SCV Playbooks
Our favorite resources for company-building in climate. Curated guides, frameworks, and tools to help you navigate your climate venture journey.
Customer Discovery
5 resources
SCV Core Lecture
Discovery 101: How to Get the Information You Need to Get the Insights You Want
Credit: Dave Danielson
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture on conducting effective customer discovery. Learn hypothesis-driven discovery, interview best practices, and how to acquire unique insights through direct engagement with customers, partners, and experts.
SCV Core Lecture
Customer Obsession
Credit: Marisa Reddy
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture by Marisa Reddy, Co-Founder of Conduit Tech. Learn how to build a culture of customer obsession through tactical tips on getting to know your customers, testing solutions, and aligning your team around customer needs. Features real examples from building Conduit during the Winter '22 SCV cohort.
Customer Discovery Video Series
Credit: NSF I-Corps
Comprehensive video series from the NSF I-Corps program covering all aspects of customer discovery, from identifying customer segments to validating business models.
The Mom Test
Credit: Rob Fitzpatrick
Essential guide on how to talk to customers and learn if your business is a good idea when everyone is lying to you. Learn how to ask the right questions to get honest, valuable feedback.
Business Model Canvas
Credit: Wikipedia
Strategic management template for developing new or documenting existing business models. The Business Model Canvas is a visual chart with elements describing a firm's value proposition, infrastructure, customers, and finances, helping entrepreneurs and teams align activities by illustrating potential trade-offs.
Techno-Economic Modeling
5 resources
SCV Core Lecture
Technoeconomic Analysis
Credit: Eric Helfgott
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture on technoeconomic analysis (TEA). Learn what TEAs are, why and when to use them, how to quantify costs (OpEx and CapEx), and build your own TEA. Covers operating expenses, capital expenditures, equipment scaling, and practical applications for climate ventures.
Activate Techonomics Toolkit
Credit: Activate
Comprehensive toolkit from Activate.org providing practical templates and frameworks for building technoeconomic models. Includes sample models and step-by-step guidance for estimating costs and building financial projections for climate technology ventures.
Why Climate Tech Startups Need Techno-Economic Analysis
Credit: Melissa Ball
In this breakout session, join Dr. Melissa Ball, associate director of technology at EIP, for a discussion on the dos and don'ts of techno-economic analysis and the power of a simple model. Dr. Ball, whose work at EIP focuses on technical diligence for deep decarbonization, will open the session up for office hours questions from the audience. This video was part of the 2024 SOSV Climate Tech Summit, a production of SOSV, a multi-stage venture capital firm specializing in human and planetary health and 'The First Check in Deep Tech.'
Electrochemical Technoeconomic Modeling
Credit: Pinkowski & Cassady
Detailed guide to technoeconomic modeling for electrochemical systems. Covers specific considerations for electrochemical processes, including reaction rates, yields, utilization factors, and equipment scaling for electrochemical technologies.
Stanford Lab Space
4 resources
Doerr School Shared Facilities
Credit: Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
The Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford provides access to cutting-edge shared research facilities for climate and sustainability research. Explore state-of-the-art equipment, analytical instruments, and specialized labs available to support your climate technology development and testing needs.
Product Realization Lab
Credit: Stanford University
Stanford's Product Realization Lab (PRL) provides students with access to professional-grade prototyping and fabrication equipment. Access CNC machines, 3D printers, laser cutters, welding equipment, and expert technical staff to build and test physical prototypes of your climate technology hardware.
Making Spaces
Credit: Stanford University
Stanford's Making Spaces network connects students to makerspaces, fabrication facilities, and prototyping resources across campus. Discover available equipment, tools, and workshops to support hands-on development of your climate technology projects, from electronics to mechanical systems.
Additive Manufacturing and Prototyping Facility
Credit: Stanford University
Stanford's Additive Manufacturing and Prototyping Facility (AMPF) provides access to advanced 3D printing technologies including metal printing, polymer printing, and rapid prototyping services. Leverage cutting-edge additive manufacturing capabilities to develop and test complex components for your climate technology innovations.
Sales and Marketing
6 resources
SCV Core Lecture
Sales & Marketing for Climate Tech Founders
Credit: Lauren Dunford
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture by Lauren Dunford, CEO and Co-Founder of Guidewheel, with guest Will Pittock. Learn practical sales and marketing background for early-stage founders, including founding sales guidelines, sales narratives, cold calling tactics, pipeline management, and marketing strategy. Features real examples and actionable tips from successful climate tech entrepreneurs.
SCV Core Lecture
Sales and Marketing Fundamentals
Credit: Matt Eggers
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture covering go-to-market strategy across company stages. Learn about LTV/CAC economics, choosing the right sales model, building distribution channels, scaling strategies, and hiring sales and marketing teams. Includes frameworks for understanding viral growth, network effects, and strategic positioning.
The Sales Learning Curve
Credit: Harvard Business Review
Harvard Business Review article on understanding when to scale your sales force. Learn about the three phases of the sales learning curve and how to avoid the common mistake of hiring too many salespeople too fast before achieving product-market fit.
Founding Sales
Credit: Pete Kazanjy
Comprehensive guide to early-stage sales for founders. Learn how to make your first sales as a technical founder, develop a repeatable sales process, and transition from founder-led sales to a scalable sales organization.
Project Rifle: A Primer on Enterprise Sales
Credit: Khosla Ventures
Comprehensive guide from Khosla Ventures on enterprise sales fundamentals. Learn about sales processes, pipeline management, metrics, and best practices for building and scaling an enterprise sales organization.
Cap Tables
4 resources
Understanding SAFEs and Priced Equity Rounds
Credit: Y Combinator
Y Combinator's comprehensive guide to understanding Simple Agreements for Future Equity (SAFEs) and priced equity rounds. Learn the mechanics of SAFEs, when to use them vs. priced rounds, conversion calculations, valuation caps, discounts, and how different financing structures impact founder dilution and cap table dynamics.
YC SAFE Financing Documents
Credit: Y Combinator
Official Simple Agreement for Future Equity (SAFE) documents from Y Combinator. Includes standard SAFE templates with valuation cap, discount, MFN provisions, and pro rata rights. These widely-adopted documents have become the industry standard for early-stage startup financing.
Cap Table Calculator
Credit: AngelCalc
Free online calculator for modeling cap tables and understanding dilution. Input multiple financing rounds, SAFEs, convertible notes, options pools, and see how ownership percentages evolve. Essential tool for founders to understand how different financing scenarios impact their equity stake.
Venture Hacks Series A Cap Table
Credit: Venture Hacks
Video walkthrough of a Series A cap table by Venture Hacks (Naval Ravikant). Learn how to model a Series A financing, understand pre-money and post-money valuation, calculate dilution, size option pools, and navigate key terms that affect founder ownership. Practical examples of how different deal structures impact the cap table.
Fundraising
14 resources
SCV Core Lecture
What VC's Are Looking For: Inside the Primordial Investor Brain
Credit: Dave Danielson
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture on understanding what venture capitalists look for when evaluating investment opportunities. Learn the progression of questions VCs ask: Can they create value? Can they capture value? Can they execute? Can I make money? Covers building the best team, market size and timing, third-party validation, technology entitlement, competition, defensibility, business models, execution plans, and financial return potential. Includes frameworks for crafting compelling investor narratives and real examples from successful pitches.
How to Fundraise from VCs
Credit: Steph Mui
Comprehensive Notion guide by Steph Mui covering the complete fundraising process from VCs. Learn how to prepare for fundraising, build your investor list, craft your pitch, manage the fundraising process, navigate term sheets, conduct due diligence, and close your round. Includes tactical advice, templates, and best practices from successful fundraising campaigns.
YC Guide to Seed Fundraising
Credit: Y Combinator
Y Combinator's definitive guide to raising seed funding. Covers when to raise, how much to raise, what terms to expect, how to find investors, pitch preparation, fundraising timeline, common mistakes, and how to close your round. Essential reading for first-time founders navigating their first institutional fundraise.
YC Series A Diligence Checklist
Credit: Y Combinator
Comprehensive checklist from Y Combinator covering what investors will examine during Series A due diligence. Learn what documents and information to prepare across legal, financial, technical, commercial, and team areas. Helps founders understand investor expectations and prepare thoroughly for the diligence process.
Bloomberg Beta Criteria for Investment
Credit: Bloomberg Beta
Bloomberg Beta's public investment criteria and decision-making framework. Learn what this leading machine intelligence-focused VC looks for in founders, markets, and companies. Includes their thesis on the future of work, investment stage preferences, deal terms, and how they evaluate opportunities. Valuable insight into how institutional investors think about investments.
Elements of an Investor Pitch
Credit: Sanjay Wagle
Comprehensive guide from Sanjay Wagle on the key elements of an effective investor pitch. Learn how to structure your story, communicate complex technical concepts clearly, address investor concerns proactively, and build a compelling narrative that leads to inevitable conclusions about your company's potential.
Pitch Deck Template
Credit: Sequoia Capital
Sequoia Capital's template for structuring an investor pitch deck. Covers essential slides including problem, solution, market opportunity, product, business model, traction, team, competition, and financials. Learn how to tell a compelling story that addresses all key investor questions in a clear, logical flow.
A Guide to Demo Day Presentations
Credit: Y Combinator
Y Combinator's comprehensive guide to preparing and delivering effective Demo Day pitches. Learn how to structure a 2.5-minute pitch, what to include and exclude, common mistakes to avoid, and how to maximize investor interest in the brief time you have on stage.
Pitching Hacks
Credit: Venture Hacks
Venture Hacks' guide to creating compelling investor pitches. Learn tactical advice on pitch structure, storytelling techniques, handling objections, and psychological principles that make pitches more persuasive. Covers both deck design and verbal presentation strategies.
Elevator Pitches
Credit: Venture Hacks
Venture Hacks' guide to crafting effective elevator pitches. Learn how to distill your company's value proposition into a concise, memorable pitch that can be delivered in 30-60 seconds. Includes frameworks for structuring your pitch and examples of successful elevator pitches.
Great Communicators
Credit: Various
Video on the principles of great communication and storytelling. Learn techniques used by exceptional communicators to engage audiences, convey complex ideas simply, and create memorable presentations. Applicable to investor pitches, customer conversations, and team communication.
Airbnb Series A Pitch Deck
Credit: Airbnb
The actual pitch deck Airbnb used to raise their Series A funding. See a real-world example of how one of the most successful startups presented their vision, market opportunity, traction, and ask to investors. Study how they structured their narrative and communicated complex ideas simply.
Company One-Pagers
Credit: Dane A. Boysen
Teaching module on creating effective one-page company summaries. Learn what content to include (one-line pitch, problem, solution, market, competitors, competitive advantage, business model, team, traction, milestones, funding), how to format for maximum impact, and see real examples. Essential for quick introductions to investors, customers, and partners.
One Pager Template
Credit: Awesome! Inc.
Downloadable template for creating a professional company one-pager. Includes structured sections for all key information investors need, suggested layout and design elements, and guidance on how to present your company concisely and compellingly on a single page (front and back).
Sources of Funding
37 resources
SCV Core Lecture
Post SCV Funding and Support Pathways
Credit: David McColl
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture by David McColl on pathways after completing the SCV program. Learn about finding your role in the climate ecosystem, joining startups, exploring national labs for technology, staying engaged during exploration, leveraging incubators and accelerators, navigating government grants, understanding the venture capital landscape from pre-seed to IPO, and building lasting relationships with investors. Includes case studies from SCV alumni companies like Holocene and Fervo Energy showing how to combine non-dilutive funding with venture capital.
SCV Core Lecture
Sources of Funding in Climate-Tech
Credit: Dave Danielson
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture by Dave Danielson providing a comprehensive overview of funding sources for climate tech companies from pre-seed to IPO. Learn about types of capital by stage ($100K pre-seed to $500M+ IPO), what to look for from investors at each stage, top climate-tech seed investors, early stage funds, generalist funds, corporate venture capital, growth/late stage funds, and government funding opportunities including SBIR, ARPA-E, DOE programs, and best practices for securing government grants.
Cleantech - A Forest of Funds
Credit: Dave Kirkpatrick
LinkedIn article by Dave Kirkpatrick providing an overview of the diverse landscape of funding sources available to cleantech companies. Explores the variety of investors, fund types, and capital sources that make up the climate tech funding ecosystem, helping founders understand the full spectrum of options beyond traditional venture capital.
The Climate Capital Stack
Credit: Sightline Climate
Interactive database from Sightline Climate mapping the full spectrum of capital available to climate tech companies. Explore funding sources across stages, sectors, and geographies to understand the complete landscape of climate finance from grants to growth equity.
Cleantech Funding Database
Credit: Clean Energy Business Network
Comprehensive database from the Clean Energy Business Network (CEBN) featuring funding opportunities for cleantech businesses. Search grants, loans, tax incentives, and other financial resources available to support clean energy and climate technology ventures.
Early Exploration Grants
Stanford Venture Experiment Funds
Credit: Stanford University
Stanford's Experiment Funds provide early-stage funding to help students and researchers test their venture ideas. Access grants to support customer discovery, prototyping, and initial validation of your climate technology concept.
1000 Gretas
Credit: 1000 Gretas
1000 Gretas provides funding and support to young climate entrepreneurs around the world. Join a global community of climate leaders and access grants, mentorship, and resources to accelerate your climate venture.
Breakthrough Energy Explorers
Credit: Breakthrough Energy
Breakthrough Energy Explorers (formerly Fellows) supports early-stage climate innovators with funding, mentorship, and access to a network of experts. The program helps researchers and entrepreneurs transition breakthrough technologies from lab to market.
StartX Student-In-Residence
Credit: StartX
StartX Student-In-Residence program provides Stanford students with funding, mentorship, and resources to develop their startup ideas. Access the StartX community and accelerator resources while still enrolled at Stanford to validate and build your venture.
Stanford Professionals in Real Estate Funding
Credit: SPIRE Stanford
SPIRE (Stanford Professionals in Real Estate) Student Seed Investment Fund provides early-stage funding to Stanford students working on real estate and built environment ventures. Access capital and mentorship from real estate professionals to develop climate-focused property technology and sustainable building solutions.
VentureWell E-Team
Credit: VentureWell
VentureWell E-Team Program provides grants up to $25,000 and training to student innovators developing technology-based solutions. Access funding, mentorship, and a national network of faculty and entrepreneurs to advance your climate technology from concept to commercialization.
Stanford-Specific Fellowship Programs
Botha Chan Innovation Program
Credit: Stanford Graduate School of Business
The Botha Chan Innovation Program at Stanford GSB provides funding and support to MBA students pursuing entrepreneurial ventures. Access resources, mentorship, and capital to develop and launch your climate startup while at Stanford.
Impact Design Immersion Fellowship
Credit: Stanford Graduate School of Business
The Impact Design Immersion Fellowship (IDIF) at Stanford GSB supports students working on social and environmental impact ventures. Receive funding, coaching, and access to Stanford's impact ecosystem to develop solutions addressing climate and sustainability challenges.
TomKat Fellowship
Credit: TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy
The TomKat Center Graduate Fellowships support Stanford graduate students working on energy and climate solutions. Receive funding to pursue research and entrepreneurial projects that advance sustainable energy technologies and climate innovation.
Stanford Impact Founder Fellowships
Credit: Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford Impact Founder Fellowships (SIF) provide post-graduate funding and support to Stanford alumni launching social and environmental impact ventures. Receive financial support, mentorship, and access to Stanford's network to build your climate startup after graduation.
Haas Center for Public Service Post-Grad Fellowships
Credit: Haas Center for Public Service
Haas Center Post-Graduation Fellowships support Stanford graduates pursuing careers in public service and social impact. Access funding for positions at nonprofits, government agencies, and social enterprises working on climate, sustainability, and environmental justice.
Fellowship Programs
Breakthrough Energy Fellows
Credit: Breakthrough Energy
Breakthrough Energy Fellows program provides funding, mentorship, and resources to researchers and entrepreneurs working on breakthrough climate technologies. Access support to transition cutting-edge innovations from research to commercial deployment with guidance from industry experts and investors.
Activate Fellowship
Credit: Activate
Activate Fellowship provides two years of funding and support to scientists and engineers developing breakthrough technologies. Fellows receive a living stipend, research funding, and access to a network of mentors, investors, and partners to help transition their innovations from lab to market.
Incubators and Accelerators
Greentown Labs
Credit: Greentown Labs
Greentown Labs is the largest climate tech incubator in North America, providing startups with prototyping facilities, shared office space, and access to a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate partners. Members gain access to specialized equipment, technical expertise, and connections to advance their climate solutions.
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator
Credit: LACI
Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) supports cleantech entrepreneurs with funding, mentorship, and resources to scale their businesses. LACI provides access to testing facilities, corporate partnerships, and a network of advisors to help startups commercialize sustainable technologies.
Maritime Blue Innovation Accelerator
Credit: Maritime Blue
Maritime Blue Innovation Accelerator supports startups developing sustainable maritime and ocean technologies. The program provides funding, mentorship, and connections to industry partners to help entrepreneurs build solutions for ocean health, sustainable fisheries, and maritime innovation.
PCDWorks
Credit: PCDWorks
PCDWorks is a climate tech accelerator focused on supporting early-stage companies developing solutions for decarbonization. The program provides funding, technical support, and access to a network of climate experts and investors to help startups scale their impact.
Hax
Credit: Hax
Hax is a hardware-focused accelerator that supports startups building physical products, including climate tech hardware. The program provides funding, prototyping facilities, supply chain expertise, and manufacturing connections to help hardware entrepreneurs bring their products to market.
Exelon Foundation
Credit: Exelon Foundation
Exelon Foundation supports clean energy innovation through grants and programs focused on climate solutions and environmental sustainability. The foundation provides funding and resources to organizations and entrepreneurs working on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience.
Techstars
Credit: Techstars
Techstars operates multiple accelerator programs including climate and sustainability-focused cohorts. Startups receive funding, mentorship from successful entrepreneurs, and access to the global Techstars network of investors, corporate partners, and alumni to accelerate their growth.
Venture for ClimateTech
Credit: Venture for ClimateTech
Venture for ClimateTech is an accelerator program supporting early-stage climate technology startups. The program provides funding, mentorship, and connections to investors and industry partners to help entrepreneurs scale solutions addressing climate change and sustainability challenges.
EPRI Incubatenergy Labs
Credit: EPRI
EPRI Incubatenergy Labs is an innovation platform from the Electric Power Research Institute that supports startups developing solutions for the energy sector. The program provides access to EPRI's research, testing facilities, and utility network to help entrepreneurs validate and commercialize their technologies.
Creative Destruction Lab
Credit: Creative Destruction Lab
Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) is a seed-stage accelerator for science and technology-based companies, including climate tech ventures. The program uses an objectives-based mentoring approach, connecting founders with experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and scientists to rapidly scale their businesses.
Government Funding
Founder's Guide to the DOE
Credit: Climate Tech VC
Comprehensive guide from Climate Tech VC on navigating Department of Energy funding opportunities for climate tech founders. Learn about DOE programs, application processes, funding mechanisms, and strategies for successfully securing government grants to support your climate venture.
Investor's Guide to the DOE
Credit: Climate Tech VC
Guide from Climate Tech VC helping investors understand how DOE funding complements venture capital in climate tech. Learn about DOE programs, how government grants de-risk investments, and strategies for leveraging public-private partnerships to accelerate climate innovation.
ARPA-E
Credit: U.S. Department of Energy
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) funds high-potential, high-impact energy technologies that are too early for private-sector investment. Access the Innovator Hub to explore funding opportunities, learn about open programs, and connect with program directors working on breakthrough energy technologies.
DOE SBIR
Credit: U.S. Department of Energy
Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs provide funding to small businesses developing innovative energy technologies. Access Phase I and Phase II grants to support R&D, commercialization, and technology validation.
NSF Seed Fund
Credit: National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation's America's Seed Fund (NSF SBIR/STTR) provides non-dilutive funding to startups and small businesses developing deep technologies. Access up to $2M in funding across Phase I and Phase II to support research, development, and commercialization of science-based innovations.
DARPA
Credit: U.S. Department of Defense
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funds breakthrough technologies for national security applications. Explore opportunities for dual-use climate technologies with defense applications, including energy systems, materials science, and environmental monitoring innovations.
California Energy Commission
Credit: California Energy Commission
California Energy Commission provides grants, loans, and funding opportunities for clean energy projects and technologies. Access state funding for energy innovation, demonstration projects, and deployment of clean energy solutions in California's leading climate tech market.
TurboSBIR
Credit: TurboSBIR
TurboSBIR is a comprehensive database and resource platform for navigating federal SBIR/STTR funding opportunities. Search funding programs across agencies, track deadlines, access proposal templates, and learn strategies for winning government grants to support your technology development.
Writing the Grant Proposal
Credit: Federal Grant Resources
Comprehensive guide to writing effective grant proposals for federal funding programs. Learn the eight basic components of a proposal: summary, organization introduction, problem statement, objectives, methods, evaluation, future funding, and budget. Includes detailed guidance on each section and best practices for creating compelling proposals.
Company Building Fundamentals
9 resources
SCV Core Lecture
What No One Tells You About Starting Your Company
Credit: Joel Moxley
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture covering the 10X startup advantage, parameterizing your business model, people and values, startup failure modes, equity distribution for founding teams and employees, and the secret to entrepreneurial happiness. Features real case studies from Fervo Energy and Form Energy.
The Climate Brick
Credit: The Climate Brick
Comprehensive resource for climate entrepreneurs covering the fundamentals of building climate tech companies. Learn about market dynamics, technology development, business model design, and strategic considerations specific to climate ventures.
Porter's Five Forces
Credit: Michael Porter
Framework for analyzing competitive dynamics within an industry. Learn how to assess the threat of new entrants, bargaining power of suppliers and buyers, threat of substitute products, and competitive rivalry to understand industry attractiveness and develop strategic positioning.
Notes on Hamilton Helmer's 7 Powers
Credit: Hamilton Helmer
Comprehensive summary of Hamilton Helmer's 7 Powers framework for building durable competitive advantages. Covers Scale Economies, Network Economies, Counter-Positioning, Switching Costs, Branding, Cornered Resource, and Process Power. Essential reading for understanding how to create defensible moats in your business.
Peter Thiel - Competition Is For Losers
Credit: Peter Thiel
Stanford lecture by Peter Thiel on why competition destroys value and how to build monopolies that create lasting value. Learn why you should avoid competition, how to think about market size and opportunity, and strategies for creating unique value propositions that give you pricing power.
Zero to One Cliff Notes
Credit: Peter Thiel
Concise summary of Peter Thiel's Zero to One, covering the core concepts of building innovative companies that create new things rather than copying what works. Learn about the importance of secrets, building monopolies, the power law of venture returns, and creating breakthrough technology.
The Lean Startup Cliff Notes
Credit: Eric Ries
Summary of Eric Ries's The Lean Startup methodology. Learn about validated learning, Build-Measure-Learn feedback loops, minimum viable products (MVPs), innovation accounting, and pivoting strategies. Essential framework for reducing waste and rapidly testing business hypotheses.
Why We Prefer Founding CEOs
Credit: Andreessen Horowitz
Analysis from Andreessen Horowitz on why founding CEOs tend to outperform hired executives. Based on data from nearly 50 investments, learn why founders typically drive better product vision, company culture, and long-term value creation compared to professional managers.
29 Business Moats That Helped Shape The World's Most Massive Companies
Credit: CB Insights
Comprehensive guide from CB Insights analyzing 29 types of competitive advantages (moats) used by the world's most successful companies. Learn about different categories of moats including regulatory, intellectual property, cost advantages, network effects, and brand, with real-world examples from companies like Amazon, Google, and Tesla.
Board Meetings
6 resources
Board Meetings for Early Stage CEOs
Credit: Grayson Zulauf
Comprehensive guide for early-stage CEOs on running effective board meetings. Covers preparation, structure, common pitfalls, and how to leverage your board as a strategic asset. Learn best practices for board communication, deck preparation, and making the most of board member expertise.
Startup Boards
Credit: Sila Kiliccote
Presentation by Sila Kiliccote covering why startups need boards, board composition, roles and responsibilities, board committees, recruiting board members, and running effective board meetings. Includes practical guidance on board meeting formalities, agendas, and how to leverage CVCs on your board.
What You Need to Know About Startup Boards
Credit: TechCrunch
TechCrunch article providing essential information about startup boards of directors. Learn about board composition, director responsibilities, fiduciary duties, common board mistakes, and how to build and manage an effective board as your company grows.
Preparing a Board Deck
Credit: Sequoia Capital
Guide from Sequoia Capital on how to prepare an effective board deck. Learn what information to include, how to structure your presentation, key metrics to track, and how to facilitate productive board discussions around strategic challenges and opportunities.
Your Board of Directors is Probably Going to Fire You
Credit: Jerry Neumann
Honest discussion of board dynamics and CEO-board relationships. Learn about the circumstances that lead to CEO replacements, how to recognize warning signs, how to build trust with your board, and strategies for maintaining productive relationships even during challenging times.
Role of a Board Observer in a VC-backed Company
Credit: O'Melveny & Myers
Legal guide from O'Melveny & Myers on the role and limitations of board observers in VC-backed companies. Learn about the differences between directors and observers, observer rights and responsibilities, confidentiality obligations, and how to effectively utilize board observers.
Product
3 resources
Blackblot Product Requirements Document (PRD) Template
Credit: Blackblot
Comprehensive template for creating product requirements documents. Covers market problems, product concepts, functional requirements, development requirements, and supporting data. Includes structured format for documenting constraints, assumptions, and dependencies.
PRD Template from Cyclotron Road
Credit: Cyclotron Road
Detailed product requirements document template from Cyclotron Road's hard tech accelerator program. Provides structured framework for defining product specifications, market requirements, technical constraints, and development roadmap for deep tech products.
Product Spec Sheet Example from Cummins
Credit: Cummins
Real-world example of a professional product specification sheet for the KTA38-G5 Diesel Generator. Demonstrates how to present technical specifications, performance data, features, ratings definitions, and compliance certifications in a clear, industry-standard format.
Policy
2 resources
The Art of the Regulatory Hack
Credit: Andreessen Horowitz
Andreessen Horowitz podcast exploring how startups navigate and influence regulatory frameworks. Learn strategies for working within existing regulations, engaging with policymakers, and shaping policy to enable innovation while addressing legitimate regulatory concerns.
Policy and Advocacy Solutions
Credit: Breakthrough Energy
Breakthrough Energy's comprehensive overview of policy and advocacy work to accelerate clean energy innovation. Learn about key policy mechanisms, regulatory frameworks, and advocacy strategies that can support climate technology deployment and scale.
Finance
5 resources
SCV Core Lecture
Introduction to Project Finance
Credit: Dave Rogers
Core Stanford Climate Ventures lecture by Dave Rogers on project finance fundamentals for climate tech companies. Learn how project finance differs from corporate finance, the structure and mechanics of project finance deals, risk allocation among stakeholders, key considerations for bankability, and how to navigate the transition from venture capital to project finance. Essential understanding for founders building capital-intensive infrastructure and energy projects.
The Bridge to Bankability is Still Under Construction
Credit: Climate Tech VC
Climate Tech VC's analysis of the challenges climate tech companies face in achieving project finance bankability. Explores the gap between venture-scale technology development and project finance requirements, the role of different capital sources, and strategies for bridging the 'valley of death' between demonstration and commercial deployment.
What is Project Finance?
Credit: Corporate Finance Institute
Video introduction to project finance fundamentals. Learn how project finance differs from corporate finance, the structure of project finance deals, risk allocation among stakeholders, revenue models, and why project finance is critical for capital-intensive infrastructure and energy projects. Essential for understanding how to finance large-scale climate tech deployments.
Present Value Math
Credit: Pivotal 180
Educational video explaining present value calculations and their importance in financial modeling and valuation. Learn the time value of money, discount rates, net present value (NPV), and how to evaluate investment opportunities. Critical foundation for building financial models, evaluating projects, and understanding how investors value companies.
Guidebook for Early Climate Infrastructure: Case Studies of First of a Kind Projects
Credit: Madison Freeman
White paper by Madison Freeman examining the first-of-a-kind 'valley of death' for climate infrastructure projects. Includes case studies, risk mitigation strategies from project investors, and approaches for developing sources of capital, knowledge, and operational capacity.
Legal
9 resources
Dismantling Roadblocks to a Sustainable Transition
Credit: Jesse Lazarus
Legal and policy challenges facing green startups and potential solutions. Research by Jesse Lazarus examining substantive challenges including greenwashing, outdated regulatory frameworks, and insufficient understanding of social enterprise corporate forms.
CooleyGo Document Generator
Credit: Cooley LLP
Free online platform from Cooley LLP providing automated legal document generation for startups. Generate incorporation documents, employment agreements, stock option plans, financing documents, and other essential legal templates. Includes guidance and explanations for each document type.
Model Legal Documents
Credit: NVCA
Industry-standard legal document templates from the National Venture Capital Association (NVCA). Includes term sheets, stock purchase agreements, voting agreements, investor rights agreements, and other key financing documents. Widely used as the foundation for venture capital transactions.
Stanford Founder Legal FAQ
Credit: Stanford Law School
Comprehensive FAQ covering common legal questions for Stanford founders. Addresses incorporation, equity splits, IP assignment, fundraising terms, employment law, and other legal considerations specific to university-affiliated startups. Maintained by Stanford Law School and updated regularly.
Stanford Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy
Credit: Stanford Law School
Stanford Law School program connecting climate and sustainability-focused startups with pro bono legal services. Learn about available legal support, eligibility requirements, and how to access expert legal counsel for environmental and clean energy ventures.
Stanford Law Services
Credit: Stanford Law School
Overview of legal services and resources available through Stanford Law School for sustainability-focused startups. Covers transactional legal support, regulatory guidance, intellectual property protection, and connections to the broader legal ecosystem supporting climate ventures.
Legal Resource Guide for Start-up Entrepreneurs
Credit: Fenwick & West LLP
Comprehensive legal guide from Fenwick & West covering the legal landscape for startup entrepreneurs. Includes guidance on entity formation, founder agreements, employment law, intellectual property, financing, corporate governance, and exit strategies. Essential reference for understanding startup legal fundamentals.
Incorporation Stage Issues and Seed Financings Overview
Credit: Fenwick & West LLP
Detailed overview from Fenwick & West on incorporation decisions and seed financing structures. Covers choice of entity, Delaware vs. other jurisdictions, initial capitalization, founder vesting, early employee equity, and seed financing terms including convertible notes, SAFEs, and priced rounds.
Breakthrough Energy Insurance Playbook
Credit: Breakthrough Energy Ventures
Comprehensive guide from Breakthrough Energy Ventures on insurance considerations for climate tech startups. Covers types of insurance needed at different stages, risk management strategies, working with insurers, and specific considerations for hardware, energy, and infrastructure ventures.
IP
9 resources
What VCs Want to See in Your Patent Portfolio
Credit: Cleantech San Diego
Video presentation from Cleantech San Diego on how venture capitalists evaluate intellectual property portfolios. Learn what VCs look for in patent filings, how to build a defensible IP strategy, and common mistakes to avoid when protecting your innovations.
Example IP Portfolio Overview
Credit: Halotechnics, Inc.
Real-world example of an IP portfolio overview from Halotechnics, Inc., a thermal energy storage company. Shows how to document patent applications across composition of matter, synthesis processes, novel uses, and system designs. Includes strategic considerations for protecting deep tech innovations.
Seven Sins of IP
Credit: Fenwick & West, LLP
Guide from law firm Fenwick & West on common intellectual property mistakes that startups make. Learn how to avoid pitfalls in patent filing, trade secret protection, inventor assignments, and IP strategy that can undermine your company's value and competitive position.
IP Foreign Filing Considerations
Credit: Heliotrope
Strategic guide from Heliotrope on international patent filing decisions. Learn when and where to file foreign patents, how to prioritize countries based on market opportunity and competitive landscape, and how to manage costs while building global IP protection.
Licensing 101
Credit: ARPA-E
Video presentation from ARPA-E covering the fundamentals of technology licensing. Learn about licensing structures, negotiation strategies, key terms to consider, and how to structure licensing agreements that protect your interests while enabling commercialization.
Sample License Term Sheet
Credit: Anonymous
Template term sheet for technology licensing agreements. Covers administration, governance, intellectual property definitions, royalty structures, confidential information, payment schedules, and termination provisions. Provides framework for structuring R&D services combined with IP licensing.
Sample License Agreement
Credit: Mark Stephenson
Comprehensive example of a technology license agreement covering grant of rights, payment terms, intellectual property ownership, warranties, limitations of liability, and termination provisions. Useful reference for understanding standard licensing terms and negotiation points.
Sample License Agreement With Scope of Work
Credit: Anonymous
Real-world example of a license agreement executed between a large corporation and R&D firm, including detailed statement of work. Demonstrates how to structure evaluation agreements, know-how transfers, and IP licensing with specific deliverables, milestones, and acceptance criteria.
Tech Transfer & IP - Lessons Learned from an Academic Entrepreneur
Credit: ARPA-E
Video presentation from ARPA-E featuring an academic entrepreneur's firsthand experience with technology transfer and intellectual property. Learn practical lessons about navigating university IP policies, negotiating licensing agreements, and transitioning from academic research to commercial ventures.
Hiring
4 resources
High Hit-Rate Hiring
Credit: Ilan Gur
Tactical lessons learned on building a top team at early stage. Covers sourcing talent, leveraging networks, building hiring processes, evaluating candidates, courting top talent, closing deals, and recognizing mistakes quickly. Includes practical templates and tracking systems for managing the recruitment process effectively.
Gene Pool Engineering for Entrepreneurs
Credit: David Weiden
Strategic framework for building exceptional teams by carefully selecting and cultivating talent. Learn how to think about team composition, identify the right DNA for your organization, and create a culture that attracts and retains top performers in your industry.
Early-Stage Advisor Agreements
Credit: Founder Institute
FAST (Founder/Advisor Standard Template) agreements provide standardized terms for compensating advisors at early-stage startups. Learn about typical equity grants for advisors based on their level of engagement, stage of company, and contribution type. Includes templates and guidelines for structuring advisor relationships.
The Holloway Guide to Equity Compensation
Credit: Holloway
Comprehensive guide to equity compensation covering stock options, RSUs, early exercise, 83(b) elections, ISOs vs. NSOs, vesting schedules, acceleration, tax implications, and more. Essential reading for founders designing equity programs and employees evaluating startup offers. Includes detailed explanations, examples, and expert insights.
Culture
4 resources
What Silicon Valley Can Learn from Bill Walsh's The Score Takes Care of Itself
Credit: Bill Walsh
Insights from legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh's philosophy on building winning organizations. Learn about the 'Standard of Performance' - focusing on excellence in execution rather than outcomes, creating a culture of professionalism, and how attention to detail and high standards drive success.
Netflix Culture Deck
Credit: Netflix
The famous Netflix culture deck that revolutionized how companies think about culture and talent management. Learn about freedom and responsibility, high performance culture, radical candor, keeper test, and building a culture where only exceptional performers thrive.
eShares Team Culture
Credit: eShares (Carta)
eShares' (now Carta) approach to building a strong team culture focused on transparency, accountability, and growth. Learn about their values, operating principles, and practical frameworks for creating an environment where teams can do their best work.
People + Development Ground Rules
Credit: Khosla Ventures
Classic framework from Khosla Ventures on establishing foundational principles for team culture and personal development. Covers priorities around personal goals, sustainable workload, honest communication, career development, risk-taking, and maintaining discipline. Originally authored in 1999 by David Weiden but remains highly relevant.