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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
  • Keeping California Running on Renewable Diesel with Vince Godfrey, CEO of Olympus Terminals

    Keeping California Running on Renewable Diesel with Vince Godfrey, CEO of Olympus Terminals
    Jan 8 2026

    Today’s guest runs the most important piece of infrastructure that Californians have never heard of.

    Vince Godfrey is the CEO of Olympus Terminals, a company that operates a massive fuel storage facility at the Port of Long Beach. Olympus specializes in the offloading, blending, and storage of fuels shipped from overseas, including renewable diesel and biodiesel.

    Vince’s facility plays a vital role in Southern California, where refinery capacity is decreasing, and imported fuels will be needed to keep the people and economy moving during the transition to renewables.

    So how robust is the demand for renewable diesel in California? What makes the state’s energy market so idiosyncratic? And why is Olympus so well positioned to capitalize on all of it?

    Let's find out.

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    To learn more about Olympus, you can check them out at: https://olympusterminals.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
  • How Lab-Grown Silk could Change the Fashion Industry with Ulrich Scherbel, CEO of AMSilk

    How Lab-Grown Silk could Change the Fashion Industry with Ulrich Scherbel, CEO of AMSilk
    Dec 18 2025

    What started as a group of Spider Man enthusiasts, is now a company capable of producing synthetic silk on a commercial scale. And not only does their silk feel and perform exactly like the natural material, but it can be modified to suit the needs of virtually any industrial application.

    Ulrich Scherbel is the CEO of AMSilk, a Germany-based company that specializes in the creation of lab-grown silk products. Their products are now in use in a range of industries, including shampoo, home care, and luxury textiles.

    The focus on performance and sustainability has attracted the attention of several large luxury fashion retailers, including several stores where you’ll be able to find AMSilk products this holiday season.

    So what makes silk such a sought-after material? Will consumers accept a synthetic alternative for a fabric that’s become synonymous with luxury? And what applications for silk exist beyond the luxury market?

    Let’s find out.

    —----------------------------------------------------------------------------

    To learn more about AMSilk, you can check them out at: https://www.amsilk.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
  • Using 'Flexibility' to Solve AI's Energy Bottleneck with Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI

    Using 'Flexibility' to Solve AI's Energy Bottleneck with Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI
    Dec 4 2025

    Billions of dollars are being spent on new CapEx to satisfy the growing energy needs of AI data centres. But one firm is convinced that the answer isn’t building new capacity, but being smarter in utilizing the power we already have.

    Varun Sivaram is the Founder and CEO of Emerald AI, a company whose software aims to make data centres more ‘flexible’, by intelligently modulating their computational load, and avoiding demand spikes that could overload the grid.

    So what does a truly flexible data centre look like? How much capacity could Emerald’s software actually hope to free up? And what happens to everyone who bet big on an explosion in power demand that may never materialize?

    Let’s find out.

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    To learn more about Emerald AI, you can check them out at: https://www.emeraldai.co/

    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
    29 mins
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