GreenStory

When Megan Mayhew-Bergman and I started GreenStory we wanted to have giving baked into our business model. That’s a tricky thing to do for a small startup — we’re juggling the work, business development, our own marketing plus all the back end stuff like taxes. Fortunately we knew about an amazing non-profit organization called 1% for the Planet for the Planet. Co-founded by Yvon Chinourd of Patagonia, 1% makes it super easy for businesses to give to grassroots environmental organizations. The member company pledges 1% of its annual revenue; 1% for the Planet identifies qualified beneficiaries and facilitates the donation. There’s a load of other benefits, as member companies become part of a powerful network including companies like Patagonia, Klean Kanteen® and Cotopaxi. This all makes a real impact — to date 1% members have donated over $635 million. Kate Williams and her team have done a phenomenal job building 1% for the Planet into something special. We’re thrilled to be members! #climate #storytelling #giving #climateaction

Best office today. #optoutside

I recently had the pleasure of leading a two-day storytelling workshop for Activate. Activate fellows are pretty amazing – super smart scientists creating new companies that directly address climate change. We gathered at a slightly haunted hotel in the Berkshires. During our time together we went over some storytelling basics and dove deeply into examples, all in interactive fashion. Most importantly, we agreed that as part of the workshop each fellow would create something tangible – a one page narrative that weaved their personal and company stories together in seamless fashion. They crushed it. During our final session, as each fellow read their narrative to the group, I was full of awe and hope. In awe of how a very science-minded group absorbed the teachings and instantly crafted powerful, moving narratives (put the shoe on the other foot and I would flail mightily at anything beyond basic biology); and hopeful because such a talented, driven group is focusing their careers on helping the climate. Thanks Daniel Recht, Spencer Babcock and Greis K. for the invitation and organizing a wonderful and productive offsite. A hearty hi to Erin Glabets, awesome to reconnect. And special thanks to the Activate fellows for inspiring us all! #climate #storytelling #climatetech #entrepreneurship #science

2023 was big for GreenStory - we launched and got right to work with wonderful clients who inspired us with the ways they are changing the world. We helped our clients create more compelling stories around brand, projects, climate impact, and staff. Ultimately our work is about connection - and ensuring the specific DNA of an organization comes through in every conversation, piece of content and media opportunity. Heading into 2024, we thought we’d share three tips climate companies and organizations should keep in mind. Feel free to comment with your own tips or reach out directly to learn more. #climate #storytelling #newcompany

Greentown Labs is a wildly unique place, where entrepreneurs focus on super complex technical solutions to big climate problems. Greentown provides workspace, labs and a supportive community (H/T Maya Nitzberg and team!). Many fast-growing companies like Form Energy are using Greentown as a springboard to success. I like to think if Albert Einstein was wandering around Somerville he'd saunter in and have his mind blown. Last week I attended the Greentown Labs #ClimatetechSummit. I’m an advisor to Greentown so I’ve been over there a bunch, but this was my first Summit. Wow. Learned so many things; here are the top three: 1) The energy around climate tech is off the charts – There was a palpable buzz in the air with hundreds of people crammed into every corner of the cavernous Greentown space. The sold-out event had all the right things in place – an amped up community; dynamic and thoughtful speakers; and an agenda that left space for both learning and connecting. 2) The government is all in on climate tech – This is a critical piece, as climate tech can’t succeed without strong policy levers to spur adoption. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healy and US Senator Ed Markey both spoke at the event. Senator Markey spoke via video. He’s the OG climate champion and has spent decades in the DC trenches getting stuff done. He and Congresswoman Alexia Ocasio-Cortez are crushing it by using the Green New Deal as a frame for legislation, resulting in bills like the Inflation Reduction Act becoming law. He gave a shout-out to Greentown for “inventing the Industrial Revolution of the 21st Century.” I dig it. Nice to hear Governor Healy in action. It was my first time seeing her speak. She was interviewed by new Greentown CEO Kevin Knobloch. She spoke with conviction and fluency about Massachusetts becoming the “global epicenter of climate tech.” She hit the classic Massachusetts talking points about all the big MIT and Harvard brains starting companies with the ecosystem to support them; in a new twist, she pointed out that over 40,000 climate jobs will be created by 2032, the vast majority of which will require community college technical training. A great example of how climate tech can create broad opportunities. 3) These startups rock – The best part. Eighteen founders got up on stage and gave a three minute pitch about their companies. Nerve-wracking stuff, explaining a super technical product and why it matters in front of a packed house. But they all did it beautifully. If you have the chance to attend next year's Summit, do it. In the meantime feel free to reach out with any thoughts or questions, either directly or in the comments below. #climatetech #climate #entrepreneurship

Today on The Cooler, we caught up with Mike Farber, LaunchSquad alum and co-founder of GreenStory – an environmental storytelling agency. We dove deep with Mike, chatting about the importance of storytelling in climate, his views on the buzz around climate tech in comparison to the early days of the Internet, the space for optimism in our discussions about climate, and his most recent venture. You can read more from our conversation below, and don't forget to subscribe to The Cooler for more! https://lnkd.in/g2C2YBPY #TheCooler #climateaction #storytelling