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Pitching Progress

Pitching Progress

By: BCG
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From turning food waste into energy, to recycled fashion and low-emission aviation fuel: Pitching Progress brings you the stories of innovators working to decarbonize the industries that power our world. On this show from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the founders of some of the world’s most inventive green-tech startups take part in an in-depth pitch session that challenges them to demonstrate their products' environmental impact, and the value they create for investors. We’ll show you that commerce and climate consciousness don’t have to be at odds with one another. That renewable energy, sustainability, and circular economies represent a leap forward for society, and incredible investment opportunities. In the process, we’ll introduce you to the people and stories behind the firms revolutionizing the modern economy. What does it take for an idea to go from the lab to the marketplace? What sort of fiscal barriers exist for green-tech entrepreneurs on their path to success? And will they be able to convince Vinay that their product, business plan and value propositions are strong enough to get them there? Join us as we demystify the world of green-tech and sustainable commerce, and inspire the next wave of forward-thinking investors and entrepreneurs to build on the burgeoning green economy. About Our Host: Pitching Progress is hosted by Vinay Shandal, who leads BCG’s sustainable finance and investing business. Vinay draws on his experience at the intersection of finance and sustainability to ask founders the tough questions about their operations, and challenge them to convince investors that the business is good for the world and good for their wallets. We’d Love to Hear From You: We’d love to hear your feedback on how we can produce the best content possible, please share any episode ideas, and general thoughts at PIPE@bcg.com. Pitching Progress by BCG empowers listeners to think differently about the relationship between sustainability and commerce. For more information and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/overview New episodes of Pitching Progress are available every two weeks wherever you get your podcasts. Get a look inside the business of building a better future.Copyright 2025 BCG Earth Sciences Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Science
Episodes
  • Navigating a Transitional Time for Renewables with Mark Noyes, CEO of TerraForm Power
    Nov 13 2025

    After years of skyrocketing investment, the renewables industry seems to have lost some of its lustre. With tax credits that once supercharged new wind and solar development being rolled back, and general enthusiasm waning, are we witnessing the bubble burst on renewable energy?

    Mark Noyes definitely doesn't think so. He's the CEO of TerraForm Power, a fully integrated renewables business with 3 gigawatts of existing capacity and 6 more currently in development. Despite shifting political and economic winds, Mark remains confident that renewables will play a pivotal role in meeting America's exploding energy demands.

    So how have policy shifts impacted the viability of solar and wind development? Will battery storage fix the intermittency issues that have limited adoption? And how much of the supposed spike in demand from AI data centers will actually materialize?

    Let’s find out.

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    To learn more about TerraForm Power, you can check them out at: https://www.terraform.com/

    If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at PIPE@bcg.com

    For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
  • Forging a Low-Carbon Future for Steel with Parker Meeks, President and CEO of Utility Global
    Oct 30 2025

    To build the low-carbon economy of the future, we’re going to need a lot more steel. But right now, most steel is produced from high-carbon-emitting blast furnaces, and there’s nowhere near enough recyclable steel to meet global demand. So how do we make more steel, without pumping more carbon into the atmosphere?

    Parker Meeks is the President and CEO of Utility Global, a company leveraging their revolutionary tech to decarbonize global steel production. Utility’s platform can be incorporated into existing facilities, requires relatively minimal capital expenditure, and here’s the kicker: no new energy infrastructure is needed, because the whole process powers itself.

    So how does it actually work? What are its advantages over other methods of producing ‘green steel’? And most importantly, can global steel producers be convinced that Utility is the way to go when it comes to decarbonization?

    Let’s find out.


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    To learn more about Utility Global, you can check them out at: https://www.utilityglobal.com/

    If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at PIPE@bcg.com

    For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
  • Using Data to Decrease Food Waste with Ryan Begin, CEO and Co-Founder of Divert
    Oct 16 2025

    Roughly a third of all food produced in the United States ends up in a landfill. A lot of that comes from dumpsters behind grocery stores, where food that could otherwise be marked down or donated ends up rotting in the trash.

    Ryan Begin is the CEO of Divert, a company that's using its incredible trove of data to keep food out of landfills. At the core of their pitch is some simple in-store infrastructure that allows retailers to see exactly what's ending up in the trash, and empowers them to make smarter choices.

    But what makes solving the issue of food waste so complex in the first place? Why would a company partner with Divert instead of, say, paying a hauler to bring it to the landfill? And what about the current US regulatory environment makes this an attractive proposition?

    Let's find out.

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    To learn more about Divert, you can check them out at: https://divertinc.com/

    If you have any feedback on today's episode, shoot us an email at PIPE@bcg.com

    For more information on BCG’s commitment to sustainable investing, and to stay updated, visit our website at: https://www.bcg.com/industries/principal-investors-private-equity/sustainability-in-private-equity

    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
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