"Being transparent helps reduce pressure and prevents small issues from becoming existential problems.”
What are Domain Experts and how do they support?
Domain Experts are our closest circle of supporters. From Phase 2 onwards, they are mentors and sparring partners for our teams and bring a wealth of experience from entrepreneurship and technical understanding. We would like to introduce you to them.
Would you briefly introduce yourself and highlight what kind of expertise and support the teams can expect from you?
I am Nadine Gelke, I bring 17 years of experience in real estate investment management, working predominantly on behalf of institutional investors across multiple market cycles.
Alongside this, I am a certified energy efficiency auditor, which has given me a strong, practical understanding of sustainability, energy performance, and decarbonisation challenges within the real estate environment.
Currently, I serve as Head of Data Centre at CBRE, where I advise developers, operators, and investors throughout the data centre lifecycle—from site selection and power strategy to investment structuring and ESG considerations. As a result, the Carbon13 teams can expect support that bridges the institutional investment perspective, real‑estate‑driven sustainability expertise, and deep, sector‑specific knowledge of data centres, particularly at the intersection of energy, infrastructure, and climate impact.
What made you join Carbon13’s mission to fight the climate emergency by supporting climatetech projects?
What motivated me to join Carbon13 is my first‑hand experience of how powerful and impactful the startup ecosystem can be when it is driven by purpose. In the past, I worked closely with a startup to develop an AI‑driven energy‑efficiency solution, and I was deeply inspired by the speed, creativity, and genuine commitment that founders bring to solving real‑world problems.
That experience made me realise how much energy and momentum the startup scene can generate, especially when technology is applied pragmatically to climate and energy challenges. Carbon13 offers a unique opportunity to channel part of my own energy, expertise, and time directly into the climate emergency, supporting teams that are building scalable, meaningful solutions.
What is the difference when it comes to supporting and working with climatetech founders, compared to other founders?
The key difference when working with climatetech founders lies in the underlying motivation and sense of responsibility. While all founders are driven by ambition and innovation, climatetech founders are typically guided by a dual mission: building a commercially viable business and delivering measurable climate impact.
Building a start-up is a rollercoaster ride with many ups and downs. What tips do you have for founders to cope with this?
One of the most important ways to cope with the ups and downs of building a startup is open communication. Being transparent with co‑founders, the team, investors, and mentors’ helps reduce pressure and prevents small issues from becoming existential problems.
Closely linked to that is the willingness to address challenges directly. Avoiding difficult conversations or uncomfortable decisions usually makes things harder over time. Tackling problems early—whether they relate to strategy, performance, or team dynamics—creates clarity and trust, even if the conversation is difficult in the moment.
Why do you think that Carbon13 is a good place to start a successful climatetech venture?
Carbon13 is a great place to start a successful climatetech venture because it brings together a strong, dynamic, and highly mission‑driven network.
What do you think participants need to bring in order to be successful?
To be successful, participants need resilience and patience to navigate inevitable setbacks and long timelines. They also need realistic assumptions about technology, markets, and constraints, paired with strong communication skills to align teams, engage stakeholders, and address challenges openly and early.
Who would you like to work with in the future?
I would like to work with mission‑driven climatetech founders who act for the right purpose and have a clear and authentic view of the mission they are pursuing. I’m particularly drawn to founders who show the resilience to keep moving forward when things get difficult—and who also maintain a sense of humour to navigate the inevitable downs of the startup journey.