Ridzki Kramadibrata, Grab’s ex Indonesian CEO, has announced his transition into entrepreneurship.

He aims to focus on initiatives in climate tech and AI. Kramadibrata has built three ventures.

The first, Planet Carbon, produces biochar for plantations to support net-zero goals and enhance soil regeneration.

The second, carbonZAP, leverages AI to optimize operations and reduce food waste.

Finally, the Do Good Things Tech Institute promotes collaboration in technology-driven climate action and social impact.

These projects demonstrate his commitment to addressing climate change challenges through scalable technological solutions.

🔗 Source: Ridzki Kramadibrata

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Climate tech’s second wave builds on valuable lessons from the first boom-bust cycle

The climate tech sector Ridzki is entering has evolved significantly from its origins as “cleantech” in the early 2000s, when venture funding tripled from $2.3 billion in 2001 to over $7 billion in 2007, primarily in solar and battery technologies 1.

This first wave crashed during 2007-2015 when many companies failed due to high capital requirements, market competition (particularly from cheap natural gas), and unrealistic timelines 1.

Today’s climate tech renaissance, which saw investments surpass $70 billion in 2022 with a 52% CAGR since 2018, reflects critical lessons from those failures: the importance of sustainable business models beyond altruism, regulatory alignment, and realistic capital planning 2.

For entrepreneurs like Ridzki entering this space now, the sector’s historical context suggests focusing on proven solutions with clear paths to profitability—particularly relevant as only 25% of climate tech startups have achieved profitability despite the funding surge 2.

The industry has matured significantly, with over 7,000 climate tech companies worldwide and 100 valued at over $1 billion, creating a more established ecosystem for new ventures to navigate 3.

2️⃣ Capital intensity and extended timelines differentiate climate tech from traditional startups

Climate tech ventures typically require five to six times more early-stage capital than traditional tech sectors, with investment tickets in carbon capture (relevant to Ridzki’s Planet Carbon) often exceeding $25 million 4.