logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2021
18m 26s

Silicon Valley and the climate crisis

Bbc World Service
About this episode

As the world focuses its attention on climate, we’re looking to the money that could create real change. Venture capital is the type of financing that can take new ideas to the mass market and it’s finally looking to fund clean, green tech. First, to understand how start-ups go about seeking VC funding, Vivienne Nunis hears from founder Diedre McGettrick. Gabriel Kra, of the venture capital firm Prelude Ventures, explains the shift he's seen in low-carbon investing. But Silicon Valley attracts the world’s sharpest minds, so why aren’t more tech leaders coming up with the bright ideas needed to fight climate change? We ask founder-turned-investor, Ben Parr. Producer: Sarah Treanor. Image: Smart farming technology. Credit: Getty Images

Correction: Prelude Ventures invested approx. $125m in the past 12 months, in deals totalling $1.3bn. It didn’t invest $1.3bn on its own, as was stated in the programme.

Up next
Today
The cost of calling home
If you’re living thousands of miles from home, how do you keep in touch, especially when your loved ones don’t have reliable internet? There’s a growing market across Africa and beyond for apps helping to cut the costs of international calls to older phones. And some operators ha ... Show More
17m 28s
Yesterday
Germany turns to India for skilled workers
Germany is in the throes of a demographic crisis, in which there are not enough young people entering the labour market to replace those who are retiring. There is an annual net loss of 400,000 to the workforce and the shortage is particularly acute in many of the traditional cra ... Show More
17m 28s
Mar 16
China’s new economic reality
We look at what China’s latest “Two Sessions” reveal about the direction of the world’s second-largest economy. With Beijing setting its lowest GDP growth target since 1991, the focus appears to be shifting from rapid expansion to stability in an increasingly uncertain global eco ... Show More
17m 28s
Recommended Episodes
May 2024
Finding “Home Run” Investments
Venture capitalists don’t mind strike-outs, so long as they get their home runs. What can stock investors learn from that approach?  Ricky Mulvey talks with Ilya Strebulaev and Alex Dang, co-authors of “The Venture Mindset: How to Make Smarter Bets and Achieve Extraordinary Grow ... Show More
37m 16s
Nov 2023
Simple Agreement For Future Equity
<p>On today’s show we are talking about deal structure. Some of the financing vehicles that are increasingly common in real estate had their roots on Wall Street. Others had their roots in the tech environment of Silicon Valley. </p> <p>When investors want to participate in a sta ... Show More
6m 14s
Jun 2020
E6: Chris Schroeder shares valuable advice on entrepreneurship and venture investing
Chris Schroeder is a global angel investor & advisor to tech startups with a keen interest in emerging markets. Chris is the co-founder of Next Billion Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on the next billion digital consumers across global emerging markets, he is a Network P ... Show More
50m 39s
Sep 2022
Thematic Investing: Moonshots
<p>With high returns in mind, investors may be looking to get in on the ground floor with the next ambitious and disruptive technology, but how are these ‘moonshots’ identified and which ones could make a near-term impact? Head of Thematic Research in Europe Ed Stanley and Head o ... Show More
8m 23s
Jun 2022
The Changing Future of ESG Investing
<p>Today, we’re following the money. Where does investment go in order to build a zero-carbon future? Where does the money get used, and where does it not?</p><p>This week Ed is joined by Emily Chasan, Director of Communications at Generate Capital, and Shanu Mathew, Vice-Preside ... Show More
54m 45s
Oct 2022
Opportunities in Sustainable Investing
More than 90% of S&P 500 companies publish sustainability reports. But what’s real and what’s just greenwashing?  Bruce Usher is a professor at Columbia Business School and the author of “Investing in the Era of Climate Change.” Maria Gallagher and Alyce Lomax talked with Usher a ... Show More
21m 27s