Martin Whittaker

🌿 As many of us in the investment community work to incorporate nature and biodiversity into our responsible investment strategies, it's clear that boards have a critical role to play. This new guide offers a practical and insightful list of questions tailored for board directors, helping them better understand and oversee their company’s environmental impact. A valuable resource for anyone looking to elevate boardroom conversations on sustainability and nature-related risks. 📘 Well worth a read for those shaping ESG strategy at the governance level. #Biodiversity #NaturePositive #ResponsibleInvestment #Sustainability #ESG #Governance #BoardDirectors #ClimateRisk https://lnkd.in/dg9YKEts

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🚨 The “Big Beautiful Bill” just passed—and it could be the most consequential climate rollback in U.S. history. ⚡️ Wind and solar tax credits are set to phase out years earlier, threatening over 70% of planned clean energy projects. 🚘 EV and battery incentives are being slashed, stalling adoption and investment. 🛢️ Fossil fuels, LNG, and permitting reforms are prioritized, reversing much of the momentum from the Inflation Reduction Act. 📉 An estimated 330,000 clean energy jobs could be at risk, while U.S. competitiveness in climate tech may falter just as global rivals double down. In this rapidly shifting landscape, evaluating what is ahead of the industry would be very critical. 🔔 Join Us for an Exclusive Webinar | July 8 @ 6:30 PM PST Navigating Clean Energy Funding: Insights from Former DOE Leadership 🔔 Vectors Capital is thrilled to host a 30-minute power session + live Q&A with Victor Scott Kane, Former Deputy Director of Commercialization at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Whether you're a climate founder, corporate innovator, or investor, this is your chance to hear directly from DOE leadership on how to strategically position for upcoming funding opportunities and policy shifts. 🎯 What You’ll Learn: ✅ Insider tips on DOE funding strategy ✅ Navigating grants, cooperative agreements & prize competitions ✅ Practical guidance for successful applications ✅ Implications of the new Senate bill for innovation, investment & industry partnerships 🗓️ Tuesday, July 8 🕡 6:30 PM PST 📍 Virtual | Zoom link upon registration 👉 Register Now: https://shorturl.at/cgBIf Let’s unpack what’s next for the climate innovation ecosystem—together. #climatetech #policy #DOE #energytransition #cleantech #venturecapital #grants #non-dilutivefunding #cleanenergy #webinar #BigBeautifulBill

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ZERO out of 40 million carbon credits , across 278 projects seem to fit the (irrational) criteria set up by self appointed "carbon police". According to the analysis below. ⚠️The problem is with the criteria, not with the quality, integrity or additionality of these credits. ♻️Some credits may be low-grade. A lot will be very high-grade. 💡Carbon credits, like coffee or wheat can (and should) be treated as a diverse body of products. Fair-trade, single source, shade coffee from Kenya will trade at a premium to generic blends from low-quality control traders. And that, my friends is just fine. Just how markets operate. Not everyone buys the free-range, grass-fed organic happy beef. Not everyone can afford it, or care. 👎🏻The SBTI and the ICVCM are two top-down bodies that have self-appointed themselves as a pseudo-regulator for carbon markets. 💣In a new industry, having bodies that set basic common standards is often useful. Except when they overreach. 💤Sadly, these bodies are bloated with pontificating theorists, and politicians/policy makers, who are either ignoring the reality of markets (demand and supply, duh!), or have some ideological bias that prevents them from accepting that we NEED offsets. 🌳 🐘And perhaps more unforgivable, that they keep excluding REDD avoidance credits, when they should rank highest in the hierarchy of all carbon, given the amazing role they play in protecting our last remaining large ecosystems. and the biodiversity within. (any issues around permanence and additionality can be addressed via requirements, but are today being addressed by price.... markets work) ☀️As @Melissa Lindsay says "Let's not let perfection be the enemy of the good"

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Key Takeaways: The fund aims to give carbon removal buyers a pathway to support early-stage projects without taking on early-stage risk. Project developers continue to scramble for capital to build their facilities and expand operations to fulfill offtake agreements. Revenue from sales of pre-purchased credits is returned to the fund, potentially making it self-sustaining.

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Key Takeaways: The fund aims to give carbon removal buyers a pathway to support early-stage projects without taking on early-stage risk. Project developers continue to scramble for capital to build their facilities and expand operations to fulfill offtake agreements. Revenue from sales of pre-purchased credits is returned to the fund, potentially making it self-sustaining.

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🎙️ New Podcast Announcement! 🎙️ Joel Palathinkal sits down with Matthew McGraw, founder of Anthropocene Ventures, to explore aligning finance with ecology and building a climate tech fund rooted in deep science and personal passion. Key Discussion Points: • From 90s indie rock to tech enablement pioneer 🎸→🚀 • Building and scaling Rocket Science: Behind Airbnb, Twitter, Lyft 💡 • Founding Anthropocene Ventures: Aligning economy with ecology 🌱 • Personal passion and family influence on climate investing 👨👩👧👦 • The fundraising landscape for emerging managers 💰 • LP decision-making psychology and timing 🧠 • Hard-won wisdom on career, risk, and purpose ⚖️ Perfect For: Climate tech founders, emerging fund managers, mission-driven investors, and anyone building ventures at the intersection of technology and ecology! 👉 Listen Now! 👈 Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e7tDTNZY Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eKdk2taW YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eerzTMyf #ClimateTech #VentureCapital #MissionDriven #EmergingManagers #SustainableInvesting

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"How can we invest in what we can't measure?" I hear this in investor conversations and industry conferences again and again. Yes, climate #adaptation and #resilience are complex, but that is no longer a valid excuse for inaction during the #climatecrisis. Acumen's latest report analyzes 5,700+ farmer surveys across 11 agribusinesses over 5 years. It reveals 3 key findings about how agribusiness models helped farmers increase incomes and build resilience. We're starting to see which models help farmers adapt and deliver returns. Climate resilience is investable, scalable, and measureable. Check out the full report! https://lnkd.in/eD2KnAkG Tamer El-Raghy Rebecca Mincy Christopher Wayne Coco Lim Luan Mans

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What a great news to start 2026 🌍🌱 AFI Ventures is proud to be investor in Equitable Earth (formerly ERS), which today announced a €13m SeriesA - bringing total capital raised to over €25m - to accelerate the certification of nature-based climate solutions, enabling organisations to protect and restore the natural world at scale. 🌍 In a carbon market that urgently needs trust, transparency, and real impact, Equitable Earth (formerly ERS) is setting a new standard through: ✔️ rigorous, fully digital certification ✔️ alignment with the ICVCM Core Carbon Principles ✔️ measurable benefits for climate, nature, and local communities This milestone will enable the certification of more high-integrity projects, faster and at global scale. Congratulations to Thibault Sorret, the whole team and fellow investors (a US-based family office supported by existing investors including AENU and noa) on this important step forward. 🌱 #ClimateAction #NatureBasedSolutions #CarbonMarkets #Biodiversity cc Ventech https://lnkd.in/erCBt6R7

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Very excited to share my most recent article in Forbes, focusing on the role of philanthropy in supporting climate innovation in emerging markets. Over the past few weeks, our team has had some great conversations with foundations and other partners who are supporting climate entrepreneurs in the some of the most vulnerable countries. Philanthropy is uniquely positioned to play a role here, but we need a wider aperture in terms of what it can and should do. The article proposes five areas where philanthropy can take on a wider agenda to not just fund more climate startups in these markets, but to build the talent pools and enabling ecosystems that support these companies. Here's a breakdown of the five areas: 1. New company building models: We don’t need just more climate entrepreneurship and innovation in developing countries, but we need it to be targeted at solving the most pressing problems. Purpose-built platforms - venture studios and builder models - can incubate startups with greater intentionality, offering technical capacity, market access, and tailored support that meet local needs. 2. Build fractional leadership networks: As much as more funding is needed to support climate startups in their early stages, matching them with the right talent at the right time can be critical. And there’s no guarantee that this talent is locally available. We need specialized programs that can match seasoned leadership - e.g. fractional CFOs, CMOs, and other C-level executives along with technical experts - who can provide critical guidance, strategic discipline, and credibility, making ventures more investment-ready and sustainable. 3. Ecosystem enablers and hubs: Climate tech benefits from enabling ecosystems, which often entail complex networks of universities giving birth to ideas, funds financing the development of prototypes, executive talent coming in from the corporate world and policymakers assessing how to incentivize the adoption of climate technologies. 4. Create linkages between emerging markets: Most funding, technology and talent transfer in climate tech tends to be concentrated between wealthy countries, but there are opportunities to strengthen ties between emerging markets themselves. Creating networks between regions fosters peer learning, market entry, and collaboration. 5. Prioritize adaptation and resilience: Often, adaptation and resilience (A&R) risks are the primary ways in which emerging markets first and foremost experience climate change. Increasing finance, company building and entrepreneurship support for A&R - health, disaster resilience, agriculture, and water - reflects the acute realities on the ground and brings direct benefits to vulnerable communities.

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This started with Bill Cooper's vision for carbon markets. More than four years ago, JW (James Wallace) and I were introduced to Bill (William Cooper), who had an early view of where carbon markets were heading. That vision aligned closely with something JW and I had already been building through DIGTL since 2020: building infrastructure and technology to bring real world assets to global capital markets and to make investment opportunities accessible to more investors, including retail. Today that shared vision takes a major step forward. Theaus Global is live at https://lnkd.in/gPJNp_WJ including our blockchain tracker for full transparency on total supply. TL;DR • First-of-its-kind Sequestered Oil carbon credits based on leaving millions of barrels of oil in the ground, validated and verified by an accredited VVB • Strategic alliance with NorthernNations Cooperative, ensuring Indigenous engagement from the start. • Vertically integrated from our rights to underlying oil assets through verified issuance, blockchain transparency and distribution • Institutional-grade distribution via partners including the Northern Trust's Carbon Ecosystem, with broader global access including retail investors via MERJ Exchange To connect or receive company updates as we accelerate through our roadmap (next one coming soon): partners@theausglobal.com =========================== At the foundation are our Alberta oil asset rights. Our flagship project introduces Sequestered Oil carbon credits from oil on track for extraction but permanently kept in the ground, with over two barrels of production represented by each carbon credit issued. The project was independently validated and verified by Carbon Check, an accredited VVB (1st DOE under 6.4). Credits are issued with full lifecycle transparency on Liquid Network, built on #Bitcoin and anchored to the Bitcoin network, providing infrastructure and a permanent auditable record of issuance and lifecycle. The platform connects carbon markets to capital markets through partners and service providers, including the Northern Trust Carbon Ecosystem, with future potential global access including retail investors through MERJ Exchange. We built the full stack: asset rights, verified carbon issuance, blockchain transparency and distribution. What makes the project significantly stronger is our strategic alliance with Northern Nations Cooperative, ensuring Indigenous partnership as these opportunities develop. The project involved GLJ Ltd., EcoEngineers, and Carbon Check (India) Private Limited The platform has additional carbon pathways that I’ll expand on in the future. More details are in the press release linked in the comments. If you're a buyer of high-integrity credits at scale or an investor in the energy transition or carbon markets, let’s connect. Email partners@theausglobal.com or DM me directly.

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Why is credit the missing link in climate investing? Excited to speak with Christian Schaefer at our Waddesdon Transition Forum to unpack Goldman Sachs’ new multi-billion dollar climate credit strategy—and why credit is the next frontier in the transition. Since 2014, $650B was raised in sustainability focused private equity. Just $50B into climate credit. That mismatch is the opportunity. Smart capital knows where the gaps are. Application link in the first comment.

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From Risk to Asset (Part II) — How legacy industries are stepping into the carbon economy Carbon capture is evolving from waste mitigation to asset channel — one retrofitted paper mill at a time. Microsoft just secured 3.7 million tons of engineered removals in a 12-year offtake from CO280, paying $200 per ton. And this is more than a contract. It’s a blueprint for reclassifying emissions from cost center to value layer. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲-𝗰𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻:  • 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 – Any biogenic emitter with thermal recovery potential (pulp mills, oil refineries, ethanol plants) becomes a candidate site — as hard-to-abate sectors are being redefined as carbon removal platforms, building on what’s already running.  • 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 & 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 – High-integrity removals are now backed by MRV software, credit origination engines, pipeline-linked storage protocols, and IRA-enabled incentives — forming a vertically integrated removal system.  • 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 – Climate-aligned retrofits are financed through forward credit sales, monetized via tax credit arbitrage, and scaled through joint venture infrastructure plays — creating full-cycle, investable projects. This is infrastructure-grade carbon — engineered, accounted, and monetized. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸? Monetize carbon through durable, verifiable models embedded in industrial flows — turning emissions into capital market outputs. 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁? Rebuild legacy industries as carbon-native systems — anchored in tech, priced through offtake, and integrated into financial architecture. Explore the TechCrunch article by Tim De Chant: 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dzBmMBUM — spotlighting Microsoft, CO280, SLB Capturi Emission-intensive systems are being rewritten into climate-aligned platforms. This is how transition scales. #CarbonRemoval #IndustrialTech #ClimateFinance #FrontierTech #FutureFit

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**Consolidation in the Carbon Credit Market: What It Means for Investors** The acquisition of Pachama by Carbon Direct signifies a pivotal moment in the voluntary carbon credit market. As we navigate uncertainty, this consolidation could streamline operations but may also reduce market diversity. At ElevenX Capital, we view this trend as an opportunity for innovation amidst challenges. As investors, it’s crucial to adapt our strategies and assess how these shifts will impact the overall sustainability landscape. How are you adapting your investment strategy in response to market consolidation? #investing #innovation #venturecapital #entrepreneurship

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Excited to launch the 2026 Climate Tech course with Bruce Usher and Alan West! Teams now will include Columbia Business School, Columbia Engineering and Columbia Climate School grad students. These interdisciplinary teams will work with 10 VC funds on deep dives in sectors for innovation in climate mitigation, resilience, efficiency, and decarbonization. Thanks to the participating funds - Active Impact Investments, Aligned Climate Capital, Blackhorn Ventures, Blue Bear Capital, Buoyant Ventures, Clean Energy Ventures, Congruent Ventures, Lime Rock New Energy, Prelude Ventures and Renewal Funds!

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We’re entering an era where fiduciary duty is being redefined. For decades, stewardship meant preserving capital. Today, it must mean preserving the systems that allow capital to exist: energy, data, logistics, climate resilience. Allocating to infrastructure isn’t just smart portfolio management. It’s an ethical realignment, a recognition that long-term value depends on physical stability in an increasingly digital world.

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Thanks to the team at Kayo Conference Series for the excellent Women's Family Office Retreat at the Salamander Middleburg in Virginia's beautiful horse country. I joined three outstanding leaders on the Future of Impact Investing panel moderated by the talented Julia Enyart Fish, Managing Director, Sustainable and Impact Investing at Glenmede, Rebecca Carland, CIO at The Knight Foundation and Carrie Rich, WSJ best-selling author, CEO & co-founder of The Global Good Fund. Key Takeaways: ✨ Today's families and foundations can successfully leverage a blend of grants, equity and debt in a single company for impact AND financial return. ✨ Benefits of blended investing include increased job creation, financial upside for people on the front lines and ultimately an *increase in capital* to reinvest into a larger and stronger family legacy. ✨ Three key recommendations improve outcomes and returns: (a) Anticipate *future* investors' requirements and what they will need to see in a 'backable' cap table. (b) Create milestones matched with a proactive + clear funding plan to avoid typical and often deadly funding gaps - especially important when investing in medical innovation and other long-haul/big payoff projects. (c) "Reality is a group project" - keep everyone engaged with candid and frequent communication across the entire syndicate (not just the board) to maintain a common understanding of likely outcomes as the business evolves. This is a challenging task for any early stage company and is especially critical when working across diverse stakeholders (families + foundations + VCs) who often have different definitions of success. ✨ We highlighted just a few of the impact/high return investments that solve big societal problems and are also on track to generate substantial $$$ returns for their investors, including Esusu, BuildWithin, and Cabinet Health, led by The Global Good Fund, RubyWell, Mercato and SteadyIQ, led by Loeb.nyc. ✨ We noted that women's health and wellness are often regarded as 'impact' despite serving 50% of the world's population (umm...hello?) ✨ Interested in learning more? We recommended CapShift and the Center for Sustainable Finance and Private Wealth (CSP) North America as resources for established as well as new family investors. ➡️ YOUR CALL TO ACTION: In the Great Wealth Transfer, women are expected to control 70% of $124 trillion over the next 25 years — including $34 trillion by 2030. 🙌 We are committed to supporting and encouraging more next gens and women of all ages to broaden and deepen their skills as investors and intentionally *grow* their capital in addition to being stewards of it. Rising gen leaders like Katie Loeb Molayem and Kayo keynote speaker, SFO COO Heidi Nel are taking up the challenge as investors, educators and community leaders. Many more good friends are working to help all family leaders and generations be smart, high-impact, high-return investors. We'd love to hear from you.

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"Closing the adaptation finance gap isn’t just about mobilising funds—it’s about creating systems that measure, verify, and monetise climate resilience in real time. At Axel Metro and Trustdata, we’re building the infrastructure for exactly that: A Verified Climate Economy where every adaptation measure—whether cooling a neighbourhood, reinforcing flood defences, or restoring wetlands—can be proven and funded through transparent, real-time data. Urban and regional platforms that ensure climate dividends flow directly to the communities delivering resilience on the ground. The Laudes Foundation and partners are making a pivotal move here. By connecting finance to verified impact, we can ensure adaptation is not just funded—but sustained." #JustTransition #ClimateResilience #AdaptationFinance #VerifiedClimateEconomy #SmartCities #UrbanResilience #ClimateFinance #SustainableInfrastructure #AxelMetro #Trustdata

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