Would you briefly introduce yourself and highlight what kind of expertise and support the teams can expect from you?

I am Jason Teng, a partner and patent attorney with Potter Clarkson. In a previous life, I was a mechanical engineer, a nanotechnologist and a postdoctoral researcher. Since becoming a patent attorney, I now combine my technical knowledge and legal expertise in my role as an IP legal advisor to help founders and companies identify and protect their valuable IP, which is an often misunderstood and overlooked part of the innovation journey.

What made you join Carbon13’s mission to fight the climate emergency by supporting climatetech projects?

Several years ago, a good friend of mine Kelly Price, part of Carbon13’s first cohort, told me about the excellent work Carbon13 are doing. After speaking to the team, I signed up as a Domain Expert. This gave me the opportunity to not only support the start-up founders but also enrich my own knowledge about the climatetech sector. Being a Domain Expert gives me the privilege of helping climatetech startups take the first steps in their journey.

What is the difference when it comes to supporting and working with climatetech founders, compared to other founders?

I see in climatetech founders an unwavering sense of mission and community, which is first and foremost in their minds. Even if they might be competitors, they are all pulling in the same direction for the greater good.

Carbon13 is about building sustainable startups and also about building strong teams who can support each other throughout the challenging  journey. Are there any examples of teams whose treatment of each other has impressed you and that others could learn from?

There are far too many examples of incredible teams within the Carbon13 ecosystem. Adia Thermal would be one such example. In my interactions with Sam, Luke and Shaun, I see a strong team with clearly defined roles but at the same time a genuine respect for what each other brings to the table.

Building a start-up is a rollercoaster ride with many ups and downs. What tips do you have for founders to cope with this?

You are only one person. Reach out and connect to as many people as possible. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You will find that most people are, or have been, in the same boat, and they can and will share their experience.

Why do you think that Carbon13 is a good place to start a successful climatetech venture?

If I had to choose one word to describe Carbon13, I would choose “community”. Carbon13 is fostering a growing community of founders, alumni, investors, experts and others committed to climatetech. Knowing that there are others alongside and ahead of you makes it easier for a founder to push ahead into the unknown.

Who would you like to work with in the future?

I am especially interested in working with people developing new technologies, which in my view will be critical towards accelerating global efforts in addressing the climate emergency. Particularly, I see great importance in purpose-driven technical solutions aimed at solving longstanding problems, rather than being developed purely for technological advancement.