The first rule of venture capitalism is hands-on experience. You have to get your hands dirty.

The world is hung up on food-based biofuels. Not only are they the wrong thing, they're the uneconomic thing.

Everybody else is afraid to fail. I do not really care because when I fail, I try something new.

If everyone played it safe, we wouldn't get anywhere.

I do not know what got me interested in technology. What was very clear to me very early on was that I was not interested in religion and that naturally increased my curiosity about science and technology, and I fundamentally believe the two are conflicting.

As for companies invested in the space - I think its important to distinguish between a good investment and a material climate change technology - you can have the first without the second, even in the "clean tech" space.

The willingness to fail gives us the freedom to succeed.