EU-Startups Podcast | Episode 91: Peter Hirsch, Head of sustainability at 2150
In this episode, we catch up with Peter Hirsch, Head of Sustainability at 2150 a London-based venture capital firm investing in technology companies that seek to sustainably reimagine and reshape cities and the industries that power them.
2150’s mission to deploy ‘Constructive Capital’ is driven by the belief that sustainability delivers both superior returns and meaningful impact. To achieve this, they integrate impact considerations throughout their business, from investment evaluation and founder support to investor engagement and daily operations. Their 2150 Impact Framework helps assess the sustainability of their investments and guide decision-making, while their annual Impact Report catalogues and benchmarks the fund’s and its portfolio companies’ contributions to addressing critical sustainability challenges.
Peter explores the implementation of a carbon tax, the balance between achieving immediate impact and fostering long-term innovations, as well as the challenges and opportunities within urban environments. He highlights the importance of resilience in addressing climate change, the critical role of cities in driving sustainable innovation, and the need to avoid greenwashing. Additionally, he discusses the significance of measuring Scope 3 emissions and much more.
Video version of episode 91:
Audio version of episode 91:
Key takeaways:
- The EU must foster sustainable innovation to remain competitive.
- Since 2022, 2150 has been one of the first venture capital funds to self-impose a carbon tax of €100 per tonne across Scopes 1-3, unlike most VCs who heavily discount Scope 3 emissions.
- 2150’s unique investment approach strikes a balance between decarbonizing today’s stubborn, dirty industries and developing tomorrow’s moonshot technologies.
- 2150 estimates the projected impact of their portfolio every year, extending up to ten years ahead.
- From 14 total investments, 2150 reduces or removes 481,500 tonnes of carbon per year, with a projected total of 38.9 million tonnes by 2030.
This episode of EU-Startups Podcast is brought to you by Vanta. Compliance doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, with Vanta it can be super simple. Trusted by over 7,000 companies, Vanta automates the pricey, time-consuming process of prepping for ISO 27001,SOC 2, GDPR, HIPAA, and more. Learn more here.
