In this episode, we speak with Tien Nguyen, founding partner of Vietnam-based Earth Venture Capital, who explains why the venture capital firm is betting on science-led deep tech, from advanced nuclear to hydrogen, and what that approach tells us about financing the next generation of aviation technology.

Nguyen discusses

  • Earth VC’s mission to make the physical economy more efficient through science-led deep tech 
  • How Earth VC distinguishes a measurable scientific breakthrough from an incremental improvement 
  • How research institutions, trusted scientific networks and independent due diligence shape the fund’s investment pipeline 
  • The three commercialisation gaps facing hard-technology companies, and why Nguyen would rather see a company fail quickly than become a “zombie” 
  • Supercritical Solutions and the economics of producing clean hydrogen for direct industrial use 
  • How HyLight’s hydrogen-powered airships could reduce the cost of inspecting electricity lines and provide an early specialist market for hydrogen aviation 
  • Why Earth VC sources technology globally but treats deployment as a local problem
  • Nguyen’s advice to founders: raise capital against a defined technical, regulatory or commercial risk rather than simply buying more time 


If you LOVED this episode, you’ll also love the conversation we had with Elvis Ebikade Founder & Principal at Vansam Advisory. Check it out here.

Learn more about the innovators who are navigating the industry’s challenges to make sustainable aviation a reality, in our new book ‘Sustainability in the Air: Volume 2’. Click here to learn more.

Feel free to reach out via email to podcast@simpliflying.com. For more content on sustainable aviation, visit our website green.simpliflying.com and join the movement. It’s about time.

Links and more

Earth Venture Capital

Key Questions on Energy and AI - IEA

Aalo achieves criticality - Aalo Atomics 

Blykalla and IFE partner to advance key primary systems for scalable SMR deployment - Blykalla 

Supercritical, ScottishPower and Proton Ventures share findings from GreeNH3 feasibility study - Supercritical 

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