Invested In Climate

Creating Leaders for a Regenerative Economy with Work on Climate, Ep #130

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Imagine for a moment if economic activity made nature and society healthier. It’s a notion that at first might seem absurdly idealistic, and then when you think about it, maybe essential for our survival and thus perhaps what the goal of an economy should actually be. Welcome to the concept of regenerative economics. There’s a growing number of leading thinkers, organizations, policymakers, and even businesses fueling the regenerative movement. With AI and a new geopolitical order creating massive disruption, it’s an important time to consider bold visions for the future.

Today, we’re joined by someone who’s both a bold visionary and practical implementer. Eugene Kirpichov left his dream job at Google in 2020 to found Work on Climate, a community that has now helped tens of thousands of people looking for ways to address climate change. Eugene sees communities as mindbogglingly effective for scaling impact. By helping people realize their potential as climate leaders, Work on Climate is harnessing the power of community to work towards a regenerative economy. Eugene is a guy of big ideas, who thinks about systems strategically and makes things happen. It was a blast talking to Eugene and we suspect you’ll enjoy the conversation as well. Here we go.

On today’s episode, we cover:

00:57 – Regenerative Economics & Introducing Eugene
02:41 – Recent Encounters & Shared Community
03:00 – Eugene’s Early Life in Russia & Tech Beginnings
06:25 – Joining Google & Finding Eugene’s Niche
08:47 – Eugene’s Climate Wake‑Up & Decision to Leave Google
10:30 – Discovering the Climate Solutions Ecosystem
12:56 – Founding Work on Climate
14:18 – Community Power & Founder Success Stories from Work on Climate
15:34 – How Work on Climate Operates & Is Funded
17:36 – Eugene’s Shift: From Climate Jobs to Climate Leaders
21:30 – Examples of Everyday Climate Leadership
24:25 – Three Qualities of a Climate Leader
26:33 – Rethinking the “Most Impactful Thing I Can Do”
29:56 – Eugene’s Long‑Term Vision for Work on Climate
33:02 – What a Regenerative Economy Is
38:18 – How to Build a Regenerative Economy in Practice
44:18 – AI as System Accelerator & Regenerative Tool
48:15 – EPA Ruling, Shared Reality & Coordination
51:32 – What Eugene Is Reading & Learning From
55:07 – Call to Action for Funders & Individuals

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Adding Rigor to Climate Finance with Robert Brown, Ep #129

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Frequent listeners know we're always eager to learn about how climate investing needs to change to be more effective. With the attacks on ESG and a new political era, we’re clearly in a new chapter for climate investing and being intentional about the ingredients, language and goals of this new chapter is critical for delivering both solid returns and real impact.

Rob Brown argues that its time to step back from overreach and inauthentic impact goals, and fuel this new chapter with rigor. Rob wears a couple of hats as Director of Climate Research at Resolution Investors and Chief Research Officer at Impact Evaluation Lab. In these roles, Rob bring his decades of investment experience using research and analysis to improve long term thinking, risk management and what he calls mission authenticity, or the ability to really deliver on the kind of impact one promises. Tune in for a deeply fascinating conversation about how climate investing is maturing and the work that still needs to be done for this new chapter. Enjoy.

On today’s episode, we cover:

02:41 – Rob’s career journey & love of solving problems
05:17 – From Just Capital to Impact Evaluation Lab & Resolution Investors
09:52 – How to tell serious impact investors from pretenders
14:34 – Is rigor a cost center? Making the ROI case
19:29 – A lightning history of sustainable investing
23:14 – Why sustainable finance is “deeply stressed”
27:08 – Climate investing as long‑term risk‑adjusted returns
29:27 – Two key shifts: longer horizons & real tech expertise
33:02 – Rigor, incentives, and how the field grows up
36:45 – Why sustainable investing is the future of capital markets
39:11 – Closing remarks

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Earthshot & Elemental’s 1–2 Punch for Climate: VC + Philanthropy, Ep #128

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We all know that no single investment strategy—and no single asset class—is going to fund the climate innovation we need on its own. Moving real solutions forward takes multiple tools working together. That’s why I’ve long been drawn to catalytic capital and blended finance—using philanthropy to unlock risk-taking and bring more and different kinds of investors along.

That’s what drew me to the work of Elemental Impact and Earthshot Ventures, two organizations founded by Dawn Lippert that are designed to move critical climate technologies from early validation to scale. Elemental uses philanthropic capital to de-risk and accelerate early solutions—but for those solutions to reach real commercialization, venture and private markets have to follow. That’s where Earthshot Ventures comes in, investing early in companies with a strong “why now.” Together, they direct capital into consequential companies to create impact at scale.

In this episode, we’re joined by Dawn, along with Matt Logan, General Partner at Earthshot Ventures. We talk about how Elemental and Earthshot work together in practice, real examples of the companies and projects they’re backing, a new and innovative investment structure they’ve pioneered, and where they see climate investing headed in 2026—and beyond.

This conversation kicks off a new deep dive series with Elemental Impact. Stay tuned for more, and if you’d like to find or propose future series ideas, reach out to us through our website.

What You’ll Learn

The Power of Catalytic Philanthropy: How a "slice" of philanthropic capital can act as the nucleus for a project, bringing in banks, corporates, and infrastructure funders.
The dSAFE Innovation: How Elemental adapted the Y-Combinator SAFE note into a "Development SAFE" to reduce transaction costs and provide non-dilutive capital for early projects.
Community-Led Scaling: Why the "human" half of the solution—customers, cities, and communities—is just as essential as the technology itself for climate tech to succeed in the real world.
A VC Lens on Climate: How Earthshot operates as a returns-focused venture fund that only backs climate-positive companies, uses a proprietary outbound-sourcing engine to find founders before they’re fundraising, and targets “cheaper, better, faster—with greener as a co-benefit” business models.
The 2026 Investment Frontier: Why Earthshot is doubling down on Space Tech for remote agriculture and wildfire monitoring, and why Robotics is a top category to watch for automating "dull, dirty, and dangerous" climate jobs.
A Unique Partnership Model: How a service agreement and shared revenue between a non-profit and a VC fund creates a sustainable ecosystem for innovation.

In today’s episode, we cover:

02:48 2025 temperature check
05:39 Why Dawn started Elemental and then Earthshot
07:39 Matt’s background and path into climate VC
09:49 Earthshot’s thesis and sourcing–picking–winning–helping
11:15 How Elemental and Earthshot are structurally linked
13:34 Philanthropy, donor-advised funds, and recycling returns
16:09 Nitricity case study – low‑carbon fertilizer
18:21 The Development SAFE (dSAFE)
21:31 Earthshot portfolio highlights – KoBold Metals, Etched & SuperCircle
27:01 Workforce, community, and local impact
30:31 Fervo Energy case study – rural apprenticeships
33:46 Policy as alpha in AI, mining, and space
35:48 2025 turbulence, donors, and investor caution
38:00 Moving beyond solar/wind/EVs in philanthropy
38:57 Mining, metals, and transition tradeoffs
41:03 2026 outlook – AI, infrastructure, space, and robotics
47:49 Optimism and “Audacity” for 2026

Resources Mentioned

Elemental Impact
Earthshot Ventures
Nitricity – Low‑carbon, renewable-powered nitrogen fertilizer
KoBold Metals – AI-powered mineral exploration for the energy transition
Etched – AI accelerator chips built specifically for transformer models
SuperCircle – Circular logistics and recycling infrastructure for apparel
Fervo Energy – Next‑generation geothermal power developer
Hubble Network – Satellite network enabling direct-to-space Bluetooth connectivity
ARPA‑E (Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy)
International Energy Agency (IEA)
Advanced Microgrid Solutions – Distributed energy storage

Connect with Us

Elemental Impact

Website: https://elementalimpact.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elementalimpact/

‍Earthshot Ventures

Website: https://www.earthshot.vc/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/earthshot-ventures

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What's Changed and What's Coming in Climate Investing with Rob Day and Raj Atluru, Ep #127

Tue, 13 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We’re back with the sixth installment of our Missing Middle in Climate Tech series, produced in partnership with Spring Lane Capital.

As we kick off 2026, this episode offers a timely, grounded conversation with two seasoned investors who bring decades of perspective to where climate investing has been and where it’s headed next. Rather than focusing on predictions alone, the discussion goes deeper into the nuance of how capital is actually being deployed in today’s market.

Rob Day, Co-Founder of Spring Lane Capital, and Raj Atluru, Managing Partner at Activate Capital, trade ideas and reflect on how the climate tech landscape has evolved.

Together, they unpack how investor priorities have shifted over time, the metrics they look for in growth-stage companies, and the opportunities emerging from today’s macro forces, including interest rates, deglobalization, and AI’s rapidly escalating energy demand.

For listeners looking to understand how experienced investors are navigating complexity, risk, and scale in climate tech right now, this is a conversation worth spending time with.

Explore the full Missing Middle in Climate Tech series or reach out with ideas for future collaborations at investedinclimate.com.

On today’s episode, we cover:

02:20 – Guest Intros & The “Missing Middle” Problem
04:39 – A Second Lens on the Missing Middle
07:00 – Origin Story of Activate Capital
10:40 – Energy, Load Growth & Macro Shifts
12:09 – “Why Now?” and Today’s Load Shock
17:27 – Structural Causes of the Missing Middle
19:26 – Heavy Lifting at Growth Stage
25:43 – Hardware Is Back: Fund III Themes
30:16 – Scaling, Learning Curves & Project Execution
33:00 – From Founder-Led to Scalable Sales
40:13 – Being Contrarian (EVs, AI & Hype Cycles)
43:57 – EV Fundamentals & Infrastructure Gaps
45:15 – Policy vs. Interest Rates
47:55 – Home Electrification & Rooftop Solar
48:06 – Speed-Round Predictions for 2026
49:26 – Dry Powder & Exit Fuel
51:50 – Climate Tech Becomes “Just Tech”
53:06 – Closing & Call to Action

Resources Mentioned

Spring Lane Capital
Activate Capital
DFJ (Draper Fisher Jurvetson)
SolarCity (historical, now part of Tesla Energy)
Enpal
Voltus
Crusoe Energy
XNRGY
Aerones
Infravision
Jetson
Muon Space
Soluna
Lunar Energy

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Why Now is the Best Time in Decades for Climate Investing with Angeleno Group's Daniel Weiss, Ep #126

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0400

We always love a chance to hear from someone who’s been investing in climate for a long time. Daniel Weiss fits the bill. His firm, Angeleno Group, was founded in 2001 and since then has led or co-led over $3 billion into clean energy and climate solutions.

Daniel and the Angeleno Group also surround themselves with accomplished leaders that bring true global expertise. Their advisory board includes a former US Secretary of Energy, former Secretary of Treasury, UN Ambassador, Nobel Laureate, and several other top scholars and industry leaders.

Lean in closely for this conversation and learn from Daniel’s perspective. What we heard was somewhat surprising: that despite the headwinds coming from Washington and rippling around the world, strong deal flow, ever improving talent, and low valuations make this the best time in decades to invest in climate solutions. We spoke about Daniel’s background, this unique moment in climate investing, Angeleno Group’s thesis and recent investments, and much more.

Lots to learn about and consider in this episode. Enjoy.

On today’s episode, we cover:

02:30 – Daniel’s Personal Climate Journey
05:30 – From Law to Climate Investing & Founding Angeleno Group
07:39 – World Resources Institute (WRI) & Global Systems Change
12:29 – Optimism & “The New Global Possible”
13:21 – Building Angeleno Group Through Turbulent Times
14:36 – Check Sizes, Stages & How Angeleno Invests
15:18 – Evolution of Climate Investing & Why 2025 Is So Compelling
19:56 – Megatrends: Load Growth, AI & Energy Security
22:27 – Angeleno’s Advisory Board & Why It Matters
24:19 – Angeleno Group’s Investment Thesis
25:18 – Example Investments: Software for the Grid & Wildfire Risk
29:08 – Headwinds in Climate Tech: Fundraising & Exits
33:05 – Scaling Climate Finance & Global Opportunity
34:35 – Climate Week NYC & Hope from the Next Generation
36:33 – Closing Thoughts

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Trust-Based Giving for Climate with Skyline Foundation & Trust-Based Philanthropy Project, Ep #125

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Philanthropy plays a uniquely critical role in climate action—it can fund the bold, early-stage, community-led, and systems-changing work that markets and governments too often overlook. And with the federal government cutting funding to a wide range of climate, energy and conservation efforts, philanthropy plays a more important role than ever before.

That’s why we’re teaming up with the Skyline Foundation and their Climate Lead, Shereen D’Souza on a series of conversations on climate philanthropy.

Over the coming episodes, we’ll explore how philanthropy can accelerate climate solutions—not just by moving more money, but by moving it differently and to high impact topics and geographies. We’ll talk to leaders who are rethinking power, reimagining partnerships, and reshaping the way resources flow.

Today, we’re starting with a conversation that sets the tone for the entire series: trust-based philanthropy. What does it look like to fund climate work in ways that are long-term, rooted in real relationships, and prioritize the expertise of grantee organizations? How can funders shift from control to collaboration, and what happens when they do?

Shereen and I are joined by Shaady Salehi, Executive Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. Shaady has been at the forefront of this movement, helping foundations transform their practices and support grantees with more transparency, humility, and flexibility. We talk about Shaady and Shereen’s backgrounds in philanthropy, what trust-based philanthropy is and how it can help non-profit partners be more effective, why it’s relevant to Skyline Foundation’s approach and ways other donors can learn more.

This series is one of several deep dive series we’ve created this year. Find the others on InvestedinClimate.com and reach out through the website if you’d like to partner on a deep dive series of your own.

On today’s episode, we cover:

03:30 – Shadi’s Background & Origins of Trust-Based Philanthropy
05:34 – Shireen’s Climate Journey & Work on the Paris Agreement
08:38 – Inside the Skyline Foundation’s Climate Program
10:21 – The Role of Philanthropy vs. Markets in Climate
12:20 – What Makes Skyline Different as a Climate Funder
13:29 – What Is Trust-Based Philanthropy? Core Practices
17:11 – Accountability & Critiques of Trust-Based Philanthropy
19:20 – Power Dynamics & Mutual Accountability
20:58 – Inside the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
23:12 – How Trust-Based Philanthropy Shows Up at Skyline
25:35 – Why Trust-Based Philanthropy Is Critical for Climate Now
27:55 – How Trust Builds Honesty & Problem-Solving
29:32 – Shadi’s Motivation & What’s at Stake Systemically
33:12 – Barriers to Trust-Based Climate Philanthropy
34:21 – How Skyline Shares Control with Field Experts
38:11 – Entry Points for Funders New to Trust-Based Philanthropy
40:23 – Closing & Call to Action

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Filling the Climate Finance Gap with TED's Chris Anderson's All Aboard Fund & Spring Lane's Jason Scott, Ep #124

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We’re back with another episode in our series on the Missing Middle in Climate Tech in partnership with Spring Lane Capital. This is the fifth episode in the series. If you didn’t catch the others, check out InvestedinClimate.com/series and you’ll find our other episodes. If you have ideas for other series and would like to partner, get in touch through the website as well.

The missing middle is a structural problem – a lack not only of available capital for climate companies, but also of the kinds of firms able to invest in them. New firms with new types of investment mandates are needed, and so I was thrilled to learn about a new fund called All Aboard. It’s a truly innovative firm developed by someone who has long had his finger on the pulse of the world’s biggest problems and boldest solutions. If you’ve ever watched a TED Talk you probably know Chris Anderson, who has led TED for the last 25 years. Chris is probably one of the best networked people on the planet, and that he decided to focus on building a new fund designed to address the missing middle in climate finance speaks volumes.

Spring Lane Capital Partner and Entrepreneur in Residence Jason Scott gets credit for putting together this episode and joins us in what was a truly fascinating conversation. All Aboard reflects the type of creativity and ambition needed to fill a critical climate finance gap, and I think we all hope their model inspires you in some way. Enjoy.

On today’s episode, we cover:

0:03:31 – Chris explains his shift to climate investing and TED’s climate initiatives
0:04:53 – Setting the stage: The funding gap in climate tech
0:05:23 – Jason describes the three buckets of the "missing middle" and All Aboard fund’s mission
0:09:33 – Exploring the structural capital problem in the energy transition and limitations of current financial markets
0:11:16 – Chris & Jason discuss scale challenges and why current investment models fall short for climate solutions
0:14:12 – Impact of collaboration in the climate investing community, with examples from Spring Lane and All Aboard
0:16:57 – Chris describes All Aboard: how convening and pooling investors can solve the missing middle
0:22:42 – The role of “social proof,” building momentum and ecosystems around climate ventures
0:25:12 – Fundraising goals for All Aboard and the scale of opportunity in climate tech
0:29:00 – Recognizing growth and potential exits for climate companies; learning from historical performance
0:31:14 – How companies may become eligible for All Aboard, criteria for selection, and the practical mechanics of funding
0:34:51 – The necessity of both capital and sustained support for scaling climate solutions
0:36:30 – Vision for the future: If All Aboard succeeds, expectations for climate tech and financial markets
0:37:54 – Other approaches and financial innovations to address the missing middle
0:40:24 – The role of government and public-private partnerships in de-risking and scaling clean tech
0:42:56 – Closing remarks

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Insurance for the Carbon Market with Artio, Ep #123

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

There’s been a lot of news in recent years about the risks within carbon markets. Companies buying carbon credits to offset their emissions have struggled with the uncertainty that a carbon project might not reduce as much carbon as they project. A forest could burn or a technology could fail to work properly and the project will underdeliver. Yet, hundreds of billions of dollars are spent on carbon credits, a figure that could grow well into the trillions.

Bilal Hussain is targeting this uncertainty in this market by offering insurance through his company Artio. Fun fact: Bilal actually saw the need for insurance while working at Sylvera – a carbon market sourcing and diligence platform and recent guest on our show – when he realized that investors were asking for collateral that no one had. Artio enters early – before the first tree is planted – to help more carbon reducing projects become viable. If you consider the size of the carbon market and the shortage of ways to insure new projects, the opportunity for Artio is quite significant.

Bilal makes this complex space rather simple and easy to understand. We spoke about his background, the need for insurance, the risks different types of projects face, the growth he’s anticipating and much more. If you’ve long wondered about the risks of carbon projects, this conversation will shed some light on the space and one approach to unlocking its potential.

On today’s episode, we cover:

00:58 — Introduction to carbon market risks and Artio’s approach
02:40 — Bilal’s background and transition into carbon insurance
04:25 — The creation of Artio and addressing insurance needs in carbon markets
07:52 — Artio’s impact on financial and climate markets, and market sizing
11:13 — Early-stage risk phases and insurance for carbon projects
14:05 — Types of projects Artio insures; afforestation, biochar, rock weathering
15:25 — Risk assessment by project type and key differences
17:14 — Artio’s market positioning, product traction, and offering insurability assessments to developers
20:41 — How Artio’s workshops educate insurers and demonstrate risk modeling
22:46 — Case study: How coverage and claims/settlements work in practice
27:25 — Market challenges: Standing out in a crowded space, growth ambitions, and automation
29:10 — Key surprises about the carbon market and importance of policy
31:47 — The role of data transparency and risk assessment in broader climate domains
34:59 — Other insurance use cases for managing climate transition risk
38:10 — Artio’s roadmap: expanding coverage, supporting developers, and scaling up

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The $9 Trillion Adaption Opportunity with Adapt[us], Ep #122

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The vast majority of my interviews have focused on innovations, investing and advocacy related to climate mitigation – that is, what we can do to cut greenhouse gases and minimize the rise in global temperatures. What we do or don’t do now, will have lasting consequences and it is climate mitigation that is driving the transformation of the global economy. So it’s not surprising that mitigation dominates climate investing.

Adaptation and resilience, meanwhile, focus not on limiting or reversing climate change but rather on improving quality of life in a warmer world. Adaptation ventures receive only a small fraction of climate investments, but rising temperatures are creating tremendous demand for a new category of products. In a joint report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Temasek, it’s estimated that between $500 million and $1.3 trillion could be spent annually by 2030 on technologies that help people adapt to a changed climate.

That’s the opportunity Darren Clifford is targeting with a new fund called Adapt[us]. Darren has worked for two decades on new markets as a founder, consultant at McKinsey & Co, and as an angel investor, and I found his perspective on the climate adaptation market to be packed with nuance and insight. We spoke about his background, three different categories of adaptation tech, the unique challenges they face, how they’ll make the future more livable, and much more.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[02:45] Darren’s Background & Career Journey
[06:39] Why Focus on Climate Adaptation?
[08:07] Insights from Angel Investing & Supporting Founders
[12:14] Why Adaptation is Underfunded; Adapt[us] Fund Overview
[16:19] Challenges in Scaling Adaptation Solutions
[17:31] Adapt[us] Fund: Focus & Stage, Why For-Profit
[18:53] Measuring Impact & Third-Party Well-being Validation
[23:10] Market Segmentation: Resilience, Repair & Recovery, Demand Adaptation
[25:38] Market Size and Investment Allocation
[27:50] Business Model Challenges for Adaptation Startups
[30:23] Concrete Examples of Target Companies
[32:59] Adapt[us] Venture Building Approach & Founder Support
[36:42] The Venture Builder/Capital Model: Criteria & Structure
[38:27] Norwegian Talent & Global Competitive Advantages
[41:03] Building a Movement, Not Just a Fund
[42:06] Short-Term Goals for Adapt[us] & Team Building
[44:41] Closing Remarks

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LA Climate Week Founders on Spreading Everywhere, Ep #121

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In case you missed it, last week was NY Climate Week. There were well over 1,000 events — from summits with CEO and heads of state, to film screenings, concerts, parties, boat cruises, pitch sessions, hackathons and much more. I tried to sum up my experience at New York climate week in a special episode two years ago. This year, of course, the context was different with a US administration no longer interested in climate, and a lot of green hushing, hand wringing and new language that aims to be less politicizing.

To me, one of the most interesting things about NY Climate Week is that it's not the only one. Climate weeks are spreading. San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington DC, San Diego, Shanghai, Bangkok, Panama City all have climate weeks. There might be dozens more in the works. No city on the planet is immune from the impact of climate, and most cities have thriving ecosystems of organizations, innovators, investors, policymakers, researchers and more working to advance climate solutions and adapt to a changing planet.

In this conversation I’m joined by Nishant Mani and Dan Thorman, co-founders of the LA Climate Week. Nishant and Dan saw a need to bring together their community. They volunteered to lead and have built LA Climate Week into a successful example that people anywhere can follow to create their own week of solidarity, learning and action. We talk about their backgrounds, the founding story of LA Climate Week, the impact of the LA wildfires on last year’s event, lessons they’ve learned and much more. So whether or not you were in New York last week, I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation and consider how you can help your local climate community wherever you are.

On today’s episode, we cover:

1:22 – Recap of New York Climate Week & Spread of Climate Weeks
3:43 – Nishant’s Personal & Professional Background
6:19 – Dan’s Personal & Professional Background
10:16 – The Origin Story of LA Climate Week
14:40 – The Role of Entertainment & Culture in LA Climate Week
17:08 – Entertainment Industry’s Role in Climate Movement
18:33 – Impact of Wildfires on LA Climate Week
24:47 – The Broader Role of Climate Weeks & Local Collaboration
27:51 – Lessons Learned from Organizing LA Climate Week
32:20 – Evolving the Structure and Infrastructure Involvement
33:02 – Measuring Success and Growth of LA Climate Week
36:44 – Community Engagement & Accessibility
39:32 – Aspirations for the Future: Magic Wand Scenario
42:21 – Future Planning and Event Announcement
44:14 – Closing Remarks and Call to Action

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Bridging the Climate Finance Gap with Blackhorn Ventures & Spring Lane Capital, Ep #120

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Climate tech companies face a range of structural challenges to securing the mid stage investment needed to scale their solutions. The lack of capital at this stage prevents many viable, potentially transformative technologies from going mainstream and eliminating gigatons of emissions. That’s why we’ve been running a series of episodes on the Missing Middle in Climate Tech in partnership with Spring Lane Capital.

If you haven’t heard our previous three episodes in this series, check them out at investedinclimate.com, and if you have ideas of other topics that warrant a Deep Dive series please reach out through the contact form on our website.

For the fourth episode in our series, I’m joined by Spring Lane Capital Co-Founder and Partner Rob Day who guest hosts the conversation with Blackhorn Ventures Managing Partner Melissa Cheong.

On today’s episode, we cover:

2:23 – Introducing Blackhorn Ventures & Melissa Chong
3:31 – Melissa’s Path to Venture Capital & Impact Investing
8:44 – Surprises & Learnings in Venture Capital
10:13 – Overview of Blackhorn Ventures’ Investment Focus & Strategy
13:55 – Addressing the Missing Middle: Digital vs. Hardware Solutions
17:18 – Leveraging Accepted Hardware & Digital Solutions
19:09 – The Role of Vertical Data Pools in Construction and Energy
21:03 – AI, Utilities, and the Urgency for Digital Solutions
25:10 – Building Resilience & Anti-Fragile Mindsets in Climate Tech
28:14 – Exploring New Financing Instruments & Insurance
32:21 – Portfolio Example: Formic – Robotics as a Service
36:37 – Portfolio Example: King Energy – Solar for Multi-Tenant Properties
38:55 – Lessons from Community Solar & Smart Billing
40:00 – Takeaways: The Evolving Role of Venture Capital in Climate Impact
43:24 – Closing Remarks

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Charging Ahead with Electric Innovation, Ep #119

Tue, 02 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0400

I’ll admit it’s not often these days that I’m talking to climate leaders, particularly those working on policy, who say it’s an exciting time. This conversation was like a breath of fresh air. It’s not getting the headlines it deserves, but innovation is literally electrifying our country. Sector by sector, state by state, our economy is being transformed by electric technology replacing outdated fossil fuel applications.

To elevate and accelerate this wave of innovation, Hawaii State Senator Chris Lee and California Energy Commission Chair David Hochschild have teamed up to launch the Electric Innovation Initiative. The Initiative is starting with an awards event during NY Climate Week, recognizing breakthrough electrification projects with $10,000 cash awards. But beyond this event, the Initiative is a 10-year campaign to showcase innovation, advance learning and shape policy.

In this conversation, we go deep into the context of why the Electric Innovation Initiative is needed, what sort of progress is happening at the state level, how states are learning from one another, the many benefits of electrification and much more. I learned a lot in this episode and was thrilled to hear there’s much to celebrate in a still growing electrification movement.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[03:27] David Hochschild & His Role at the California Energy Commission
04:09] Chris Lee & His Energy work as a Hawaii State Senator
[05:05] Details of the Electric Innovation Initiative
[07:07] State Legislators Collaboration: Sharing best practices and policy replication
[09:09] Why electrification progress needs more attention
[10:52] State and local responses to federal rollbacks
[13:18] Policy Options for States: Connecting policymakers with electrification leaders
[15:44] Fast-Tracking Projects: Permitting and financing challenges
[17:01] California’s Permitting Reforms: Fast-track permitting for clean energy
[18:49] California’s approach to stable, long-term programs
[21:01[ Hawai'i’s 100% Renewable Mandate
[23:05] Lessons from Hawaii and California: State leadership and policy replication
[25:24] Legislator Network: Supporting new lawmakers and advancing innovation
[28:54] State and local opportunities despite federal gridlock
[32:57] Equity in Electrification: Directing investments to underserved communities
[35:27] Vision for 2035: What a fully electrified future could look like
[37:27] How listeners can support electrification
[39:45] Optimism for the future and bipartisan collaboration

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Funding Climate Tech from Growth to Scale with Spring Lane Capital & Capricorn Investment Group, Ep #118

Wed, 13 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0400

We’re back with the third installment in our Missing Middle in Climate Tech series, created in partnership with Spring Lane Capital. If you haven’t yet heard the earlier episodes, head to our website for conversations exploring research from CREO and S2G on the financing gap facing climate tech companies caught between early-stage venture and large-scale project finance. And if you have ideas for future series or want to explore a partnership, we’d love to hear from you—reach out via our site (investedinclimate.com/contact).

In this episode, we’re joined by Jason Scott, Partner and Entrepreneur in Residence at Spring Lane Capital, and Mark Berryman, Partner at Capricorn Investment Group. Capricorn is one of the OGs of sustainable investing, with over two decades of leadership in the space and more than $12 billion in assets under management. This conversation brought together two distinct perspectives: a large, established asset allocator and a nimble firm specializing in project finance and growth-stage venture capital.

Mark, recently named LP of the Year by Impact Capital Managers, offered nuanced insights into the challenges and opportunities of bridging the missing middle. Jason’s decision to bring him into the conversation sparked a rich dialogue on what it will take to close this critical funding gap. Lots to unpack and learn in this one. Enjoy!

On today’s episode, we cover:

[03:08] Series recap and context on the “Missing Middle"
[07:03] Mark’s background & experience in climate investing
[11:09] Mark’s perspective on the "missing middle" & its evolution
[14:08] Why mid-sized funds are suited to fill the climate financing gap
[17:45] Capricorn’s approach to climate portfolios & supporting the ecosystem
[21:46] What Mark looks for in emerging fund managers
[25:07] Building a fully climate-aligned portfolio & impact reporting
[28:45] Where to categorize Spring Lane’s investment approach
[32:10] The need for more innovative, category-defying climate funds
[33:33] Macro context: tariffs, market volatility & long-term climate investing trends
[41:33] Three-to-five year outlook for climate investing & the missing middle
[44:15] Industry consolidation & future innovations
[46:34] Closing remarks

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Climbing Star Alex Honnold and his Foundation’s Mission to Change Lives with Solar, Ep #117

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0400

As you know, with government funding cuts slowing climate progress across the board, philanthropy is more important than ever. Private foundations offer just a drop in the bucket compared to government funding, but they can still play an important role and catalyze other forms of capital.

That’s why I’m doing a series of episodes on climate philanthropy. If you have ideas of other foundations that should be part of this series, please reach out through InvestedinClimate.com

We spoke recently with Pisces Foundation President David Beckman on the importance of funding movement infrastructure.

Today’s episode considers a totally different perspective.

Alex Honnold is perhaps the world’s most famous professional rock climber. He’s also a true climate leader. He decided years ago to donate one-third of his income to address climate change, and he uses his platform to raise awareness and money to help people in remote communities develop solar projects. Alex brings a no-nonsense, pragmatic approach but also one that is deeply compassionate, prioritizing projects that change people's lives.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Alex, as well as Emily Teitsworth, Executive Director of the Honnold Foundation. We, of course, talk about Alex’s history, his climbing, and how it’s influenced his climate philanthropy. We go deep into the foundation’s theory of change, some tangible examples of projects they’ve supported, and the broader impact they have in elevating a portfolio of worthy projects for other funders to consider.

Alex’s resources are not vast. His dedication runs deep, however, and even with modest resources, he’s been able to support over 100 projects that have impacted thousands of people. I find Alex’s example truly inspiring. And, I hope this episode inspires you to move past the feeling that we sometimes all feel – that our resources or influence are too small to have an impact – and just do what you can.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[03:48] Alex Discusses Founding the Honnold Foundation
[04:13] Alex's Environmental Motivation
[06:18] Emily's Background and Journey
[08:30] Honnold Foundation's Mission and Strategy
[10:10] Reasons for Focusing on Community Solar
[12:52] Importance of Community-Led Projects
[14:38] Examples of Supported Projects
[17:11] Foundation's Focus Areas
[19:27] Specific Project Highlights
[24:26] Philanthropic Opportunities
[26:53] Storytelling and Media Exposure
[30:42] Cultural Impact Discussion
[35:20] Alex's Perspective on Impact
[37:00] Persistence and Motivation in Climate Work
[38:43] Alex's Recent Climbing Experience
[39:32] Future Plans for the Honnold Foundation
[40:24] Closing Remarks

Resources Mentioned

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Movement infrastructure investing with Pisces Foundation David Beckman, Ep #116

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In this Deep Dive series on Climate Philanthropy, I’m exploring the wide range of ways that foundations are stepping up to support climate progress, especially amid federal rollbacks and inconsistent commitments from large companies. Philanthropic capital is tiny in comparison to government and corporate budgets, but it can still be a helpful tool – especially if wielded strategically.

Let's set some context: In the United States, there are over 30,000 environmental nonprofits. It's a wildly diverse field with organizations of all sizes and countless focus areas. Since the 1970s, they’ve saved millions of lives through environmental protections that have cleaned our air, water, land, buildings, factories, and products.

Many are struggling with funding cuts and staff shortages, and too often they compete for attention and resources.

Foundations provide funding to these organizations, but they can also play a more fundamental role: building movement infrastructure that bolsters the power and influence of the entire field.

That, argues Pisces Foundation President David Beckman, is a priority that deserves more attention and support. David is a friend whom I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the years. When it comes to investing in movement infrastructure, I can’t think of anyone else who brings the nuance and insight David has gained through a career-long focus on advancing the environmental movement. We talk about his background as an National Resources Defense Council attorney, his role in helping start the Pisces Foundation, the entreprenuerial nature of his work, what movement infrastructure is, what he’s learned about investing in it, the importance of late night cookies in building relationships, the need for a meta narrative, the work of the Pisces Foundation, super pollutants, what business people and young people should know about the environmental movement, and much more.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[03:49] David's Background and Career Path
[05:37] Founding of Pisces Foundation
[07:56] State of the Environmental Movement
[09:41] Strategic Posture and Movement Influence
[11:44] Collective Work and Movement Infrastructure
[15:08] Social Entrepreneurship in Philanthropy
[17:29] Collaborative Field Building Insights
[19:49] Late Night Cookies and Building Relationships
[22:31] Meta Narrative in Environmental Movement
[25:32] Discussion on Environmental Regulations
[28:25] Pisces Foundation's Strategic Evolution
[31:33] Super Pollutants Overview
[33:40] Impact of DC Politics on Philanthropy
[35:48] Advice for Business Community
[37:13] Advice for Young People
[39:04] Current Inspirations

Resources Mentioned

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Rethinking Climate Finance with Spring Lane Capital & S2G, Ep #115

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In the second installment of our Deep Dive: Missing Middle in Climate Tech series, created in partnership with Spring Lane Capital, we dive deeper into why the “missing middle” is not just a gap; it's a structural issue. We're joined by two of the sharpest minds in climate investing: Francis O’Sullivan, Managing Director at S2G Investments, and Rob Day, Co-Founder of Spring Lane Capital. Together, they explore how early-stage innovation and late-stage deployment are well funded, while the crucial middle phase of scaling is dangerously underserved.

We discuss why this gap exists, what solutions are emerging, and how investors are shifting their strategies to meet the moment. If you care about accelerating the climate transition, you’re going to want to listen to this.

What You’ll Learn

Why the "missing middle" persists despite surging climate capital overall
How venture capital models can distort scale-up potential
What new capital strategies (like development expense financing) are emerging
Why climate investing now enters a “third phase” of full-scale deployment
How Rob and Francis are rethinking returns and risk for the climate transition

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:50] Francis' background and journey to S2G
[4:36] Rob's career path in climate tech investing
[6:30] Spring Lane Capital's founding and investment thesis
[9:54] Discussion of the missing middle in climate finance
[19:04] Structural challenges in climate investment
[25:46] Organizational challenges for institutional investors
[33:57] Concrete investment examples
[41:37] Explanation of structured investment instruments
[44:26] Historical context of climate investing

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Us

Spring Lane Capital

Website: https://springlanecapital.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/springlanecapital/

S2G Investment

Website: https://www.s2ginvestments.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/s2g-investments/

Invested in Climate

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The Role of Family Offices with Spring Lane & CREO, Ep #114

Wed, 28 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The climate transition requires not just allocating trillions of dollars to scale new technologies, build new infrastructure, and transform incumbent industries – it requires getting the right mix of capital to develop, grow, and eventually scale innovations.

In the world of climate, promising technologies too often don’t find the growth-stage capital that’s needed before large institutional investors can finance reaching scale. Addressing this missing middle is a structural challenge that requires more attention, and today’s episode is the first in a series of discussions on the missing middle in climate, developed in partnership with Spring Lane Capital.

In this conversation, I’m joined by Jason Scott, a long-time climate investor who is Partner in Residence at Spring Lane Capital and also Board Chair of CREO Syndicate, and Régine Clément, CEO at CREO Syndicate. Spring Lane has been investing for years in the missing middle and has unique expertise in the challenges and opportunities it holds. If you haven’t heard of CREO, this is a group you should know. CREO works to help family offices invest more in climate. Families hold over $10 trillion in assets and can bring versatility and resilience that can help improve climate finance. CREO is working to mobilize $1 trillion for climate in the coming years. We talk about insights from their recent report on the missing middle, how climate investing has evolved in recent years, the role of catalytic capital, whether investors are backing away from climate amidst changing policy and macro-factors, and much more.

This was a great kick-off for our Deep Dive: Missing Middle in Climate Tech series, and I hope it piques your interest in the other episodes as well. And, if it piques your interest about partnering on a topical series of your own, don’t hesitate to reach out.

What You'll Learn

What the "missing middle" is and why it's crucial for climate progress
How climate financing has evolved over the past decade and what gaps remain
The unique role family offices play in addressing climate investment gaps
Why growth-stage capital is especially scarce despite strong returns in climate investing
How policy uncertainty and structural market issues impact climate finance
Strategic approaches to mobilize trillions for climate solutions by 2030

In today’s episode, we cover:

03:12 - Régine’s background and CREO Syndicate's work
06:08 - Jason’s background and Spring Lane Capital’s work
08:22 - Defining the "missing middle" in climate finance
13:19 - Analysis of climate investment trends and current market dynamics
17:43 - The 6x financing gap needed to reach climate goals by 2030
19:57 - Why the missing middle in climate is more complex than in other sectors
24:49 - Structural challenges with fund sizes and misaligned investor incentives
30:33 - The surprising finding that only 18% of self-proclaimed climate funds invest >50% in climate
34:05 - Perspective on progress despite policy uncertainty and market fluctuations
37:47 - The economic case for climate investing beyond environmental benefits
41:27 - The unique role of family offices in catalyzing climate capital

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Us

Spring Lane Capital

Website: https://springlanecapital.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/springlanecapital/

CREO Syndicate

Website: https://www.creosyndicate.org/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/meet-creo/

Invested in Climate

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Removing Carbon Market Bottlenecks with Sylvera, Ep #113

Tue, 13 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

The voluntary carbon markets have been a source of curiosity for me. There’s been a lot of hope that the market would mature and offer a reliable way to offset emissions that otherwise could not be eliminated. Reliability has been the problem, however. Not knowing which carbon reduction projects are additive and truly remove or reduce carbon has held this market back, and I’ve been excited to learn about how new technologies will enable the reliability that’s needed.

There are many people working on this problem. Dr. Allister Furey, Founder and CEO of Sylvera is one, and I was excited to learn about his company’s approach to removing carbon market bottlenecks and accelerating the investment in carbon projects. As he says it’s a mix of software, data, AI, and analysis that have helped Sylvera work with large clients and unlock enormous investments. Hope you learn as much as I did. Enjoy.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[03:37] Allister’s background and entrepreneurial journey
[05:54] Sylvera's founding and initial business concept
[10:42] Exploration of the desert greening concept
[11:27] Sylvera's current business offerings
[17:10] Sylvera’s progress, reach, and client base
[20:24] Corporate climate commitment trends
[22:44] Corporate demand for carbon projects
[26:12] Policy market expectations
[29:07] Climate investor sentiment
[30:33] Future outlook for carbon markets

Resources Mentioned

Sylvera

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Grant Management & Strategy: How to Win & Deliver on Climate Grants, Ep #112

Tue, 06 May 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Non-dilutive funding isn’t just about landing the grant; it’s about delivering on it with excellence. In the third episode of our Deep Dive Series with Climate Finance Solutions, we go beyond the application and explore what happens after the award. Our guest host Joel Armin-Hoiland, Founder & CEO of Climate Finance Solutions, is joined by two experts who live and breathe this work: Susan Perri, Director of Grants at Climate Finance Solutions, and Jeff Haydock, CEO of ecoCFO.

Together, they unpack the essential strategies behind post-award grant management from navigating audits to implementing smart financial systems, crafting efficient technical reports, and making strategic choices long before the application is even submitted. The episode offers real-world insights into federal grant reporting, shifting expectations with the new administration, and how startups can build internal or external capacity to manage complexity without losing focus.

If you’re building a climate company and want to stay ahead of the curve on grants, this episode is for you.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[02:00] Introductions of Jeff and Susan
[04:00] Susan’s background
[05:29] Jeff's background
[09:38] Susan’s role at Climate Finance Solutions
[11:18] Post-award management best practices
[14:10] Strategic elements of grant applications
[16:26] Financial preparation for grant reporting
[20:31] Insights on grant audits
[24:14] Overview of technical reporting
[27:34] Strategies for making post-award reporting easier
[34:18] When to hire consultants for grant management
[39:11] How to ensure smooth collaboration with consultants
[41:13] Changes in federal grants under the new Administration
[45:22] Alternative grant funding sources
[48:24] Closing thoughts and sources of hope

Resources Mentioned

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Catalytic Climate Investing and Philanthropy with MacArthur Foundation, Ep #111

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

It’s not yet clear exactly how devasting the loss of federal funding for climate nonprofits and climate tech companies will be, but we know the toll will be high. Beyond the funding freeze, there have also been rumors of other federal action targeting nonprofits in this space.

No one knows exactly what will happen, but it’s clear that philanthropy is more important than ever. Philanthropy alone can’t fill the gap left by the government, but it can make a real difference.

This episode is the first in a series of conversations we’ll have this year focused on climate philanthropy.

We’re starting with not only one of the biggest climate foundations in the U.S., but also one that combines philanthropy with investments designed to catalyze more capital flows to climate. The MacArthur Foundation has long been a leader in using this impact investing approach to improve the ROI for investors seeking market-rate returns.

In today’s conversation, we’re joined by MacArthur Foundation’s Director of Impact Investments John Balbach and Program Officer Deborah Philbrick. We spoke about the Foundation's holistic, problem-first approach to climate, what that means for both their philanthropic funding and impact investing, how they’re stepping up to what they see as a civil society crisis, and much more.

Lots to learn and think about in this one. Let me know if you have ideas about other foundations to feature in this series. Here we go.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[02:36] Introductions of John and Deborah
[04:21] Overview of MacArthur Foundation's Climate Work
[05:52] Climate Solutions Big Bet Details
[07:02] Philanthropic Strategy and Theory of Change
[08:15] Grantee Examples
[10:37] Impact of Federal Funding Freeze
[12:55] Strategic Shifts and Foundation's Role
[15:57] Climate Philanthropy Landscape
[17:04] Sub-national Climate Priorities
[18:19] MacArthur's Impact Investing History
[20:36] Risk and Return Approach
[22:45] Impact Assessment Methodology
[25:11] Catalytic Capital Strategies
[28:01] Investment Thesis
[31:20] Administration's Impact on Investments
[33:30] Systemic Transformation Discussion

Resources Mentioned

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Leveraging Non-Dilutive Funding as a Climate Founder, Ep #110

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Non-dilutive funding is a critical part of the capital stack for climate startups. Changes in Washington have made this landscape all the more challenging to navigate. To improve understanding of the opportunities in this space, Invested in Climate is partnering with Climate Finance Solutions on a series of podcast episodes.

As our first deep dive in this series, Climate Finance Solutions Founder & CEO Joel Armin-Hoiland joined as a guest host and interviewed Tinia Pina, CEO of Re-Nuble and Dimitry Gershenson, CEO of Enduring Planet. They’ve both unlocked millions in non-dilutive capital to accelerate climate progress and share insights that’ll help founders, investors, donors, and anyone else interested in understanding the rapidly changing world of non-dilutive climate funding.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[1:00] Introducing the series on non-dilutive funding
[4:30] Tinia Pina introduces Re-Nuble and her background
[6:20] Dimitry Gershenson introduces Enduring Planet
[9:30] Discussion on strategic considerations for grant funding
[17:10] Challenges of grant funding process
[22:30] Benefits of working with grant consultants
[25:45] Discussion on values-driven business
[31:10] Customer-centered service in climate finance
[37:15] Impact of federal administration on climate grants
[42:30] Closing thoughts and sources of hope

Resources Mentioned

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Unlocking the $4 Trillion Earth Observation Opportunity with Dan Hammer, Ep #109

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

I’ll admit that until recently I knew and thought very little about the potential of Earth observation. It turns out, there’s a huge opportunity here. A report by the World Economic Forum recently estimated there’s almost $4 trillion of potential economic benefit from making better use of the increasingly affordable opportunity to collect and analyze data about our planet. And, the benefit is not just unlocking enormous economic value. Earth observation can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than two gigatons annually through tracking forests, managing wetlands, improving agriculture, and much, much more.

To learn about this opportunity, I was pleased to sit down with Dan Hammer. Dan is a truly unique entrepreneur who’s not only able to maintain a systems view of the opportunities around Earth observation but who’s also building a portfolio of organizations to push this ecosystem forward. Between the non-profit Clay, the design and development agency Ode, and Earth observation startup LGND, Dan has his hands full in the quest to use Earth observation to make nature data as ubiquitous and useful as Google Maps.

Lots to learn and think about in this episode. Enjoy!

On today’s episode, we cover:

[03:46] Dan's background & commitment to environmental work
[08:04] An explanation of Earth observation
[09:15] Scale of Earth observation satellites
[09:58] Economic potential of Earth observation
[12:23] Specific use cases for Earth observation
[14:02] Outcomes and impact of Earth observation
[17:11] Potential applications of Earth observation
[19:17] Introduction to Clay
[22:28] Cost reduction in Earth observation technology
[25:31] Discussion of AI energy demands
[26:55] Introduction to LGND
[31:20] Go-to-market strategy for LGND
[32:41] Discussion of ODE design agency
[35:11] Vision for Earth observation in 5-10 years
[36:50] What else is needed to advance Earth observation technology

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Dan Hammer

On LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn

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Environmental Storytelling with The Redford Center, Ep #108

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0400

I’m fascinated by the question of how we can improve climate and environmental storytelling. There’s research that shows that 45% of young people in the United States experience climate anxiety so bad that it negatively affects their daily functioning. As we learned during a conversation with Nathaniel Stinnett of the Environmental Voter Project last fall, over 5 million Americans list climate and the environment as their #1 top issue, but don’t actually vote. To me, these are indicators that we need new kinds of storytelling and new ways to experience the climate transition.

To learn about the state of environmental and climate storytelling, I sat down with one of the leading funders of environmental films, Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center. Jill brings decades of storytelling experience and understands the challenges of not only getting environmental films distributed but also creating impact through them. We spoke about how the film distribution and funding landscapes have changed, the history of the Redford Center, its impact framework, examples of films and impact campaigns they’ve supported, and much more.

If you’re a film fan, just generally curious about the role of documentaries in creating change, or like me, want to understand how we can improve storytelling for climate, there's a lot to learn from this conversation. Enjoy.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[03:37] Importance of storytelling in environmental issues
[07:26] History of the Redford Center
[10:33] Evolution of filmmaker support
[15:23] Approaches to climate storytelling
[18:35] Changes in film distribution
[21:05] Criteria for selecting film projects
[23:20] Redford Center's impact framework
[26:29] Example of community engagement film
[30:28] Impact and wins of supported projects
[34:02] Indigenous voices and conservation efforts
[39:13] Future plans for the Redford Center
[42:45] Addressing polarization through storytelling

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Jill Tidman

On LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn

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Decarbonizing $1 trillion with Sphere, Ep #107

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Alex Wright-Gladstein was one of the first people I interviewed when I launched Invested in Climate nearly 3 years ago. Our conversation has stuck in my mind over the years as her company, Sphere, offers one of the most impactful actions individuals can take to address climate change.

The action is really simple: Moving our savings out of fossil fuel companies. In the United States, fossil fuels are included by default in retirement savings accounts. If you have a 401(k), IRA, or pension, you are almost certainly supporting the fossil fuel industry. And we’re not talking about chump change: About 20% of the fossil fuel market cap is derived from 401(k)s and IRA investments.

Sphere makes it easy for people and companies to move retirement savings away from fossil fuels. They’re currently raising money through a WeFunder crowdfunding campaign, so I thought it was a perfect time to catch up with Alex and hear about Sphere’s progress. Full disclosure: I’m a Sphere investor and soon-to-be customer, but I should say clearly - nothing in this episode should be considered investment advice and is just for informational purposes.

I hope this conversation pushes your thinking in a helpful way. Enjoy.

On today’s episode, we cover:

[00:58] Introduction to Alex Wright-Gladstein and Sphere
[02:35] The origin of Sphere and the problem they're solving
[05:00] Details about the Sphere 500 Climate Fund
[06:28] Discussion of investment impact and fossil fuel investments
[09:17] Navigating 401(k) regulations and lawsuits
[13:44] Impact of political administrations on climate investing
[19:37] Ways people can invest with Sphere
[25:23] Strategies for pressuring companies to offer sustainable 401(k)s
[29:57] Challenges faced by Sphere, including market volatility and ESG backlash
[33:35] Vision for the future of climate-friendly investing

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Alex Wright-Gladstein

On LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn

Keep up with Invested In Climate

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Grant Funding in a New Era with Climate Finance Solutions, Ep #106

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

In just its first few weeks in power, the Trump administration has wreaked havoc on the climate tech landscape. An executive order aimed at accelerating fossil fuel extraction and slamming the brakes on renewables and the freeze on all federal grants has already had a devastating effect. Even though the freeze was quickly rescinded, climate companies and organizations across the country are struggling to operate amidst the uncertainty of whether the government will rescind its contractual obligations and cut funding. At stake are hundreds of billions of dollars that have been crucial to developing America’s green economy.

Clearly, a good time to learn more about the importance of grant funding on climate tech, I sat down with Joel Armin–Hoiland, CEO of Climate Finance Solutions. Joel’s company has helped climate businesses identify, apply for, and manage over $1.6 billion in non-dilutive grants. In this conversation, we spoke about how Joel’s background led to a unique understanding of the importance of grants for climate companies, his company’s track record and impact, how the funding landscape is changing, and much more.

Even with federal funding potentially disappearing, there’s still money on the table from other sources and a ton of complexity to navigate. This episode will be the first in a series with Joel as we try to help you all find your way to this new era. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[02:58] Introduction to Joel & Climate Finance Solutions
[06:08] The role & importance of grants in addressing climate change
[08:22] Navigating the complex grant funding ecosystem
[13:12] Climate Finance Solutions' services & impact
[15:14] Examples of successful grant-funded projects
[17:44] Challenges & strategies for securing grants
[23:50] Impact of the Trump administration on federal grant funding
[31:37] Alternative sources of grant funding & future outlook

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Joel Armin–Hoiland

On LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn

Keep up with Invested In Climate

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?

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Saving Nature through System Change with Rare, Ep #105

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 05:00:00 -0400

Many experts today say we’re in the midst of the 6th mass extinction, a relatively short period of time when a high percentage of biodiversity dies out. To be clear, we’re talking about hundreds of thousands of species and an extinction event bigger than anything our planet has seen for over 65 million years when dinosaurs walked the earth. A recent study in the journal, Science, looked at 30 years of research across hundreds of species and showed the close link between climate change and biodiversity loss. It projects that if we can achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, 1 in 50 species will go extinct by the end of the century. Meanwhile, if current emission trends continue, mass extinction could claim as many as 1 in 3 species on Earth.

Sorry to start with such sobering data, but the threat to biodiversity is not talked about enough and the stakes need to be known.

There is, of course, hope and it lies with people like Brett Jenks. Brett is the CEO of a global conservation and climate change nonprofit called Rare. They’ve been around for 50 years, work in 60 different countries, and yet, are often behind the scenes. Rare has helped save species and ecosystems, and through that work have learned that their approach can contribute to systemic change. For them, it all begins with understanding people and how to change our behavior. I spoke with Brett about his background, Rare’s approach and impact, their conservation efforts, and how they’re working upstream to change finance, policy, and culture.

Despite the stakes and the difficult challenge we face, I found this conversation to be quite inspiring and I certainly learned a ton from Brett. Enjoy.

Resources Mentioned

Rare

Connect with Brett Jenks

Connect with Brett on LinkedIn

Climate Tech Predictions with Obvious Ventures' Andrew Beebe, Ep #104

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0400

What 2025 will bring for climate tech is pretty hard to predict. We’ve seen a slowdown in investments at the same time as we see a continued flood of talent into the space, maturing technologies, and a boom in AI that could be transformative for climate solutions. The new administration? Nobody really knows how they’ll orient around climate tech, or how private investors will respond.

There’s a lot of uncertainty, but of course, pros who have been in this game for decades and who study early-stage climate technology closely have some ideas of where we’re headed. So I was thrilled to get to catch up with Andrew Beebe, Managing Director of Obvious Ventures. We spoke about Andrew’s background as an entrepreneur and the parallels he sees between the Internet's and climate tech's early days. We talked about where climate tech is today, 5 predictions he has for 2025, generative science, technologies he’s most excited about, what needs to change to address the climate crisis, and more. Andrew brings the nuance and clarity of someone who’s been working closely with energy and climate entrepreneurs every day for a long time. We didn’t solve all the mysteries of what this year will bring, but I think Andrew shared some great food for thought and real opportunities.

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Obvious Ventures

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Engaging 100 million people in climate action with Count Us In, Ep #103

Tue, 14 Jan 2025 03:00:00 -0400

Happy New Year everyone. It's 2025, and we know this year will be tricky in more ways than we can even imagine. I hope our podcast helps you stay inspired and think big throughout the year.

Having gotten to talk to hundreds of climate tech founders, funders, advocates, and corporate sustainability leaders in recent years, I’ve been inspired by the amazing energy, innovation, and tenacity of climate champions worldwide. I’ve said it before and will say it again, I believe climate is now the biggest movement in human history. Millions of people wake up every day and work to protect the planet in one way or another, and there’s never been a more impactful time to be alive.

And yet, despite the investment and progress we’ve seen, we’re not on track to avoid devastating climate impacts.

That’s why I’ve personally shifted my attention to culture change. We simply need new ways to recruit people to take action and leverage the power they have to make climate a real and unwavering priority of policymakers, industry, and communities.

So I’m thrilled to kick off this year with an interview with Eric Levine, co-founder of one of the world’s most successful climate engagement organizations. Count Us In has reached hundreds of millions of people by integrating climate calls to action in what they love – entertainment and culture. In this conversation, we discuss Eric’s background, the behavioral science behind their approach, and how they’re reaching people through music, sports, fashion, film, TV, social media, and more.

Maybe you don’t consider culture and storytelling to be an exciting climate technology, but paradigms and mindsets are foundational to systemic change. They influence everything – how we think, what we prioritize, fund, and want. So give this episode a listen with an open mind and enjoy. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:55] Eric’s background & how he got involved in climate work
[05:00] Eric’s interest in civic engagement & empowering young people
[10:00] The founding of Count Us In & its goals
[15:00] Count Us In's strategy of integrating climate action into popular culture
[20:00] The parallels Count Us In has studied from other social norm shifts
[25:00] Examples of Count Us In's work engaging football/soccer fans in the UK & Brazil
[30:00] Count Us In's approach to determining & promoting climate actions
[35:00] The difference between environmental policy support & prioritization
[40:00] What’s next for Count Us In

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Count Us In

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Unlocking billions for nature with Cultivo, Ep #102

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Let’s talk about nature – the forests, land, oceans, biodiversity, and ecosystem that make this planet liveable and, if you ask me, quite worth saving. Nature regulates our climate – and stewarding nature well could contribute 20-30% of our emissions reduction needs. It’d also support livelihoods around the world and help prevent the mass extinction of many of our planet’s species.

Nature-based solutions often sound simple – planting and protecting forests, farming in ways that improve soil health, restoring wetlands – but require sophisticated techniques to measure and track their impact. The lack of good nature monitoring systems has contributed to a $700 billion global financing gap and an inability of private sector investors to really lean into this opportunity. Currently, just 15% of investment in nature-based solutions comes from the private sector.

This is where a young company called Cultivo comes in. Cultivo uses technology to understand the investment opportunity for nature based solutions. Having just raised $14 million of venture capital, they’re ready to scale. I was thrilled to speak with Cultivo Founder and CEO Manuel Pinuela. We discussed Manuel’s background as a repeat entrepreneur, how he came to found Cultivo, the technology that sets them apart, the potential they see and much more. I learned a lot and became a quick fan of Cultivo’s work.

Hope you enjoy this episode. It’s our last of 2024, so I’m wishing you all happy holidays. I hope you all get to spend some time resting and recharging – perhaps including some time in nature – and gear up for the challenges ahead. Thanks for listening.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[00:58] Manuel Pinuela's background and how he got into climate
[06:25] Cultivo and the problem that they’re solving
[09:30] Defining "degraded land" and Cultivo's target customers
[12:55] Cultivo's technology and approach
[15:11] Examples of complex nature-based solutions Cultivo works on
[23:54] The climate impact and portfolio approach of Cultivo's work
[31:19] Cultivo's progress and recent $14 million funding round
[35:09] What the nature-based solutions market needs

Resources Mentioned

Cultivo

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Preventing wildfires by satellite monitoring with AiDash, Ep #101

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we’re talking about wildfires and some innovative technology to prevent them.

Climate change-related heat, drought, and what’s called thirsty atmospheric conditions increase the risks that come with wildfires. These fires have a real impact – they take human lives, create lasting respiratory health problems, destroy billions of dollars of property, and contribute significantly to global carbon emissions. The 2023 fire in Canada that burned an area the size of North Dakota emitted more carbon in five months than Russia or Japan emitted from fossil fuels in all of 2022. It should be noted, of course, that forests reabsorb carbon as they regrow, but still, their burning at that scale is a huge problem.

Billions of dollars are being invested every year to prevent and limit wildfires, and I was excited to connect with a leading startup in this space to learn about what’s working and what challenges need to be solved. Today’s guest is Abhishek Singh, Co-Founder & CEO of AiDash, a company using satellites to help utility companies prevent powerline-cased fires. We talk about the problem of climate-related wildfires, the origin of AiDash, how their technology works, who’s using it, how they expect to contribute to fire mitigation, what else is needed, and much more.

Smokey the Bear says only you can prevent wildfires, but maybe it's only you, thousands of satellites, AI and computer vision, and a growing ecosystem of technology companies and forest management professionals. Anyways, don’t mess around with fire and enjoy this episode.

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AiDash

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Impact strategy with Galvanize Climate Solution's Nicole Systrom, Ep #100

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

When Tom Steyer and Katie Hall came together in 2021 to bring Galvanize Climate Solutions to the world, it promised to be something rather unique. They both bring decades of experience managing many billions of dollars, incredible networks, and insights to find the best, most impactful investment opportunities for climate. Recently, Secretary John Kerry joined Galvanize as a Co-Chair, adding perhaps unparalleled international expertise to their team.

The firm prioritizes not just financial returns for their investors, but also real climate impact. I was thrilled to sit down with Galvanize Chief Impact Officer Nicole Systrom to learn about how such an all-star team thinks about the impact they create. We spoke about Nicole’s background, the three different asset classes Galvanize invests in, three different levels of impact they consider before and after their investments are made, the impact of the election on their work, and much more. I learned a lot and am certainly glad Galvanize is doing the work it’s doing. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[02:35] Nicole’s background & career focus on climate
[06:59] Galvanize & what makes it unique
[11:21] Feelings & optimism in climate work
[14:36] Galvanize's investment strategy across asset classes
[15:59] Impact approaches for public equities, real estate & venture
[17:59] Galvanize’s thesis & embedding impact across the firm
[22:36] Three levels of impact
[24:02] Diving deeper into impact approaches for different asset classes
[26:11] Galvanize's real estate investment strategy
[29:24] Nicole's goals & priorities for the next year
[32:42] The impact of the recent election
[34:28] What else needs to change in climate finance
[36:28] Closing reflections & call to action

Resources Mentioned

Galvanize Climate Solutions

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What the election changes and doesn't change with CERES & Climate Cabinet, Ep #99

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0400

There are many reasons to believe the re-election of Donald Trump will be a major setback to climate progress. His previous record, recent campaign, ties to the fossil fuel industry, and perpetuation of misinformation, like the strange idea that wind turbines kill whales, all suggest we’re in for a radical reversal of America’s climate commitment.

I’ve had many conversations with climate leaders since the election and a different narrative beyond this obvious fear became clear: Climate change doesn’t care who is President. Its impacts will be impossible to ignore. Business leadership and global competitiveness are now inextricably linked to navigating the climate transition. And, a robust ecosystem of influential actors domestically and abroad makes a complete abandonment of climate action unlikely.

Today, I’m joined by two people who bring policy expertise at the federal, state, and local levels. Zach Friedman is the Senior Director of Federal Policy at Ceres, a nonprofit organization that works alongside investors and companies to advocate for sustainability. Caroline Spears is the Founder of Climate Cabinet, an organization that helps local candidates become successful climate champions. I found this conversation to be full of nuance and more uplifting than I expected.

Our new reality is sobering and there’s no denying we face new challenges. There is hope, however, and it comes with the fortitude and savvy people like Zach and Caroline have already been demonstrating. This savvy will require telling different stories about climate, the undeniable business case, and the power of all of us who stay invested.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:55] Background on Caroline’s & Zack’s roles at Climate Cabinet & Ceres
[06:35] Potential challenges & opportunities for federal climate policy under the new administration
[10:21] The implications of the U.S. potentially disengaging from international climate agreements
[13:44] The critical role of state and local governments in driving climate progress
[19:24] Priorities of Climate Cabinet & Ceres in the wake of the election results
[26:11] How to support climate progress

Resources Mentioned

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Tapping the trillion dollar government edge with Overture VC, Ep #98

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Every once in a while I come across an investment firm with a really different edge and perspective. Overture VC is one such firm. Their specialty is policy – not just understanding the unique opportunities climate tech companies have with government incentives and helping them navigate that tricky terrain, but also actually lobbying for policies that’ll benefit their portfolio companies.

In the words of Overture Founder and Managing Partner Shomik Dutta, there’s a $1.2 trillion dollar wall of government money coming downhill for climate companies. So Overture’s edge is meaningful and can make a big difference for a wide range of companies. Shomik and I discussed his background, how he moved into investing from politics, the opportunities recent climate policy has created for startups, examples of Overture’s portfolio companies and how the firm has helped them, and much more, including what’s at stake in the upcoming election.

Speaking of the election – it’s next week. If you don’t yet have a plan for how to get your ballot in or haven’t called your friends and family to make sure they’re voting, now’s the time. Shomik mentions a mobile app called Reach – a great tool to help you contact people you know in swing states.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:01] Shomik Dota's Background and Transition to Investing
[06:05] Overture VC's Unique Approach and Government Incentives
[09:12] The Role of Government in Climate Tech and Overture's Strategy
[12:44] Overture's Portfolio and Specific Investments
[16:56] Examples of Overture's Work and Impact
[20:45] Overture's Fund and Investment Focus
[23:05] Election Impact on Climate Policy
[25:41] Future Policy Needs and Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned

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Can fashion be sustainable? An inside look with Jason Kibbey & Evan Wiener, Ep #97

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

The apparel industry has a massive impact on the environment. The industry is the second-highest consumer of water and it drives almost 10% of global carbon emissions. Despite thousands of smart people working to make this industry cleaner and all sorts of investments by brands, emissions are still increasing.

To learn about this problem and get an inside look at the efforts to address it, I caught up with two old friends, Jason Kibbey and Evan Wiener.

Jason was the founder of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and more recently a technology company called Worldly that helps businesses track their supply chains. Evan is a sustainability expert at McKinsey & Company who previously worked at Nike and H&M.

These guys know the fashion industry inside and out. We talked about the state of sustainability in the apparel industry, the challenges of competitive and pricing pressures, the role of legislation, the opportunity for startups, the questionable authenticity of corporate sustainability aspirations, what needs to change, and much more.

This is an industry that simply needs to change dramatically, and I learned a lot about how we might get there. Let’s go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:07] Backgrounds of Jason Kibbe and Evan Wiener
[08:19] Environmental and Societal Impact of the Apparel Industry
[11:11] Progress and Challenges in Sustainability Efforts
[16:16] Role of Regulation and Industry Response
[25:31] Opportunities for Startups and Innovation
[37:33] Consumer and Investor Roles in Sustainability
[42:50] Reconciling Optimism with Industry Challenges
[44:51] Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Bridge loans to the rescue with Open Road, Ep #96

Tue, 01 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0400

If you’re an avid listener, you might know I’m always interested in learning about ways we might improve financial markets for climate ventures. Improving the flow of capital can, of course, be incredibly impactful in helping more climate solutions scale successfully. So I was really excited when I learned about Open Road and the important role they’re playing by offering bridge loans to promising companies.

Ok, maybe bridge loans don't sound that sexy to you? Think of it this way: if you’re an entrepreneur, what could be worse than running out of money? How about running out of money when you already have significant funding lined up just not yet in-hand. The sad truth is that this happens all the time – companies go under because they simply can’t keep paying salaries or buying supplies while they wait for financing to arrive. That’s the financing gap that Open Road has been addressing for over 10 years. In this conversation with Open Road CEO Caroline Bressan we talked about her background in impact investing, Open Road’s history, how their loans have unlocked 10 times the amount of capital, their climate portfolio, and more.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:08] Caroline’s background & role before Open Road
[04:09] Learning from Calvert that shaped Caroline
[05:13] Open Road, how did it start & the problem it's aiming to address
[06:46] Financing gaps related to climate: The valley of death & the missing middle
[08:37] Investment reach & focus in Sub-Saharan Africa
[10:31] Finding & selecting portfolio companies
[12:21] The type of impact Open Road has had
[13:24] The need for bridge funding beyond what is provided
[15:23] Open Road’s repayment rate
[17:39] How much of lending has gone to energy, ag & other climate-related companies
[21:01] Types of businesses Open Road has supported
[26:30] What’s next for Open Road

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Open Road

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Staying cool and saving energy with Mojave HVAC, Ep #95

Tue, 24 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

After a summer of record heat waves, I’m sure we’re all grateful for air conditioning. And we know, it’s not just about comfort or productivity, but with extreme heat, being able to cool buildings keeps people safe. Yet, it comes at a cost: air conditioning today is responsible for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions and demand is set to triple by 2050.

Maybe you’re thinking that heat pumps are the answer and will come to the rescue? They’re certainly an important part of the solution, but until electric heat pumps are plugged into a grid that is fully powered by clean energy, efficiency matters a great deal. Enter Mojave HVAC. Their liquid desiccant technology can cut the energy needed for cooling commercial spaces by 30-50%. For today’s conversation, I’m joined by Mojave Founder & CEO Phil Farese. We spoke about Phil’s past and how he learned about the economics of energy efficiency, Mojave’s business model, technology, and its potential role in keeping us cool without overheating the planet. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:01] Phil’s background & what led him to founding Mojave HVAC
[05:07] Mojave & the problem that they’re solving
[07:24] The limitations of heat pumps
[10:36] Focusing on efficiency & using less energy for our HVAC needs
[13:53] How Mojave’s technology was developed & where the business is at
[16:04] Mohave’s target market & how sales are progressing
[17:21] Other insights on Mohave’s product
[18:21] The overall opportunity for business & impact
[19:42] Emissions savings through technology adoption
[20:25] Drivers of demand for Mohave’s product
[22:26] The pros & cons of the liquid desiccants debate
[25:37] Mohave’s next milestone & the biggest challenges
[26:41] Blind spots in addressing climate change & buildings
[29:27] Today’s climate innovation ecosystem & how it needs to improve

Resources Mentioned

Mojave HVAC

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How environmentalists could decide the election, Ep #94

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We’re weeks away from a historic election. It’s one that will decide the course of climate action in the United States at a pivotal moment, a moment when we can’t afford to slow down or send mixed signals abroad. And, it’s an election that all expect to be decided by just tens of thousands of voters.

These are all facts that I’m sure you know already.

Here’s what you probably don’t know: millions of environmentalists don’t vote. These are people who list the environment and climate change as their number one most important issue – and getting just 1-2% of them to vote could easily decide the election.

This is the premise and work of the Environmental Voter Project. They’re a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, not focusing on a particular party, but instead focusing on protecting the environment simply by getting environmentalists to the polls. I learned a lot from my conversation with EVP Founder and Executive Director Nathaniel Stinnett. We talked about the difference between voter preferences and priorities, who these non-voting environmentalists are, and what actually works in getting them to vote. The answer to that riddle and much else in this episode might surprise you.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:18] What's at stake in the 2024 election?
[04:40] The implications for climate
[07:14] How local elections influence environmental policy
[08:56] Public sentiment on the environment
[11:13] The distinction between voter preference & voter prioritization
[13:28] The lack of voter turnout among environmentalists
[15:06] Why aren’t environmentalists voting
[20:21] Fossil fuel PR campaigns
[21:24] Environmental Voter Project & what they’re doing to engage
[23:55] The most resonant, persuasive, helpful message to motivate behavior change
[27:31] Measuring EVP’s impact
[30:00] What is EVP hoping to achieve this year
[32:49] The sensitivity analysis for EVP

Resources Mentioned

Environmental Voter Project

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Investing in Public Climate Companies with ScopeFour Capital, Ep #93

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0400

If you believe the climate transition is creating trillions of dollars of opportunity, then backing public companies whose business models are centered on that transition and whose growth will be driven by it seems an almost obvious approach.

That’s exactly what Heather Beatty and ScopeFour Capital are doing, and I was excited to hear what they’re learning and the opportunities they see.

In this conversation, we talk about Heather’s background and how she came to found ScopeFour after decades in institutional investing.

We talk about their approach, their portfolio, and the opportunities they’re excited about. We talk about the election, how it's influencing their investing in the short term, and the potential long-term implications. We talk about green hushing the resilience of corporate climate action, and much more. Lots to think about in this one. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:45] Heather’s background & what got her interested in climate
[5:50] The founding of ScopeFour
[7:54] Why aren’t we investing by following science & research
[9:48] ScopeFour & what they’re aiming to do
[11:32] What’s unique about ScopeFour
[13:49] What to say to naysayers of climate investing
[15:22] Specific examples of investments ScopeFour has made
[17:06] Exciting spaces and opportunities right now for climate investing
[18:45] What can be done to encourage faster adoption of climate tech
[21:08] Tying emissions reductions to the size of an opportunity
[23:24] Climate risk as a factor in investment decisions
[24:58] The short-term & long-term impacts of the upcoming election
[29:35] What we know about Kamala Harris’ interest in climate

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Wellington Management's $385m Climate Fund with Greg Wasserman, Ep #92

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0400

I’m always excited to talk to climate investors who have been around for a bit, those who were investing during the Cleantech 1.0 phase, saw the ups and the downs, and have stuck through to our current climate tech boom. Some of the challenges that the earlier era of cleantech investing saw – like high capex and long payback periods – are still relevant today, and experienced investors offer nuanced insights into current opportunities and what the future might hold.

I was thrilled to talk to Greg Wasserman. Greg started investing in clean energy almost 20 years ago at Goldman Sachs. I’ll let you hear the twists and turns of his background directly from him, but suffice to say he fits the bill of someone who’s worn multiple prestigious hats to finance climate solutions. Greg recently closed a new $385 million climate fund at Wellington Management, one of the world’s largest independent investment management firms with over $1 trillion AUM.

We talk about Greg’s journey, how climate investing has changed, what he’s currently excited about, opportunities for the future, and much more.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:03] Greg’s background & what got him interested in climate investing
[5:30] Greg’s experience at Goldman Sachs
[6:54] Greg’s experience at the Clinton Foundation
[9:47] Greg’s experience at Generation Four Investment Management
[13:53] Wellington & what it’s known for
[15:19] Wellington’s Climate Fund
[17:42] Leveraging resources & resources for Wellington’s fund
[20:20] The state of climate investing
[22:32] Interesting innovations & where the fund is focused
[24:40] The influence of blockchain technology in climate solutions
[26:28] Measuring impact of the fund
[29:14] Wellington’s investment in Orennia
[31:54] Wellington’s investment in SPAN
[34:56] What’s coming in the next 5-10 years for climate investing

Resources Mentioned

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Inside IBM's sustainability strategy with Justina Nixon-Saintil, Ep #91

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

It’s a sad truth that many companies are struggling or failing to meet their sustainability targets. Sensitive to anti-ESG pressure, interest rates, and other macro factors, many are also holding back from making new commitments. Currently, less than 10% of the Fortune Global 500 has a net zero commitment in place.

Amidst this context, it's all the more important to shine a light on the companies that have made ambitious targets and that are working hard to achieve them.

IBM is one such company. They began disclosing their CO2 emissions 30 years ago, and since 2010, they’ve cut emissions by nearly 70%. That’s not to say their path is without challenges. They’ve made a big bet on AI, which of course drives up energy usage dramatically.

To understand IBM’s sustainability strategy and progress, I was pleased to sit down with IBM Chief Impact Officer Justina Nixon-Saintil. Justina is a member of NationSwell, the executive membership network where I work. We talked about Justina’s background and role, the main focus areas for sustainability at IBM, some of their successes and challenges, how AI factors into the mix, their sustainability accelerator program, and much more.

If you’re interested in how big companies think about the climate crisis and how they can make a difference, there’s a lot to enjoy this episode. Here we go.

On today's episode, we cover:

[3:23] Justina’s background & what led her to her current role at IBM
[6:06] Justina’s role, responsibilities & things she’s thinking about everyday
[8:59] The pillars & priorities of IBM's sustainability strategy
[10:29] The approach to influencing those stakeholders
[12:46] Challenges being faced and the gap between companies & their targets
[14:36] Challenges in reaching your decarbonization goals
[16:19] AI & sustainability
[19:31] IBM Sustainability Accelerator: Focus areas & what’s new
[22:44] Organizations that have joined the accelerator & how they’re benefiting
[25:07] The struggles & challenges that organizations are facing
[27:23] Other climate tech spaces where Justina sees an opportunity for AI
[28:09] IBM SkillsBuild: About the program & priorities
[32:25] Advice for addressing climate change & other environmental challenges today

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Justina Nixon-Saintil

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Hedge funds' role in climate action with Corbin Capital, Ep #90

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Hedge funds aren’t exactly known for contributing to climate progress or other ESG goals for that matter. So I was surprised to learn about Corbin Capital, a firm that aims to leverage the activist strategies of hedge funds not just to generate market-exceeding returns for their clients, but to advance environmental and social objectives.

There are trillions of dollars invested in hedge funds that can make a difference in this all-hands-on-deck moment. So why not think about how hedge fund tools can help accelerate decarbonization and other environmental priorities?

To learn more about this opportunity and how Corbin Capital is pursuing it, I sat down with their Director of Sustainability Courtney Birnbaum. I learned a lot about hedge fund tactics, and the opportunity to invest in transition commodities, carbon markets and more. Lots to learn through this one – enjoy!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:47] Courtney’s path to working on climate & sustainability
[4:37] Corbin Capital & Courtney’s role there
[7:59] What is a hedge fund & how is it different than other investment vehicles
[9:23] The history of hedge funds & factors that have made them successful
[11:27] Why today is a good moment for hedge fund investing
[13:18] Uncertainty creating opportunities for hedge fund investing
[15:31] Influencing transformational change through hedge funds
[17:52] Examples of success stories
[20:29] Thinking about criticisms around lack of transparency
[22:13] What makes Corbin unique
[23:19] Climate opportunities for Corbin investors & the impact they’re aiming to have
[25:59] Litigation finance
[27:23] How hedge funds can play a role in decarbonization
[28:16] How hedge funds can play a role in the carbon markets & carbon credits
[30:28] Short selling as a strategy for improving corporate sustainability
[33:57] How do finance needs to change to better tackle today's climate crisis

Resources Mentioned

Corbin Capital

Connect with Courtney Birnbaum

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Going for gigatons with Clean Energy Venture's Temple Fennell, Ep #89

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We know we need to be investing trillions of dollars annually into the climate transition. Venture capital is just a small slice of the pie, but there’s simply no time to slow down its contribution to advancing climate solutions.

In 2023, however, climate tech venture funding dropped 30% to $32 billion. Whether this was a temporary slowdown caused by high interest rates and the macro environment, or the new normal, will make a big difference.

Recently, I’ve been thrilled to start hearing about funds that are closing new and significantly bigger rounds.

One such firm is Clean Energy Ventures. They just raised their second fund, which is three times the size of their first, and I was pleased to get to hear the details from Clean Energy Ventures’ Co-Founder and Managing Partner Temple Fennel. Temple’s been investing in climate tech since 2017 and has held fast to focusing on companies that can reduce emissions by multiple gigatons. In today’s conversation, we hear how Temple got started in climate tech investing and what he seeks in an investment. We hear about some of his portfolio companies, the changes he’s seeing in climate investing and much more. Lots to learn in this one – enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:02] Temple’s path & how he decided to focus on climate investing
[7:54] Clean Energy Ventures’ investment thesis & what makes them unique
[11:38] Expectations, assumptions & surprises from the first fund
[14:25] Rebound Technologies, their business potential & climate mitigation opportunity
[17:40] Aqua Membranes & why Clean Energy Ventures invested
[19:51] Other examples of what Clean Energy Ventures is interested in
[23:03] The second fund & the focus this time around
[25:52] The Simple Emission Reduction Calculator: Emissions reduction & the causality for financial return
[27:33] The process of raising capital today
[30:42] The current state of the capital market for climate
[32:36] Change in SBTI rules around offsetting & talk on decarbonization mandates
[34:49] What needs to happen to get company leadership onboard for making near-term commitments to technologies that will drive their decarbonization
[36:11] How investors are acting differently & outlook
[37:45] Other interesting investment areas with opportunity

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Temple Fennell

Connect with Temple on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Fighting for climate disclosures with Ceres, Ep #88

Tue, 14 May 2024 12:45:00 -0400

After two years of waiting, the SEC finally came out with its new climate disclosure rules. As expected, it was met with a mix of celebration, disappointment, criticism, and lawsuits. The suits came from those who felt the rules went too far and from those who felt they don’t go far enough.

Disclosure rules are critical to ensuring companies are taking climate change seriously. They ensure investors can consider a company’s climate risks as well as their progress in cutting emissions.

Beyond the SEC, Europe and California’s rules are also influencing corporate action in profound ways.

To understand what’s been happening and what’s likely to happen next, I caught up with Steven Rothstein. Steven is the Managing Director of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. He’s been working for years to align financial markets to climate goals and is a well respected expert on this topic. We talked about the history of disclosures, why they matter, the recent SEC rule change, the reaction it sparked, what’s coming next, and much more. I always learn a lot from talking to Steven and I’m sure you will too. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:07] Stephen's role at Ceres accelerator
[03:25] The Accelerator’s work & capital market change
[05:02] History of early climate reporting
[06:58] Disclosure requirements in Europe and CSRD
[10:29] California law coverage of private companies
[11:06] Ceres' role in California climate laws
[13:23] Why SEC rule took two years
[15:07] The importance of Scope 3 SEC inclusion
[16:29] SEC rule may evolve over time
[18:00] Legal challenges to rules and regulations
[20:47] Continuing climate preparations
[23:15] Balancing reporting and climate action
[27:19] The importance of interim targets
[29:56] Election impact on climate progress
[31:45] Developing transition plans and data analysis
[35:13] Actions listeners can take

Resources Mentioned

Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets

Connect with Steven Rothstein

Connect with Steven on LinkedIn

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Mastercard's master plan for sustainable consumption, Ep #87

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 13:30:00 -0400

If you think of Mastercard as simply a piece of plastic that enables you to buy stuff, you’re not seeing their vast network of businesses, their billions of customers, or the potential influence they have on consumer behavior.

There have been countless efforts over the years to encourage consumers to shop more sustainably, but when it comes to the reach and data savvy that Mastercard brings, it’s a whole different ballgame.

I’ve known Mastercard’s Chief Sustainability Officer Ellen Jackowski for many years, and I was delighted to sit down with her to understand Mastercard’s sustainability strategy.

We talk about Ellen’s background and approach to leadership, the current moment in sustainability, Mastercard’s effort to encourage sustainable consumption at scale, how they’ve spread sustainability goals across their entire company, and much more.

Ellen is a widely respected thought leader in corporate sustainability and this conversation offers a peek inside an ambitious and very challenging effort to create real impact. Mastercard is a NationSwell member and we’ll soon share a summary of this conversation as part of NationSwell’s Sustainability Next series. Enjoy!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[02:13] Ellen’s background & passion for sustainability
[04:14] Ellen’s role at Mastercard
[06:13] Present moment in sustainability - trends & concerns
[08:13] The reach of Mastercard’s network
[10:58] Sustainable consumption as a systems problem
[12:29] Areas of opportunity & challenge
[14:00] The Priceless Planet Coalition video drop
[15:32] Mastercard’s carbon calculator
[16:50] Influencing large emitting purchases
[17:32] Promoting sustainable consumption around the world & US
[18:52] The biggest challenge in reaching net-zero goals
[21:00] Best ways to organize sustainability leaders
[23:24] Tackling Scope 3 emissions
[26:08] Mastercard’s Priceless Planet Coalition
[27:53] Mastercard’s Community Pass Platform
[29:21] Mastercard’s Start Path in Solidarity
[30:52] How Ellen’s thinking in leadership has evolved
[33:18] Resources to stay informed on sustainability
[34:22] What else needs to change

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Ellen Jackowski

Connect with Ellen on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Fundraising tips & climate tech outlook with Earthshot VC, Ep #86

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0400

Earthshot Ventures isn't just any climate tech venture firm. Having grown out of the Elemental Excelerator, one of the biggest and best-reputed accelerators in the industry, Earthshot is deeply rooted in the early-stage ecosystem. And it turns out there's something else that sets them apart.

Managing Partner Mike Jackson has a knack for coaching founders on what he thinks of as the art and science of fundraising. We're joined today by Mike and Earthshot Partner Ramsay Siegal to hear about their firm, approach, portfolio, and outlook on the market. We dive deep into Mike's insights to helping founders raise money. We talked about non-dilutive project financing and hard-to-abate sectors, the opportunities AI is bringing to climate tech, several of their portfolio companies, and much more. If you're interested in early-stage climate investing, or startups, there's lots to learn in this one. Hope you enjoy. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[02:47] Mike’s background & experience
[04:52] Ramsey’s background & expertise
[07:51] The relationship between Earthshot VC & Elemental Excelerator
[09:39] Earthshot’s investment thesis, what they’re interested in & what sets them apart
[12:22] Earthshot’s network
[14:13] Mike’s approach to fundraising & coaching the portfolio
[17:54] Fundraising tips and tricks for founders
[22:17] Earthshot’s success stories
[24:38] How is AI showing up
[30:41] Investing in hard-to-abate sectors and Kanin Energy
[33:06] Kanin Energy's business model and non-dilutive funding
[38:15] Earthshot’s commitment, DEI & tips for achieving a diverse portfolio
[42:38] Outlook & opportunities for climate tech investing

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Mike Jackson & Ramsay Siegal

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn
Connect with Ramsay on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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On Twitter

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Scaling home upgrades through CSAs with Scope Zero, Ep #85

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We know that motivating homeowners to invest in energy efficiency retrofits and home upgrades is hard. Energy efficiency might not sound glamorous, but across the US, retrofits can actually cut our residential energy usage in half.

That’s why when I met Scope Zero CEO Lizzy Kolar, I was excited to learn about her company’s novel way of motivating home upgrades. What Lizzy and her co-founder realized is that our homes are now workplaces.

And, with employers having to account for emissions for remote workers, they now have an incentive to help homeowners invest in upgrades. Enter the Carbon Savings Account (CSA). Modeled after FSAs and HSAs, the CSA can scale quickly and help millions of homeowners across the US to begin investing in upgrades they’ve been putiing off.

In this episode, we hear about Lizzy’s background, the founding story of Scope Zero, the problems they’re trying to solve, the best home upgrade investments, how the home upgrade ecosystem has been evolving, and much more. This is a fast and to-the-point episode. Hope you enjoy it.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:02] Lizzy’s background, what sparked her interest in climate & founding Scope Zero
[05:50] Key needs that Scope Zero is addressing
[07:17] The HSA model & how it works
[08:24] How the HSA model translates to climate action
[09:20] How someone might use the money they put in a Scope Zero account
[10:15] What holds homeowners back from making investments
[11:40] Evidence that consumers will invest in CSAs
[12:23] The benefits of government incentives - Inflation Reduction Act
[12:53] What home upgrades should be prioritized
[14:43] The benefits of a Scope Zero CSA for employers
[16:34] ROI for employers
[17:53] CSAs in practice & the response
[18:27] How far along is Scope Zero & the growth plan
[19:44] Scope Zero’s total addressable market & opportunity
[20:27] Quantifying impact in terms of emissions reduced & environmental benefits
[21:06] Tracking the impact of CSAs using dashboards & data
[21:44] Customers’ access to a partner vendor network
[22:14] How the ecosystem surrounding home upgrades is evolving
[23:08] How Scope Zero is financed & raising funding
[23:47] Opportunities for aligning interests & motivating change

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Lizzy Kolar

Connect with Lizzy on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Oxford's Climate Tech Opportunity Report with Jamil Wyne, Ep #84

Tue, 12 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We know that addressing climate change will take trillions of dollars of investment. According to the Climate Policy Institute, we’ll need to spend over $10 trillion annually for decades. and we only just exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in 2022.

I’ll confess, I find these big numbers hard to conceptualize and I’m always glad for more nuanced ways to break them down. That’s why when I saw Oxford’s Climate Tech Initiative’s recent report, I reached out to one of its authors Jamil Wyne. The Oxford report builds on recent climate finance data by asking almost 150 climate investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers what they're seeing. It's a snapshot from inside climate tech that identifies gaps, promising opportunities, and five recommended changes for climate finance. In this interview, Jamil and I cover all that and more. We go far beyond just talking about the numbers and I think you’ll appreciate the global perspective and ability to zoom in and out that Jamil and the Oxford report brings. Enjoy.

On today's episode, we cover:

[01:15] Introduction to the Oxford Climate Tech Initiative’s report & Jamil
[02:31] Jamil’s portfolio & what's been energizing
[04:19] How Climate Tech Initiative’s report got started
[06:20] Growth & breakdown of climate finance investments
[10:02] The mismatch in climate investing
[12:43] Investor interest in transportation
[15:20] Under investment in heavy industry, built environment & adaptation
[17:41] The best investment opportunities within the energy sector
[20:39] Overview of recommendations from the report
[22:31] Growing climate funding recommendation
[23:06] The role of governments & corporations
[25:27] Building talent & workforce pools for climate
[28:27] Focusing on solutions for vulnerable communities
[30:30] Funding for adaptation
[33:20] What is Riffle Ventures
[36:08] Climate Tech Boot Camp, who it’s for & how it’s changed
[41:27] Future projects & initiatives

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Jamil Wyne

Connect with Jamil on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

Keep up with Invested In Climate

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?

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Unlocking the Potential of Scientists with Activate, Ep #83

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0400

At the center of climate progress are scientists. They’re developing new technologies with which we can build a new, more sustainable global economy. Moving inventions from a lab to startup companies to scaled products, however, takes more than science.

Research scientists had long lacked a support structure to help them build successful businesses. That’s where Activate came in. Founded in 2015 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Activate is a fellowship program that has helped almost 200 science fellows create companies that have now collectively created about 2,000 jobs and have raised about $1.5 billion.

To learn more about Activate’s important work, we’re joined today by Activate CEO Cyrus Wadia. Cyrus brings a unique background spanning time in the Obama Administration, academia, Nike, and Amazon. We talk about how Activate works, lessons they’re gathering across climate tech verticals, examples of companies emerging from their fellowship, opportunities, gaps, and much more. I’m a big fan of the work Activate is doing and I’d guess you’ll soon be too. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:13] Cyrus’ background & career journey
[6:01] Activate & the problem that its aiming to solve
[9:47] The ideal Activate Fellow
[12:38] The support that Fellows get & how the Fellowship works
[14:25] Activate’s achievements
[16:41] Success stories & companies that have emerged from the Fellowship
[20:02] What's coming & gaps
[22:20] Examples of where friction is lower for climate tech to scale
[26:35] Applications of AI
[31:54] The involvement of corporate partners & how they can show up
[34:36] How else do we need to change our approach to addressing climate change

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Cyrus Wadia

Connect with Cyrus on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

Keep up with Invested In Climate

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Sierra Club Foundation's Shifting Trillions Initiative to Transform Energy Finance, Ep #82

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 03:00:00 -0400

If you’re listening to this podcast you’ve probably heard of the Sierra Club. It’s one of the largest environmental organizations in the United States, with about 4 million members and a history of advocacy going back to 1892.

But what do you know about the Sierra Club Foundation? It’s a $200m organization that, as you’d guess, supports the Sierra Club. It also takes on ambitious initiatives to leverage its resources to protect the environment, transform the energy system, and more. One of those initiatives focuses on shifting trillions of dollars out of the fossil fuel economy. It’s a good example of the level of ambition of these organizations.

To learn more, I sat down with Dan Chu and Pedro Henriques Da Silva. Dan is the Executive Director of the Foundation. Pedro is the Director of the Shifting Trillions Program. We had a fascinating conversation about the history, role, and accomplishments of both organizations, the goals and strategy of the Shifting Trillions program, being a 21st-century fiduciary, the upcoming election, and much more. This episode will push your thinking about the role of the Sierra Club and environmental organizations more generally. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[02:54] Background on Sierra Club
[05:15] Sierra Club’s history & how the Foundation and Club are different
[06:56] Size & funding of the organizations
[08:09] Focus issue areas, how they are decided & how they inform capital allocation
[10:23] Sierra Club Foundation & its broader role
[12:37] The Shifting Trillions program & what it’s aiming to solve
[13:54] The Foundation’s three roles & what it’s doing
[18:21] How the roles of the Club & Foundation are distinct
[22:36] What progress has been achieved so far with Shifting Trillions
[23:57] Exciting goals being pursued
[25:29] Progress & achievements that Dan has seen during his tenure
[29:58] The state of the U.S. environmental nonprofit field
[32:32] Support for climate through philanthropy
[36:02] The importance of this election from an environmental perspective
[39:02] Harnessing climate for young voter turnout

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Dan Chu & Pedro Henriques da Silva

Connect with Dan on LinkedIn
Connect with Pedro on LinkedIn

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Smart ACs and hot cities with Sensibo's Ran Roth and Prof. Matthias Roth, Ep #81

Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0400

I know it’s wintertime for many of you, but that doesn’t mean we can ignore how cities around the world are heating up and how air conditioning is a growing contributor to climate change.

Air conditioning is responsible for about 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Today, about 20% of electricity used in buildings and about 10% of global electricity use comes from operating air conditioners. With cities heating up and more people able to afford this technology, air conditioning emissions are expected to double by 2030 and triple by 2050.

To understand this problem and some promising solutions, I sat down with Matthias Roth and Ran Roth. Matthias is a Professor of Geography and Urban Climatology at the University of Singapore. Ran is the Founder of Sensibo, a startup that’s using data and AI to improve the efficiency of air conditioners around the world. No family relation between the two Roths, but a shared interest in how cities are heating up and what we can do about it. We talk about urban heat islands, how cities are responding, the growth of air conditioning, Sensibo’s solution to making them smarter and more efficient, what else needs attention, and much more. Wherever you are, warm up and stay cool with this episode. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[03:25] Matthias’ background & focus
[05:10] Ran’s background & insights into his work
[07:13] The impact of a heating planet on cities
[10:28] Why cities heat up more than their surroundings
[12:36] How cities are tackling urban heat challenges
[14:20] Unpacking air conditioners' impact on climate
[17:48] Sensibo's solution to growing AC issues
[20:42] Sensibo's customers & scale
[21:52] Impact metrics - saving energy on a large scale
[23:35] The global rise in demand for air conditioning
[25:24] Sensibo's role in curbing AC's environmental impact
[27:54] Sensibo’s unique features - geofencing and more
[29:32] The crucial role of AI in Sensibo's vision
[31:22] High-tech excitement & limitations
[36:12] Identifying gaps in current climate discussions

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Matthias Roth & Ran Roth

Connect with Matthias
Connect with Ran on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Inside Atlassian's Sustainability Playbook, Ep #80

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

We all know that companies around the world are working to reduce their emissions and, hopefully, achieve net zero. But what does it take to set up a sustainability program? What are the steps in the process? What are the considerations along the way? And who are the partners one might work with?

Most of this work happens behind closed doors, but sharing insights from corporate sustainability journeys can accelerate progress.

That’s why Atlassian, a technology company with a real commitment to addressing climate change, decided to open up their own process and share what they learned in a really clear and straightforward playbook.

To learn more, I sat down with Atlassian Chief Sustainability Officer, Jess Hyman. Full disclosure: Jess is a member of NationSwell, the executive membership network and advisory, where I get to support impact and sustainability leaders like Jess. In today’s conversation, we walk step-by-step through Atlassian’s sustainability journey – from getting started, building internal buy-in, finding the right vendors, partners, and reporting protocols for reducing Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, to reporting on progress as well as setbacks, and much more.

Whether or not you’re a corporate sustainability leader, this episode will help you understand what companies around the world are actually doing to address climate change. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:03] Jess’ background & path to sustainability work
[4:21] Jess’ work at Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) & what she learned
[6:09] What is Atlassian & their core products
[6:44] Why Atlassian decided to share their sustainability journey
[8:34] The process of going to leadership to develop the report
[9:57] What is a materiality assessment & learnings
[11:57] Atlassian’s sustainability goals, what it took to develop & share them
[13:55] Sustaining internal collaboration
[16:15] Atlassian’s goal to reach net zero by 2040
[18:15] Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions & how they show up for Atlassian
[19:30] The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approval process
[22:00] Learnings around decarbonizing buildings
[23:40] What are Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs)
[25:51] Engaging suppliers to reduce emissions
[28:37] Transparency, accountability & reporting
[30:21] Addressing Work-From-Home (WFH) electricity
[31:49] What is the Sustainable Aviation Buyers Alliance (SABA)
[34:24] What are residual emissions & how is Atlassian dealing with them
[36:00] The quality of offsets
[37:06] Reporting protocols & learnings
[38:56] Building executive buy-in for uncomfortable levels of ambition

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Jess Hyman

Connect with Jess on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

Keep up with Invested In Climate

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How advertising can accelerate climate progress with Wieden+Kennedy, Ep #79

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

What do you think of when you think about advertising and its role in climate change? I’ll confess the first thing that comes to mind is the fossil fuel industry’s multi-billion dollar campaign to discredit climate science, deliberately confuse the public, and delay climate action.

But, of course, like every industry, advertising has a role to play in accelerating climate progress. Advertising creatives have storytelling skills that can help distill complex information, shift attitudes, and accelerate the adoption of climate solutions. At a more basic level, the narratives that capture our attention and gain currency in our collecting thinking play a powerful role in influencing corporate agenda, policymaking, and voters. So don’t count advertising out.

Today, I’m joined by Blake Harrop, President of Wieden+Kennedy Amsterdam. Whether or not you know it, you’re familiar with Wieden+Kennedy’s work. They’re a small creative firm with a big reputation, and they’ve been doing some genuinely interesting climate-related work. In our conversation, we talk big picture about the advertising industry and how it needs to evolve, and also what we can all learn from European countries’ effective climate communication. We also get specific and talk about some of Wieden+Kennedy’s recent projects and how they demonstrate advertising’s potential as a climate ally.

Lot’s to learn about and ponder if you listen with an open mind. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:19] Wieden+Kennedy history & what it's known for
[4:32] Why does advertising matter?
[7:22] Should we be lauding the ad industry?
[8:55] How the ad industry rewards success & opportunity to change perception
[10:28] Wieden+Kennedy as a B Corp & what it means for their commitment to climate
[13:06] Would Wieden+Kennedy work with fossil fuel companies in the future?
[15:10] Working with Fortescue Future Industries & Google in Germany
[19:16] Working with Orsted (Fmr. DONG Energy) & Corona
[25:31] The pros & cons of sustainability as a selling point
[30:10] Lessons on communicating climate change
[33:23] The importance & urgency of climate action
[36:22] Nuclear energy as a dream campaign from a climate perspective
[39:43] A role for all of us to be advertisers for climate engagement

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Blake Harrop

Connect with Blake on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Rockefeller Foundation's $1 billion catalytic climate commitment, Ep #78

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 -0400

It feels fitting to start 2024 talking about the big numbers, the big climate financing gaps we face and ways to fill them.

We know that addressing the climate crisis requires trillions of dollars of investment. It’ll need to come from government, corporations, and big finance, but there’s another stakeholder with an important contribution. Private philanthropic foundations have important roles to play too, particularly in helping communities that might otherwise be left behind and in using philanthropic capital as a catalyst. By de-risking investments and taking concessionary returns, philanthropy can unlock hundreds of billions of dollars of needed investment.

Today, we’re joined by Elizabeth Yee, who oversees Rockefeller Foundation’s global programs, including its recent $1 billion commitment to climate change. I’ve gotten to work with the Rockefeller Foundation in a variety of partnerships over the years, and I’ve been impressed by how they recognize their ability to take a lead and help accelerate fields. Of course, it’s interesting to remember the Foundation was initially funded by Standard Oil founder John D Rockefeller, something that Liz and I discuss in our conversation. In recent years, the Foundation has demonstrated real commitment to climate leadership. And even in the weeks following this interview, the Foundation announced that it will pursue a net-zero emissions target for its $6 billion endowment, making it the largest private US foundation to pursue a net-zero endowment to date.

Liz and I talk about the Foundation’s history in climate philanthropy, two different programs with billion-dollar plus commitments, how it works to catalyze other funding, the intersections of energy, food, health and economic opportunity and much, much more. Lots to learn and think about in this one. Here we go.

In today's episode, we cover:

[3:43] Elizabeth's background and history working on climate, along with her current role
[7:15] Key elements of the Rockefeller Foundation's Climate Commitment
[9:23] The Foundation's divestment from fossil fuels in its endowment and details about the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet
[12:23] Reasons behind the significant commitment to climate and the timing of such a commitment
[13:58] Overview of the billion-dollar commitment, including the main pillars and distribution across different climate priorities
[16:35] The theory of change behind the Foundation's climate initiatives
[19:36] The types of partners needed for the success of the initiatives
[21:17] Influencing ideas and narratives
[22:43] Selection process and priorities for initial grantees.
[25:07] Grantees: Climate Mayors, C40, and the Urban Sustainability Directors Network
[27:12] Insights into the Invest in Our Future Initiative and its significance
[28:22] Grantees: Makerere University School of Public Health and University of the West Indies
[30:32] Success for the foundation in committing significant resources to climate
[32:00] The message for other investors or foundations considering a similar commitment
[33:27] Elizabeth's outlook and hopefulness despite the existing financing gaps

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Elizabeth Yee

Connect with Elizabeth on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
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Preview for the New Year

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 03:00:00 -0400

Happy New Year. It is the beginning of 2024 and I am excited to work along side you to achieve a greater future for our planet.

On this preview episode I give you a glimpse into the upcoming topics of 2024.

Replacing plastic using captured greenhouse gases with Newlight, Ep #77

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

There’s a lot we can learn from nature. Processes that happen in nature keep resources in flow, by-products are used and contribute to the health of the ecosystem and there is no waste. Fallen leaves enrich the soil, photosynthesis produces oxygen for animals to breathe, and microorganisms decompose methane and carbon dioxide and produce PHP.

Oh, not so familiar with that last example? Well, it’s an important one to know about if you care about removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere or producing a sustainable replacement for plastics. Today we’re joined by an entrepreneur who for 20 years has been working to harness this natural process to combat climate change, Mark Herrema, founder of Newlight. We talk about how Mark got into this space, how NewLight’s technology works, its impact and business potential, insights to the broader carbon removal space, and much more. Lots to learn in this one. Enjoy!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:19] Mark's journey to founding Newlight
[6:44] Newlight & the problem it’s aiming to solve
[8:33] Overview of the air carbon production process
[11:19] Characteristics & applications of air carbon
[13:00] Newlight's business model & revenue sources
[14:24] Products, partnerships, & insights into sales & growth
[15:44] Utilizing protein byproducts of air carbon
[17:00] Newlight's vision for reducing greenhouse gases
[18:59] Thoughts on the emerging carbon market & its potential
[21:00] Key challenges in the carbon reduction space
[23:26] Regulatory environment, public investments & support programs
[24:35] Newlight's future plans, challenges & scaling strategies
[26:29] Aspirations for research in carbon capture & negative products

Resources Mentioned

Newlight

Connect with Mark Herrema

Connect with Mark on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
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Building global climate resilience with Global Resilience Partnership & Green Africa Youth Organization, Ep #76

Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

As we all feel the impacts of climate change more and more each year, the need to invest in climate resilience becomes more and more clear. The World Bank estimates that by 2050, there’ll be more than 1 billion climate refugees.

It’s not about choosing between solutions to dramatically cut emissions and investments that help communities prepare for and bounce back from climate events – we need them both to limit human suffering as well as geopolitical risks of destabilization caused by climate change.

Today, we’re joined by two leaders working to advance climate resilience. Nate Matthews is the CEO of the Global Resilience Partnership, an organization that supports research, policy and innovation to advance the world’s resilience ecosystem. And Joshua Amponsem is the founder of the Green Africa Youth Organization and a Director of the Youth Climate Justice Fund.

In this conversation, we talk about the state of the climate resilience field, inspiring examples of innovation, the case for investing in resilience, how young people, startups and big companies are all contributing, how resilience will be present at the upcoming COP28 conference and much more. Lots to learn and think about in this one. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:23] Nate's background & role
[4:27] Joshua's background & role
[6:20] Understanding climate resilience & its significance
[8:17] Exploring the distinctions between resilience & adaptation
[9:29] Joshua's perspective on the need for more resilience
[11:58] Resilience efforts in the community & success stories
[16:29] Identifying challenges & gaps in building resilience
[20:15] Introduction to GRP & its role in addressing community needs
[22:10] The potential impact of insufficient investment on mitigation efforts
[23:30] Advocacy for investing in resilience
[26:09] The investment case for supporting resilience efforts
[30:50] Overview of the Resilient Agriculture Innovations Challenge
[33:22] AI's role in resilience & innovations showcased in the challenge
[34:51] Exciting & encouraging innovations in the current moment
[38:41] Results and outcomes from the open innovation challenge
[40:30] Resilience's presence at COP & goals for the upcoming year

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Nathanial Matthews & Joshua Amponsem

Connect with Nathanial on LinkedIn
Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn

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Impact investing in climate with Impact Engine, Ep #75

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This episode focuses on impact investing and the particular approach of an impact investing firm based in Chicago named Impact Engine. Now that I’ve said the word impact four times, I should probably unpack the jargon. This class of investing aims to create direct, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return. It’s related to, but distinct from ESG investing, which doesn’t necessarily have specific impact goals so much as it aims to avoid harm or risk by considering environmental, social and governance factors. Global impact investing has surpassed $1 trillion annually, and a top focus area is climate. According to a recent report by the Global Impact Investing Network, 74% of impact investors invest in climate action. So I was thrilled to zoom into the approach of one firm and learn about their climate investing strategy.

Today we’re joined by Impact Engine’s Partner & Chief Investment Officer Priya Parrish, as well as Chris Wu, a Vice President who leads their environmental sustainability investments. We talk about Impact Engine’s history, approach and investment thesis, it’s portfolio of investments in climate funds and private companies – from food tech to mobility to energy efficiency, how they see the climate investment space today and what they see coming next year. Lots of great insights in this peek into the impact investing world. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[4:06] Priya & Chris’ background, roles & how they came to do the work they're doing.
[5:01] What is Impact Engine & what sets it apart
[8:11] Impact Engine's client base
[8:47] Partnership with Alliance Bernstein & its significance
[10:58] Impact Engine’s investment thesis in climate explained
[12:01] Assessing the current market for climate investors
[13:43] Overview of invested funds & key criteria
[18:16] Utilizing an impact side letter & impact metrics reporting
[20:10] Relationships with larger venture & private equity funds
[21:05] The motivations behind direct investments in companies
[22:18] Spotlight on selected startups & their significance
[23:27] Insights on the food waste startup space & future investment prospects
[24:51] The goals & potential impact of Market Wagon
[26:24] Circuit’s impact & business potential
[29:19] Brightcore Energy's role in energy efficiency & its importance in climate transition
[30:59] Unique qualities of Brightcore Energy's team
[32:11] Updates on Brightcore Energy's progress
[33:50] Economic rationale behind the investment in Brightcore Energy
[34:34] Identifying major opportunity drivers for climate tech in the upcoming year
[38:00] Addressing blind spots and gaps in climate impact areas in the year ahead

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Priya Parrish & Chris Wu

Connect with Priya on LinkedIn
Connect with Chris on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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On Twitter

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Salesforce's climate investing playbook, Ep #74

Tue, 31 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

When it comes to big companies’ sustainability commitments, I’ve long been impressed by Salesforce. They made sustainability a core company value and pledged to put the full power of their business behind protecting the planet. Hold your skepticism for a minute – this is more than just big promises. They achieved net zero residual emissions and transitioned to 100% renewable energy for their operations back in 2021. They’re part of an effort to plant one trillion trees, and they’ve integrated helping other companies accelerate their own sustainability efforts into their core business through their Net Zero Cloud product. There’s much more too and I won’t try to capture it all, but central to their approach has also been leveraging their financial capital to accelerate climate progress. And that’s what we’ll focus on in this episode.

Today we’re joined by Salesforce’s SVP of Philanthropy Naomi Morenzoni and the Partner of Salesforce Venture Impact Fund Claudine Emeott. We talk about Salesforce’s history and strategy for using philanthropy and impact investing together to address climate change, some examples of recent investments and partnerships, how philanthropy can help derisk investments and bring more dollars to the table, how AI could be a game changer for climate and much more. Lots to learn and think about in this one. Here we go.

In today's episode, we cover:

[4:10] Naomi's role and objectives at Salesforce
[4:50] Claudine's introduction and background
[5:53] Launch and evolution of the Salesforce Venture Impact Fund
[7:24] Evolution and approach to nonprofit support at Salesforce
[9:33] Solving problems through philanthropy and impact investing
[11:56] Example of Pano AI and its alignment with the fund
[14:07] Investment in WeaveGrid
[15:34] Leveraging Salesforce technology and market presence for portfolio companies
[18:12] Philanthropic commitments and frameworks for impact evaluation
[18:12] Contrasting focus areas between Naomi and Claudine
[21:38] The state of climate philanthropy and the need for increased support
[23:33] Introduction and purpose of the playbook
[25:41] Financial instruments for climate initiatives and Salesforce's experience
[26:38] Levers for climate finance
[28:53] Five tips for readers to embark on their climate finance journey
[30:37] $8.3 million in grants to climate justice and conservation organizations
[33:45] Prospects for commitments to biodiversity and conservation
[35:03] Partnerships and initiatives in climate justice
[37:41] Supporting diverse teams in climate initiatives
[40:26] Impact of AI on climate efforts
[44:05] Current challenges in their work
[45:50] Lessons from Salesforce's ambitious climate initiatives

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Naomi Morenzoni & Claudine Emeott

Connect with Naomi on LinkedIn
Connect with Claudine on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Fusion, carbon transformation, grid management and more with Braemar Energy Ventures, Ep #73

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today we’re joined by three team members of Braemar Energy Ventures, ESG Head Lori Collins, Partner Don Tappan, a Co-Founder and Managing Partner Bill Lese. I was excited to talk to the Braemar team because their firm has been investing in energy companies for over 20 years and have backed some early category-defining pioneers like ChargePoint and EnerNOC. Since they’re investing in a wide range of companies driving the energy transition, they bring broad insights to today’s climate tech opportunities as well historical lessons from the clean tech 1.0 years. We dive deep into three of their investments, offering insights to the carbon transformation market, applying AI to upgrade the grid and last but definitely not least, nuclear fusion. We talk about the trends in those spaces, why Braemar made the bets that they did, the ESG and impact considerations of their portfolio companies and much more. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:25] Lori’s role & work at Braemar
[3:42] Don’s role & work at Braemar
[4:20] Bill’s story & founding of Braemar
[5:39] How is Braemar different today in talking about the energy transition
[7:29] Learnings from the clean tech 1.0 years
[9:00] Braemar’s investment thesis
[11:13] Learnings over a decade of investing in the space
[12:35] ESG & impact both internally & with a portfolio
[13:30] Helping portfolio companies reduce emissions & remove carbon
[15:03] Profit pools & what spaces are seen as offering the best investment opportunities
[17:54] CarbonFree & why Braemar invested
[19:55] The state of the carbon transformation market & its future
[23:27] Utilidata & why Braemar invested
[26:36] AI for the grid
[30:45] General Fusion
[35:54] The timeframe for fusion
[38:47] Predictions for the climate tech space in 2024 & what needs more attention

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Lori Collins, Don Tappan & Bill Lese

Connect with Lori on LinkedIn
Connect with Don on LinkedIn
Connect with Bill on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Massive infrastructure opportunity with Nexus PMG & GreenBacker, Ep #72

Tue, 17 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

The climate transition we’re living through brings so many opportunities to rethink our infrastructure that it could easily be the entire focus of this podcast week after week. Today’s episode focuses on a handful of those opportunities: converting waste into valuable upcycled materials, renewable energy infrastructure, biomass, biofuels and more.

We’re joined by Ben Hubbard, CEO of Nexus PMG, a company that advises and develops a wide range of infrastructure projects. They’re a fascinating company, and as you’ll hear, they’re engineering sustainable solutions for everything from wood pellets to solar farms to dog food. They just received a $50m investment to accelerate their growth, and leading that round was another fascinating company Greenbacker Capital Management. Greenbacker is not just an investor but also owns and operates a portfolio of solar plants, wind farms, and battery storage systems. Greenbacker Principal Quinn Pasloske joins us as well for a conversation that sheds a lot of light on the opportunity to invest in the infrastructure we need to reduce emissions, eliminate waste and more. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:26] Ben’s background & role at Nexus PMG
[4:30] Quinn’s background & role at Greenbacker
[6:35] Greenbacker’s origins & unique market approach
[8:04] Moving from fossil fuel projects to sustainability projects
[9:43] Examples of Nexus PMG’s projects
[14:13] Nexus PMG’s clients, investors & other groups
[16:02] Greenbacker’s investment in Nexus & the opportunity
[19:07] Greenbacker as a strategic investor
[20:33] What the $50M equity round will allow Nexus PMG to do
[23:31] The opportunity around biomass for sustainable aviation fuel
[27:08] The concerns around sequestration approaches
[31:12] Other exciting investment spaces
[36:26] The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, IRA & what else needs to happen from a policy perspective
[40:46] What else will it take to scale low-carbon infrastructure projects to meet emission reduction targets

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Ben Hubbard & Quinn Pasloske

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
Connect with Quinn on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Geothermal heat pumps with Dandelion Energy, Ep #71

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Heat pumps have gotten a lot of attention lately. They’re one of the technologies most critical to electrifying buildings and removing our dependency on fossil fuels for heating and cooling.

And, they’re a technology that’s taking off. Sales of heat pumps have grown by double digits for two years running. According to the Sustainability Trends Report published recently by Al Gore’s investment firm Generation, heat pump sales In Europe grew by 50% and they’re now outselling gas furnaces in the United States.

But did you know there’s more than one kind of heat pump? Today, we’re joined by Kathy Hannun, Founder of Dandelion Energy, a geothermal startup that grew out of Google X and is now growing quickly. Kathy explains how heat pumps work, the difference between air source and geothermal heat pumps, the economics and experience for heat pump buyers, and much more. Whether you’re a homeowner still relying on fossil fuels or simply interested in the future of buildings, this episode has a lot for you. Enjoy.

In today's episode, we cover:

[3:43] Kathy’s background & she came to found Dandelion
[4:46] Developing Dandelion at Google X, the spinout & the complexities
[8:11] What heat pumps are, how they work & why they're important from a climate perspective
[12:32] The user experience, performance, maintenance & operating costs for homeowners
[14:16] Geothermal heat pumps: the difference between air source vs. ground source
[17:01] How customers are thinking about the economics of investing in a heat pump
[20:06] The longevity of HVAC systems & replacing them
[24:07] Dandelion’s focus on the US Northeast
[26:08] Where geothermal heat pumps work from a technology perspective
[27:09] How national incentives & policy changes have been helpful
[28:07] The growth of the heat pump market
[29:17] The biggest barriers for Dandelion & the market overall
[32:23] The role of HVAC contractors
[34:49] The next three to five years & what’s next for Dandelion

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Kathy Hannun

Connect with Kathy on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Climate Week recap featuring Al Gore & many others, Ep #70

Tue, 03 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0400

This week, we’re doing something a bit different outside of our typical interview format. This is a recap of New York Climate Week. I’ll share some of my impressions and you’ll hear from folks like Vice President Al Gore, California Senator Henry Stern, several friends, and fellow climate travelers. You’ll hear some segments from sessions I attended and sometimes it might sound like you’re actually there in a room full of people. If you hear an occasional cough or something, try to just think of it as getting closer to the experience of being there without any risk of coming home with COVID.

Over 75,000 people kicked off the week by taking to the streets for the Climate March on September 17th. Over the ensuing week, thousands of people from around the world joined over 585 official Climate Week sessions and likely as many unofficial ones.

I kicked off the week in a somewhat surreal way. I work for a company called NationSwell. We’re an executive membership network and advisory that helps sustainability and other leaders take on bigger bets and be more successful. We were invited to bring some NationSwell members like Michael Komori, Chief Sustainability Officer of Starbucks, and joined Al Gore and other climate leaders in ringing the NASDAQ bell on Monday morning – which felt like a fitting start, as a question on everyone’s minds is: “If capitalism is up for the challenge, will corporations lead the transformation needed to cut emissions?”

In today's episode, we're hearing from:

[1:34] Adam Lake, Climate Week NYC Lead of the Climate Group
[2:34] Bonnie Gurry, Co-Founder of GreenPortfolio
[5:15] Alex Wright Gladstein, Founder of Sphere
[6:48] Nyla Mabro, New York Chapter of New Energy Nexus
[7:18] Tom Chi, Founder of At One Ventures
[8:54] Kirsten Snow Spalding, VP of the Investor Network at Ceres
[10:45] Former US Vice President Al Gore
[19:29] VP Al Gore on Climate TRACE
[12:59] VP Al Gore on the state of climate progress
[20:56] Katie Rae, CEO & Manager Partner of The Engine
[22:51] Jeff Johnson, Managing Partner of Temasek
[24:03] Clay Dumas, Founding Partner of Lowercarbon Capital
[25:44] Clay Dumas on the unique opportunity for climate founders today
[27:06] Ian Samuels, Founder & Managing Partner of New System Ventures
[28:09] Colin le Duc, Founding Partner of Generation Investment Management
[33:43] Dr. Vanessa Chan, Chief Commercialization Officer for the US Department of Energy and Director of the Office of Technology Transition
[38:19] Dr. Chan on the role that corporations play & her plea
[40:36] Mark Kroese, GM of Sustainability Solutions at Microsoft
[42:00] Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens
[44:47] Mark Kroese on how the IRA is making a difference
[47:50] Rebecca Fay, CMO of Climate Impact Partners
[49:11] California State Senator Henry Stern
[52:02] Mary Creasman, CEO of California Environmental Voters
[53:11] Chris Castro, Chief of Staff of the US Department of Energy
[54:01] Miles Goodrich, Co-Founder of the Sunrise Movement
[55:07] Yihanna von Ritter, Align Impact
[58:14] Bodhi Patil, Co-Creator of Ocean Uprise & ocean advocate
[1:00:14] Krystal Persaud, Founder & CEO of Wildgrid Solar
[1:01:21] Jean-Louise Warnholz of Future
[1:02:58] VP Al Gore on taking action

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Tackling the plastics crisis via blended finance with Circulate Capital & the Circulate Initiative, Ep #69

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

When it comes to plastics, we’re in a real bind. We have yet to develop and scale attractive alternatives to the petroleum-based plastic products we all use every day, and the plastics industry drives well over a billion tons of greenhouse gasses, that’s roughly 4% of total global emissions and plastic-related emissions are on track to double by 2060. Meanwhile, a small fraction – we’re talking less than 10% – of plastics are recycled.

Creating a circular economy for plastics is vital to eliminating the flow of plastic waste into our environment and to reducing the emissions generated from creating new plastic products.

Today’s conversation focuses on an ambitious effort to catalyze and fund the systems change needed to get us there. Circulate Capital is working to unlock a billion dollars to invest in circular solutions, and its partner Circulate Initiative offers research and insights to track this space and help recruit more private and public investment in this space. We’re joined by Ellen Martin, Circulate Capital’s Chief Impact Officer, and Umesh Madhavan, Research Director for Circulate Initiative. We talk about the history and state of the plastics crisis, their current efforts, and the investment opportunities they see. Circulate has impressive momentum in building coalitions of different kinds of investors – from governments to Fortune 100 companies. This blended finance approach is surely a key to mobilizing the commitment we need, and I was grateful to learn so much about it through this conversation. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:18] Circulate Capital, Ellen’s role & where they’re based geographically
[4:24] Circulate Initiatives & Umesh’s role
[5:24] How Circulate Capital & Circulate Initiatives are connected
[6:56] The plastics problem & what’s causing it
[8:57] The plastics problem timeline
[11:01] Overlaps between plastic pollution, climate, ocean health & circular solutions
[13:04] Why Circulate Capital was established & what they’re aiming to do
[16:41] De-risking the investments using concessionary capital
[19:08] Using a highly collaborative investment ecosystem to solve the plastic waste challenge
[19:47] Circulate Capital’s role & how it’s focused
[20:59] Working with LPs to scale circular solutions
[23:24] What should we all know about the plastics economy & how it works
[25:06] Asia & Latin America plastic markets
[27:50] Breaking down $4B in investments in the circular economy for plastics
[31:27] The greatest opportunities from an investment lens
[34:15] What more needs to be done around the plastic waste problem
[36:32] The Plastics Treaty, its state of play & what impact will it have
[39:15] How plastic economies differ between Asia & Latin America
[41:25] Investment opportunities in the US & Europe
[43:25] Visions for the future of plastic

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Ellen Martin & Umesh Madhavan

Connect with Ellen
Connected with Umesh

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Sunrise Movement & young people's fight for bold climate action, Ep #68

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

No matter who I talk to – whether startup founders, investors, or corporate sustainability leaders – when I ask what is needed to really move the needle on climate change, everyone always comes back to the to importance of policy change, of making climate an electoral issue and holding political leaders accountable to take bold action.

There’s no denying that in recent years one of the most important forces making bold climate action more of a priority, has been the voice of young people. Their cry for change and their committed activism has been impossible to ignore, and the policies they’ve fought for have gained real headway. In the United States, at the center of youth climate organizing is an organization named the Sunrise Movement. They’ve been around for less than a decade but have mobilized effectively and are credited for inspiring and advancing historic climate policies like the Inflation Reduction Act.

Today we’re joined by two leaders of the Sunrise Movement, Matthew Miles Goodrich and Aru Shiney-Ajay. Miles was one of the founders of the movement and leads fundraising. Aru has been involved since she was 19 and now leads Sunrise’s strategy. They’re both inspiring representatives of the bold vision and commitment that’s made Sunrise so successful and that we all need to bring to climate work.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:35] Miles’ background, role with Sunrise & how he got involved
[5:34] Aru’s background, role with Sunrise & how she got involved
[8:31] The origin & history of the Sunrise Movement
[11:45] The reach that Sunrise has achieved & how it's been successful at getting young people involved in climate action
[13:54] Why has Sunrise gathered so much momentum
[17:00] How many people have been involved in Sunrise & how are they able to manage their volunteer army
[19:31] Sunrise’s wins & progress
[21:55] Sunrise’s role surrounding the Inflation Reduction Act and the impact of the IRA & other recent climate policies
[27:57] Sunrise’s current strategy & priorities
[32:34] Why is declaring a climate emergency needed & what would it lead to
[34:45] Sunrise’s theory of change
[37:44] The lawsuit against the state of Montana & implications of the case
[39:45] Pivotal moments for climate & the progress being sought
[41:20] Hopes for Climate Week
[42:01] What else needs to happen to adequately address climate change

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Matthew Miles Goodrich & Aru Shiney-Ajay

Connect with Miles
Connected with Aru

Connect with Jason Rissman

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AI-Powered Climate Tech Breakthroughs with Neotribe's Kittu Kolluri, Ep #67

Tue, 12 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

When it comes to climate tech, there are a lot of new kids on the block, investors that have brought billions of dollars of new capital and have helped fund climate innovation we badly need.

It’s rare that you find folks who have been investing in climate tech for over a decade, let alone two decades. So I was thrilled to sit down with Neotribe’s Swaroop Kolluri who goes by Kittu, a long-time climate investor who sees enormous opportunity in the intersection of different technologies. We talk about several of his investments – from solar to wave energy, to energy storage, to risk resilience – and more generally about the role of AI and other advanced technology in changing the game for climate tech.

Lots to learn and think about in this one. Enjoy!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:24] Neotribe & the opportunity to invest in climate right now
[4:16] How is climate investing different today & what’s exciting
[7:50] Heliogen as an example of breakthrough climate tech
[9:15] How is AI showing up in investment opportunities like CalWave
[10:37] Opportunities beyond energy generation
[12:24] Other opportunities for AI & climate tech
[16:05] Other exciting technologies with transformative potential
[20:31] Kittu’s thoughts around time to market & types of risks [21:47]
[21:47] Kittu’s leap to Neotribe from NEA
[23:24] Gaps in the investment space & the type of capital needed
[25:39] Recent federal investments & impacts on early-stage startups
[27:04] What else needs to happen to support climate tech
[29:10] Common barrier to startups
[30:25] Advice for today’s climate tech leaders

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Swaroop ‘Kittu’ Kolluri

Connect with Kittu on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Climate-first investing with GreenPortfolio & Earth Equity Advisors, Ep #66

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0400

From the growing demand for climate-positive investing, new funds, new approaches for financial advisors, and entirely new platforms for managing one's investments are taking off. This is just the beginning. It's hard to imagine how different investing might be as tens of trillions of dollars transfer to younger sustainability-motivated generations.

Today’s conversation is with two people working to change how people invest today to participate in and support the unique opportunity that is the climate transition. Pete Krull is a Partner & the Director of Sustainable Investments at Earth Equity Advisors, a firm he founded almost 20 years ago. Bonnie Gurry is Co-Founder and CEO of GreenPortfolio, a new startup aimed at creating an online financial management platform like Mint.com focused on climate-first investing. We talk about their backgrounds, their companies, the trends, opportunities and evolution they’re seeing in climate investing, and much more. Enjoy!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:09] Bonnie’s background & how she came to start GreenPortfolio
[4:22] Pete's background, Earth Equity Advisors & the problem they’re helping solve
[7:29] Advantages of working with a firm of Earth Equity Advisors’ size
[8:22] What makes Earth Equity Advisors unique right now
[8:59] GreenPortfolio, the problem they’re addressing and how the platform & product works
[10:54] GreenPortfolio’s climate scorecard & what's involved in considering investment opportunity
[12:37] How far along GreenPortfolio is
[14:15] Earth Equity Advisors’ free impact x-ray of one’s investments
[19:46] How does Earth Equity Advisors’ process differ & offer more sustainable options
[21:20] Responses to investing in the traditional energy sector
[25:18] Earth Equity Advisors’ benchmarking & how it works in practice
[27:33] What is it that GreenPortfolio allows users to do after auditing their investments
[30:15] What would make a credit card worth recommending
[32:27] Investing in renewable energy
[35:51] How the investment landscape has been changing & what’s coming next
[40:07] The backlash to ESG

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Pete Krull & Bonnie Gurry

Connect with Pete on LinkedIn
Connect with Bonnie on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Creating a circular economy of carbon with LanzaTech, Ep #65

Tue, 15 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Fossil carbon is not just burnt for energy. It’s also used as an ingredient for millions of everyday products. But what if, rather than extracting new fossil carbon from the ground, the carbon could be sourced from waste and kept in circulation.

That’s exactly what a company called LanzaTech is doing. For almost two decades LanzaTech has been using a synthetic biology process to recycle carbon waste and create new products. They went public earlier this year and provide a fascinating example of a climate tech company with a bold vision for transforming how our material world is built. Perhaps that’s why they were recently recognized by the prestigious Earthshot Prize.

In this episode, I’m joined by LanzaTech’s Chief Sustainability Officer Freya Burton and Chief Science Officer Zara Summers. We talk about the growth and evolution of LanzaTech, their effort to create a circular economy of carbon, their technology, partners, and much more. This episode will push your thinking in some interesting ways. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:36] Freya’s background & what she was doing before LanzaTech
[4:52] Zara’s background & what she was doing before LanzaTech
[6:23] LanzaTech & the problem that it’s aiming to solve
[8:13] Finding stuff to do with emissions vs. eliminating them
[11:13] The overall scale of environmental impact that LanzaTech is targeting
[13:20] How LanzaTech’s technology works
[16:47] Partnerships for removing carbon emissions
[19:29] How has the technology evolved over the years
[21:16] How AI is involved in the approach
[23:11] Who are current customers & what kind of partners is LanzaTech seeking
[26:25] The pulse of the marketplace
[28:44] Who is it for & why is it critical
[30:21] How LanzaJet is going
[32:41] Benefits & expectations of climate policies
[35:24] How EarthShot was helpful to LanzaTech
[36:31] What has changed since LanzaTech went public
[37:40] The industry in 5-10 years
[41:43] Call to action for listeners

Resources Mentioned

LanzaTech

Connect with Freya Burton & Zara Summers

Connect with Freya on LinkedIn
Connect with Zara on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Climate TRACE's bold plan to map emissions with satellites, sensors & AI, Ep #64

Tue, 08 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We all know that addressing climate change means eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, but have you ever stopped to wonder how we know how much we’re actually emitting? The truth is we haven’t really known, but instead rely on estimates. These estimates fail to provide very specific data about where exactly emissions are coming from, when, and what investment and policy choices might be most effective in turning them off.

Today’s episode focused on an incredibly ambitious initiative called Climate TRACE, a collaboration of over 100 organizations that use a dizzying number of satellites and remote sensors to actually detect and track emissions at a global level. Vice President Al Gore is a Co-Founder of the initiative, along with Gavin McCormick who runs a nonprofit called WattTime. We’re joined today by Gavin who explains how Climate TRACE works, the Vice President’s role in the effort, their theories of change, surprises, progress, and hopes for the initiative, and much more. Climate TRACE is positioned to play a central role in improving transparency and planning at a global level, and I was thrilled to get to learn more about it through this interview. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:18] Gavin’s background & the climate work he’s leading today
[3:49] WattTime & what it’s doing today
[4:45] Climate TRACE & how it got started
[6:28] Why is detailed emissions mapping so important?
[10:59] Tracking theories of change
[12:11] Surprises & leading theories of change for Climate TRACE
[13:11] How this dataset can be helpful for Chief Sustainability Officers & those in sustainability roles
[15:01] Climate-positive investment opportunities through Climate TRACE
[15:44] Vice President Al Gore’s role in the initiative
[16:10] How has AI been helpful to Climate TRACE & its pursued outcomes
[19:02] What does it take to work with so many groups in practice & why different groups are needed?
[21:47] Funding from Google.org & contributions from other companies
[23:04] What has Climate TRACE achieved so far
[25:21] The biggest learning from Climate TRACE yet
[26:44] Surprises on the technical side around data collection & analysis at scale
[28:34] What comes next for Climate TRACE
[33:36] Replication of Climate TRACE’s model in other spaces
[34:43] What’s next for WattTime
[36:58] How policy can be accelerated through data
[39:35] What can listeners do to help

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Gavin McCormick

Connect with Gavin on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Electrifying fleets with Spring Free EV & Spring Lane Capital, Ep #63

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0400

The EV revolution is well underway, and we’re clearly in the midst of a massive transition away from gas-powered cars. Consumers are opting for EVs not only to end their costly dependency on fossil fuels, but also because EVs are often just better cars.

For fleet managers, the calculus is different and more challenging. Switching to EVs requires not just an upfront investment, but also operational changes to deal with charging. This is an important problem to solve given the vast number of intensively-used, fleet-owned vehicles on the road.

We’re joined today by Tenni Theuer, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Spring Free EV, a startup that provides EVs as a service to fleet managers across the US, as well as one of her investors, Rob Day, Partner and Co-Founder at Spring Lane Capital. Don’t be confused by the names of Spring Free EV and Spring Lane – they’re two separate companies, but they are united by their shared excitement for the enormous opportunity to electrify vehicle fleets. We talk about the size of that opportunity, Spring Free’s product and traction, how EVs can transform fleets from depreciating assets into revenue opportunities, and much more. So buckle up – sorry had to go there – and enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:36] The market & need that Spring Free EV is filling
[5:50] The size of the fleet market & why is it Spring Free EV’s focus
[7:47] How many companies have fleets & how many cars are owned by fleets
[8:06] How Rob sees the market as an investor
[11:19] The holdback on CNI fleets
[12:11] Cutting the cost of EV ownership in half for commercial fleet owners
[15:38] EVs & the title as the better car
[18:38] How Spring Free EV stands out
[21:56] The most important milestones that Spring Free EV should be pursuing
[23:31] Cars, customers & capital
[25:44] What will it take to get to the gigaton goal
[26:21] How Spring Free EV’s work will change
[29:28] How & when Rob got involved in climate investing & how he sees the market evolving
[32:50] Spring Free’s unique approach & why it's needed for climate companies today.
[35:52] What else is Rob excited about right now
[38:04] What else needs to happen to accelerate EV adoption

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Tenni Theuer & Rob Day

Connect with Tenni on LinkedIn
Connect with Rob on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Turning waste into energy onsite with Closed Loop Partners & HomeBiogas, Ep #62

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

I love talking about food waste. It’s one of the biggest contributors to emissions and something that we all contribute to every day. Reducing how much food goes uneaten is, of course, a big part of the solution, but there’ll always be organic waste. If it sits in a landfill, it’ll emit methane and miss the chance to be used as a resource.

Today’s episode focuses on an Israeli startup that sees organic waste as a precious resource. HomeBiogas turns waste into fuel onsite to be used for heating and cooking. They’re off to the races selling their products for a range of applications – from backyards to hotels – and they’re just getting started. We’re joined today by HomeBiogas’ founder Oshik Efrati, and one of their key investors Ron Gonen from Closed Loop Partners. We talk about both guests' backgrounds, the challenges and opportunities to create a circular economy, anaerobic digestion, how HomeBiogas turns waste into energy, the opportunity they see, and much more. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:03] Oshik’s background & what led him to launch HomeBiogas
[4:51] Ron’s experience in recycling and waste & what led him to founding Closed Loop Partners
[7:08] Closed Loop Partner & the ways it’s working to eliminate waste
[9:06] The impact of waste on climate & why solutions are needed
[10:32] How Oshik sees the problem & what his company is working to solve
[11:43] How HomeBiogas is approaching the problem
[13:44] Anaerobic digestion & what else makes HomeBiogas’ systems possible
[16:09] The potential that Closed Loop Partners sees in HomeBiogas as an investor
[17:43] Oshik’s view of the market opportunity
[18:19] Measuring climate & environmental impacts
[19:51] HomeBiogas’ traction, different applications & go-to-market
[21:06] The process of converting waste to energy in buildings
[22:25] The toilet market & what HomeBiogas is able to do with human waste
[24:33] What’s most critical to HomeBiogas’ success
[25:39] Partnerships that HomeBiogas has developed & is looking for now
[28:06] The residential market in the US
[31:19] The next few years from a business & impact perspective
[33:03] How does this space compare to other circular economy verticals
[34:22] What else is needed for realizing the circular economy

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Oshik Efrati & Ron Gonen

Connect with Oshik on LinkedIn
Connect with Ron on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Climate investing past, present & future with Jenn Kenning, Ep #61

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Most of our episodes go deep into specific opportunities to address climate change through new technologies, investment opportunities, advocacy, and policy. This episode takes a step back to look at climate and impact investing, how they’ve evolved in recent years, and where they’re heading. Not only have climate and impact investing exploded in recent years, but they’ve also become more mature spaces with more opportunities, tools, nuances, and complexity.

So I was thrilled to zoom out for this conversation and speak with a true pioneer and leader in this field, Jenn Kenning. Jenn is the Founder and CEO of Align Impact, an independent specialized impact and financial advisor to high-net-worth families, individuals, and foundations. Align is an Inc. 5000 company and Jenn is one of the most recognized voices in impact investing and wealth management. She was selected for Private Asset Management’s “50 Most Influential Women in Private Wealth,” and her firm recently earned global recognition as one of the top 200 impact companies of 2023 by Real Leaders. So sit back and enjoy a true expert’s take on climate investing past, present, and future. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:46] Jenn’s background & work at Aligned Impact
[4:00] How has mission-line investing changed over the years?
[6:06] Examples of how intersectionality is creating opportunities for investors
[9:16] How clients’ investments compare today vs. in the past
[11:48] Opportunities Jenn is most excited about in the climate tech space
[14:33] Strategies that investors should & shouldn’t consider
[17:12] How is ESG playing out
[21:48] The role of finance in accelerating our response to climate change: what's working & what needs to change
[23:56] Systemic change & what it looks like when it's working
[25:57] Gaps in finance AI
[27:55] Why it’s hard for individual advisors to weave climates or social priorities into portfolios
[29:19] How retail investors can support changes & what else needs to happen
[31:13] The future of climate investing

Resources Mentioned

Align Impact

Connect with Jenn Kenning

Connect with Jenn on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Carbon-negative pigments with Nature Coatings and Regeneration.vc, Ep #60

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Decarbonization requires not only eliminating fossil fuels as a main source of energy, but also replacing them as key ingredients in objects we use every day. If you want a crash course on just how much our material world depends on fossil fuels, check out the book How the World Really Works by Vaclav Smil. It’s a fascinating, though sobering read, and one of Bill Gates’ favorite books.

Today’s episode focuses on pigments, a great example of fossil fuels hiding in plain sight. Take a look around you right now. See any objects that are black in color? Replacing the petroleum in the black pigment used in millions of objects with a carbon-negative material is the focus of an innovative startup called Nature Coatings. Today we’re joined by Nature Coatings founder and CEO Jane Palmer and one of her investors, Dan Fishman, a General Partner at Regeneration.vc. I loved this conversation as it really pushed my thinking about the work needed to truly transition from fossil fuels, and the enormous opportunities for innovators who can lead the charge. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:20] Regeneration.vc & how Dan came to work on climate
[5:37] Jane’s background & how it led to Nature Coatings
[7:39] Carbon black & why it’s a problem
[9:08] How BioBlack is made & how it compares to carbon black
[11:09] The scale of the carbon black problem
[11:59] How is BioBlack a carbon-negative product
[14:00] Dan’s perspective on why Nature Coatings is an attractive business
[16:01] Nature Coatings’ biggest priorities right now
[17:02] Nature Coatings’ traction, customers, companies they’re looking to reach & status
[19:05] The future that Jane envisions for Nature Coatings
[21:29] Rethinking ingredients in everyday products
[24:11] Others in the petroleum-replacement space
[25:06] Other exciting opportunities in the space from the investor perspective

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Jane Palmer & Dan Fishman

Connect with Jane on LinkedIn
Connect with Dan on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

Keep up with Invested In Climate

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships? Get in touch!

Making sustainable investing easy with Carbon Collective & Powerhouse Ventures, Ep #59

Tue, 04 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0400

If you’re listening to this podcast you clearly care about climate change and it might bother you that your 401k is likely investing in fossil fuels. Many employers have yet to offer sustainable 401k plans, and it sends billions of dollars of capital into fossil fuels every year. Even ESG funds often invest in fossil fuels.

Today’s conversation is about making it easier for everyday investors to invest more sustainably. I’m joined by Zach Stein, Founder of Carbon Collective, a startup offering green 401ks and other sustainable financial products, and by Shaandiin Cedar, an investor at Powerhouse Ventures who invested in Carbon Collective. We talk about Zach and Shaandin’s backgrounds, ESG investing and the need for more sustainable investment options, Carbon Collective’s potential and traction, and what else is needed to finance the kind of climate progress we need. There’s lots in this one that’ll get you thinking. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:15] Zach’s background and how he came to start Carbon Collective
[4:34] Shaandiin’s background and work at Powerhouse Ventures
[5:34] Background on Powerhouse
[7:31] Powerhouse’s investment thesis & companies they are looking for
[8:37] Carbon Collective’s theory of change
[12:59] Carbon Collective’s unique approach
[16:00] Fossil fuel divestment
[17:10] Carbon Collective’s business potential & why Powerhouse invested
[21:29] Carbon Collective’s master plan & how it’s going
[24:53] What’s critical for success
[26:59] Status of Carbon Collective’s returns & customer base
[30:43] What Carbon Collective is aiming to accomplish in 12-18 months
[31:45] Sustainable 401ks & addressing market friction
[36:53] What else needs to happen to accelerate climate action?

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Zach Stein & Shaandiin Cedar

Connect with Zach on LinkedIn
Connect with Shaandiin on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

Keep up with Invested In Climate

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?

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Decarbonization intelligence with SINAI & Energize Ventures, Ep #58

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

We often hear about public commitments to reach net zero, but not the nuance, choices, costs, and complexity big companies face when working to decarbonize their global operations. Behind the scenes, any company that is making climate commitments has teams of people focused on decarbonization strategy, carbon accounting, and reporting to figure out how to ween their companies off of fossil fuels and emission-heavy practices in the most effective and cost-effective ways. It’s a laborious task that requires a ton of data and analysis.

This is where SINAI Technologies comes in, a start-up focused on helping companies understand and analyze their decarbonization choices. Today we’re joined by Maria Fujihara, founder and CEO of SINAI, and Lauren Densham, who leads ESG and impact initiatives at Energize Ventures, one of Sinai’s recent investors. We talk about SINAI’s concept of decarbonization intelligence, why their technology is needed, its impressive growth, its plans for the future, and what this all means for any company working to decarbonize. I learned a lot in this one and imagine you will too. Enjoy.

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Maria Fujihara & Lauren Densham

Connect with Maria on LinkedIn
Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Piloting through the valley of death with NREL, NineDot & Community Energy Lab, Ep #57

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Valley of Death? It’s the phase of development that often kills off startups before they can reach scale. One key challenge is needing to test and refine their technology and gain true validation.

For a few lucky startups, this is where the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator comes in to help them develop pilots that provide the insights and credible third-party endorsement needed to grow their technology. The incubator is part of the Department of Energy-backed National Renewable Energy Lab, an institution that’s central to the United State’s investment in renewable energy.

Today, we’re joined by Trish Cozart, the Director of NREL's Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, who oversees the Incubator. And, we’re also joined by the founders of two startups that recently participated in the lab: Adam Cohen from NineDot Energy and Tanya Barham from Community Energy Labs. We talk about what makes the incubator unique, how it’s helped these two companies, what they’re aiming to achieve and much more. Enjoy!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:15] National Renewable Energy Laboratory & the role it plays
[5:01] Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator & the types of companies it supports
[7:07] Tracking growth after participation in the Incubator
[7:29] Advice for companies that need to get through the Valley of Death
[9:01] Community Energy Labs, the problem it’s aiming to solve & what led Tanya to start the company
[11:09] NineDot Energy, the problem it’s aiming to solve & Adam’s founding story
[13:32] Tanya’s experience with the Incubator & differences in the NREL experience
[17:39] Adam’s experience with the Incubator: focuses & outcomes
[19:55] Trish on the support offered by the Incubator
[22:07] Energy storage & why its important, especially in New York
[24:03] How is NineDot different
[25:45] NineDot’s partnerships & learnings
[28:15] NineDot’s overall traction & current measurements
[29:23] What are community buildings & why focus on them
[34:56] Community Energy Lab’s technology & what makes it different
[39:40] Community Energy Lab’s overall traction & achievements so far
[42:04] New cohorts for the Incubator & what to expect for the future
[43:04] NineDot’s role & what is needed to get there
[43:58] What the future looks like for Community Energy Labs

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Trish Cozart, Adam Cohen & Tanya Barham

Connect with Trish on LinkedIn
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn
Connect with Tanya on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Sustainable shopping momentum with Future & Back Market, Ep #56

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode focuses on sustainable consumption. I know what you’re probably thinking – that the climate crisis requires systemic change and that shifting consumer behavior is slow, it's difficult and it simply won’t add up to enough in terms of the emissions reductions we need. And, I agree – sustainable shopping isn’t enough, but it’s still essential. Demand for climate-positive products helps accelerate new markets. And when consumers see that their choices matter, it influences what they work on, invest in and vote for.

Over the years, there have been many attempts to get consumers to go green, but today’s guests have novel approaches that are gaining real traction. Jean-Louis Warnholz is the Co-Founder and CEO of Future, a recommendation and rewards engine driving sustainable purchasing. And Amandine Durr is the Head of Product at Back Market, an online marketplace serving the fast-growing interest in refurbished technology. We talk about both of their companies, how they got started, how they’re saving consumers money while protecting the environment, where they’re headed, how AI is helping, how refurbished goods have become a new category, the potential for everyday people to transform our economy and much more. Lots to learn and think about in this one. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:19] Future & the problem it’s aiming to solve
[4:27] Jean-Louis’ journey & how he got involved in climate work
[5:15] Back Market & the problem it’s aiming to solve
[6:48] Amandine’s journey & how she got involved in climate work
[8:01] Future’s products & what sets it apart
[10:13] Future’s traction & consumer adoption
[11:49] Future’s impact on climate & the environment
[13:34] Future’s rewards system
[14:39] Back Market’s products, its refurbishing process & how it stands out in the space
[17:47] How the market for refurbished & secondhand goods has changed
[20:17] Conveying Back Market’s refurbishment process to consumers
[23:38] Handling the issue of planned obsolescence
[25:55] The partnership between Back Market & Future
[29:01] Future’s personalized recommendations feature
[31:29] Spending areas where consumers could save money & improve their climate impacts
[35:37] What’s next for Back Market
[38:21] The B2B market
[40:54] The future of shopping in 5-10 years & what needs to change

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Jean-Louis Warnholz & Amandine Durr

Connect with Jean-Louis on LinkedIn
Connect with Amandine Durr on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Mushrooms that eat waste with Mycocycle & Gener8tor, Ep #55

Tue, 06 Jun 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we’re going to talk about mushrooms. More than a delicious pizza topping, fungi can be useful in many different ways and it might even play a heroic role in addressing climate change. How might mushrooms help? Let's count some of the ways. They can be eaten and help reduce our dependence on animal protein. They can replace animal-based leather, sequester carbon, serve as a biofuel, improve soil health, and thereby reduce our need for fertilizers. They can accelerate reforestation, create an alternative to petroleum-based plastics and packaging, and finally, they can help break down and absorb pollutants.

This last use case is called bioremediation and it’s the focus of the startup Mycocycle – a company that’s making impressive progress using mushrooms to clean up waste.

We’re joined by Mycocycle Founder and CEO Joanne Rodriguez, as well as one of her investors Ryan Jeffrey, Senior Managing Director at the venture firm and accelerator, Gener8tor. We chatted about the opportunity to transform the waste management sector, how fungi can help, Mycocycle’s traction, Gener8tor’s investment thesis and how they’ve helped Joanne’s journey, and much more.

Hope you enjoy this one, mushroom jokes and all. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:25] Joanne’s background & how she got to where she is today
[4:23] Ryan’s background & how he got to where he is today
[5:52] What is Gener8tor?
[7:11] Mycocycle, the problem it's aiming to solve & the company’s approach
[9:37] The process of leveraging the power of fungi & nature to break down waste
[13:47] Why did Gener8tor decide to invest in Mycocycle?
[16:14] The role of fungi in battling climate change & the opportunity
[18:06] The fungi-for-bioremediation business model
[20:45] Surprises & lessons of working with fungi
[21:19] The Department of Energy's Argonne National Labs & what it allowed Mycocycle to do
[24:08] Mycocycle’s experience with Gener8tor’s accelerator
[25:39] Mycocycle’s milestones
[26:46] The types of companies that Mycocycle is looking to partner with right now
[28:05] Mycocycle’s environmental impact & carbon measurement
[29:34] John’s view of milestones & risks for Mycocycle to reach commercial success
[30:57] How John sees the space in 3-5 years
[33:15] How Joanne sees the space evolving & opportunities to improve waste management
[36:34] What’s next for Mycocycle
[37:36] A final mushroom joke

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Joanne Rodriguez & Ryan Jeffrey

Connect with Joanne Rodriguez on LinkedIn
Connect with Ryan Jeffrey on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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City Councilmembers Nithya Raman of Los Angeles & Yassamin Ansari of Phoenix on local climate action, Ep #54

Tue, 30 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

When it comes to climate policy we hear a whole lot about what’s happening or not at the federal level, and it's easy to miss the critical role of states and cities in responding to climate change. Whether you know it or not, your local government is shaping how your community is preparing for and responding to climate impacts. It’s also making choices driven by the climate transition that affect your daily life. Building codes, electric vehicle infrastructure, public transportation, waste management, green spaces – maybe these things don’t sound sexy, but they’re central to cutting emissions and creating more resilient, livable communities.

Today’s episode focuses on cities, and we’re joined by two City Councilmembers who are leading the climate efforts of two major US cities. Yassamin Ansari is Vice Mayor and Councilmember of Phoenix, Arizona, and Nithya Raman is a Councilmember of Los Angeles. Both Councilmember Ansari and Raman care deeply about climate action, and in this conversation, we discussed how they’re setting their priorities, the progress they’ve made, their goals for the future, and much more. I learned a lot from this conversation and suspect you will as well. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:28] Councilmember Ansari’s background, city & focus on climate
[6:59] Councilmember Raman’s background, city & focus on climate
[9:13] The role of cities & establishing priorities
[14:43] Phoenix’s Office of Heat Response and Mitigation
[17:39] Climate justice & equity in LA
[20:43] Zero emission policy & decarbonizing the built environment in LA
[25:43] New rules & incentives for climate in Phoenix
[28:30] LA’s biggest priorities & opportunities
[30:41] Phoenix’s biggest priorities & opportunities
[32:17] The role of public-private partnerships & examples
[37:11] How cities influence the broader climate fight
[41:00] How listeners can make a difference at the local level

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Councilmembers Yassamin Ansari & Nithya Raman

Connect with Councilmember Ansari on LinkedIn
Connect with Councilmember Raman on D4 Website

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

Keep up with Invested In Climate

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?

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Innovation to restore our oceans with Sustainable Ocean Alliance and Oceans Uprise, Ep #53

Tue, 23 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today, we're taking a deep dive into the ocean. Oceans are central to our planet’s climate system. They regulate temperatures, host a vast array of biodiversity, and here's a crucial point - they absorb about a quarter of all CO2 emissions, acting as a massive carbon sink.

But this isn't without consequence. Ocean acidification is a direct result of climate change. It's a silent crisis happening beneath the waves, triggering a mass extinction of coral reefs and the diverse ecosystems that depend on them.

And, then there’s the crisis of plastics – 10 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year.

These threats are real and immediate, but so is the potential for innovation. In this episode, we’re joined by two people working hard to restore ocean health. Brandon Levy is Chief Product Officer at the Sustainable Ocean Alliance, and Bodhi Patil is an activist and organizer who founded Ocean Uprise, a platform enabling thousands of young people to support ocean activism. Both Brandon and Bodhi have their fingers on the pulse of the global effort to restore our oceans’ health.

Despite the daunting challenges facing our oceans, this conversation was truly inspiring and I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:37] Brandon’s story & role at SOA
[8:46] Bodhi’s story & role at Ocean Uprise
[15:10] The state of ocean health & how it’s linked to climate change
[20:28] The state of ocean investment & SOA’s diversified strategy
[24:30] The role of young people & the importance of youth leadership in creating sustainable oceans
[30:44] Insights on SOA’s Ocean Solutions Accelerator
[34:44] Current initiatives that Bodhi is excited about
[41:02] What we need to know about deep-sea mining
[44:51] How can listeners support SOA’s work
[46:41] Bodhi’s calls to action for people inspired to do more to protect our oceans

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Brandon Levy & Bodhi Patil

Connect with Brandon on LinkedIn
Connect with Bodhi on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

Keep up with Invested In Climate

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events, or partnerships?

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Pursuing a just transition with Climate Justice Alliance, Ep #52

Tue, 16 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Addressing climate change is not just about eliminating emissions and removing as much carbon from the atmosphere as possible. It's also about people – how their lives, livelihoods, and communities are disrupted by climate impacts as well as by investments in climate solutions. It’s an issue of equity. Pollution and climate-induced extreme weather are disproportionately felt by people of color and low-income communities. And, historically, large-scale investments in new industries have often disproportionately benefited wealthy people with privileged access.

This is where the environmental and climate justice movement comes in. It's a movement that's grown in numbers, strength, and sophistication in recent years. It’s won hard-fought advocacy battles at all levels of government and has also influenced how stakeholders from all sectors think, talk about, and pursue climate action.

At the center of this movement is the organization Climate Justice Alliance, a coalition of nearly 100 grassroots organizations, working to create what's called a Just Transition. In this interview, I’m joined by Marion Gee, Co-Executive Director of the Climate Justice Alliance, for a truly informative conversation on the state of the climate justice movement, the principles of a just transition, the role and strategies of the Climate Justice Alliance, and much more. Listen to this one with an open mind, give some thought to how equity issues show up in your work, and enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:53] The just transition movement, its history & the role Climate Justice Alliance is playing to support it
[6:40] About Marion & how she got involved in this work
[8:15] The core principle of equitably redistributing resources & power
[10:53] What does a regenerative economy look like
[12:47] Climate Justice Alliance’s member organizations & how they work together
[14:21] How Climate Justice Alliance is creating more collaboration & why community-based organizations are important
[16:35] Climate Justice Alliance’s six strategies
[22:20] Move the Money: How it’s going & what should we expect to see in the future
[24:37] The influx of interest & support for climate action in recent years
[30:57] Unpacking the term technofix
[33:07] The Inflation Reduction Act: Excitement, concerns & challenges
[36:04] Exciting policy efforts & new programs
[38:13] Things that must happen in the next few years to achieve a just transition
[39:41] How can listeners help

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Marion Gee

Connect with Marion on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Reshaping real estate with Pearl & Clean Energy Ventures, Ep #51

Tue, 09 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

You probably know that buildings and the built environment account for 40% of our emissions and about 40% of our energy use. Many bright minds are working on this problem, but it remains a tricky one. In the residential market, homeowners are often reluctant to undertake renovations, and when they do, they usually lack the information and contractors they need to consider energy-efficient and climate-positive options.

Now, imagine a world where all homes were rated based on their energy efficiency and environmental impact, and that rating influenced their financial value. Furthermore, imagine if the rating included a recommended retrofitting strategy. That would be a game-changer, right? This is the world that a start-up called Pearl Certification is attempting to create. I have to say, I really love this systems change approach that could shift incentives and behavior in real estate.

In this episode, I'm joined by Pearl CEO and Founder Cynthia Adams, as well as one of her investors, Lou Schick from Clean Energy Ventures. We discuss Cynthia and Lou's extensive experience in the built environment and real estate markets, Pearl's growth and potential, how this space will evolve in the future, what we need to do to get there, and much more. Enjoy!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:29] Pearl, Cynthia’s role & why she got involved in climate work
[6:37] Clean Energy Ventures, Lou’s role & why he got involved in climate work
[7:43] CEV’s investment thesis, their approach to potential climate investments & what led to their investment in Pearl
[9:26] The business opportunity with Pearl
[11:00] Pearl’s climate impact through certifying buildings
[12:38] Pearl’s demand, target market, reach & the evidence for demand
[16:12] Consumer interest in retrofitting homes & investing in clean energy products
[19:17] Partnerships to Pearl’s growth
[22:10] How Pearl’s helping homeowners in the next phase
[23:59] What Lou is excited about in these spaces
[25:32] The gaps in electrification
[31:15] The future outlook in 5-10 years
[36:02] The most concerning problems within the built environment
[41:01] The government’s role in building markets
[43:10] How the Inflation Reduction Act benefits homeowners
[47:09] Call to action for listeners who want to support the built environment transition

Resources Mentioned

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US Department of Energy's Chris Castro on helping communities access the IRA and more, Ep #50

Tue, 02 May 2023 05:00:00 -0400

The US Department of Energy (DOE) plays a key role in the rollout of climate funding and policies, so I was thrilled to chat with Chris Castro. Chris is the Chief of Staff of the Office of State and Community Energy Programs at the DOE. Chris brings entrepreneurial instincts and experience, along with clear passion to his role. We talk about Chris’ journey, the implementation of policies you’ve heard of like the IRA, as well as dozens of lesser-known initiatives managed by the DOE that are helping communities across the country decarbonize. There’s lots to learn in this one – enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:57] Chris’ journey in environmental policy, how it started & the different roles he played before being appointed by President Biden
[8:23] Chris’s current role & what he’s trying to accomplish at the DOE
[15:42] The Chips and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law & the IRA
[21:54] Realizing climate opportunities equitably for communities
[24:34] The biggest barrier to these laws not creating their intended impact
[26:51] Signs the IRA will spark other investments in decarbonization, electrification & energy efficiency retrofits
[29:07] The path to decarbonizing building
[33:37] The umbrella of grant programs available
[38:08] What else needs to happen to address climate change
[41:05] Advice for listeners & entrepreneurs/intrapreneurs looking to get started

Resources Mentioned

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How shareholder activism accelerates climate action with ShareAction, Ep #49

Tue, 25 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Late in 2022, I noticed a BBC News article stating that HSBC – one of the world’s largest banks – had committed to end funding for all new oil and gas drilling. The commitment alone was noteworthy, but what really caught my eye, as I was looking to understand what drove such a powerful commitment, was the mention of a small nonprofit group based in the UK called ShareAction. I learned that their investigative work, pressure, and collaboration with financial service firms and other companies are accelerating the climate transition. The secret to their sauce is what’s known as shareholder activism, and here to explain it today is Simon Rawson, ShareAction’s Director of Corporate Engagement & Deputy CEO. A former British diplomat, Simon helped build the social responsibility practice at McKinsey & Company. He brings real sophistication to his advocacy work, understanding the need for quality data and balancing pressure and collaboration. I learned a lot from this conversation and if you’re interested in understanding how the financial system can help accelerate climate action, I think you’ll enjoy it. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:14] ShareAction, how it got started & the problem it's aiming to solve
[4:57] Simon’s career switch & why his work today is important
[6:41] The power of shareholder activism
[8:48] The transformation of the financial system
[10:56] ShareAction’s Voting Matters Report
[14:10] Divergence in the US & Europe in relation to ESG backlash
[16:22] The importance of the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative & Climate Action 100+
[18:19] The hyperpolarization of ESG & next steps
[19:57] The HSBC commitment & ShareAction’s role
[21:43] The balance between pushing aggressively & being collaborative
[23:33] What’s involved in creating a shareholder resolution
[26:00] Coalition building & keeping the pressure on
[27:25] Climate action & investor returns
[30:02] Focusing on the petrochemical industry
[32:54] Other focus areas for ShareAction
[34:44] What everyday people can do when it comes to shareholder activism
[37:05] What the future will look like in 10-15 years

Resources Mentioned

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Marilyn Waite on the Climate Finance Fund and the $4T we need, Ep #48

Tue, 18 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode is a deep dive into climate finance. I’m joined by Marilyn Waite, Managing Director of Climate Finance Fund. Marilyn is one of the world’s leading thinkers, writers and leaders working in several different ways to stimulate the kind and scale of investment needed to address climate change. She brings a deep commitment to climate justice and using finance to ensure the climate transition happens more equitably. As she works to make investments in the US, Europe and China, Marilyn brings a truly global lens. This is a really thoughtful conversation, reflecting on the role of philanthropy in climate finance, the banking sector’s role in addressing climate change, the implications of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse, the likely impact of disclosure rules, innovative finance, systemic change in finance and much more. If you’re interested in the big picture of climate finance there’s a lot here for you.

In today's episode, we cover:

[3:21] Marilyn’s background & what drives her
[4:57] Climate Finance Fund & Marilyn’s role
[6:25] Why is philanthropic capital needed
[8:45] How much climate financing is needed & the role of philanthropic capital
[11:38] Capital accelerants that can help unlock more investment
[13:41] Innovative finance & the systemic decarbonization of capital
[15:16] The climate financing market in the US, Europe & China
[19:36] The opportunity for collaboration across markets
[21:32] The integration of equity into Marilyn’s work
[22:59] Where does climate justice get challenged most often
[25:34] The Bank for Good campaign & why it’s needed
[27:16] The role of Silicon Valley Bank & the gap its collapse created
[31:59] The short & longer-term influence of the SEC disclosure rules
[33:37] The highly politicized backlash to ESG investing
[36:32] Excitement & hopes over the next 3-5 years
[39:02] Advice for listeners interested in climate finance

Resources mentioned

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Transparent solar’s revolutionary potential with Andersen Windows & Ubiquitous Energy, Ep #47

Tue, 11 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Imagine if solar panels could be invisible and so thin that you could install them inside windows. Exciting, right?

This isn’t a science fiction thought experiment, but it’s a real technology being developed by a company called Ubiquitous Energy. And it gets even better: they’re developing this technology in partnership with Andersen Windows, one of the largest and perhaps best-known residential window manufacturers in the US.

We’re joined today by Ubiquitous Energy’s CEO Susan Stone and Andersen Corporation’s Director of Ventures Prabhakar Karri (who goes by KP), who led Andersen’s investment in Ubiquitous. We talk about the technology that makes transparent solar possible, how it was developed, the path to market, the transformative impact it could have on the built environment, and much more. For anyone interested in technology that could really change the world around us and the types of partnerships needed to reach scale, this episode is for you. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:40] Ubiquitous Energy & the technology it’s developing
[7:30] The history of Ubiquitous Energy & key milestones
[12:28] How Andersen Windows & Ubiquitous Energy found each other
[14:56] Andersen’s transparent solar products & when they’ll go-to-market
[16:04] How Andersen is gauging customer interest & what they're learning
[19:13] The impact on price for customers & solar investment tax credits
[23:12] How efficient is transparent solar technology
[27:24] The physical placement of this technology
[31:08] How much of a contribution could transparent solar make to our overall energy needs
[33:09] The main barriers to widespread adoption
[35:39] The investment potential & critical factors for achieving that potential
[38:12] The transparent solar market
[41:35] Andersen’s investment thesis, how Ubiquitous fits in & what else they’re looking at
[43:55] Andersen's sustainability commitments & what they’re doing
[45:38] What listeners considering becoming an early adopter of transparent solar can do
[46:35] Final thoughts

Resources Mentioned

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Democratizing climate investing with RaiseGreen & WeSolar, Ep #46

Tue, 04 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0400

If you’re listening to this podcast you probably agree that climate solutions need to be deployed at scale, across industries, and ultimately influence the lives of everyone. And yet, it’s still hard for most people to invest in and access the solutions our future relies on.

The episode features two companies that are working towards increasing access to climate tech for investors and consumers.

RaiseGreen is an investment platform that enables non-accredited investors to invest in climate solutions such as climate tech startups, energy efficiency retrofitting programs, green bonds, and renewable energy projects. I’m a fan of RaiseGreen’s approach – helping people invest across a spectrum of climate solutions and helping more diverse entrepreneurs raise capital, and full disclosure, I’m a RaiseGreen investor.

WeSolar is a community solar developer. It enables more people to access residential solar, and it successfully raised capital on RaiseGreen.

We’re joined today by the CEOs and Founders of RaiseGreen and WeSolar: Franz Hochstrasser and Kristal Hansley. Both Franz and Kristal bring fascinating backgrounds and perspectives. We talk about the genesis and aspirations of each of their companies, where they are in their journeys, what it takes to educate people about investing in climate opportunities, and much more. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:04] Kristal’s background & how it led to WeSolar
[5:24] Franz’s background & how it led to RaiseGreen
[6:55] The need for a climate-focused online investing platform
[9:34] Investment crowdfunding, how it emerged, how it's evolved & its importance today
[11:01] Companies & projects that have raised money on RaiseGreen
[12:03] The scale that RaiseGreen has reached so far
[12:50] RaiseGreen’s track record working with underrepresented founders & improving access to capital
[14:25] WeSolar & the problem that it’s aiming to solve
[15:53] How the community solar market has developed and its role in the future
[18:04] WeSolar's competitive advantage
[20:22] How Kristal believes partnerships with solar developers will evolve over time
[20:53] A walkthrough of WeSolar’s user experience
[22:14] Getting people interested in solar, educating them about benefits & how it works
[23:56] What’s working & what isn’t working for communicating with investors
[28:02] Kristal’s experience raising capital with RaiseGreen
[30:05] Wesolar’s current campaign on WeFunder & why listeners should check it out
[31:21] RaiseGreen as a business: How big can it be & key metrics for success
[34:46] WeSolar’s trajectory: Key metrics & milestones for success
[35:55] Final thoughts from Kristal & Franz

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Sec. of Agriculture Karen Ross on California's Climate Leadership, Ep #45

Tue, 28 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Agriculture is a sector that needs to be transformed. We need to cut emissions, improve soil health, and sequester more carbon, all while feeding more people. This episode focuses on how California’s Department of Food and Agriculture is investing in this change.

Why California? Well, agriculture in the Golden State is a big deal. It’s a $51 billion-a-year industry, that grows over a third of the vegetables and three-quarters of the fruits and nuts in the United States. California is a recognized leader when it comes to climate action, and there’s much to learn from its agriculture policy and practices. So I was delighted to sit down with California’s Secretary of Agriculture Karen Ross. Secretary Ross has decades of experience in agriculture and ag policy and is deeply committed to climate action. We talked about everything from dairy digesters and regenerative ag practices to the role California ag innovation plays nationally and globally, and much more. If you’re interested in how the food system is changing to address climate change, there’s a lot here for you. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:25] Recent weather impacts on California farmers
[4:20] Secretary Ross’ background, experience & current role
[6:34] California’s agricultural agenda & its main priorities
[8:57] The CA Department of Food & Agriculture’s top programs
[11:23] The Dairy Digester R&D Program - goals & how it works
[13:52] Reducing methane emissions from cow burps
[15:41] The menu of items to reduce emissions
[16:51] The Biden Administration’s Methane Emissions Reduction Plan
[18:23] Other success stories or signs of progress
[19:40] The biggest barrier to reaching “every farmer and at least one practice on every acre in California”
[20:49] What is the state aiming to address through its Healthy Soils Program
[22:49] The target of farms to be reached with 80,000 acres per year
[24:58] Some ways that California & the federal government's climate initiatives influence one another
[27:35] Other initiatives & states that Sec. Ross admires & is learning from
[29:11] Opportunities within the ag tech space for innovators & investors to start dialing up their attention
[32:44] Other highlights from Sec. Ross on global impact, International Womens Day & CA’s accolades
[34:49] What else needs to happen in US agriculture to meet Paris Accord climate commitments & other climate goals
[36:26] What can listeners do to address climate change through food & agriculture

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Danone & EDF's partnership to transform agriculture, Ep #44

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

While new innovations from climate tech startups are exciting, effectively addressing the climate crisis simply isn’t going to happen without big companies making big changes. To be honest, that’s part of why I recently started a new role at NationSwell where I get to help a growing community of chief sustainability officers and ESG leaders take bold action. But don’t worry this episode isn’t about me.

It’s about Danone, a global dairy company that is taking significant steps to reduce emissions, and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), a nonprofit partnering with Danone and other companies to accelerate climate action. Recently, Danone became the first food and agriculture company to set a methane-specific climate target - a 30% reduction from its fresh milk sourcing by 2030 - through their partnership with EDF. We’re speaking with EDF Director Katie Anderson and Danone’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Regenerative Agriculture Policy Chris Adamo about how this collaboration is helping Danone reach its ambitious goal, what other companies are learning from their experience, the role of policy, and what the future holds. This episode offers valuable, frontline insights into the transformation of a large corporation and agriculture as a whole. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:53] Katie’s background, EDF & her role
[5:13] Chris’s background, Danone’s sustainability commitment & his role
[9:30] How Danone & EDF’s partnership came to be & what it involves
[11:57] Why do environmental & climate issues matter to Danone & what's at stake
[15:02] The scale that Danone operates at, its aim & biggest barriers in doing more
[17:22] How EDF helps partners like Danone make progress on these issues
[22:00] Collaboration for financing to support the agricultural transition
[25:43] Thoughts on grants being viewed as corporate welfare
[26:58] How methane became a priority & the impact that Danone is hoping to have
[30:55] Why is Danone working on getting other companies to follow
[33:09] The most effective strategies for getting companies engaged & committed
[36:59] Investment areas that Chris thinks investors should look into
[39:57] Thoughts on reducing animal agriculture & the diversity of the field
[43:09] EDF & Danone’s policy priorities
[47:09] What needs to happen in the next decade to transform agriculture

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The great school bus transition with Highland Electric & Tim Shannon, Ep #43

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

There’s a lot of talk about electric cars, but what about other vehicles like buses and trucks? Buses and trucks create 30% of emissions from the transportation sector, so they need to be a priority.

This episode focuses on school buses. It turns out that diesel school buses not only pollute the environment, but they cause real health problems for the kids who ride them. Fortunately, the shift to electric school buses has begun, and we’re featuring two people working hard to make it happen. Today, you’ll hear from Duncan McIntyre and Tim Shannon. Duncan is CEO of Highland Electric Fleets, a startup that helps school districts electrify their buses. Tim meanwhile is the Transportation Director for Twin Rivers Unified School District. He’s known as the godfather of electric school buses. We talk about the importance of phasing out diesel buses, what it takes, where we’re at in the transition, and what’s coming.

Alright, hop on the bus and let’s go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:29] Highland Electric Fleets & Duncan’s journey into climate work
[5:40] Tim’s role & journey into climate work
[6:25] The US school bus landscape & what's wrong with it
[8:53] The climate impacts of diesel buses & how electrifying them will help
[10:41] The harmful effects of diesel buses on kids
[11:50] The state of maturity of electric bus technology
[14:20] What it takes for a school district to transition to electric buses
[16:39] How Highland Electric is breaking down barriers to electric bus adoption
[19:02] The economics: justifying investment & accessing funding
[23:27] Where the adoption of electric buses is at
[26:12] What else needs to happen to accelerate the transition
[28:28] The potential for buses to provide resilient electricity & examples
[30:18] What can listeners do to be involved in the electric bus transition

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Climate jobs report with LinkedIn & Weinreb Group, Ep #42

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0400

The race to address climate change is creating a whole lot of opportunity and a whole lot of work. Just to offer a sense of the scale, the US Inflation Reduction Act is expected to create nine million jobs alone. This is on top of an already booming climate job market. And, climate isn’t just tackled through newly created jobs, but also through new climate responsibilities within existing jobs.

To learn more about the world of climate work, I sat down with two experts: Peggy Brannigan and Ellen Weinreb. Peggy is the Director of Global Environmental Sustainability at LinkedIn, where she has access to perhaps the world’s best database of climate-related jobs. Ellen is the founder of Weinreb Group, a recruiting firm that has been focused on filling sustainability and ESG roles for over 10 years. Together, Peggy and Ellen provide a fascinating glimpse into the green job market, how it’s evolved in recent years, the skills that are most needed, and of course, advice for hiring teams and jobseekers. So whether you’re looking for a job, looking to hire people, or just trying to anticipate the skills you’ll need for the future, this episode should be helpful to you. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:20] Ellen’s role & journey into sustainability work
[4:27] Peggy’s role & journey into sustainability work
[5:26] LinkedIn’s economic graph - the data used & the value it brings
[7:45] The climate job market - how has it changed & what does it look like today
[9:01] The roles that companies are looking for
[10:46] Geographies & drivers of climate job growth
[12:48] What is ESG & how is it different from sustainability
[14:26] The evolution of the job market for ESG & sustainability leaders over 15 years
[16:45] Corporate commitments to hiring ESG professionals
[19:33] The most sought-after skills for climate work today
[21:57] The prediction that half of all jobs will be redefined by climate change
[23:04] Advice for companies seeking to grow their ESG & sustainability teams
[27:15] Peggy’s advice for climate jobseekers
[30:32] Being a changemaker within both existing & new companies
[32:48] Ellen’s advice for climate jobseekers
[33:48] The future of the climate job market

Resources Mentioned

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Off-grid power anywhere with YouSolar & Inergy, Ep #41

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:45:00 -0400

When you think of residential solar, you probably think of solar installations that are tied to the grid. These installations have many benefits. You can rely on the grid when you need to, you don’t need to store all the energy you generate in batteries, and you can sell energy back to utilities. But on-grid solar isn’t for everyone, and our future surely requires some mix of on- and off-grid technology.

To learn about the use case and business opportunity of distributed off-grid solar, I sat down with the founders of two growing, off-grid solar companies. Arnold Leitner is the CEO of YouSolar, and Sean Luangrath is the CEO of Inergy Solar. Both Arnold and Sean have been in the industry for a long time and helped clarify why off-grid solar matters, who it's for, where the industry is, and where its likely to go. Their two companies offer really different products and understanding their differences really helped me comprehend some of the different applications for off-grid solar. And, as it happens, YouSolar is actually in the final stretch of an equity crowdfunding campaign on StartEngine, which you might want to check out if you really like what you hear.

Ok, here we go!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:02] Arnold’s CEO journey
[6:11] Sean’s CEO journey
[9:11] Inergy’s product lineup & target customers
[11:32] The power of a 26-pound electricity system
[13:01] YouSolar’s progress toward commercialization
[13:53] YouSolar’s current & future products
[17:59] YouSolar’s history
[18:53] The importance of off-grid solar
[25:11] The difference between YouSolar, Inergy & big solar companies
[29:36] The future of balancing on-grid & off-grid power
[36:46] Key barriers to scaling
[40:52] Experiences with crowdfunding
[45:45] How listeners learn more about distributed off-grid solar

Resources Mentioned

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Supporting 100,000 climate founders with New Energy Nexus & Third Derivative, Ep #40

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Given the enormity of climate change and the unprecedented opportunity for innovation that comes with decarbonization, I love learning about ambitious efforts that really take seriously the speed and scale at which we need to invest in change. I’ve long been a fan of New Energy Nexus – an organization that aims to make clean energy accessible to everyone by supporting 100,000 climate entrepreneurs. They take an ecosystem approach, recognizing that entrepreneurs need not just cash, but supportive networks to succeed, and they’ve been building up ecosystems all over the world to support diverse entrepreneurs.

I was thrilled to learn more about New Energy Nexus and one of their best-known accelerators Third Derivative, which is a partnership with RMI. In this episode, you’ll hear from Nexus’ founder and CEO, Danny Kenedy, and Third Derivative co-founder and CMO, Elaine Hsieh. We talk about their backgrounds, the work that Nexus and Third Derivative are doing, their approach to ecosystem building, the importance of justice, equity, and inclusion in climate investing, underhyped and overhyped spaces in climate tech, and much more. Third Derivative is currently accepting applications through March 21 for its next two cohorts - so if you’re a startup founder, consider putting in an application. For everyone else, hope you enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:43] Third Derivative & Elaine’s role
[4:31] New Energy Nexus & Danny’s role
[5:07] Danny’s path to starting New Energy Nexus
[8:15] Elaine’s path to starting Third Derivative
[11:28] Nexus’ large-scale approach
[14:48] Nexus’ country-level programs in practice
[18:41] Challenges & learnings from setting up programs in other countries
[20:41] What makes Third Derivative different & important
[25:53] Underhyped & overhyped spaces in climate tech
[31:54] The climate justice lens that informs Nexus’ & Third Derivative’s work
[37:10] Recent growth & continued interest in climate investments
[41:07] What needs to change to address today’s climate crisis
[44:10] How listeners can get involved with New Energy Nexus & Third Derivative

Resources Mentioned

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The carbon removal revolution with Collaborative Fund & AirMiners, Ep #39

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Get ready. This episode is a really detailed conversation about what could be one of the most important new technologies for addressing climate change.

Here’s some context: The world has started working to decarbonize virtually every sector of the economy. Yet, even if we had all the political and corporate will, investments and incentives one could imagine, this would still be an incredibly complex process that takes decades. And so, we’ll continue to emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses for longer than we want.

Essentially, the faucet will stay on, and we need other ways to reduce the amount of carbon in our atmosphere to slow and eventually reverse climate change. That’s where carbon removal and today’s conversation comes in.

We’re joined by Tomás Álvarez Belón and Tito Jankowski. Tomás is a climate investor at Collaborative Fund, focused on decarbonization. Tito Jankowski is CEO of AirMiners, a community of innovators focused on removing carbon dioxide from the air to reverse climate change. These two are true experts and pioneers that are helping to build the carbon removal industry from scratch. I learned a ton and think you’ll enjoy. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:43] Collaborative Fund & Tomás’ role
[5:17] AirMiners & Tito’s role
[6:08] Why focus on carbon removal
[10:11] The difference between carbon removal & carbon capture
[11:51] The knee-jerk reaction behind carbon removal
[17:59] The state of the carbon removal space today
[22:13] More about AirMiners, who they work with & what they offer
[25:24] The impact of AirMiners to-date
[28:38] Tomás’ learnings from the growth of carbon removal startups
[31:56] Carbon removal becoming a commodity
[34:14] Tito’s learnings from the growth of carbon removal startups
[38:05] Collaborative Funds’ investments & the range of possibilities around carbon removal
[50:09] How large investments have helped the marketplace grow
[58:46] Why companies should get involved & become purchasers to support the carbon removal marketplace

Resources Mentioned

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ESG investing insights with Baron Capital's James Stone, Ep #38

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode focuses on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. What began as a fringe interest in socially responsible investing grew at an astonishing rate and is now completely mainstream, considering the ESG performance of companies. According to a PWC report from last November, ESG investing will grow over the next three years to reach over $30 trillion dollars. That’d be over 20% of all assets under management and a real force influencing how well companies act on climate change, amongst many other issues.

But ESG can be messy and confusing. To learn more about what it actually is, how it's distinguished from impact investing, why it became politically controversial in the US last year, how it’s performed for investors, and how it's likely to change in the future, I sat down with James Stone, VP of ESG Research at Baron Capital. Jamie offered a really clear overview and I learned a ton. Hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:23] James' background & his experience with ESG investing
[5:23] Baron Capital & what they specialize in
[6:33] The ESG market today & trends
[9:53] Overall interest in ESG investing & how it's been changing in recent years
[11:03] Who is actually interested in ESG investing
[14:44] Baron’s ESG commentary & the World Economic Forum study on top global risks
[20:26] The positive feedback loop due to growing ESG investors & capital deployed
[25:09] The impact of policy developments related to climate investing within ESG
[27:49] The political backlash & controversy of ESG
[31:22] The impacts of ESG investing on companies
[33:46] The SEC climate disclosure rule change
[35:17] Policy developments that Jamie is watching for this year
[35:41] Thoughts on ESG investing opportunities this year & longer-term
[36:45] Things for climate-focused investors to consider
[38:40] How listeners can get involved

Resources Mentioned

Baron Capital

Connect with James Stone

Connect with James on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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If you have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events or partnerships, please get in touch!

Every job is a climate job with Project Drawdown, Ep #37

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

So far in 2023, we've been looking to the future. Our first episode featured new opportunities with Google, CSAA and IDEO. Then, we did an episode focusing on regenerative agriculture, and another on transforming the global food system.

This week, we'll look to the past and replay one of our first and most popular episodes ever. The episode features Jamie Beck Alexander of Drawdown Labs, a program of Project Drawdown. I thought it's worth replaying as it helps explain the idea that any job can be a climate job, and highlights some really useful tips for creating climate impact through your work no matter what you do.

This episode is for everyone - and it's a reminder that you don't need to switch jobs or start a new company to be part of today's climate movement. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:20] The mobilization of talent toward climate change jobs
[5:23] Learn more about Project Drawdown & Drawdown Labs
[8:34] The private sector’s role in addressing climate change
[12:41] Jamie’s mantra: Every job must be a climate job
[14:27] Learn about the “Climate Solutions at Work” guide
[21:53] How to hold companies accountable to their green initiatives
[28:05] The impact of the Drawdown Project’s workshops
[30:56] How to influence the organization you work at
[32:46] How you can make an impact in all areas of your life

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Jamie Beck Alexander

Connect on LinkedIn
Follow on Twitter

Connect with Jason Rissman

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Food Tank's Danielle Nierenberg on systems change for climate, Ep #36

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Are you ready to uncover the truth about our food systems and its impact on our planet? Last week, we delved into the topic of soil and regenerative agriculture, and this week, we're taking a closer look at the larger picture of food and its role in climate change. As it turns out, food is not only something we interact with every day, but it's also a complex web of industries, processes, and relationships that account for a staggering one-third of greenhouse gas emissions.

Our special guest, Danielle Nierenberg, is a leading expert and advocate in the field of sustainable food systems. She's the President of Food Tank, a non-profit organization working to improve the global food system. Together, we'll be discussing groundbreaking strategies to combat food waste, promote regenerative agriculture, and rethink the future of meat production. Join us for a fascinating conversation with a seasoned expert in the field as we explore the most pressing issues facing the food industry today and the opportunities for change in the coming year.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:00] Food Tank’s origin story
[5:32] Danielle’s background & path of environmentalism
[7:45] The role that Food Tank is playing today
[8:56] Ways that people can get involved in Food Tank
[10:30] What is the food system
[11:53] How is the food system (as it's currently designed) exacerbating climate change
[13:24] Opportunities & priorities for reversing climate change through food
[16:20] Momentum & trends in the regenerative agriculture movement
[19:10] Best practices that we need for the future - balancing big corporations & small-scale farmers
[21:13] How do we break our dependency from synthetic fertilizer
[22:45] Signs of progress in reducing synthetic fertilizer dependency & cutting food waste
[26:59] Meat consumption, lab-cultivated meat & preferences
[30:53] Danielle’s thoughts on alternative protein for investors
[32:45] The biggest levers for food systems impact
[33:46] Impressions from the 2022 UN Climate Change Conference & next steps in the global policy arena
[36:02] Danielle’s top priorities for 2023
[37:59] Podcast spotlight - Food Talk with Danielle Nierenberg

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Danielle Nierenberg

Connect with Danielle on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

If you have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events or partnerships, please get in touch!

Regenerative Ag with Biodel’s Ben Cloud & Dr. Paul Zorner, Ep #35

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Welcome to an episode on agtech, soil health and regenerative agriculture. Here’s some context: one of the big mysteries we’re facing today is how we’re possibly going to feed 10 billion people while transforming agricultural practices that are truly unsustainable. Modern farming is a technological marvel that has dramatically reduced hunger over the last century, but it relies heavily on synthetic fertilizer, which is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, and intensive farming practices that have degraded soil’s ability to grow food.

To understand this issue better and learn about some potential solutions, I sat down with agricultural biologist Dr. Paul Zorner and Biodel Ag CEO Ben Cloud. They both bring decades of experience in agriculture and see great potential in regenerative ag practices and innovative agtech technology, including a new product called Sequester. I learned a lot from this conversation and think you’ll enjoy it. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:00] What is happening to soil today & why it matters
[7:22] The role of synthetic fertilizers in the future
[11:18] Soil health & soil biology
[13:30] What is regenerative agriculture & its state in the world today
[15:27] The barriers to adopting regenerative practices
[19:10] Biodel Ag, their work & Ben’s background
[22:56] Biodel’s customers & the value proposition of Sequester
[27:40] Paul’s background & how he came across Ben and his team
[29:09] Sequester’s potential & opportunities for impact
[31:02] The next couple of years at Biodel
[33:14] The agtech market today, its potential for contributing to climate solutions & other opportunity areas
[37:57] The innovation gaps & areas where greater attention is needed
[40:23] The agtech market over the next decade

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Ben Cloud & Dr. Paul Zorner

Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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New climate opportunities for 2023 with Google, CSAA and IDEO, Ep #34

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 05:00:00 -0400

Happy New Year - and welcome to the first episode of 2023!

We have two special guests with us today to discuss exciting opportunities for climate progress.

We’re joined by Matt Ridenour, the Head of Startup Ecosystems for Google. Matt is a dear friend who I had the pleasure of working with for several years at IDEO. He’s now leading accelerator programs at Google, and he’s here to talk about an open call for climate founders.

The second opportunity is focused on helping frontline communities become better equipped to deal with climate impacts. We’re joined by Jami Goldman, the Sustainability Manager at CSAA, which is a AAA Insurer. She’s someone I’ve been working closely with in recent months on an upcoming open innovation challenge. Jami’s here to talk about a way for funders, investors and other partners to get involved in making the challenge impactful, and eventually, the challenge will be open to startups and non-profits serving communities impacted by climate change.

We’ve got lots in store for this year, and many more new opportunities to share. Here’s to making it the best year yet for climate progress. Let’s get started!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[2:39] New Year’s resolutions
[5:00] Matt’s role at Google & what he’s working on
[6:15] Jami’s role at CSAA & what she’s working on
[7:46] Insights on Google’s accelerator program for climate startups
[10:54] The impact of Google’s previous climate accelerators & lessons learned
[15:13] How founders can get involved in Google’s accelerator program for climate
[15:53] Insights on CSAA’s open innovation challenge for addressing the climate crisis
[18:22] Why climate change matters to insurance providers
[19:59] The importance of CSAA’s open innovation challenge - why is innovation needed
[21:49] Advice for those who want to get involved in CSAA’s innovation challenge
[23:27] Matt’s vision for Google's climate accelerator & the impact it can have
[25:07] Jami’s thoughts on the mindsets & capabilities that leaders need to develop to handle climate disruptions
[27:27] Advice for Googlers seeking to make an impact on climate change
[29:44] Predictions for the climate space in 2023

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Matt Ridenour & Jami Goldman

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn
Connect with Jami on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Local activism, lawyers & transformative change with Earthjustice, Ep #33

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This is going to be our last episode for 2022. We’ll be back in January with more great conversations. If you have ideas for episodes or topics you’d like us to explore, please reach out through our contact form or on LinkedIn. I’ve had a blast getting this podcast started and I’m excited for it to only get better as we continue. A big thank you to all our guests, to our listeners providing feedback and reviews, and also to Julie Mai, and Aaron & Carey Green for their help behind the scenes.

For our last episode of the year, I’m excited to end where we began – and that’s talking about the importance of local activism and policy. Today’s guest is Adrian Martinez. No, not the football player, nor the baseball player – but the superstar Senior Attorney for Earthjustice. Adrian is working on a program called Right to Zero. In today’s episode, he talks about the critical role Earthjustice’s team of attorneys play at the city, state and federal level to help communities eliminate pollution through decarbonization. I was really energized by this conversation and encouraged to learn that the power we have at a local level can really add up to transformative, widespread change. Hope you enjoy this one. Happy holidays.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:22] What is Earthjustice & how it got started
[4:22] What is Right to Zero
[5:42] The intersection between environmental action & human health
[7:30] What needs to change in the built environment & how Earthjustice is helping
[9:46] Local change, how it works & progress for buildings
[12:04] How the Inflation Reduction Act will make a difference
[13:04] Examples of necessary mandates
[14:01] Transportation campaigns, how they’ve worked & the results
[17:05] Earthjustice’s role on the pathway to policy change
[18:35] Electrifying transit buses - where lawyers are needed
[20:38] Other types of fleets Earthjustice is working to decarbonize
[23:26] Ways that people can take a stand & be involved
[26:03] How equity is factored into Earthjustice’s work
[29:22] Who is in opposition & how are they showing up
[31:33] The influence of tech on decarbonization efforts
[33:51] Adrian’s holiday wishlist for the tech industry
[35:27] How climate-invested companies are affecting Earthjustice’s work
[37:18] Earthjustice’s other priorities & how listeners can help

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Adrian Martinez

Connect with Adrian on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

The Future of Cars with Bloomberg’s Kyle Stock & EVgo’s Cathy Zoi, Ep #32

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0400

The future is electric - especially when it comes to cars. Demand for electric vehicles is far outpacing supply, and automakers are rolling out more or more EV models as governments around the world set clear timelines for when new gas-powered cars will no longer be allowed.

The transition to EV is good news for our climate. Transportation creates over a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions, and about 40% of that comes from cars.

This episode focuses on where we’re at in the EV transition and I’m joined by two true experts. Kyle Stock is a Senior Writer for Bloomberg Green. He writes about cars and has his finger on the pulse of EV trends. Cathy Zoi is the CEO of EVgo, the largest public EV charging network in the United States. Cathy has extensive experience in the energy sector and is building the infrastructure we need for the switch to electric vehicles. We talk about the current state of the EV market, which cars are hot and who’s buying them, the impact of recent legislation, our evolving user experience with cars and much more. I learned a lot and am sure you will too. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:13] The state of the EV market today
[7:09] The hottest EVs in the US right now & what’s driving the demand
[9:15] Kyle’s personal favorite EV
[11:38] Cathy’s personal favorite EV
[12:28] Who’s actually buying EVs today
[14:20] Things you should consider if you’re looking for an EV or new car in general
[16:00] How does the cost of EVs compare & tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act
[19:28] What is EVgo & the problem they’re aiming to solve
[23:10] EVgo’s geographic footprint & the current user experience of EV charging
[27:33] The most significant barriers to the EV transition
[33:44] The possibility of charging while you drive
[37:55] The future of the EV user experience

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Kyle Stock & Cathy Zoi

Connect with Kyle on LinkedIn
Connect with Cathy on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Systems transformation through finance with Ceres, Ep #31

Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0400

If you look at climate change as a systems problem (which it is), it doesn’t take long to see the important role of finance. Yes, there’s phenomenal growth in ESG investing, alongside funding in clean energy and climate tech. However, overall, our financial system has failed to factor in climate risks and climate impacts. According to the climate disclosure nonprofit CDP, just 1% of companies provide the information that investors need for assessing if they have credible plans for mitigating risks and transitioning to a low-carbon future. Large greenhouse gas emitters have easy access to capital, yet companies are incentivized to adopt a short-term view, prioritizing quarterly earnings over long-term considerations like the health and safety of their employees, customers, and communities.

So what can be done about this? Not many people have the expertise or network to think about transforming finance. That’s where an ambitious organization called Ceres comes in. Ceres works with large investors and corporate boards to create systemic change.

In this episode, we hear from two members of the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets about the work they’re doing to reshape the role of finance in climate change. Steven Rothstein is the Managing Director and brings decades of experience to this question, and Yamika Ketu is a Senior Associate who recently authored a report that looks at the climate lobbying of S&P 100 companies.

Tune in to hear about Ceres’ history and growth, the expected SEC rule change that could have dramatic impacts, findings from their recent research, and of course, ways that you can get involved. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:58] What is Ceres & how it got started
[5:24] The scoop on the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets
[6:53] Yamika’s role & what she’s aiming to do
[7:45] Why there’s a need to invest in changing capital markets
[10:16] The SEC rule change that would require companies to disclose climate risks
[12:39] Public comments & sentiments around the proposed SEC rule change
[15:08] Pressure for organizational change
[16:38] The resistance & take-off in changing capital markets
[19:13] Ceres’ recent analysis & report on the lobbying activities of S&P 100 companies
[22:03] What sustainability leaders can do to ensure their work isn't being undone by partner associations
[25:15] What Steven sees as a home run for accelerating change
[26:49] Events that are changing the system in a dramatic & rapid way
[29:35] What investors & participants in today's financial system can do
[31:02] Addressing greenwashing through another proposed SEC rule
[32:09] Companies that stand out based on their level of commitment & action
[34:08] Other work that Ceres is doing & ways for listeners to get involved

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Steven Rothstein & Yamika Ketu

Connect with Steven on LinkedIn
Connect with Yamika on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

If you have feedback or ideas for future episodes, events or partnerships, please get in touch!

Market insights with Climate Tech VC’s Kim Zou, Ep #30

Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0400

If you’re interested in venture investing in climate tech, you probably already know about Climate Tech VC (CTVC). It began as a side hustle and small newsletter and now reaches 40,000 people. In my opinion, there’s really no better source of data and insights around climate tech investing.

In this episode, I sat down with CTVC's Co-Founder Kim Zou. Kim was an investor at Energy Impact Partners and has been following climate tech investment closely as its taken off over the past several years. In fact, Kim might have actually been the person who coined the term "climate tech." Beyond that bold claim, there’s a lot to learn about regarding the state of climate tech investing in this interview. We talked about how CTVC got started, how climate tech has grown in recent years, where that investment is coming from and going to, how the economic slowdown has affected things and a bunch more. Buckle up and enjoy.

In today's episode, we cover:

[3:07] What is Climate Tech VC & how did it get started
[5:33] Finding synergies for accelerating climate innovation
[8:29] CTVC’s growing team & business model
[13:29] The scale and growth in climate tech venture investing
[15:43] The different spaces within climate tech & areas with the most investment activity
[19:08] Built environment opportunities
[23:33] How has corporate interest in climate investing changed over recent years
[25:56] IRA impacts on climate tech companies and climate tech investing overall
[29:50] Valuation & fundraising trends
[37:34] Bumps in the road - long term transition to sustainable protein or just climate tech overall
[40:25] The influence of elections on climate tech investing

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Kim Zou

Connect with Kim on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

From venture syndicates to funds with Climate Capital's Sundeep Ahuja, Ep #29

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0400

You're probably aware that venture capital investing in climate has grown very quickly in recent years, from around five billion in 2016 to over 40 billion dollars deployed in 2021. Large funds drive most of that growth, but small vehicles still play an important role - especially in recruiting new investors to start investing in climate.

Sundeep Ahuja has helped many investors dip their toes into climate. He's invested in over 100 companies through syndicates that he's led. Full disclosure: I've backed a couple of his syndicated deals. Now, he's focusing on developing funds to deploy more capital into climate startups. Sundeep has a fascinating background, having been a software engineer, product manager, marketer, and business leader for technology companies, Kiva.org, Republic, and many others. He also wrote a novel and a television pilot as part of his effort to fuel more climate action. Sundeep has great insights to the world of investing in climate startups today. If that's the world you're curious about, I think you'll enjoy this episode. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:39] Sundeep’s history of climate investing & current work at Climate Capital
[4:37] The difference between syndicates, rolling funds & traditional venture funds
[8:56] Climate Capital’s investment thesis
[10:49] Climate Capital’s screening process
[12:34] Examples of companies & industries that Climate Capital is focused on
[15:49] The outlook for climate tech investing
[17:49] Geopolitics & climate investing
[19:27] The vision for “building the A16z of climate”
[21:44] The role of community-building
[25:08] Activating people through communication
[27:31] Opportunities for non-accredited investors
[30:18] The case for investing in climate

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Sundeep Ahuja

Connect with Sundeep on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Rewiring America, systems change & electrifying everything, Ep #28

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Have you come across the idea yet that we need to electrify everything? It's the concept that we need to replace gas appliances with electric ones and power those with renewable energy. It's a simply idea really, and yet it's crucial to eliminating pollution, protecting the environment, saving a whole lot of money and eliminating the illnesses caused by burning fossil fuels. The benefits are massive – but so is the complexity of decarbonizing billions upon billions of buildings.

At the forefront of the movement to electrify everything is Rewiring America, an ambitious organization focused on the systemic change needed to make clean, electric appliances the default. For this episode, I spoke with Rewiring America’s CEO Ari Matusiak. We spoke about the organization's approach to systems change, the implications of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), their work to aggregate demand for electrification and much more. I learned a ton and am excited to share this episode as there are many ways we can all help make the mantra “electrify everything” a reality. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:36] What is Rewiring America & the problem they’re aiming to solve
[5:05] The criticality of electrifying buildings in the United States
[7:17] The scale of change that Rewiring America is working towards
[9:50] User experience considerations & opportunities for electrification
[13:50] Thinking about systems change to address the magnitude of scale
[18:12] How to aggregate local demand in a systematic way
[22:43] Signs of increasing local demand & progress
[25:04] What the IRA means for individual consumers
[27:41] The national level impacts of the IRA
[31:02] The follow on effects of the IRA
[33:14] The flywheel for electrification & systems change
[37:01] Advocating for local policy change & accelerating electrification beyond homes
[41:45] Raising awareness & urgency to decarbonize the built environment
[44:56] What next year holds for Rewiring America & how listeners can help

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Ari Matusiak

Connect with Ari

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

1% for the Planet and CapShift on growing climate philanthropy through impact investing, Ep #27

Tue, 01 Nov 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Tackling climate change can’t be left to companies and governments. The nonprofit sector plays a crucial role in everything from research, education, conservation, helping communities cope with climate impacts and much more. There’s literally tens of thousands of environmental nonprofits, and almost all depend on philanthropy to do the vital work they do.

And yet, only a tiny fraction of global giving goes to climate. That’s part of why Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard set up an ambitious program called 1% for the Planet. The idea is simple really - companies donate 1% of their revenue to environmental nonprofits. Currently, over 5,000 companies have signed on.

Today’s episode focused on an innovative new initiative that aims to significantly grow 1% for the Planet’s fundraising. The Planet Impact Fund is a partnership between 1% for the Planet, the National Philanthropic Trust and impact investing enabler CapShift that leverages potential of investment returns to increase philanthropic support. I was joined by Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet, and Jesse Simmons, a Managing Director at CapShift. Through our conversation, I learned a lot about climate philanthropy, impact investing, donor advised funds, and the importance of innovative partnerships that unlock more capital for climate. Hope you enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:51] What is 1% for the Planet & the problem they’re aiming to tackle
[5:16] How much capital is going into climate philanthropy
[11:11] What is CapShift & the problem they’re aiming to tackle
[12:30] CapShift’s traction & the amount of investments that they’re facilitating
[13:41] The Planet Impact Fund: A Partnership between 1% for the Planet & CapShift
[19:06] The donors & investors that the Planet Impact Fund is intended for
[22:13] The rise of intergenerational wealth transfer
[24:47] How investments are selected for the Planet Impact Fund
[26:17] How today’s investments are faring
[28:23] Nonprofit partners in Planet Impact Fund’s network
[31:47] The opportunity to create a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
[33:35] Addressing the criticism around DAFs
[36:17] Other ambitious partnerships around climate
[40:06] Learning across public-private partnerships
[42:31] Tips for anyone considering climate philanthropy & investing

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Kate Williams & Jesse Simmons

Connect with Kate
Connect with Jesse

Connect With Jason Rissman

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Replacing plastics through a circular economy with Dispatch Goods & Congruent Ventures, Ep #26

Tue, 25 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Ever get carry out food and then feel guilty about all the plastic packaging? Single use plastics are a real problem. Every year over 14 millions tons of plastic end up in our oceans, and plastic that ends up in landfills release toxins that pollute our soil, waterways and food chain. This is not to mention the carbon emissions of producing plastic packaging to begin with.

The convenience of carry out food isn’t going anywhere, and so we need to find alternatives to plastic packaging. That’s where Dispatch Goods come in. They’re an innovative startup that’s already replaced over 1 million pieces of plastic packaging with reusable containers.

In this episode, I spoke with Dispatch Goods’ CEO Lindsey Hoell and Christina O’Conor, a partner at Congruent Ventures who led a seed investment in Dispatch. We talked about Dispatch’s history and progress, the challenges of scaling circular economy businesses and what our future might look like as companies like Dispatch grow and enable us all to return packaging and materials for future use. Hope you learn as much as I did. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:09] What is Dispatch Goods & the problem they’re aiming to solve
[4:45] Dispatch’s partners & how their business works
[5:40] The scale of our waste problem
[7:15] Does recycling plastics work
[8:49] Lindsey’s journey developing traction & where Dispatch is at today
[11:33] The materials that Dispatch is currently focused on
[13:00] What is Congruent Ventures, their investment thesis & why did they invest in Dispatch Goods
[16:13] How is Dispatch scalable & what will it take to scale
[20:52] Dispatch’s vision for the future & key strategies for growth
[25:37] The scalability challenges of circular businesses from an investor’s perspective
[26:36] What Christina & Congruent are looking for from entrepreneurs
[27:24] Congruent’s investments in Planet FWD & other ventures
[30:26] The investment opportunity for consumer products-related companies
[32:04] Untapped opportunities that deserve more attention
[35:08] What if the unit economics don’t make sense yet
[35:46] The scope of what Dispatch will be doing in the future

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Lindsey Hoell and Christina O’Conor

Connect with Lindsey
Connect with Christina

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Saving the planet with seaweed, Symbrosia & Sway, Ep#25

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

I’ve been really curious about seaweed. I hear a lot about seaweed-based businesses, and there’s a lot of hope and hype around the potential for seaweed as a climate solution. The seaweed market has grown to become a $15 billion industry and it's projected to grow to $25 billion by 2028.

To learn more, I caught up with two aspiring seaweed startup founders: Alexia Akbay and Julia Marsh. Their companies couldn’t be more different – one is using seaweed to eliminate plastic packaging and the other is feeding seaweed to cows so they burp less. This conversation helps highlight the range of possibilities for seaweed, what’s so special about seaweed to begin with, some of the challenges seaweed startups are facing, and a spicy question that helped me understand one of the more radical seaweed ideas floating about these days. OK, I promise no more puns, or maybe just a couple, but lots of insights to chew on. Enjoy!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:19] What is Sway & the problem they’re aiming to solve
[4:13] What is Symbrosia & the problem they’re aiming to solve
[6:02] What's so special about seaweed & why is it being looked at as a climate solution
[9:25] How Alexia & Julia got started
[10:26] Other exciting applications for seaweed & the potential ahead
[13:42] The technological breakthroughs that set Symbrosia & Sway apart & how far along they are in their journey
[20:15] What are the biggest barriers to scale & what needs to change
[23:58] The unit economics & value for partners
[27:51] Considerations for entrepreneurs & investors thinking about seaweed
[29:57] The growing market & what this means for seaweed companies
[33:13] Super spicy talk around seaweed right now
[35:14] What consumers should know about seaweed
[37:51] How Sway & Symbrosia can support a bigger ecosystem

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Alexia Akbay & Julia Marsh

Connect with Alexia on LinkedIn
Connect with Julia on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Seth Godin on Systems Change and The Carbon Almanac, Ep #24

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0400

A couple weeks ago our episode focused on Speed & Scale, a comprehensive action plan to cut emissions in half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. It's a book and an ambitious ongoing effort to track global progress on addressing climate change.

This week we focus again on a book and ambitious ongoing effort: The Carbon Almanac. Over 300 volunteers created the book, and now it's a movement of over 1,900 people who are continuing to add resources to help the world get the facts straight about climate.

The founder and lead organizer of this ambitious project is someone you’ve likely heard of before: Seth Godin. Seth has written over 20 best selling books. He’s widely recognized as a thought leader on marketing, how ideas spread, leadership, creativity and change. I was thrilled to have the chance to talk to Seth and he was just as fun and thought provoking as I hoped.

And, a little warning – something happens in the background towards the end of episode. Normally we’d edit it out for you but it actually led to a really interesting discussion about a way everyday people can have a lot of impact. I’ll let it remain a surprise for you but you’ll know it when you hear it. Enjoy!

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:19] What is The Carbon Almanac & how it came to be
[4:57] What motivated Seth to look at climate change
[7:17] What role do individuals have in systems change
[9:09] Today’s culture in regards to climate change and how it's changing
[11:04] What it takes to get to the next level of action
[14:17] What we need to change and what is Seth most excited to work on
[19:20] How systems change
[21:24] Comparing the climate era to the digital transformation era
[23:08] What we need from leaders today
[24:33] The influence of corporations
[27:57] Narratives that (don’t) work for bold climate action
[29:10] Action around leaf blowers
[30:14] What Seth is working on next & his call to action
[32:29] The role in design in making a new future tangible

Resources Mentioned

The Carbon Almanac

Connect with Seth Godin

Connect with Seth on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Creating a circular economy with Cotopaxi & TERSUS, Ep #23

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 03:00:00 -0400

I’m not going to sugar coat this – fast fashion stinks. It creates a truly unfathomable amount of wasted materials, water, labor, money and carbon emissions.

This means it provides the perfect context for discussing today’s prevailing paradigm for eradicating waste – not just in fashion, but in all sectors. The idea is a bold one – that we can transform our economy from an extractive, wasteful, linear system of using and discarding stuff, to a circular economy that keeps products, components and materials in circulation for future use. It's an idea that has gained tremendous attention and enthusiasm across the business community in recent years, though it still remains quite difficult to achieve.

For this discussion, we’re joined by two people working hard to make the apparel industry circular: Annie Agle, Sr Director of Impact & Sustainability at Cotopaxi and Peter Whitcomb, President of TERSUS Solutions.

Annie and Peter are true leaders in this field, with clear visions of what a circular future could look like and the hard earned knowledge of the challenges we face. I hope you enjoy this conversation, and if nothing else, think more about throwing out clothes in the future. Here we go.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:39] What the term “circular economy” means and why it's a helpful framework
[10:18] The Del Dia Program: A Cotopaxi success story
[12:40] The biggest challenge about keeping materials out of landfills
[14:58] What TERSUS is doing and the problem that they’re aiming to solve
[20:07] The environmental impact of TERSUS’ waterless cleaning process
[23:18] Consumer interest and how Cotopaxi is driving demand for secondhand goods
[24:07] The economic toll that we're already seeing from water-related climate impacts
[28:37] The growth of resale - what portion of the market will eventually become secondhand products
[31:50] Thinking about other circular economy business models
[42:09] What has made the circular narrative so resonant and successful
[41:58] What do we need to do to accelerate implementation of circularity
[45:55] How we all contribute to reducing waste and building a more circular economy

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Annie Agle and Peter Whitcomb

Connect with Annie on LinkedIn
Connect with Peter on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

A comprehensive action plan for climate with Speed & Scale, Ep #22

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

My favorite read in the last couple years by far is a book called Speed & Scale. We know there’s been a massive mobilization of capital, talent and attention to address climate change, but how do we know if it’ll be enough?

Speed & Scale offers a clear, sector by sector, action plan and online tracker of what we need to do to cut emissions in half by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050. It’s incredibly well researched, packed with data and inspiration, and it uses the tried and tested system of Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) to create clear goals that add up to a comprehensive plan.

Some quick context for you:

OKRs became a popular management system after venture capital investor John Doerr introduced them to Google in 1999. John wrote about OKRs in his book Measure What Matters. He’s long been a leading climate investor and donor, and recently gave $1.1 billion dollars to found Stanford’s new School of Sustainability.

Bringing the OKR framework to create a global action plan for climate was an ambitious and much needed effort that can help inform climate action.

For today’s episode, I spoke with Ryan Panchadsaram and Anjali Grover. Ryan is a special advisor to John Doerr, and is the co-author of Speed & Scale. Anjali is Partner and Managing Director of Speed & Scale, overseeing the ongoing initiative to accelerate and track progress against the OKRs. We cover a lot of ground – from high level to nitty gritty, from code red OKRs where progress isn’t being made to real reasons for optimism, and of course, also, what this all means for everyday people who care about climate change. Enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[5:01] What is Speed & Scale and how it came about
[7:36] The key objectives covered in Speed & Scale
[11:51] Objective example: electrifying transportation
[15:14] Speed & Scale's tracker tool and the current status on climate
[19:55] The state of large scale investments - what else is needed
[24:35] Reasons for hope
[27:25] Lessons and insights from being in the investor space
[31:25] How close can we get to accomplishing the 10 OKRs
[35:39] How did the Inflation Reduction Act shift what needs to get done
[39:44] The most important thing people can do right now

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Ryan Panchadsaram and Anjali Grover

Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn
Connect with Anjali on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Eliminating Food Waste with ReFED & Too Good to Go, Ep #21

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode focused on food waste, a topic that I love talking about as it's one of the most accessible ways for pretty much anyone to make a difference on climate change.

Wasting food is a huge problem. Roughly 40% of the world’s food is wasted each year, while almost a billion people are undernourished. Further, wasted food adds up to 8-10% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.

Like many people working on this issue, my understanding of the food waste opportunity was shaped by an organization called ReFED. They launched in 2015 and have been one of the best examples of an effort to accelerate investment and entrepreneurship through data, storytelling and partnerships.

We’re fortunate to be joined by Dana Gunders, Executive Director of ReFED. Prior to joining ReFED, Dana wrote the book, The Waste-Free Kitchen Handbook: A Guide to Eating Well and Saving Money By Wasting Less Food.

We were also joined by Gaeleen Quin, Head of Impact for the fast growing food waste startup Too Good to Go, which enables retailers to offer soon to be wasted food to consumers at a discount.

We discuss a wide range of opportunities for eliminating food waste, and tap into Gaeleen and Dana’s insights to growing this emerging innovation space. No matter who you are, if you buy and eat food, I’m sure you’ll find something immediately useful in this episode.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[4:44] Why does food waste matter & why it matters to climate change
[8:18] What is ReFED & what is their role
[9:51] Food waste categories & which ones offer the most leverage
[11:55] Where we need to focus most & where there’s most opportunity for impact
[13:44] The problem that Too Good to Go aiming to solve
[16:22] The hardest part of gaining market adoption
[19:47] What can retailers do about food waste
[21:43] The importance of Gaeleen’s role as Head of Impact
[23:27] Examples of partnerships with schools and community organizations
[25:21] The most effective way for us to reduce or eliminate food waste
[31:30] The status on ReFED’s goal to cut food waste in half by 2030
[37:10] Making immense amounts of data inspiring & actionable
[43:19] The most exciting things that Gaeleen & Dana are working on right now

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Dana Gunders and Gaeleen Quinn

Connect with Dana on LinkedIn
Connect with Gaeleen on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Investing for a Net Positive Civilization with Tom Chi, Ep #20

Tue, 13 Sep 2022 05:30:00 -0400

This week’s episode was a lot of fun. Tom Chi is one of the biggest thinkers I’ve encountered in the climate space. He was one of the founding members of GoogleX, leading teams that developed self-driving cars, Google Glass, high altitude balloons that broadcast the internet and much, much more. He also helped build Microsoft Outlook and Yahoo Answers. Tom now teaches and coaches entrepreneurs and is the founder of At One Ventures. Tom’s investment thesis is truly visionary, aspiring to not just reduce carbon emissions, but to create a net positive civilization where humans do more good than harm to nature. This conversation is quite philosophical and we cover a lot of ground, but I’m already finding some practical applications for Tom’s ideas. I hope you find this as provocative and useful as I did. So let’s dive in.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:23] The future of life on Earth & making the switch from optimism to efficacy
[6:39] Tom’s medium for creating masterpieces
[12:40] The different styles of cognition used for approaching climate change
[16:05] How At One Ventures aspires to create a net positive civilization
[19:44] Contributing to the health of the planet through new businesses and startups
[25:15] What is an invention catalyst & how do At One’s investments fit the bill
[30:00] Investing in biopolymers: Cruz Foam & Simplifyber
[38:03] What can we do to accelerate a consciousness shift around climate
[48:02] What if we were to compost late-stage capitalism
[49:31] The empowerment formula for everyday listeners

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Tom Chi

Connect with Tom on LinkedIn and Twitter

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Investing in water with Burnt Island Ventures & StormSensor, Ep #19

Tue, 06 Sep 2022 05:00:00 -0400

This summer, the impacts of climate change have been impossible to ignore. Record heat waves, droughts and floods have inflicted a terrible toll around the world. They’ve made all the more clear the pressing need to transform how we access, use, reuse and protect ourselves from water. It’s the source of life on Earth, and yet our relationship with water clearly needs to change.

In this episode, we dive deep into the opportunity for investing in water with Tom Ferguson and Erin Rothman. Tom is the Founder and Managing Partner of Burnt Island Ventures, a new venture firm focused on investing in water businesses. Erin is the founder and CEO of StormSensor, a climate tech company focused on helping cities predict and plan for storms and floods.

I learned a lot through this conversation and left feeling really grateful for the work being done by Tom, Erin and a growing pool of water entrepreneurs. Warning, in case you can’t tell, this episode is awash in puns. Hope you enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:24] Tom’s path to Burnt Island Ventures and the investment thesis behind their work
[10:18] What is StormSensor and what problems does it aim to solve
[12:57] How the water space has developed over the years
[17:11] US infrastructure and how new legislation will help climate entrepreneurs
[20:07] How StormSensor works and its technical innovation
[22:45] What the future looks like if StormSensor is successful
[24:07] The economic toll that we're already seeing from water-related climate impacts
[30:32] The exciting range of water innovations that hold promise
[36:26] The gaps and opportunities in entrepreneurial efforts and investments
[42:09] Visions for the future of water - what path are we on
[48:59] What can everyday listeners do for impact

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Tom Ferguson and Erin Rothman

Connect with Tom on Twitter and LinkedIn
Connect with Erin on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Supporting founders with Lowercarbon Capital and the Climate Tech Bootcamp, Ep #18

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 08:00:00 -0400

Hi folks, tackling climate change will take entrepreneurial efforts of all shapes and sizes. There’s already been unprecedented growth in the number of startups focusing on climate over the past few years, but I believe it's just the beginning. Decarbonizing the global economy, adapting to climate impacts, and introducing new products and services for a decarbonized world will require millions of people with an entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to climate.

So where will all these entrepreneurs come from and how will they be supported? That’s just one of the questions I discussed with Mia Diawara and Jamil Wyne. Mia is a Partner at Lowercarbon Capital, one of the most ambitious and well-respected climate tech venture funds. Jamil is an advisor and educator working with climate entrepreneurs and investors around the world. Jamil and Mia are collaborating on a new bootcamp for climate entrepreneurs, and our conversation about climate entrepreneurship was truly energizing for me. I hope you enjoy.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:24] Why Mia chose to focus on climate and how she ended up at Lowercarbon Capital
[7:43] Jamil’s climate work journey and support for investors and entrepreneurs
[11:30] The most exciting spaces in climate investing right now
[18:35] Customer acquisition for adoption of built environment technologies
[23:28] Opportunities for climate tech startups right now
[27:43] What is the bootcamp and who does it aim to support
[32:48] Mia as a bootcamp instructor and what participants can expect
[35:50] The future of climate entrepreneurship and how entrepreneurial ecosystems must evolve to help founders succeed
[44:08] Advice for prospective climate tech founders

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Mia Diawara and Jamil Wyne

Connect with Mia on LinkedIn and Twitter
Connect with Jamil on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Climate positive cities and air conditioning with 2150.vc and Blue Frontier, Ep #17

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

In this week’s episode, we’re focusing on the opportunity to invest in buildings, cities, infrastructure and air conditioning. Why? Well, for one thing, 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the built environment, and according to the Climate Group, those emissions are set to double by 2050 if they’re left unchecked. Why else? Because it's been crazy hot this summer and the record heat waves we’ve experienced are unfortunately just the beginning.

I was thrilled to talk with Christian Hernandez Gallardo, Co-Founder and Partner of venture firm 2150 that’s investing in making cities more efficient, sustainable and resilient. And also Daniel Betts, founder of Blue Frontier, a startup that is set to positively disrupt the air conditioning market.

As investment in urban infrastructure begins to take off, a real transformation is possible and companies like Blue Frontier offer a glimpse of what the future can hold. I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. Let’s dive in.

In today’s episode, we cover:

[3:33] What is 2150 and the investment thesis that’s driving their work
[4:37] Why focus on cities and city infrastructure AKA the built environment
[7:03] Personal motivations behind investing in climate founders
[10:36] Finding optimism through climate work
[11:48] The importance of cooling
[14:46] What is Blue Frontier and what problem is it aiming to solve
[17:15] What climate impacts can Blue Frontier’s technology create
[20:02] Replacing refrigerants in air conditioners with other materials
[21:20] What will it take for Blue Frontier technology to reach scale
[27:01] Commercial and municipal challenges in replacing legacy infrastructure
[31:20] Where is there a lack of built environment innovation and investment
[35:37] How to support the transition to more climate-positive built environments
[40:25] Tips on how folks can start investing
[41:29] Calls to action from 2150 and Blue Frontier

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Christian Hernandez Gallardo and Daniel Betts

Connect with Christian on Twitter and LinkedIn
Connect with Daniel on Twitter and LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

The Power of State Action with CA Senator Josh Becker and CA Envirovoters CEO Mary Creasman, Ep #16

Tue, 16 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

I've noticed that no matter who I talk to, I keep hearing about the importance of government action for addressing climate change. Laws, public programs, and incentives are critical to speeding up decarbonisation, protecting the environment, and ensuring that historically underserved communities aren't left behind. Much of the climate policy we need will happen at the state and local level. And there's perhaps no state more influential than California. And so I was thrilled to talk with California State Senator Josh Becker, and Mary Creasman, CEO of California Envirovoters. They're both working hard to make sure California continues to be a climate action leader and they provide some great insights to what we can all be doing. So let's dive in.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[3:41] Senator Becker and Mary Creasman - what are their roles in the climate transition
[6:09] The importance of local, state, and federal policy
[9:51] The role CA has played in protecting the environment and fighting climate change
[13:03] Priorities and challenges for climate action in CA
[20:29] The most important actions and ideas for influencing others
[27:46] What is the Justice 40 Act and why it matters
[30:40] Why did Senator Manchin come around and what is the Inflation Reduction Act
[34:34] Climate as a top electoral issue
[37:11] Speaking to voters about climate - what works and how to get more involved
[39:25] The most effective ways for people to accelerate climate policymaking
[42:56] How voters can reach policymakers and actually have an influence

Resources Mentioned

California Environmental Voters

Connect with Senator Josh Becker and Mary Creasman

Connect with Senator Becker
Connect with Mary

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Magically appearing electric vehicles with Halo.car, Ep #15

Tue, 09 Aug 2022 05:00:00 -0400

To address climate change, there's little doubt that we need to replace gas powered cars with electric vehicles. But is owning an EV actually needed? What if rather than buying a car that remains parked most of the time, electric vehicles could just appear when we need them. That's the bold vision of Anand Nandakumar, Founder of the startup Halo.car. The company provides a solution enabled by technology and a team of remote pilots that offers the convenience of Lyft or Uber, combined with the freedom of Zipcar. I had a blast talking to Anand and think you will enjoy his big thinking and great insights to transportation, cities, urban design, the future and more. So buckle up. Here we go.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[2:45] What is Halo.car and what problem is it aiming to solve
[6:36] Anand’s story and what led him to start Halo.car
[10:30] The innovation behind what makes Halo.car special
[12:48] Overcoming the technical and regulatory challenges of a new market
[18:44] The process for selecting and training remote pilots
[21:29] Halo.car’s launch in Las Vegas and growth plans
[28:16] The global market opportunity and insights into opportunities in India
[30:38] A vision for the future of mobility and urban design
[36:44] Looking forward towards autonomous vehicles
[43:09] Being a climate entrepreneur in this current moment
[47:07] Practicing minimalism for climate impact

Resources Mentioned

Halo.car

Connect with Anand Nandakumar

Connect with Anand

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Non-dilutive climate investing with Enduring Planet, Ep #14

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0400

The thing that's most exciting for us working in climate is that we are witnessing one of the largest societal transformations that we'll probably ever see. And we're right at the start of it.

Over the next decade, we're going to see an explosion of growth and opportunity in this space. Last year, over $40 billion in venture capital went to over 900 climate tech companies. To put that in context, that's double what it was just the year before. And yet, this is just a fraction of climate entrepreneurship. In addition to these hundreds of venture backed startups, there's hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of small businesses, turning their sights to climate impact. Most are not a fit for or interested in venture capital, but they still have financing needs.

This is the market that Dimitry Gershenson and Erin Davis are serving with their startup, Enduring Planet. They offer non-dilutive funding on founder-friendly terms. While there's a ton of coverage of the venture capital market, Dimitry and Erin bring unique perspectives to the incredibly diverse and expansive field of climate entrepreneurship. Full disclosure: I'm a big fan of Enduring Planet and recently made a small investment in their seed round. I think you'll see why I'm so excited by their potential. Here we go.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[4:30] What is Enduring Planet and what problem is it aiming to solve
[6:02] The type of companies that Enduring Planet is looking to invest in
[8:05] What it means to be founder-friendly and the experience founders can expect
[10:36] What is non-dilutive funding and why might it be the best option
[11:08] The market size and exciting areas for non-dilutive climate investments
[15:06] How many companies Enduring Planet is looking at and the current reach
[19:24] Serving underrepresented founders through corporate DNA
[24:12] The breadth of companies emerging and the generational shift
[27:37] Fixed income intermediaries as a missing piece of the climate innovation puzzle
[31:18] What is revenue-based financing, how it works, and why it’s the first product
[35:26] What revenue-based financing means for business and viability
[39:04] Using technology to improve the process of evaluating investment opportunities
[41:09] Enduring Planet’s growth goals for the next 3-5 years
[44:30] Advice for individual investors interested in climate

Resources Mentioned

Connect with Dimitry Gershenson and Erin Davis

Connect with Dimitry
Connect with Erin

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Climate tech insights from Latin America, Ep# 13

Mon, 25 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Bienvenidos and welcome. Latin America is one of my favorite places in the world to visit and so I was thrilled to get to learn about the state of climate tech investing in Latin America for this episode. Today you’ll get to hear three interesting perspectives – a climate tech investor, a startup founder and a car designer rethinking mobility and urban design. Diego Serebrisky is a climate tech investor based in Mexico City. He’s the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of a firm called Dalus Capital. Jose Manuel Moller is the founder and CEO of a growing circular economy startup called Algramo. And Fernando Ocaña is a car designer and founder of the firm VEU Auto.

Lots of fascinating insights to the climate tech we’ll need in the future and to building climate solutions in Latin America. Hope you learn as much as I did. Enjoy.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[2:17] Diego's work at Dalus Capital and his insights into the growth of climate investing
[7:12] Opportunities within Mexico and Latin America
[9:57] Deal flows that Dalus Capital is seeing
[11:44] José's work at Algramo and what problems he's aiming to solve
[14:17] How technology can enable consumer behavior change
[15:59] Scaling business in the circular economy space
[17:58] Fernando's work at VEU Auto and his strategy to address mobility issues
[23:02] Mexico City as a laboratory for urban design and sustainable design
[26:37] Learning from Mexico and Latin American markets
[36:23] The state of climate tech in Mexico
[38:27] The importance of gaining global visibility
[40:13] The importance of personal choices and policy change

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Diego Serebrisky, Jose Manuel Moller and Fernando Ocaña

Connect with Diego
Connect with Jose
Connect with Fernando

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Creativity, movement building and culture change for climate, Ep# 12

Mon, 18 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Might it be that the climate crisis requires not just technological change but also culture change. Might it be that as a civilization we need profound shifts in how we think, speak and act. If that’s the case, then art and creative expression will be critical to stretching our imaginations and to creating the new narratives, paradigms and mindsets that underpin our society.

Planning for this episode I became fascinated with the role and potential of artistic movements in creating culture change. I actually recorded this episode with a live audience of designers and creative people at IDEO, the design firm where I work. And so the pressure was on.

After extensive research, I was thrilled to find Raquel deAnda and Gan Golan. Raquel is an artist, curator and cultural producer involved in many climate and social justice organizations, and she helps lead the US Department of Arts and Culture. Gan Golan artist, activist, creative strategist, and NY Times bestselling author and he is a co-founder of the Climate Clock.

Raquel and Gan met while designing and organizing the role of art in the 2014 People’s Climate March. That was one of the largest climate mobilizations in history and so they bring really informed perspectives on the power of creativity in the climate movement. We talked about that experience, the work they’re doing now, how artists continue to impact the climate movement and advice for anyone that wants to use their creativity to address climate change. So whether you’re an artist, creatively curious or just eager for that culture change we need – this episode has a lot you’ll enjoy. Here we go.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[3:11] How Raquel and Gan met
[4:04] The role of art and creativity at the People's Climate March
[7:05] The impacts of the March on the climate justice movement
[10:59] What is actually happening and what is the pushback
[14:33] What is Climate Clock and what is it aiming to achieve
[18:41] How can people get involved and utilize Climate Clock's resources
[19:56] Examples of art as an organizing strategy
[21:02] What is the US Department of Arts and Culture and what is it aiming to achieve
[24:32] Traction for supporting artists through local government
[26:16] Funding barriers for climate creatives and ways to support
[30:27] How to elevate the urgency of climate in our public discourse
[33:54] Advice for creatives interested in climate justice work
[36:19] How to bring climate action into the house as parents
[39:34] Finding inspiration and emerging ideas
[43:14] Other climate resources: Like the Waters, We Rise
[45:37] Lifting up joy in work and activism

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Raquel deAnda and Gan Golan

Connect with Raquel
Connect with Gan

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Synthetic bio investing with Exponential Impact, Ep #11

Mon, 11 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Climate tech is a $90 trillion opportunity and synthetic biology is projected to be a $30 trillion opportunity. Both sectors are expected to grow by 100x in the next decade, and we know that more than 60% of the dirty inputs to the global economy can be replaced by inputs made by biology which are more efficient, cleaner and cost effective. So we invest in the intersection of these two markets, both of which are at inflection points.

When it comes to a rapidly decarbonizing world, there's many things we take for granted that we shouldn't. For example, it's easy to assume that coffee and chocolate should always come from beans that grow on trees. Maybe that's the case. Or maybe we'll rely on new tech that's enabling us to create synthetic alternatives that are actually better for the planet. Welcome to the world of synthetic biology. I've been fascinated by the possibility of dramatically reducing emissions across many different sectors through biology. So I sat down with Michael Luciani and Jenny Kan, who are investing in synthetic bio as they build a new fund called Exponential Impact. I learned a ton in this conversation and hope you do too.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[3:21] What led Jenny and Michael to climate investing
[9:32] What is syndicate investing and how it works
[12:36] What is a rolling fund and what type of investors are a good fit
[15:15] The investment thesis behind Exponential Impact
[16:56] The market case for climate tech and biotech investing
[19:47] How synthetic bio is creating an opportunity for addressing climate change
[21:34] Examples of investment opportunities available
[27:27] How do synthetically made products compare
[29:06] The economical and ethical critiques of the synthetic bio space
[32:22] Exponential Impact’s advantages as a firm
[33:49] Exponential Impact’s ideal investor and minimum investment
[35:31] Principles for supporting climate tech startups
[37:30] Community and attitude considerations for climate impact

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Michael Luciani and Jenny Kan

Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
Connect with Jenny on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Managing your carbon footprint with Joro, Ep #10

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 03:00:00 -0400

The IPCC report that came out recently found that demand side changes, including consumer behavior change, can help reduce 40 to 70% of the emissions that we need to cut by 2050. So we do have power to meet global climate goals, especially where we act together, and when we know which choices to focus on.

I'll be honest here, I don't think carbon offsets are the answer. Companies relying only on offsets to become carbon neutral are pushing off the hard work of reducing their emissions. On the individual level, however, buying offsets actually has a different effect. It gets individuals to become more engaged in managing their carbon footprint, in talking about climate, and getting involved in activism. This is some of what I learned from Sanchli Pal, founder of a venture-backed startup called Joro.

In this episode of Invested in Climate, we talk to Sanchali about the work she does, how individual decisions can spark systemic change, and what we can all do today to reduce our emissions.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[2:55] What is Joro and what problem is it aiming to solve
[4:21] The methodology behind tracking and calculating an individual’s carbon footprint
[8:03] What is an offset and how it works
[9:08] The validity of concerns around offsetting
[11:38] The most impactful lifestyle choices we can make to reduce our footprint
[14:46] How Sanchali started her journey as a founder
[17:52] Focusing on individuals for leveraging systems change
[20:16] The multiplier effect through building community
[23:20] Consumer demands and the need for Joro
[24:46] Drawing inspiration for US consumers from international progress
[28:55] Using metrics to work towards a new way of thinking
[30:37] Areas where people made the biggest carbon reductions in the last year
[34:18] Work and learning to address the climate crisis

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Sanchali Pal

Joro
Connect on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Climate Investing with Goldman Sachs' John Goldstein, Ep #9

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 03:00:00 -0400

There are likely only a few people who know more about impact investing than John Goldstein. His firm—Imprint Capital—helped pioneer the field before getting acquired by Goldman Sachs in 2015. Now, John is the head of Goldman’s Sustainable Finance Group, offering him a truly unique perspective on the trillions of dollars needed to finance decarbonization and conservation globally.

In this episode of Invested in Climate, we talk about the work that John does, how investing in climate has evolved in recent years, and why now is the time to invest. If you’re investing in climate or curious about getting started, don’t miss this episode.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[2:43] The purpose of the sustainable finance group
[7:44] The clients they serve and the scale they operate at
[9:00] What led John to the position he’s in today
[16:03] Why now is the time to invest in climate
[22:07] Quantifying the impact of investments
[26:49] Why we’re in a new chapter of ESG investing
[31:31] The investment opportunities available
[32:55] Can divestment have an impact?
[34:08] Think like an analyst—not an advocate
[42:43] How everyday people make an impact

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with John Goldstein

Connect on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Going Solar is Easy & Affordable with Wildgrid, Ep #8

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Switching your home energy source to solar is one of the most impactful things you can do to slow climate change—yet going solar is confusing and can be prohibitively expensive. Wildgrid Solar is a startup working to make solar accessible to more people. In this episode of Invested in Climate, I sat down with Wildgrid’s co-founders Krystal Persaud and Parinda Darden to learn how they’re making the world of solar energy easier to navigate. And if you don’t yet power your home with solar, hopefully this episode has you considering making the switch.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[3:13] Learn more about Wildgrid Solar and the problem it’s aiming to solve
[4:17] The impact you can make by switching to solar
[5:23] How does Wildgrid work? Why should you use them?
[13:05] How Wildgrid works to offer a unique product
[18:06] Why Wildgrid is trying to reach a younger demographic
[20:49] How Wildgrid is building a community of solar advocates
[23:15] Why solar providers should partner with Wildgrid
[24:49] How Wildgrid seeks to expand in the future
[27:40] The new and exciting things happening with Wildgrid
[28:39] How Parinda and Krystal believe activism is impactful

Resources & People Mentioned

Grouphug

Connect with Krystal Persaud and Parinda Darden

Wildgrid Solar
Connect with Krystal on LinkedIn
Connect with Parinda on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Moving billions through 401ks with Sphere, Ep #7

Mon, 13 Jun 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode focuses on what’s perhaps the easiest way for you to help move billions of dollars out of fossil fuels. That’s right, I said “you,” “billions of dollars,” and “easy,” all in the same sentence. The surprising answer to this riddle is your 401k—and a young company called Sphere.

In this episode of Invested in Climate, I have a fascinating conversation with Sphere CEO and Founder Alex Wright-Gladstein, a serial entrepreneur who’s making it easy for everyday people and companies of all sizes to divest their 401ks from fossil fuels. I think you’ll learn a lot from this episode and walk away with a really easy and impactful action to take.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[2:35] When Alex realized her life’s work was to protect the planet
[6:05] Learn more about Sphere and the problem it works to solve
[10:30] Is divesting money from fossil fuels having an impact?
[15:11] What do you need to do to get started?
[16:04] Are climate-friendly 401k options more expensive?
[18:41] Details about the Sphere 500 Fossil-Free Index Fund
[22:34] Raising awareness for fossil-free investing
[25:49] Who is currently working with Sphere?
[27:03] How to change investments in a 401k with a past employer
[29:32] Other investment strategies you should consider
[32:04] Actionable ways Alex is making strides in other areas
[34:32] Why you should focus on creating infrastructure change

Resources & People Mentioned

Ayar Labs
Oursphere.org
As You Sow
Fossil Free Funds
Marilyn Waite’s blog with link to green banks
Ayana Elizabeth Johnsson’s venn diagram for climate action
How University of California Decided to Let its Employees Divest from Fossil Fuels
Learn more about Atmos Financial
How to Save a Planet podcast

Connect with Alex Wright-Gladstein

Connect on LinkedIn

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Climate Action Today with Sustainability Legend William McDonough, Ep #6

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 07:00:00 -0400

William “Bill” McDonough pioneered the green architecture field, creating buildings that create more energy than they use, clean their own air and water, and create habitats for native wildlife. His book and work on the “Cradle to Cradle” approach spread the idea that waste equals food, helping to spark the circular economy movement.

Bill has won two presidential awards and was recognized by Time Magazine as a hero for the planet. Fortune ranked him #24 of the world’s 50 greatest leaders. He brings sage wisdom and poetry to this conversation. Are you ready to push the boundaries of your thinking?

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[3:29] A unified philosophy that is changing the design of the world
[10:48] The balance between humility and ambition in design
[11:40] How the climate movement has evolved
[16:05] The tools Bill is using today
[19:36] Net zero is a good place to start
[23:56] Tangible steps you can take to make a difference
[26:07] Design is the first signal of human intention
[33:34] How do you get new ideas to spread?

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with William McDonough

Bill’s website
Connect on LinkedIn
Follow on Twitter

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Climate accelerators and investing at Google, ANIM and the Black Angel Group, Ep #5

Mon, 30 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Jason Scott has been recruiting his coworkers at Google to directly support climate startups as both mentors and investors. Jason is also a partner at ANIM, an early-stage venture fund. He’s built funds and accelerator programs for Google including accelerators for black-led, women-led, and climate-focused companies.

He’s also launched the Black Angel Group as a way to take advantage of investing in climate tech companies and have a tangible impact on climate change. It’s also a great opportunity to learn from and collaborate with others. He shares numerous practical insights in this episode of Invested in Climate.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[4:12] Learn all about Google's climate accelerator
[8:17] How Google helps startups get to the next level
[11:40] How to be considered for future accelerators
[12:47] Jason’s experience recruiting volunteers from within Google
[16:36] How Jason supports climate tech startups through angel groups
[21:16] What it’s like to be a member of Jason’s collective
[23:02] The intersection between climate and underrepresented founders
[25:41] Why now is the time to invest in a climate-focused startup
[29:04] Learn about Jason’s global digital-first entrepreneurship fund
[31:43] How to get involved in Jason’s endeavors
[33:18] Ways to create positive change around issues you care about

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Jason Scott

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Every Job is a Climate Job with Drawdown Labs, Ep #4

Mon, 23 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Jamie Beck Alexander argues convincingly that to mitigate climate change, every job must be a climate job. What does that mean? You have to recognize the influence you have no matter your role, industry, or the level you’re at in your organization. You can be part of what’s driving change: a movement of committed employees who help their companies do more to address climate change.

As the founding Director of Drawdown Labs, Jamie helped develop the “Climate Solutions At Work” guide and provides hands-on support to dozens of companies. In this episode of Invested in Climate, Jamie shares some tangible steps we can each take to accelerate progress.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[3:20] The mobilization of talent toward climate change jobs
[5:23] Learn more about Project Drawdown and Drawdown Labs
[8:31] The private sector’s role in addressing climate change
[12:38] Jamie’s mantra: Every job must be a climate job
[14:24] Learn about the “Climate Solutions at Work” guide
[21:50] How to hold companies accountable to their green initiatives
[28:02] The impact of the Drawdown Project’s workshops
[30:53] How to influence the organization you work at
[32:43] How you can make an impact in all areas of your life

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Jamie Beck Alexander

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Stop Lending Your Money to Fossil Fuels with Atmos Financial, Ep #3

Mon, 16 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Most people don’t put that much thought into where they bank. Do you? Do you choose a bank because it’s convenient? Is it simply somewhere your family has always banked? Do you look for the best interest rates? You probably haven’t considered how your bank invests the money you deposit in your savings or checking account(s). The majority of big banks are investing your money into fossil fuels.

Today’s guest—Ravi Mikkelsen—is the founder of Atmos Financial, a bank that ensures your deposits only fund climate-positive investments like renewable energy projects. Switching banks may sound like a hassle, but it’s likely easier and far more impactful than you think. In this episode of Invested in Climate, Ravi shares how Atmos Financial works and how you can make an impact with your money.

In Today’s Episode, we cover:

[3:11] What led Ravi to found Atmos Financial
[7:11] How Ravi navigated some bumps in the road
[10:40] Lean how Atmos Financial works
[15:50] Why should you consider Atmos Financial?
[18:34] Does divestment from fossil fuels make a difference?
[20:34] Most people don't think twice about where they bank
[26:28] Learn the ins and outs of banking with Atmos Financial
[29:58] How the debit card works (cashback + roundup program)
[32:10] Why they have the ability to offer higher savings rates
[33:55] How to get started with Atmos Financial
[35:32] What else can listeners do to invest in climate?
[41:15] What’s happening next with Atmos Financial

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Ravi Mikkelsen

Atmos Financial
Connect with Ravi on LinkedIn
Follow Ravi on Twitter

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK

Climate Jobs for Everyone, with Terra.do, Ep #2

Mon, 09 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Can you imagine a time in the future when decarbonizing the economy and protecting the planet are such important priorities that half of all jobs are oriented toward climate issues? It’s hard for us to picture right now, but it’s the compelling vision of two startup founders, Anshuman Bapna and Kamal Kapadia.

Their company, Terra, offers education and community for the fast-growing climate workforce. Their insights into the explosion in climate work is valuable on a number of levels and I’m excited to bring them to you on this episode of Invested in Climate.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

[1:50] The vision of decarbonizing the economy and protecting the planet
[3:08] How environmental concerns became a passion for Kamal and Anshuman
[5:16] The workforce problems the team at Terra is working to solve
[13:25] The support of a collaborative community in the opportunities Terra provides
[19:50] Transitioning individuals from other industries into the climate space
[22:43] Opportunities for anyone to create courses or experiences for the community
[31:12] How climate issues impact every role within every company
[36:26] The largest concerns Kamal has revolve around the issue of scale
[38:11] A conscious tension exists between climate concerns and lifestyle choices
[43:53] What you can do to take action for the sake of climate change
[47:51] Personal strategies each guest implements to stay focused and renewed

Connect with Anshuman Bapna and Kamal Kapadia

https://Terra.do - company website
Anshuman on LinkedIn
Kamal on LinkedIn
Terra on LinkedIn
Terra on Twitter
Terra on Instagram
Terra on Facebook

Connect With Jason Rissman

On LinkedIn
On Twitter

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Helping Shape Climate Policy with the Climate Advocacy Lab, Ep #1

Mon, 09 May 2022 03:00:00 -0400

The vast majority of people in the United States are frustrated with lawmakers' lack of action when it comes to climate policy. They want the government to fund renewable energy research, regulate CO2 emissions, and take other climate-positive measures. Yet the “Build Back Better” bill remains stuck in Congress. The country’s ability to meet its climate change commitments is uncertain at best.

So I sat down with Sean Kosofsky—the executive Director of the Climate Advocacy Lab—to learn about the state of climate advocacy in the US. The Climate Advocacy Lab is a community of over 3,000 climate advocates, organizers, researchers, and data specialists. They use evidence-based research to help climate advocates across the country run smarter and more effective campaigns. Sean has been part of several successful movements and has great insight into accelerating progress on the climate policy front. Listen in for a deep and passionate conversation about climate advocacy.

You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in...

[3:10] How Sean got involved in climate advocacy
[5:17] Learn all about the Climate Advocacy Lab
[6:45] Why does climate advocacy matter?
[8:53] The current state of climate advocacy
[10:55] The climate change wins from the Biden presidency
[13:38] Senator Joe Manchin III blocking the Build Back Better Act
[16:51] How to move past climate change being a political issue
[19:04] Hope for the Justice40 Framework
[21:23] The impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on climate initiatives
[23:14] The impact of local politics on climate change initiatives
[25:13] What climate advocates can learn from other movements
[27:58] Key challenges in the climate advocacy movement
[29:42] What can listeners do to make an impact?
[35:17] What Sean is doing in his personal life to support climate advocacy

Resources & People Mentioned

Connect with Sean Kosofsky

Learn more about the Climate Advocacy Lab
Connect with Sean on LinkedIn
Follow Sean on Twitter

Connect With Jason Rissman

Subscribe to Invested In Climate

Audio Production and Show Notes by - PODCAST FAST TRACK

Welcome to Invested In Climate

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Invested in Climate hosts conversations with leading thinkers to help our listeners find the right ways to do more to address the climate crisis through five categories of action: Work, Investments, Learning, Lifestyle and Activism.

People everywhere, communities, governments and all sectors of the economy are mobilizing to address climate change. The scale of this global action is unprecedented. Never before have so many people dedicated so much energy, creativity and capital to addressing a shared, global threat. Will it be enough? What else is needed? And, most importantly, what can you do?

We all have a part to play, so let’s go.

http://investedinclimate.com