Chris Larson of Alder Point Capital Management, a fund manager focused on working farms and forestlands, joins David Bank.

Now a GP, or general partner, Larson used to sit on the other side of the table as an LP, or limited partner, at a single-family office. We discussed the rising value of sustainable real assets for climate mitigation and adaptation, and what it’s like to be a fund - raiser after spending years as a capital allocator.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: Navigating the fear and frenzy at Milken’s annual gathering of global institutional capital; how the ongoing war in Iran is increasing the demand for renewable energy infrastructure, to the benefit of private equity giants; and, strange bedfellows invest in a company using ocean waves to generate renewable for offshore data centers.

To try ImpactAlpha Edge, ⁠⁠⁠click here⁠⁠⁠.

Story links:

• "Renewable energy gains steam despite headwinds, as energy demand surges,” by Amy Cortese and Erik Stein.
• "Climate investors team with Peter Thiel to back ocean power startup Panthalassa," by Amy Cortese
  

Carrie Endries joins David Bank to discuss the evolution of the place-based local investment ecosystem in Boston.

“We have many clients who have more abundant wealth than they need,” Endries says on the latest Agents of Impact podcast. “That means that they can set aside a portion of their portfolio that might have a return that is below market, if they choose."

Such clients are among a growing cohort of asset owners who are shifting their focus to making a positive impact in their own backyards. Endries works with high net worth individuals, families and smaller foundations, many of whom are based in Boston and across New England, to design and implement impact‑first, place‑based investment strategies.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editors Jessican Pothering and David Bank. Up this week: The latest in Africa’s carbon markets, from nature-based solutions to clean cooking; which wealthy athletes are getting into the impact investing game; and debriefing this week’s Mission Investors Exchange conference.

To try ImpactAlpha Edge for yourself, ⁠⁠click here⁠⁠.

Story links:

• "Outcomes and offtakes spur a 250,000-acre restoration project in South Africa," by Jessica Pothering.
• "Why has it been so hard to crack the code on clean cooking solutions," by Jessica Pothering.
• “Wealthy athletes are getting into the impact investing game,” by Roodgally Senatus.
• “Agents of Impact share new narratives and continued resolve at Mission Investors Exchange,” by David Bank and Dennis Price

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: What’s significant about Uganda’s national pension fund’s effort to stand up a locally focused fund of funds; unraveling the controversy surrounding KKR’s lucrative employee ownership exit from CoolIT; and, unpacking the failure of the impact advisory firm Align Impact.

To try ImpactAlpha Edge yourself, ⁠click here⁠.

For more on these stories:

• “Let KKR do its thing while we convert thousands more companies to 100% employee ownership,” by Aner Ben-Ami
• "With shared ownership, $4.8 billion sale of CoolIT gives workers a cut of AI-driven gains," by Roody Senatus
• "Better financing can make employee ownership a game-changer for workers," by Antony Bugg Levine
• “Pension fund in Uganda readies a $100 million fund of funds to create jobs – and savers,” by Lucy Ngige
• “After 12 years, advisory firm Align Impact to shut down at the end of the month,” by David Bank

Dawn Lippert of Elemental Impact joins David Bank. The nonprofit accelerator and investor has for over 15 years been identifying climate solutions grounded in community benefits. Among the topics covered: the gap in financing first-of-a-kind commercial projects, AI and energy infrastructure, and a new role for the environmental movement now that renewable energy is rolling out at scale.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week:

• "Dear Shareholders: Your votes and your voice are needed more than ever," by As You Sow's Andrew Behar
• “Impact investors seek to assert human agency over the future of AI,” by David Bank and Dennis Price
• “Collaboration Fund sparks a conversation around M&A in impact investing field-building,” by David Bank and Amy Cortese

To try ImpactAlpha Edge for yourself, click here.

Correction: Sorenson Impact Institute, not Foundation, is hosting the Collaboration Fund as well as the Webinar next week.

Smitha Das of World Education Services, or WES, joins David Bank for this episode. WES has amassed its balance sheet not from a wealthy individual or a major corporation, but from the operations of its own nonprofit social enterprise -- and is now on a path to investing 100% of its $300 million in assets in full alignment with its social mission.

Host Brian Walsh takes up ImpactAlpha’s top stories with editor David Bank. Up this week: How the economic impacts of war in Iran are rippling through energy, fertilizer and food systems; a look at ImpactAlpha Edge; and, a public reckoning with an aquaculture investment gone wrong.

Relevant links:

• “With imported gas in short supply, Indian households green their kitchens,” by Shefali Anand

• "⁠Persian Gulf blockade stokes demand for local, bio-based fertilizers⁠," by Amy Cortese
• "The ImpactAlpha Edge: Actionable Intelligence for Agents of Impact," by Dennis Price
• "Aqua-Spark’s founders on lessons learned and the path forward after eFishery scandal,” by Amy Novogratz and Mike Velings
  

Russell Sprole of Virta Ventures joins David Bank to talk about why Virta expanded its equity-light, software-focused climate-tech investment strategy to include hardware, AI and blended capital stacks.

Virta Ventures has been an active and early user of ImpactAlpha Edge, ImpactAlpha’s premium platform of data and tools for fund managers and other Agents of Impact.

For more on the firm check out out David's piece on the firm's strategy from last year.