Episode 16 (Season 1 Finale): Shifting Energy Politics, Holistic Venture Building, and Scaling Solar Fuels with Oliver Libby (Managing Partner, H/L Ventures) and Gianluca Ambrosetti (CEO, Synhelion)

In Episode 16 of The Smart Society Show, co-hosts Brynne Kennedy and Rt Hon Chris Skidmore explore a moment of global divergence. From local elections in the UK to large-scale foreign investments in US energy and AI, the episode examines how political ideologies are shaping energy strategies around the world. Amid the growing split between decarbonization mandates and fossil fuel resurgence, Brynne and Chris assess the implications for investors, markets, and the future of net zero.

They are joined by two high-profile guests. Oliver Libby, co-founding Managing Partner of H/L Ventures and CityRock Venture Partners, discusses his unique venture model centered on active engagement and social impact. Gianluca Ambrosetti, founder and CEO of Synhelion, shares how his company is scaling solar fuels to decarbonize aviation.

What’s News: Elections, Oil, and Energy Market Realignment

This week’s What’s News segment opens with a look at the political backlash to climate policy in the UK, where local elections saw the Reform Party gain control of several councils, potentially threatening national grid expansion plans. Chris explains how this rise in opposition could delay the UK's 2030 clean power targets, raising investor concerns about stability and execution risk. He urges policymakers to reframe the energy transition not just as a climate imperative, but as an economic one focused on abundance, efficiency, and energy security.

Brynne highlights a growing divide: liberal governments in Canada and Australia are doubling down on emissions reduction, while the US and parts of the UK appear to lean toward fossil fuel resurgence. At the heart of the debate lies the challenge of delivering affordable and reliable energy, with voters increasingly driven by price and economic security.

The conversation shifts to the United States, where a market-led diversification strategy is underway. While political rhetoric still champions oil and gas, investment trends point to a broader energy mix including geothermal, gas, nuclear, and renewables. Brynne notes that oil majors like Diamondback and Shell are already adjusting CapEx and dividends in response to lower prices, signaling a pivot toward efficiency and adaptability.

Chris adds that despite recent challenges to tax credits in the US, there is still bipartisan momentum around energy independence and innovation. He cites increasing Gulf investments into the US economy, especially in AI and power infrastructure, as signs of renewed global alignment. Brynne points to announcements of hundreds of billions in energy and AI funding from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, positioning the US as a technology provider and the Gulf as capital backers of the transition.

They also discuss CATL’s blockbuster IPO in Hong Kong. Now the largest IPO of 2024, the battery giant’s success reflects surging investor appetite for energy storage solutions. Chris notes that with battery prices dropping by half in 2024 alone, economies of scale are accelerating. Brynne adds that CATL’s innovation and cost leadership could reshape global access to affordable storage, unlocking more resilient grids and faster renewable deployment.

Climate Leaders: Oliver Libby on Building Impact-Driven Ventures for Resilience

In the Climate Leaders segment, Brynne and Chris speak with Oliver Libby, co-founding Managing Partner of H/L Ventures and CityRock Venture Partners. With a background spanning national security, politics, and entrepreneurship, Oliver shares how he created a vertically integrated venture platform that goes beyond capital.

H/L Ventures backs startups through daily active engagement. Their 80-person platform team and 300-strong external network work hand-in-hand with founders across operations, fundraising, and strategy. Oliver likens venture support to cooking: good ingredients matter, but success depends on how you prepare them. This holistic model, he says, enables a level of consistency and resilience that traditional VC firms often cannot match.

CityRock Venture Partners, H/L’s affiliated growth fund, invests at the Series A stage in companies across climate, health, and fintech. It sources about half of its deals from H/L Studios and the other half externally. Oliver emphasizes that the firm’s success is grounded in selecting mission-driven, resourceful, and collaborative founders, especially those who demonstrate “resource magnetism” — the ability to achieve outsized results with limited capital.

Oliver also makes a strong case for impact and diversity as return drivers. He references data showing that diverse founding teams outperform their peers, and argues that inclusive teams are more resilient and innovative. He shares that among companies in H/L’s portfolio that reach Series A, the failure rate is nearly zero, a testament to both the firm's active engagement model and its commitment to long-term partnership.

On policy, Oliver calls for a recommitment to public-private collaboration. He argues that regulation, when designed correctly, is essential to leveling the playing field and fostering innovation. Citing everything from climate tech to biotech, he warns that without sustained government support for basic research and market scaffolding, the innovation economy will falter.

Looking ahead, Oliver believes the most transformative opportunities lie not in radical new breakthroughs, but in practical, scalable technologies that integrate with existing infrastructure. From solar and energy retrofits to climate resilience tools and new materials, H/L Ventures is betting on solutions that work in the real world, today.

Chasing Unicorns: Gianluca Ambrosetti on Scaling Solar Fuels with Synhelion

In the Chasing Unicorns segment, Brynne and Chris welcome Gianluca Ambrosetti, founder and CEO of Synhelion. Based in Switzerland, Synhelion is pioneering solar kerosene to decarbonize aviation using high-temperature solar heat. Gianluca shares how a decade of collaboration with ETH Zurich inspired him to build a scalable solution for one of the hardest-to-abate sectors: long-haul air travel.

Synhelion aims to produce one million tons of solar fuel annually by 2033. Gianluca explains that while the technology is ready, the biggest challenge is financing. Large-scale plants are essential to bring costs down, but require major upfront investment. Synhelion is pursuing a staged roadmap, de-risking the technology while securing offtake agreements and credibility through partners like Swissair.

Swissair, a Synhelion investor and customer, has played a key role in validating the company’s approach. As the first airline set to use solar kerosene, Swissair is helping shape a scalable pathway for other aviation players seeking to meet emissions targets while maintaining operational reliability.

On policy, Gianluca supports both the European quota-driven approach and the US incentive-led model. He notes that crossing the cost chasm between fossil fuels and clean fuels will require predictable regulation, whether through mandates or price stabilization. Without it, long-term financing for clean fuel infrastructure remains at risk.

Looking forward, Gianluca emphasizes the importance of scale, affordability, and system compatibility. While liquid solar fuels will not be the only solution, he believes Synhelion is well-positioned to occupy a significant share of a trillion dollar market. With aviation entering the EU and UK carbon trading systems, and fuel mandates taking effect, the window for breakthrough players like Synhelion is now.

Final Thoughts

Episode 16 of The Smart Society Show spotlights a pivotal moment in the global energy transition. From political divides to global capital flows, and from battery IPOs to solar fuels, the world is recalibrating how energy is produced, traded, and consumed.

As geopolitical stakes rise and technology accelerates, the defining question is no longer whether the transition will happen, but how. Will it be market-led or policy-driven? Will it prioritize affordability, resilience, or innovation? Will investors follow the volatility or shape the future?

This episode makes one thing clear: the path to net zero is not linear. But with vision, capital, and conviction, it remains within reach.

Listen to Episode 16 now and follow along as we chart the future of climate technology and energy transformation.

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