Inevitable

• Why Circularity Fuels Started with Diamonds to Scale Sustainable Jet Fuel

  Dr. Stephen Beaton is Co-founder and CEO of Circularity Fuels, which develops compact reactors that turn waste carbon streams into high-value fuels and chemicals. Rather than compete with fossil fuels from the start, Stephen identified high-purity methane for lab-grown diamonds as a beachhead market—where Circularity’s product is 80–90% cheaper than incumbents while proving the core technology needed for clean liquid fuels.Stephen earned a chemistry PhD at Oxford and built deep expertise in synthetic fuels during his U.S. Air Force career, including overseeing jet fuel quality control in the Middle East and launching the Air Force’s e-fuels program. His insight: build a fuels company that doesn’t begin with fuel.Today, Circularity Fuels operates demonstration reactors in diamond facilities and is scaling toward biogas-to-SAF production using the same reactor platform. The company has raised $3M in venture funding, including from DCVC, plus $5M in grants from ARPA-E, NSF, and the California Energy Commission. MCJ is proud to be an investor.Episode recorded on Aug 12, 2025 (Published on Sept 16, 2025)In this episode, we cover: [03:09] Dr. Beaton’s background in clean fuels[07:31] His work with Air Force petroleum in the Middle East[10:12] A brief overview of hydrocarbons[13:08] ESAF as resilience for Pacific operations[16:22] What e-SAF really means and why it matters[19:24] Circularity Fuels’ origin story[21:20] The company’s three principles[23:04] High-purity methane for diamonds as a beachhead[27:46] Recycling diamond exhaust with microwave-sized reactors[30:40] Building a fuel company without fuel as the initial product[34:35] Hardware sales vs metered methane service model[39:05] Biogas-to-SAF pathway via Fischer-Tropsch[42:38] Circularity’s progress to date[44:01] Competing with fossil jet and carbon removals[48:41] How Circularity secured non-dilutive funding Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

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• Marc Tarpenning, Co-founder of Tesla

  Marc Tarpenning is Co-founder of Tesla and a venture partner at Spero Ventures. In 2003, Marc and Martin Eberhard saw two signals: GM killed its beloved EV1, and Californians snapped up Toyota’s Prius despite its compromises. They realized the market was ready for an electric car that was better than gas, not worse. Their breakthrough: 7,000 off-the-shelf laptop batteries powering a sports car that outran a Porsche and drove over 200 miles. The Tesla Roadster was born, before Elon Musk joined the company.Marc shares how his time in Saudi Arabia exposed him to oil dependence, how NuvoMedia taught him about the pace of battery improvement, and why a software mindset helped Tesla out-innovate incumbents. Now at Spero Ventures, Marc backs founders building solutions that are both economically compelling and environmentally vital, and explains why, to him, EVs have already won.Episode recorded on Aug 12, 2025 (Published on Sept 9, 2025)In this episode, we cover: [05:58] Marc's experience fixing software projects in Saudi Arabia[07:06] Why TELO’s compact electric pickup makes sense[09:09] Marc's Star Trek optimism versus Blade Runner dystopia[10:29] On founding NuvoMedia and the first e-book readers[17:40] Brainstorming EVs after the dot-com collapse[20:25] Prius demand proves customers value efficiency[22:18] Reducing oil dependence as national security[24:46] Roadster powered by 7,000 laptop lithium-ion cells[30:28] The Tesla launch playbook[32:14] Acceleration as the hook for high-end EV buyers[37:20] Early interactions with Elon Musk at SpaceX office[40:11] Lessons from early Roadster builds[43:36] Vertical integration only where it truly differentiates[48:15] Why EVs are inevitable[50:30] Marc's thoughts on Tesla today Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

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• Inside America’s Biggest Energy and Science Lab with Oak Ridge National Laboratory

  Dr. Susan Hubbard is Deputy Director for Science and Technology at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the largest of the U.S. Department of Energy’s multi-program science and energy labs. With more than 7,000 scientists and engineers, Oak Ridge is advancing innovation across nuclear energy, grid resilience, AI, quantum computing, isotopes, and advanced manufacturing. In this episode, Susan shares how the national labs’ mission has evolved since the Manhattan Project, how companies and startups engage with Oak Ridge through user facilities and partnerships, and what role the labs will play in shaping the future of energy and technology amid today’s geopolitical and industrial shifts.Episode recorded Aug 18, 2025 (Published Sept 2, 2025) In this episode, we cover: [03:03] Dr. Hubbard’s early career and hydrogeophysics[05:31] Permafrost thaw in the Arctic[07:11] Earth system complexity[09:00] Transition from geophysicist to ORNL leadership[12:17] ORNL’s user facilities, including Frontier supercomputer[13:56] Isotopes for medicine, security, and Mars exploration[15:45] Neutron scattering and world-leading materials research[17:25] Large-scale 3D additive manufacturing for energy[19:25] How DOE priorities shape research directions[22:04] Public-private partnerships in nuclear and fusion[26:54] ORNL’s role in ITER and advanced fusion materials[30:51] Local enthusiasm for nuclear in Tennessee[31:54] Building the future grid: reliability, cybersecurity, AI[33:17] High-performance computing simulations of energy systems[37:23] Quantum computing, AI, and labs of the future[43:41] How startups engage with ORNL (CRADA, Innovation Crossroads)[48:02] U.S. R&D evolution: Manhattan Project to today Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

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• Electrifying Marine Vessels with Arc Boat Company

  Mitch Lee, CEO of Arc Boat Company, is bringing the Tesla playbook to boating. Arc’s quiet, software-powered electric boats—like the sold-out Arc Sport—deliver cleaner rides, zero fumes, and customizable wave settings. Mitch shares why electric makes more sense on water than land, how dockside charging already works, and why Arc builds full boats instead of motors. With $100M raised and an expansion into commercial vessels, Arc is leading a cleaner, better future for marine travel.Episode recorded on Aug 6, 2025 (Published on Aug 12, 2025)In this episode, we cover: [3:27] An overview of Arc Boat Company [5:07] Mitch’s background and experience ⁠[6:28] The inefficiency of gas boats and fuel use[8:17] His decision to build Arc [10:54] The company’s vertically integrated battery pack ⁠[12:04] Why Arc builds complete boats, not just motors⁠[13:31] Battery size, range, and charging times for Arc boats[16:36] Charging Arc boats [19:26] The traditional boat market and Arc's advantage[24:26] Safety on Arc boats ⁠[28:51] Lessons from Arc One to Arc Sport⁠[33:20] Software-driven customization for water sports⁠[39:19] Arc Coast’s design and target market⁠[41:30] Expansion into commercial and hybrid-electric vessels[44:21] Why the US hasn’t electrified commercial vessels like ferries ⁠[49:06] $100M raised from top VCs and celebrity investors Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

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• The Rise of American Dynamism with a16z

  Katherine Boyle and Erin Price-Wright are General Partners at Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), leading the firm's American Dynamism practice. This episode explores how their team invests in companies tackling national imperatives—ranging from defense and manufacturing to energy and critical infrastructure. Katherine shares how American Dynamism emerged from portfolio patterns at a16z, while Erin describes how her background at Palantir informs her investment lens. Together, they unpack why the U.S. must reindustrialize, how software is now eating the physical world, and what they look for in high-capex startups. This conversation also highlights the evolving U.S.-China industrial competition, the role of government in innovation, and why talent is moving from Big Tech into “hard tech.”In this episode, we cover: ⁠[02:30]⁠ An overview of a16z⁠[04:59]⁠ Its thesis shift from defense to energy and industry⁠[07:49]⁠ How AI is transforming heavy industries[8:24] Tech stack for US vs. China[12:23]⁠ Role of government versus private capital⁠[16:14]⁠ Why software is still the core of industrial innovation[16:55]⁠ Base Power as a software-led grid infrastructure play⁠[20:42]⁠ When vertical AI-native startups beat incumbents⁠[21:48]⁠ How a16z helps startups navigate Washington⁠[27:51]⁠ Why energy problems require system-level solutions⁠[31:57]⁠ Moats in energy and manufacturing[37:51] a16z’s American Dynamism 50 list⁠[40:16]⁠ Battery supply chains and the China dependency⁠[46:44]⁠ Why capital stack strategy matters for hard tech founders⁠[48:52]⁠ Looking 10 years aheadEpisode recorded on May 21, 2025 (Published on July 29, 2025) Enjoyed this episode? Please leave us a review! Share feedback or suggest future topics and guests at [email protected] with MCJ:Cody Simms on LinkedInVisit mcj.vcSubscribe to the MCJ Newsletter*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant

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