This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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In episode 81 the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Dan Barker, President and CEO of Halcyon, an incubator and investor in early-stage, impact-driven startups from around the globe.

About Dan

Dan is a seasoned leader in impact investing and social entrepreneurship. As the President and CEO of Halcyon, he's dedicated to nurturing and funding innovative startups making a positive global impact. Before joining Halcyon, Dan held leadership roles at Mastercard, BlackRock, and Deloitte, where he focused on driving social change through research, strategy, and investment.

His academic background, including a master's degree from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree from NYU, further complements his deep understanding of international finance and economic policy. Dan's commitment to fostering a more equitable world is evident in his service on various advisory boards and his role as a judge for the Inclusive Fintech 50.

Halcyon: Accelerating the Impact-Driven Future

Halcyon is a leading incubator and investor dedicated to fostering the growth of early-stage, impact-driven startups. Since 2014, Halcyon has empowered social entrepreneurs with the resources, community, and expertise they need to succeed. By providing fellowships, mentorship, and investment opportunities, Halcyon helps startups address critical global challenges in Health, Climate, and EquityTech.

Halcyon House: A Historic Hub for Innovation

Halcyon House, a historic 18th-century mansion nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C.'s Georgetown neighborhood, serves as the beating heart of Halcyon. Once home to the first Secretary of the Navy, Benjamin Stoddert, this iconic building now provides a unique and inspiring workspace for Halcyon’s fellows.

With its rich history and elegant surroundings, Halcyon House fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation. Its grand rooms, including the historic library and the modern boardroom, provide the perfect setting for Halcyon's programs, events, and community gatherings. Whether it's a fellowship retreat, a speaker series, or a networking event, Halcyon House offers a distinctive backdrop that elevates the experience.

For Halcyon’s fellows, the mansion is more than just a workspace. It's a place to connect with like-minded individuals, seek inspiration, and grow their businesses. The serene atmosphere and stunning architecture create an ideal environment for focused work and creative thinking.

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In episode 80 the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Cole Shephard, founder of Legacy Group, on his mission to become a leading coffee producer in Colombia while maintaining a focus on sustainability and social impact.

About Cole Shephard

Cole is a Partner at Legacy Group, an alternative asset manager focused on high-impact investment opportunities in the U.S. and Latin America.

Founded in 2015, Legacy Group aims to bridge the gap between financial capital and ventures with significant social and environmental impact across various sectors, including real estate, agriculture, and technology.

Before founding Legacy Group, Cole spent eight years with Pricewaterhouse Coopers, working across the U.S., Bermuda, Hong Kong, and Beijing. His expertise spans accounting, advisory, and consulting, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions in industries like financial services, real estate, and healthcare.

In this episode, Cole shares valuable insights on building business models that integrate environmental and social initiatives, emphasizes the importance of adaptability for aspiring entrepreneurs, and outlines the ambitious future goals for the Green Coffee Company.

Key Takeaways from the Interview:

• Green Coffee Company is Colombia's largest coffee producer.
• The company focuses on sustainability and social impact.
• Building a business for the long term is crucial.
• Education and talent development are key to success.
• Entrepreneurship involves facing numerous challenges.
• Aspiring entrepreneurs should learn from experiences.
• Identifying strengths and weaknesses is essential.
• Future goals include becoming a public company.
• The company aims for nationwide expansion in Colombia.
• Building a community around the business is important.

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In episode 79 the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Ed Marcum, the Managing Partner of the Working Capital Fund, on the innovations creating a more transparent and responsible global supply chain.

With over 20 years of experience in human rights and venture capital investing, Ed has worked across the for-profit, nonprofit, and public policy sectors.

Previously, he spent more than a decade at Humanity United, guiding initiatives to address forced labor in corporate supply chains.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA/MA from The Wharton School and the Lauder Institute at the University of Pennsylvania.

About the Working Capital Fund

The Working Capital Fund is on a mission to improve the lives of marginalized workers, catalyzing economic justice by investing in innovative solutions that address the deep-seated challenges of global supply chains.

Global supply chains are enormous, involving millions of workers across thousands of businesses. On average, a Fortune 500 company works with over 10,000 suppliers, producing the goods that consumers rely on daily.

However, these supply chains are often associated with some of the most pressing challenges humanity faces, including forced labor, unfair wages, and environmental degradation.

Annually, over $354 billion worth of goods are at risk of being tainted by forced labor, with more than 17 million workers trapped in modern slavery conditions.

These challenges are often hidden deep within supply chains, making them difficult to detect and resolve. Moreover, supply chains are a primary contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the climate crisis.

How the Working Capital Fund Works to Create Impact

The Working Capital Fund focuses on investing in technologies and solutions that address the injustices inherent in global supply chains.

Through its strategic investments, it aims to create a positive impact on workers and the environment. Key areas of focus include:

1. AI-Enabled Transparency Tools

One of the biggest challenges in addressing supply chain issues is the lack of transparency. Corporations often do not have visibility into the practices of their suppliers, making it difficult to identify labor violations or environmental concerns.

By investing in AI-enabled transparency tools, the Working Capital Fund is empowering companies to map their entire supply chains and assess risks in real time.

These tools offer a clear view of potential human rights abuses or environmental risks, helping businesses make more informed decisions about their suppliers.

2. Worker-Voice Solutions

Empowering workers is a critical part of creating a fair and just supply chain. The Working Capital Fund invests in worker-voice solutions that give laborers the tools they need to hold their employers accountable.

These solutions allow workers to anonymously report unsafe working conditions, wage theft, or other violations, providing valuable feedback to companies and regulators.

With this data, stakeholders can take action to improve labor conditions and ensure that workers’ rights are respected.

3. Financial Technology for Fair Pay

Ensuring fair wages for workers is another priority for the Working Capital Fund.

By investing in financial technologies, the Fund is helping to create systems that ensure workers are paid promptly and fairly.

These technologies also help gather sustainability data on upstream suppliers, providing insights into whether they are adhering to ethical labor practices.

With this information, companies can work towards ensuring that their entire supply chain is both economically and socially responsible.

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In episode 78 the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Gavin Smith PhD, Managing Director, Head of Equity Research and Sustainable Investing for PGIM Quantitative Solutions, on his journey into sustainable investing and the evolution of ESG and SDGs.

Gavin Smith, PhD, is the Managing Director and Head of Equity Research and Sustainable Investing at PGIM Quantitative Solutions. In this role, he leads the integration of ESG factors into the firm’s investment platform and oversees research and analysis for Quantitative Equity portfolios.

Prior to this, Gavin was a portfolio manager and a key member of PGIM’s Research team, focusing on alpha and implementation strategies. Before joining PGIM, he led the North American Quantitative Research team at Macquarie Capital and held research roles at Barclays Capital and Plato Investment Management in Sydney, Australia.

Gavin holds a BComm (Honors) in finance from the University of Wollongong and a PhD in finance from the University of New South Wales, Australia.

Takeaways

• Gavin's dual role combines quantitative equity research with sustainable investing.
• The evolution of ESG has been significant since the Paris Climate Accord.
• Data quality is crucial for effective ESG and SDG investing.
• Key metrics for evaluating companies include carbon emissions, water usage, and diversity.
• Engagement with companies is essential for improving data transparency.
• SDGs provide a framework for assessing the impact of investments.
• Greenwashing poses a challenge in identifying truly sustainable companies.
• The future of sustainable investing relies on better data and education.
• Investors are increasingly interested in the financial performance of sustainable companies.
• The integration of ESG and SDGs can lead to more impactful investment strategies.

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In episode 77 the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Lawrence Williams III, Partner at the De-Carceration Fund, on the fund's mission to support startups that address the challenges faced by incarcerated individuals and those reentering society.

The U.S. criminal justice system affects over 6.6 million people and costs the nation more than $80 billion per year.

The De-Carceration Fund is unique in its mission to support and invest in enterprises that directly address the failings of the U.S. criminal justice system. The fund’s multipronged strategy includes backing companies that work in areas such as:

• Preventing Entry: Advocating for reforms in gun control, cash bail, foster care, law enforcement, and domestic violence to reduce the number of individuals who enter the criminal justice system.
• Reducing Suffering: Supporting efforts in juvenile justice, legal costs, prison programming, family support, and sentence reduction to ease the burdens placed on those within the system.
• Ending the Cycle: Addressing recidivism by promoting reform and rehabilitation that help formerly incarcerated individuals reintegrate into society and avoid re-incarceration.

The Economics of Incarceration

The current system perpetuates a cycle of financial exploitation and human suffering. Private companies make approximately $7 billion from prison operations, with over $3 billion of that coming directly from the families of incarcerated individuals.

Each inmate costs an average of $35,000 per year, yet over half of those released return to prison within three years.

This broken system not only drains resources but fails to provide meaningful solutions to reduce crime or support rehabilitation.

The indirect costs of incarceration, estimated at $260 billion annually, further highlight the deep flaws in the system.

These costs ripple through society, affecting families, communities, and the overall economy.

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In episode 76 the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Amy Duffuor, General Partner of Azolla Ventures, on combining catalytic capital with traditional venture capital to support climate tech companies.

Takeaways

• Azolla Ventures combines catalytic capital with traditional venture capital to support climate tech companies.
• Portfolio companies of Azolla Ventures include Lilac Solutions, Noon Energy, and Carbon Reform, which are working on innovative solutions in lithium extraction, long-duration energy storage, and carbon capture.
• There is a need to integrate equity and justice into climate investments and prioritize underfunded areas like rice cultivation, ocean-related projects, and alternative proteins.

About Azolla Ventures

Azolla Ventures partners with visionary founders to accelerate transformative climate solutions. Their mission is clear: to invest in breakthroughs that can avert catastrophic climate change and return our world to balance.

By focusing on ventures at the earliest stages, where risk and reward are highest, Azolla Ventures prioritizes impact above all, ensuring that each investment holds the potential for large-scale greenhouse gas reductions and a more just climate for all.

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In episode 75 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Larry Selzer, the CEO of The Conservation Fund, on his journey and the organizations path to being the investment bank for Conservation.

Larry Selzer, the CEO of the Conservation Fund, discusses his journey in conservation and the mission of the organization. The Conservation Fund is a nonprofit that buys land for conservation and promotes sustainable economic development. They work with public agencies to acquire land and hold it until the agencies are ready to purchase it back.

The organization focuses on protecting working forests and farms, which provide clean air, clean water, and jobs for rural communities. Selzer also discusses the importance of carbon markets and the need for regulations to ensure transparency and integrity.

Takeaways

• The Conservation Fund buys land for conservation and promotes sustainable economic development.
• Working forests and farms are important for clean air, clean water, and jobs in rural communities.
• Carbon markets and carbon credits play a crucial role in achieving climate solutions.
• Regulations and standards are needed to ensure transparency and integrity in the carbon offset market.
• The future of conservation lies in the convergence of the environmental movement and the free enterprise system.

Sound Bites

"Conservation and economic development is where we like to play."
"Land conservation is part of the solution to some of our great challenges."
"We need to build and deploy hundreds of thousands of miles of new transmission capacity."

About The Conservation Fund

The Conservation Fund is an American nonprofit organization founded in 1985, committed to the dual goals of environmental preservation and economic development. With a mission to protect America’s most critical lands and waters, The Conservation Fund has become a leader in advancing sustainable, community-based conservation efforts.

Mission and Vision

The Conservation Fund aims to create solutions that make environmental and economic sense. By blending the benefits of conservation and development, they strive to address pressing environmental challenges while also supporting community prosperity. The organization’s vision is a future where both natural and human communities thrive together, ensuring that the natural world is conserved for future generations while current communities benefit from sustainable development.

Key Initiatives

1. Land Conservation:

The Conservation Fund works to protect landscapes critical to the health of America’s natural environment. This includes preserving forests, rivers, and wildlife habitats. They acquire land to protect it from development and work with government agencies and private partners to ensure its long-term stewardship.

2. Working Lands:

Recognizing that productive land use and conservation can go hand in hand, The Conservation Fund supports working forests, farms, and ranches. By promoting sustainable practices, they help landowners manage their lands in ways that support both economic livelihoods and environmental health.

3. Community Development:

The organization focuses on enhancing community resilience through sustainable development projects. This includes creating parks and green spaces in urban areas, revitalizing historic landmarks, and supporting local economies through eco-friendly tourism and recreation initiatives.

4. Waterways and Coasts:

The Conservation Fund is dedicated to protecting America’s rivers, lakes, and coastal areas. They work to preserve water quality and safeguard critical aquatic ecosystems, ensuring that water resources are managed sustainably for both people and wildlife.

5. Climate Solutions:

Addressing climate change is a core focus of The Conservation Fund. They implement projects that sequester carbon, restore ecosystems, and promote renewable energy. By integrating climate resilience into their conservation strategies, they help mitigate the impacts of climate change on natural and human communities.

Impact and Achievements

Since its inception, The Conservation Fund has protected over 8 million acres of land across the United States. Their innovative approach to conservation finance has enabled them to leverage private, public, and philanthropic investments to achieve significant conservation outcomes. Key achievements include:

 • Large-scale land acquisitions: Preserving vast tracts of forestland and critical habitats.

 • Urban green space creation: Transforming underutilized urban areas into community parks and recreational spaces.

 • Economic benefits: Supporting local economies through eco-friendly initiatives that create jobs and boost tourism.

 • Climate action: Implementing projects that have sequestered millions of tons of carbon dioxide.

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In episode 74 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Scott Saslow, Founder of ONE WORLD Investments, on his journey into impact and sustainable investing, family offices, and his new book.

About Scott:

Scott is an accomplished entrepreneur and impact investor with a proven track record of developing successful businesses and products. He is the founder ONE WORLD Investments, and had key roles at The Institute of Executive Development, Microsoft, and Siebel Systems, among others.

Scott is the author of the book, "Building a Sustainable Family Office: An Insider's Guide to What Works and What Doesn't," published by Greenleaf Publishing Group and available on Amazon.

As an impact investor, advisor, and consultant, Scott works with both for-profit and non-profit social enterprises. He founded ONE WORLD Investments, an organization that provides training and investment capital to social impact enterprises in the Bay Area, aimed at improving lives globally.

About ONE WORLD Investments:

ONE WORLD Investments leverages its Silicon Valley base to offer innovative and profitable approaches to increasing social impact. The organization supports a diverse network of entrepreneurs, investors, and corporate professionals, and provides capital through various investment vehicles to early-stage companies, impact private equity and venture capital funds, and public markets, all aimed at scaling social impact.

About the episode:

Scott discusses his journey into impact investing and the importance of building sustainable family offices. He explains that family offices are the infrastructure created to manage wealth and philanthropy for wealthy individuals and families. However, many family offices are not sustainable and fail during generational transitions.

Scott emphasizes the need for a new model in managing family offices to ensure their longevity and impact. He also explores the role of family offices in impact investing and the ripple effect their failures can have on society.

Family offices are increasingly interested in sustainable and impact investing, but many are still in the early stages of incorporating these strategies. The younger generation within family offices is often the driving force behind these initiatives, as they have a socially minded approach and a desire to make a positive impact.

While many family offices already engage in philanthropy, there is an opportunity to go beyond traditional giving and use investment capital to address social and environmental concerns. The change towards more sustainable and impact-focused family offices can come from both the principles themselves and the non-family professionals they work with.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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In episode 73 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Andrea and Jessica La Mesa, co-CEOs of The Life You Can Save, on their journey into the philanthropic sector and the mission of the organization. Since 2013, the organization has catalyzed $100 million in donations to high-impact charities.

They share their backgrounds and how they transitioned from their previous careers to dedicating their time to philanthropy.

The Life You Can Save focuses on connecting donors with effective nonprofits in the global health and development space.

They curate a list of organizations that have been independently verified and offer donors confidence in the impact of their donations.

The La Mesas emphasize the importance of strategic and evidence-based philanthropy and the need for ongoing funding partnerships with nonprofits.

About The Life You Can Save

The Life You Can Save was founded in 2013 by philosopher Peter Singer and former executive Charlie Bresler.

The organization was born out of Charlie Bresler's personal quest for impact, inspired by Peter Singer’s book The Life You Can Save. Charlie, a psychologist and business executive, reached out to Peter, and together they formed an organization dedicated to spreading Peter’s ideas and encouraging effective philanthropy.

Over the past decade, their collaboration has inspired global change, resulting in over $100 million in donations to high-impact charities.

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In Episode 72 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Alix Lebec, Founder & CEO of LEBEC, on helping visionary founders, funders, and investors maximize value creation and scale solutions that address the world’s most pressing challenges.

LEBEC is a pioneering women-owned and led firm that specializes in innovative finance and philanthropy. With a strong presence in both the U.S. and Europe, LEBEC is dedicated to helping visionary founders, funders, and investors maximize value creation and scale solutions that address the world’s most pressing challenges.

About Alix

For over 20 years, Alix Lebec has been advising and growing organizations across the philanthropy and sustainable finance ecosystem.

As a member of the founding and executive leadership team at WaterEquity, alongside co-founders Gary White and Matt Damon, Alix spent the past decade building this high-performing global asset manager that invests in water, women, and sanitation in emerging markets.

She has also worked at the World Bank in Paris and Southeast Asia, the Clinton Global Initiative, and Water.org, where she mobilized $260 million in capital and built winning teams.

In 2020, Alix launched LEBEC to support philanthropists, investors, and entrepreneurs worldwide and to shape a paradigm shift in our global financial ecosystem. She is also a Limited Partner and impact advisor at Polymath Ventures, a member of 100 Women in Finance, and a co-founder of the World Climate Tech Summit in Miami.

Alix serves on the Board of iDE Global and is a regular media contributor on philanthropy, innovative finance, and investing in women in emerging markets.

Catalytic Philanthropy: Accelerating Impact

In this interview, Alix emphasizes the concept of catalytic philanthropy—a method that accelerates impact by leveraging philanthropic funds in innovative ways.

She identifies key strategies for philanthropists and investors to dramatically increase their impact beyond writing a check:

• Guarantee First Loss: Utilize philanthropic funds as a cushion for investors, encouraging them to engage in high-impact projects.
• Engage in Impact Investing: Direct capital towards ventures that not only promise financial returns but also generate social and environmental benefits.
• Foster Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Collaborate across sectors to pool resources, expertise, and networks, maximizing the scale and sustainability of interventions.
• Measure and Manage Impact: Employ robust impact measurement and management practices to ensure transparency and guide continuous improvement.

Reimagining Global Capital Markets for Good

At Lebec, the belief is that it’s critical to think bigger and reimagine how global capital markets can be a force for good—with the goal of unleashing systems change.

The opportunities to donate, invest, and do business in a sustainable manner are vast, ranging from achieving gender, racial, and income equality; addressing climate change; solving the global water crisis; elevating dance and the arts; to ensuring quality education and healthcare for all.

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In Episode 71 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I speak with Kirsten Dueck, CEO of NESsT, on breaking the cycle of poverty by investing front-line entrepreneurs.

About Kirsten

As the CEO of NESsT, Kirsten Dueck fosters trust-based relationships to accelerate impact for corporate, philanthropic, nonprofit, and community stakeholders. In her role, she drives strategy and operations for a leading global impact investor and venture philanthropist.

As CEO of NESsT, she drives strategy and operations for a leading global impact investor and venture philanthropist that has invested more than $30M and trained and supported over 30,000 entrepreneurs across 50 countries, accelerated and financed 243 enterprises sustaining more than 100,000 formal jobs and improving the lives of 1.6million people from the most marginalized communities around the world.

Addressing the Urgency of Poverty

Since its inception in 1997, NESsT has been investing in front-line entrepreneurs, catalyzing impact-driven enterprises, and shaping sustainable and equitable futures, especially in emerging market countries.

A significant portion of the global population still grapples with extreme or moderate poverty, while nearly half face low incomes and challenging working conditions.

NESsT recognizes the inherent dignity in providing access to good jobs and reliable income, not just as a means of sustenance but as pathways to empowerment and community upliftment.

Invest, Accelerate, Transform: NESsT’s Approach

NESsT's strategy revolves around three core pillars:

Invest, Accelerate, and Transform.

By leveraging donations and patient capital, NESsT channels resources into social enterprises that prioritize creating dignified jobs for those most in need.

These investments are not merely financial; NESsT commits to these enterprises for several years, offering tailored financing and hands-on business development support to navigate the challenges of scaling.

Through this dedicated support, NESsT empowers social entrepreneurs to not only build successful businesses but also to transform communities.

By providing essential skills, technology, and ongoing support, these enterprises become catalysts for sustainable change, fostering economic resilience and fostering dignity.

The Power of Social Enterprises

At the heart of NESsT's philosophy lies the recognition of the unique role that social enterprises play in driving positive change.

Unlike traditional businesses, social enterprises are deeply embedded within their communities, earning trust and understanding local needs intimately.

They align their business interests with the well-being of their communities, ensuring that economic growth is inclusive and sustainable

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