Startups Will Save Us: But that's only half the equation

✌️ G’DAY

Loads of awesomeness emanating from Raaise HQ this week—awesome founders, awesome ideas, and awesome skills and passion in spades (can you tell we’re excited about what’s ahead)?! But, awesome founders are only one side of the equation—for startups to really fly, they need awesome investors. We’re extremely fortunate to know a few…

🥁 Introducing the CEO of Dragonfly Enviro Capital, Adam Tucker, an investor who’s on a mission to make impact investing the only type of investing.

We chatted to Adam recently for our podcast, Startups Will Save Us, and thought we’d share some of his insights here. Enjoy!

🤓 IS IMPACT INVESTING REALLY THE ANSWER?

Adam thinks so. “We live in a world in which capital talks. So, if we can make impact investing ‘best-in-class’ investing, then the game’s up. We’ve done it. Because if people can get good financial returns as well as impact returns, they’ll put their money in the next climate-tech business, rather than another coal mine. The speed of the transition will be so rapid, and all we have to do is mobilise 10% of the world’s capital into ‘for purpose’ businesses.”

⏰ LATE TO THE GAME IS BETTER THAN A NO SHOW

“I wanted to do something about all the problems I could see in the world, but I thought I’d need to make a lot of money in so-called ‘conventional’ investing first, before giving it all away.” When a mentor pointed out to Adam that he could put his focus on (and money in) impactful businesses, he wasted no time in joining forces with one of the OGs of impact investing, Nigel Sharp, to form Dragonfly.

🦄 = IMPACT x AWESOME FOUNDERS

Apart from impact, what’s the most important thing Adam’s looking for when a new pitch lands on his desk? The people involved. “We’re backing founders. You can have the best idea in the world, but without awesome people who come in with a great attitude, and who are willing to give it 💯, it won’t work.”

🥊 NEVER. GIVE. UP.

Adam’s one piece of advice to founders is, “Don’t give up. Building a business is the biggest emotional rollercoaster out there. When you pitch to investors, you get rejected so many times. That’s ok. Just don’t give up. Every setback is such a wonderful opportunity to learn and grow.” 

🎧 PODCAST

To hear the full convo with Adam, check out the latest episode of Startups Will Save Us👇

🙋🏽‍♀️ IN OTHER NEWS… US!

Read more about the life changing events in Mozambique that inspired the Raaise journey in this awesome write-up from OnImpact » Raaise Helps Climate-Tech Startups Get Investor-Ready and Boost Impact.

📚 WHAT WE’RE READING

For all you bibliophiles in need of inspiration, The Carbon Almanac is a phenomenal collaboration between hundreds of writers, researchers, thinkers and illustrators on the greatest challenge of our time. With the tagline “It’s not too late”, the book inspires collective action on climate—right here, right now. For more fabulous non-fiction, earth-saving reads, check out Rebel Book Club.

📢 CALLING ALL CLIMATE FOUNDERS 🇬🇧

If you're building a startup in the climate impact space and you’re looking for support from a community of fellow founders, join the Raaise UK chat on WhatsApp.

👷‍♀️ BUILDING SOMETHING AMAZING OR WANT IN ON THE NEXT BIG THING?

If you're building an amazing startup in the climate impact space, or you're a budding or seasoned impact investor looking for the next big opportunity, take a moment to sign up. It's simple, free, with no commitments and takes <1 minute. 👇