In this episode of the World Podcast Series, Sugira Rubasha sits down with Keith Gillard — Co-Founder & CEO of Sustaero, the company working on producing sustainable jet fuel from wood waste at commercial scale.Keith’s story is wild.He’s a former Fortune 100 exec, he’s spent 25+ years in venture capital and private equity, he’s led and exited sustainability companies around the world and he’s also a two-time Canadian Independent Music Award nominee. Business and creativity in one human.We cover:🔥 How Soro turns leftover wood chips into jet fuel ✈️💰 Venture capital vs private equity (in plain English)⚠️ Why most startups fail (and it’s not the technology)📈 Where the real money is: “boring businesses” doing $2M–$8M EBITDA🧠 How to build a team that investors will actually trust🎤 How CEOs should speak on stage to drive deal flow and authority🌍 Why clean tech is about doing more with less, not going backwardsThis is for founders, CEOs, investors, and operators who care about legacy, leverage, and scale.⏱ Timestamps (40 min episode)00:00 – Intro: Who is Keith Gillard?02:00 – “We make jet fuel from wood” explained like you’re 1106:20 – How Soro actually does it (wood waste → syngas → jet fuel)09:40 – Who buys this fuel and why airlines care12:30 – Venture capital 101: what it really is15:20 – Why most startups fail (hint: people, not tech)18:10 – Private equity vs venture capital (simple breakdown)22:00 – The $2M–$8M EBITDA “boring business” opportunity25:10 – Succession crisis: baby boomers retiring, no one to take over27:30 – How great teams get built (and why exits depend on people)31:10 – Deal flow: how investors actually find companies33:40 – The future of Soro and sustainable aviation fuel36:20 – Keith on keynote speaking and communicating vision38:10 – Rapid fire: cleantech, CEO vision, “leverage,” legacyABOUT KEITH GILLARDCo-Founder & CEO of Sustero building sustainable jet fuel from wood waste• 25+ years in venture capital and private equity• Has led, invested in, and exited dozens of sustainability-focused companies• Twice-nominated for the Canadian Independent Music Awards• Keynote speaker in clean tech, aviation fuel, and industrial transitionABOUT THE HOST🎙 Sugira Rubasha, Founder & CEO of ETS Rubasha Media.We build legacy media for CEOs: storytelling, podcast production, AI driven deal flow, and personal brand systems.Work with us / media inquiries: https://rubashamedia.com/Follow @ETSRubashaMedia on LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube.Sponsors: Our AISDR Try the Demo Here: https://partner.aisdr.com/bookmetingsaiBook a discovery call: Website: https://rubashamedia.com/
