I developed Climestart for my past self.
When around 2.5 years ago I decided to break into climate tech entrepreneurship, I went through several challenges.
The Initial Challenges
First of all, I had to understand the space and all its verticals. I read through several books, did a lot of online research, and went to countless events. Afterwards I was more confused than before. I am a generalist, and there was no obvious choice, not even for a sector.
I took online courses and paid quite a lot for them. Even though they were enriching and fun, I found them only useful for people seeking a job in climate. But I didn't want to find a job. I wanted to build another company.
The Path to Clarity
At some point, I figured out what I wanted to work on, which was biodiversity and nature finance, but this epiphany had come to me rather randomly after months of mental rambling. And in hindsight I have to admit that I could have made a better choice, not in terms of idealism and passion, but with regard to my expertise and skills as well as the market.
I joined a venture builder program and there I felt in my element as a founder. However, I thought I could just run the playbook from my previous startup and had to learn the hard way that the playbook for climate tech and nature tech is fundamentally different in certain parts.
The Birth of Climestart
So when I started to build Climestart, I travelled back in time 2.5 years ago and asked myself: What could have reduced a lot of unnecessary trouble ahead on the way of becoming a climate tech founder? Not that anything can save you the trouble—the trouble is essential to the path—but at least someone like me couldn't have been better prepared in a more efficient way.
That stayed my mantra throughout the initial building process. Normally, I preach and coach rigorous customer research while forgetting about your own needs, problems, and preferences as a founder. But building for yourself, even if it's your past self, is also a way. Because you are not unique. No matter how specific your profile, you are always representative for a certain part of society. And the upside is that you are always available as a tester.