During Climate Week, Propeller had the honor of convening a thoughtful group of climate innovators and investors for a conversation hosted in partnership with our friends at Goodwin and JPMorganChase.
The discussion began with Sarah Kapnick of JPMorganChase, who shared insights from her Climate Intuition reports and explored what they mean for founders, investors, and the broader climate innovation ecosystem. Her work highlights the importance of understanding climate risk, market signals, and the physical realities shaping the future of business.
One line from the conversation especially stuck with us:
“Don’t bet against physics.”
For climate founders and investors, that message feels particularly relevant. The best companies in this space are not just responding to market trends; they are building around fundamental physical constraints, long-term demand, and the realities of a changing planet.
We then heard from Brian Halligan of HubSpot and Propeller, alongside Kelly Zheng of hum.ai, on how founders can navigate difficult markets. Their conversation focused on what it takes to build resilient companies when capital is tighter, customer needs are shifting, and the path forward is not always linear.
Another line that stuck with us:
“Almost all great companies pivot.”
That idea resonated across the room. For founders, pivots are not necessarily signs of weakness. Often, they are the path to sharper products, stronger business models, greater profitability, and deeper impact.
At Propeller, we are continually inspired by the founders building through uncertainty and the investors, operators, and partners working alongside them. Climate innovation requires both conviction and adaptability, and conversations like this are a reminder of how much progress can come from bringing the right people into the room.
Thank you to everyone who joined us, and thank you again to our partners at Goodwin and JPMorganChase.
Special thanks to Kristin Gerber and Joseph Theis, Jr. at Goodwin, and Britt Gardner and Sarah Kapnick at JPMorganChase.