Buoyant Ventures

Today we released our impact report for 2023 and we are so proud of the climate mitigation and adaptation benefits accomplished by our portfolio: Audette.io Beni ElectroTempo, Inc. FloodFlash Raptor Maps — Solar Software Shifted Energy. We are humbled every day to be working alongside these committed and mission-driven entrepreneurs, and to be investing on behalf of some the leaders in climate like Microsoft WovenEarth Ventures Xcel Energy Bank of America NiSource The Nest Family Office Office of the Illinois State Treasurer New Summit Investments Marathon Capital Align Impact ImpactAssets Digital climate solutions scale up today and buy time for more scientific breakthroughs to mature. Kudos to Allison Myers and Laura Dyer leadership of Buoyant's impact efforts. https://lnkd.in/g8BqkvYc

Buoyant reflections on the election in a letter we sent to LPs and portfolio CEOs - As we digest the results of yesterday’s election, we wanted to reach out to share some initial reactions and perspective. We accept the reality that President-elect Trump and his cabinet and a Republican controlled Senate will not be favorable for U.S. climate action. While we await the results of the House of Representatives elections, we are preparing for some level of repeal of IRA funding and weakening of key federal agencies like NOAA, the EPA, and the DOE. We expect that fossil fuels and related technologies will be strengthened and that the energy transition will slow down. But not stop. The commitments of businesses as well as governments around the world are not likely to reverse course because of this election. The facts of climate science remain, and?the wide majority of people around the world– 73% - accept that humans are contributing to climate change and action is needed to address it.? In fact, Buoyant’s work is even more important now that we do not have federal leadership on climate. We must continue to invest in solutions that have commercial appeal and that have meaningful near-term impact on carbon emissions and climate adaptation. We will need the support of business leaders who share our urgency, and we will need to build alliances with?international?businesses and help our companies expand globally to countries that have strong support for climate action. Additionally, our digital thesis is even more relevant because our portfolio companies have commercially ready solutions that primarily sell to other businesses, and are not reliant on government incentives or policy. Buoyant is committed to our values of 1. Cultivating a climate community, 2. Partnering deeply with our entrepreneurs and investors, and 3. Being curious, open-minded, and constantly learning. In the coming days we will be reaching out to our portfolio CEOs to help them strategize how to thrive amidst this changing political landscape. And we will continue to understand anticipated federal changes as we hunt for our last few investments in Fund 1 and think about our strategy for Fund 2. While we are disappointed, we are undeterred. And we are eager to double-down on our goals of investing for the best climate outcomes and best financial results for our investors. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”??Change is happening and while it is expected to be bumpy the next few years, and may even feel like we are going backwards, we know that our collective work is making a difference, and future generations depend on us to prevail. Onwards and upwards, Amy Francetic Allison Myers Laura Katzman (Dyer) Alex Behar Joanna T.

?? As climate change intensifies, the Blue Economy emerges as a critical frontier for innovation and investment. Buoyant's MBA associate Nanea Alden dove headfirst into this sector to breakdown the landscape and uncover opportunities in ocean data. https://lnkd.in/g3ghnmMC

?? Webinar Recap: Climate AI Co-Pilots: Ready for Takeoff Thank you to everyone who joined us! We explored the transformative potential of AI co-pilots in driving sustainability and enhancing business operations across various industries. Our incredible panel shared insights on the practical applications of AI in climate tech: ? Greg Mulholland, CEO of Citrine Informatics highlighted how AI is revolutionizing material science by enabling the development of sustainable alternatives, such as replacing petrochemical-based products with bio-based sources. ? Brendan Collins, CEO of Avalo, Inc discussed how AI-driven solutions are fostering climate resilience in agriculture, using innovative techniques like AI-powered breeding co-pilots and pro-nature solutions that support bee populations. ? Hudson Hollister, CEO of HData showcased how AI is streamlining regulatory processes to accelerate the energy transition, making complex regulatory tasks more efficient and reducing project timelines significantly. ? Shivani Chotalia, P.Eng., Partner at CleanAI Initiative emphasized the vast potential of AI in mitigating global emissions, spotlighting the deployment of clean AI solutions in diverse sectors such as agriculture, energy, and conservation. Key takeaways: ? The importance of maintaining human involvement in AI processes to ensure accuracy and value. ? The role of high-quality data as a critical component for the success of AI models. ? The need for AI applications to be specifically tailored to climate use cases rather than generalized AI solutions. This engaging discussion underscored that AI is not just a tool—it's a powerful co-pilot in the journey towards a sustainable future. Stay tuned for more from Buoyant Ventures as we continue exploring the intersection of AI and climate tech! ???? We have put together a recap blog covering the key topics and takeaways, learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dsrN8sYu #ClimateTech #AICoPilots #Sustainability #Innovation

It's so energizing to see so many incredible women working in climate in one place during our breakfast hosted in partnership with Cooley LLP as part of Chicago Climate Week. ???? Thank you to Laurie Bauer and Alya Adamany Woods for opening your beautiful office space to all of us. Women helping women to fight climate change ????

Buoyant Ventures port co Beni CEO Kate Sanner spotted in the wild Evergreen Climate Innovations Co_Invest_Climate2024. Check out their browser extension to help make second hand clothing shopping easier.

Excited to share that Beni will be presenting at Evergreen Climate Innovations' Co_Invest Climate 2024 on September 17th in Chicago! We’ll be showcasing Beni's resale clothing solution that helps shoppers find used items alongside other talented innovators and ecosystem builders. Don’t miss the event that kicks off Chicago’s second annual Climate Tech Week! Register here:?https://lnkd.in/ghssSSNZ? #Co_InvestClimate #ChiClimateTechWeek24

Laura Dyer, Buoyant Ventures investment principal, married Mike Katzman this past weekend in Los Angeles. If you don't know Laura, she is a smart, kind, investor with hustle. We're so happy for her and Mike and are grateful to work with her every day. ??

?? The Future of AI Hinges on Energy Efficiency As AI continues to expand, its energy demands can’t be ignored. In fact, by 2030, data centers alone could consume nearly 10% of the global power supply. This creates a pressing need to rethink how AI technologies are built, deployed, and powered. In our latest blog post, we explore actionable strategies for reducing AI's energy intensity, a topic we explored in our recent panel discussion, "Greening the Cloud." Our portfolio companies like Ocient are already leading the way in hyperscale data analysis while lowering energy consumption. We’re proud to be at the forefront of a movement that balances innovation with sustainability. Read more on how we’re helping to reshape the AI landscape: https://lnkd.in/df9HjSAv #GreeningTheCloud #SustainableAI #ClimateTech #EnergyEfficiency #AIInnovation

?? Webinar Recap: Greening the Cloud: Reducing the Energy Intensity of AI In our journey to make AI more sustainable, the recent webinar "Greening the Cloud: Reducing the Energy Intensity of AI" brought together visionary leaders at the forefront of this critical challenge. Here are some of the most compelling insights shared by our panelists: ? Laura Dyer pointed out that energy, not hardware, is now the primary bottleneck for AI growth, urging the industry to rethink energy strategies to keep pace with technological advancements. ? Hayagriv (Haya) Sridharan emphasized the irreplaceable value AI brings, from potentially curing diseases to innovating new materials, making it an essential focus for the future. ? Vijay Gadepally shared that adding carbon intensity as a data point can lead to significant reductions in emissions, emphasizing the need for transparency in energy consumption. ? Fred Gomos highlighted the importance of energy efficiency, not just for cost savings, but for optimizing grid operations on a large scale, with technologies like virtual power plants playing a key role. ? Chris Gladwin remarked on the unprecedented external limitations on technology growth due to energy constraints, stressing the need for innovation in hardware, software, and materials to overcome these challenges. Our panelists unanimously agreed on the urgency of addressing AI's energy consumption and the need for collaborative efforts to innovate and implement solutions. As we continue to explore sustainable solutions, we invite you to join us in this conversation and work together to pave the way for a greener, more efficient future for AI. #Sustainability #AI #GreenComputing #ClimateAction #BuoyantVentures #TechInnovation #EnergyEfficiency #DigitalTransformation