Former Meta CTO Pivots to Climate Tech: Mike Schroepfer's Bold New Venture
San Francisco, Monday, 29 July 2024.
Mike Schroepfer, ex-CTO of Meta, has shifted focus to climate change, launching Gigascale Capital for climate tech investments. His $50 million nonprofit, Carbon to Sea, aims to enhance ocean alkalinity for CO2 capture. Schroepfer’s willingness to take risks in unproven technologies marks a significant transition from tech giant to climate innovator.
Gigascale Capital: A Venture Fund for the Future
In May 2023, Mike Schroepfer launched Gigascale Capital, a venture fund dedicated to supporting early-stage climate tech companies. With a focus on disruptive innovations, the fund targets projects ranging from fusion commercialization to landfill emission reduction and methane pollution mitigation from cattle. Schroepfer’s approach is to invest in technologies that have the potential to revolutionize trillion-dollar industries while providing substantial environmental benefits.
The Nonprofit Initiative: Carbon to Sea
Carbon to Sea, Schroepfer’s $50 million nonprofit initiative, aims to enhance ocean alkalinity to capture atmospheric carbon dioxide. By adding substances like olivine, basalt, or lime to the oceans, the project seeks to increase the water’s ability to absorb CO2, thereby reducing overall atmospheric levels. This innovative approach to geoengineering reflects Schroepfer’s willingness to take substantial risks for potentially high rewards in the fight against climate change.
Outlier Projects: Research and Development Grants
Outlier Projects, another brainchild of Schroepfer, provides grants for research in key areas such as greenhouse gas removal, glacier stabilization, and solar geoengineering. These grants are aimed at exploring novel methods to mitigate climate change impacts, including the preservation of glaciers like the Thwaites Glacier, also known as the Doomsday Glacier, which poses a significant risk to global sea levels if it collapses.
The Role of AI in Climate Tech
Schroepfer emphasizes the critical role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advancing climate tech solutions. He believes that AI can drive significant improvements in energy efficiency and support the rapid scaling of clean energy technologies. During his tenure at Meta, Schroepfer witnessed multiple orders-of-magnitude improvements in efficiency and power use through AI-driven innovations. He now aims to leverage these advancements to accelerate climate tech development.
Balancing Philanthropy and Profit
One of the unique aspects of Schroepfer’s approach is his ability to balance philanthropic efforts with for-profit investments. While Carbon to Sea and Outlier Projects focus on public good and foundational research, Gigascale Capital seeks to demonstrate that smart investments in low-carbon technologies can be both environmentally beneficial and financially profitable. Schroepfer’s dual strategy aims to create proof points that can guide future climate interventions and attract more investment into the sector.
Global Collaboration and Future Vision
Schroepfer advocates for global collaboration in tackling climate change, emphasizing that no single nation can manage the crisis independently. He envisions a future where innovative climate tech solutions are widely adopted, leading to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and advancements in renewable energy. Schroepfer’s work aims to lay the groundwork for these technologies, creating a more sustainable and resilient global economy.