21-Year-Old CEO Speeds Up Rock That Fights Climate Change

Most 21-year-olds are just starting their careers, but Jenna Woods is already running a climate tech company while finishing grad school.

The Northeastern University student discovered her calling during an undergraduate internship in Milan, where she studied a humble green mineral called olivine. When this rock touches carbon dioxide and water in the air, it pulls carbon out of the atmosphere naturally.

There's just one problem. The process takes millennia.

Woods became fascinated by the gap between promising climate solutions and their real-world use. "There are a lot of technically viable climate solutions that aren't necessarily moving at the same pace that their science is," she said.

During her 2024 internship with University of Milan professor Marcel Di Vece, Woods dove into olivine research while handling investor relations and finances. The work didn't stop when her internship ended or when she graduated with her bachelor's degree in 2025.

Last November, Di Vece launched a startup called AngelRock BV with help from a university accelerator grant. His first hire? Woods as CEO.

The company aims to speed up olivine's carbon-capturing abilities and make the technology ready for widespread use. For our carbon-heavy planet, having faster access to this natural climate solution could be game-changing.

Di Vece said choosing Woods for the top role was easy. "I was very impressed by Jenna's work and her commitment and understanding of mitigating climate change by capturing CO2," he explained.

Woods now balances running AngelRock full-time while pursuing her master's degree in Environmental Science and Public Policy at Northeastern. She plans to continue through a PhD, keeping the company going the entire time.

The Ripple Effect

Woods' journey from uncertain student to climate tech CEO shows how internships can launch careers that make a real difference. She started her undergraduate program unsure what to do with her environmental studies degree, but one co-op opportunity opened a door to leading breakthrough climate research.

Her story also highlights a crucial truth about fighting climate change: we need people who can bridge the gap between laboratory breakthroughs and real-world solutions. The science exists, but getting it to market requires a different skill set.

Di Vece sees enormous potential ahead. "Climate change is not going away, and we expect governments to need us in the near future," he said.

Woods loves waking up each day knowing her work matters. "It's really shown me how important it is to wake up knowing that you're doing something that you feel really attached to and is really important."

A green rock and a determined grad student might just help cool down our warming planet.