We always love a chance to hear from someone who’s been investing in climate for a long time. Daniel Weiss fits the bill. His firm, Angeleno Group, was founded in 2001 and since then has led or co-led over $3 billion into clean energy and climate solutions.

Daniel and the Angeleno Group also surround themselves with accomplished leaders that bring true global expertise. Their advisory board includes a former US Secretary of Energy, former Secretary of Treasury, UN Ambassador, Nobel Laureate, and several other top scholars and industry leaders.

Lean in closely for this conversation and learn from Daniel’s perspective. What we heard was somewhat surprising: that despite the headwinds coming from Washington and rippling around the world, strong deal flow, ever improving talent, and low valuations make this the best time in decades to invest in climate solutions. We spoke about Daniel’s background, this unique moment in climate investing, Angeleno Group’s thesis and recent investments, and much more.

Lots to learn about and consider in this episode. Enjoy.

1. 02:30 – Daniel’s Personal Climate Journey
2. 05:30 – From Law to Climate Investing & Founding Angeleno Group
3. 07:39 – World Resources Institute (WRI) & Global Systems Change
4. 12:29 – Optimism & “The New Global Possible”
5. 13:21 – Building Angeleno Group Through Turbulent Times
6. 14:36 – Check Sizes, Stages & How Angeleno Invests
7. 15:18 – Evolution of Climate Investing & Why 2025 Is So Compelling
8. 19:56 – Megatrends: Load Growth, AI & Energy Security
9. 22:27 – Angeleno’s Advisory Board & Why It Matters
10. 24:19 – Angeleno Group’s Investment Thesis
11. 25:18 – Example Investments: Software for the Grid & Wildfire Risk
12. 29:08 – Headwinds in Climate Tech: Fundraising & Exits
13. 33:05 – Scaling Climate Finance & Global Opportunity
14. 34:35 – Climate Week NYC & Hope from the Next Generation
15. 36:33 – Closing Thoughts

1. Angeleno Group
2. World Resources Institute (WRI)
3. Book: The New Global...

Philanthropy plays a uniquely critical role in climate action—it can fund the bold, early-stage, community-led, and systems-changing work that markets and governments too often overlook. And with the federal government cutting funding to a wide range of climate, energy and conservation efforts, philanthropy plays a more important role than ever before.

That’s why we’re teaming up with the Skyline Foundation and their Climate Lead, Shereen D’Souza on a series of conversations on climate philanthropy.

Over the coming episodes, we’ll explore how philanthropy can accelerate climate solutions—not just by moving more money, but by moving it differently and to high impact topics and geographies. We’ll talk to leaders who are rethinking power, reimagining partnerships, and reshaping the way resources flow.

Today, we’re starting with a conversation that sets the tone for the entire series: trust-based philanthropy. What does it look like to fund climate work in ways that are long-term, rooted in real relationships, and prioritize the expertise of grantee organizations? How can funders shift from control to collaboration, and what happens when they do?

Shereen and I are joined by Shaady Salehi, Executive Director of the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project. Shaady has been at the forefront of this movement, helping foundations transform their practices and support grantees with more transparency, humility, and flexibility. We talk about Shaady and Shereen’s backgrounds in philanthropy, what trust-based philanthropy is and how it can help non-profit partners be more effective, why it’s relevant to Skyline Foundation’s approach and ways other donors can learn more.

This series is one of several deep dive series we’ve created this year. Find the others on InvestedinClimate.com and reach out through the website if you’d like to partner on a deep dive series of your own.

• 03:30 – Shadi’s Background & Origins of Trust-Based Philanthropy
• 05:34 – Shireen’s Climate Journey & Work on the Paris Agreement
• 08:38 – Inside the Skyline Foundation’s Climate Program
• 10:21 – The Role of Philanthropy vs. Markets in Climate
• 12:20 – What Makes Skyline Different as a Climate Funder
• 13:29 – What Is Trust-Based Philanthropy? Core Practices
• 17:11 – Accountability & Critiques of Trust-Based Philanthropy
• 19:20 – Power Dynamics & Mutual Accountability
• 20:58 – Inside the Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
• 23:12 – How Trust-Based Philanthropy Shows Up at Skyline
• 25:35 – Why Trust-Based Philanthropy Is Critical for Climate Now
• 27:55 – How Trust Builds Honesty & Problem-Solving
• 29:32 – Shadi’s Motivation & What’s at Stake Systemically
• 33:12 – Barriers to Trust-Based Climate Philanthropy
• 34:21 – How Skyline Shares Control with Field Experts
• 38:11 – Entry Points for Funders New to Trust-Based Philanthropy
• 40:23 – Closing & Call to Action

• Skyline Foundation
• Trust-Based Philanthropy Project
• The Whitman Institute

We’re back with another episode in our series on the Missing Middle in Climate Tech in partnership with Spring Lane Capital. This is the fifth episode in the series. If you didn’t catch the others, check out InvestedinClimate.com/series and you’ll find our other episodes. If you have ideas for other series and would like to partner, get in touch through the website as well.

The missing middle is a structural problem – a lack not only of available capital for climate companies, but also of the kinds of firms able to invest in them. New firms with new types of investment mandates are needed, and so I was thrilled to learn about a new fund called All Aboard. It’s a truly innovative firm developed by someone who has long had his finger on the pulse of the world’s biggest problems and boldest solutions. If you’ve ever watched a TED Talk you probably know Chris Anderson, who has led TED for the last 25 years. Chris is probably one of the best networked people on the planet, and that he decided to focus on building a new fund designed to address the missing middle in climate finance speaks volumes.

Spring Lane Capital Partner and Entrepreneur in Residence Jason Scott gets credit for putting together this episode and joins us in what was a truly fascinating conversation. All Aboard reflects the type of creativity and ambition needed to fill a critical climate finance gap, and I think we all hope their model inspires you in some way. Enjoy.

• 0:03:31 – Chris explains his shift to climate investing and TED’s climate initiatives
• 0:04:53 – Setting the stage: The funding gap in climate tech
• 0:05:23 – Jason describes the three buckets of the "missing middle" and All Aboard fund’s mission
• 0:09:33 – Exploring the structural capital problem in the energy transition and limitations of current financial markets
• 0:11:16 – Chris & Jason discuss scale challenges and why current investment models fall short for climate solutions
• 0:14:12 – Impact of collaboration in the climate investing community, with examples from Spring Lane and All Aboard
• 0:16:57 – Chris describes All Aboard: how convening and pooling investors can solve the missing middle
• 0:22:42 – The role of “social proof,” building momentum and ecosystems around climate ventures
• 0:25:12 – Fundraising goals for All Aboard and the scale of opportunity in climate tech
• 0:29:00 – Recognizing growth and potential exits for climate companies; learning from historical performance
• 0:31:14 – How companies may become eligible for All Aboard, criteria for selection, and the practical mechanics of funding
• 0:34:51 – The necessity of both capital and sustained support for scaling climate solutions
• 0:36:30 – Vision for the future: If All Aboard succeeds, expectations for climate tech and financial markets
• 0:37:54 – Other approaches and financial innovations to address the missing middle
• 0:40:24 – The role of government and public-private partnerships in de-risking and scaling clean tech
• 0:42:56 – Closing remarks

• All Aboard
• Spring Lane Capital
• Invested in Climate – Missing Middle series
• TED and TED Countdown