#95 | Rising Sea Levels + AMA with Sustainability Experts
Understory newsletter on climate and sustainability tech
Hello Understory Community!
February marks the one year anniversary of our ‘Startups Driving Sustainability’ showcase series. When we first started, we did not anticipate the enormous engagement that it generated or that this event would eventually turn into a monthly event. We now have hosted over 40 entrepreneurs across 10 events, and continue to grow this vibrant community united in our mission to accelerate sustainability transformation. THANK YOU for being a part of it.
EVENT ALERT!
Do not miss Eka Software’s Ask Me Anything Sessions with Sustainability Experts this Thursday, February 24th at 9:30am ET. Do you have questions on hard topics such as ESG reporting, sustainable supply chain, carbon accounting, or carbon offsetting? This is your chance to get expert advice for free. REGISTER HERE!
📚 Worth Reading
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a multi-agency report on sea level projections. Due to climate change, sea levels along the U.S. coastline are projected to rise 10-12 inches in the next 30 years. This is the same amount of increase measured over the last 100 years! And 40% of the U.S. population lives within 60 miles of the coast - meaning significant impact for humans.
Key points:
Flooding is expected to occur 10x more often than it does today and will reach further inland.
Emissions are causing the rise in sea level. Sea levels could rise an additional 1.5-5 feet if we fail to curb emissions.
The report recommends continual tracking of sea levels to help humans plan for adaptation.
Quick links:
📽️ Worth Watching
If you missed our February ‘Startups Driving Sustainability’ Showcase last week, the recording is now available. Hear lightning talks on ESG, recycling, sustainable finance, and urban gardening. Many thanks to our presenters and attendees!
🚀 Funding and Congrats!
Burnt Island Ventures launched a $30 million fund to invest in water-related businesses.
TotalEnergies acquires SunPower's Commercial & Industrial Solar Business for $250 million.
Next Gen Foods, an alternative protein startup, raised a $100 million Series A to expand into the US.
Eon Group raised a $10 million Series A. Eon drives circularity and connected commerce through its CircularID Protocol.
Novoloop raises a $11 million Series A. The company does chemical upcycling of plastic waste into high-performance materials.
Actual, an ESG data modeling and visualization platform, raised a $5 million seed round.
Reusable packaging platform Returnity (and former Understory Showcase presenter!) raised $3.1 million in funding.
Australia-based Trace raised $1.9 million. The company helps individuals and organizations manage their carbon footprints.
💡 Startup Spotlight
Granular - market solutions for renewable energy including certificate management and trading on an hourly basis.
🌱 Startup Resources
One key to hiring and retaining key talent? A strong ESG culture.
👀 Quick Hits
Top tech firms are the top five largest renewable energy buyers.
Redwood Materials is launching an EV battery recycling program in California in partnership with Ford and Volvo.
Studies find that ethanol is worse than gasoline for the climate.
More banks join Project Carbon, a technology infrastructure platform for trading voluntary carbon credits.
The U.S. Army releases its climate strategy saying that it will help with risk readiness and national security.
Vogue weighs in on where sustainable fashion is heading.
🎧 Podcast
Joanne Rodriguez of Mycocycle: regeneration powered by fungi
David Wei of SolarKal: simplifying solar procurement
Ed Thomas of Hazel: climate empowerment with a single click
The Understory Podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Google Podcasts.
⚙️ Jobs
Find and share your open positions on the Understory Slack channel.
🆕 Recruiting Specialist and In Store Style Curator at Borobabi
🆕 Solutions Engineer at Clarity AI
🆕 Sustainability Practice Leader at Salesforce
🆕 Sustainability and Climate Program Manager, Procurement at Google
🆕 Manager - Supply Chain Environmental Sustainability at McKinsey & Co.
🆕 ESG Junior Sales Specialist at MSCI
🆕 Manager, Global Communications at Interface
Key Account Director at Interface
Events Manager at Sweep
Director of Sales at WasteWizer
Senior Business Development Manager at ZigZag Global
State Climate Policy Network Intern at Climate XChange
Sustainability Lead, Nature at Ralph Lauren
Software Engineer and Communications Coordinator at Greenlink Analytics
Enterprise Account Executive at Cloverly
Head of Marketing at Solid World DAO
Principal, Circular Economy at Amazon
Manager, Strategic Relationships - Circular Economy at TerraCycle
Operations Manager at Atmo Home
Multiple roles at Siklus
Head of Sustainable Products at Boston Materials
Head of Climate at Diginex
Multiple Roles at MightyFly
Senior Position in Late-Stage Technology Investing at Revaia
Finance Intern at Wallet Max
🗓 Events
February 24: Eka Software’s Ask Me Anything Sessions with Sustainability Experts
March 23: Understory’s Startups Driving Sustainability - March Showcase
April 23: Atlanta Green Business Market Fair
Do you have any events to share? Post them in our Understory Slack community.
📧 Stay in Touch!
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