Grounded: A Climate Startup Journey

Tom’s been making biochar for a few weeks now, and while he’s got the basics down, he’s also learning some hard lessons. Lessons like: Fresh wood isn’t very dry. Six weeks isn’t very long. And one pair of hands isn’t very many hands. But making biochar is only half the battle – he also needs to figure out how to use it. So, can he make up any lost time and get this production process back on track? Can he tell his apples from his cow dung? And is his startup journey about to find a whole new (global) audience? Grounded is the award-winning story of a startup that wants to remove carbon from the atmosphere and help reshape our relationship with the planet. Ideally without burning to the ground in the process. Follow the podcast to hear Tom’s journey, or visit restord.earth to learn more about the project. Thank you to the guests who featured in this episode, including:Adam Samuel – Co-Founder, CapCharBen Hopkins – Associate, Bennetts AssociatesGenevieve Hodgins – Climate Scientist, SupercriticalTess Dickinson - Gillyflower FarmRichard Bilton – Reporter, BBC Panorama  Grounded: A Climate Startup Journey is:hosted by Tom Previte,produced by Ben Weaver-Hincks,with marketing by Oluwaseun Sanni,graphic design by Liubov Pankiv,and promotional support by Paola Sáenz, Jack Turnham and Lizzy Read

‘Twas the night before machine delivery, and Tom’s about to discover what running a biochar business really involves. If the last seven episodes were the world’s longest preamble, this is where the real story begins: and it involves elbow grease, experimentation, and a healthy dose of good humour. But how will he fare against the highest highs and lowest lows of his startup journey so far? Will he ever get the smell of smoke out of his farmers gilet? And, at the end of the day, is the biochar life the life for him? Grounded is the award-winning story of a startup that wants to remove carbon from the atmosphere and help reshape our relationship with the planet. Ideally without burning to the ground in the process. Follow the podcast to hear Tom’s journey, or visit restord.earth to learn more about the project. Thank you to the guests who featured in this episode, including:Adam Samuel – Co-Founder, CapCharRichard, The Dumpy Bag ManTeam members at The Carbon Removal Show  Grounded: A Climate Startup Journey is:hosted by Tom Previte,produced by Ben Weaver-Hincks,with marketing by Oluwaseun Sanni,graphic design by Liubov Pankiv,and promotional support by Paola Sáenz, Jack Turnham and Lizzy Read

After months of physical and emotional labour, the stars are beginning to align and the prospect of actually making biochar is now tantalisingly close. But Tom’s recipe is still missing one crucial ingredient: wood, and lots of it. So, while he pores over his cashflow projections and awaits delivery of his machine, he sets about trying to find some. And as he soon discovers, this wood business is a little trickier than it first appears. For instance, how many Toms does it take to guide an 8-wheeler down a country road? If a tree falls in a forest, does it necessarily make good biochar? And what does this all have to do with elephants? Grounded is the award-winning story of a startup that wants to remove carbon from the atmosphere and help reshape our relationship with the planet. Ideally without burning to the ground in the process. Follow the podcast to hear Tom’s journey, or visit restord.earth to learn more about the project. Thank you to the guests who featured in this episode, including: Dr Bojana Bajzelj – VP Carbon Removal, BeZero CarbonChintan Mahida – Co-Founder, CapCharAdam Samuel – Co-Founder, CapCharTeam members at Corserv and Cormac Grounded: A Climate Startup Journey is:hosted by Tom Previte,produced by Ben Weaver-Hincks,with marketing by Oluwaseun Sanni,graphic design by Liubov Pankiv,and promotional support by Paola Sáenz, Jack Turnham and Lizzy Read

Tom’s baaack! That’s right – after basking briefly in the glow of his new-found ‘fame’, Tom’s returning to your ears for the next chapter of his biochar journey. And he’s ready to leave the city behind and move full-time to the farm. But with funding still uncertain, he’s doing everything he can to keep things on track: from honing his pitch and making contingency plans, to laying concrete and learning to operate dangerous machinery. But when all’s said and done, is he any closer to making his project a reality? Or is he on a south-westerly road to nowhere? Grounded is the story of a startup that wants to remove carbon from the atmosphere and help reshape our relationship with the planet. Ideally without burning to the ground in the process. Follow the podcast to hear Tom’s journey, or visit restord.earth to learn more about the project.  This episode features excerpts from:Mel Osborne on BBC Radio CornwallReversing Climate ChangeWicked Problems – Climate Tech Conversations  Grounded: A Climate Startup Journey is:hosted by Tom Previte,produced by Ben Weaver-Hincks,with marketing by Oluwaseun Sanni,graphic design by Liubov Pankiv,and promotional support by Paola Sáenz, Jack Turnham and Lizzy Read

It’s the fifth and (for now) final episode, and Tom finds himself facing the challenge that all founders will face: how to make the numbers work. So he whips out his calculator, picks up the phone, and starts sending off those grant applications. Amidst it all, he’s dealing with a cold workspace, grappling with contracts, and taking his first foray into filmmaking. Sure, he’s picked up a few new skills lately. But the question is: can he find a buyer for his credits? And, ultimately, will he get the funds he needs to make this all happen? Grounded is the story of a startup that wants to remove carbon from the atmosphere and help reshape our relationship with the planet. Ideally without burning to the ground in the process. Follow the podcast to hear Tom’s journey, or visit restord.earth to learn more about the project.Thank you to the guests who featured in this episode, including: Peter Fisher – Director, Bennetts AssociatesBen Hopkins – Associate, Bennetts AssociatesPeter Mayer – Partner, Stairs Dillenbeck Finley Mayer PLLCCouncillor Martyn Alvey – Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, Cornwall Council (Councillor Alvey recorded this conversation in April 2024, prior to the UK pre-election period.) Grounded: A Climate Startup Journey is:hosted by Tom Previte,produced by Ben Weaver-Hincks,with graphic design by Liubov Pankiv,and marketing and promotional support by Paola Sáenz and Jack Turnham

Tom is four episodes into his biochar journey, but he’s still facing one big challenge: will the machine he wants allow him to turn his climate dreams into business reality? Meanwhile, he has other things to tick off his to-do list: to incorporate a business, to keep his electric car charged… oh, and to start making a podcast. Amongst it all, he takes the train to Oxford, gets an unexpected proposal, and asks himself some big questions about the future. Is there a path through the weeds? And if there is, how is he going to start paying for it all?Grounded is the story of a startup that wants to remove carbon from the atmosphere and help reshape our relationship with the planet. Ideally without burning to the ground in the process. Follow the podcast to hear Tom’s journey, or visit restord.earth to learn more about the project. Thank you to the guests who featured in this episode, including: Chintan Mahida – Co-Founder, CapCharAdam Samuel – Co-Founder, CapCharNikolaus Wohlgemuth – Carbon Markets Expert & Head of Supply, CarbonfutureFrancesca Battersby – Chair, Executive Committee, GGR Future Leaders Network  Grounded: A Climate Startup Journey is:hosted by Tom Previte,produced by Ben Weaver-Hincks,with graphic design by Liubov Pankiv,and marketing and promotional support by Paola Sáenz and Jack Turnham