# Crossing the valley of death

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2022-07-14
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death

## Summary

Scott Jacobs, CEO of Generate Capital, discusses the challenges of financing first-of-a-kind climate tech and the 'valley of death' for unproven solutions. He explains how Generate addresses complex infrastructure projects like anaerobic digesters and electric bus leasing by providing equity, technical expertise, and supply chain support rather than just debt. Jacobs argues that human capacity building and aligning customer demand are more critical than capital availability for scaling these technologies, especially in a rising interest rate environment.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death#t=2) Introduction: Scott Jacobs and Generate Capital
- [3:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death#t=212) The Valley of Death and Broken Capital Markets
- [7:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death#t=474) Case Study: Anaerobic Digestion and Market Development
- [11:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death#t=718) Complexity and Transaction Costs in Microgrids
- [16:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death#t=999) Impact of Rising Interest Rates and Supply Chain Volatility
- [24:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death#t=1445) De-risking Supply Chain Risks Through Aggregation
- [28:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death#t=1734) Electric Bus Leasing and Mobility as a Service
- [37:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death#t=2234) Financing First-of-a-Kind Technologies
- [42:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death#t=2520) Criteria for De-risking Technology and Human Capacity

## Topics

- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Generate Capital (company)
- Energy Impact Partners (company)
- BYD (company)
- EnergyHub (company)
- Bloom Energy (company)
- Antenna Group (company)
- McKinsey (company)
- DOE (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Nurturing Deep Tech Startups to Address Climate Change: A Conversation with Andrew Gollach of HAX](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2023-12-21-nurturing-deep-tech-startups-to-address-climate-change-a-conversation-with-andre) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Gigatons of Impact: Why Climate Hardware Needs Catalytic Capital](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-06-19-gigatons-of-impact-why-climate-hardware-needs-catalytic-capital) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [The Deep Tech Revolution: Solving Climate Change with Five Industry Leaders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2025-01-16-the-deep-tech-revolution-solving-climate-change-with-five-industry-leaders) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [The Climate Hardware Playbook: Strategies for Founders and Investors with Christian zu Jeddeloh and Sophia Escheu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-09-26-the-climate-hardware-playbook-strategies-for-founders-and-investors-with-christi) (Hardware to Save a Planet)
- [Nurturing Companies that Have a Net Positive Impact on Nature: Insights from Tom Chi of At One Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-05-23-nurturing-companies-that-have-a-net-positive-impact-on-nature-insights-from-tom) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-07-14-crossing-the-valley-of-death. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.