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What if agriculture could become the world’s most powerful engine for climate and health—without sacrificing yield? In this episode, Dr. Robert Berendes, scientist, entrepreneur and longtime ag innovator, unpacks how deep tech, genome editing and AI are transforming a “low-tech” industry into a high-impact platform for planetary regeneration. He explores the shift from calories to nutrition, soil health and carbon sequestration, why new genetics will rewrite competitive dynamics in ag, and what it really takes to scale ventures from flagship labs to farmers’ fields. Along the way, Robert shares hard-won lessons on talent, regulation, capital cycles and why agriculture in 2030 will look nothing like today. Tune in for a fresh look at building ventures that leave every acre better. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 0:00 – Rethinking innovation in ag 1:08 – Ignoring the noisy consensus 3:43 – From consulting to Syngenta 5:38 – Why ag is misunderstood 10:09 – Reading and writing genomes 12:56 – Power shift to farmers 17:24 – Inside the Flagship model 22:59 – Talent that drives disruption 28:42 – Funding cycles and exits 34:10 – Agriculture in 2030 Useful links: Flagship Pioneering website: https://www.flagshippioneering.com/ Flagship Pioneering LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flagship-pioneering/ Robert Berendes LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-berendes-39b62a67/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What if we could remove CO₂ from the atmosphere today—and keep it gone for 1,000 years? In this episode, I’m joined by Barclay Rogers, founder and CEO of Graphyte, who is pioneering a breakthrough method called Carbon Casting that uses biomass by-products and low-energy engineering to lock away carbon at a fraction of the typical cost. We explore why many emissions cannot be abated, how durable removals differ from nature-based fixes, and what it takes to make carbon removal bankable and scalable. Remarkably, Graphyte went from founding to full-scale operation in just 18 months—proving that durable carbon removal can be delivered today, not decades from now.  Listen in to discover how Graphyte is rewriting the carbon removal playbook—faster, cheaper, and at scale. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 0:00 – Opening: The 1,000-year carbon removal challenge 2:10 – Barclay’s journey: From engineer & lawyer to founder 5:50 – What “carbon removal” really means vs. abatement 9:30 – Nature-based solutions vs engineered removals 13:20 – Introducing Carbon Casting: how it works 17:45 – Why biomass waste + dry storage = low-cost removal 22:50 – Scaling: from pilot to modular global model 27:10 – Market mechanics: credits, buyers, quality ratings 31:40 – Financing and bankability: project finance in CDR 35:15 – International expansion & global biomass potential 39:00 – Practical advice for climate-tech founders 43:00 – Closing thoughts & next steps Useful links: Graphyte Website: https://www.graphyte.com/ Graphyte LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/graphytecarbon/ Barclay Rogers LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barclayrogers/ Leaders on a Mission Website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What if the key to transforming our food system isn’t growing more, but wasting less? In this episode, Apeel CEO Luiz Beling reveals how plant-based coatings are extending the shelf life at the source, cutting food waste, and creating value across the supply chain. Luiz opens up about resetting Apeel’s strategy for scalability, leading through misinformation, and fostering a culture that prizes progress over perfection. From pivoting toward growers and packers to mastering decision speed and rebuilding stakeholder trust, this is a masterclass in leading with clarity through complexity. 🎧 Hear how leaders reset, refocus, and rebuild stronger than before. --- 🌿 Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 00:00 — Decision speed - perfection 02:29 — Four priorities on entry 05:12 — How Apeel works 06:57 — Extra days, extra value 13:47 — Startup vs big company 17:48 — Hiring for agility 22:07 — Value across supply chain 29:28 — Farmer adoption reality 35:24 — Fighting misinformation Useful links:  Apeel website: https://apeel.com Apeel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/apeel/ Luiz Beling LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luizbeling/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

Computation is killing the wet lab—and reshaping enzyme innovation in the process. Maria Fátima Lucas, CEO of ZYMVOL, shares how AI and physics-based simulation shrink enzyme discovery from 100 million sequence variants to fewer than 300 lab-tested hits—cutting timelines, risk, and cost by orders of magnitude. In this episode, Maria unpacks how ZYMVOL is making biocatalysis not just greener, but cheaper and faster—bringing clean chemistry to sectors previously priced out. From Europe’s regulatory drivers to a bold product pivot into bio-based melanin, this is a rare look inside a deeptech company scaling with precision, not hype. Tune in for a fresh look at building ventures that last, not just raise. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact. Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 00:00 – Clean chemistry = mission 02:41 – From pharma to enzymes 05:07 – Bootstrapping for 6 years 07:03 – AI + physics workflow 10:55 – Why cost always wins 11:15 – Regulatory bans as tailwind 14:52 – End-to-end solution model 19:31 – First hits in 3 months 23:47 – Enzyme marketplace vision 28:42 – Bio-melanin case study 35:24 – Fundraising and future Useful links: ZYMVOL  website: https://zymvol.com/ ZYMVOL LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/zymvol/ Maria Fatima Lucas LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fatimalucas/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

Can alternative protein earn back meat-eaters’ trust? At Prime Roots, CEO Kimberlie Le believes the answer lies in reinventing the deli—one of the most consumed, and most distrusted, meat categories. Using koji mycelium and chef-led formulation, Prime Roots has developed clean-label deli meats that meat-eaters often prefer in blind taste tests. In this episode, we break down how their ingredient simplicity, category focus, and manufacturing efficiency unlock a more scalable, credible path for the future of food. Tune in to learn how Prime Roots is rebuilding belief in alternative protein—one deli cut at a time.. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 00:00 – The trust gap in alt-protein 01:12 – Kimberlie’s flexitarian roots 05:36 – Why the deli—not burgers 08:12 – Koji fermentation and clean labels 10:16 – Rebuilding trust through taste 14:01 – Blind taste test wins 18:39 – Product lineup: ham to salami 23:26 – Distribution and go-to-market 28:18 – Scaling with margin discipline Useful links: Prime Roots  website: https://www.primeroots.com/ Prime Root’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primeroots/ Kimberlie Li LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberliele/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

Direct air capture has long been too costly and energy-intensive to scale. But economist Ethan Cohen‑Cole is changing the equation. As CEO of Capture6, he’s embedding carbon removal into water infrastructure—cutting brine disposal costs, generating fresh water, and mineralizing CO₂ in one modular system. In this episode, Ethan shares how Capture6 is turning industrial waste into a climate asset by avoiding energy-intensive heat steps and integrating directly into existing desalination and wastewater systems. Learn how this approach flips the economic model of carbon removal—unlocking cost-effective, globally scalable projects that don’t rely on subsidies or voluntary carbon markets.  Tune in to hear how better economics make carbon capture viable. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 00:56 – Why removals must scale 01:28 – From economist to climate founder 05:09 – What makes DAC expensive 10:18 – Capture6’s unique solution 13:01 – Brine as feedstock 16:59 – Rethinking carbon economics 20:46 – Storage, value, and durability 27:23 – Scaling through replication 31:25 – Project execution + capex 35:16 – Vision for global impact Useful links: Capture6 website: https://capture6.com/ Capture6 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/capture6/ Ethan Cohen-Cole’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecohencole/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What if the clean energy transition is built on one of the dirtiest secrets in industry—rare earth metals? They power EVs, AI, and defense systems, yet most are processed overseas with toxic, outdated methods. In this episode, Nicholas Myers, CEO of Phoenix Tailings, shares how his company is transforming mining waste into a clean, domestic source of critical materials. From backyard prototypes to pioneering world-first predictive complexation, Nick shares the grit, innovation, and vision it takes to scale deep tech in one of the world’s most entrenched industries—and why zero-waste, zero-emission metals are vital for both energy security and the environment.  Tune in to hear how backyard experiments grew into a global metals revolution. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Check out Leaders on a Mission, where I interview climate tech leaders shaking up the industry and bringing us the next wave of sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation—exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 00:58 – Nick’s unconventional journey 04:17 – Backyard experiments begin 07:22 – Tackling mining waste 11:23 – Predictive complexation breakthrough 13:40 – AI in metallurgy 17:04 – US-China supply chain exposure 19:15 – Scaling defense capacity 22:56 – Financing beyond VC 25:05 – Rare earths in production 28:27 – Lessons from fundraising 31:43 – The three-year IPO vision 33:35 – Building high-performance teams 38:31 – Values that drive Phoenix Tailings Useful links: Phoenix Tailings website: https://phoenixtailings.com/ Phoenix Tailings LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phoenixtailings/ Nicholas Myers  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholaswilliammyers/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What if one of the world’s dirtiest industrial processes could be reinvented—by microbes? Textile dyeing causes 20% of global water pollution, but Colorifix CEO Orr Yarkoni is flipping the script. In this episode, he explains how engineered microbes are replacing toxic dye chemicals with clean, modular, biological systems. Learn how Colorifix built a scalable, sustainable solution for color production—cutting carbon, chemicals, and water use—while tackling global supply chains and navigating complex GMO regulations.  Tune in as biology rewrites the future of fashion. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 00:56 – Biology vs. chemical dyeing 04:07 – Origins: arsenic biosensor to fashion 07:22 – Why textile dyeing is broken 12:05 – Mapping the supply chain 19:36 – Modular bioreactors for scale 23:44 – Fermentation hardware breakthrough 28:15 – The challenge of making black 32:44 – Strategic backing from IKEA & H&M 34:54 – Scaling globally, sustainably 40:44 – GMO regulation bottlenecks Useful links:  Colorfix website: https://www.colorifix.com/ Colorfix’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/colorfix/ Orr Yarkoni’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/orr-yarkoni-48653095/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What if biotech’s biggest scaling challenge isn’t technical—but philosophical? In this episode, Massimo Portincaso, founder and CEO of Arsenale Bioyards, explains why industrial biotech must be reimagined from the ground up. He challenges legacy “scale-up” thinking, highlighting biology’s context dependency and the economic dead ends of retrofitted pharma models. From modular, AI-informed bioreactors to a scale-out strategy and data-first infrastructure, Massimo shares how his team is rewriting the rules of economic viability, manufacturing innovation, and organizational design.  Discover why scaling out — not up — is the future of biomanufacturing. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 00:46 - Biology resists code scaling 03:18 -  From BCG to biotech founder 07:33 -  Why biotech remains niche 10:24  - Redesigning from first principles 13:40 -  Biology's context dependency 16:55  - Intelligent design via Bayesian models 18:46 -  Building the bioproduction stack 21:00 -  Scale-out vs scale-up 25:56 -  Rethinking the CDMO model 29:20 -  Reinventing the capital stack 33:30 -  Future sectors & applications 37:10 -   Killing the org chart 40:12 -  Complexity as a strategic asset Useful links: Arsenale Bioyards website: https://arsenale.bio/ Arsenale Bioywards LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arsenale-bioyards/ Massimo Portincaso LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/massimo-portincaso-36a8795/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What if moral ambition became the new standard for investing? In this episode, Rogier Pieterse, Managing Partner at Pymwymic, shares how his team is transforming venture capital by embedding impact into every investment. From pioneering farm tech that reduces chemical loads to empowering regenerative practices through data, Pymwymic is reshaping agriculture from the soil up. Rogier reflects on his transition from investment banking to impact leadership, the tension between financial performance and purpose, and how long-term thinking is critical in ag-tech venture success. Tune in to explore capital with conscience—and staying power. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! Timestamps: 00:44 – Embedding impact under pressure 02:21 – From banker to moral investor 05:42 – Pymwymic’s origin and mission 10:25 – What counts as real impact? 14:04 – Balancing capital and purpose 19:01 – Farm data meets machine learning 22:10 – Strengthening farmers' positions 23:20 – VC fit for ag tech? 28:49 – Hype vs. grounded strategy 32:30 – Impactful exits that last Useful links: Pymwymic website:  https://pymwymic.com/ Pymwymic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pymwymic/ Rogier Pieterse  Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rogier-pieterse-81846a5/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What if evolution had a fast-forward button? William Pelton, CEO of Phytoform Labs, is harnessing AI-powered gene editing to radically accelerate crop development and boost climate resilience. He shares how Phytoform’s platform decodes plant genomes, eliminates guesswork in breeding, and delivers scalable, sustainable traits at speed. Explore how partnerships, precision, and platform thinking are rewriting the rules of agriculture—and why Phytoform’s compact, climate-resilient tomatoes could redefine how and where we grow our food Tune in as we decode innovation that feeds the future --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! 0:04     Climate threat to crop yields 1:36      William’s path to plant science 5:03     Solving the crop innovation gap 9:46     AI-guided gene switching 10:05    CRISPR for precision breeding 17:01     Choosing crops and markets 22:19    Reducing tomato crop waste 26:10    Partnering with Corteva 30:26   Launching compact tomato plants Useful links: Pytoforms  website:  https://www.phytoformlabs.com/ Phytoforms LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/phytoform-labs/ Will Pelton Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-pelton-12813b56/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

You can build sleek software—but if the charger fails, the user blames you. Casper Rasmussen, CEO of Monta, knows this all too well. In this episode, he shares how he built a platform that’s more than “EV charging software”—it’s a full-stack execution engine, now powering over 200,000 chargers. We explore how he scaled through regulatory complexity, turned EV pain points into product strategy, and why being a startup CEO means staying on the floor, not in the boardroom. A must-listen for founders navigating tech-infrastructure intersections, growing with resilience, and staying obsessed with execution over optics.   Tune in for real-world insights on scaling through complexity and fragmentation ---  Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! 04:01 – Becoming CEO: stepping up from CTO 08:55 – Execution first: what energizes a startup CEO 11:19 – Core mission: electrify everything—EV to home & grid 14:40 – Platform advantage: software, wallets & regulation 20:38 – Support and SLAs: why service is product 21:05 – Scaling milestone: 200k charge points & growth metrics 24:06 – Market dynamics: public, private & home charging breakdown 33:00 – Financial playbook: growth funding vs. profitability 38:59 – Team & structure: staying nimble in scale-up 34:48 – AI integration: reshaping roles and operations Useful links:  Monta’s website:  https://www.monta.com Monta’s  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/montaapp/ Casper Rasmussen Linked: https://www.linkedin.com/in/casper-h-rasmussen-63b13922/overlay/contact-info/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What if every droplet sprayed on a crop actually counted? In this episode, we meet Vishnu Jayaprakash, founder and CEO of AgZen, who’s leading a revolution in precision agriculture—one droplet at a time. With a staggering 50% of pesticides missing their mark, AgZen’s feedback-driven spray technology is eliminating guesswork, boosting efficiency, and giving farmers real-time insights into every application. Vishnu shares how a childhood experience with mango trees shaped his mission, and how AgZen scaled to one million acres in just three years by measuring what no one else did.  Tune in for a fresh look at innovation that solves a massive problem ---  Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! 00:58 – Childhood on Indian farm 04:17 – MIT research origins 07:26 – The “sticky” nozzle breakthrough 10:12 – The billion droplet problem 13:45 – Feedback loop vs. blind spraying 17:33 – Differentiating from precision sprayers 22:01 – From lab to field trials 26:19 – Word-of-mouth growth model 32:59 – Farmer trust and reliability 38:44 – Building industry-wide partnership Useful links: 👇 AgZen website:  https://www.agzen.com/  AgZen’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agzen/ Vishnu Jayaprakash LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vishnu-jayaprakash/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What if the key to transforming the global protein system lies in technology we've had for decades? Stephan van Sint Fiet, CEO of Vivici, reveals how industrial biotech is stepping off the lab bench and onto supermarket shelves — using precision fermentation to create dairy proteins ready for scale. In this episode, we unpack Vivici’s strategic focus on high-value proteins like beta-lactoglobulin, their approach to reaching cost parity, and why trust, transparency, and taste are critical for mainstream adoption. Learn how a tried-and-tested biotech playbook is helping rewrite the rules of sustainable food production.  Tune in to hear how decades-old biotech is poised to reshape the way the world consumes protein. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts!  Searching for new podcasts on sustainability?  Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions.  Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact.  Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! 1:06 — Why biotech drew Stephan in   2:47 — The protein demand crisis   7:01 — Why Vivici chose dairy   9:14 — Tackling the scale-up challenge   14:01 — The power of beta-lactoglobulin   17:24 — Competing with cheap proteins   20:47 — Key milestones to date   30:39 — “We’re not reinventing this”   34:21 — Cracking consumer adoption Useful links:  Vivici website: https://www.vivici.com             Vivici’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/viviciprotein/   Stephan van Sint Fiet LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanvansintfiet/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/

What happens when venture capital escapes the echo chamber of hype? In this episode, Leaders on a Mission welcomes Irena Spazzapan, Managing Partner at Systemiq Capital, to uncover how long-term, asset-light investments are reshaping the future of energy, food, and climate tech. Irena dives into founder mindsets, infrastructure bottlenecks, and why chasing trends won’t solve systemic challenges. Learn how targeted capital and sharp strategy unlock climate solutions that scale. Tune in for a fresh look at building ventures that last, not just raise. --- Hey Climate Tech enthusiasts! Searching for new podcasts on sustainability? Check out the Leaders on a Mission podcast, where I interview climate tech leaders who are shaking up the industry and bringing us the next big thing in sustainable solutions. Join me for a deep dive into the future of green innovation exploring the highs, lows, and everything in between of pioneering new technologies. Get an exclusive insight into how these leaders started up their journey, and how their cutting edge products will make a real impact. Tune in on… YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadersonamissionNet0 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7o41ubdkzChAzD9C53xH82 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leaders-on-a-mission/id1532211726 …to listen to the latest episodes! 00:00 – Systemic change through VC 01:15 – Roots of global perspective 05:35 – From Goldman Sachs to climate 09:00 – Systemiq’s three investment themes 11:10 – Why asset-heavy doesn’t scale 13:20 – Enabling the electrification wave 16:40 – Startups bridging energy silos 18:00 – Europe’s smart power innovators 20:15 – Beyond the hype cycle 24:30 – UK vs US founder mentality 28:30 – The VC shakeout explained 32:10 – The rise of specialist funds 37:50 – Why trust builds value Useful links: Systemiq Capital Website:   https://www.systemiqcapital.earth/      Systemiq Capital LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/systemiq-capital-earth/        Irene Spazzapan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irena-spazzapan-741a53/ Leaders on a Mission website: https://cs-partners.net/podcasts/ Simon Leich’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/executive-talent-headhunter-agtech-foodtech-agrifoodtech-agritech/