impact entrepreneurs

Addy is a dynamic Investment Manager at Regenerate Ventures, focusing on fundraising, deal flow, and portfolio management. With her diverse experience across agri-tech, VC, and regenerative agriculture, she excels at bridging the gap between investors and entrepreneurs.

Previously, Addy built her own grab-and-go restaurant business in London, giving her valuable insight into the challenges facing startups seeking funding. She leverages this entrepreneurial spirit in her work sourcing and evaluating high-potential investments.

Prior to joining Regenerate, Addy held positions at Imprimatur Capital, Forward Food Tech, and Europe's largest regenerative farming project, Wildfarmed. In these roles, she developed specialized skills in agriculture technology, venture capital, and sustainable food systems.

Addy thrives on making connections between investors and world-positive startups. With her well-rounded background, she is a trusted partner for building regenerative portfolios.

About Regenerate Asset Management

Regenerate is actively involved in a global network bridging the gap between natural capital and the international finance community. In areas such as sustainable agriculture, the right approach creates opportunities to positively impact the environment while producing high quality food and fiber.

Regenerate's agricultural investments focus on improving soil health, which has positive ripple effects on biodiversity, water quality, and farming economics. Through its network, Regenerate is linking the worlds of finance and regeneration to fund scalable and impactful solutions. 

With a mission to heal the planet, Regenerate makes investments that restore natural systems while delivering competitive financial returns. 

The company is at the forefront of driving capital towards regenerative projects that benefit both people and planet.

Alina serves as the CEO and Managing Partner of The Radical Fund, an early-stage VC fund with a unique mission – investing in and supporting entrepreneurs who are driving rapid solutions for an inclusive climate transition, strengthening the foundations of a more resilient Southeast Asia. Connect with Alina on LinkedIn.

In addition to her role at The Radical Fund, Alina is a Co-Founder and former Chief Strategy Officer of Founders Factory Africa, a powerhouse in early-stage venture investment across the African continent, headquartered in Johannesburg. With a track record of raising over $140 million from LPs and investors for the Africa funds, the organization now boasts a portfolio of more than 55 companies and a dedicated team of over 45 professionals working across the continent.

One of Alina's recent achievements is securing a groundbreaking partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, worth $107 million, with a primary focus on driving increased investment and support to the early-stage ecosystem. This initiative aims to create over 2.7 million jobs and empower over 1500 inspiring entrepreneurs to become fully fledged founders, shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future.

But Alina's impactful journey doesn't stop there. Prior to her role at Founders Factory Africa, she spearheaded corporate partnerships at SPRING, an organization dedicated to scaling over 75 Pre-Seed tech ventures in nine countries across East Africa and South Asia. Working alongside a team of 40+ local and global experts, SPRING reached over 2.5 million adolescent girls and women, a feat independently evaluated by Tetra Tech Impact Management.

Before her work at SPRING, Alina dedicated seven years to the World Bank Group, where she forged critical collaborations with governments, corporations, and other multilateral development agencies, contributing to the advancement of social and economic development.

Alina's career began in Australia, where she honed her skills at two global companies within the WPP Group, operating across the Asia Pacific region and serving renowned clients such as BP, Kodak, GE Money, and Fosters Group.

About The Radical Fund

The Radical Fund is an early-stage VC fund dedicated to investing in founders who are actively advancing climate resilience in Southeast Asia. Their portfolio comprises a spectrum of adaptation and mitigation ventures, fostering an inclusive climate transition toward a sustainable future.

The fund recognizes that climate mitigation and decarbonization efforts, on their own, are insufficient to address the unique challenges faced by emerging markets in coping with climate change. These nations, disproportionately affected by environmental shifts, require more comprehensive solutions that go beyond emissions reduction.

The Radical Fund's investments are directed towards early-stage entrepreneurs who possess an intimate understanding of their customers - their needs, behaviors, and specific market or industry challenges. These founders have not only identified a pressing issue within their domain but have also rolled up their sleeves to actively seek innovative solutions.

Their Vision:

The Radical Fund envisions a future where, by 2030, Southeast Asia emerges as the world's premier hub for early-stage climate ventures. This vision hinges on the development of scaled products and services, thoughtfully tailored to the requirements of individuals residing in countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia. In this vision, climate mitigation efforts are seamlessly integrated with climate adaptation solutions.

Krisztina Tora, as the Chief Market Development Officer at GSG, plays a pivotal role in mobilizing capital for positive impact across 70 nations. Her expertise extends to advising governments, financial institutions, and other stakeholders on strategies to accelerate capital flow, ultimately benefiting both people and the planet. She champions the cause of systemic change, with a particular emphasis on addressing the financing gap for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in emerging markets. Krisztina also leads efforts to drive policy transformations and the establishment of innovative financial instruments and impact funds.

Before joining GSG, Krisztina was a co-founder and leader of the Global Social Entrepreneurship Network (GSEN), a worldwide network of organizations dedicated to supporting early-stage social entrepreneurs across more than 50 countries, impacting the lives of over 2.5 million people globally.

Krisztina's unwavering passion for making a difference has been a constant throughout her career. Prior to 2013, she held the position of Director at a prominent strategy consultancy, specializing in forging partnerships between multinational corporations and NGOs or social enterprises. Earlier in her career, she served as the International Projects Manager at Veolia, a global utilities company.

She holds an MBA from ESSEC Business School in Paris, is fluent in French, Hungarian, English, and Spanish, and possesses proficient skills in German and Portuguese.

In Episode 62 of the Investing in Impact podcast, Causeartist contributor, Rafael Aldon, speaks with Jessica Burley, Investor at Planet A Ventures, on investing in early-stage startups that are developing climate change solutions.

Jessica Burley is an investor at Planet A Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in climate tech startups. She holds a Politics degree from Cambridge University and has a background in climate finance and sustainable development. Prior to joining Planet A, she worked as an analyst at a climate VC firm and as a researcher for the United Nations.

What is Planet A Ventures?

Planet A Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in climate tech startups. The firm was founded in 2022 and has raised €160 million for its first fund, which it plans to invest in early-stage startups that are developing solutions to climate change.

Planet A's Investment Thesis

Planet A invests in climate tech startups that are working to decarbonize the economy. The firm's investment thesis is based on the following pillars:

• Science-based targets: Planet A only invests in startups that have set ambitious science-based targets to reduce their emissions.
• Impact: Planet A measures the impact of its investments on the environment.
• Diversity: Planet A is committed to investing in a diverse set of startups, including those founded by women and people of color.

Some of the Companies in Planet A's Portfolio

Some of the companies in Planet A's portfolio include:

• Carbon Re: Carbon Re is a company that uses artificial intelligence to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Makersite: Makersite is a company that helps companies manage their product supply chains in a sustainable way.
• one.five: one.five is a company that makes circular biomaterials that can replace single-use plastics.

Planet A Ventures is a leading venture capital firm that is investing in climate tech startups. The firm's mission is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy. Fridtjof Detzner and the team at Planet A are passionate about making a positive impact on the planet, and they are committed to investing in the next generation of climate tech innovators.

If you are a startup that is developing solutions to climate change, I encourage you to reach out to Planet A Ventures. The firm is always looking for new investment opportunities.

In Episode 61 of the Investing in Impact podcast, Causeartist contributor, Rafael Aldon, speaks with Arman Anatürk, the Co-Founder and CEO of HackCapital, on building the infrastructure platform for sustainable finance.

Arman Anatürk is the Co-Founder and CEO of HackCapital, an investment platform that aims to unlock billions in new capital towards private companies working on impact solutions. He is also a founding member of FoodHack, the world's largest foodtech community.

Arman is passionate about using technology to solve some of the world's biggest challenges, such as climate change and food security. He believes that HackCapital can play a key role in mobilizing capital towards these important areas.

Arman is a strong advocate for building community and infrastructure to support impact investing. He believes that by working together, we can create a more sustainable and equitable future.

About HackCapital

HackCapital is a platform that provides purpose-built fundraising and liquidity tools for impact funds and startups. The platform offers a variety of features, including:

• Roll-up vehicles: This feature allows startups and syndicates to roll up multiple investors as a single line on their cap table. This can make it easier for startups to raise capital and for investors to track their investments. Bring in an unlimited number of smaller ticket investors, without crowding your cap table.
• Feeder funds: This feature allows fund managers to roll up multiple investors as a single LP into their fund. This can help fund managers to raise capital more quickly and efficiently.
• Micro vehicles: This feature is designed for emerging managers who are looking for an alternative option to quickly set up and raise an investment vehicle.
• Custom structures: HackCapital can also help investors to structure investments into target assets. This can be helpful for investors who are looking to invest in specific impact sectors or regions.

In addition to these features, HackCapital also offers a number of benefits, including:

• New investor base: HackCapital can help investors to access a new pool of investors who are interested in impact investing.
• Increased liquidity: HackCapital's platform is designed to accommodate secondaries, which can help investors to sell their investments more easily.
• Fully digitized: HackCapital's platform is fully digitized, which can save time and money for investors and fund managers.
• 24-hour setup speed: HackCapital's platform can be set up in a matter of hours, not weeks.
• Neutrality: HackCapital is a neutral platform, which means that it does not compete with its investors or investees.
• EU based: HackCapital is based in Switzerland and Luxembourg, which gives it a strong legal and regulatory framework.

HackCapital is a valuable tool for impact investors and fund managers who are looking to raise capital and manage their investments more effectively. The platform's features and benefits can help investors to access a new pool of investors, increase liquidity, save time and money, and achieve their impact goals.

In Episode 60 of the Investing in Impact podcast, Causeartist contributor, Rafael Aldon, speaks with Laura Ortiz Montemayor, Founder of SVX México and GP at Regenera Ventures Fund, on preserving biodiversity and advocating for real Impact Investing.

Laura Ortiz Montemayor is a living-systems thinker and mompreneur. As the founder of SVX México, she is deeply passionate about fostering Regenerative Culture, preserving biodiversity, and advocating for Impact Investing. Laura's ultimate mission is to redirect capital towards serving life rather than controlling it, and she dedicates her efforts to transforming investment paradigms.

Over the years, Laura has focused her work on driving social, economic, and environmental justice through providing advice and education on Impact Investment. She actively contributes as a board member of the Mexico Impact Investing Steering Committee and Taskforce (AII MX) and volunteers as a mentor for ALTERNARE A.C. Laura is also one of the founding members of the ASEM (Mexican Association of Entrepreneurs).

Currently, Laura and her business partner, Stevie Smyth, are diligently structuring their inaugural fund, Regenera Ventures. This fund is dedicated to investing in the regenerative transition for rural Mexico, with a gender lens and a landscape approach. Laura's expertise has reached an extensive audience, as she has taught impact investing, climate finance, and regenerative economy principles to over 1,400 Latin American investors. Her valuable insights have been shared in various countries, amplifying her impact on a global scale.

Prior to her entrepreneurial journey, Laura accumulated over eight years of experience in wealth and asset management, working with prestigious institutions such as BBVA and Citi Banamex. Her educational background includes a degree in International Business from ITESM (Tec de Monterrey), along with certifications in Impact Investment from Oxford University, Regenerative Entrepreneurship from UCI, Venture Capital and Private Equity Seminar from RiskMathics, Investment Management training from ANDE, and Behavioral Economics from NYU.

Laura's commitment to making a difference extends beyond her professional endeavors. As an angel investor in Desplastifícate and a micro investor through collective finance in two other social and environmental impact companies, she actively supports ventures aligned with her values. Laura's unwavering dedication and diverse experiences make her a true force for positive change.

In Episode 59 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Machtelt Groothuis, founding partner of Rubio Impact Ventures, on backing entrepreneurs who unite powerful impact with a scalable commercial business.

Machtelt is a founding partner of Rubio Impact Ventures, an impact investment firm that backs entrepreneurs who unite powerful impact with a scalable commercial business. She is passionate about using capital to drive positive change and has over 20 years of experience in the impact investing and social enterprise space.

Before founding Rubio Impact Ventures, Machtelt was a Managing Director at 3i, a leading global private equity firm, where she led the firm's impact investing activities in Europe. She also served as a Director at AlpInvest Partners, a leading global private equity firm, where she focused on investments in the healthcare and technology sectors.

About Rubio Impact Ventures

Rubio Impact Ventures is an impact investment firm that backs entrepreneurs who unite powerful impact with a scalable commercial business. They believe that the most valuable companies will be the ones solving humanity's biggest challenges.

The Rubio Impact Ventures team is passionate about using capital to drive positive change. They have a deep understanding of the impact investing landscape and are committed to finding and supporting the best entrepreneurs in the world.

The investment philosophy of Rubio Impact Ventures is centered around long-term partnerships and collaborative relationships. They aim to be more than just a source of capital by actively working alongside founders to help them navigate challenges, refine their strategies, and scale their businesses.

In Episode 58 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Michael W. Sonnenfeldt, Entrepreneur, Investor, and Philanthropist on his life's journey and the future of climate investing and climate startups.

Michael W. Sonnenfeldt is an accomplished entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. With a visionary mindset, he spearheaded the groundbreaking transformation of the Harborside Financial Center in Jersey City, NJ during the 1980s, making it the largest commercial renovation project of its time. Michael went on to establish and lead Emmes & Company, a distinguished real estate investment boutique specializing in the acquisition of distressed portfolios.

Having an extensive background in renewable energy, Michael's journey in this sector began with the creation of SOL, a solar company that he built from the ground up. Eventually, SOL was acquired by Carmanah Technologies Corp., a reputable Canadian company engaged in the manufacturing and distribution of solar products and systems. His knowledge and expertise in renewable energy span over several decades.

Educationally, Michael holds both Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, further enhancing his foundation for success. Building upon his entrepreneurial achievements, he founded Tiger 21, an esteemed learning and investment network catering to high-net-worth individuals. This platform offers a unique space for peers to engage in open discussions about family, legacy, and investment, allowing Michael to share his evolving priorities.

Michael's dedication extends beyond his professional endeavors. Over the past twenty-five years, he has actively contributed to numerous non-profit organizations focusing on crucial causes such as the environment, climate change, national security, Middle East peace, international peacekeeping, the US/UN relationship, and communal development. His commitment to these important issues influences both his business and philanthropic work, shaping the mission of MUUS to invest in a more sustainable and livable future.

In Episode 57 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Shuyin Tang, Partner at Patamar Capital and Co-Founder & CEO at the Beacon Fund, on empowering female entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia's emerging markets.

Shuyin is a Partner at Patamar Capital, a leading impact investing firm in Southeast Asia. She holds responsibility for Patamar's investing activities in the Mekong region and has successfully led investments into education, FinTech, employee benefits, and healthcare companies. Shuyin plays a pivotal role in spearheading Patamar’s gender lens investing efforts, overseeing the management of the Investing in Women Fund, which stands as one of Southeast Asia's pioneering gender lens investing funds.

Additionally, she co-founded and currently serves as the CEO of the Beacon Fund, an innovative fund dedicated to empowering female entrepreneurs in Southeast Asia's emerging markets.

With a wealth of experience across various domains, Shuyin has worked in strategy consulting at Bain & Company, development consulting at TechnoServe, and impact investing at Patamar Capital and LGT Venture Philanthropy. Her professional journey has taken her through Australia, India, and Southeast Asia. In addition to her private sector roles, she has also served in the U.S. Congress, the Australian public service, as well as at The Lowy Institute for International Policy and UNICEF.

Shuyin's exceptional contributions have garnered recognition throughout her career. She was honored as one of Australia's "100 Women of Influence" by the Australian Financial Review in 2015, identified as an Asia 21 Young Leader by the Asia Society in 2016, and acknowledged as one of the “40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians” in 2020.

Currently, she actively serves on the Investment Advisory Council of the Equality Fund and the Impact Investing Council of the Global Private Capital Association. Shuyin graduated summa cum laude from the Australian National University, where she was awarded the University Medal for her outstanding academic achievements.

In Episode 56 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Sarah Nolet, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Tenacious Ventures, on backing early-stage Agtech companies to tackle climate change.

Sarah is the co-founder of Tenacious Ventures, a specialized agrifood tech venture firm that operates with a high-support, high conviction approach. Throughout her career, Sarah has played a pivotal role in cultivating the early-stage agtech ecosystem.

Her contributions range from advising numerous startups and designing accelerator programs to consulting established agribusinesses. Additionally, Sarah has worked closely with industry, universities, and government bodies to develop and implement forward-thinking initiatives that drive food system innovation.

Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, Sarah also hosts the highly acclaimed AgTech...So What? podcast. Through this platform, she shares captivating stories of innovators who are actively shaping the future of the food system, offering insights and inspiration to her audience.

She holds a Masters in System Design and Management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she gained a deep understanding of complex systems and their management. Prior to that, she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Human Factors Engineering at Tufts University, equipping her with a strong foundation in technology and its human-centered applications.

Sarah Nolet's multifaceted expertise, combined with her extensive experience and academic qualifications, position her as a prominent figure in the realm of food systems innovation. Her contributions to the agtech ecosystem and her commitment to driving positive change have established her as a respected leader in the industry.

In an era of increasing environmental challenges and the urgent need for sustainable solutions, Tenacious Ventures has emerged as a leading force in supporting early-stage companies that are revolutionizing the food and agriculture industry.

With a strong commitment to driving carbon neutrality and resilience in the face of climate change, Tenacious Ventures is actively investing in innovative startups that are transforming the way we produce, distribute, and consume food.

In 2019, Tenacious Ventures embarked on its journey and successfully raised A$35 million for its inaugural fund in 2021. This achievement was made possible through significant cornerstone commitments of A$8 million each from two influential entities: the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and Grok Ventures, the private investment firm owned by Mike and Annie Cannon-Brookes.

Since then, Tenacious Ventures has been actively deploying its funds and supporting a diverse range of innovative companies that are driving positive change in the food and agriculture sector.

The firm has recently initiated the fundraising process for its second fund. The firm aims to raise a total of A$70 million ($47 million; €47 million) for this fund, demonstrating its commitment to supporting innovative startups in the agricultural technology sector.

Among the notable investments made by Tenacious Ventures from its first fund, Fund I, are:

1. Cecil: An innovative natural capital platform that enables sustainable management and restoration of ecosystems. Cecil's unique approach aligns economic incentives with environmental outcomes, promoting the conservation and enhancement of natural resources.
2. Goterra: A pioneering waste management start-up that revolutionizes the processing and conversion of organic waste. Goterra's innovative technology provides sustainable solutions for waste management while simultaneously creating valuable outputs such as nutrient-rich compost and livestock feed.
3. SwarmFarm Robotics: A cutting-edge autonomous agricultural vehicle platform that streamlines and optimizes farming operations. By harnessing advanced robotics and artificial intelligence, SwarmFarm Robotics enhances efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in the agriculture industry.
4. Nori: A US-based carbon marketplace that offers a unique platform for the exchange and monetization of carbon credits. Nori empowers farmers and landowners to earn revenue by implementing sustainable land management practices that sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
5. Vow: A pioneering cellular agriculture company that focuses on producing high-quality, sustainable, and cruelty-free animal products without the need for traditional farming. Vow's innovative approach leverages cellular technology to cultivate meat, dairy, and other animal products, minimizing the environmental impact of conventional livestock farming.
6. RapidAIM: A digital crop protection platform that employs advanced technologies, including sensors and data analytics, to enable early detection and monitoring of pest infestations in crops. By providing real-time insights, RapidAIM empowers farmers to make informed decisions and implement targeted pest control strategies, reducing the reliance on chemical pesticides.
7. Nowadays: A forward-thinking sustainable protein company that leverages plant-based sources to create delicious and nutritious alternatives to traditional animal products. Nowadays focuses on developing sustainable protein options that are both environmentally friendly and meet the growing demand for plant-based food choices.

These investments reflect Tenacious Ventures' commitment to driving innovation, sustainability, and positive environmental impact within the food and agriculture industry. Through strategic partnerships and financial support, Tenacious Ventures is playing a vital role in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for the sector.

In Episode 55 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Kevin Tayebaly, Co-Founder of ChangeNow, on building one of the largest impact events in the world, attended by 40,000 people, including 1,200 impact investors!

About Kevin

After spending his early career in strategy consulting, Kevin founded his first social venture in Mumbai, India in 2008. The venture aimed to democratize the cultural space in the city by offering local activities targeted towards underprivileged populations. In 2012, inspired by the tech wave, he returned to Europe to work with several tech startups undergoing exponential and global growth.

During his time at INSEAD in 2014-2015, Kevin reflected on his career experiences and began exploring the concept of mission-driven companies that combine purpose with a scalable business model. He went on to found his second impact venture, an e-commerce platform supporting local independent retailers in large cities. His efforts earned him the BCG Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2016.

In 2017, Kevin co-founded ChangeNOW, the world's largest event for the planet, with the goal of promoting a new, virtuous, and responsible business culture globally. His achievements and leadership in the field earned him a place on the Choiseul 100 list in 2023, recognizing top French economic leaders under 40 years old.

About ChangeNow

ChangeNOW 2023 is a three-day summit that brings together the most innovative solutions and impactful changemakers tackling our planet’s biggest challenges, to take action, together. ChangeNOW builds bridges between the entrepreneurs, business leaders and policy-makers to accelerate change.

The 2023 edition of the ChangeNow Summit was held in the heart of Paris, at the Grand Palais, from May 25th to May 27st. The event attracts over 40,000 attendees, including entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and policymakers, from more than 120 countries.

One of the highlights of the summit was the exhibition area, which featured over 1,000 projects and solutions from around the world. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with the exhibitors, learn about their products and services, and network with like-minded individuals. The exhibition area was divided into several zones, including Energy & Mobility, Food & Agriculture, Circular Economy, and Social & Inclusive Business.

In addition to the exhibition area, the summit featured a series of keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops on various topics related to sustainability and innovation. Speakers included business leaders, policymakers, and social entrepreneurs who shared their experiences, insights, and visions for a better future. Some of the key themes that emerged from the discussions were the importance of collaboration, innovation, and the role of technology in driving positive change.

In Episode 54 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Milti Chryssavgis, CEO & Founder of Drashta Impact, on reducing risk in Impact Investing to catalyze more capital into impact ventures.

Milti started his career in investment management, building a multi-manager portfolio of systematic trading strategies and developing a risk parity approach to minimize risk and volatility while still generating strong returns. Driven to create positive impact in the world, Milti determined that the most effective way to catalyse change was to harness the power of investment to accelerate breakthrough technologies and business models.

Milti founded Drashta Impact to solve the biggest pain points impact investors face in order to mobilise a larger quantum of capital for climate solutions. Drashta provides investors with the tools and solutions to allocate to specific impact opportunities of their choice with tailored risk mitigation and additional liquidity.

About Drashta

Drashta Impact was founded to solve the key pain points impact investors face, developing de-risking and liquidity solutions to empower investors to substantially amplify their impact securely. This enables investors to allocate capital to specific impact opportunities with a range of unique advantages compared to allocating directly:

1. Reduced risk, with the option of full capital protection
2. Access to liquidity through a number of sources
3. Retained upside participation even after repayment of initial capital
4. More impactful than allocating to the same opportunity directly

In Episode 53 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Scott Onder, Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director of Mercy Corps Ventures, on investing in and promoting venture-led solutions to enhance the resilience of underserved communities and individuals.

Scott Onder is the Chief Investment Officer at Mercy Corps, where he oversees the agency's global strategy for impact investing, innovative finance, Web3 initiatives, and strategic partnerships with technology ventures.

He is also a Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director of Mercy Corps Ventures, the venture capital arm of Mercy Corps. The firm focuses on investing in high-impact startups that develop inclusive fintech, climate resilience, and Web3 solutions in frontier markets.

Under Scott's leadership, Mercy Corps Ventures has invested in 43 seed and early-stage ventures across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. Apart from providing capital, the firm offers strategic support, pilot programs, and partnership opportunities to help startups scale their businesses.

As an early investor in Wasoko, Goldfinch, Pula, and Ejara, Scott serves on the boards of portfolio companies that drive financial and climate resilience. He is also an active advisor and angel investor in emerging crypto protocols. Scott is a magna cum laude graduate of Duke University and is based in the Pacific Northwest.

About Mercy Corps Ventures

Mercy Corps Ventures is a venture capital firm that focuses on investing in and promoting venture-led solutions to enhance the resilience of underserved communities and individuals.

Since its establishment in 2015 as the impact investing arm of Mercy Corps, the firm has facilitated the scaling up of 43 early-stage ventures, helping them raise over $396.7 million in follow-on capital.

The firm's portfolio concentrates on solutions in adaptive agriculture and food systems, inclusive fintech services, and climate-smart systems and tech infrastructure.

Its goal is to enable those living in frontier markets to withstand disruption and plan for the future by catalyzing the ecosystem towards smarter and more impactful investments.

The firm's focus on supporting underserved groups to participate in the global economy has led to its promotion of emerging decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions that accelerate global financial inclusion. In partnership with companies, Mercy Corps Ventures responsibly pilots the use of cryptocurrencies and blockchain tools to provide reliable and direct access to financial services for un/underbanked populations.

Mercy Corps Ventures plans to launch Fund II, the Resilient Future Fund, to invest in and support approximately 20 early-stage startups in frontier markets with solutions that build resilience to the accelerating shocks caused by climate change.

Entrepreneurs worldwide are deploying disruptive business models and transformative technologies to address the most significant challenges of our time.

These startups have the potential to reach 3.3 billion climate-vulnerable people, 1.4 billion unbanked people, and 162 million small businesses with innovative climate-focused and digital finance products that could drive their resilience. However, they often lack sufficient capital and access to resources to ensure their ventures survive and scale.

In Episode 52 of the Investing in Impact podcast, we speak with Conor Murray, CEO and Cofounder of OpenInvest, on getting acquired by J.P. Morgan and building the technology infrastructure for values-based Investing.

Conor Murray is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of OpenInvest, where he guides values-based innovation and integration in partnership with J.P. Morgan Wealth Management. After graduating from MIT, Conor began his career in financial technology at Morgan Stanley and went on to lead teams of engineers responsible for portfolio construction and optimization at Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund.

About OpenInvest

OpenInvest was founded with a simple yet ambitious goal - to make a positive impact on the world through sustainable investing.

The teams background in building scalable and complex financial systems led them to create an asset management platform with personalized value filters. In recent years, there has been a significant shift in the investment industry as investors increasingly seek to align their financial goals with their personal values.

This trend has given rise to values-based investing, an investment approach that allows investors to create portfolios that reflect their personal beliefs and values.

In 2016, OpenInvest was established as a Public Benefit Corporation, a designation that allowed us to cement the mission in their legal charter: to mainstream values-based investing through technology.

The OpenInvest platform allows investors to personalize their investment portfolios based on their values and beliefs. Through technology, they aim to make values-based investing accessible and transparent, empowering investors to align their financial goals with their personal values.

OpenInvest was acquired by J.P. Morgan in 2021, with the intention to scale the movement, offering investors an intuitive and personalized investing experience.

In Episode 51 of the Investing in Impact podcast, Causeartist contributor, Rafael Aldon, speaks with Daniel Kleinman, Founder and CEO of Seaworthy Collective, on empowering early-stage and aspiring Ocean entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds.

Seaworthy Collective (501c3) is a startup incubator and community based in Miami, focused on BlueTech (ocean innovation). Their goal is to eliminate barriers and foster inclusivity in ocean and climate impact innovation. The organization aims to create a world of endless opportunities where everyone can contribute to finding solutions that make a positive difference for our planet's oceans.

They support and empower Sea Change Makers, including early-stage and aspiring entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds and impact areas globally. These innovators drive progress for our oceans, which cover 71% of the planet, with the ultimate goal of regenerating 100% of the planet.

About Daniel

Daniel Kleinman is Seaworthy Collective's Founder and CEO, and a marine roboticist. Daniel received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida, and a Master of Professional Science in Exploration Science from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science.

As an undergraduate, Daniel interned with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and became versed in design and systems thinking as a University Innovation Fellow. After graduating in 2015, Daniel started his career as a pilot and test engineer for Bluefin Robotics' unmanned underwater vehicles in Boston. Daniel then served as a Navy contractor and mechanical engineer in maritime systems in San Diego.

In 2020, Daniel launched the Seaworthy Collective community in Miami to break the silos he experienced in industry by supporting fellow impact changemakers addressing the ocean’s greatest problems. Through Seaworthy Foundation, Daniel and his team created programs to serve their community, which started with the Sea Change Maker Series and Venture Studio.

Daniel also serves as an advisor for Opportunity Miami and The Shrimp Society, a steering committee member for Ocean Visions’ Global Ecosystem for Ocean Solutions. Daniel is also a member of The Explorers Club, a Miami Global Shaper, and an On Deck Catalyst Founding Fellow. Daniel has been recognized as one of Miami’s Ambassadors for Sustainable Development Goal 14, a 30 Under 30 by the University of Miami, and a Future Climate Leader by the Aspen Institute.

In episode 50 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Ladé Araba, Executive Director of AlphaMundi Foundation(AMF), on investing in women and climate to create long-term jobs and  prosperity.

Ladé Araba is a senior Development Finance Executive and Board Member with over 20 years of experience. Prior to becoming the Executive Director of the AlphaMundi Foundation, she was the Managing Director for Africa at Convergence Blended Finance.

She also sits on the Equality Fund’s Investment Advisory Council, serves as a Non Executive Director on the Board of African Risk Capacity (ARC) Ltd, is the Co-Founder/President of the Visiola Foundation, and was an Advisory Committee Member at the Green Outcomes Fund.

She previously served as Technical Adviser to the former Minister of Finance of Nigeria and was the Head of the Strategic Monitoring Unit. She was also an Adviser in the Power Sector Team at the Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF).

She was previously a Senior Investment Officer in Infrastructure Finance at the African Development Bank and served as Technical Adviser to the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. Ms. Araba was an Enterprise Development Specialist at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and also worked for the QED Group LLC in Washington, DC.

She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a dual Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) degree in Management Information Systems (MIS) and International Business from the University of Oklahoma (2001). A native English speaker, she is fluent in French and Italian and has basic knowledge of Spanish.

About AlphaMundi Foundation

AlphaMundi Foundation's mission is to strengthen the long-term commercial viability of SMEs in Africa and Latin America to drive economic transformation. This leads to more jobs and income generation benefiting more people and in turn, increased purchasing power and improved qualities of life.

The vision: Economic transformation where SMEs in Africa and Latin America can scale sustainably and create well-paid jobs.

What they do:

Structured blended finance

Access to capital and technical assistance are two of the biggest barriers to businesses getting off the ground. We're willing to take the risk and invest in these impactful SMEs. We do this by offering SMEs with investments that may have lower returns and/or higher risks through measures like technical assistance grants, first loss guarantees, returnable pre-investment stage grants, concessional loans, and/or scaling capital. All of this is done with the expectation that these investments will be truly catalytic and more likely to bring strong social and environmental rewards.

GLIC field building

We believe gender and climate issues can't be addressed on an ad-hoc basis. Rather, these complex challenges require an intentional approach, which brings explicit gender and climate solutions into all investment decisions. Over recent years, gender lens investing has gained traction, although as global temperatures rise, the demand for climate investing will only continue to increase. That's how we came to coining a new term: GLIC—Gender Lens Investing for Climate.

In episode 49 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Princess Aghayere & John Gough of ICA Fund, on working to close the gender and racial wealth gap in the Bay Area through investing in local entrepreneurs.

ICA Fund is a nonprofit organization that works to close the gender and racial wealth gap in the Bay Area by providing coaching, connections, and capital to entrepreneurs who have been overlooked by mainstream funders.

Through investment and mentorship initiatives, they help systemically underrepresented Bay Area entrepreneurs grow their businesses.

They are also committed to building an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Bay Area. ICA helps business owners increase their knowledge about how to start a business, develop resources needed for success, establish networks with other entrepreneurs, secure financing options that meet their needs, and position themselves for growth.

The ICA Impact Note: helping great business grow shared wealth

The new ICA Impact Note is an innovative investment structure that helps entrepreneurs prioritize social impacts–like good job creation, workforce diversity, and profit distribution–as they grow their business. Many founders set out to leverage their business to create change in their community, but those aims can be chipped away while growing and fundraising in a competitive landscape.

When a company receives investment through the ICA Impact Note, the business must define the measurable social impact they want to create and the trade-offs they’ll need to make in order to achieve them. The note is designed so that as impact milestones are met, the investor returns ownership percentages back to the company.

Through this structure, the investor and the company are able to work in real partnership to scale social returns for the community by growing a profitable business. The design of this note builds off of ICA’s 10 years of experience deploying capital for community-minded growth-stage businesses and is free to use by other investors working to prioritize social impact.

About Princess

Princess is an Investment Analyst at ICA and contributes to sourcing new investment prospects and conducting investment due diligence. She works cross-functionally across ICA, communicating portfolio company needs and identifying areas of growth.

Princess has experience working in a minority-owned private equity fund called IMB Partners and co-founded a non-profit called Rebound Liberia. The nonprofit empowers young women through basketball and leadership development. Following the launch of Rebound Liberia, Princess had a short stint playing professionally in Spain in the LF2 league.

Princess graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor’s in Health and Societies and a minor in International Development. Outside of work, she loves traveling and is an avid basketball fan. She believes entrepreneurship is one of the most effective ways to promote economic growth and development. She hopes to facilitate ICA's mission of advising and providing capital for high potential businesses to address the gender and racial wealth gap.

About John

John serves as Chief Investment Officer at ICA, a venture-capital CDFI and 501(c)(3) non-profit investment fund, focused on creating good jobs, funding women and entrepreneurs of color, and driving economic opportunity and ownership for employees.   John leads the organization’s Investment team, and oversees the development, funding, and implementation of the ICA Growth Fund and Seed Equity Fund. 

John has over 20 years’ experience in corporate finance, international banking, impact investing, and has held executive leadership and operating roles in entrepreneurial ventures. John believes that supportive and patient capital can be used to reach, serve, and bring meaningful change to communities.

Prior to ICA, John founded True North Capital Management LLC, an investment management business focused on public equities impact and essential services investing.  John also served as Head of Global Corporate Banking in Asia-Pacific for Wells Fargo, living with his family in Hong Kong for 9 years; Managing Director at LoopNet Inc (NASDAQ: “LOOP”), a venture capital start-up; Farallon Capital in San Francisco; and Grameen Bank, a micro-credit lender in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

John serves as a Board observer for Firebrand Artisan Breads, and Advisor to NowHer.org focused on Philippines social impact and micro-enterprise investment/development. John holds an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business (Haas School Scholar), and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis (Magna Cum Laude).

In episode 48 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Chirag Gupta, Managing Partner at 8X Ventures, on investing in Deep Tech and its potential to impact the world for billions of people.

Chirag has 15+ years experience in venture capital, startup mentoring, strategy design, strategy execution, organisation design, investment banking and business analytics.

He trained in Strategy, Finance, Human Capital and Statistics by top global universities – Harvard University, University of Chicago, Nanyang Technological University and the University of Delhi.

He has award-winning experience in managing C-suite clients for building organizational level strategic frameworks, organization restructuring, and strategic manpower planning.

About 8X Ventures

8X Ventures invest and enable startups that will lead disruptive innovation and create sustainable value to industries and economies.

Focus areas include:

Geographies: Asia (primarily India and Singapore), MENA (primarily UAE, KSA, and Egypt), and Europe

Industries: CleanTech (primarily Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Solutions), Smart logistics, Smart mobility, and Industry 4.0

Technologies: Artificial intelligence (AI), Big data, 3D printing, Robotics, and Internet of things (IoT)

In episode 47 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Lawrence Yen, Founding Partner at MIH Impact Venture Capital, on impact investing, Taiwan, and the future of sustainability in the region.

Lawrence is based out of Taipei and Shanghai, currently work with a group of family offices from Taiwan. They setup an impact investment arm starting 2020, with focus in environment+ technology and social value and equality enabling businesses.

Lawrence was born in Taipei, raised and educated in Canada and moved to Shanghai in 2005.

Their partners come from businesses in hardware, software technology, retail, textile, food and beverage, pharmaceutical, and a slew of other businesses in Greater China.

The mission is to find passionate business founders with great products that contributes to sustainability and social values, and to invest both financially as well as channel and distribution.

Lawrence believes for earlier stage companies and impact companies, by merely contributing funding is insufficient; hence, coming from family businesses in various sectors and supply chains allow them to help up-and-coming companies and ideas grow in Greater China.

From Shanghai and Taipei, he explores sustainable businesses across the world, and try to find angles to help aspirational founders build businesses, as well as invest.

In episode 46 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Tom Ferguson, Managing Partner at Burnt Island Ventures, on the future of water investments and water technologies.

Tom brings a decade of experience in water and startups to lead BIV. His start in water came as the lead author on the first CDP Water Disclosure Report in 2010, and he joined Imagine H2O in 2015 to build out the organization’s programming portfolio, which now encompasses 3 global programs vetting 500+ startups per year.

Companies selected under Tom’s tenure have raised $600m+ and achieved 5 exits. He holds an MA from the University of Edinburgh, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

About Burnt Island Ventures

Burnt Island Ventures is not a cleantech fund, because in cleantech water is a $900 billion afterthought. You can’t be good at water unless you only do water. Burnt Island Ventures funds the best entrepreneurs in water, worldwide. That’s it. This is a giant, esoteric, and foundational market for the entire global economy.

We are at a turning point. From the wildfires of the Western US to flooding in Niger, climate change is here. Water resources across the world will be under increasing stress as the world warms. Products and services that allow individuals, governments and companies to navigate this change will see more and more demand.

Entrepreneurs are emerging with the skill and insight to meet that demand, developing solutions to water problems at scale. Burnt Island Ventures exists to find, fund and support the best of these founders.