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
Yesterday
The impact of 'thirsty' data centres
We're in the US state of Georgia, where huge data centres need water to keep cool. But how is this need for cloud storage and AI capability affecting local residents and the environment?Presenter: Michelle Fleury Producer: Nathalie Jimenez(Image: Georgia resident Beverly Morris l ... Show More
17m 50s
Jul 8
Does university still get you a well-paid job?
Graduates are facing one of the toughest jobs markets in decades. We hear from students in India, the US and UK about whether they feel a university or college degree is worth it as we discuss the cost of attending university around the world and what your job prospects might be ... Show More
17m 27s
Jul 7
Returning to Ukraine?
The UN estimates that nearly seven million Ukrainians have left their home country since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Many have set up businesses in their new country - around 90,000 of those in Poland. We hear about the challenges they’ve faced, and the sectors ... Show More
17m 30s
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 Growt ... Show More
37m 16s
Nov 2023
Simple Agreement For Future Equity
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.  When investors want to participate in a startup busin ... Show More
6m 14s
May 2022
EP112 "MENA's Time Is Now" | Venture Capitalist Suneel Gokhale On Investing In Early-Stage Startups
In the latest episode of The Change Officer Podcast, we spoke to Suneel Gokhale, one of the founding partners of VentureSouq, a MENA-based investment firm focused on high growth early-stage technology companies. VentureSouq began as a side hustle when Suneel, his wife and two of ... Show More
58m 45s
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
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 of t ... Show More
8m 23s
Jun 2022
The Changing Future of ESG Investing
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?This week Ed is joined by Emily Chasan, Director of Communications at Generate Capital, and Shanu Mathew, Vice-President of Sust ... 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