At Connect Group, we believe the most impactful conversations happen when visionary investors share the thinking behind their decisions. In this interview, we speak with Tien Nguyen, General Partner at Earth Venture Capital, to explore how his team identifies, scales, and supports breakthrough climate technologies. From assessing “systemic breakthrough potential” to bridging global innovation with Southeast Asian market needs, Tien offers an inside look at Earth VC’s investment philosophy, regional strategy, and commitment to measurable climate impact.

1. What specific criteria do you use to evaluate science-backed climate tech startups?

Our evaluation framework reflects the complex interdependencies between technological innovation, market readiness, and regional adaptation capabilities across diverse emerging economies.

We assess what I call the 'systemic breakthrough potential' - technologies that fundamentally reimagine how industrial processes, energy systems, or resource management can operate. Take our portfolio company GetSolar, which didn't just digitize solar sales but restructured the entire customer engagement model, reducing deployment timelines from weeks to days while eliminating traditional friction points.

Team composition requires both deep technical expertise and cultural adaptability. The most successful climate tech founders understand that breakthrough science must navigate vastly different regulatory environments, customer behaviors, and infrastructure constraints across markets. About 80% of our investments originate from leading research institutions, but success depends on their ability to adapt innovations to local contexts.

Each investment must demonstrate clear pathways to addressing at least two UN Sustainable Development Goals, with quantifiable potential for emission reductions. However, we're essentially investing in technologies that could reshape entire industrial paradigms - the impact potential often extends far beyond initial applications.

Commercial validation becomes critical in early stages. Real market traction - paying customers, signed contracts, meaningful partnerships - indicates that the technology addresses genuine problems rather than theoretical opportunities. One portfolio company secured €4M in supply agreements before we invested, demonstrating market demand for their innovation.

The key insight: we prioritize technological resilience over market predictability. Breakthrough technologies that solve fundamental scientific challenges typically create their own markets, while incremental improvements face endless competitive battles.

2. How do you decide when a deep-tech innovation is ready for commercial scaling?

For us, deciding when a deep-tech innovation is ready to scale comes down to a mix of hard metrics and market signals — I don’t like to rely on gut feel alone.

On the technical side, I look for a Technology Readiness Level of at least 7 or 8 — so it’s been proven in a real operational environment, not just the lab. Reliability should be above 99% uptime or equivalent, and we’ve run at least a thousand hours in real-world conditions. I also want to see small-batch manufacturing yields above 95%, because if you can’t keep that in low volume, scale will only magnify problems.

On the market side, I look for three to five paying customers beyond pilots — and ideally, repeat orders. I want clear ROI data from those customers, for example a 20% cost saving or a 15% productivity gain that they’ve validated themselves. I also check the sales pipeline; if it’s two to three times our annual revenue target for the next year or so, that’s a strong signal of pull.

And finally, scalability infrastructure: we need margins of at least 40% at ten-times production volume, a supply chain with dual sourcing for critical parts, and capital intensity per revenue dollar of under 50 cents.

When those conditions converge — high TRL, strong margins at scale, and a demand pipeline already bigger than our capacity — that’s when I know it’s time to step on the gas and scale with confidence.

In practice: when I see these metrics converging — a TRL ≥ 8, positive gross margins at scale, and a demand pipeline that’s already more than double our capacity — I know we’re at the sweet spot to pour fuel on the fire without burning out the engine.

3. What’s Earth VC’s typical investment size and stage focus?

Our investment approach reflects the unique capital requirements and development timelines of breakthrough climate technologies, with initial checks ranging from $300K to $1M and follow-on capacity extending up to $5M for companies demonstrating exceptional progress.

We focus on seed through Series A stages because this represents the critical transition period where scientific innovations must prove commercial viability while building sustainable business models. At these stages, our capital and operational support can meaningfully influence company trajectory and market positioning.

This stage focus addresses a fundamental gap in climate tech funding. Many technologies require patient capital and specialized expertise that traditional venture funds often cannot provide. We'd rather make fewer, more substantial commitments to breakthrough innovations than distribute capital across numerous incremental improvements.

Our geographic strategy involves global sourcing with regional scaling focus. We invest in the most promising climate technologies worldwide - often emerging from research institutions in Singapore, Israel, Northern Europe, or leading U.S. accelerators - then support their expansion into Southeast Asian markets where climate impact potential is substantial.

Quality over quantity guides our portfolio construction. From approximately 3,000 companies evaluated, we invest in fewer than 25 per fund, maintaining significant reserves for follow-on investments in our most successful companies. This selectivity enables deeper engagement and more meaningful support throughout each company's development.

4. How do you support portfolio companies beyond capital?

Beyond financial investment, we provide systematic operational support that addresses the unique challenges of scaling breakthrough technologies across diverse and complex markets.

Our fundraising facilitation represents perhaps our most valuable service. We actively support dozens of portfolio companies in raising subsequent rounds, systematically facilitating 20+ qualified investor meetings per campaign. Our network of hundreds of climate tech-focused investors enables companies to access specialized capital sources rather than competing for generalist attention.

Technical due diligence capabilities distinguish us from traditional venture funds. When portfolio companies develop novel materials, manufacturing processes, or complex technologies, we can evaluate scientific foundations, assess scalability challenges, and identify potential technical risks. This expertise proves particularly valuable in navigating regulatory pathways and addressing safety or performance concerns.

Market entry strategy becomes critical given our global-to-Asia model. Approximately 80% of our companies originate from advanced technology economies but require a nuanced understanding of Southeast Asian markets to achieve meaningful scale. We provide regional market intelligence, regulatory guidance, and strategic partnership introductions that enable successful market penetration.

Our support extends to operational challenges including talent acquisition, manufacturing partnerships, supply chain development, and customer education. We recognize that breakthrough technologies often require new ecosystems of supporting services and partnerships.

5. What makes Southeast Asia a strategic focus for Earth VC?

Southeast Asia represents a critical nexus where rapid economic development, substantial infrastructure investment, and urgent climate needs converge to create exceptional opportunities for transformative technology deployment.

The region accounts for a significant portion of global emissions growth while experiencing rapid industrialization and urbanization affecting 650 million people. Yet climate technology investment remains disproportionately concentrated in established markets, creating a fundamental misalignment between where solutions are most needed and where capital flows are directed.

Our bridge model addresses this gap by sourcing breakthrough technologies globally, then supporting their adaptation and scaling across Asian markets. About 80% of our companies originate from advanced research environments but require sophisticated market entry strategies to achieve regional impact.

The regulatory landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. Emerging policy frameworks for renewable energy auctions, carbon trading mechanisms, and green financing create new pathways for technology deployment. Countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam are implementing policy improvements that accelerate adoption timelines for appropriate technologies.

This regional focus enables disproportionate climate impact. Technologies that successfully scale across Asia's growing industrial base can influence global emission trajectories in ways that solutions limited to developed markets cannot achieve.

The strategic advantage lies not just in accessing attractive valuations, but in supporting technologies where they can create maximum systemic change while building sustainable competitive positions in the world's fastest-growing climate markets.

6. How do you balance regional execution with global scalability?

We think of balancing regional execution with global scalability like building a bridge while people are already walking across it — we need solid foundations locally, but the design must support expansion from day one.

In practice, we start by going deep in the target region: understanding local regulations, customer behavior, and supply chain constraints. We tailor product features, pricing, and go-to-market to fit — that’s what gets traction.

But we always design the core technology and processes to be globally modular. For example, we standardize about 70–80% of the product architecture so it’s consistent worldwide, and leave 20–30% flexible for local customization. That way, engineering, manufacturing, and quality systems can scale without reinventing the wheel.

On the execution side, we set dual-layer OKRs — one layer focused on local objectives like customer adoption, retention, and market share, and another layer focused on global objectives like unit cost reduction, cross-region supply chain efficiency, and technology reusability. When both layers of OKRs are tracking positively, we know the balance is working.

And culturally, we make sure local teams have the autonomy to execute — but they’re plugged into a global playbook, so that successes in one market can be quickly replicated in another. That’s how we achieve both regional wins and a truly scalable global model.

7. What role does the Earth Venture Foundation play in your overall strategy?

The Earth Venture Foundation enables a holistic approach to ecosystem development, recognizing that sustainable innovation requires interconnected networks of research, policy development, and commercial application.

Our fundamental thesis holds that the most transformative investment opportunities emerge from supporting basic research before breakthrough applications become evident to traditional investors. Rather than competing for companies emerging from established accelerators, we engage with PhD students, research laboratories, and academic institutions where tomorrow's innovations are taking shape.

The Foundation operates as an early-stage intelligence network, providing grants and sponsorships to academic initiatives, research projects, and scientific conferences focused on climate solutions. This engagement creates access to cutting-edge science often 18-24 months before commercialisation, enabling us to understand technological trajectories and identify promising applications early.

We facilitate connections across the innovation ecosystem, particularly strengthening relationships between international research institutions and Southeast Asian market opportunities. When breakthrough research occurs at Cambridge, MIT, or regional universities, we're positioned to support Asian market applications and scaling strategies.

From an investment perspective, Foundation relationships enhance our technical due diligence capabilities. We can leverage connections with world-class researchers who provide objective scientific assessment without commercial conflicts, improving both deal sourcing and investment decision quality.

This approach aligns with the long-term nature of climate technology development. By supporting fundamental research today, we're building the deal flow pipeline for the next decade while establishing competitive advantages in our core markets.

8. How do you measure the climate impact of your investments?

Climate impact measurement at the early stages requires balancing quantifiable metrics with long-term potential assessment, recognizing that breakthrough technologies often create systemic changes extending far beyond initial applications.

Every investment must demonstrate alignment with at least two UN Sustainable Development Goals - this represents a foundational criterion integrated into our due diligence process. Our Investment Committee evaluates sustainability implications for each potential investment, and we maintain strict exclusionary screening against companies that could accelerate fossil fuel usage or environmental degradation.

However, the fundamental challenge in early-stage climate tech lies in measuring technologies that could transform entire industrial sectors. A seed-stage advanced nuclear company or breakthrough materials startup may show minimal current impact while possessing potential to reshape energy or manufacturing paradigms.

We approach measurement through multiple frameworks: direct emission reduction potential, systemic transformation capability, and regional scalability assessment. Technologies that successfully deploy across Southeast Asian markets can influence global emission trajectories given the region's substantial contribution to climate challenges.

This reflects the broader complexity of measuring long-term systemic change through early-stage interventions. We're essentially investing in technologies that could fundamentally alter how industries operate, making traditional impact metrics insufficient for capturing true potential.

Our evaluation framework integrates ESG considerations throughout the investment process, while acknowledging that comprehensive impact tracking across breakthrough technology portfolios remains an evolving challenge requiring new methodological approaches.

9. What’s the biggest challenge you face in funding climate tech today?

The biggest challenge we face in funding climate tech today is the mismatch between the urgency of the climate problem and the pace at which capital is willing to move — especially for deep-tech solutions that require significant time and scale to make an impact.

On one hand, many investors are looking for short payback cycles and asset-light business models. But in climate tech — whether it’s carbon capture, next-gen energy storage, or industrial decarbonization — you’re often talking about multi-year R&D, heavy infrastructure, and complex supply chains before meaningful revenue. That’s not always aligned with traditional venture timeframes.

Another challenge is valuation risk. Climate impact markets are still evolving, and the policy landscape can shift quickly. For example, a change in subsidy or carbon pricing policy can swing project economics by 20–30% overnight, which makes investors cautious.

We address this by blending capital sources — bringing together venture equity for the innovation phase, project finance for deployment, and strategic partnerships for market access. We also make the unit economics and policy dependencies extremely transparent from the start, so investors can price in the risks.

Ultimately, the challenge isn’t that there’s no money — there’s more climate capital today than ever before — it’s matching the right kind of capital to the stage and risk profile of the technology. That alignment is what unlocks real scale.

10. How do Tien’s diverse personal and professional experiences shape Earth VC’s investment philosophy?

Earth VC’s investment philosophy is shaped by the complementary strengths of Tien and Linh — one grounded in global networks and research-driven capital strategy, the other in operational execution and scaling.

Tien’s background combines venture capital experience in Ireland with deep research into the science of venture capital — from translating significant works to lecturing on structured fundraising strategies. His Eisenhower Fellowship and his role within the Irish Government’s Team Ireland give us privileged access to international policy circles, global investors, and climate innovation hubs. This means our pipeline is highly curated — over 40% of deals come from trusted, mission-aligned networks rather than open scouting — and our due diligence applies quantified frameworks aiming for >25% IRR and CO₂ abatement costs under $50/ton.

Linh, with extensive experience leading cross-border market entries and scaling teams in emerging markets, ensures that once we invest, execution moves fast and efficiently. His operational leadership has helped portfolio companies shorten time-to-market by 20–30% while preserving global standards and achieving local product-market fit. He is the driver behind our approach of standardizing 70–80% of a product for global scalability while customizing 20–30% for local adoption without sacrificing efficiency.

Together, Tien’s policy and research-driven capital strategy and Linh’s execution-first scaling expertise allow Earth VC to bridge regions, align the right capital with the right stage of innovation, and scale climate tech globally — while keeping financial performance and environmental impact measurable and accountable.

Summary

This conversation with Tien Nguyen shows that driving climate tech innovation is as much about strategic patience and precision as it is about visionary ambition. By combining rigorous evaluation, operational support, and a bridge model that connects global breakthroughs to Southeast Asia’s urgent climate needs, Earth VC positions itself at the forefront of systemic change. As the climate challenge accelerates, their approach offers a blueprint for aligning capital, technology, and impact on a truly global scale.

TIEN NGUYEN, FOUNDING PARTNER, EARTH VENTURE CAPITAL

Tien Nguyen is the founding partner at Earth Venture Capital, a pioneering climate-tech VC firm with investments spanning 10 countries. He is an Eisenhower Fellow who is selected for his contribution to modern climate innovation. Tien is an expert at the Rockefeller Foundation Asia, focusing on AI and climate action. Tien serves on the steering committee of Impact Investing Readiness Vietnam by IIX and Global Affairs Canada, and is a WE Funder at the International Finance Corporation (a member of the World Bank Group). As a fellow of the Irish Government, Tien actively contributes to promoting Irish business, investment, and culture in Southeast Asia under the “Team Ireland” initiative. His expertise in climate tech innovation and investment extends globally, where he mentors for Google for Startups.