The Collective VC Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

"I worry for my children, I worry for my children's children"

In this candid chat with a live audience, Jamie Burrows shares his 10-year journey building a vertical farming company that's addressing both food and water security in a changing climate.

→ Hear how personal tragedy at 29 led Jamie to reassess his path and take "the jump" into vertical farming→ Follow his journey from working "7 nights a week" in a rundown Deptford warehouse to raising £37M→ Understand why he believes "price parity is very important" for sustainable food innovation→ Discover why family offices, not VCs, are funding this intergenerational vision

Hear how Jamie transitioned from US Air Force engineer to agricultural innovator, working "7 nights a week" in a rundown Deptford warehouse before raising £37M to revolutionize food production. He explains why vertical farming isn't a "one stop shop solution" but part of a broader approach to combat climate change and resource scarcity.

➢ verticalfuture.com➢ rebelmeetups.com➢ themillsfabrica.com

Recorded at The Mills Fabrica for "Rebel Meets: CLIMATE EDITION" - the first topic-focused Rebel Meetup bringing together innovators and climate tech enthusiasts. 📹 Thankful for Ant Silva (@mags__media) for filming.📷 Thankful for Daisy (@daisydrewettmedia) for photography.

Today, we’re joined by Dessi Pettersson, Head of Impact at Sagana—a climate-focused VC firm bridging Europe and Africa. 🌍

💡 Key topics we cover:

🔹 The differences between VC in Europe & Africa

🔹 How cross-pollination between ecosystems drives impact

🔹 The challenges of early-stage climate investing

🔹 The future of exits & liquidity in African markets

🔹 Why passion-driven founders outperform in emerging markets

⚡ Notable insights:

→ Why VC models don’t always fit African markets

→ The role of fintech in climate investing

→ How capital stacks must evolve for real impact

→ The hidden risks of corruption & regulation in emerging markets

→ Why IP protection is different in Africa vs. Europe

🌱 "If you can invest in Africa the right way—balancing impact and returns—you’re part of something extraordinary."

#VentureCapital #ClimateTech #Africa

In this episode, we learn from Jake Berber about what it takes to build a bean-free coffee start-up, and why he was driven to build Prefer in the first place.

From the issues affecting the industry, to future-proofing coffee without using beans, to finding a co-founder, pitching investors as a FoodTech startup, and his experiences at Entrepreneur First (EF), this episode has a lot of value... and a rich flavour-profile ☕.

Gain insights into fermentation as a crafting process, the sustainability mission, the unique taste profiles offered, and the strategic growth of a venture-backed brand committed to preserving the affordability of coffee for future generations.

This was a lot of fun. As always, enjoy!

0:00 - Introduction to Prefer and its Mission

0:50 - The Process of Creating Coffee without Coffee Beans

1:22 - The Challenges and Solutions in Flavor Creation

3:56 - The Impact of Climate Change on Coffee Production

4:40: - Sustainable Growth and Mission of Prefer

5:40 - The Taste Profile of Prefer Coffee

7:00 - Customizing Caffeine Levels in Coffee

8:50 - Health Aspects and Benefits of Prefer Coffee

9:55 - Products Offered by Prefer

11:00 - Packaging vs Taste

13:10 - The Entrepreneurial Journey: From Neuroscience to Prefer

15:00 - Entrepreneur First and Finding the Right Co-founder

19:00 - Approaching Investors in FoodTech

21:00 - Big Stories, Huge Vision vs Ambiguity

21:30- Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs in Food Tech and Sustainability

24:00 - How the Audience Can Support Prefer's Growth

24:50 - Addressing Misconceptions and Supporting the Coffee Industry

26:00 - The Origin and Benefits of the Name 'Prefer'

➣ https://www.prefer.coffee/

➣ / prefercoffee

➣ / prefercoffeesg

➣ / jakeberber

#JakeBerber #Prefer #PreferBio #PreferCoffee #BeanFreeCoffee #Singapore #VentureCapital #ImpactStartups #ClimateChange #Coffee

Ziyaan Virji is a phenomenal young entrepreneur with one life mission:

To have an impact on 1 billion lives around the world.

He's the Founder and CEO of Leaders of Today, one of the fastest-growing communities of young people who are changing the world. He's scaled the community to over 100,000+ young people via a weekly newsletter, podcast, and opportunity list. He also founded For The Menstruator, and led a team of over 150+ young change makers from over 10 countries around the world in the goal of creating a world of menstrual equity, positively impacting 20,000+ menstruators, co-designing a reusable sanitary package that is cost-effective and eco-friendly. He's scaled his personal LinkedIn to 20,000+ followers, and reached 500, 000 engagements for FTM on social media using various campaigns such as #myperiodstory and #passthepad. He also raised over $50,000 through sponsorships, partnerships, crowdfunding and various events, launching the first-ever International Period Month in collaboration with 30+ organisations from around the world. Additionally he worked with the Vancouver Propel Impact Fund in a full cycle of investment activities.

➣ https://www.leadersoftodaypod.com/

➣ https://leadersoftoday.beehiiv.com/

➣ / ziyaanvirji

0:00 - Introduction

1:29 - Leaders of Today and the Impact Fund

2:07 - Focus Shift to Leaders of Today

2:31 - Mission and Structure of Leaders of Today

4:41 - Importance of Democratizing Access to Opportunities

5:06 - Personal Motivation Behind Leaders of Today

6:37 - The Importance of Providing Varied Opportunities

8:04 - Background and Founding of For the Menstruator

11:07 - Challenges and Learnings from Nonprofit Work

14:50 - Overcoming Stereotypes and Gender Norms in Health Sector

17:26 - Engagement of Men in Feminine Health Issues

19:22 - Expanding Beyond One Social Issue

20:31 - Personal Journey and Reflecting on Purpose

21:26 - Balancing Profit and Social Impact

23:29 - Measuring Impact in Venture Capital

25:16 - Perception of B Corp Certification

26:03 - Investing with Impact

28:48 - Future Career Directions

30:39 - Benefits and Drawbacks of Building a Large Community

32:21 - Strategy Behind Growing a Community

36:31 - Personal Approach to Public Engagement

39:33 - Handling Public Perception and Building Genuine Connections

41:52 - Engagement and Growth on LinkedIn

44:02 - Navigating Growth and Brand Authenticity

47:36 - Dealing with Perception and Authentic Engagement

49:02 - Advice for Leaders of Today

For Collective VC Podcast EP3, we sit down in conversation with with Arunjay Katakam after his latest book release. Arunjay is a global citizen, serial entrepreneur, and passionate inclusivist. From his early days at EY to co-founding startups like Yooz, his expertise in fintech and remittances is unparalleled. As the founder of Yooz and a mentor at DFS Lab and Catalyst Fund, Arunjay has played a pivotal role in driving financial inclusion in developing countries. Currently, he spearheads initiatives at the UNCDF, leading innovation on migration and remittances. Arunjay's latest book, "Generation Hope: How Inclusive Economics Can Help Us All Thrive," explores mindsets of scarcity, abundance, our current path, and what we can do.

"This book illustrates how to continue moving from a mindset of scarcity and survival to one of abundance and thriving, from narrow-minded self interest to an awareness that we are part of a much larger interconnected whole.The world needs us. Together, we can save our planet and help humanity thrive."

Generation Hope: How Inclusive Economics Can Help Us All Thrive," offers a transformative perspective on building a more equitable future. To fully grasp the depth of topics explored, his book is essential reading. Importantly, Arunjay does not profit from the book, and encourages donations to Acumen.

This episode barely scratches the surface - Go grab the book!

➣ https://www.arunjay.com/generation-hope

➣ https://www.arunjay.com/

➣ / arunjay

#ArunjayKatakam #GlobalCitizen #SerialEntrepreneur #Inclusivist #FintechInnovation #SocialImpact #CollectiveVC #GenerationHope #InclusiveEconomics

00:00 - Introduction and Book Discussion

02:01 - Arunjay's Journey and Career Insights

04:10 - The Concept of Consciousness Explained

05:08 - Anecdote: Learning from Mistakes and Consciousness

07:05 - The Importance of Mindfulness and Meditation

10:12 - Detaching from Materialism and Embracing Minimalism

13:37 - Analyzing the Gig Economy and Algorithmic Impact

16:42 - The Ethical Dilemma of Gig Economy Workers

19:16 - Personal Responsibility and Collective Action for Change

22:20 - Consumer Behavior and Its Impact on Society

24:20 - The Challenge of Distributing Your Message

27:40 - The Future of Digital and Financial Innovation

30:45 - Web3's Potential to Transform Business Models

34:06 - Critique of Bitcoin and the Need for Financial Innovation

36:04 - Envisioning a More Efficient Financial Services Sector

38:10 - The Role of Venture Capital in Driving Social Change

42:43 - The Impact of Generational Consciousness on Society

44:14 - The Importance of Cooperative Games and Collaboration

46:47 - Venture Capital's Evolving Landscape and Challenges

49:31 - Reframing Education for Future Generations

54:17 - Personal Insights: Living a Life of Purpose

56:03 - The Power of Chess in Learning to Lose and Collaborate

1:00:00 - Education's Role in Societal Change

1:02:40 - Encouraging Collaborative Over Competitive Dynamics

1:04:47 - Balancing Capitalism with Collaborative Efforts

1:06:19 - Breaking Free from Binary Political Labels

The second episode of the Collective VC podcast features Reese Wong, the founder of Micromeetup: re-imagining connection via small-scale, personalised meetups👋

He shares his insights on community building, the student entrepreneur lifestyle, finding a good balance, and insights into the startup scene while studying at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), as the president of LSESU Entrepreneurs. He talks about curating the Global Shapers - London Hub II how he would build a hypothetical investment philosophy, his future visions for Micromeetup, and much, much more (chapters in the video) ‼️ 🌍

• Reese Wong: Communities, Curation, St...

➣ https://micromeetup.co.uk

➣ https://www.reesewong.com/

➣ / reesewong1

I'm having way too much fun making these 😂

#CollectiveVC #Podcast #VentureCapital #ReeseWong

0:00 - Introduction to Reese Wong and the Collective VC Podcast

0:32 - Reese Wong's Portfolio Career and Community Building Projects

1:32 - The Value of an Entrepreneurial Mindset and Challenges Outside London

2:08 - The Intersection of International Relations and Entrepreneurship

2:36 - Reese's Engagement with London's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

3:20 - Analyzing the Unique Entrepreneurial Culture at LSE

4:04 - Supporting Entrepreneurs at LSE with a Broad Range of Events

5:06 - The Influence of Finance and Consulting Aspirations at LSE

6:19 - Addressing the Aspirational Aspects of Entrepreneurship Among Students

7:08 - Reese Wong's Early Influence and Initiatives in Hong Kong

9:17 - The Challenges of Community Building and Engagement

10:21 - Insights into the World Economic Forum and Global Shapers Community

12:30 - Reese Wong's Role and Impact within the Global Shapers Community

14:44 - Diverse Initiatives and Local Impact Projects by Global Shapers in London

17:01 - The Importance of Effective Time Management and Prioritization

19:17 - Balancing University Work with Entrepreneurial and Community Efforts

21:04 - The Optimal Time for Starting a Startup During University

23:08 - Keeping Doors Open While Pursuing Entrepreneurial Ventures

24:43 - Vision and Goals for Micromeetup: Enhancing Real-World Connections

26:24 - The Concept of Micro Events and Their Unique Appeal

28:19 - Strategies for Encouraging Real-Life Connections Through Technology

30:19 - The Challenge of Changing Mindsets in Consumer Behavior

32:00 - Building a Team and Leveraging Public Interest for Micromeetup

33:37 - The Value of Building in Public and Engaging with Community

35:31 - Reese Wong's Long-Term Aspirations and Focus for the Future

37:49 - Investment Thesis Focused on Driving Mindset Change Through Tech

39:01 - The Potential of Short-Form Content in Shifting Mentalities

40:17 - Reflections and Advice to Reese's Future Self

The first (mini!) episode of the Collective VC podcast features Javier Caruso, an Angel investor based in Argentina, founder of Webstarted and Webstarted Ventures. 🚀

He shares his insights on the Latin American VC market, his investment philosophy focused on people and software-as-a-service companies, and building conviction in founders. ✊

➣ https://webstarted.com/

➣ https://www.webstartedventures.com/

➣ / jdcaruso

0:00 - Introduction to Javier Caruso and Collective VC Podcast

0:06 - Javier's Background and WebStarted Initiative

1:07 - Venture Institute Experience and Future Plans

1:29 - Challenges and Opportunities in Latin America's VC Market

2:37 - Startup Ecosystem and Investment Focus in Latin America

3:13 - Promising Sectors: Fintech, Climate Tech, HR Tech, Education

3:57 - Investment Philosophy: People Over Projects

5:26 - Building Conviction in Founders Before Product-Market Fit

7:16 - The Importance of Aligning with Founders' Visions

8:09 - The Role of a VC in Supporting and Connecting Startups

9:28 - Monthly Check-Ins with Invested Companies for Growth Support

10:34 - Leveraging Connections for Business Opportunities

11:44 - Separating Investment and Business Services

13:53 - Encouraging Founders to Make Their Own Decisions

14:26 - Best Hiring Practices for Founders

16:39 - The Critical Importance of Early-Stage Hiring

17:47 - Co-Founders' Roles in Early Stage Startups

19:00 - The Role of Venture Capital in Latin America and Globally

22:13 - Advice for Founders on Picking the Right VC Partner

24:35 - The Impact of VC Partnerships on Startup Direction

26:06 - The Importance of Asking for Advice Over Seeking Funds

27:42 - Shoutout to Portfolio Companies in Latin America

28:06 - Closing Remarks and Thanks

In this episode, I sit down with Stenver Jerkku, founder and CEO of Soldera, a pioneering force in renewable energy innovation. Stenver is a seasoned tech entrepreneur whose ventures span renewable energy, AI, and climate finance. With over €20 million in venture capital raised, he’s founded companies such as eAgronom, transforming farming toward carbon neutrality, and Solid World, which created commodities markets for climate finance. Now, with Soldera, Stenver is empowering renewable energy producers by enabling automated guarantees of origin (GO) sales for immense time savings, better deals & market access.

Stenver delves into his journey from working at the unicorn Glia to founding Soldera, where he and his team streamline GOs to create income for smaller energy producers who can feel stumped by market bureaucracy — and how aggregating producers’ GOs maximizes their market leverage instead.

Stenver’s vision is fueled by AI-driven solutions that automate administrative burdens for energy producers, helping them focus on their core mission: contributing to a sustainable energy future.

Enjoy this insightful episode with a true innovator in climate tech!

#climatetech #venturecapital #guaranteesoforigin #renewableenergy #sustainability #startups

----------------------------------------

00:00 - Introduction to Guarantees of Origin

03:50 - From Carbon Markets to GO Markets

07:00 - What are Guarantees of Origin

13:45 - Strategies for Market Access in Renewable Energy

16:00 - National GO Auctions

18:00 - Addressing Market Volatility and Seasonal Demand

21:00 - GO Sales Strategies

25:20 - Long Term Vision

26:44 - Green Hydrogen

🤖 Discover how the world's best robot hands are made! Join us for a fascinating conversation with Rich Walker, Director of Shadow Robot Company, as we unpack robotic dexterity and the landscape of engineering robotics for specific future applications.

Key Topics Discussed:

🔧 The evolution of Shadow Robot's world-class robotic hands

🧠 Understanding dexterity in robotics vs human hands

🔬 How AI and deep learning are transforming robotic manipulation

🌱 The role of robots in addressing climate change challenges

💼 Insights into running an employee-owned robotics company

➡️ Rich's LinkedIn: / walkerrich

🌐 Shadow Robot: https://www.shadowrobot.com/

💡 Subscribe for future episodes featuring innovators, founders, and investors sculpting the future!

#Robotics #ClimateTech #venturecapital

🌐www.collective.vc

In this episode, Ollie chats with Etienne Variot, who shares his journey from the financial sector to leading efforts in regenerative agriculture. Discover how Regen Insight and Rize are providing farmers with cutting-edge tools and innovative financing models to support their sustainability initiatives.

➣ 🌱 Regen Insight: guarantees the climatic impact of regenerative agriculture by leveraging agricultural and environmental data through a simple, intuitive tool. Trusted insight into your regenerative efforts, and high-impact carbon certificates.

➣ 🌾 Rize ag: Building the first tech-verified carbon finance platform in agriculture, blending advanced technologies, such as advanced soil modelling, carbon footprint, and satellite imagery.

We also dive deep into Etienne's challenges as a founder and his insights on the complex and evolving regenerative agriculture ecosystem. Learn about the obstacles he faced, the strategies he employed to overcome them, and his visions for the future.

Etienne's work has been recognized as one of the 30 most promising Foodtechs in Europe by Plug and Play and as part of Future 40 at Station F.

P.S. Curious about how regenerative agriculture can change the future of farming? Comment below with your thoughts! 🌍

➣ Etienne's LinkedIn: / etiennevariot

➣ Regen Insight: https://www.regeninsight.com/

➣ Rize Ag: https://www.rizeag.com/