In our last episode, we covered a recent study on climate venture studios conducted by Jamil Wyne and Hazelwood Network and discussed the role studios can play in accelerating climate innovation. 

Today, we’re seeing what that looks like in practice in a region critical to our climate future.

Across Southeast Asia, growing incomes and rapid urbanization are driving demand for energy, housing, and food. Meeting those needs creates an enormous business opportunity—and the choices made today will shape emissions for decades.

Our guests are Steve Melhuish and Marie Cheong, founding partners of 100x100, which builds climate companies across Southeast Asia and India. Their first fund raised $60 million and launched 26 businesses, with companies generating revenue in just five and a half months, on average.

We explore how they recruit experienced entrepreneurs, identify overlooked opportunities, and build businesses that can deliver both financial returns and meaningful emissions reductions.

On today’s episode, we cover:

• 01:22 - Introducing Steve, Marie, and 100x100
• 02:34 - Marie's Path from Politics to Climate Venture Building
• 06:32 - Steve's Journey from Property Guru to Climate
• 10:29 - Mapping Southeast Asia's Emissions and the Green Discount
• 14:38 - Can Existing Tech Plus Regional Reach Deliver Venture Returns?
• 16:44 - Growth and Challenges in Southeast Asia
• 18:40 - Inside the Venture Building Process
• 22:35 - Engineering the Spark and Finding Product-Market Fit
• 25:21 - Founder-Friendly Deal Terms: 70/30
• 26:17 - Fund Math, Survival Rates, and M&A Exits
• 28:57 - Lessons from Fund One and Expanding to India
• 32:47 - Talent-Forward vs. Sector-Driven
• 33:24 - Structural Advantages: Seaweed, Cattle Feed, and Distributed Solar
• 37:37 - Sharing Lessons Across Markets
• 38:10 - Who 100x100 Wants to Hear From
• 39:38 - More Women Founders in Climate
• 40:30 - Wrap-Up

Resources Mentioned

• 100x100
• Hazelwood Network Research: Climate Venture Studios: Building the Infrastructure for Climate Innovation
• Engie Factory
• Wavemaker Partners
• PropertyGuru
• Greta Thunberg's school strike for climate
• Larry Fink's letter to CEOs, "A Fundamental Reshaping of Finance"
• Nūl
• Zentide
• HiFeed
• Neoterra, 

Connect with us

• Marie Cheong
• Steve Melhuish
• Jason Rissman

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