Robyn Scott

Today we announce that we have successfully raised £20million to invest in scientific startups developing breakthrough solutions for deep decarbonisation. I joined Zero Carbon Capital in August '22 and it has been incredible! I happily spend my time talking to bold and intelligent entrepreneurs, searching for high impact investment opportunities, learning about industry sectors and technologies areas, and supporting our awesome portfolio companies in their long road ahead. I feel so grateful that my job is hopeful in the midst of a climate and environmental crisis. That I get to focus on solutions and be pro-active in finding and supporting the technologies, processes, products that could take chunks out of global greenhouse emissions and get us on track to a net zero 2050. Most of all, I have found my people. What better way to spend my days than with a team of super smart, mega determined people who care about the same things that I do! Chloe Coates, Max Werny, Alex Gawley - what a joy! And Pippa Gawley - for all that and for your leadership. Your leadership in a historically male dominated VC industry is a beacon. And this extends to the whole ClimateTech ecosystem - it energises me to work in a sector of like-minded people, passionate about the work we do. The conversations, exchanges, brainstorming make the job even richer! Let's keep going! Hold on to the vision for 2050 - a healthy planet! Our goals are achievable! https://lnkd.in/erWfvwz2

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No insights, overview, round-up, just a big shout out to an incredible team that brought Startup Discovery School Climate Fest to life at Impact Hub London in London. So much discussion concerning climate (tech), often feels abstract. We talk of the problem without reference to those currently facing the impact of climate change...right..now. Tech demo days are great, but we needed something more. Something that brings people together who view the challenge from different angles—entrepreneurs, investors, activists, curious folk, and anyone else interested. Climate Fest was the first attempt at convening this diverse group of people and long may it continue. A Shout Out 📣 A big shout out to Farrah Rainfly, who highlighted the great work Lifeafterhummus Community Benefit Society has done mobilising resources to retrofit community housing in Somerstown, London. Thanks to Kieron Boyle CEO of the Impact Investing Institute, who gave insights on *how* money can work better in supporting what is called 'the only transition' to net zero. Reuben Christian for leading us in 'Dream Rehab' session alongside our own Taz Latif. Another thanks goes to Radhika Srinivasan, who led us in a conversation around driving equitable transitions to net zero. And finally Margarita Skarkou, Nikki Gaddo FRSA and Ann Stevenson who joined me as we discussed convenience, consumerism and the circular economy. Onwards ⏩ #climatechange #climatetech #justtransition #team

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This is a good and important read on #FOAK projects and the ClimateTech Valley of Death, with good insight from some very sharp investors. One often overlooks aspect of this challenge is WHO will build these early commercial projects that are smaller and don't often appeal to top tier EPCs. Developing and building these projects will be a critical, often binary factor in the outcomes. https://lnkd.in/gbedmkmt

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🌍💡 Embracing Interoperability: The Evolution of Carbon Markets 💡🌍 The landscape of carbon markets is rapidly evolving, with a significant shift towards fungibility and interoperability. What does this mean? We (at the SoHo Global Climate Fund) spoke with leading climate fund manager, Charles Bedford of Carbon Growth Partners, to shed light on this important trend in the carbon markets. It's about creating seamless connections between compliance and voluntary markets, allowing for the exchange and recognition of carbon credits across borders and sectors. This trend marks a pivotal moment in our collective efforts towards combating climate change. By enabling carbon credits to be fungible and interoperable, we're fostering a more efficient and scalable approach to carbon pricing and emissions reduction strategies. Companies and organizations now have greater flexibility to participate in markets that align with their goals. #CarbonMarkets #ClimateAction #Fungibility #Interoperability #Sustainability #Innovation #GlobalImpact

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I’m happy to share one of Prolific's new endeavors: the Prolific Participant Wellbeing Report. This pioneering study explores and evaluates the mental wellbeing of online research participants, leveraging the Short Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS) to uncover insights. The findings? A reassuring confirmation that participant wellbeing on Prolific is solid, underscoring our unwavering dedication to ethical practices in research. This is a first-of-its-kind publication for our industry. It casts a spotlight on the critical importance of ensuring participant wellbeing - a timely addition to the ongoing debates about the impact of online research and AI training methodologies. Read more about our findings here: https://bit.ly/3UmnFNF EDIT: Full report is also available here: https://lnkd.in/eBVNE68J

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Interesting analysis about climate tech investments per region! Tks for putting this data together Sightline Climate (CTVC)!

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What's been happening in Mental Health innovation this week? ⭕ Virtual Therapeutics and Akili announce a merger. Akili were in big trouble, losing about $10m a quarter after failing to generate revenue for their digital therapeutics products. ⭕ Seven Starling, a maternal mental healthcare startup, raises $12.6m ⭕ Irish startup Spectrum.Life raises €17m in a round led by Act Venture Capital ⭕ Orygen receives an additional $6.4m of funding from the Victorian Sate Goverment for their youth digital mental health service MOST ⭕ Workplace wellbeing provider Habit Health is acquired by Five V Capital for over $200m ⭕ Optum acquires outpatient mental health providers Refresh Mental Health and CARE Counseling ⭕ Acadia Healthcare appoints Nasser Khan, MD as COO to expand their comprehensive treatment centres, grow their outpatient segment and improve quality of clinical care __ Want more insights and trends on mental health innovation? Feel free to follow myself and The Hemingway Report.

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Great insights from Sophie Purdom and Sightline Climate (CTVC)'s latest analysis on the H1'2024 climate tech funding market. Tough economic conditions have continued to see a stagnation in ClimateTech funding and deal count - there is a sense of cautiousness among corporates, consumers and investors, reflecting broader trends of the venture market. ClimateTech deals are still happening but the challenges faced by companies funded 2-3 years ago (now at Series B+), who are taking longer to de-risk their technology and achieve scalability, have created an environment of heightened investor scrutiny, even at the early-stage. However, there are still positive signs from what I've seen locally: 📈 ClimateTech remains a high priority in Australia, with $344M from 10 deals, including some large rounds, as reported in Cut Through Venture's Q2 2024 Report. https://lnkd.in/g3CK5p2W 🔀 More flexible forms of capital, such as debt, grants, and philanthropy, are becoming more readily available. E.g. Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) received a funding boost in the recent budget. 💫 Growing founder pipeline with ClimateTech communities remaining strong (e.g. Melbourne Climate Network and Climate Salad). I'm keen to hear the insights from the Climate Salad team for their upcoming Aus Climate Tech Industry Report. Sign up for their launch here: https://lnkd.in/gPYsRqZw #climatetech #funding

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Taking a regenerative approach to business/leadership is not a "checkbox" activity. How you "get there" and what it "looks like" is unique depending on the company. In fact, the exercise of enforcing a standard checklist of activities that must be completed to be regenerative is NOT regenerative in itself. The article Cordell Jacks refers to below is brilliant - it really describes the desired approach we are trying to model at Regenerative Capital Group.

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Fundraising decks are important but only within the context of a well-orchestrated fundraising process. A deck itself is unlikely to directly lead to a term sheet. Rather, it is important to understand how you want to use the deck (or any collateral for that matter) as part of your fundraise process. For example: - Is it to secure the first meeting with a VC? A teaser deck is important. But so is the email snippet and warm referral! - Is it part of a deeper-dive session about your business? Excellent. Is it a deeper dive on product or GTM? And, is the next step a track to a partnership meeting? - Is it a diligence deck? Excellent. Is it more about showcasing the financial plan and key levers? ... what is the ONE thing you want this deck to help you achieve? More tips on fundraising your early-stage round here: https://lnkd.in/gvWYaCwk #startups #venture #fundraising

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Your feedback keeps us going! 🚀 This is feedback from a recent workshop we ran for Hatch Enterprise UK on funding strategy.  Our mission with GuessWorks is centered around demystifying the entrepreneurship journey. It's incredibly fulfilling to provide that stepping stone and cheat sheet for others that are inspired to start the journey. Now, gearing up for our next workshop! And if you're a founder looking to join a programme like this - Hatch actually have another Incubator coming soon - applications close end of Monday 29th April... Gain the tools, knowledge, and network you need to market effectively, access crucial funding, and grow your business sustainably. Don't miss this chance to stay accountable, connect with fellow entrepreneurs, and achieve clarity on your business growth strategies. Apply now but be quick, applications close on Tuesday 7th May (link in comments 👇🏻). #Founderskills #startuptraining #accelerators #innovationskills #entrepreneurshipeducation #feedback

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Had a great conversation with SustainCERT during Climate Week NY 2023. Excited to announce that we will be back in NYC in September to launch and workshop our "Brand & Retailer Sustainable Finance Playbook." The playbook will bring together brands, retailers, suppliers, banks, development banks, and philanthropies to defragment and align various ways to invest in decarbonization, creating demand for suppliers to take on critical factory efficiencies, upgrades & improvements. Join us in creating a more sustainable future for the fashion industry. Check out this interview from last year's Climate week NYC with SustainCERT #ClimateWeekNYC #SustainableFinance #FashionIndustry #Decarbonization

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What questions are we asking when we look at new pre-seed climate investments? This was the answer from the LLM trained on our last 26 weeks of partner meetings. Some bits are unsurprising, like team questions or moats. But we spend A LOT of time trying to understand if there are real customers, which routinely leads us to unpack potential unit economics. Here's the complete response - Ability to generate both compelling financial returns and climate impact + If successful, can this company deliver a large enough exit to return the fund? + Does the environmental impact story go beyond just marketing greenwashing? + How do the actual carbon and pollution reduction numbers pencil out? Market size and growth potential + Is the total addressable market large enough to support a venture-scale outcome? + How quickly is the market growing and evolving? Strength of the founding team + Do the founders have relevant industry experience and strong entrepreneurial qualities? + Can they attract top talent, communicate their vision, and execute well? + Are they coachable and do they take feedback well? Competitive differentiation and defensibility + How is this company different from incumbents and other startups in the space? + Do they have a unique technology, business model, or go-to-market strategy? + Is their competitive advantage sustainable or could it be easily replicated? Technical and execution risk + How complex is the underlying technology and how much development risk remains? + Can the team actually build what they are pitching and scale it commercially? + What external dependencies or bottlenecks could impede their progress? Pathway to profitability and attractive unit economics + How will the company make money and are the unit economics attractive at scale? + How much capital is required to get to profitability and a successful exit? + Is this just a service business masquerading as a tech company? Customer validation and ability to sell the product + Who exactly is the target customer and what evidence is there of product-market fit? + Can they actually close enterprise sales deals or get consumers to adopt the product? + How long are customer sales cycles and how lumpy is the revenue? Overinflated valuation and round dynamics + Is the valuation reasonable given the company's stage, traction, and market? + How competitive is the round? + Is there a risk of a down round if they raise too high of a valuation too soon?

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On behalf of Carbon Re, I have signed an open letter to Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak calling for policies to accelerate UK ClimateTech to be prioritised under the next government. The letter was written by Startup Coalition and ClimateImpact and signed by over 180 ClimateTech leaders. Whoever wins on 4 July must prioritise #ClimateTech innovation - it is an environmental and economic imperative. https://lnkd.in/emQJsQJK

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Great insights shared by Dr. Christopher Haley at Startup Genome on the vital connection between a region's assets and the appropriate accelerator stage. This article underscores how aligning these elements leads to remarkable outcomes in ecosystem development. A great read for all of my friends in ecosystem development. From my personal experience I'll add that misalignment, however, can have long-lasting effects. When startup programs or organizations backed by private or public funds falter, the recovery period for regions can extend from 3 to 8 years. This delay significantly impacts founders seeking mentorship, knowledge, and funding opportunities. #EcosystemDevelopment #StartupGenome #AcceleratorPrograms #FounderSupport

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Interesting to observe the evolving landscape of family offices, adopting a more proactive and direct investment approach. This shift is now making a tangible impact on the funding dynamics within academia and research, driven by for-profit objectives aimed at advancing scientific progress.

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One of the more thoughtful, practical pieces I’ve read on carbon removal and carbon markets recently - impressed and encouraged by the steps that Stripe has taken, especially with their Frontier fund, to drive demand for carbon removal. What mechanisms do we need to similarly enable the voluntary carbon markets by transforming carbon avoidance/reduction/removal from a public good into a business imperative, and fast? #carbonremoval #carbonmarkets #carboneconomics

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We are delighted to be a co signatory of the climatetech letter to the UK party leaders, calling for innovation to be at the heart of the next government's plans to combat climate change. Thanks to ClimateImpact and Stephen Murphy for your leadership on this. Full text here: Dear Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer, We, the undersigned, call for innovation to be at the heart of the next government's plans to combat climate change. Supporting ClimateTech firms will maximise our chances of hitting our net zero goals, alongside ensuring the UK is home to the industries, jobs, and economic growth of the low-carbon future. This requires a comprehensive and joined-up policy agenda that makes the UK the best place in the world to found a ClimateTech business which can then scale, commercialise and export to other markets. If the next government gets this right, the UK can accelerate decarbonisation across the world. Whoever wins on 4th July must prioritise ClimateTech innovation - it is an environmental and economic imperative. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your team any time before or after the election." Full list of co signatories here: https://lnkd.in/ew64fMvk

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Very excited to share our new #fundinginstrument: the D-SAFE. It's modeled after the standard #SAFE (simple agreement for future equity). The D stands for "Development," and it's meant to address the specific #financing needs of #startups developing their first few pilot plants or commercial facilities. The D-SAFE gives the CEO the option to convert the #equity into a loan once the project is fully funded and underway, a feature that allows the CEO to redeem this capital to the investor – rather than automatically take on further dilution. It also makes it easier to finance new project developments with additional capital partners. The team Elemental Excelerator has been working on this for a while, and I'm excited to see it out in the wild. Our goal is to have the dollars recycle back to us as soon as the projects get larger financing so that we can re-deploy capital for #impact. We've already issued eight of these D-SAFEs to various portfolio companies and are excited for more! You can learn more about what this means in our announcement here: https://lnkd.in/gU74XqQU Huge props to everyone involved! Dawn Lippert Avra van der Zee Danya Hakeem Amir Chireh Mehr Mason Darryl Gunter Aparna Reddy Mike Curtis Lisa Kanehiro #financialinnovation #climatetech

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