Atlas Berry, founder and general partner at Mission One Capital, delves into funding mission-driven founders who focus on frontier technology solutions to sustainability challenges. Atlas discusses the significance of sustainability to him personally, highlights the specific areas of climate tech his venture capital firm targets, and explores current trends in the industry. He provides deep insights into sustainability opportunities and shares valuable advice for entrepreneurs interested in this sector.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[1:41] 'Jason Bourne meets banking': The fascinating early career journey of Atlas Berry.

[5:22] How corporate development experience paved the way for a venture capital role.

[6:33] The inception of Mission One Capital: Identifying software-driven solutions to climate issues.

[12:17] Guidance for founders tackling climate and sustainability challenges: Understand the problems in these areas and respecting regulatory constraints.

[16:35] The importance of addressing human issues for successful sustainability solutions.

[20:22] Emerging trends in climate tech, including energy, mobility, carbon markets, circularity, and environmental management.

[26:00] Why timing is crucial in evaluating sustainability-focused investment opportunities.

The non-profit organizations that Atlas is passionate about: The Nature Conservancy

About Atlas Berry

Atlas Berry is the founder and general partner at Mission One Capital. He began his career in investment banking at JPMorgan, working in Mergers & Acquisitions across New York, Johannesburg, and London. Notably, Atlas established the venture arm for the Grammy-award-winning rock band Linkin Park, where he led investments in high-profile companies such as Lyft, Robinhood, and Impossible Foods. Additionally, he is a two-time TEDx keynote speaker, has mentored at Techstars and the MIT Startup Accelerator, and has served on the Technology Advisory Boards for New York City and Delta Airlines.

About Mission One Capital

Mission One Capital is a Silicon Valley-based early-stage venture capital firm specializing in ClimateTech and Equitable Access startups. The firm invests in seed-stage companies dedicated to creating a more sustainable and equitable future. Its portfolio includes innovative companies such as Zevvy, Twice, Helio, Cloverly, CHI, Derapi, UPFRONT, Carbonara, and others.

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Chris McKelvy, founder of K. Ventures and military veteran, recounts his journey from the military to tech companies like Oculus VR and Meta, culminating in establishing his own venture capital firm. Chris talks about his early involvement in JFK family's non-profit initiatives and getting inspired to start K. Ventures, focusing on the disabilities community. Chris also shares useful tips for founders on preparing for meetings with VC and encourages VCs to address societal challenges.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[1:45] Transferring military leadership skills to tech and investing for social impact

[4:14] K. Ventures takes a unique approach to disabilities by investing seed capital in startups serving this community.

[6:22] Startup opportunities: The disabilities community is the largest underrepresented group in the world.

[9:23] It takes a lot of mentorship and support to learn the craft of being an entrepreneur.

[16:27] Feel comfortable in the way that you want to talk about your business and yourself.

[19:18] VCs are guided by their belief in the founding team's ability to lead and create something groundbreaking.

[22:35] More investors need to really think about the hard societal problems

The non-profit organizations that Chris is passionate about: Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation, iMentor

About Chris McKelvy

Chris McKelvy is the founder and managing partner at K. Ventures. He has a diverse background spanning tech, business, non-profits, and the military. Notably, he led Oculus VR's partnerships & e-sports division, instrumental in its $2B acquisition by Facebook. Chris orchestrated multimillion-dollar partnerships with tech giants like NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, Unreal, and Ubisoft. A combat veteran with the 101st Airborne Division and graduate of Army Ranger school, he holds degrees from Harvard and Syracuse. Additionally, he served proudly as Vice Chairman of the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation for over eight years.

About K. Ventures

K. Ventures is a Massachusetts-based venture capital firm with a mission to catalyze the next generation of disability care. The firm invests in early-stage technology companies serving those with intellectual, developmental and learning disabilities. This includes down syndrome, autism, ADHD and dyslexia as well as other overlooked conditions. Portfolio companies include Juno, Juniper, Mightier, Finni Health, and NeuroNav.

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Alexa Binns, a seasoned investor and marketer, takes us through her remarkable journey from non-profit roots to establishing herself as a venture capital investor, overseeing her family office alongside her three sisters. Drawing from her dual roles as an angel investor and limited partner, Alexa provides invaluable insights for founders and venture capitalists alike, enriching the conversation with her wealth of experience and perspective.

In this episode:

[2:03] Alexa’s path to venture capital: Discover how Alexa transitioned from her role in a non-profit organization to making her mark in the competitive world of venture capital.

[8:26] Three critical aspects that every founder should understand about angel investors to optimize their interactions and avoid common pitfalls.

[12:38] The significant impact of new emerging managers on the venture capital landscape and what this means for the industry.

[16:40] The "Three S’s" – sourcing, selecting, and stewardship – essential criteria for assessing and choosing the best emerging fund managers.

[22:33] The current state of investment in female founders: are they receiving the funding they rightfully deserve?

[28:11] Swimming with Allocators podcast, where limited partners share their decision-making processes in VC investments.

The non-profit organization that Alexa is passionate about: Norman Lear Center USC

About Alexa Binns

Alexa Binns is a seasoned investor and marketer, known for her acute ability to identify emerging trends and technologies. Over her career, she has risen from associate to partner in venture capital, making significant investments at firms such as Maven, Halogen, and Spacecadet. Some of her notable angel investments include Chipper Cash, Sana Benefits, and The Flex Co.

In addition to her investing prowess, Alexa brings a decade of operational experience, having developed both digital and physical products for high-profile clients including Planned Parenthood, MTV, Disney, and Target. She excels in innovative marketing strategies; her accomplishments range from writing a master’s thesis on building a brand on YouTube to helping sell the Twitch influencer marketing platform NoScope. She was also nominated for a Mashable Award for her work with Foursquare and pioneered some of the first advertising campaigns on Twitter.

Alexa also co-hosts Swimming with Allocators, a venture podcast that offers insights from the limited partner (LP) perspective. Alongside Earnest Sweat, she interviews top allocators and industry leaders weekly, exploring their strategies and perspectives on the next decade of venture capital.

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