like data analytics and customer empathy are important traits to have in climate tech.
- Product management should maintain ownership across an organization regardless of size.
- Specialization can reduce customer empathy, creativity, and talent utilization.
- Empathy, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management are keys to success.
- Women make up over half of chief sustainability officers.
- Climate tech offers opportunities for diverse talent and backgrounds.