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In today's episode, I speak to Khyati Sundaram the CEO of Applied, a platform helping businesses to take bias out of their recruitment processes through anonymized recruiting, and algorithms that help them predict which candidates will be performing best in their roles, based on objective criteria rather than anything subjective and any biases. The company also offers AI-based tools to help write job descriptions that are likely to attract a diverse set of candidates rather than biasing towards a certain set of candidates.  EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:38] Khyati's Personal Journey [05:22] Most common recruitment biases in companies [07:33] Solutions for Debiasing Recruitment [11:27] Understanding how to test for skillsets in a non-biased way [14:56] Integrating Predictive Algorithms &Machine Learning into the Recruitment Process [17:42] Best way for early-stage startups to integrate debiased recruiting [21:45] Job descriptions 101: How to recruit more diverse talent [24:50] Biggest challenges for companies trying to adopt diverse hiring practices at scale [26:59] Applied in Action [31:09] Applied's 10-year vision KEY LESSONS & QUOTES “Working as a Developer in Google doesn't automatically mean you'll translate all those skills well in any other company” [06:08] “As an employer don't just screen based on the CV” [09:55] “We know that AI can aid in adding bias to the recruitment system.  We are working towards achieving the opposite; harm reduction” [16:41] "Most founders neglect the recruitment system - you're only as good as your team." [18:43] "Every company is a recruitment company & until they realize that, things will only get worse" [21:39] "We see Applied as an expression of a fairer society where there's level access to jobs" [31:48] Support the show

In today's episode, I speak to Erin Davis, co-founder, and COO of Enduring Planet, which is a revenue-based financing platform for climate tech startups. The platform allows climate tech companies to raise funding without dilution, without giving away equity, and without any personal guarantees and collateral. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:45] Erin’s Personal Journey [06:49] What Enduring Planet is all about [09:13] How Enduring Planet lets founders do what they do best [11:13] Enduring Planet's Value Proposition to Investors [13:57] How Enduring Planet implements diversity & inclusion into their product [15:07] Key requirements for founders to get funding from Enduring Planet [17:21] Erin's take on the Macro Environment [18:54] Types of companies Enduring Planet invests in [20:08] Biggest challenges Erin faced as a first-time founder [21:24] Advice for founders in the current climate tech environment [22:56] Changes in the fundraising environment [24:36] Enduring Planet's funding framework [26:21] Enduring Planet's 10-year vision KEY LESSONS & QUOTES "I'm not really scared of failing and if I did, I know I'd land on my feet & find something else to do" [06:27] "There's fewer impact in climate-focused investments that are a fixed income return" [11:39] "As a first-time founder, don't get bogged down in too many details. Done is better than perfect" [20:34] "Ultimately, investors invest in people. If you have that passion & drive to move something forward, they're willing to trust that." [21:14] Support the show

Tom Foster-Carter, the founder of Lollipop, (online shopping assistant ) is on a mission to help solve the health and obesity crisis and reduce the food plastic waste on the planet. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:13] Tom's personal background & journey [6:26] Lollipop business setup and purpose [12:08] Food waste control mechanisms [15:34] Mistakes and lessons learned [20:57] Reading and not applying [23:43] Intentionality of business build-up [30:18] Sacrifices of “Change the world” entrepreneurs [35:02] Advice for financially scared start-ups [38:52] Tom's 10-year vision KEY LESSONS & QUOTES “An improving next generation expects much bigger, better things, out of the products that they use and the businesses that they support.” [12:29] “You can validate your product by speaking to customers, designs, simple prototypes without an integration, Wizard of Oz style and so on. Those principles were absolutely golden for me.” [16:01] “Fall in love with the problem, not the solution” [21:36] Support the show

Amee Richie and Jake Elliot-Hook, the co-founders of Sweet Bottle. Sweet Bottle has developed a reusable plant-based water bottle, which is made from sustainably sourced bamboo and wheat straw For every bottle sold. The company plants a tree and removes plastic from the ocean. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [0:34] Amee & Jake's personal background & journey [2:52] Sweet Bottle’s crowdfunding campaign [3:54] How Amee & Jake promoted their crowdfunding campaign [4:57] Sweet Bottle’s PR opportunity [5:54] How Amee & Jake spent the funding step by step [7:27] Sweet Bottle’s production process and materials [8:23] Sweet Bottle’s material transformation [9:03] How does Sweet Bottle work? [9:48] Lessons learned in the entrepreneurship journey [14:20] Amee & Jake bottle product development experience [15:21] Product development phase and working with manufacturers [16:09] Lessons learned working with manufacturing partners [18:20] Benefits and differences of working as co-founders [20:27] Dating and co-founding relationship experience [22:35] How to differentiate your product to competitors [25:34] Challenges faced against larger companies [27:07 ] Amee & Jake's 10-year vision KEY LESSONS & QUOTES “When we first started we were very, very stingy with our money, so my bit of advice would be to   not cut too many corners” [10:44] “I think it's really important to have the same vision and the same goal for the company as a couple co-founding together and communication skills ” [21:16] “We really want to fight against deforestation, so we always plant trees where they're needed most in the world” [27:18] Support the show

Robin Saluoks, the CEO and co-founder of eAgronom, a platform helping farmers adapt to sustainable farming practices and increase revenue through the voluntary carbon market. In today’s episode, we discuss how he built his company from the ground up. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:27] Robin's personal background & journey [5:02] Farmers management app [6:37] Using farming to capture carbon and greenhouse gasses [9:33] Impact of farming in battling climate change and farmer’s solutions [12:10] How can farmers impact carbon sequester [14:58] eAgronom’s approach to measurement and verification of carbon emissions [17:21] Barriers eAgronom’s clients face adopting the technology [19:47] Global expansion and lessons learned as an entrepreneur  [21:54] eAgronom’s market expansion [24:28] eAgronom’s current markets [25:31] Product translation and customization for different markets [27:25] Robin's 10-year vision KEY LESSONS & QUOTES "Soil after the ocean is the second biggest carbon bank on earth" [10:20] “Farmers need to implement full air crop coverage to help curb carbon sequester” [12:27] “For many farmers, it seems unbelievable that they will get money for selling air but our carbon program covers them” [17:37] Support the show

In today's episode, I speak to Anna Maybank, co-founder of Break Room, a platform with a mission to improve working conditions for low-income jobs by creating transparency, sharing salaries, working conditions, and employee ratings publicly. Break Room has raised more than 7 million dollars in funding from the likes of Pro-founders Capital and North Zone, has about 65,000 members, and more than 600,000 jobs rated on its platform. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:32] Anna’sPersonal Journey [03:45] Anna’s Founder’s Journey [06:27] How Anna started Break Room (Identifying the biggest problems that need solving) [08:40] How Break Room works  [10:35] Break Room's Core Business Model [11:39] How Break Room is working toward solving the societal divide [15:14] Is the treatment of frontline workers improving? [17:37] How Break Room is incentivizing companies to make positive shifts in worker pay & job flexibility [20:16] Biggest lessons in Anna's journey as a founder [23.46] Importance of face-to-face conversations when collecting feedback [25:01] Big Room's main role in the recruitment industry [27:46] Break Room's 10-year vision KEY LESSONS & QUOTES “We started Break Room from the perspective of ‘What’s the biggest problem we could try to solve?’ Then talked to lots of people who had the problem that we cared about” [06:43] “Don't just seek to solve problems that you’ve personally experienced. Go beyond that & listen to others” [08:52] “77% of people who use Breakroom tell us that their head office doesn't understand what's going on on the front line; just a reflection of the divide” [13:08] "Pay is a huge problem. 70% of those who took our survey say that the cost of living increase is the main factor in them looking for a new job" [13:39] "45% of people who use break room report that they get their schedule for work less than a week before they do that work. That makes organizing your life incredibly hard" [14:14] “In the future, I want to see us being able to prove that a company with a higher Break Room rating, with data that shows they are a better quality employer, is able to map that to better financial results and better financial outcomes for a company.” [19:33] "Better quality jobs result in better business outcomes.” [19:50] “Always remember to keep talking to the people who are using your product.” [20:40] “Companies need to realize that, the quality of jobs matters for the health of their business.” [26:17] “The future will see businesses start to value and measure the impact of the quality of their jobs in terms of improving business performance” [28:01] “Break room will be one of the sources of information & data that proves that better quality jobs are not just better for workers, but also for companies.” Support the show

Peet Denny, the founding partner at Climate VC, which is a new venture fund investing in climate tech ventures, and the fund is based in the UK. Climate VC is planning to actually fund a hundred startups over the next three years. In today’s episode, we discuss how he built his company from the ground up. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:55] Peet's personal background & journey [3:28] How the machine learning model works to track rainforest destruction [5:03] Climate VC journey and thesis [7:22] The SEISEIS fund impact on Climate VC [9:22] Peet's climate tech funding opinion [11:27] Peet's advice to climate tech founders currently fundraising [13:14] Climate tech startups space [16:05] Focusing on the promiseland not the problems [18:08] Biggest rules for success in funding a startup [20:12] Peet's Investment decision-making process [22:04] Managing vision & division in a startup [23:20] Characteristics of a great founder and team [25:33] Peet's 10-year vision KEY LESSONS & QUOTES “Being quite on top of your game in understanding where your impact is coming from. And having the long-term view of making that more and more sophisticated over time, will make it easier for you to raise money.” [12.11] “We wanna see a team that will just roll over all of the rocks in the road without breaking the pace. Typically founders are amazing problem solvers and that's why we love them and need them in our lives. ” [16.22] “ If a potential customer is excited about a product, then that's so much of the problem solved. ” [18:19]“If you look at a founding team as a team and not as a set of individuals, it doesn't really matter who you are as long as you're great in some way” [24:37]Support the show

Martin Holden-White, the founder of Grubby, (one of the highest-rated recipe kits in the UK) is on a mission to make plant-based cooking more accessible across the world.In today’s episode, we discuss how he built his company from the ground up. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS [00:30] Martin's personal background & journey [02:30] The inception & launch of Grubby (Before COVID hit) [04:20] The relaunch of Grubby [05:56] Competing with big players in the D2C space [07:39] Weaving sustainability into your business operations [09:30] Giving investors an idea to buy into [11:56] Getting the right investors for your startup [13:02] How to use angel fundraising & investment crowdfunding effectively [15:00] How to keep crowdfunding investors involved as advocates for your business [16:07] Grubby: From initial growth to profitability [18:39] Identifying your initial customer segment & scaling further as an early-stage founder [21:43] Marketing & Positioning: Messaging for different customer segments [22:40] The biggest challenge Martin faced as a founder [25:00] Importance of having a support system as an early-stage founder [26:25] Martin's advice on how to structure your life as a founder [30:35] Martin's advice for startups looking to become a B Corp [33:10 ] Grubby's 10-year vision KEY LESSONS & QUOTES “Relentlessly seek feedback” [3:08] “Look for investors that you really get along with. They don’t just care about the money - it’s more about how they can help and be a mentor to you” [3:42] “Sustainability isn’t the cheapest thing to do, but customers hold value in it - that’s why they buy into our product & mission” [7:55] “The early stages as a founder is just about getting as much traction as you can ” [10:21] “In that early stage, when there’s very little traction & revenue, angels invest in you as an individual - a lot of it comes down to personality fit.” [11:19] “Bootstrapping 101 - Be unbelievably conscious about what you’re getting out of every pound you're spending.” [12:32] “The whole thing with crowdfunding is that the crowd follows. So if you have some angel investors already involved already it’ll be easier for them to  believe in your products” [14:25] "Word of mouth is the cheapest way to grow your business. Obvious, but overlooked" [15:47] “Have really clear pillars - spend time creating that on-page document with all the priorities you had at the start of the year. Look at it every so often to reorient yourself accordingly.” [27:40]” Support the show

With the increasing severity of the climate problem, thankfully, there are organizations like Cervest that offer their climate intelligence program to empower companies and individuals to analyze their climate risk and make climate-informed decisions. For this reason, Cervest’s Founder and CEO Iggy Bassi joins us today to educate us on why we need to quantify and act on climate risks.  Some of the highlights of this episode include the extremely useful advice that Iggy shares on building a mission-driving business, hiring the right people, finding the right investors, cultivating great relationships with both your staff and investors, and getting through the dark days. He also talks about why you need to marry method with conviction, which he emphasizes a lot, as it has a big role to play for founders when building a company. This is an episode you won’t want to miss. Iggy’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “Conviction needs to be high on mission, but also needs to marry with method as well, because the real impact you're looking to make has to be scalable.” (27:17) “There'll always be dark days… The question is, who do you want around your board when times get dark, and do they believe in the same thing that you believe?” (27:52) “You may be very strong on vision, but you've got to surround yourself with the right talent, and you have to build the right culture, because [...] for every power you have, you have a corresponding weakness as well.” (31:43) In this episode, we also talked about: Cervest and how it works (6:32) Why people use Cervest (17:54) Iggy’s hardest lessons learned (26:47) Finding mission-aligned investors (34:55) Support the show

Alex Farcet is Founder of Rainmaking and Startupbootcamp, and these are just two of the many hats he wears. Rainmaking harnesses the power of entrepreneurship to help corporate companies implement innovation and impact initiatives, and Startupbootcamp is currently the largest industry-focused startup accelerator in the world.  In this episode, Alex shares what led him to starting these companies and what drives him to keep them going. As someone with tons of entrepreneurial experience, he shares his advice and experiences for founders on fundraising, startups, the impact space, and the like. He even talks about the shift from corporate to startup, and why he works with both. Whether you’re a first-time founder or serial entrepreneur, you’ll want to listen to what Alex has to say. Alex’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “There's no secret sauce. You have to be extremely adaptive and aware… There's no formulaic approach. We've evolved over time.” (18:33) “We have to work on these problems. We're talking about my kids' well-being here, the planet's well-being.” (40:23) “The number one difference I see between a doing well Startupbootcamp alumni and not is how well they know their customer… It's, again, customer discovery, customer discovery, customer discovery. There is nothing else.” (48:42) In this episode, we also talked about: Alex’s entrepreneurial journey (9:51) How to make startup and corporate collaboration work (18:29) Mainstream funding for impact-driven startups (35:27) How to secure the right investors (46:57) Support the show

Today, we were joined by not just one but two co-founders: Marcela Flores and Angela Newtons, who are the brains behind Tierra Foods, a startup with a mission to change the way we feed the planet. Through agroforestry and regenerative farming, Tierra Foods develops carbon-negative ingredients that help restore the planet. So, not only do these plants and ingredients help sequester carbon, but they taste good too! In this episode, Marcela and Angela share how the Carbon13 program was vital in making their paths cross but also in teaching them tips and tricks on how to successfully build their business. Apart from giving their insights into the agroforestry impact space, they also shared their advice for entrepreneurs on things like differentiating opportunities from distractions, how to find the right investors for your business, and so much more. This is an episode you won’t want to miss.  Marcela and Angela’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “It's so vital to be clear on the North Star and recognize that opportunities and distractions will come all the time. There's a real art in being able to navigate that and recognize the difference between a pivot and a distraction.” (29:45) “There are a lot of investors out there. There's arguably a lot of money out there, but I think it's really important to find investors who really get who you are and what you want to do and what you're trying to achieve.” (36:44) In this episode, we also talked about: The Carbon13 program and what inspired Marcela and Angela to create Tierra Foods (6:41) How Tierra Foods brings the innovation to agroforestry (22:52) Entrepreneurial lessons the co-founders learned (28:59) Finding investors who are truly aligned with your mission (34:03)  The world in 10 years according to Marcela and Angela (40:19) Support the show

Think of candy, but in this case, it’s made out of upcycled fruits and vegetables (yes, you read that right) and it helps the environment, so it’s not only good for you but it’s good for the planet too! That’s what FAVES by Climate Candy is, and its co-founder and CEO, Amy Keller, is here to school us on food waste, climate change, candy manufacturing, and so much more. Amy is also the CEO of Pureplus, which works with farmers to turn their unwanted produce into plant-based powders, which ties into FAVES and Climate Candy. Fun fact: FAVES actually stands for Fruit And Vegetable Sweets. See what they did there?  In this episode, Amy talks about what inspired her to address multiple problems, such as climate change, poor nutrition, unhealthy food, and food waste, to name a few, through candy. It’s really worth listening to her share her entrepreneurial journey in founding Pureplus, Climate Candy, and FAVES, obstacles she overcame, and lessons she learned to make her the successful impact-driven entrepreneur and advisor she is today. Press play on this episode now! Amy’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “When I look at that capability to share this dream of ours to teach millions of citizens how easy it is to affect change, it's high time people realize and seize their full power that it's really what we choose to eat, and that includes all of us.” (11:20) “As an entrepreneur, you're exposed to new insights, transformational experiences, really unique opportunities to make a positive impact in the world.” (28:33) “One of the things that you learn as an entrepreneur is that you have to take action and rise from some of these setbacks and understand that they're not setbacks. They're all learnings.” (29:41) In this episode, we also talked about: All about Climate Candy (7:56) Incumbents vs. startups (16:40) Entrepreneurial lessons from Amy (28:32) Amy’s great advice for early stage founders in the candy space (36:47) The world in 10 years according to Amy (42:28) Support the show

Tailor-made nutrition. That is the tagline of Nourished, a company dedicated to personalized nutrition supplements that are vegan, friendly, not to mention, delectable, and are made through patented 3D printing techniques and sophisticated encapsulation gel technology. Its CEO and founder is Melissa Snover, a seasoned entrepreneur who has founded multiple companies. In fact, in 2019, she raised the highest female founder seed round in the history of the UK, so there is definitely a lot that can be learned from her.  In today’s episode, Melissa talks about why she was set on solving a problem that she herself experienced, the world of 3D printing and nutrition, how she’s made her businesses stand out from the rest, and key advice for early stage founders on having the right mindset when facing problems, choosing investors, and building a support system. Listen to this episode to find out Melissa’s investor horror story that will make you think twice before accepting money from just any investor! Melissa’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “All good entrepreneurs have a highly developed sense of empathy, because only when you have that can you actually develop solutions that are going to be fit for purpose and actually create meaningful value add and solve problems for people.” (6:41) “Every difficult thing that happens is really an education that prepares you for the next step, and I've really adjusted my perception to view it that way. The sooner you do that, the better you will be for the rest of your life.” (26:04) “99% of your life is the ride, not the destination, and you have to find ways of getting comfortable with that failure, and the eventualities of what the impact of that might be.” (28:09 “The easy way and the right way are never the same way.” (34:04) In this episode, we also talked about: How Melissa ‘accidentally’ became an entrepreneur (3:22) How Nourished adds value to their customers (16:14) Crucial lessons Melissa learned on her entrepreneurial journey (25:58) Finding the right investors for your business (35:22) Support the show

Reusable packaging has been around for a while already as an alternative to single-use plastic or disposable packaging, but if there was a way to level this sustainable experience up? That’s where CLUBZERØ, formerly known as CupClub, comes in through innovatively combining sustainability and technology. Safia Qureshi of CLUBZERØ’s joins us today to share how she went from being an architect to a startup CEO and founder and why their reusable packaging experience is better than the rest.  Safia shares how her background in architecture has helped them develop CLUBZERØ as the most scalable and best quality setup in the market, why user experience or UX is a big deal, improving the customer journey, and more. She also gives her insights and advice for entrepreneurs on the qualities you need to survive, addressing customers’ needs, and partnering up with the right businesses, among others. Tune in to this episode!  With the likes of Just Eat, Starbucks, Coca-Cola, Nestle, and more companies promoting the use of CLUBZERØ, we’re proudly on the way to lessening or eradicating single-use or disposable packaging. Say no to disposable packaging and sign up to join CLUBZERØ here! https://www.clubzero.co Safia’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “Fundamentally, it's about finding your purpose. I think you're answering your inner brief, which leads you to do what you do.” (7:59) “There's always value in selling your product if it's creating impact.” (51:25) In this episode, we also talked about: Finding your purpose (3:57) CLUBZERØ for consumers (17:17) How to gain customers (33:47) Overcoming COVID and other challenges (44:09) Support the show

What if you could invest your retirement fund into companies that are sustainable and working towards solving climate change? That’s hitting two birds with one stone and exactly what Carbon Collective does. One of Carbon Collective’s founders, Zach Stein, joins us today to educate us on the world of sustainable investing and why this matters so much in the world we live in. In this episode, Zach shares his entrepreneurial journey creating Carbon Collective with his co-founder, James, with whom they’ve known each other since they were four year old. This is one of the main reasons they’ve cultivated a strong co-founder relationship, and he gives great advice on how to make this happen for you and your co-founder(s). He also talks about the importance of being vulnerable with your team along with sharing his highly suggested book recommendations for entrepreneurs and early stage founders. There is so much to be learned from Zach, so listen to this episode to hear what he has to say.    Zach’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “How does the world change? How does the status quo change?," and the only answer I've really found out is when enough people say, "I'm going to break from the status quo." When enough people do that, that's when the world starts to change.” (27:14) “Talk is cheap. And often, that's seen as a bad thing, but it means talk is the cheapest place to ideate on something. Make sure you've thoroughly talked through something before you actually start building.” (36:51) “An effective co-founder relationship and just an effective team, it is not tension-free. Tension is actually really important. You just never want to let it sit.” (38:43) “A small effective team can do so much more than a large ineffective one.” (43:36) In this episode, we also talked about: The impact of sustainable investing in addressing climate change  (9:06) How Carbon Collective works (19:23) Important entrepreneurial lessons Zach learned (34:29) Finding the right co-founder (38:22) Vulnerability and team culture (45:59) Support the show

Serendipity doesn’t equate to luck, but it can be considered smart luck, and this is something Dr. Christian Busch explains to us today. Christian is a renowned author, professor, researcher, and co-founder of Leaders on Purpose and Sandbox Network, two well-known communities for impact-driven leaders. As an authority in purpose-driven leadership and impact entrepreneurship, Christian shares his insights on serendipity, finding the meaning of life, and how anyone, including entrepreneurs, can leverage their knowledge and serendipity to make an even bigger impact in this world. The main focus of this episode is Christian’s book, The Serendipity Mindset, which offers practical advice for entrepreneurs and changemakers to use science and serendipity to change the way they live and see the world, and it’s definitely worth a read. It was a great conversation with Christian, and he asked thought-provoking questions and gave helpful tips that may guide you on your entrepreneurial journey or simply in your journey through life. You won’t want to miss this episode. Christians’ key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “The most purpose-driven inspiring people, they seem to have something in common, which is that they somehow intuitively cultivate serendipity… how can we develop communities, mindsets, and companies that allow us to have more of this unexpected good luck?” (5:19) “Serendipity is about smart luck. It's about the luck we create ourselves through our own actions in how we react to the unexpected or how we create the unexpected. It's either making accidents meaningful or creating meaningful accidents.” (8:09) “Do you let the situation define you, or do you try to define the situation? In terms of this whole idea that, yes, we cannot always pick the situation we're in, but we can always pick our response to it.” (46:10) “How do you bring the best out of people and out of yourself so that when you are on your deathbed, you're saying, "Okay, well, it was worth it"?” (53:30) In this episode, we also talked about: What is serendipity? (7:57) The intersection between serendipity and impact (17:20) The importance of having a North Star (23:38) The government’s role is pushing society towards more serendipity (30:41) Victor Frankl’s lessons that Christian has taken to heart (46:04) Support the show

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. These three are an often overlooked yet crucial component in any company or organization. That is why Arthur Woods created Mathison, the first tech platform offering tools for companies to increase, measure, and manage Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion in a whopping 12 different dimensions. With the likes of Accenture, 23andMe, TripAdvisor, and many more companies using their product, the path to a more inclusive and diverse workforce is hopefully getting clearer with the help of Mathison. Driven by his own experience of not feeling safe in his workplace, Arthur founded Mathison with the goal of helping employees feel included, safe, and empowered. In this episode, Arthur shares his entrepreneurial journey, the ups, the downs, and the in-betweens, and how he powers through, including a neat tip on how to end everyday on a good note and his perspective as both an experienced founder and investor. Listen to this episode to find out more. Arthur’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “That sense of urgency and that sense of rush and impatience as entrepreneurs is sometimes really a strength, and other times, you have to eat your own medicine in terms of knowing when to slow down.” (24:29) “As entrepreneurs, we're constantly charting a new path. We're going into territory no one's explored before. And by the nature of doing that, we're making progress.” (28:02) “Even in the days where it feels like we're going three steps forward and four steps backward, those three steps, we still need to celebrate.” (30:27) In this episode, we also talked about: A rundown on DEI in the workplace (6:02) Arthur’s advice for founders hoping to build a culture of DEI in their company (17:15) The most painful lesson Arthur learned (24:12) The role of investors in promoting DEI (35:25) Support the show

Alon Cohen is the founder and CEO of Pika Diapers, an impact-driven startup focused on changing the world one diaper at a time. Born from Alon’s own struggles as a parent constantly needing to buy and change diapers, Pika offers a machine that cleans and dries reusable diapers, making this a great alternative to using roughly 6,500 disposable diapers per baby that will simply end up in landfills. Not only does Pika Diapers address the financial aspect of having to shell out money for diapers regularly, of which the costs for this expense alone can pile up, but it also lessens the environmental impact through reusable diapers. And so, in this episode, Alon shares with us his entire entrepreneurial journey, from Pika’s inception, to the obstacles he faced like his stuttering, and then onto his goals and his vision for Pika as they soldier on in their mission to clean up babies’ sh*t. Oh, and we have exciting updates for the Impact Hustlers community. Listen to this episode to find out what we have in store for you! Alon’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “Figure out each feature if it is the right solution for the customers. If not, don't waste time adding features that the customer does not have any value [for].” (21:09) “Look, to be a founder, it is not the obvious thing to do. I think it's not recommended for everyone… You need a lot of inner strength.” (35:50) “The perspective is to change the way that we consume, to consume less, to consume without disposables.” (40;26) In this episode, we also talked about: An overview of Pika Diapers (7:08) How Pika came to be (12:33) Bootstrapping the business (23:49) Overcoming challenges in his entrepreneurial journey (29:02) How the world looks like in 10 years if Pika Diapers succeeds (40:24) Support the show

Reasonable items seldom change anything. This is why the aim of the Unreasonable Group, a private equity firm, is to re-purpose capitalism and support impact-driven entrepreneurs and companies who are trying to solve major global problems. To date, the Unreasonable Collective has over 300 ventures in more than 180 countries, and these ventures have collectively made more than $7 billion in revenue, nearly $9 million in financing, and are making a difference in the lives of 800 million people across the world. Impact Hustlers speaks to a lot of founders, but today, it’s time to hear what it’s like from the other side of the field. Jasiel Martin Odoom, Senior Investment Associate at the Unreasonable Group, joins us to share some insights on what it’s like partnering with impactful companies led by underrepresented or minority founders and raising funds. In this episode, Jasiel gives great advice and nuggets of wisdom for aspiring or early stage founders on how to pitch, how to select investors, how to raise funding, and so much more. We were even joined by a former guest on Impact Hustlers, Joel Tasche, the founder of Clean Hub! Again, you won’t want to miss this episode. Jasiel’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “If you can tell a very clear value proposition within the pitch deck you're sharing with the investors is always helpful.” (11:40) “You have to explain why your solution is better than anybody else in basic terms, but being able to craft a story around that thing often helps as well.” (17:34) “As you're starting out, the feeling might be to rush for the first VC to validate your product… but it's less about the money and more of what you're building. Especially as a founder, you're looking to build something that lasts, so think it through.” (23:33) “We should include diversity in this space and diversity of the team, who is in the team. That should be a metric for us to go out and find companies, because we will find that it will force us to source in different places.” (35:22) “Always start to fundraise before you need to close a round.” (45:43) In this episode, we also talked about: The type of companies the Unreasonable Group invests in (6:56) Do’s and don’ts when it comes to raising (11:16) The key to choosing investors (21:42) Pitching and helping investors understand a niche industry (37:56) Joel’s top tips on the overall fundraising process (45:25) Support the show

Imagine living a long and healthy life. Imagine not getting sick at all at 80 years old, or who knows, maybe 100 years old. The possibilities are endless thanks to today’s advancements in science and technology, and today, Victor Bustos joins us as the COO and Co-Founder of Refoxy Pharma. Refoxy is a biotech startup whose goal is not to extend the human lifespan but primarily to extend health. Basically, Refoxy aims to keep people healthy for as long as possible, which is both noble and challenging in itself, right? Initially, Victor was working in academia, but then he was motivated by the fact that life seemed too short coupled with him having read studies on how it was possible to change how long and how healthy people could live. Thus, Refoxy Pharma was born. Pivoting from the academe to creating a startup, however, was no easy feat, so Victor had some amazing insights and lessons to share with us about his journey from PhD student to startup founder. You won’t want to miss what he has to say.  Victor’s key lessons and quotes from this episode were: “What is a scientist if not an entrepreneur?” (26:44) “It is important to not sell yourself short as a scientist, because there is a lot that one can bring as a scientist into any endeavor. And so, just having this open mind of being able to learn anything and try to learn anything, that's going to give you a lot of ground.” (27:29) “In the end, it's just a matter of asking the right questions and trying to find the right tools to answer those questions.” (29:17) In this episode, we also talked about: Refoxy Pharma and what it’s like working with Apollo Health Ventures (9:11) Academia vs. entrepreneurship (22:10) Why scientists and entrepreneurs are more similar than you think (28:53) Risk mitigation (36:01) Support the show