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Select Quotes From This Episode:
“For a panel, for example, people think that if I talk the longest, I win, and that’s not true; you want to be potent and powerful.” – Michael
“Being really wordy is one of the biggest problems with a lot of founders, especially investors. They will think they are talking to an expert, and they’re giving them a PhD-level explanation of something that really needs to be much more simple.” – Michael
“If you want to, and for clean tech, if you are only messaging toward people who sit politically on one side of the aisle, you can’t scale.” – Michael
“You don’t need a PhD in psychology to be able to tell if somebody’s faking it.” – Michael
Stop Giving PhD Answers to Simple Questions
We are doing something we should have done a long time ago! Having a media training expert on the show to help founders understand how to better navigate the storytelling/media appearance landscape.
Our guest is Michael Lehmann — he’s been working in climate for a long time now, and his specialty is helping founders learn how to communicate effectively. Regardless if you’re going on a TV spot, you’re pitching to investors, or you’re appearing on Capitol Hill.
No more word salads, no more putting your foot in your mouth and going viral for the wrong reasons. Michael shares his best tips all out in the open for you to take advantage of them for the successful growth of your company.
His firm is called Lehmann’s Terms. Reach out if you want to maximize your next pitch or media opportunity!
Check Out Our Sponsors!
Make your next high-stakes moment count
In clean tech, it’s not enough to build something important. You have to explain it clearly when it matters — to investors, on stage, and on TV.
Lehmann’s Terms prepares founders and executives for those moments so their message is clear, concise, and actually lands.
Lehmann’s Terms draws on experience preparing leaders for hundreds of national media appearances and a background in climate communications on Capitol Hill.
Don’t risk a bad answer costing you. Make sure your next opportunity creates real value.
Learn more: ltmediatraining.com
Securing Billions in Grant Funding for Climate Tech
Since 2020, Climate Finance Solutions (CFS) has helped climate tech companies secure over $1.6 billion in government grant funding, with a success rate of more than 90%.
Its team has also won over €500 million in European funding and managed $275 million in grant projects.
As a global consulting firm, CFS guides clients through the full funding lifecycle, from strategy and funder engagement to proposal development and post-award management. Its Grant Identification Platform enables real-time monitoring and custom matching of opportunities, with alerts as new grants are released.
CFS also supports investors, accelerators, and ecosystem builders through its partnership program, offering pro bono support for portfolio companies.
Learn more about CFS’s work and approach at ClimateFinanceSolutions.com.
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For the past ~6 years, I have been placing sales, engineering, and executive talent at CleanTech companies in the US (over 80 placements total).
Because of this podcast, I have a network that no other CleanTech headhunter can claim, meaning I’ll get you access to talent no one else can.
Past Work:
We helped ChargeScape (JV between Ford, Honda, BMW, and Nissan) make 8 key hires in 6 months, while saving them ~$380k in recruiter fees.
Hired Head of Sales, PM, and Marketing Manager at OptiGrid (resurrection of FreeWire Technologies) (PS: they are hiring again, reach out to Silas to learn more).
Guaranteed placement or you don’t pay!
It’s time to take your hiring seriously — get professional help today.
📝 Show Notes:
Topics
Here are some key timestamps from the episode:
00:00 – Intro & Special Announcement: The CleanTechies AI Chatbot.
03:58 – Getting to know Michael Lehmann and the origin of Lehmann’s Terms.
09:21 – Core Messaging: Why clarity and being concise are your ultimate weapons.
13:06 – Panel Tactics: Talk less, be potent, and stop reading bulleted lists.
16:04 – Bipartisan Growth: Why alienating half the political aisle prevents your startup from scaling.
21:18 – Adapting your framing for different audiences without losing your authenticity.
31:08 – The TV Formula: Hitting the 45-second sweet spot with a headline and a punchy close.
36:29 – Pitching Investors: Stop reading your slides and avoid the “PhD level” explanation trap.
41:21 – Surviving Capitol Hill: How to navigate lawmakers and defuse hostile questions.
55:06 – The ultimate bipartisan hook: Lowering emissions while making money and boosting American business.
01:01:01 – Optimism over Doom: Why building the future is a better pitch than climate fear.
Links
This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.
