Caleb Boyd and Kevin Bush started Molten Industries in a Stanford professor's garage, aiming to extract hydrogen from methane without emitting carbon dioxide. Breakthrough Energy's Discovery program, backed by Bill Gates, offers grants and resources to early-stage climate tech companies, filling the gap between research and investment. Investors like Azolla Ventures are embracing proto-companies and overlooked opportunities in climate tech, recognizing the potential for significant returns. Funding basic research is highlighted as crucial, with Breakthrough Energy and Azolla Ventures supporting promising projects. Academic collaborations with institutions like Georgia Tech and Harvard's Wyss Institute are vital in uncovering undervalued opportunities in sustainable innovation.