Shape the System

Grant Gunnison is the Co-founder of Zero Homes, a company tackling the climate crisis by rethinking how single-family homes transition off fossil fuels. Based in Colorado, Grant brings a unique mix of hands-on contracting experience and a background in advanced technology and software. His journey from working in construction to building digital tools for home electrification gives him both credibility and a practical lens on the industry’s challenges. At Zero Homes, he leads efforts to make retrofitting old houses easier, more affordable, and more scalable.

In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Grant Gunnison of Zero Homes about the enormous challenge—and opportunity—of decarbonising single-family homes. With about 80 million houses in the US alone, 60 million of which still run on fossil fuels, the scale of the problem is staggering. Yet as Grant explains, solving climate issues in housing isn’t only about emissions—it starts with addressing everyday homeowner concerns like cost, comfort, and reliability.

Grant outlines how Zero Homes uses digital technology to transform a historically fragmented, slow, and opaque process into something fast, transparent, and homeowner-friendly. Instead of waiting for something to break and spending weeks gathering quotes from contractors, Zero’s platform enables homeowners to scan their houses, share utility data, and quickly receive detailed project options. This approach not only saves time but also sets contractors up for success by giving them accurate data before they step foot in a home.

The conversation also delves into the broader market dynamics—why electrification solutions like heat pumps are only now becoming more efficient and cost-effective, how Zero Homes complements rather than competes with solar providers, and where financing and even insurance could reshape the economics of retrofits. Looking ahead, Grant shares Zero’s ambition to expand across the US, scale their digital-first marketplace model, and eventually explore international opportunities.

Around 20% of US emissions come from single-family homes, with roughly 60 million homes still powered by fossil fuels.

Most homeowners act when driven by pain points: high bills, discomfort, or broken systems, while fewer than 5% are motivated primarily by climate concerns.

Zero Homes’ process reduces the homeowner’s time investment from 10–15 hours to about 1 hour, while providing pricing on multiple projects.

Heat pumps and related electrification products now offer higher performance at lower operational cost, aligning climate benefits with homeowner needs.

Zero Homes is scaling quickly, currently operating in four US states with plans to reach a dozen within a year.

“About one fifth of all emissions today come from single-family homes in the US… that’s about 80 million homes.” — Grant Gunnison

“The number of people that fall into the climate warrior column is extremely thin… definitely less than 5%.” — Grant Gunnison

“We’re reducing the amount of time a homeowner needs to spend just gathering the right information by at least an order of magnitude.” — Grant Gunnison

“You cannot build your way out of the climate crisis… you have to go back in and fix the old houses.” — Grant Gunnison

“We’ve delivered hundreds of projects, and now it’s about scaling the solution to be the front door for homeowners.” — Grant Gunnison

Zero Homes

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Chris Hull is the Co-founder of Otus, an education platform built to help schools and teachers understand students more holistically. A former seventh-grade social studies teacher, Chris brings classroom credibility and a deep empathy for the realities of teaching at scale. His career shift was driven by a simple but stubborn problem: with 150 students a year, how can a teacher truly know each child and act on that knowledge? Otus is his answer—uniting data, context and tools to make teaching more effective and sustainable.

In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner digs into how schools actually “run” and why the systems behind them matter as much as what happens at the front of the classroom. Chris Hull explains how Otus consolidates scattered student information—attendance, standardised assessments, classroom-level skills, interests and what’s worked before—into a single, living profile that follows each learner across years and teachers.

Why it matters: teachers juggle six classes and around 150 students, making it hard to personalise learning or even keep up with who’s progressing on what. Otus acts like a Fitbit for learning—wearing it doesn’t improve outcomes by itself, but it gives visibility, saves time (often 1–2 hours per week), and shortens the loop between instruction, evidence and adjustment.

Under the hood, Otus integrates with existing student information systems (no “rip and replace”), supports classroom assessments, and layers in AI to answer plain-English data questions, recommend right-time resources from content partners, and help educators build assessments faster. Commercially, Otus is bought at the district level; implementations are measured to ensure apples-to-apples comparisons, with onboarding possible inside 30 days.

Market-wise, the US has ~15,000 districts and Otus reports adoption in 300+ and growing—pointing to a network effect that’s emerging but not yet fully realised. The near-term roadmap is about speed and scale: connect more systems, compress time-to-insight, and make the “every student has a plan” feature a practical norm for schools and families.

Unify the data that matters: attendance, assessments (state and local), classroom skills, interests and proven strategies live together in one student profile that travels year to year.

Save teachers real time: districts report educators reclaiming 1–2 hours per week, redirecting effort toward instruction and differentiation.

Meet schools where they are: Otus integrates with existing SIS and testing platforms, enabling crawl-walk-run change rather than rip-and-replace.

Put AI to work usefully: ask data questions in plain English, get recommended resources, and generate assessments—speeding up the plan-teach-measure loop.

Scale through districts: the US has ~15,000 districts; Otus is in 300+ today with ~30-day onboarding, building momentum towards broader adoption.

“I had 150 students every year.” — Chris Hull

“What Otus does is it puts all that information in one place and… allows you to have that articulation from one person to the next so that you’re not starting from scratch.” — Chris Hull

“Learning is hard. It takes effort. So how do we get to that part more quickly?” — Chris Hull

“We make it more discoverable and deliverable by using AI to just allow you to ask it in plain English.” — Chris Hull

“We can get them onboarded within 30 days.” — Chris Hull

Otus — https://otus.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Nis Benn is the co-founder of Hyme Energy, a Copenhagen-based company pioneering solutions to decarbonise industrial heat at scale. With a background spanning sociology, consulting, political organising, and deep-tech startups, Nis has consistently chased high-leverage, system-level climate solutions — from nuclear innovation to Hyme’s molten-salt heat storage.

In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Nis Benn of Hyme Energy about one of the world’s biggest yet overlooked climate challenges: industrial heat. While most clean-energy discussions focus on electricity, heat accounts for roughly a third of global emissions — largely produced by directly burning coal, oil, or gas for steam and high-temperature processes.

Nis traces his path from climate-centred politics and nuclear R&D to Hyme, where the team is commercialising molten-salt thermal storage. Hyme uses renewable electricity to heat a specialised hydroxide salt to ~520°C, storing energy as heat and dispatching it as steam — the medium many factories already use. That retrofit-friendly approach lets manufacturers decarbonise without ripping out existing systems.

Beyond emissions, the economics matter: industry spends trillions annually on fossil energy for heat. Hyme’s model pairs lower, more predictable energy costs with reliability and innovative commercial structures (e.g., heat offtake agreements in partnership with asset managers), allowing customers to “buy heat” as a service. On the engineering front, Hyme’s corrosion breakthroughs enable long lifetimes using standard stainless steels in most of the system — a key step to bankability and scale. Hyme is targeting first commercial plants from 2026 and meaningful scale by 2030.

Industrial heat is massive: About one-third of global emissions come from process heat, much of it from direct fossil combustion.

Store power as heat: Hyme heats molten hydroxide salts with renewables, then delivers on-demand steam for existing processes.

Minimal retrofit: Because many factories already run on steam, Hyme can slot in with limited disruption.

Compelling economics: Rising energy and CO₂ costs + access to cheap renewables = strong business cases and multi-market optimisation.

Path to scale: First FID-ready projects in 2026, scaling via partnerships/licensing toward hundreds of plants through the 2030s.

“Around 30% of global emissions come from industrial heat — it’s the single biggest emissions sector.” — Nis Benn

“If you already use steam, Hyme can just produce it another way.” — Nis Benn

“Reliability is what industrial players care about most — our job is to deliver that with renewables.” — Nis Benn

“You can ‘buy heat’ as an outcome — not worry about the kit behind it.” — Vincent Turner

Hyme Energy: https://hyme.energy

Background reading on industrial heat, thermal storage, and energy markets

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Nate Spiteri is the co-founder of Shopfront, a pioneering Australian company focused on revolutionizing the secondhand market space through a tech-driven approach. With a background in banking and a keen interest in impact businesses, Nate transitioned from the financial sector to the startup realm. He played a crucial role as the first hire in a successful alternative credit scoring startup that aimed at assisting people with impaired credit histories. In parallel, Nate explored the world of fashion through his streetwear brand and gained invaluable insights into the e-commerce ecosystem, which ultimately led him to establish Shopfront.

In this captivating episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner invites Nate Spiteri, co-founder of Shopfront, to explore the evolving landscape of the secondhand economy, with a particular focus on fashion. Vincent, a self-professed skeptic of shopping's pervasive consumer culture, delves into the concept of sustainable consumption and how it aligns with living well, posing important questions about the nature of secondhand goods and their potential to mitigate waste.

Nate shares his journey from working in the banking sector to immersing himself in impact businesses, eventually co-founding Shopfront. The discussion centers around the fragmented nature of the current secondhand marketplace ecosystem and how Shopfront aims to address these inefficiencies. By facilitating sellers to list their items across multiple platforms seamlessly, Shopfront enhances the circular economy and encourages more sustainable consumer behaviors. As Nate articulates the hurdles and opportunities in creating a scalable venture in this space, he highlights the potential impact of technology in transforming how secondhand goods are traded and perceived globally.

• Secondhand Economy Growth: The secondhand market is a burgeoning multi-billion-dollar industry projected to grow significantly, fueled by increasing awareness and demand for sustainable consumption.
• Challenges of Listing: Sellers face inefficiencies in listing products across fragmented marketplaces. Shopfront aims to simplify this by enabling multi-platform listings to save time and increase sale opportunities.
• Market Focus: Shopfront currently prioritizes fashion, targeting vintage sellers who experience pain points in navigating existing marketplaces, although there is potential to expand into other secondhand verticals such as furniture and sporting goods.
• Brand Importance: Building a robust brand is critical for Shopfront’s strategy to distinguish itself from competitors and foster a supportive seller community.
• Changing Marketplace Dynamics: Global platforms are beginning to shift towards no-fee seller models, preferring buyer fees, which could influence how Shopfront and similar platforms operate in the future.

• "I've always been pretty big on impact businesses, so when I came back from Melbourne, I really wanted to do something with my impact hat on."
• "It's easy to find people who buy; it's harder to find people who sell because there's more you need to do to sell."
• "If you put all this in a boiling pot, all of a sudden, you've got these more affordable garments being exploded in kind of Gen Z millennials."
• "A big part of what we did early on was mapping out all our competitors and realizing they all have the same color palette."
• "Brand is incredibly powerful for us. We've had users say, 'I didn't even know this existed.'"

• Shopfront
• Reference to marketplaces such as eBay, Depop, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace
• B Corp Certification

Explore how Shopfront is paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient secondhand marketplace through innovation and technology. Listen to the full episode for a deeper understanding and stay tuned for more insightful discussions on transforming systems for the better with Shape the System.

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Nick Hodges is an innovation-driven entrepreneur and the founder of Halcyon, specializing in engineering and developing novel solutions in the energy sector. With a background in business and an aptitude for learning engineering, Nick has combined these skills to address challenges in energy generation, particularly in distributed energy systems. His venture focuses on creating efficient, aesthetically pleasing, shrouded turbines designed for urban environments, with an aim to redefine how wind energy can be harnessed effectively in towns and cities.

In this engaging episode of Shape the System, Vincent Turner welcomes Nick Hodges from Halcium to discuss innovative approaches in wind energy production, specifically for urban environments. As Shape the System enters its fifth year, the conversation takes a fresh turn towards the often-overlooked sector of small-scale wind energy. Nick shares his journey from a business education to becoming an engineering adept entrepreneur, driven by the global demand for energy security and independence. Emphasizing the crucial role of distributed energy, Nick elaborates on his mission to make cities greener and less reliant on traditional power grids through the integration of wind turbines that are both efficient and visually unobtrusive.

Nick explores the mechanics and economic aspects of shrouded wind turbines, a novel approach poised to revolutionize urban wind power generation. The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities these turbines present compared to large-scale, traditional wind generation methods. Nick explains that while large wind turbines rely on vast open spaces for maximum efficiency, his shrouded turbines are optimized for urban landscapes, utilizing building-induced wind effects to generate power. Emphasizing the aesthetic appeal and architectural complement of Halcium's turbine design, Nick underscores the rising interest from various sectors seeking sustainable energy solutions. As urban areas see a growing need for renewable energy sources, Halcium stands out with its mission to enhance cityscapes while contributing to global energy goals.

• Distributed Energy Systems: Combining solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage creates a robust energy network for urban and rural settings, enhancing energy security.
• Urban Wind Turbine Design: Halcyon has devised shrouded vertical-axis wind turbines that capitalize on turbulent urban wind patterns, offering efficient and aesthetically pleasing energy solutions.
• Engineering Challenges: While smaller-scale wind solutions face inherent efficiency challenges compared to large-scale turbines, optimizing urban design can counterbalance these.
• Economic Considerations: Halcium's goal is to achieve cost parity with solar energy, making their turbines a viable financial investment for distributed energy systems.
• Manufacturing Vision: Committed to local manufacturing, Halcium aims to stimulate regional economies while reducing environmental impact from transportation logistics.

"A complete distributed energy system needs solar panels for when it's sunny, wind turbines for when it's stormy, then battery power to store that energy until you're ready to use it."

"People see our design and they go, that's what's missing. That's what I need for my energy solution."

"Instead of competing with open field turbines, we optimized our technology for urban areas, utilizing the unique wind patterns created by buildings and city structures."

"A wind turbine can actually be something intriguing at least, or an architectural statement rather than something that's seen as visual pollution."

"Our mission is to change energy for the better, which includes how we produce, consume, and even the logistics of energy products."

• Halcium: Halcium(not directly mentioned but inferred)
• WeFunder: Halcyon Raising Fund Link – Halcyon is raising funds to advance their turbine projects.

Embark on the full episode for an intriguing exploration of how Halcyon is set to reshape urban energy landscapes. With innovation at the forefront, stay tuned to Shape the System for more compelling stories and insights from pioneers in sustainable technology.

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Heidi Diestal is a fourth-generation turkey farmer at Diestal Family Ranch, based in California. With a rich history in farming, her family has been pivotal in setting standards for organic farming in the United States. Passionate about progressing sustainable agricultural practices, Heidi focuses on integrating regenerative farming methods to enhance the quality and sustainability of food production.

Kristine Root is the Chief Marketing Officer at Regenefied, a certification company based in Denver, Colorado. With a strong background in marketing and sustainability, Kristine is dedicated to measuring the positive impact of regenerative farming on ecosystems and the food system’s health. Her work with Regenefied aims to bridge the gap between science and consumer understanding, promoting environmentally refined farming practices through rigorous certification processes.

In this episode of Shape the System, Vincent Turner explores the transformative potential of regenerative farming with Heidi Diestal from Diestal Family Ranch and Kristine Root from Regenefied. The conversation delves into the intricacies of turkey farming and contrasts conventional methods with regenerative practices. Kristine and Heidi illuminate the regenerative agriculture landscape, discussing the direct benefits their approaches have on the environment, food quality, and consumer health. They share insights into how data and research support the narrative of sustainable farming being a viable solution to current agricultural challenges.

The discussion reveals groundbreaking research that underscores the health benefits of regeneratively farmed turkey, highlighting improvements in nutrient density and omega-3 levels. The episode emphasizes consumer-driven demand for higher quality food and presents a compelling case for how sustainable practices can revitalize ecosystems and support better dietary outcomes. By shedding light on the certification standards employed by Regenefied and Diestal’s progressive farming techniques, the episode presents a future where agricultural techniques harmonize with nature for better environmental and consumer outcomes.

• Regenerative farming enhances nutrient density in turkey, providing better omega-3 levels and antioxidants compared to conventional farming methods.
• The partnership between Regenefied and Diestal Family Ranch exemplifies how rigorous certification can substantiate claims of sustainability and quality within the food industry.
• Consumer awareness and demand for nutrient-rich products are growing, with studies showing that healthier soil leads to healthier plants and animals, ultimately translating into better quality food.
• The discussion on regenerative agriculture ties together the elements of environmental sustainability, consumer health, and agricultural resilience.
• While regenerative agriculture demands more initial effort, it promises long-term benefits for farms, consumers, and ecosystems worldwide.

1. "Do right by the bird, and the bird will do right by you." - Heidi Diestal
2. "Regenerative agriculture is about farming in harmony with nature, looking at how practices influence life in the soil and above." - Kristine Root
3. "We were thrilled with the opportunity to look at nutrient density; it's never been done in this way before." - Heidi Diestal
4. "88% of the US population is considering a broader spectrum of values beyond taste and price when it comes to food." - Kristine Root
5. "Regenerative farming offers a pathway out of systemic challenges in agriculture through positive ecological impact." - Kristine Root

• Diestal Family Ranch: Learn more about Heidi Diestal's** **farming practices.
• Regenefied: Explore the certification standards and practices promoted by Kristine Root and her team.
• Articles and peer-reviewed studies on the impact of soil health on nutrient density in food.

Discover more profound insights by listening to the full episode and stay tuned for more content from the Shape the System series, bridging innovative farming solutions with real-world applications.

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Paul Bevan is the founder and CEO of Magic Valley, a pioneering company in the cultivated meat industry. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Paul has been a vegan for over a decade and was vegetarian for 20 years before that. Before founding Magic Valley, he had a diverse career path that included roles in credit and fraud analytics for banks, as well as ventures in operating a mixed martial arts gym and a finance brokerage. His rich background in various industries has uniquely positioned him to drive innovation in the sustainable food sector.

In this engaging episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Paul Bevan, CEO of Magic Valley, about the groundbreaking work his company is doing in the realm of cultivated meat. The conversation digs deep into the burgeoning field of alternative proteins, highlighting the significant strides made in developing lab-grown meat that is both sustainable and free of animal cruelty. Paul shares his personal journey from working in the banking sector to vegan activism and eventually leading a meat production company while maintaining his ethical values.

Paul introduces the concept of cultivated meat, explaining the process of growing meat from cultured cells without animal slaughter. He and Vincent examine the industry's current landscape, assessing the opportunities and challenges surrounding plant-based and lab-grown meat solutions. They touch on the environmental, ethical, and economic factors that contribute to the industry's growth potential, while also addressing consumer acceptance and the quest to achieve price competitiveness with traditional meat products. The conversation underscores the critical importance of scale, regulatory approvals, and consumer education as pivotal elements of a successful transition to this innovative agricultural model.

• Environmental Impact: Understanding that traditional meat production heavily contributes to global deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, cultivated meat offers a promising solution to these issues.
• Technological Advances: Magic Valley is at the forefront of creating cultivated meat products from cells without using animal components, marking critical world-first achievements.
• Scaling Challenges: Scaling production remains a significant hurdle but is essential for achieving competitive pricing against traditional meat, highlighting the need for capital and infrastructure investments.
• Consumer Education: Educating consumers about the benefits and process of cultivated meat is essential to increase acceptance and trust in new food technologies.
• Industry Collaboration: Partnerships are vital in this nascent industry to leverage diverse expertise, from food science to engineering, to bring cultivated meat to market effectively.

1. "People weren't interested in a slightly better veggie burger; they just wanted to keep eating meat."
2. "We create the same meat products that people are familiar with… but we can do it in a way where there's no animal cruelty involved."
3. "Price point has always been difficult, but we know technology works; it's just about scale now."
4. "Younger generations are much more open to change and adopting new technologies, and that applies to food products as well."
5. "When talking about food choices, the consumer's key component now becomes the cost."

• Learn more about Magic Valley: Magic Valley's website 

To fully appreciate the dynamic discussions and insights from Paul Bevan on the exciting landscape of cultivated meat, tune into the complete episode. Stay connected to Shape the System for more impactful stories and innovations shaping our world.

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Raz Razgaitis is the CEO of Flow Water, a company focused on providing clean and trustworthy drinking water solutions across the United States. With a background in tech and a decade spent running early-stage tech companies, Raz shifted his focus to address the systemic issues surrounding tap water quality. Through Flow Water, Raz aims to reduce dependency on single-use plastics and champion the notion that access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right. The company, under his leadership, has reached the milestone of achieving 1 billion fills of Flow Water, establishing itself as a key player in water purification technology.

In this engaging episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner converses with Raz Razgaitis, CEO of Flow Water, exploring the pivotal issues of water quality and infrastructure in the developed world. Despite the prevalent assumption that water-related challenges are exclusive to developing regions, Razgaitis reveals that water quality issues, including contaminants such as lead and microplastics, are also significant in countries like the United States. With an innovative approach, Flow Water is tackling these challenges head-on by providing advanced purification technology and addressing the global dependency on bottled beverages.

Razgaitis details the journey from a personal realization about his children's hydration habits to implementing a large-scale solution combating water trust issues. By deploying technology that transforms tap water and restores consumer confidence, Flow Water aims to offer an eco-friendly and health-conscious alternative to bottled water. Raz emphasizes the environmental impact of single-use plastics and advocates for sustainable practices that encourage consumers to refocus on treated tap water. This episode offers an insightful exploration of how technology and brand trust can be leveraged to resolve longstanding issues in water quality and consumption habits.

• Water Quality Challenges: The developed world, particularly the U.S., faces significant water quality issues, including lead, PFAS, and microplastics.
• Flow Water’s Mission: Flow Water focuses on making tap water trustworthy and tasty to reduce reliance on bottled beverages and address plastic pollution.
• Technological Solutions: The company uses advanced purification and remineralization processes to offer superior tasting water, akin to bottled water, but with environmental benefits.
• Health and Sustainability: By encouraging better hydration habits, Flow Water is tackling public health issues linked to dehydration and advocating for environmental sustainability.
• Strategic Deployment: Flow Water targets public spaces like schools, gyms, and hotels to maximize consumer exposure and drive home the importance of clean water access.

1. "Every human deserves access to clean drinking water that they can trust, and that it's a fundamental human right."
2. "We are now in a world today where even if you live in a first-world country, you have to treat your water twice."
3. "If the worse your water is, the more you're forced to buy bottled water."
4. "When we deploy a flow water unit, we'll see a 100 to 500% increase in daily hydration."
5. "The beauty of flow water and the product of flow water and the magic of flow water is the water itself."

• Flow Water Website: Flow Water
• TEDx Talk by Raz Razgaitis: For insights on environmental impact and sustainable hydration practices.
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Referenced in discussion about safe lead levels in drinking water.
• New England Journal of Medicine: Study on microplastics, mentioned in relation to health impacts.

Encouraging the audience to explore these resources reinforces the depth of the conversation and the importance of the topics discussed. Listen to the full episode for an inspiring discussion on transforming our water systems for healthier communities and a healthier planet. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from Shape the System.

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Josh Bloomfield is the Founder and CEO of GiveCloud, a remote-first company aiming to transform how nonprofits operate and connect with donors. Based in Ottawa, Canada, currently residing in Florida with family, Josh’s career began immediately post-high school when he ventured into building grant management software for the US government. His experiences range from developing enterprise applications and security to gaining insights into user experience. Josh's vision was initially inspired by his entrepreneurial family, particularly his grandfather and father, who owned and operated a renowned local bakery. He aimed to apply technological advancements to under-resourced entrepreneurs, eventually leading to the inception of GiveCloud in 2017. Under Josh's leadership, GiveCloud now supports thousands of nonprofits globally to deepen donor relationships via enhanced digital fundraising tools.

In this engaging episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner interviews Josh Bloomfield, the innovative mind behind GiveCloud, a company dedicated to aiding nonprofits in maximizing their digital fundraising efforts. The discussion traverses Josh's unique professional journey from developing government software straight out of high school to founding GiveCloud with a mission-driven purpose. Josh's passion for using technology as a means to empower nonprofits, specifically in optimizing their interactions with donors, takes center stage. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in learning about the intersection of commerce principles, technology, and charitable giving.

Throughout the episode, Josh delves into the intricacies of nonprofit operations, comparing them to eCommerce logistics and emphasizing the vital impact of modernizing digital fundraising techniques. Key themes include the transformative power of donor engagement, the art of ‘trust raising’ over traditional fundraising, and the necessity of nonprofits adopting efficient business practices to enhance their impact. Josh's insights reveal the challenges and opportunities facing the nonprofit sector in embracing technology and the potential shifts required to connect more deeply with their donor base.

• Nonprofits lag in adopting modern digital fundraising tactics, similar to eCommerce businesses.
• There's a significant opportunity for nonprofits to enhance donor engagement through better technology and a focus on impact-driven donations.
• The charity sector can benefit from leveraging principles used in behavioral economics and technology design to increase donation levels.
• Nonprofit organizations could enhance their operational efficiency by emulating smart business practices.
• There is a burgeoning trend for for-profit companies to incorporate philanthropic efforts directly into their business models.

1. "We are a team of people doing our life's best work, trying to help nonprofits do their life's best work." – Josh Bloomfield
2. "There's a lot of risk to having a lot of your finances come through a single channel." – Josh Bloomfield
3. "What if we could at least make the donation experience 100 times better, make it feel more human, make it feel more delightful?" – Josh Bloomfield
4. "A delighted donor becomes a more devoted donor." – Josh Bloomfield
5. "We want to be the platform that enables true connection to impact." – Josh Bloomfield

• GiveCloud: The company's official website.
• Charity Water: A nonprofit mentioned as a benchmark for operationalizing impact connectivity.
• Steve Jobs and Apple: Referenced for their influence on technology and product design.

As a listener, this episode provides profound insights into revolutionizing nonprofit operations through technology. Tune in to learn how GiveCloud is pioneering innovative solutions to bridge nonprofits and their donor communities. Stay connected to Shape the System for more enlightening stories that challenge conventional systems.

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]

Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures

More about KPMG High Growth Ventures

Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. 

From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.

Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. 

Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.

Links:

Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/

Contacts: [email protected]