Portland was thinking green WAY before it was cool. We're convening some of our most experienced voices in startup funding to talk about the resources and relationships that are helping to turn earth-friendly ideas into companies that are making a difference in the fight against climate change.
Bring your questions, your hoodies, and your most *disruptive* tech jargon, because we're talking STARTUPS.
Know someone with a business idea that could help make the planet a better place? Bring 'em! We'll sweeten the pot with snacks and drinks...
Jo Brickman, Deputy Director & Director of Impact Strategy, VertueLab
Jo has responsibility for the development and execution of strategic direction and programs at VertueLab. With the organization since its early days as Oregon BEST, she translated her previous decade of experience leading sustainable design at ZGF Architects into the creation of a collaborative research program focused on the sustainable built environment, and then into expanding the set of services offered to cleantech startups. Jo’s current focus is on ensuring VertueLab’s organizational excellence. In addition, Jo leads efforts for impact measurement and management, ensuring that VertueLab programs and supported companies are designed and managed to achieve ambitious targets for triple bottom line impact.
Robin Wang, Founder, Vibrant Future
Robin is an Impact Finance consultant specializing on economic and climate justice initiatives. Recent clients include The Seattle Foundation, Prosper Portland, and Oregon Consumer Justice. Previously, he was the Executive Director of Albina Opportunities Corp (dba Ascent Funding), a local CDFI. He presently serves on the Portland Clean Energy Fund community oversight committee and on the Investment and Audit Committee of The Russell Family Foundation, which has pledged to have a Net Zero investment portfolio by 2030.
Jim Huston, Co-Managing Director, Portland Seed Fund
Jim has over 20 years of experience in early stage investing and advising for technological companies. Before establishing PSF with Angela Jackson in 2011, Jim was Managing Director at Bay Area growth capital firm Blueprint Ventures, and Director of Strategic Investments at Intel Capital. From those positions, Jim led the investment of more than $67 million dollars into 19 companies that saw returns of more than 2.5 times the invested capital. Along with his executive position at PSF, Jim also sits on the board of Onboard Dynamics. He has earned an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, a B.S. in engineering from the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology, and has served as an adjunct professor at Portland State University and Lewis & Clark Law School.
Our Climate Curious moderator:
Dimitry Gershenson, CEO & Co-Founder, Enduring PlanetÂ
Enduring Planet provides fast, flexible, and founder-friendly capital to climate entrepreneurs.
Dimitry started Enduring Planet building on his 10+ years of experience across climate tech, operations, and impact investing. Prior to Enduring Planet, Dimitry led M&A and served as COO for Rango Wireless, an Enduring Ventures portfolio company. Before that, Dimitry built Meta’s Energy Access program, a $15M+ investing initiative that enabled energy access for 3M people and unlocked nearly $500M in additional capital in underserved markets like Kenya and India. While at Meta, Dimitry also led the development of multiple predictive ML products in the cleantech space and built corporate accelerator programs for impact startups in India and Puerto Rico.
Outside of Enduring Planet, Dimitry sits on the board of Ecosafi, a Lowercarbon-backed climate startup enabling clean cooking in emerging markets. Dimitry holds an MS in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley, a BS in Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University.
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A few of us connected on the My Climate Journey Slack group, looking to meet other folks in PDX working in the climate sector. We had so much fun at our first happy hour that we've made it a regular thing, and we'd love if you'd join us. We make spaces for thought-leaders, researchers, entrepreneurs, and people passionate about sustainability to meet, hang out, and learn.
Have someone you think should join? Invite them! Just like climate solutions, it takes all kinds and the more the merrier.
This month's event is hosted in partnership with Fresh Consulting, a design-led software, hardware, and robotics innovation company that offers end-to-end services with integrated teams. Fresh was founded in 2007 with the vision of pairing design and technology to drive innovation in the emerging digital economy.
They have kindly offered their gorgeous space for a recurring series of Climate Curious events, so many of you may have already had the opportunity to enjoy their hospitality.
