The Startup Replacing Lumber with Carbon-Negative Panels
In this conversation, Josh Dorfman shares his journey from teaching in China to becoming a climate entrepreneur with his companies Plantd and Supercool. He discusses the lessons learned from his early career, the challenges faced in the construction industry, and the importance of media in promoting climate innovation. Josh also provides valuable advice for aspiring climate tech entrepreneurs, emphasizing the need for collaboration, understanding the market, and developing effective adoption strategies. Takeaways Josh's career began in China, teaching English and working in a factory. He learned the importance of having a strong co-founding team. Books have played a significant role in shaping his worldview. Plantd was born out of a desire to find sustainable materials. The construction industry faces challenges in adopting new materials. Media plays a crucial role in promoting climate innovation. Building relationships with larger companies can ease market entry. Vertical integratio
Chapters
- 00:00Journey to Entrepreneurship: From Teaching to Business
- 01:49Lessons Learned: The Hard Way of Entrepreneurship
- 04:20The Birth of Plantd: Innovating with Sustainable Materials
- 11:00Overcoming Challenges: Adoption and Certification in Homebuilding
- 18:02Building a Vertical Supply Chain: The Path to Scale
- 22:14Leadership Transition: From Founder to Advisor
- 27:45Supercool: Bridging Innovation and Climate Solutions
- 31:27Advice for Aspiring Climate Entrepreneurs
Related episodes
Building in the built environment?
AEC Growth helps architecture, engineering, and construction firms turn marketing, proposals, and outreach into a pipeline that keeps moving. Same playbook that produced this show.