Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
From underwater data cables to aging transformers, the infrastructure powering our world is under pressure, and increasingly, under threat. But could national security, not just decarbonization, be the force that finally accelerates the energy transition?
In this episode, I’m joined by Austin Wood, Investment Manager at SET Ventures, to unpack why security is becoming a central force behind the energy transition and how their latest investment in OPTICS11 plays at the intersection of deeptech, defense, and critical infrastructure.
We explore:
Why energy systems are now national security issues
The mechanics and strategy behind their investments in OPTICS11
How fiber optic sensing can detect failures before they happen
The overlap between climate, security, and infrastructure
The economics of partial discharge monitoring (and why you should care)
… and more!
Watch this episode on YouTube. 👇
⌛TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Introduction to the episode
02:00 Austin's Story
03:10 SET Ventures Investment Strategy
08:05 Optics 11: Security as a Driver of the Energy Transition
17:20 Explaining Partial Discharge
19:50 What Convinced SET to Invest?
28:09 Investment Mechanics
30:01 Security as a New Driver for Energy Transition
36:50 LP Appetite for Climate-Tech
38:51 Rapid Fire Questions
📚 REFERENCES
Optics 11 – Fiber optic sensing for infrastructure and subsea monitoring
Wallbox Chargers – EV chargers and energy management software
Partial Discharge Monitoring – Detecting early failure signs in transformers
Royal Smitt – Transformer OEM + servicing partner
Dutch Navy – Early adopter and signal of defense relevance
SET Ventures – Digital energy VC based in Amsterdam
Join Capital – Dual-use and defense-focused VC syndicate partner
🤝 SPONSOR THIS PODCAST
Fill in this form: Become a sponsor of the podcast
💚 LEAVE A REVIEW
Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg
Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR
Share this post