We can turn climate fear and apathy into hope and action.
Mick Liubinskas is a climate tech activator and investor.
He co-founded Climate Salad to help build climate-focused startups and help the world get to and beyond net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Climate Salad is Australia's largest network of climate tech entrepreneurs, investors and mentors.
Mick has helped build 100’s of tech companies with Pollenizer, Startmate, muru-D, Austrade in San Francisco and Stanford's School.
Current Work:
In 2022 Mick helped develop the Climate Tech Industry Report, the first-ever in-depth analysis of the Australian and New Zealand climate tech industry, and the Climate Landscape Report which includes global data, taxonomy and top 1,000 climate tech companies Climate Tech Investments.
He is actively involved with a number of Climate Tech projects including:
- Ripe Robotics: using computer vision, AI and robotics to reduce the billions of dollars of food wasted at farms each year.
- Cecil Earth: unlocking the carbon value of millions of hectares of nature - EnergyLab - climate and clean technology-focused accelerator
- Startmate: a technology accelerator with a big climate tech focus
- As well as Terra.do, Phoenix Hydrogen, Akua, Spira, Elio, Tynt, Alga Biosciences
Previous Experiences:
Mick programmed his Commodore 64 at age 8, sold computer networks at age 17, raised capital for a business at 22 and ran marketing globally for Kazaa at 26. For the past 18 years he has co-founded 4 technology startup companies, including three years in San Francisco. This has included evaluating 1,000’s of ideas, building first products, getting first customers, launching globally, raising capital, closing businesses, selling businesses and all the emotional rollercoaster rides in between.
In 2017 he wrote a novel to inspire teenage girls into the world of STEM, called She’s Building A Robot. It is accompanied by a series of interviews with women with careers in robotics, technology, science and maths.
Mick was the co-founder of Pollenizer which started 25 companies. He was also a co-founding investor and mentor at Startmate (co-founding investor and mentor) and Spreets which sold to Yahoo for ~$40m in 13 months.
He was also the co-founder of muru-D - Telstra’s tech accelerator which invested in 200 businesses across Australia and South East Asia and ASX listed Wooboard.
Mick is known as Mr Focus due to his strong drive for starting small and fast, doing fast testing on the road to success and avoiding entrepreneurial distractions. He, Phil and the team from Pollenizer wrote a workbook called Startup Focus which sold 5,000 copies. He also loves being a dad, surfing, playing football (the round ball variety) and singing bad karaoke.
Talking Points
Climate Hope
It's too easy to think that climate problems are too far away, too big, or too scary. With high audience engagement, Mick shares how climate technology is here and growing quickly from Australia and across the globe. From energy, ag, transport, materials, natural assets, carbon offsets and more, Mick brings to life incredible stories from over 200 Australian companies with ambitions to get the planet to sustainability fast.
Climate Hope
The Climate Technology Opportunity
We have a huge environmental debt and the interest charges are now being seen every day. But we can fix it. If we act now. The Climate Technology Opportunity
Mick brings stories from over 200 Australian companies with ambitions to get the planet to sustainability fast. From energy, ag, transport, materials, natural assets, carbon offsets and more, climate tech needs to change everything. With his infectious energy and high audience engagement, Mick maps out the industry and gives practical guides to how companies can play a role in how they operate, how their industry evolves and how their employees engage.
Climate Action
Consumers can't fix climate challenges, but they have much more power than they think. With product choices, daily behaviour and community power, we can change the trillion tiny actions into positives.Climate Action
By using Australian companies as examples, Mick's high-energy talk inspires hope and action.
Workshops
Duration: 3 hours from start to finish with option for lunch/discussion afterwardsWorkshops
Option 1: Objective: How can our company be more internally sustainable with climate technology?
1. Explore problems
2. Brainstorm solutions
3. Select shortlist to develop
4. Develop pitch plans including options to build, borrow, buy
5. Present pitches
6. Reflection
Option 2: Objective: What climate technology could our company develop for our customers?
1. Explore problems
2. Brainstorm solutions
3. Select shortlist to develop
4. Develop pitch plans
5. Present pitches
6. Reflection
Option 3: Start a (Climate) Startup in 3 Hours
1. Bring an idea for a new business and do a business canvas before you come
2. Develop a lean, focused, agile first version
3. Build the first version using simple, existing tools and templates
4. Launch the idea publicly
5. Reflect on the lessons learned
6. Everyone pitches their business. Best pitch wins a prize.
Video
Mick Liubinskas on Going Global Without Boiling the Ocean
Mick Liubinskas, Entrepreneur in Residence at muru-D wants Australia's startups to be more ambitious. Mick Liubinskas is a technology entrepreneur, investor, and industry leader. For the past 18 years, he has cofounded 12 technology startup companies, including Pollenizer with Phil Morle. This is why he started his talk at SydStart 2015 by saying that he's very frustrated at the fact that though Australia is a big country, it's a tiny market.Australia's Massive Climate Tech Opportunity | Mick Liubinskas
This session will delve into: - Why climate tech is critical to save the planet - What does the full climate landscape look like and what is the global climate landscape project - What is the opportunity Australia has in climate tech - Who are the climate tech investors in Australia - Example companies doing big things and the ANZ climate tech 100 - 1 minute climate tech pitches - Q&A on climate tech Mick Liubinskas is a climate tech advisor and angel investor in Cecil Earth, Ripe Robotics, Functionly, FlightFox, Startmate and EnergyLab. Mick co-founder of Pollenizer and muru-D and author of She’s Building A Robot.Mick is an absolute legend of the Australian startup scene. In Sydney, he is the gold standard for business advice. On a world scale, I dare say he stacks up pretty damn well too. His advice ... keep reading Mike Cannon-Brookes - Atlassian CEO
Mick Liubinskas is a passionate and authentic public speaker who really engages with his audience. He is an experienced innovation leader with a particular focus on climate tech and always brings the content to life with practical stories and case studies, that challenge us all to take better care of our planet.
Mick Liubinskas is an engaging speaker who has a strong presence. He is an Australian leader in climate tech and brings the content to life with practical stories and case studies.
I can't say enough good stuff about Mick; He sees the big picture and enjoys rolling up his sleeves and moving towards it. He's a true motivator and his excitement is infectious.
I’ve had the privilege to hear Mick Liubinskas speak publicly on multiple occasions and each time he has been inspirational and knowledgeable about entrepreneurship and climate tech. His mix of personal experience and a genuine desire to help turn Australia into a climate tech global leader makes him a great guest for an event.
Mick Liubinskas is a talented speaker who really engages the audience. He is an Australian leader in climate tech and brings the content to life with practical stories and case studies.
In October 2018 when I was Chapter Learning Chair, I tracked down Mick to run a workshop for our members (and family) called 'The 4-hour Startup.' It was a highly engaging session that allowed our EO Kids to get stuck in and tap into their entrepreneurial talents. I would highly recommend his workshop to other EO chapters!
