“The fact that it’s not easy actually motivates me–we have to reinvent all these things which have already been invented. From an engineering perspective, this is a really cool opportunity. Before it was more about optimizing, i.e., making things cost less or work better. But now, it’s really about fundamentally changing things and doing so quickly. ”
This newsletter issue features Dr. Arno Zimmermann, Spark e-Fuels Co-Founder.
Dr. Arno Zimmermann is passionate about creating cleantech products. He has been working on sustainable chemistry, and energy technology products for global corporations, start-ups and academia. He earned his engineering PhD from Technische Universität Berlin, where he analyzed the techno-economics of using CO2 as a resource. Zimmermann co-founded three sustainability start-ups and was named one of Forbes 30 Under 30. In his spare time he DJs, produces techno house music, and organizes electronic music events around Berlin.
Sustainability and product development are two main themes of your activity. How did you become interested in these topics?
I think it really goes back to how I grew up. I was a child in the 1990s, in East Germany. A lot of transitions at the time were economic, but you could see the impacts of the East German economy on the environment.The river was a bit smelly from acidic rain and some parts of the nearby forest were destroyed. I could see with my own eyes the impact of Germany being a heavily industrialized and densely populated country and I knew that I had to get involved.
When I was a young student, I went to the Copenhagen Climate Conference and I saw the amount of people involved and the activism around sustainability. I also learned about the difficulties of making sustainability change happen. The fact that it’s not easy actually motivates me–we have to reinvent all these things which have already been invented. From an engineering perspective, this is a really cool opportunity. Before it was more about optimizing, i.e., making things cost less or work better. But now, it’s really about fundamentally changing things and doing so quickly.
Can you tell me about your Forbes 30 under 30 award?
My team and I were so honored by this award because we were a really small team with a very early stage product at the time, but we believed passionately in the mission of Coolar, i.e. making vaccine refrigeration. We had this technology of cooling with solar heat, which we came up with by revamping technologies that we were introduced to from other contexts. We got a lot of traction–a lot of people wanted to get involved and help us.
When we were invited to go to the award event, I remember thinking “we’re never going to make it. So I’m going to go to this event just to connect with the people there.” And then at the event, they announced that everybody who was there was listed. That was a very, very good night for us for sure.
It was also the first European 30 under 30 list. We were so grateful for the opportunities that the 30 under 30 award gave us. It helped us to connect to other entrepreneurs and learn how to build companies and products. We were so inspired by the other people we met then! It is really important to connect with other like minded people who are in a similar space in order to learn and grow.