EUVC E404 | Ben Saunders: World record breaking Arctic Explorer and climate investor on grit, survival and fundraising
Jan 24, 2025
58:54
In this episode of the EUVC podcast, we’re talking to Ben Saunders, a pioneer in one of the most demanding fields on Earth and an accomplished climate investor.
Ben is arguably one of the most acclaimed explorers in the world today. He's pushed the boundaries of human endurance and traveled more than 4,500 miles (7,000km) on foot in the polar regions. Ben is only the third person in history to ski solo to the North and South Poles, and he holds the record for the longest-ever polar journey on foot.
But Ben’s pursuits extend beyond the physical. He is now an active climate investor but recently decided to halt the fundraising process for his fund, Kintanna Ventures.
Today's episode promises to be among our most candid and thought-provoking conversations. Ben will share his unique journey from extreme exploration to entrepreneurship and back again. We'll dive deep into the reasons behind his decision to stop the rise of Kintanna Ventures, offering an unparalleled look into the challenges of fund creation, today’s market dynamics, and the importance of grit—how to develop it and how expedition grit compares and differs to entrepreneurial grit.
Get ready for an honest, transparent discussion about resilience, decision-making, and the true meaning of grit - all from someone who has faced nature's harshest challenges and the complexities of the business world.
Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀
Ben is arguably one of the most acclaimed explorers in the world today. He's pushed the boundaries of human endurance and traveled more than 4,500 miles (7,000km) on foot in the polar regions. Ben is only the third person in history to ski solo to the North and South Poles, and he holds the record for the longest-ever polar journey on foot.
But Ben’s pursuits extend beyond the physical. He is now an active climate investor but recently decided to halt the fundraising process for his fund, Kintanna Ventures.
Today's episode promises to be among our most candid and thought-provoking conversations. Ben will share his unique journey from extreme exploration to entrepreneurship and back again. We'll dive deep into the reasons behind his decision to stop the rise of Kintanna Ventures, offering an unparalleled look into the challenges of fund creation, today’s market dynamics, and the importance of grit—how to develop it and how expedition grit compares and differs to entrepreneurial grit.
Get ready for an honest, transparent discussion about resilience, decision-making, and the true meaning of grit - all from someone who has faced nature's harshest challenges and the complexities of the business world.
Go to eu.vc for our core learnings and the full video interview 👀