To take new climate solutions from the lab out into the world can take hundreds of millions of dollars in investment. But as the pressure intensifies to hit our climate targets, the rapid commercialization of clean technologies is critical. On this special bonus episode, guest host Lara Torvi sits down with cleantech investor Susan Rohac to discuss the opportunities and challenges Canada faces to commercialize climate technologies at full scale. 

Featured in this episode:

• As the vice president of the Cleantech Practice at BDC (the Business Development Bank of Canada), Susan Rohac sees the potential for global impact in climate tech. She leads her team in helping cleantech companies get the support and funding they need to scale successfully. With the responsibility of managing a $600-million fund, she’s one of the largest climate tech investors in the country.

Further Reading: 

• Canadian food tech companies could lead the global food revolution
• Clean Slate: How Canada Can Spur Growth by Procuring From Its Own Cleantech Startups
• Genecis Raises US$10 Million in Funding to Commercialize Biodegradable Plastic Products
• Clean tech could be worth more than oil by 2030

The Mission from MaRS initiative was created to help scale carbon reducing innovations by working to remove the barriers to adopting new technology. Mission from MaRS thanks its founding partners, HSBC, Trottier Family Foundation, RBC Tech for Nature and Thistledown Foundation. It has also received generous support from Peter Gilgan Foundation, BDC, EDC and Mitsubishi Corporation Americas. Learn more about the program at missionfrommars.ca.

Solve for X is brought to you by MaRS, North America’s largest urban innovation hub and a registered charity. MaRS supports startups and accelerates the adoption of high-impact solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. For more information, visit marsdd.com.