This episode is part of our new Capital Series hosted by Jason Jacobs. This series explores a diverse range of capital sources and the individuals who drive them. From family offices and institutional LPs to private equity, government funding, and more, we take a deep dive into the world of capital and its critical role in driving innovation and progress. 

Vikram Raju is Managing Director, Head of the 1GT Platform and Head of Climate Investing for the private credit and equity division of Morgan Stanley Investment Management.

Morgan Stanley, of course, is a big player in the investing world, and seeing that they are entering climate tech and doing so at the growth equity stage is intriguing. Jason and Vikram cover a lot in this episode, including Morgan Stanley's journey to standing up this 1GT Platform and also Vikram's journey to doing the work that he does. We also discussed the energy transition generally, barriers holding it back, and changes that could unlock faster progress. 

In this episode, we cover: 

• Morgan Stanley and Vikram's role within the firm
• Morgan Stanley's 1GT strategy for private capital in the climate space
• Vikram's personal journey and professional background that lead him to his current role in climate investing
• Morgan Stanley's focus on CO2 emissions and how it came about
• How the firm assesses carbon reductions and the transparency of its methodology
• Where impact assessment kicks in during the deal process
• Sources of capital for Morgan Stanley's 1GT strategy
• Some of the areas that Vikram spends most of his time on, including mobility, energy, circular economy and food and agriculture
• Some of Morgan Stanley's investments to date
• Opportunities for Morgan Stanley to provide crucial capital to promising climate tech companies during a challenging investment landscape
• Vikram's thoughts on the gap between venture capital and project finance
• His skepticism toward the regulatory landscape
• The importance of working with incumbents while also disrupting the system to make progress
• Vikram's perspective on fossil fuels and the role of asset owners and big banks in helping steward the clean energy transition
• Who Vikram wants to hear from
• ESG and the politicization of the word

Get connected: 
Jason Jacobs Twitter / LinkedIn
Vikrum Raju LinkedIn
MCJ Podcast / Collective

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Episode recorded on June 28, 2023 (Published on July 19, 2023) 

Disclaimer from Morgan Stanley: This a general communication, which is not impartial and all information provided has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell any particular security or to adopt any specific investment strategy. The views and opinions and/or analysis expressed are those of the author or the investment team as of the date of preparation of this material and are subject to change at any time without notice due to market or economic conditions and may not necessarily come to pass. Forecasts and/or estimates provided herein are subject to change and may not actually come to pass. Information regarding expected market returns and market outlooks is based on the research, analysis and opinions of the authors or the investment team.

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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant