Episode Details

In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri sits down with Hiran , Co-founder of Ashwatta Sustainability Ventures (domain Ashwatta.earth) , to explore how climate innovation is evolving beyond buzzwords into real systems change. From her beginnings in chemical engineering to building a venture studio focused on translating breakthrough science into scalable climate companies, Hiran shares a grounded perspective on what it truly takes to build a sustainable future.

• Hiran shares her journey from chemical engineering to climate tech commercialization.
• Ashwatha Earth focuses on building climate companies by translating science into scalable ventures.
• Conversation framed around women leaders in climate and deep tech.

️ Climate Tech Evolution

• Shift from clean tech to climate tech, but the mission remains sustainability.
• Circularity and responsible material use are central themes.
• Need to rethink systems that nature cannot naturally recycle.
• Climate innovation goes beyond solar and wind.
• Key areas: thermal storage, alternative fuels, advanced materials, and fusion.
• Industrial heat and heavy transport remain major decarbonization challenges.

Startup & Solution Examples

• Ashwatha Earth building PVC upcycling solutions.
• Emerging climate startups in emissions tracking, digital twins, hydrogen storage, carbon capture, and biochar.
• Strong in deployment, financial models, and application-layer innovation.
• Gaps in deep-tech ownership, patents, and long-term risk capital.
• Opportunity to move from adoption to innovation leadership.

Software & AI in Climate

• AI accelerates optimization, modeling, and material discovery.
• Data availability is still a major limitation.
• AI complements science rather than replacing it.
• Institutional co-founder approach to take tech from lab to market for making Venture Studio Model
• Higher success probability compared to traditional VC power-law models.
• Focus on zero-to-one building and de-risking innovation.
• Local solutions can scale globally when economics and distribution are solved.