Keeling Curve

Project Summary / Description:

Sprouted Ventures has operated as a consultancy for the past year. We have honed our approach in bringing sciences from the lab to the market, and learned several things:
1. Over 75% of sciences do not make it to the market, yet many solutions to our global climate change problem are sitting in labs as we speak, waiting to be commercialized.
2. Scientists aren't often business minded (and have difficulty scaling companies)
3. Business leaders aren't often science-minded and don't often know how to access sciences that address bold problems. 
4. We don't know what's coming in our pending environmental crisis... all we know is we must act, now. 

As such, Carbon Inc. was born. Carbon is a selective, problem-focused not-for-profit venture accelerator based in Los Angeles that supports early-stage technology start-ups whose missions are to capture, sequester or recycle greenhouse gasses. Our vertical focuses span from food & agriculture, construction, plastics, data/tech to direct Cleantech solutions like air capture and biochar. Each of the 12-15 start-ups per class will enter a 4-month acceleration class where they will be paired with three mentors (an "entrepreneur in residence," a scientist and an industry veteran), given a small seed funding purse, office space and supported on their technological and company development by an experienced team of advisors, educators and business leaders who supplement their formal business programming. In our second year, we expect to begin a "matchmaking" service, bringing scientists together with entrepreneurs to rapidly spin-out carbon capture companies by leveraging key relationships from the top-tier Southern California's research universities.

Our success is measured effectiveness in effectiveness of scale of removing and recycling greenhouse gasses.

Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

Mission Statement:

Core belief: The world's biggest sustainability problems are our biggest business opportunities. We want to leave "bread crumbs" and create the support network for environmental entrepreneurs to follow in our footsteps.

Values & Philosophies: 
Do no harm to people or the environment
Markets and people are change drivers. We believe in the power of influence, democratization and education to make environmental progress. 
We focus on high-risk, high potential reward strategies. Our environmental problems are exponential, and so must be our solutions.
We are creative, adaptable, pivotable approach to doing business
Put customers and entrepreneurs first. Always.
Lean startup models are favored. 
Women-CEOs are strongly supported
Favor businesses that know how to leverage partners or work with existing forces that be, and change them from the inside. 
We believe all of our answers will come from studying nature, and developing technologies from our learning of the natural environment.

Link: Facebook:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jmorkeim http://www.sproutedventures.com