Golden Impact Podcast: Recent Episodes
Auriane Tang
Golden Impact is the podcast that deciphers what impact really is, when it comes to financing or growing businesses.
During a graduate exchange semester at UC Berkeley, I have dug into the investment thesis and core motivations of impact fund managers, entrepreneurs and teachers. I hope that this podcast will give you insights and ideas on how to drive innovation and capital towards the achievement of environmental and social objectives by hearing about the “why”s and outcomes of people who have decided to act for good.
Katie Hoffman, a partner and member of the Investment Committee at Regeneration.VC, is a seasoned financial innovator, investor, and entrepreneur specializing in data-driven approaches to drive environmental impact across diverse asset classes.
For us, Katie reflects on how to transition to a regenerative paradigm and fight eco anxiety with communities and action. She also shares on how to launch an impact investment fund (fundraising, companies impact assessment and support, exit routes) - with concrete examples and learnings from portfolio companies like Pangaia, Nature Coatings (on TIME's list of "America's Top GreenTech Companies of 2024"), Colorifix, Cruz Foam (part of LVMH's Exclusive Startup Acceleration Program for Sustainable Innovation))
Timeline: 1:22 Regeneration.VC overview l 6:08: Katie’s background (including: 8:34 campaign on the University of California endowment's ESG standard, 11:50 early partner at fintech platform Etho Capital) l 17:31 defining "Regeneration" and "Impact" l 26:56 fight eco anxiety l 33:27 transforming the consumer markets l 43:02 VC investing - impact assessment l 58:54 fundraising l 1:07:37 Leonardo DiCaprio backing Regeneration.VC l 1:12:00 understanding materials and textiles l 1:18:55 women in business - do not self constraint (safety vs; fulfilment & impact) l 1:22:08 wrap-up
Glossary:
- Cal: University of California (UC) Berkeley; (Golden) Bears: UC Berkeley students/alumni
- CPGs: Consumer packaged goods
- Regenerative Evaluation Gauge (REG)
- EU REACH (Regulation on the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals) vs California Prop 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act)
- SB 185 bill (2015, California): prohibits the boards of CalPERS and CalSTRS from investments in thermal coal companies
- Ellen Macarthur Foundation's report: "Towards the circular economy Vol. 1: an economic and business rationale for an accelerated transition"
With a background managing over $200 million in assets, including Etho Capital's pioneering climate ETFs, she has shaped Environmental, Social, and Governance standards for various investors, including California public funds and the $40.4 trillion AUM Divest–Invest initiative.
Katie has led green incubator and accelerator programs, supporting 100+ projects and startups in finance, clean tech, and consumer sectors. She currently serves as a senior fellow at the Future.US think tank, advises SuperCharge America, and is a founding board member of the Climate+Positive Investing Alliance. Katie holds degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and is based in New York City.
Note: the podcast moderator and guest are speaking on their own behalf; views expressed in the episode do not represent those of any company or group.
Roni GamZon is the co-founder BioFluff, the startup behind the first 100% plant-based and biodegradable fur (Savian) which starred among exhibitions of brands like StellaMcCartney at COP28 and Ganni at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
In this episode, we will talk about Roni's entrepreneurial journey, fundraising, Gen Z segment and how to propel a sustainable change in the fashion industry.
Timeline: 1:04 Roni’s introduction and introduction to BioFluff l 3:42 defining "responsible fashion" l 6:42 positive impact: quote & vision l 13:26 understanding materials, impacts of animal and plastic fur, Biofluff's journey and future l 30:47 fundraising l 41:08 bringing value as a GenZ woman l 47:58 wrap-up & hope
Instagram: Roni GamZon; Savian l LinkedIn: BioFluff
"A lot of people think animal fur is natural, but it's not; there are many chemicals involved in its processing. Plastic is also problematic, not only due to harmful production processes but also because fluffy materials shed, contributing to microplastic pollution. That's why we created Savian—to offer something completely natural while still allowing people to enjoy furry and fluffy materials."
Note: the podcast moderator and guest are speaking on their own behalf; views expressed in the episode do not represent those of any company or group.
Sophie Laborde-Lagrave is the founder of @sassy_off, a premium & luxury fashion consignment business.
We meet Sophie in her Parisian boutique to learn about her entrepreneurship journey after different sustainability experiences (e.g. Hermès, vegan meat), how to be more responsible fashion consumers, and choose the difference we want to make - always in a sassy and creative way.
Timeline: 1:03 Sophie's introduction & early activism l 6:12 launching @sassy_off l 07:39 impact - creating desire around positive alternatives l 13:21 second hand fashion impact - Vinted and minimalism l 17:57: Vestiaire Collective and what second hand can bring to luxury brands - l 22:20 sustainable consumer habits l 27:48 growing @sassy_off l 30:24: business vs. hobby: profitability & perceived value - what second hand can bring to luxury brands l 32:40 Wrap-up & hope
Glossary:
- Bonus Réparation (in France): an amount deducted directly from the bill of consumers who go to a labelled repairer to have their product repaired
- WeDressFair: ethical fashion brands boutiques & online platform
- Vestiaire Collective (Vestiaire): online platform for second-hand fashion, founded in 2009
"For luxury companies, it is very important to see the price and perceived value of their items on the second hand market. If, once an item is solved, the price decreases a lot, there is something wrong. On the other hand, one can sell one's Chanel bag at any point on the internet - it is an investment, one knows the price will not plummet. This is what we want for every piece of clothing: being second hand will not make it trashy, and it will still be a desirable item for many years."
Note: the podcast moderator and guest are speaking on their own behalf; views expressed in the episode do not represent those of any company or group.
Mathew Dixon brings more than 20 years of experience in fashion senior executives hiring. He is a co-author of the Diversity and Inclusion in the Fashion Industryreport(2022, MBS Group x British Fashion Council).
Together, we discuss the notion of impact through the prism of leadership, inclusion and diversity.
Timeline: 1:06 Mathew's introduction | 4:19 Diversity in fashion overview | 8:11 Financial performance & ESG | 11:25 Impact: vision, courage, beliefs, empathy | 17:13 It comes from the top | 19:56 Mindsets & regulations in executive hiring | 20:33 Culture, cultural appropriation & values | 36:19 Wrap-up & hope
“For many CEOs, diversity is a priority when things are good. The truly visionary CEOs will look at diversity as a benefit and a value creator - not as a cost center; taking diversity through every form and unleashing it as a solution to the challenges that a business might face.”
Note: the podcast moderator and guest are speaking on their own behalf; views expressed in the episode do not represent those of any company or group.
Yoobin Jung is a Venture Capital (VC) investor specialised in sustainable fashion at Plug and Play (one of the most active VC funds globally), with a background in chemistry.
For us, she shares about the biggest challenges and business opportunities in fashion and materials, her kinetic vision of impact, and advice on how to be responsible fashion consumers.
Timeline: 01:06 Yoobin’s introduction | 3:23 impact quote & definition | 9:23: main opportunities & challenges for sustainable fashion - an oxymoron? | 15:14 responsible fashion consumer habits | 19:20 : investor’s perspective on fashion | 28:50 : book recommendations | 30:02 Wrap-up & hope
Mentioned during the podcast:
- Save Your Wardrobe
- Materials certifications: Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) | Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- Regulation: AGEC Law (in French), EU Digital Product Passport (DPD)
- Books: Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes, Dana Thomas | Textilepedia
Note: the podcast moderator and guest are speaking on their own behalf; views expressed in the episode do not represent those of any company or group.
Welcome to season 2 of Golden Impact, the podcast that questions what impact means when it comes to growing or financing businesses.
My name is Auriane Tang, and this year, I wanted to dig into fashion, a topic that touches each of us, everyday. 👗🌿
I hope this podcast will give you insights and ideas on how to be responsible consumers, businesspersons and investors, by hearing about the “why”s and outcomes of people who have decided to act for good.
Note: According to Fashion on Climate, the global fashion industry produced around 2.1 billion tonnes of GHG emissions in 2018, equalling 4% of the global total.
Season 1 of the Golden Impact Podcast (recorded in California during the Fall 2021) is already available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and online.
Sharing what I have learnt so far, in Europe and California, about sustainability actions and impact investing.
Quick intro from UC Berkeley's SCET: "Auriane Tang is a French graduate student specializing in Finance, Sustainability and Innovation at EMLyon Business School, Università Bocconi & UC Berkeley. Auriane's experience includes impact investing (World Bank Group, Paris), investment banking (Barclays Bank & BNP Paribas, London), and climate entrepreneurship, and NGOs. In her free time, Auriane writes about Energy & Climate, Arts & History, and is launching an impact-oriented podcast."
I hope you will like the conversation I have with Ian, and which concludes my Golden Impact Podcast journey at UC Berkeley. I would be delighted to continue the discussion with you; you can contact me on LinkedIn or at goldenimpactpodcast@gmail.com
Ian Monroe is an expert on climate solutions and impact investing. He teaches at Stanford University and is the Chief Investment Officer of Etho Capital, a sustainable investing company he founded in 2015.
For us, Ian shares some very open feedback on his first fund launch, some precious advice for anyone getting into impact investing, and also his strong stance in favor of divesting from fossil fuel companies immediately.
Timeline: 00:56 Ian’s introduction ⎸ 4:30 Etho Capital’s investment projects and operational organization ⎸ 17:30 What does impact mean? ⎸ Explanation with “Get Up, Stand Up” by Bob Marley ⎸ 30:10 The process of launching a fund ⎸ 42:00 Engagement vs. Divestment: the case for divestment of fossil fuels ⎸ 56:10 Advice to launch an impact fund ⎸ 1:00:30 What should change in the ESG industry? ⎸ 1:17:30 Wrap Up
David Law is the Director of Global Academic Programs at UC Berkeley's Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology and the CEO of Venture Dojo. After a traditional career path in tech, finance and sales during which he would volunteer in his free time, David started to combine his job with his social values by building an amazing partnership between the NGO Ashoka in Thailand and UC Berkeley. For us, David shares fascinating insights on social entrepreneurship, education and impact investing.
Victorine Minvielle is the Founder of Absolu Compost and a Graduate Student majoring in Sustainability & Innovation at UC Berkeley and NEOMA.
In this podcast, she shares about how it is to launch an entrepreneurship project with a positive impact objective. We will learn about composting, its impacts and stages of development around the world, but also about Victorine’s aim to heal the world and how that translates into her day-to-day business development and investors selection criteria.
Shuo Chen is a General Partner at IOVC (Innovation Overflow Venture Capital) and Faculty at UC Berkeley and Singularity University.
She was recently maned among the Forbes 30 under 30 venture capitalists, for her extensive work with more than 60 startups and hundreds of students, along with institutions like the California Mental Health Commission, Goldman Sachs and Decode. For us, Shuo shares her experience, feedback and advice, as well as her thoughts on impact and scale.
Delighted to introduce Golden Impact, the podcast that deciphers what impact really is, when it comes to financing or growing businesses.
I am Auriane Tang and during my graduate exchange semester at UC Berkeley, I have dug into the investment thesis and core motivations of impact fund managers, entrepreneurs and teachers. I hope that this podcast will give you insights and ideas on how to drive innovation and capital towards the achievement of environmental and social objectives by hearing about the “why”s and outcomes of people who’ve decided to act for good.