Dirk Singer - Climate Tech Advocate | Sustainable Aviation Author | Business Builder

London Area, United Kingdom

E - dirk AT theflyingrabbit.ca | www.linkedin.com/in/dirktherabbit

Profile:

Climate tech strategist at the intersection of technical validation and commercial viability.

After profiling 100+ sustainable aviation startups through interviews, podcasts, and in-depth case studies, I've developed deep pattern recognition for what separates the 10% that reach commercial scale from the 90% that fail, even with promising technology.

My work focuses on the "three valleys of death" in climate tech: the critical funding and operational chasms between lab→pilot, pilot→commercial, and market entry→scale. I help startups navigate these valleys, and help investors identify which companies will actually make it.

Background: Built and scaled two agencies from zero to £3M+ turnover. Now applying that operator experience to climate tech advisory, due diligence, and investment readiness work.Key Skills:

• Sustainability Strategy Development

• Climate Tech Advisory

• Business Scaling

• Content Creation & Thought Leadership

• Project Management

• Marketing & PR

Professional Experience

SimpliFlying (2016 - Present)

Author (2023 - Present)

Co-authored Sustainability in the Air: Volume Two, featuring comprehensive analysis of why climate tech startups fail
Final chapter synthesises learnings from 100+ founder interviews, identifying the "three valleys of death" and the ten strategic principles that differentiate successful ventures
Profiled companies from pre-seed to Series B, spanning SAF, hydrogen, electric aircraft, carbon removal, and E-fuels

Head of Sustainability (2020 - Present)

Created and host Signal, a podcast analysing climate tech business models and what drives commercial success in sustainable aviation
Published 100+ in-depth articles on emerging technologies and startup strategies
Produced a dozen major research reports including studies on carbon removal, electric aviation, hydrogen, and SAF pathways
Lead strategic advisory for climate tech companies seeking to enter the aviation market
Completed 18-month sustainability strategy project for US Government agency

Senior Consultant (2016 - 2020)

Led content strategy and client marketing projects for global airlines
Developed thought leadership positioning for aviation sustainability initiatives

Make Honey (2015 - Present)

Associate Partner

Co-founded award-winning social creative agency
Continue to contribute to agency strategy and growth
Director of Honey group agency 'Freim'

Fit2Fly (2021)

Co-Founder

Pivoted during COVID-19 to become pre-flight testing experts
Launched Fit2Fly testing platform
Created daily newsletter reaching 6,000+ industry subscribers with crucial travel restriction updates
Demonstrated ability to identify market needs and execute rapidly

Rabbit (2010 - 2017)

Founder

Built and scaled multi-award-winning social media agency from ground up
Led innovative campaigns for major clients including Gatwick Airport's award-winning social media strategy
First agency to run campaigns on Instagram (at the time)
Grew to 14 employees with £700k turnover

Cow (2000 - 2010)

Co-Founder

Co-founded and grew Cow to become PR Agency of the Year
Secured major six-figure accounts including Yahoo! and Google
Managed team of 40 at agency's peak
Built company to £3M annual turnover

Education

The University of Edinburgh
MA History, LLB Law

What Sets My Work Apart

1. Operator Experience Meets Technical Depth
I've built businesses from zero to £3M. I understand what founders face because I've faced it. But I also understand the technical side, SAF pathways, hydrogen production routes, battery chemistry trade-offs. This combination is rare.

2. Pattern Recognition at Scale
After 100+ startup profiles, I've seen the patterns. I know which founder mistakes are recoverable and which are fatal. I know which technical approaches have hidden commercial barriers. I know which partnerships accelerate and which distract.

3. The "Three Valleys of Death" Framework
Most people talk about "the valley of death" as a single phenomenon. Through research for Sustainability in the Air: Volume Two, I identified three distinct valleys, each with unique characteristics and survival strategies. This framework helps founders anticipate challenges and helps investors identify which companies can navigate each valley.

4. Honest Assessment
I'm not in the business of selling hope. If a technology has fundamental flaws, I'll say so. If a business model doesn't work at scale, I'll explain why. This honesty makes my positive assessments more valuable, when I say something will work, people trust it.

5. Network Effects
Through the book, podcast, and 100+ published analyses, I've built relationships across the ecosystem: founders, investors, corporates, policymakers. These connections create value for advisory clients through introductions, partnerships, and market intelligence.

Current Focus

For Startups: Investment readiness, strategic positioning, and navigating the three valleys of death

For Investors: Due diligence on climate tech opportunities, deal flow assessment, and pattern recognition consulting

For Corporates: Technology evaluation, partnership strategy, and avoiding greenwashing while pursuing genuine decarbonisation

Contact

Email: dirk AT theflyingrabbit.ca
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dirktherabbit
Location: London, UK
Available: Advisory, speaking, consulting globally

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