EP30: Life as a Climate-Crisis Minded Venture Capitalist with guest Michael Smith

Join host Christopher Schoenwald of the Podcast, “LIFE AS A..” as he chats with Regeneration.VC General Partner, Michael Smith.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Introducing

Michael Smith is a climate crisis minded venture capitalist and General Partner at Regeneration.VC, an early stage venture fund supercharging consumer-powered climate innovation. The firm focuses on seed and series A investments in circular and regenerative approaches to consumer industries.

Recent Buzz

You may have heard about his company recently in their successful closing of $45 million in funding to make sustainable consumer goods available across omnichannel.

The firm has also generated a certain buzz by attracting significant backing and advising from several high-profile individuals, including actor and film producer Leonardo DiCaprio, Ashton Kutcher, as well as renowned architect and circular economy pioneer William McDonough, of whom Michael and his partner Dan Fishman have known for quite some time.

Skills and Background

In addition to investing in over 30 companies prior to this role, Michael brings years of environmental organizing experience, having formed Ponvalley, an environmental initiative comprised of philanthropy, research and impact investments.

As an example of not only Michael’s reach but also vigour towards making positive environmental impacts, he assembled an emergency climate summit following the 2016 election, with Former VP Al Gore, Gen. Wesley Clark, of the Dept. of Energy, and Harvard leadership.

He currently serves on the boards of PVBLIC Foundation (a registered non-profit that mobilizes media, data, and technology for sustainable development and social impact), the American Renewable Energy Institute, and the Sustainable Change Alliance. He is also a founding advisor to Salk Institute’s Harnessing Plants Initiative and served as a Venture Fellow at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School.

Fascinating Backstory

In addition to his environmentally minded passions and activities, his early experiences read off as somewhat of a magical ride seesawing between high level success within arts and entertainment, as well as that of media and real estate businesses.

Take his years of being a highly successful global touring DJ performing alongside the likes Guns N Roses, Rihanna, and Diplo.

Add in his launching and scaling “The Playlist Generation”, a leading background music provider to over 10,000 retail locations.

And finally throw in his entrepreneurial efforts in co-founding the company “Creative Space”, an adaptive reuse real estate firm responsible for 80 projects in LA & SF.

Reasons to Listen

First off, anyone who cares about the environment and advancing their own personal or institutional agenda towards affecting positive change, will appreciate this talk.

Aside from examining Michael's own career and life managing Regeneration.VC, we dive into discussions centred on concepts like circular economies, regenerative approaches and other critical matters which need to be understood in order for us to forge new and sustainably minded pathways forward.

It was a most enjoyable chat and I am confident that listeners will be able to glean a lot from all of the insights Michael so kindly shares.

Listen in for all this and more!

To learn more about Michael and his work, you can check him out here:

Website

LinkedIn

FRIENDLY REMINDERS:

If you'd like, you can WATCH the full conversation on YouTube.

And hey! Why don't you subscribe on YouTube! As you'll see, our subscriber numbers are in need of a little boost! If you haven't done so already, help the program out by giving it some love.

*Hit the subscribe button on YouTube PLEASE. :)

I'd appreciate it! 

-Christopher

*You can follow LIFE AS A.. on your favourite social platforms via these links:

Youtube

Instagram: 

Linkedin:

Twitter:

Facebook: 

To learn more about the program, visit the website www.life-as-a.com or https://linktr.ee/life_as_a_podcast