Unleash the Trial & Error-ers!

We naturally gravitate around the idea that science breeds technology. The unbreakable, unidirectional link is the epitome of enlightened thinking and progress. Maybe it’s our vulnerability to a great story? In hindsight, a sequence of events is deterministic.

In 1839, Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel theorised the existence of a photovoltaic effect. Two decades later, Willoughby Smith systematically tested known chemical elements to produce photovoltaic cells. It wasn’t until 1940 that Russell Ohl solved the equations that pointed to a crack in silicon as an ideal replacement for selenium, and produced the first cell with 1% efficiency.

Except, that’s not how it happened…

Serendipity runs through our lives today, and has done since our time as hunter-gatherers. Becquerel was confused when he registered electrical current in the presence of a light source. Smith stumbled upon the effect when laying down underwater selenium telephone cables. Russell Ohl was fortunate to find a crack in his silicon sample.

Solar power now accounts for ~4% of the UK’s power generation, fuelled by breakthroughs in trial-and-error. However, it is true that the relationship between science and technology generally moves one way. New technology produces unexplainable effects which scientists mull over until their explanation supersedes the original story of tinkering and good fortune. Only in 1905 did Einstein explain the photovoltaic effect.

Tinkerers. Trial-and-error-ers. Founders. These are the people at the forefront of innovation, and we must give them the support, but also the space, they need to take risks in order to save the planet. At Climate.VC this group of eclectics are crucial to the Cool Hominids ecosystem. We make sure to invest in the long term. If they have the nerve and stamina to take risks for the planet, then we’ll support them at every stage.

This is not to undermine the role of scientists, but to rearrange the generally conceived sequence of innovation. They are a cornerstone of our community, providing crucial guidance for investors and founders alike. We count some of the greatest minds at the forefront of climate science amongst our advisers, and we need them to understand the natural world as it changes during the Anthropocene. As you might expect, many of the founders we speak to have only recently left academia. But a majority of these are now experimenting to achieve progress.

In the past, these tinkerers have produced breakthroughs under the noses of scientists. Until the late 1980s, all kinds of boffins ran through airports while lifting back-breaking luggage bags. Even before airports came into existence, carrying was the default mode of transporting items from A to B. Northwest Airlines Pilot Robert Plath put an end to this. Two wheels and a handle? GENIUS! It seems unfathomable that this had never been done before, and yet it came from an innovator rather than a scientist or economist attempting to maximise efficiency and utility.

We do not know if the next great breakthrough in climate technology will come from science or trial and error, but I’d be willing to bet on the latter.

So take risks, whether as an investor, founder or advisor. Our community orbits around big ideas, with many unknown unknowns. But as Cool Hominids, we’ll explore these ideas and push them to their limits.

The course of true progress never did run smooth.

Written by Louis Scott @ Potential Climate Ventures