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EMIN ASKEROV
Cleantech FOAK and Scale-up Consiglieri
My insights and blog
Dive into my latest thoughts on Greentech trends, startup strategies, and investment insights. Stay ahead in the green revolution.
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Make Transformers (Even) More Boring
The humble transformer is at the heart of the electric grid. And for decades, it’s been a tailor-made marvel. Engineers loved the craft,...
Emin Askerov
6 days ago2 min read
2 views


EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy: A promising map, but still no compass
My full breakdown is now live:
What’s working, what’s missing, and what scaleups, especially in cleantech and manufacturing, can do today without waiting for Brussels.
Emin Askerov
Jun 123 min read
5 views


Second-hand equipment and loans for equipment in FOAK
Would you consider using second-hand equipment for your pilot/demo/FOAK?
Emin Askerov
Jun 102 min read
4 views


From Lab to Fab: How LeydenJar Rewired Its DNA to Scale
How to transform from project to product.
Emin Askerov
Jun 42 min read
3 views


Bridging the FOAK finance gap: IPO before VC
They IPO’d before raising VC. Here’s why that was genius. ATOME Energy didn’t follow the usual startup playbook. No pre-seed. No seed. No...
Emin Askerov
Jun 21 min read
0 views


A shared roadmap with a committed client matters more than an off-take
Off-takes are the holy grail of climatetech FOAKs. Conditional off-takes are the norm. Is there another way?
Emin Askerov
May 281 min read
4 views


FOAK no more. Three takeaways from the US climate rollback
Don’t play with the government. That’s a rule my father taught me. He built his business in the 90s and early 2000s in Russia. He knew...
Emin Askerov
May 272 min read
3 views


Fertilizers emit more CO₂ than planes and ships combined. And nobody talks about it.
Hear Olivier Mussat, the CEO and founder of ATOME, about the role of fertilizers.
Emin Askerov
May 261 min read
1 view


Hydrogen planes: The new Concorde, minus the takeoff
Airbus just quietly moved the launch of its hydrogen-powered plane from 2035 to 2045. In corporate speak, that’s not a delay—it’s a...
Emin Askerov
Apr 251 min read
4 views


FOAK Expertise: The Missing Piece in Climate Scale-Up
Where do you get FOAK Expertise? From FOAK advisors, who have done a FOAK before. Meet the new branch of cleantech ecosystem - the FOAK assi
Emin Askerov
Mar 171 min read
1 view


Three Steps to Building a FOAK
Your First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) project is where your climate tech startup is a startup no more. Investors, customers, and even your own team...
Emin Askerov
Feb 252 min read
23 views


The 5 Steps of The Pilot Stage
A Pilot is your first real-world test—where you prove that your technology works outside the lab.
Emin Askerov
Jan 303 min read
12 views


How Big Should Your FOAK Be?
A 3-step framework for scaling-up to FOAK
Emin Askerov
Jan 271 min read
11 views


FOAK Scale-Up Case - A Must-Listen for Climatetech Founders
De-icing a frozen water tower in the middle of nowhere is not on anyone’s job description. However, this is a reality that you can come...
Emin Askerov
Jan 202 min read
16 views


🗝️ 12 Keys to Scaling Up 🌱
The best guide so far on scaling up climate tech from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst
Emin Askerov
Jan 141 min read
3 views


📥Drop-In Solution
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲?
Emin Askerov
Jan 62 min read
10 views


De-risking FOAK
Main FOAK risks
Emin Askerov
Dec 26, 20243 min read
41 views


🎉 2024: A Year in Climate Tech Review
As 2024 wraps up, it’s time to reflect on a year that was anything but dull for the climate tech world. A buzzword dominated this year—...
Emin Askerov
Dec 19, 20243 min read
13 views


The Road To An Offtake Agreement: A Step-by-Step Guide
When you're building your FOAK, securing an offtake agreement is crucial for your scaleup’s success. Here is your guide to get there.
Emin Askerov
Oct 3, 20244 min read
21 views


The FOAK Off-Take: 4 Things You Need to Know
🔑 What are the 4 things crucial to your FOAK offtake and how to negotiate them? 🔑
Emin Askerov
Sep 19, 20243 min read
12 views
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