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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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The Five-Step Framework for Finding Clients for Your FOAK
Over the years, I’ve distilled some patterns into a five-step framework for finding your clients—tailored to the realities of FOAK and climate tech.
Emin Askerov
Sep 113 min read
Overcoming change inertia
Cleantech startups usually sell to mature industries, and these don't like new stuff. How can founders overcome change inertia? Ports, especially municipally owned ones, are notorious for resisting any change to how they operate. Here is a story from Polina Vasilenko on how to sell floating solar to municipal ports.
Emin Askerov
Aug 72 min read
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
Mastering the FOAK Journey: A Practitioner’s Guide to Scaling Cleantech
We don’t have a cleantech innovation problem — we have a FOAK execution problem.
Over the past year, I’ve been building something I wish I had when I started scaling my first climate tech venture: a practical, experience-based framework for getting First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) projects off the ground.
In my latest article, I’ve pulled together my 50+ posts into a structured overview that maps the FOAK journey—from the moment you decide to leave the lab to the day your NOAKs are r
Emin Askerov
May 14 min read
FOAK Field Guide
A new, comprehensive guide to FOAK in cleantech
Emin Askerov
Apr 301 min read
The Middle East BESS market- where I was wrong
Two things I got wrong about Saudi Arabia BESS market
Emin Askerov
Apr 12 min read
How Long Should Your Off-Take Be?
This week, I go briefly into the key factors behind determining the term of your off-take
Emin Askerov
Mar 32 min read
Negotiating Price in the Off-Take
In any type of off-take, price will be the central point of negotiations. There are many pricing options available - fixed, floating,...
Emin Askerov
Feb 278 min read
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
🗝️ 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
🎁 Free One-Hour Consultations for Cleantech Scale-Ups 🌱
This January, I’m offering 20 free one-hour online consultations to startups and investors in the cleantech and climate tech space.
Emin Askerov
Jan 71 min read
De-risking FOAK
Main FOAK risks
Emin Askerov
Dec 26, 20243 min read
💼 Negotiating the Term Sheet—Where the Real Work Begins
How to negotiate a term sheet for your offtake
Emin Askerov
Dec 3, 20242 min read
Why Do Strategic Investors Back Climate Tech Startups?
A Climate First VC artile got me thinking
Emin Askerov
Dec 2, 20242 min read
💼 The Letter of Intent - Paving the Way to Your Offtake Term Sheet
How do you negotiate a Letter of Intent for your offtake agreement?
Emin Askerov
Nov 29, 20242 min read
MOU - Your First Step To Offtake
You’ve got your foot in the door with an NDA, but how do you keep momentum going on the way to an offtake? Don’t rush it! Start with an MOU!
Emin Askerov
Oct 17, 20243 min read
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
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
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