How can product managers build climate tech products that truly benefit communities and the greater good? In this episode hosted Silicon Valley Bank (a Division of First Citizens Bank) Climate Tech SVP Maggie Wong, Heirloom Head of Climate Policy Vikrum Aiyer shares his insights on developing diverse, community-centric climate tech products. Vikrum discusses Heirloom’s mission to remove atmospheric CO2 through innovative direct air capture technology, the importance of engaging with policymakers and local communities, and the need for product managers to consider the broader societal impact of their work.
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Show Notes
- Vikrum Aiyer’s diverse background in public sector, private sector, and civil society has equipped him to navigate the climate policy landscape.
- Heirloom’s mission is to reduce fossil fuel emissions and remove existing atmospheric CO2 through its patented direct air capture technology.
- Understanding the technology and working closely with the product team is crucial for policy professionals to effectively communicate the needs and challenges to government stakeholders.
- The distinction between carbon capture and direct air capture is important to educate lawmakers and the public about Heirloom’s technology.
- Government support is necessary to scale the carbon removal industry and create new customer segments through policy interventions.
- There is bipartisan support for carbon removal policies in the US, which provides optimism for the industry’s growth.
- The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have provided significant funding and tailwinds for the carbon removal sector.
- Heirloom’s “high-road principles” guide the company’s approach to building facilities in partnership with local communities.
- Community engagement councils are crucial for gathering feedback and ensuring the facilities benefit the local community.
- Hiring diverse perspectives, including those from different demographic, professional, and socioeconomic backgrounds, is important for Heirloom.
- Technological and infrastructure diversity, such as building facilities in both blue and red states, is a key consideration for Heirloom.
- Product managers should consider the public good and policy implications when building products, even if their company doesn’t have a dedicated policy team.
- Asking questions about policy considerations and engaging with policy professionals can help product managers build better, more impactful products.
- Government and civil society support can unlock new revenue sources and amplify the positive impact of products with a public good.
- Community-centric climate tech products where the needs of local communities are prioritized, is crucial for climate tech companies.
- Vikrum Aiyer encourages listeners to reach out to him on Twitter for guidance on transitioning into climate tech roles.
- Resources like the Terra.do fellowship and Climate Base fellowship can help professionals explore opportunities in the climate space.
- Podcasts like Maggie Wong’s Climate Tech Podcast play an important role in facilitating discussions and raising awareness about climate tech.
- Collaboration between product teams and policy professionals is essential for building impactful climate tech solutions.
- Addressing climate change requires a multifaceted approach, including technological innovation, policy support, and community engagement.
About the speaker
Vikrum Aiyer is Head of Global Public Policy at Heirloom Carbon, where his team works to align climate policy, workforce development strategies, and legislative affairs to accelerate carbon mineralization sciences that can remove greenhouse gasses from the air, in support of our global net-zero goals. He previously held roles in the Obama Administration including as senior policy advisor in the White House National Economic Council, and as Chief of Staff to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property. In these capacities, he served as the principal political and policy advisor to the undersecretary of commerce and coordinated a $3.2B budget, in support of 13,000 employees, to execute the daily operations, priorities, and global communications of the President’s intellectual property & STEM agenda. In 2016 Aiyer led a U.S. delegation to Cuba to reset relations between the two nations patent offices, and served on Vice President Biden's Cancer Moonshot Task Force, to accelerate progress towards a cure by fast tracking immunology patenting. Aiyer also helped steer investments in several advanced manufacturing technologies including smart fabrics, autonomous vehicles, high performance computing, and next generation semiconductors through the National Network of Manufacturing Hubs. Aiyer also served as the global vice president of the start-up Postmates, where he oversaw the public policy & communications team, led a multimillion dollar effort to reform California’s safety net, and led negotiations with labor unions & the Newsom Administration to establish new worker laws for the gig economy. Aiyer was also Deputy Division Director in the ACLU's national political department where his team led campaigns in response to the attacks on transgender rights and the reversal of abortion rights in America. Aiyer has also served on the communications team of Senator Ed Markey (D-MA); Mayor Adrian Fenty (D-Washington, D.C.); and the Democratic National Conventions in 2012, 2016, and 2024. In 2015, Forbes Magazine named Aiyer to the 30 Under 30 list for Law & Policy. In 2017 Aiyer was named a Public Policy Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business. And in 2021, the San Francisco Business Times named him to their annual 40 under 40 in business list. He currently lives in San Francisco, where he serves as Commissioner to San Francisco Mayor London Breed's Workforce Investment Board (WISF). Aiyer also serves on Prelude, a new leaders council of the San Francisco Symphony and is a Term Member for the Council on Foreign Relations.
About the host
Maggie Wong is an accomplished product management and capital markets leader with over 15 years of experience in driving product strategy, delivering global products, fundraising & capital allocation, and leading cross-functional teams. Outside of her role at Silicon Valley Bank to support New York / East Coast based climate tech companies and investors, she is also experienced in increasing program impact, growing community reach and implementing DEI initiatives at travel and fintech non-profits. Maggie is passionate about making a social impact for the next generation, tackling climate change and traveling. She is fluent in Mandarin and Cantonese and a beginner in Spanish.