Nicola Steel, Founder of JJP Talent Solutions, sits down with Andrew Pedley, co-founder of Carbonaught, a pioneering company dedicated to delivering scalable carbon removal solutions and enhancing food security worldwide. Andrew brings a wealth of experience from his extensive corporate career in financial markets within investment banks and heavy industry to his innovative approach in the environmental tech space.

Andrew shares the compelling journey that led him to start Carbonaught, driven by a mix of necessity and frustration with the status quo. He reflects on the critical moments and thought processes that fueled the inception of the company, including his desire to create a meaningful and impactful business. We dive into the challenges Carbonaught faced in its early days, from complex logistics to market validation loops, and how they navigated these hurdles with a small but dedicated team.

We also explore Andrew’s approach to building a team, where he prioritises kinship and intellectual horsepower aligned with the company's mission. Andrew offers insights into the strategies that secured funding for Carbonaught, including the pivotal moments when the company gained international recognition, solidifying their path to success.

Throughout the conversation, Andrew provides candid advice for startup founders, emphasising the importance of building something solid, staying true to your vision, and creating your own validation layers. He also shares his skeptical view on mentorship, advocating instead for the value of having "co-pilots" who have navigated similar challenges.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, carbon removal technologies, and the journey of transforming a bold idea into a successful, impactful company. Whether you're in the early stages of your startup or just curious about the future of carbon removal, Andrew's story will inspire and inform.