Accelerating Impact is thrilled to support this season of New Wave, the weekly podcast produced by Hugo Rauch.
The future of impact finance depends on honest, transparent dialogue about the challenges we face today. Joining forces with New Wave means we can advance the conversation on climate investments, featuring insights from key players driving climate action across the ecosystem.
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Circular Economy VC Playbook
Their conversation dives into why climate alone isn’t enough, and unpacks what it really takes to build venture-scale companies that protect biodiversity, water, materials, and supply chains, not just CO2. Meet Martijn Lopes Cardozo,a partner at Regeneration.VC and one of the world’s leading investors in the circular economy.
🎧 Listen on Spotify: Martijn Lopes Cardozo: Circular Economy VC Playbook
Most VCs Shouldn’t Be Investing in Hardware
Meet Jessica Burley – a leading investor at Planet A Ventures, and one of the sharpest minds backing Europe’s climate hardware revolution. Last year, Jessica teamed up with Norrsken VC and Speedinvest to co-create the Climate Hardware & Deep Tech Playbook. During Impact Week, Hugo Rauch sat down with Jessica to dive deep into the realities of climate hardware investing.
📺 Watch on YouTube: Most VCs Shouldn’t Be Investing in Hardware
🎧 Listen on Spotify: Most VCs Shouldn’t Be Investing in Hardware
The Brutal Truth About Turning SCIENCE Into STARTUPS
Meet Erik Engellau-Nilsson – a trailblazer whose career spans from VP of Communications at Klarna, to CEO of Norrsken, and now general partner at Norrsken Launcher. At Norrsken Launcher, Erik and the team are pioneering a highly focused investment strategy, backing a select portfolio of science-driven startups.
📺 Watch on YouTube: The Brutal Truth About Turning SCIENCE Into STARTUPS
🎧 Listen on Spotify: The Brutal Truth About Turning SCIENCE Into STARTUPS
How Europe’s Largest LP Picks Climate Funds
This conversation with Anna Finizio, Investment Manager at the European Investment Fund (EIF), dives into why EIF champions first-time funds, what it takes to secure their investment, and the rationale behind their meaningful share of up to 30%. Anna also discusses early signs of success in climate VC and highlights the major gaps still present in the climate investment landscape.
📺 Watch on YouTube: How Europe’s Largest LP Picks Climate Funds
🎧 Listen on Spotify: How Europe’s Largest LP Picks Climate Funds
Inside an Impact LP’s Mind: Dougie Sloan on Venture Selection
In this episode, Douglas Sloan, Managing Director at Better Society Capital, unpacks the conviction that “impact drives value” and explore how he’s inspiring other major LPs to embrace this mindset. He also shares his unique approach to filtering around 100 pitches per year down to just a select few – and reveals what sets exceptional managers apart in the impact space.
📺 Watch on YouTube: Inside an Impact LP’s Mind: Dougie Sloan on Venture Selection
🎧 Listen on Spotify: Inside an Impact LP’s Mind: Dougie Sloan on Venture Selection
Hampus Jakobsson: From Blackberry Exit to Climate VC
In this conversation, Hampus Jakobsson, who led TAT to a €100M+ exit and now invests as a general partner at Pale blue dot, shares his journey from student founder to prolific EU angel. The discussion explores the “pirate mindset” he values in entrepreneurs, the dynamics of building a fund with three distinct profiles, and his exclusive focus on climate investments.
📺 Watch on YouTube: From Blackberry Exit to Climate VC – Hampus Jakobsson
🎧 Listen on Spotify: From Blackberry Exit to Climate VC – Hampus Jakobsson
[The Swell] Investing in Sustainable Cities
In this insightful discussion, Laura Fox, Founding Partner at Streetlife Ventures, shares her journey from scaling Citi Bike to $120M ARR and now invests in startups building the nuts and bolts of sustainable cities. The conversation covers the $4 trillion cost of extreme weather and adaptation, strategies for identifying urban innovation, and a unique approach for climate-focused venture capitalists to make thoughtful, impactful investments.
📺 Watch on YouTube: Investing in Sustainable Cities – Laura Fox
🎧 Listen on Spotify: Investing in Sustainable Cities – Laura Fox
[The Swell] Inside Finland’s $3B LP: How They Back VC Funds
In the latest episode, Peter Platan from Finland’s €3B Sovereign Fund, Tesi, shares insights from his vantage point across 120+ funds. The discussion dives deep into Europe’s climate VC landscape, the innovative approaches making a difference, and what LPs are truly seeking in their partnerships.
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eVefhKAZ
🎧 Listen on Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eCa4HN7S
Terhi Vapola: Can Software Drive The Green Transition?
Dr. Terhi (TJ) Vapola, General Partner at Greencode Ventures, offers a candid look at the realities of investing in climate software. The conversation explores Greencode’s journey to raising €70M as a first-time fund, the pivotal role software plays in scaling climate solutions, and the strategies for building defensible advantages in this fast-evolving sector.
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eUgVz2tu
🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://lnkd.in/eTE_t2sf
[The Swell] What LPs Really Want from Climate Funds
💡Hugo Rauch and Carolina Echecopar from Carbon Equity unpack what’s really happening behind closed doors in LP conversations. In this episode, we dive into the brutal fundraising reality, what LPs look for beyond the deck, and why some climate VCs might not make the next wave.
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eUgVz2tu
🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://lnkd.in/eTE_t2sf
Is Climate Adaptation VC-Backable?
💡 This episode explores why climate adaptation remains so underfunded despite urgent need, and what it takes to mobilize investment for real resilience. With Timothy Rann of Mercy Corps Ventures, we unpack opportunities, challenges, and lessons from adaptation finance on the ground with 70+ investments, including crop insurance with Pula and sustainable land use with Meridia.
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/eJ86H98Z
🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://lnkd.in/eXkFwexJ
