Good Morning
Two of my favorite thinkers and conversationalists in the entire podcastverse go at it in the first link below. Collab of the year - check it out.
What we found interesting this week:
The Greendicator
Top Deals of the Week
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Epirus, a developer of directed energy systems and power management tools, raised a $200M Series C at a $1.35B valuation led by T. Rowe Price (BW)
iPhone refurbisher Swappie raised a $124M Series C led by Verdane (TC)
KraftPal Technologies, a Slovenian startup building low-cost, sustainable corrugated cardboard pallets, received a ~$124M investment from Pasaca Capital (PRN)
Alternative protein startup Next Gen Foods raised a $100M Series A led by Alpha JWC, EDBI, MPL Ventures, Temasek, and others (TC)
Antora Energy, a startup unlocking zero emissions heat and electricity for heavy industry, raised a $53M round from Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Lowercarbon Capital (BW)
Bramble Energy, a nearly six-year-old, Crawley, England-based fuel cell company, has raised £35 million ($47.3 million) in funding led by HydrogenOne Capital Growth. (TC)
Metal recycling and mining technology startup Nth Cycle raised a $12.5M Series A led by Frankstahl and VoLo Earth (PRN)
Plant-based nutrition brand KOS raised a $12M Series A led by Clayton Christopher and Brian Goldberg (PRN)
Plastic waste upcycling startup Novoloop raised an $11M Series A led by Envisioning Partners (TC)
Green Theory
Dough Nation
What would you do if you started earning an extra $20 per month? As a reader posed: if GB 35 resonated with you, so you ditched paying for carbon offsets and suddenly had excess income, how would you direct it to maximize impact? As discussed previously, philanthropy itself threatens to replicate the troubles it seeks to solve. Perhaps we can apply the old axiom of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’.
Reduce & reuse provide a framework to reflect on where extra dollars came from. While companies driving negative social outcomes lure employees with high salaries, these workers’ charity is unlikely to overcome harm done. Still, economic concerns (among others) push people into roles they may otherwise reject. Before examining the luxury of redirecting excess funds, ensure you’re not contributing to the ills you wish to cure. Mission-driven organizations are complicated, but earning slightly fewer dollars through a socially positive endeavour may provide a higher impact route to change than donating a similarly small portion (read more: Climate Shadow). If this sounds appealing, and professional managerial work is your thing, maybe a climate or broader social impact position is waiting for you. The umbrella of opportunities to advance human and planetary wellbeing spreads wide, far beyond this scope.
When we cannot reduce or reuse, we try to recycle. Finding transparent organizations that both align with your values and deliver on their missions takes time and discernment. While national or international organizations may have firmer bureaucratic structures and connections, they often lack the perspective and dedication of local groups. One Oakland-based women-led organization we’d like to highlight is the Sogorea Te’ Land Trust, reclaiming and rematirating land with indigenous practice and wisdom. In addition to many moving land-based projects, Sogorea Te’ secured a tax owed by Alameda. As people who have borne the cost of many others’ profits in northern California, Sogorea Te’ rightly challenges would-be donors to wonder whether they owe a donation, or a “Tax”.
In short, if you have the privilege of considering how to spend unneeded cash, it’s always worth taking a step back. First, question where money is coming from, and then carefully weigh where it’s going. Thanks for reading, and please let us know what organizations you find inspiring.
The Closer
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