Invested In Climate

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 futureResources MentionedDispatch GoodsCongruent VenturesPlanet FWDParallel SystemsLydian LabsKodamaConnect with Lindsey Hoell and Christina O’ConorConnect with LindseyConnect with ChristinaConnect With Jason Rissmanhttps://InvestedInClimate.com On LinkedInOn TwitterSubscribe to Invested In Climate

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 ecosystemResources MentionedSymbrosiaSwayOceans 2050: Seaweed ProjectInstitute for Abundant OceansConnect with Alexia Akbay & Julia MarshConnect with Alexia on LinkedInConnect with Julia on LinkedInConnect With Jason Rissmanhttps://InvestedInClimate.com On LinkedInOn TwitterSubscribe to Invested In Climate

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 tangibleResources MentionedThe Carbon AlmanacConnect with Seth GodinConnect with Seth on LinkedInConnect With Jason Rissmanhttps://InvestedInClimate.com On LinkedInOn TwitterSubscribe to Invested In Climate

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 economyResources MentionedCotopaxiTERSUS SolutionsConnect with Annie Agle and Peter WhitcombConnect with Annie on LinkedInConnect with Peter on LinkedInConnect With Jason Rissmanhttps://InvestedInClimate.com On LinkedInOn TwitterSubscribe to Invested In Climate

Discover a detailed action plan in Speed & Scale book to cut emissions in half by 2030. Learn about the importance of OKRs in creating clear climate goals. Explore the impact of Early Clean Energy Investments and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on climate priorities.

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 nowResources MentionedReFEDToo Good to GoConnect with Dana Gunders and Gaeleen QuinnConnect with Dana on LinkedInConnect with Gaeleen on LinkedInConnect With Jason Rissmanhttps://InvestedInClimate.com On LinkedInOn TwitterSubscribe to Invested In Climate

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 listenersResources MentionedAtOne VenturesTomChi.comConnect with Tom ChiConnect with Tom on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect With Jason Rissmanhttps://InvestedInClimate.com On LinkedInOn TwitterSubscribe to Invested In Climate

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 impactResources MentionedBurnt Island VenturesStormSensorConnect with Tom Ferguson and Erin RothmanConnect with Tom on Twitter and LinkedInConnect with Erin on LinkedInConnect With Jason Rissmanhttps://InvestedInClimate.com On LinkedInOn TwitterSubscribe to Invested In Climate

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 foundersResources MentionedLowercarbon CapitalClimate Tech BootcampAxios: Map of U.S. counties expected to experience heat indices above 125°F by 2053Connect with Mia Diawara and Jamil WyneConnect with Mia on LinkedIn and TwitterConnect with Jamil on LinkedInConnect With Jason Rissmanhttps://InvestedInClimate.com On LinkedInOn TwitterSubscribe to Invested In Climate

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 FrontierResources Mentioned2150Blue FrontierClimate GroupConnect with Christian Hernandez Gallardo and Daniel BettsConnect with Christian on Twitter and LinkedInConnect with Daniel on Twitter and LinkedInConnect With Jason Rissmanhttps://InvestedInClimate.com On LinkedInOn TwitterSubscribe to Invested In Climate