As an engineer, entrepreneur, and angel investor committed to climate change solutions, I specialize in identifying and investing in companies tackling environmental challenges, particularly those at the intersection of climate change and the Ocean. My involvement in the companies extend beyond investing to active participation in various areas such as product development, marketing, finance, and operations. My experience includes co-founding SolarCity, a leading U.S. solar company, and serving as CTO at Everdream, an early SaaS innovator acquired by Dell.  My interests lie in building hardware in the domains of ocean technologies, sustainable coffee, and renewable energy generation.

Supporting the engineers and entrepreneurs focused on building products that power sustainability

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About

Sofar, through connecting the world's oceans, aims to power a more sustainable future. Sofar has successfully established the world’s largest privately-owned network of ocean sensors, deploying hundreds of Spotters globally to collect an impressive 1.5 million real-time observations daily. The company's team of ocean scientists utilizes this vast dataset to create marine weather forecasts that are up to 50% more accurate than traditional models.

In the realm of maritime shipping, Sofar leverages these high-accuracy forecasts and vessel performance models to offer optimized guidance, ultimately saving ships valuable time, reducing fuel consumption, and minimizing emissions. The company also provides researchers, operators, and innovators with its cutting-edge devices and data, empowering marine research and fostering sustainable commercial solutions. Customers can access data from Sofar's extensive global sensor network and utilize the versatile Spotter platform for collecting real-time surface and subsurface observations.

Sofar's dedicated team comprises engineers, ocean scientists, and business professionals, with the company headquartered in San Francisco, California.

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Ocean Tech

Sofar Ocean Technologies

The coffee industry creates significant carbon emissions, disproportionately affecting farmers through climate change. We must advocate for the widespread adoption of electric and distributed roasting to reduce our carbon footprint.

Current coffee prices don't provide a living income to most of the world’s farmers, causing instability and enduring poverty. We must pay coffee farmers equitable prices that support a living income, and invest in farm communities where we source coffee. 

Take full control of your coffee from farm to cup and deliver a superior customer experience. Roasting onsite with Bellwether saves you significant costs over wholesale, eliminates problems with freshness and consistency, and produces the lowest carbon coffee on the market. 

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Bellwether Coffee

Aqualink, as a philanthropic engineering organization, is dedicated to the development of ocean monitoring and conservation technology.

With over 700 sites under management Aqualink integrates data from sensors, models, satellite observations, surveys, images, and video to give you an instant view of your ecosystem.

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Aqualink

ZOLA emerged from the vast landscapes surrounding the Serengeti in Tanzania, driven by a profound observation – both off-grid and on-grid communities were burdened by inefficient, expensive, and environmentally harmful energy sources. The reliance on diesel, kerosene, and lead-acid batteries hindered these communities from realizing their full social and economic potential. This realization sparked our founders' mission to address one of the world's pressing issues: energy inequality, affecting over 2 billion people and countless businesses globally.

More than a decade ago, ZOLA embarked on a transformative journey by installing smart, connected devices, including lithium-ion batteries and solar solutions, to meet basic energy needs in rural communities. Our visionary approach, grounded in the belief that a network of connected devices would drive the energy transition in emerging markets, holds true today.

ZOLA has pioneered the world's first enterprise technology platform tailored for energy access markets, uniting a family of products under the control of a single operating system – ZOLA Vision.

Today, ZOLA Electric stands as the leading emerging market energy technology company, dedicated to delivering community-level electrification through its innovative technology platform. From our roots in Tanzania, we have expanded our reach to proudly provide energy access in 10 countries across 4 continents. Our impact extends to over 2 million people, benefiting schools, clinics, and businesses with affordable, reliable, and clean energy. The journey continues as we tirelessly work towards eradicating energy inequality, steadfast in our commitment until our mission is complete.

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Zola electric

Enpal, a pioneering photovoltaics leasing firm, is reshaping the solar energy landscape with its innovative approach to providing solar power systems. Our product empowers customers to reduce electricity expenditure through an all-inclusive green energy solution, making sustainable living accessible to all.

At the forefront of digital transformation in the solar industry, Enpal revolutionizes the process by offering personalized installation of solar systems. This approach tailors the optimal solution for each client, leveraging individual information and the latest technologies available. Notably, Enpal holds the distinction of being Germany's first greentech unicorn and ranks among the largest residential solar installers and fastest-growing energy companies in Europe, as recognized in the FT1000 Ranking 2022 by Financial Times and Statista.

With a remarkable installation rate of over 2,000 new solar energy systems monthly, Enpal provides an integrated package for a carbon-free home. This comprehensive offering includes photovoltaic (PV) systems, energy storage, electric vehicle (EV) chargers, green electricity tariffs, and smart energy software. Enpal's unique business model democratises solar energy by providing solar-as-a-service, eliminating high upfront acquisition costs and ensuring service and maintenance are seamlessly managed. Furthermore, all PV systems are interconnected to create an intelligent renewable network, exemplifying Enpal's commitment to a sustainable and interconnected energy future.

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Enpal

Scoot Science is at the forefront of revolutionizing fish farming practices, bringing together a dynamic team of oceanographers, data scientists, and software engineers. Our mission is to empower fish farmers in safeguarding their assets, promoting sustainable operations, and enhancing profitability through a comprehensive understanding of local ocean conditions.

At the heart of our innovation is the SeaState platform, developed by Scoot Science. This transformative technology takes the environmental, fish inventory, and operations data that fish farmers are already collecting and turns it into actionable insights. By providing site-specific ocean forecasts and valuable information on fish health, Scoot Science enables fish farmers to make informed decisions, optimize their operations, and contribute to a more sustainable and thriving aquaculture industry.

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Scoot Science

GivePower’s mission is to build and deploy solar-powered clean water and energy systems to communities in need around the world.

Over the past years, GivePower has brought solar power to over 2,500 schools, businesses, and emergency services and changed the lives of more than 300,000 people worldwide.

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Givepower

Vesta is dedicated to reversing climate change through a meticulous and robust approach to Coastal Carbon Capture (CCC). Our commitment lies in conducting careful research to comprehend the fundamental risks and impacts associated with CCC. Each phase of our incremental approach only advances if our data indicates a reasonable and safe path forward. While we aim to progress swiftly, our pace is aligned with the principles of rigorous research. As scientists first and foremost, we hold the scientific method and the health of the oceans in the highest regard.

Collaborating with universities and institutions, we engage in strategic, interdisciplinary research to expedite the scale-up of CCC without compromising the integrity of our work. Vesta welcomes feedback and embraces accountability from the global community as we navigate the path toward carbon dioxide removal.

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Project Vesta

SOLARCYCLE stands at the forefront of sustainable innovation, providing solar asset owners with a cutting-edge technology platform for the retirement and repurposing of solar panels. SOLARCYCLE's mission is to maximize solar sustainability by offering a comprehensive and eco-friendly process that ensures retiring solar panels find new life in innovative applications.

As a technology-driven platform, SOLARCYCLE employs proprietary technology capable of extracting 95% of valuable metals, including silver, silicon, copper, and aluminum, from retired solar panels. This forward-thinking approach extends beyond recycling to repurposing panels currently in use, aligning with the company commitment to advancing the circular economy for solar and renewables.

Founded in 2022 by experts in solar technology, recycling, and sustainability, SOLARCYCLE is dedicated to accelerating the transition towards a more circular and sustainable future for the solar industry. Through SOLARCYCLE's low-cost and environmentally conscious approach, they aim to redefine the lifecycle of solar panels, contributing to a cleaner and more efficient renewable energy landscape.

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Supporting the engineers and entrepreneurs focused on building products that power sustainability