Why I Left Banking for Climate Innovation: Deanna Zhang
Jeremy sits down with Deanna Zhang, CEO of V1 Climate Solutions, to talk about her jump from banking into the fast-moving world of climate tech. Deanna shares how her Houston roots and Yale background shaped her view on global energy challenges, the “missing middle” in funding for early-stage hard tech, and how AI and industrial innovation are helping bridge that gap as the energy landscape continues to evolve.
00:00 - Intro
00:53 - Who is Deanna Zhang
03:41 - Growing up in Houston
08:53 - Attending Yale University
12:52 - College Experience
18:38 - First Job After College
23:13 - Working for TPH During COVID
27:00 - TPH Energy Tech Practice Overview
30:05 - Starting EnergyTech Ventures
35:30 - B1 Climate Solutions Introduction
38:00 - What B1 Climate Solutions Does
39:10 - Acquiring Business Clients
40:50 - Current Market Trends
46:00 - Advice to Younger Self
49:20 - Personal Insights
53:34 - Where to Find Deanna Zhang
https://twitter.com/collide_io
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Collide is the community where oil & gas professionals connect, share insights, and solve real-world problems together. No noise. No fluff. Just the discussions that move our industry forward.
Apply today at collide.io
00:00 - Intro
00:53 - Who is Deanna Zhang
03:41 - Growing up in Houston
08:53 - Attending Yale University
12:52 - College Experience
18:38 - First Job After College
23:13 - Working for TPH During COVID
27:00 - TPH Energy Tech Practice Overview
30:05 - Starting EnergyTech Ventures
35:30 - B1 Climate Solutions Introduction
38:00 - What B1 Climate Solutions Does
39:10 - Acquiring Business Clients
40:50 - Current Market Trends
46:00 - Advice to Younger Self
49:20 - Personal Insights
53:34 - Where to Find Deanna Zhang
https://twitter.com/collide_io
https://www.tiktok.com/@collide.io
https://www.facebook.com/collide.io
https://www.instagram.com/collide.io
https://www.youtube.com/@collide_io
https://bsky.app/profile/digitalwildcatters.bsky.social
https://www.linkedin.com/company/collide-digital-wildcatters
