SVB, the banking crisis and climatetech

Catalyst · 30 Mar 2023 · 38m

What this episode covers

Saloni Multani, partner at Galvanize Climate Solutions, explains how Silicon Valley Bank's (SVB) duration mismatch and rapid deposit growth led to a social-media-fueled bank run, resulting in FDIC intervention and the sale of SVB's assets. She discusses the contagion effect on Signature Bank and Credit Suisse, noting a flight of capital to 'too big to fail' institutions like JPMorgan, and analyzes the lasting impact on climatetech, including the loss of SVB's specialized lending for community solar and venture-backed startups. Multani argues that while a new bank may fill the void, the era of cheap capital is over, requiring a recalibration of cost of capital and credit availability for capital-intensive climate infrastructure projects.

Mentioned

Companies
Silicon Valley Bank, Galvanize Climate Solutions, Signature Bank, Credit Suisse, JPMorgan, EnergyHub
Also
FDIC

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Oxide and Friends · 59m

    On Silicon Valley Bank with Eric Vishria

    Oxide CEO Steve Tuck and Benchmark partner Eric Vishria discuss the operational complexities of startup banking, explaining why companies like Oxide relied on Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and First Republic for their understanding of venture debt, capital call lines, and wire transfer mechanics. They detail how SVB’s specialized services allowed hardware startups to extend runway and manage supply chain payments without hiring corporate treasurers, contrasting this with the friction found at traditional banks like JPMC. The conversation highlights the panic during SVB's collapse, the role of fintech partners like Ramp and Gusto in maintaining payroll, and Vishria’s advice for founders to maintain diversified banking relationships to mitigate systemic risk.

  • The Robot Report Podcast · 54m

    Silicon Valley Bank closed by FDIC

    Hosts Steve Crowe and Mike Oitzman discuss the closure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and its potential impact on robotics startups, noting that 44% of 2022 tech IPOs were backed by SVB. They then interview Rylan Hamilton, co-founder and CEO of 6 River Systems, who details his journey from Kiva Systems to founding 6 River Systems, which was acquired by Shopify for nearly $1 billion. Hamilton emphasizes that 6 River’s success with its AMR product, Chuck, stems from focusing on customer workflow and station design rather than just the robot hardware, and highlights the benefits of their integration with Shopify’s fulfillment network.

  • Hardware to Save a Planet · 47m

    Gigatons of Impact: Why Climate Hardware Needs Catalytic Capital

    Johanna Wolfson, Co-founder and General Partner at Azolla Ventures, explains why traditional venture capital fails to support early-stage climate hardware due to long timelines and high capital outlays. She details how Azolla deploys 'catalytic capital'—tax-exempt, impact-first funds—to de-risk projects like C-motive’s electrostatic motors and Biolumic’s agricultural tech, targeting gigaton-scale CO2 reduction. Wolfson argues that while deployment of existing tech like solar is critical, developing new solutions for super-pollutants (methane, nitrous oxide) and adaptation is essential to meet 2050 goals, advising founders to plan for smaller rounds and global markets amid current US policy uncertainty.

  • Hardware to Save a Planet · 55m

    The Deep Tech Revolution: Solving Climate Change with Five Industry Leaders

    Host Dylan Garrett moderates a panel at New York Climate Week featuring Colin Campbell of Cambridge Consultants, Trudy Wang of Hala Technologies, Lisa Hansmann of Engine Ventures, Kate Kelly of Avalanche Energy, and Catherine Mizrahi Rodriguez of Osmoses. The group argues that deep tech is essential for climate change, discussing how innovations like fusion, high-temperature superconducting tape, and gas separation membranes can scale alongside existing infrastructure. They highlight the critical need for stakeholder alignment, policy engagement, and partnerships to overcome the high capital intensity and long timelines of deep tech development.

  • Hardware to Save a Planet · 1h 02m

    From Solar’s 90% Cost Crash to AI’s Energy Surge: The Economics Driving Climate Tech

    Pavel Molchanov, an Investment Strategy Analyst at Raymond James, discusses the economic and policy drivers shaping the climate tech sector, highlighting how solar panel costs have dropped 90% and EV adoption has surged in China. He contrasts successful scaling of mature technologies like solar and wind with the struggles of companies like Solyndra, which failed due to high costs despite innovative CIGS technology. Molchanov argues that while deep tech innovations like fusion and solid-state batteries are important, economic viability and business models are the primary determinants of success in the energy transition.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Catalyst. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.