Capital Series: Rebecca Carland, Builders Asset Management
Oct 18, 2023
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Rebecca Carland, Chief Investment Officer at Builders Asset Management, discusses her journey to impact investing and the role of market forces in driving change. They explore Builders Vision as an impact platform and the shift from family office to impact platform. They also touch on the importance of ESG investing and the launch of their inaugural Impact Report.
Builders Vision is an impact-oriented investment platform with a focus on renewable energy, sustainable food and agriculture, and healthy oceans.
Builders Asset Management plays a vital role in bridging the gap between venture solutions and infrastructure, working towards accelerating the implementation and scalability of impactful solutions.
Deep dives
Builders Vision: Investing for a Sustainable Future
Builders Vision is an impact-oriented investment platform that focuses on global investments across public and private markets. The platform is led by Rebecca Karland, Chief Investment Officer of Builders Asset Management. The organization aims to shift markets and minds for good, with a specific focus on renewable energy, sustainable food and agriculture, and healthy oceans. Through their asset management arm, Builders Vision seeks to achieve financial return while aligning investments with their impact goals. They believe in the power of capital markets to drive positive change and are actively engaging with companies to improve their ESG practices.
Builders Asset Management's Role within Builders Vision
Builders Asset Management is the asset management team within Builders Vision and is responsible for investing globally across public and private markets. Their mandate is two-fold: to achieve financial returns while being impact-oriented and aligned with the overall mission of Builders Vision. The team focuses on proactive ESG and impact-aligned strategies, and they have billions of dollars invested in such strategies within their portfolio. Builders Asset Management also plays a vital role in bridging the gap between venture solutions and infrastructure, working towards accelerating the implementation and scalability of impactful solutions.
The Importance of ESG and Impact Investing
Builders Vision believes that incorporating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into investing is both a risk and an opportunity. They see ESG as an integral part of their investment approach across various asset classes. They follow a spectrum of integration, ranging from exclusionary/divestment strategies to proactive ESG integration and impact investing. Builders Vision aims to prove that impact investing can generate financial returns without compromising on impact goals. They encourage collaboration and engagement with traditional asset allocators and managers to help drive the transition towards a sustainable and low-carbon economy.
Collaboration and Building for the Missing Middle
Builders Vision recognizes the importance of collaboration and partnerships in addressing urgent global issues. They actively seek opportunities to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including grantees, entrepreneurs, fund managers, and other investors. Builders Asset Management, in particular, focuses on bridging the gap between early-stage venture solutions and infrastructure development, which they refer to as the 'missing middle.' They are open to exploring various investment strategies and financial tools to address this gap, including grants, program-related investments, and commercial capital. Their goal is to catalyze capital and fill voids in the market to drive impactful change.
This episode is part of our new Capital Series hosted by Jason Jacobs. This series explores a diverse range of capital sources and the individuals who drive them. From family offices and institutional LPs to private equity, government funding, and more, we take a deep dive into the world of capital and its critical role in driving innovation and progress.
Rebecca Carland serves as the Chief Investment Officer at Builders Asset Management, where she leads a growing impact-oriented team investing globally across public and private markets. Builders Asset Management is the asset management team at Builders Vision, which is Lukas Walton's family impact platform that offers versatile philanthropic and investment tools to people and organizations building a more humane and healthy planet.
Jason and Rebecca have a great discussion in this episode about Rebecca's journey to doing the work that she does, her work at Builders Asset Management, how that fits in to the overall Builders Vision umbrella, and where Builders Vision fits into the broader clean energy transition. Enjoy the show!
In this episode, we cover:
Introduction to Builders Vision and its asset management arm
Rebecca's background and journey to impact investing
The role of market forces in driving change and the need for collaboration
Builders Vision's focus areas: renewable energy, sustainable food and agriculture, and healthy oceans
The shift from family office to impact platform
Builders Asset Management's mandate
The importance of ESG integration and standardization
The gap between venture and infrastructure investment and the need for more capital in the missing middle
Challenges and opportunities of company net-zero commitments
The launch of Builders Vision's inaugural impact report
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Episode recorded on Sept. 22 (published on Oct. 18, 2023)
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