10: Turning from a for-profit into an impact entrepreneur - Interview with Christian Vollmann - founder of Carbon One (C1).

SustainNOW Podcast - Exploring Climate Solutions with Innovators and Entrepreneurs

In this episode, she is talking with Christian Vollmann - Founder of Carbon One, a serial digital entrepreneur who transformed from a pure profit to an impact entrepreneur. He co-founded companies such as iLove, eDarling, video platform MyVideo and social network nebenan.de. Christian was Business Angel of the year in 2017 and invested into more than 70 companies. In 2022, he co-founded Carbon One, a company revolutionizing the chemical and shipping industries with C1 Green Chemicals AG.

🌱 What is Green Methanol?
A low-carbon alternative to fossil fuel-based methanol, made from:
✅ Biomass (bio-methanol)
✅ Renewable energy & captured CO2 (e-methanol)

🚢 Topics covered in this episode
🔹 Why transition from profit-driven to impact-driven entrepreneurship? (2:01)
🔹 The moment Christian realized he needed a change (4:49)
🔹 How digital entrepreneurs can apply their skills to climate tech (7:21)
🔹 Biggest challenges & opportunities in solving the climate crisis (11:23)
🔹 C1’s vision: Closing carbon cycles with green methanol (16:16)
🔹 Inputs & process for producing 63,000 gallons of green methanol (21:26)
🔹 Why not electrify container ships or use hydrogen? (28:13)
🔹 Challenges in converting old container ships (32:41)
🔹 Christian’s approach to investor communication & learning (41:59)

Capíttulos

1. Episode 10 - Turning from a for-profit into an impact entrepreneur - Interview with Christian Vollmann - founder of Carbon One (C1). (00:00:00)

2. “Turning from "for-profit" entrepreneur into "impact entrepreneur". Can you please explain what you mean by that? (00:02:01)

3. What was the moment you realized that you need to change from a digital entrepreneur into an impact entrepreneur? (00:04:49)

4. What kind of skills can you use in that new industry? Or any other digital entrepreneur who is turning to impact (00:07:21)

5. What makes you in general optimistic that we will solve the climate crisis? (00:09:51)

6. What are the biggest challenges in solving the climate crisis in your own words? (00:11:23)

7. Coming now to Carbon One. The vision of the company is "Establish closed carbon cycles in shipping and chemical production via green methanol". Can you please explain the vision and how you want to achieve it? (00:16:16)

8. What is the input you need (biomass, capture co2, etc.) to create a 63’000 gallons of green methanol fuel? (00:21:26)

9. What is the biggest challenge in the production process? (00:27:01)

10. Why not electrify container ships or use hydrogen? (00:28:13)

11. What are the converting costs of old container ships? (00:32:41)

12. How do you continue to learn in order to stay on top of things within your role? (00:39:06)

13. I read that investor communication is a key for your success - in general communication. You are writing every month to your investors. Are you still doing that? Can you share some insights on how you do it? (00:41:59)

14. How can people contact you? (00:45:31)