This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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In episode 93 of the Investing in Impact podcast, I sit down with Nick Dilks, Co Founder and Managing Partner of Ecosystem Investment Partners (EIP), a firm that has quietly become one of the most important players in large scale ecological restoration in the United States.

Nick grew up splitting time between Philadelphia and a family farm on the Chesapeake Bay. That early exposure to land and water shaped a life long focus on conservation. After a decade at The Conservation Fund structuring complex land deals, he co founded EIP in 2006 to answer a simple but difficult question.

Can you use private capital, at scale, to restore degraded ecosystems while still meeting the financial expectations of institutional investors

Over almost twenty years, EIP has shown that the answer is yes.

The firm acquires degraded land, restores wetlands, streams, and habitats, then sells mitigation credits to public and private developers that are required by law to offset their environmental impacts. It is a space where environmental protection, infrastructure, housing, and finance all intersect.

In this conversation, Nick explains how mitigation banking actually works, why these markets are fully regulated and compulsory, how a new 400 million dollar fund will expand EIP’s work, and why he believes more young people should bring serious financial skills into the environmental sector.

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Welcome to episode 92 of the Investing in Impact podcast. Today you will hear from Rehana Nathoo, the Founder and CEO of Spectrum Impact. Rehana has worked across the UN, Rockefeller Foundation, Bank of New York Mellon, and the Case Foundation, giving her a rare view into how capital systems evolve and where they fall short.

Her experience covers development finance, field building, and the realities of pushing impact work into traditional financial institutions. In this episode she breaks down her journey, the lessons she has carried into Spectrum Impact, and the honest truth about what it takes to design impact strategies that actually work.

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Carbon Direct has acquired Pachama to bolster precision, transparency, and scientific rigor in carbon accounting and verification for the voluntary carbon market. Pachama, recognized for its digital platform focused on monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) of forest carbon projects, will integrate its technology with Carbon Direct's science-driven carbon management expertise.​

Strategic Impact of the Acquisition

• The combined platform aims to deliver higher-quality carbon credits using improved environmental data tracking, advanced digital MRV tools, and AI-powered insights.​

• The acquisition strengthens Carbon Direct’s capacity to offer comprehensive, data-driven project evaluation and transparency for both buyers and project developers.​

• Pachama’s co-founder and CEO, Diego Saez Gil, and key team members will join Carbon Direct, helping guide strategic engagement around scaling nature-based, verifiable climate solutions.

Learn more →

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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The All Aboard Coalition is a collaborative investment fund created by a group of established venture capital and private equity firms. It aims to raise $300 million by October and begin investing before the end of the year.

Unlike early-stage seed funds, this one focuses on companies that already have validated technology and are now ready to expand into full-scale production.

It will make equity or convertible equity investments between $100 million and $200 million per company.

In simple terms, the All Aboard Coalition is positioning itself to fill the funding gap between early venture capital and large infrastructure financing, helping climate companies move from concept to commercial scale.

Read full breakdown.

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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In this episode of the Investing in Impact podcast, I sit down with Yigal Kerszenbaum, Managing Partner at JFFVentures, to explore how a mission driven investment fund partners with a national nonprofit to expand access, skills, and quality jobs for working adults.

Yigal shares his immigrant journey and why it fuels his commitment to opportunity creation.

The conversation covers the structure that aligns JFF’s nonprofit mission with a return driven venture fund, the rise of AI in the workforce, and concrete portfolio examples that move people from learning to earning.

Jobs for the Future is a forty year old national nonprofit focused at the intersection of education and work. Its North Star is to help tens of millions of adults transition into quality jobs. The organization has deep on the ground expertise, with hundreds of practitioners working across all fifty states and strong relationships with community colleges, employers, and public agencies.

JFFVentures is the investment arm aligned to that mission. It operates as a traditional venture capital fund with an impact thesis, backing founders who build products that increase economic mobility for adults earning less than fifty thousand dollars per year. The fund invests in pre seed and seed rounds, typically with an initial check near five hundred thousand dollars and reserves for follow on.

Key takeaways

• JFF is a forty year old nonprofit with deep networks in education and workforce, JFFVentures is its aligned venture fund
• The fund backs products that move adults from learning to earning, with a focus on those earning under fifty thousand dollars per year
• Portfolio companies like Pace AI, Manifest, and Major League Hacking show the thesis in action
• AI can both disrupt and enable, the opportunity is to use it to widen access, lower training costs, and improve job performance
• The structure shares financial upside with the nonprofit, reinforcing the mission as companies scale

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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The climate challenge has become the defining issue's of our era, unlocking trillions of dollars in climate finance and creating an unprecedented opportunity for bold ideas. But how capital is deployed and the types of founders it backs will determine whether we see systemic change or just incremental improvements.

That’s where Cerulean Ventures comes in.

Co-founded by Matthew Stotts, Cerulean is a pre-seed venture capital firm investing in founders applying AI and advanced technologies to build exponential solutions for nature.

Rather than chasing status-quo climate investments or one-off moonshots, Cerulean seeks leverage points where software, data, and fintech can radically transform entrenched systems.

I recently sat down with Matthew to dive into his journey, Cerulean’s unique investment lens, and the transformative startups reshaping everything from agriculture to renewable energy.

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Hey friends,

Welcome back to Funding Rounds, where we break down the week’s most impactful startup and venture funding announcements—highlighting the mission, the money, and the impact behind it all.

This week, over $1 billion was invested across public safety tech, clean energy, autism care, robotics, carbon removal, and more. Let’s get into it.

First Due Secures $355 Million to Scale Public Safety Software

Funding: $355 Million
Goal: Expand public safety and emergency response software solutions
Impact: Empowering first responders with technology to improve community safety

🔗 Read more

Heron Power Lands $38M Series A to Fast-Track All-Electric Future

Funding: $38 million
Goal: Accelerate transition to an all-electric future
Impact: Advancing clean energy adoption across industries

🔗 Learn more

beatBread Raises $124M to Empower Independent Musicians

Funding: $124 million
Goal: Offer flexible financing to independent musicians
Impact: Expanding access to capital for artists without sacrificing ownership

🔗 Learn more

Equatic Secures $11.6M Series A to Scale Carbon Removal and Green Hydrogen

Funding: $11.6 million
Goal: Advance permanent carbon removal and green hydrogen production
Impact: Scaling technologies to address climate change at the source

🔗 Read more

Vulcan Elements Closes $65M Series A to Boost U.S. Rare Earth Magnet Production

Funding: $65 million
Goal: Produce high-performance rare earth magnets in the U.S.
Impact: Strengthening domestic supply chains for critical clean energy materials

🔗 Read more

Positive Development Secures $51.5M Series C to Advance AI-Powered Autism Therapy

Funding: $51.5 million
Goal: Expand access to play-based developmental therapy and enhance its AI model for personalized autism care
Impact: Supporting children with autism and their families through at-home, relationship-focused, and development-driven programs

🔗 Learn more

Better Nature Lands $1.5M to Expand Clean-Label Tempeh in UK and Abroad

Funding: $1.5M
Goal: Grow alternative protein product lines globally
Impact: Driving plant-based innovation in the protein market

🔗 Read more

FORT Robotics Secures $18.9M Series B Expansion

Funding: $18.9 million
Goal: Advance safety and security solutions for robotics and physical AI systems
Impact: Enabling safe, secure, and dynamic control for autonomous machines across industries including agriculture, construction, defense, and factory automation

🔗 Learn more

Aira Lands €150M to Accelerate Europe’s Shift to Electric Residential Heating

Funding: €150 million
Goal: Accelerate clean home energy adoption across Europe
Impact: Driving decarbonization of residential heating

🔗 Read more

Circulate Capital Closes $75.8M Latin America & Caribbean Environmental Fund to Tackle Plastic Waste

Funding: $75.8 million
Goal: Combat plastic pollution and scale recycling infrastructure in Latin America & the Caribbean
Impact: Reducing ocean plastic, creating jobs, and building resilient recycling supply chains

🔗 Read more

📢 Final Thoughts

That wraps up this week’s Funding Rounds. Over $1 billion invested into systems that touch nearly every part of our lives—from how we heat our homes and power our cities, to how we create music, deliver therapy, and protect our communities.

If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, leave a quick review, and check out all the stories mentioned today at causeartist.com.

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Varda Raises $187M Series C to Manufacture Medicine in Space 🚀

Funding: $187 million
Goal: Bring zero-gravity biomanufacturing to commercial scale
Impact: Creating life-saving therapies that can only be made in orbit
🔗 Learn more

AWAKE Chocolate Lands $8M CAD to Fuel Functional Chocolate Growth 🍫

Funding: $8 million CAD
Goal: Expand caffeinated chocolate snacks as an alternative to energy drinks
Impact: Blending deliciousness and wellness in every bite
🔗 Learn more

SHIFT Invest Hits €92M First Close for Impact Fund 🌏

Funding: €92 million
Goal: Back circular economy, food, and climate startups
Impact: Driving sustainability-focused VC across Europe
🔗 Read more

GeologicAI Raises $44M for AI-Driven Mining Innovation ⛏️

Funding: $44 million
Goal: Digitize geological exploration with AI and automation
Impact: Making mining cleaner, faster, and more efficient
🔗 Read more

Hadrian Raises $260M to Build Automated Space Factories 🛰️

Funding: $260 million
Goal: Modernize precision manufacturing for aerospace
Impact: Accelerating innovation in national and planetary security
🔗 Read more

Fortuna Health Raises $18M to Modernize Medicaid Access 📲

Funding: $18 million Series A
Goal: Rebuild Medicaid infrastructure with user-friendly tech
Impact: Empowering millions to access benefits more easily
🔗 Learn more

Provectus Algae Raises $12.6M for Bio-Based Climate Solutions ♺

Funding: $12.6 million Series A
Goal: Scale precision fermentation using algae for sustainable ingredients
Impact: Creating new climate-positive materials through biology
🔗 Learn more

BetterComp Raises $33M to Advance AI in Compensation Strategy 📊

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Carbon to Sea Initiative Commits $4M to Ocean Carbon Removal R&D

Funding: $4 million joint investment with MEOPAR
Goal: Advance research on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal in Canada
Impact: Unlocking ocean tech as a scalable solution for climate mitigation
🔗 Read more

Trusty Raises $1M to Redefine Estate Planning with AI

Funding: $1 million pre-seed round
Goal: Build modern, AI-powered Letters of Wishes for families and advisors
Impact: Making legacy planning more accessible, personalized, and human
🔗 Read more

Bilt Raises $250M to Accelerate Community-Centric Housing

Funding: $250 million at a $10.75B valuation
Goal: Expand its housing and neighborhood commerce platform
Impact: Reinventing the renter experience while building stronger local economies
🔗 Read more

Open Philanthropy Launches $120M Fund for Innovation and Growth

Funding: $120 million fund
Goal: Support ambitious nonprofits and research orgs with breakout potential
Impact: Accelerating high-leverage projects in global health, AI safety, and more
🔗 Read more

Open Philanthropy Launches $120M Fund for Innovation and Growth

Open Philanthropy has launched a $120 million Abundance and Growth Fund to accelerate scientific innovation, improve housing and regulatory policies, and reduce the cost of living.
🔗 Read more

LGND Raises $9M to Make Earth Data Actionable

Funding: $9 million
Goal: Democratize environmental intelligence for climate action
Impact: Helping organizations translate raw geospatial data into meaningful impact
🔗 Read more

Foundation EGI Raises $23M to Rethink Global Infrastructure

Funding: $23 million
Goal: Develop innovative platforms for sustainable infrastructure
Impact: Empowering regions to build smarter, more resilient communities
🔗 Read more

Lorient Capital Closes $500M Fund III for Healthcare Founders

Funding: $500 million Fund III
Goal: Back founder-led healthcare companies at the intersection of care and technology
Impact: Fueling innovation in patient-centric, value-based care
🔗 Read more

OpenEvidence Raises $210M to Reinvent Medical AI

Funding: $210 million at $3.5B valuation
Goal: Build the fastest-growing clinical AI app for physicians
Impact: Streamlining real-time decision-making at the point of care
🔗 Read more

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

This content is for informational and entertainment purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Hey friends,

After 10 incredible years of building Causeartist solo, I’m excited to share something personal with you.

Last year, some amazing partners who believe deeply in the mission and future of Causeartist reached out. I knew from the initial conversation it was the right fit.

The Pay It Forward Company (PIF) has officially acquired Causeartist, and I couldn’t be more energized about what this means for the next decade.

What’s changing?
Nothing about the core mission or voice will change. I’m still the founder of Causeartist and will continue to lead our daily content, podcasts, and community—just with more support, more resources, and a bigger vision.

What’s new?
In addition to running Causeartist, I’ve also joined the PIF Venture Team as a partner. This means I’ll be working more closely with early-stage impact startups and the people building infrastructure for a better world. More on that soon.

Joining PIF feels like the perfect move at the right time.

Their values align perfectly with everything Causeartist stands for: purpose-driven ventures, impactful innovation, and paying it forward.

You can learn more about the venture side of the firm here and the advisory side here.

To everyone who’s subscribed, shared a post, tuned into the podcast, or built something impactful—you’ve helped Causeartist grow into what it is today. And now, we get to grow even further, together.

We have some exciting things happening in the future.

Here’s to the next decade. 😄

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Investing in Impact is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.

Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.

By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.