Josh Felser is a serial founder who sold two media companies (Spinner to AOL for ~$320M and Crackle to Sony for ~$65M) before becoming a VC, co-founding Freestyle Capital where he invested in unicorns like Airtable and Patreon, then pivoting to climate investing through Climactic. During COVID he co-led a technology task force for the State of California helping the government source private-sector solutions, an experience that influenced his decision to leave traditional VC and focus on climate solutions.

• A strong focus on the intersection of climate technology and artificial intelligence. He views efficiency as the essential ingredient for successful climate tech and sees AI as the catalyst to achieve it. He also suggests that environmental goals should be framed through a patriotic lens—emphasizing jobs, cheap energy, and self-reliance—to appeal to a broader spectrum of Americans.
• Interest in the human element within a tech-dominant future. He argues that as artificial intelligence advances and potentially commoditizes technical skills like coding, the most valuable trait for future innovators will be empathy and the ability to master social interactions in live settings.
• A desire to reform how investors interact with entrepreneurs, specifically regarding rejection. He has expressed a wish to move away from cold or ghosting behaviors, seeking instead to communicate with founders in a way that makes them feel supported and seen even when the investment answer is no.
• Critique of the information ecosystem and social media business models. He discusses how the internet is currently incentivized to promote division and notes that misinformation is often consumed not to change opinions, but to comfort people in their existing beliefs despite evidence to the contrary.