DeepSummary
The podcast episode features an interview with Dr. Etosha Cave, the co-founder and chief science officer of Opus 12, a company that is developing technology to convert carbon dioxide into usable products like fuels and plastics. Cave discusses her inspiration for the technology, which stemmed from her love of space exploration and desire to go to Mars.
Cave talks about her experience as a founder who is also a black woman, and how that has influenced her relationships and interactions in the energy industry. She also shares details about Opus 12's journey, including the challenges they faced in raising early-stage funding and the support they received from programs like Cyclotron Road.
The episode delves into the technical aspects of Opus 12's technology, including the metal catalysts they are developing and the process of converting CO2 into synthetic gases and ethylene. Cave discusses the company's plans for scaling up their technology and the potential applications of their products in various industries.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Opus 12 is developing technology to convert carbon dioxide into usable products like fuels and plastics using metal catalysts.
- Dr. Etosha Cave, the co-founder and chief science officer, drew inspiration for the technology from her love of space exploration and desire to go to Mars.
- As a black woman founder in the energy industry, Cave has faced internal anxiety and pressure to perform at a higher level.
- Cave has learned the importance of providing constructive feedback effectively, even though she tends to be conflict-averse.
- The company faced challenges in raising early-stage funding but received support from programs like Cyclotron Road.
- Opus 12 is focused on scaling up their technology and exploring potential applications in various industries.
- Cave emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and personal growth for founders and leaders.
- The episode provides insights into the technical aspects of Opus 12's technology and the product development process.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “I mean, I think looking back on it, I don't know that I handled it all that well in terms of my internal anxiety. I was pretty anxious. You know, at that time, I didn't really know what that was or know what that meant. And kind of I had this feeling like, oh, everyone's, like, expecting me to perform a certain way. There's this mantra, I think, within. Certainly my parents said it a lot within the black community is like, as a black person, you have to be twice as good to be seen as the same.“ by Etosha Cave
- “I would say giving maybe constructive feedback in a way that lands well with the person I tend to be conflict averse a bit, and so kind of hesitate to say, like, hey, let's talk about this, like, what happened and things. And so I've actually gone through a couple of trainings.“ by Etosha Cave
- “We've actually gone through a couple of trainings. So Stanford has this t group course that's through their continued education program, and there's a couple other groups that are doing t groups, and it's a lot of practice and just giving feedback and receiving feedback and kind of really working on, like, saying, what's the observable truth? What can you actually, what's, you know, what's clear and observable? And then how it landed with you, and then, you know, ask how it lands with the other person and just kind of engage in a way that could reduce the potential that someone will get defensive about it, but really still engaging in the core issue and in.“ by Etosha Cave
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Episode Information
The Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
12/13/19
This week on Watt It Takes: Emily Kirsch sits down with Dr. Etosha Cave, the co-founder and chief science officer of Opus 12.
Opus 12 is a team of engineers, electrochemists and materials scientists working on a technology that converts carbon dioxide into useable products. They are developing a metal catalyst that can turn CO2 into synthetic gas for fuels and ethylene for plastics.
If the tech works at commercial scale, it would be a vital solution for slashing CO2 from industrial sources. The company has brought in about $20 million in funding.
In this interview, Etosha talks about the inspiration for the technology, which came from her love of space and desire to go to Mars.
She talks about being a founder who’s also a black woman, and how that’s influenced her relationships with other people in energy.
And she talks about where Opus 12’s tech development stands.
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