Meet Josh Silverman: Methane's Mastermind, Morphing Gas into Gains #11

🌿 Hey Earth First Fam!

Welcome to our 11th newsletter!

In this edition of Earth First we will zoom in on Windfall Bio, an incredible startup here to make a big dent in the fight against climate change. At the helm of this revolution is the visionary Josh Silverman, CEO and co-founder.

Here’s what you can expect in this edition:

1. What’s Methane? & Why Does it Matter?

2. Who is Josh Silverman? & What’s his Vision?

3. What’s Windfall Bio’s Objective? & What are they building?

☢️ What's Methane and Why Does it Matter? 

Methane: The Climate Change Ninja 💨

Let’s talk about a sneaky little molecule that’s been flying under our environmental radar—methane. You know, that other greenhouse gas that doesn’t get as much airtime as CO2 but is basically climate change’s secret weapon? Yeah, that’s the one. Let's dive into why methane might just be the climate change ninja we all need to watch out for.

Methane Unmasked: The Climate Heavyweight 🎭

Methane (CH4) is kinda like CO2’s shadowy cousin. It's not around for a long time, but oh boy, does it make its presence felt. Over 20 years, methane is about 86 times better at trapping heat than CO2. That's right—this gas might not stick around as long as CO2, but it punches way above its weight in the warming department.

So, where’s all this methane coming from? Picture everything from cow burps in the fields (yup, really) to those invisible leaks from oil and gas sites, and even the stuff decomposing away in our landfills. These methane missions are a big deal because they account for a massive chunk of the warming effect we’re seeing today.

The Overlooked Opportunity💡

Now, here’s the kicker: while we’ve all been focused on battling CO2, methane’s been the elephant in the room (or more accurately, the ninja in the shadows). The thing is, treating methane right could turn it from a problem child into a golden child. Instead of letting it slip away into the atmosphere or just burning it off (which is kinda like saying goodbye to a potential treasure trove), we could be turning it into something awesome.

Calling All Climate Ninjas 🥷

It’s about time we shine a spotlight on methane. With the right moves, we can flip the script on methane, turning those emissions into opportunities.

Imagine capturing that sneaky methane and converting it into useful stuff before it even thinks about warming the planet. That's not just good for cutting down greenhouse gases; it’s also a brilliant way to boost our green economy. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone—except in this case, we’re saving the birds and the planet.

🌟 Josh Silverman: The Savvy Scientist

The Early Days Pioneering Against the Odds 🕵️‍♂️

Picture this: Josh, armed for 15 years with a vision to tackle methane—a notorious but overlooked greenhouse gas—when almost everyone else was laser-focused on carbon dioxide. Finding folks ready to invest in methane over CO2? Like looking for a needle in a haystack. But Josh was onto something big, and he knew it. This was the challenge of the decade, setting the stage for Windfall Bio's epic journey.

Building the Dream Team 🙏

Enter stage left: moments of fate. Imagine the universe conspiring to bring the right people together at just the perfect time. That's how Josh met Louis, Frank, Carla, and other key players who would become the founding pillars of Windfall Bio. Some were old comrades with shared battle scars from past ventures, while others were fresh faces with the exact expertise needed. Each new addition was a piece of the puzzle, perfectly falling into place.

A Shift in the Wind: Methane Takes Center Stage 🎤

As Windfall Bio's story unfolded, something exciting happened. The world began to wake up to the critical role of other GHGs having a big impact on climate change. People saw that methane was coming from all different types of sources AND that it was really, really bad…

Investors opened up to the broader story of Windfall’s technology, its applications, and methane’s potential in untapped sectors. What was once a lone voice in the wilderness became a chorus of growing awareness and concern. Methane was no longer the underdog; it was the headline act, and Windfall Bio was leading the charge.

Launching Into the Limelight 🚀

With a stellar team ready and the world finally tuning into methane's tune, Windfall Bio blasted off. Founded in 2022, it was more than just a company launch; it was a declaration that the future of tackling climate change had arrived. Josh and his team were no longer just dreamers; they were doers, set to transform how we approach methane and turn a global problem into sustainable solutions.

Methane is produced from all kinds of different sources both manmade and natural but the ability of our technology to be flexible and utilize all those different sources to have the same profitability and utility is really exciting.

Josh’s 3 Core Beliefs 🔮

1. Grounded in Science, Focused on the Market

Josh knows that making a positive impact on the climate means creating solutions that don't just sound good on paper but also stand up to the laws of thermodynamics and, importantly, market demands.

“Doing good for the climate doesn’t override the fundamentals of business.”

2. Steering Clear of the ‘Mission-Driven’ Mirage

While the buzz around being “mission-driven” can be alluring, Josh opts for a more grounded narrative. It's about fostering open, fact-based discussions that lead to realistic, actionable solutions—not just wishful thinking.

"In my experience, if you are solely a mission-driven CEO or company, that can lead to people ignoring things that don't work."

3. Embracing the Fast-to-Fail Philosophy

In a world where time is as precious as our planet, waiting around to see if something might work isn't an option.

"The sooner we figure out if it's not going to work, the sooner we can pivot to something else that will work."

Get to Know Josh!

Favorite Book: Foundation Series by Issac Asimov

Favorite Podcast: MCJ Podcast

Quotes in Focus: “The first definition of a sustainable business is a profitable business.” & “You can’t fight thermodynamics.”

Biggest Climate role model: His mentor, Willem “Pim” Stemmer 

Wishes people knew about climate: “Recognizing that methane is at least as important in terms of broad overall impact to CO2, and is a much bigger opportunity for short term impact on the climate. If we want ways to buy ourselves time to implement other solutions, methane is sitting right there. It's a huge opportunity that's been completely overlooked for the last 15-20 years.”

Most excited about for the future: “There's a whole lot to be excited about. On one side, we are seeing a lot more people taking climate action more seriously, and on the other side, we are starting to see governments waking up.”

🚀 Windfall Bio: A Realist in Methane Transformation

At the heart of Windfall Bio lies a mission as clear as it is ambitious: to redefine how we interact with one of the most potent yet under-appreciated sources of greenhouse gas — methane. Here's a closer look at how Windfall Bio is turning challenges into opportunities, leading the charge toward a sustainable future.

Innovative Solutions with Fertilizers and Beyond 🤘

Windfall Bio's initial focus on converting methane into organic fertilizers showcases the practical application of their technology. In short, methane from all sources on the farm go in, then bio fermenters filled with a blend of Methane Eating Microbes transform it… and VOILA! Out comes the creation of organic-rich compost on site.

By targeting a ubiquitous need within the agricultural sector, Windfall Bio aligns environmental sustainability with economic viability. Their products offer farmers a dual benefit: reducing methane emissions while enhancing soil health with eco-friendly fertilizers.

Not only are Windfall’s solutions pertinent to the agriculture industry, it extends to further industries including oil and gas and waste management!

Windfall’s New Paradigm:

1. Methane to Organic Nutrients: Decrease reliance on synthetic fertilizers, give power and profit to farmers

2. Methane Free Food Production: Enable a more equitable food systems

3. Soil as THE Methane Sink: Re-establish soil's place as Earth’s biggest methane mitigator

The Future of Windfall Bio 🌱

Looking ahead, Windfall Bio is poised to expand its influence and operations, leveraging advancements in technology, strategic partnerships, and a growing recognition of methane's role in climate change. As they scale, the aim is not just to grow a company but to catalyze a broader shift in how industries perceive and utilize methane, driving global change through innovation and pragmatism.

Want to stay in the loop? Follow along Windfall’s journey HERE!

We want to close it off with a fun trivia!

Earth First Trivia (Answers in the next newsletter!)

1. What natural source is the largest emitter of methane on Earth?

2. In what year did the Global Methane Pledge, aiming to reduce methane emissions by 30% by 2030, get announced?

That's a wrap! Stay eco-savvy and catch you in the next one!

Woovin & Haley

Earth First 🌍✌️

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If you are a climate tech startup or investor making real impact hit us up - we would love to chat! woovin@theearthfirst.co or haley@theearthfirst.co 

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