Disaster Warning & Response: How to equip for catastrophic events [HEAT #3]

In Episode 3 of HEAT – Beyond 1.5, we turn our attention to one of the most urgent and under-discussed aspects of the climate crisis: disaster preparedness.

Climate change is accelerating the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events - from wildfires and floods to deadly heatwaves. This episode explores how both policy and technology are rising to meet the challenge of keeping people, communities, and critical infrastructure safe.

David Wortmann of DWR eco speaks with Julia Stewart-David, Climate Change and Resilience Adviser at the European Commission’s DG ECHO, about how the EU is rethinking disaster management. The focus is shifting from reactive crisis response to proactive resilience - through investments in early warning systems, climate-adapted infrastructure, and public awareness. Julia shares how the Union Civil Protection Mechanism helps coordinate disaster response across member states, and why building local knowledge and preparedness is critical for Europe’s future safety.

Meanwhile, Nikolaus Samios of PT1 sits down with Carsten Brinkschulte, CEO and Co-Founder of Dryad, a German startup pioneering ultra-early wildfire detection. Using AI-powered gas sensors, solar-powered mesh networks, and soon drone-based response tools, Dryad is creating “digital noses” for forests - detecting fires minutes after ignition, long before they become uncontrollable. Carsten shares Dryad’s entrepreneurial journey and explains why climate resilience represents one of the biggest business opportunities of our time.

How can public institutions, tech startups, and investors work together to prevent disasters before they strike? What does it take to turn climate risk into climate readiness?

Tune in to Episode 4 of HEAT to discover how we can prepare smarter - and act faster - for a climate-resilient future.

PPAs für den Mittelstand – einfacher, günstiger und grüner mit ECO2GROW | Deep Dive Cleantech #85

Wie können KMU sich von volatilen Energiepreisen befreien und Zugang zu stabiler, kostengünstiger erneuerbarer Energie erhalten?

Paul Appel, Co-Founder & CEO von ECO2GROW hat mir dazu viele Antworten gegeben in der neuesten Episode unseres DeepDive Cleantech Podcasts.

🌍 Warum das wichtig ist:

Kleine und mittlere Unternehmen (KMU) sind besonders anfällig für steigende und schwankende Energiepreise. Während große Konzerne langfristige Festpreisverträge abschließen können, fehlt KMU oft der Zugang zu stabilen Strompreisen – das erschwert Planungen und schmälert ihre Wettbewerbsfähigkeit.

ECO2GROW bietet eine Lösung:

Das Unternehmen bündelt KMU in kollektiven Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), sodass sie direkt von hashtag#Wind- und hashtag#Solarparks profitieren können – zu planbaren, fairen Preisen.

Was Euch in dieser Folge erwartet:

✅ Wie PPAs KMU helfen, Energiekostenrisiken zu minimieren
✅ Warum erneuerbare Direktverträge nicht nur für Großunternehmen zugänglich sind
✅ Welche regulatorischen Hürden in Deutschland PPAs noch bremsen
✅ Wie Fintech-Lösungen PPAs für KMU einfacher machen

Jetzt reinhören!

DeepDive Cleantech bringt Euch inspirierende Gründer:innen, Unternehmer:innen und Investor:innen, die mit skalierbaren Lösungen die grüne Wirtschaft vorantreiben. Interesse, als Gast dabei zu sein? Schreibt uns!

Wie Vireo Ventures die Elektrifizierung in Europa vorantreibt | Deep Dive Cleantech #86

Wie können Software-Start-ups in der Frühphase die Energiewende in Europa beschleunigen?

In der neuen Folge unseres DeepDive Cleantech Podcasts spricht David Wortmann mit Felix über die Rolle digitaler Innovationen für eine erfolgreiche Dekarbonisierung – und darüber, wie Vireo Ventures Start-ups bereits in der frühesten Phase auf diesem Weg begleitet.

Vireo Ventures ist ein Early-Stage-Venture-Capital-Unternehmen mit Sitz in Berlin, das sich auf Investitionen in skalierbare Start-ups konzentriert, welche Energie- und Mobilitätswende durch Elektrifizierung und digitale Innovationen vorantreiben. Mit einem erfahrenen Team aus der Energiebranche arbeitet Vireo eng mit Gründer:innen zusammen, um transformative Lösungen zu ermöglichen, die für nachhaltiges Wachstum entscheidend sind.

In dieser Folge geht es unter anderem um:

⚡ Warum Vireo an ein vollelektrifiziertes, softwareoptimiertes Energiesystem glaubt
⚡ Wie Start-ups auch in regulierten, fragmentierten Energiemärkten international skalieren können
⚡ Wo KI heute schon für Effizienzsprünge in der Energiebranche sorgt
⚡ Welche Teams und Geschäftsmodelle überzeugen – und warum Tech-Gründer:innen auch „hustlen“ müssen
⚡ Wie Vireo mit seinen LPs zusammenarbeitet, um Start-ups gezielt Marktzugang und Wachstum zu ermöglichen

Water: A Double-Edged Problem [HEAT #2]

In Episode 2 of HEAT, we discuss one of the most critical and paradoxical challenges of the climate crisis: water.
While water is essential for life, it has become a double-edged sword in the face of climate change. On one hand, we face the devastating impacts of floodings that destroy communities, infrastructure, and livelihoods. On the other, we face the scarcity of water - droughts that threaten agriculture, ecosystems, and access to clean drinking water.
How can we achieve water resilience in a rapidly changing world?
In this episode, David Wortmann of DWR eco sits down with Ingrid Timboe, Vice Executive Director of the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA), to explore the complexities of water management. Together, they discuss the urgent need for innovative strategies to address both flooding and drought, and how better water governance, infrastructure, and technology can help build resilience. Ingrid shares insights why water must be at the center of climate adaptation efforts.
Meanwhile, Nikolaus Samios of PT1 speaks with Mulundu Sichone, Founder & CEO of PYDRO, a pioneering company tackling one of the most overlooked aspects of water management: the staggering loss of water in distribution networks. On average, 30% of the world’s water is lost due to leaks and inefficiencies caused by outdated technology and a lack of data. This not only exacerbates water scarcity - already affecting over 4 billion people for at least one month per year, according to the UN - but also leads to unnecessary energy costs and CO2 emissions. PYDRO is revolutionizing water networks with its self-powered monitoring and sensing solutions. By making water networks smarter and more efficient, the company is helping to reduce water loss, lower energy consumption, and cut CO2 emissions, all while ensuring more reliable access to this precious resource.
Tune in to Episode 2 of HEAT - Beyond 1.5 to explore how we can navigate climate adaptation and uncover solutions for a more resilient future.

Preparing for Tomorrow - Understanding Climate Impacts and Adaptation [HEAT #1]

As climate change accelerates, the world is facing more extreme weather, rising sea levels, and other unprecedented environmental challenges. But how do we adapt to these changes? Why isn’t simply reducing carbon emissions enough? And what will adaptation mean for vulnerable regions, businesses, and everyday people?

In this episode, David Wortmann from DWR eco sits down with Henry Neufeldt, Head of Impact Assessment and Adaptation Analysis at UNEP’s Copenhagen Climate Centre, to dive into these questions. Together, they break down what climate adaptation really means, explore its urgency, and discuss the role of adaptation policy. They also look at the adaptation finance gap, which stands at a staggering $194-366 billion per year, and consider how public and private sectors can work together to close it.

Following this discussion, Nikolas Samios, Managing Partner of PT1, and Kamil Kluza, Co-Founder & COO of Climate X, join to share how data-driven business solutions are helping organizations adapt. In the episode wrap-up, David and Nikolas highlight the key takeaways, leaving listeners with a clear understanding of why climate adaptation is essential—and how we can start preparing for the future.

Tune in to learn about the crucial steps we need to take to adapt to our changing world.