UNREASONABLE IMPACT™ is a multi-year partnership between Barclays and Unreasonable Group to launch the world’s first international network focused on scaling up entrepreneurial solutions that will help employ thousands worldwide, while solving some of our most pressing societal challenges. Barclays and Unreasonable share a belief that highgrowth entrepreneurs are well-placed to combat projected job loss from automation by creating the jobs of the future. Furthermore, Barclays and Unreasonable believe that entrepreneurial solutions are best primed for scale when supported by a major corporation that is able to accelerate their growth. Thus, the programs are carefully designed to support growth-stage ventures with advice and guidance from a global community of world-class mentors and industry specialists. Unreasonable Impact consists of three intensive twoweek programs held annually in three distinct regions: the Americas, U.K. & Europe, and Asia Pacific. Having completed three full years of programs, the global network consists of 109 ventures that collectively reach 187 million customers and have created more than 20,000 net new jobs in more than 180 countries. To date, the companies have also raised over $2.1 billion USD in funding and generated over $2 billion USD in revenue. The 2019 Americas program marks the beginning of Unreasonable Impact’s fourth year and welcomes a new cohort of 15 ventures into the growing global network.
75F
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80 Acres Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Aeroseal . Francis
Igor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Love the Wild .
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Modumetal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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MycoTechnology . Propel Fuels
Sistema.bio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Skyven Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Smarter Sorting
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Switch Automation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 The Jackfruit Company
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TreeZero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
75F Utilizing the Internet of Things and the latest in cloud computing to create systems that predict, monitor and manage the needs of buildings.
SEC TO R
Smart Building
R EGIO N
Australia, Ecuador, India, Nigeria, Singapore, United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Deepinder Singh
TIT LE
Founder & CEO
75f.io
75F is removing the barriers to building automation with a system that improves commercial building comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency with 30-50 percent savings and less than a two-year ROI. Traditional building controls systems are overbuilt and require extensive resources to install, set up, custom program and maintain — creating high costs of acquisition and ownership. Using Internet of Things (IoT) design, 75F harnesses the computing power of the cloud and packs it into a smart commercial building management system with a single-pane-of-glass across HVAC equipment types and brands, plus lighting, with multi-site remote monitoring and management. The company’s vertically integrated suite of wireless sensors, equipment controllers, smarter thermostats and cloud-based software deliver fast functionality and results out-of-the-box. A United Nations Environmental Program partner and USGBC LEED partner, 75F offers triple bottom line results for profit, people and planet. They were named one of the Top 100 Most Disruptive Companies in the World in 2017.
Deepinder has designed some of the world’s fastest core networks for Tier 1 service providers like AT&T, NTT and Verizon. With almost 25 years of experience in electronics and computing, he’s brought a wealth of embedded products to the market. His key goal in every endeavor is to simplify operational complexity and make products intuitive. Once a member of the Canadian National Shooting Team, he now has a new target in sight for team 75F — a mission to make people more productive and comfortable while saving energy and the environment. Deepinder is married to a cardiologist and has two wonderful daughters, ages 10 and 12, who still think he’s a hero. He lives in the small town of Mankato, Minnesota, with a shooting range in his backyard. Founder & CEO He enjoys flying, racing cars and riding bikes — and his scotch.
Deepinder Singh
7
80 Acres Farms Converting urban spaces into ultraefficient indoor farms that produce accessible, tasty, and affordable local food year-round.
SEC TO R
Agricultural Technology
R EGIO N
United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Mike Zelkind
80 Acres Farms is revolutionizing the way Americans grow, sell, buy, and eat food. Based in Ohio, the company converts urban spaces into ultra-efficient farms that maximize energy and space. It is on a mission to provide accessible, nutritious, tasty, and affordable local food to everyone, using fewer resources in the process. The company has facilities in Ohio, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Alabama, from which it sells leafy greens, tomatoes, micro greens and herbs to national grocers, local retailers, restaurants, and food service providers. It expects to add grapes and strawberries in the near future. The crops it produces are free from pesticides and GMOs, picked and delivered within days. In December 2018, 80 Acres raised $40 million in equity capital to create the first fully automated indoor farm. The facility will optimize every aspect of growing produce indoors, including seeding, growing, and harvesting. It will include handling robotics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and around-the-clock monitoring sensors and control systems to create food that is truly local and honestly fresh, 365 days a year.
TIT LE
CEO
80acresfarms.com
At the age of 12, Mike Zelkind immigrated to the United States, speaking no English with no money to start his new life. Eight years later, he put himself through college working at Honeywell 30 hours a week. Mike began his food career at General Mills, during which he graduated first in his Emory MBA class and earned the prestigious John Robson Scholar leadership award. For over 25 years, Mike has been working with top-tier food companies including Del Monte, Bumble Bee and ConAgra Foods, and began turning around food businesses, first through his work at ATKearney. He has worked with Private Equity to drive over $3 billion of shareholder value. While President and CEO at Sager Creek Vegetable Company, Mike became determined to fix the food supply chain and found a way to reconnect people to their food. In 2015, he co-launched 80 Acres Farms with the goal of feeding our communities local, nutritious food. CEO Mike’s career is a testament to hard work, passion, and the will to succeed.
Mike Zelkind
9
Aeroseal Sealing leaks in air ducts and vents with a patented technology that delivers comfort, healthier air, and substantial energy savings to homes and buildings everywhere.
SEC TO R
Clean Technology
R EGIO N
Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Amit Gupta
TIT LE
CEO
aeroseal.com
Aeroseal is one of the fastest-growing clean technology companies with a presence in 27 countries worldwide. Its patented HVAC leak sealing technology injects a fog of aerosolized sealant particles into pressurized spaces to seal air leaks in the distribution and ventilation ductwork of residential and commercial buildings. The technology relies on a computer-controlled process to measure and record results. It is applied where issues involving comfort, indoor air quality, and energy efficiency are a concern. A study by McKinsey Consulting found that duct leakage is the biggest contributor to energy inefficiency in buildings; in residential homes, it accounts for over 500 trillion BTU of wasted energy every year. In 2018, Aeroseal announced its new product, AeroBarrier, which seals new and existing commercial, residential, and multi-family building envelopes to help them meet mandated air tightness standards. Aeroseal’s technology was developed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 1994 with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and the EPA. The company dreams of a future where all homes are passive and every building is Net Zero.
As the CEO for Aeroseal, LLC, Amit Gupta helps make the world a better place by creating innovative technology that improves air quality and energy efficiency in homes and buildings. Prior to Aeroseal, Amit held various positions with Carrier Corporation and with TATA Motors in Portugal and India. He has a broad background and extensive experience in sales, supply chain management, operations, and marketing. Amit also has a progressive background in developing longterm strategies and processes for multi-billiondollar organizations. As the head of Aeroseal, he has applied his international experience and diverse business skills to successfully launch several breakthrough and award-winning technologies that directly address building performance issues. Through his leadership, Aeroseal is transforming the way residential and commercial buildings are constructed, renovated, and maintained. Amit has a BE in Mechanical CEO Engineering and an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University.
Amit Gupta
11
Francis Providing a wide range of electric vehicle infrastructure solutions that enable customers to lower their utility bills and achieve energy independence.
SEC TO R
Clean Energy
R EGIO N
United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
David Jankowsky
TIT LE
Founder & President
francissolar.com
Francis Renewable Energy (FRE) is a renewable energy company offering solar, battery and EV infrastructure solutions to state and tribal governments, municipalities, IOUs, electric cooperatives, and residential, commercial and industrial customers. FRE designs, constructs, owns, manages, and operates these systems on behalf of its customers. Their chargers are compatible with nearly every EV available today, including Tesla. FRE is currently developing the first comprehensive, statewide EV network in the country, in Oklahoma. When completed in 2019, every 50 miles of Oklahoma will have a fast-charging station operating under the “Francis EV Network.� FRE is currently developing fast charging EV projects in five states across the United States. In the future, all of the charging stations in the Francis EV Network will be powered by renewable energies. FRE’s core mission is enabling customers to lower their energy bills as well as their carbon footprint.
David Jankowsky is the Founder and President of Francis Renewable Energy, LLC (FRE), a renewable energy company based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. FRE designs, installs, owns, operates and maintains fast charging EV infrastructure, solar and battery storage projects, as well as other renewable technologies. Prior to founding the company, David was Vice President of International Business Development for SunEdison, Inc. from 2010 to 2015. There, David was responsible for all aspects of corporate development in the Asia-Pacific and Sub-Saharan Africa regions. Before SunEdison, David was an energy project finance attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP in Washington, DC, where he closed over $5B of international and domestic project finance transactions in the renewable energy, liquefied natural gas, and conventional power markets. David has an undergraduate degree from Middlebury College in Vermont, where he graduated with honors, and a juris doctorate degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in Founder & President Washington, D.C., where he served on the Georgetown Law Review.
David Jankowsky
13
Igor Transforming buildings from a fixed asset to a highly integrated, automated, datadriven machine built for efficiency, comfort, and agility.
SEC TO R
Smart Building
R EGIO N
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, France, India, Mexico, Netherlands, South Africa, United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Dwight Stewart
TIT LE
Founder & CTO
igor-tech.com
Igor, Inc. was founded in 2013 with a vision to develop a smart building platform solution. With a global market increasingly trending toward smart homes and businesses, Igor has quickly made a name for itself as a leading player in the future of the agile, smart building industry. With system installations in more than two dozen countries, and partnerships with industry leaders such as Cisco, Igor is an emerging global player in the IoT Smart Building industry. Igor’s flagship product, Nexos, is a power over ethernet-based IoT smart building platform that incorporates the hardware, software, and cloud analytics components to form the digital building ‘backbone’ that delivers superior smart building network reliability, bandwidth, and security. Combined with an open API and real-time platform engine, Nexos is truly a forward looking IoT smart building technology that seamlessly incorporates full lighting controls with easy integration to virtually any IoT device or smart building application. Today, Nexos reflects the market’s readiness to enter the IoT world.
With 15 years of tech entrepreneurship, Dwight Stewart has a strong reputation as a successful entrepreneur, innovative technologist, and high-growth operator. He has founded two transformative companies: QAS, a building analytics leader, and Igor, a smart building IoT platform that Cisco has labeled a “disruptor.” In 2003 at age 23, Dwight co-founded QAS, which over four years grew to more than 40 employees without any external investment to become a multi-million dollar operation. Dwight was responsible for product development, project implementation, systems integration, finances, and sales support. Deployments existed in nearly every U.S. state, and Dwight personally led an effort to deploy at nearly all U.S. Capital buildings. He was awarded special recognition by the U.S. Department of Commerce “in appreciation for Outstanding Performance for work on the Architect of the Capitol project.” Dwight led QAS’ acquisition in 2011. In 2013, Dwight founded Igor, Inc. Dwight has grown the company to 10 employees and led multiple investment rounds. Some of Dwight’s other recognitions include: Clean Energy Challenge Founder & CTO winner, Clean Tech Open winner, and Midwest Energy 40 Under 40.
Dwight Stewart
15
LoveTheWild Driving a new conversation about sustainable aquaculture, the most resourceefficient and least environmentally impactful form of animal protein production in the world.
SEC TO R
Aquaculture
R EGIO N
United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Jacqueline Claudia
TIT LE
Founder & CEO
lovethewild.com
LoveTheWild is on a mission to change the way Americans view seafood, and it is the first and only brand unapologetically focused on bringing delicious and sustainable aquaculture to consumers. Launched in 2014, LoveTheWild has brought to market multiple award-winning, convenient, and on-trend products paired with a commitment to quality, sustainability, and transparency that has won the hearts and plates of consumers and leading retailers across the country such as Whole Foods, Wegmans, Sprouts, and Mom’s. In the process, LoveTheWild protects the earth by supporting the responsible development of aquaculture, which is the most resource-efficient and least environmentally impactful form of animal protein production in the world. The company also drives change and acceleration for a whole ecosystem of aquaculture producers and supporting technologies.
Jacqueline Claudia, CEO and Founder of LoveTheWild, is a lifelong fish nerd who thought she was going to be a marine biologist when she grew up. Instead, after graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the Darden School of the University of Virginia, she spent 15 years working in corporate strategy and innovation before finding her way back to the fish. She fell in love with the potential for sustainable aquaculture while working on Velella Project, a mobile fish pen that won Time Magazine’s Invention of the Year in 2012. She founded LoveTheWild to de-demonize great farmed fish and make it easier for people to eat sustainable fish more often. She is passionately building a company that has a real shot at saving the world. Jacqueline serves on the board of directors for the National Fisheries Institute and the Seafood Nutrition Partnership, and her commitment to Founder & CEO building a better seafood future has been recognized by the Intrafish 40 under 40.
Jacqueline Claudia
17
Modumetal Manufacturing a new class of nanolaminated metals that are stronger, lighter, and more corrosion resistant than conventional metals and alloys.
SEC TO R
Manufacturing Technology
R EGIO N
Angola, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Japan, Malaysia, Trinidad and Tobago, United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Christina Lomasney
TIT LE
Founder, President & CEO
modumetal.com
Since the Bronze Age, man has been making metal the same way, using highly energy-intensive techniques to smelt, forge, roll and cast metal parts. Today, Modumetal is enabling an entirely new age of efficient metals manufacturing, through nanolaminated metals (think plywood, but with very thin layers of metal). The markets that Modumetal can serve exceed several trillions USD in value. Modumetal exhibits properties never seen before in conventional metals in terms of hardness, toughness, strength, corrosion, wear and heat resistance, and more. The patented Modumetal manufacturing process more efficiently and cost competitively enables the production of these highperformance nanolaminated metals. Modumetal is produced by a patented, sustainable manufacturing process that uses electricity as the direct input form of energy and enables the production of the nanolayered materials at an industrial scale. The Modumetal process represents a major shift in the way metals are manufactured, affording inherent efficiencies in endpart manufacturing and reducing demand for metal raw materials.
Christina Lomasney is the CEO, President and Co-Founder of Modumetal. Together with her team, she is realizing the company’s vision of revolutionizing the way major industries approach the design and production of advanced metal coatings and parts. Christina has worked in the research, development, and commercialization of advanced materials technologies for more than a decade, starting at The Boeing Company, where she served in engineering roles including in Phantomworks’ advanced metals manufacturing department. Christina later founded Isotron Corporation, an advanced materials company, which today holds a portfolio of advanced materials technologies and commercial products for environmental cleanup and restoration. Christina currently serves on the Board of Directors of ASTM International. Christina holds a BS in Physics from the University of Washington, where she completed undergraduate research in electrochemistry and graduate studies toward a MS in Applied Physics. She has published and is named inventor on several pending patents in largeFounder, President & CEO scale environmental remediation and nanostructured materials applications.
Christina Lomasney
19
MycoTechnology Increasing the availability of healthy, sustainable, and highquality food options through mushroom fermentation.
SEC TO R
Food Technology
R EGIO N
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Switzerland, United States
MycoTechnology is a food technology company focused on solving the biggest challenges in the food and beverage industry by using their mushroom fermentation platform. The company has developed a novel organic food processing platform that transforms agricultural material into functional ingredients. Their flagship product, ClearTasteÂŽ, has broad spectrum bitter blocking capabilities that allow for a maximum reduction in bitterness perception. With less bitterness, products become more palatable, which is important in sugar reduction and elimination. Their second product, PureTasteÂŽ, is a complete, highquality, plant-based protein that has been transformed through mushroom fermentation. Fermenting pea and rice protein with shiitake mushroom mycelium improves taste, decreases aroma, and increases solubility and functionality. PureTaste is dairy-free, soy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free and does not contain any of the other top eight allergens recognized by the FDA that represent >90 percent of all food-related allergies. MycoTechnology is dedicated to increasing the availability of healthy, sustainable, and highquality food options through mushroom fermentation.
EN TR E P R E NEU R
Alan Hahn
T IT LE
CEO
MycoTechno ogy
redesign.mycotechcorp.com
Alan Hahn is a serial entrepreneur with three successful exits. He has been a key executive in six startups and four public companies. With over 20 years of leadership experience in startup companies, Alan is a respected leader with strong interpersonal skills and a propensity for building a team from the ground up. Alan has guided MycoTechnology since its founding in 2013 by leading successful Angel, Series A, Series B, and Series C fundraising initiatives. Alan’s creativity is the source of new product initiatives and generates significant value through key partnerships. Alan is a true motivator with a knack for overcoming obstacles, streamlining processes, and finding creative ways to grow the company. He is open to new ideas while still maintaining constant focus on the big picture goals of the company. His passion for health and wellness falls in line with MycoTechnology’s goals for CEO increasing the availability of healthy and sustainable food options.
Alan Hahn
21
Propel Fuels Connecting consumers to a network of low-carbon fuel options, accelerating the transition to an equitable and zerocarbon future.
SEC TO R
Transportation
R EGIO N
United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Koichi Kurisu
TIT LE
COO
propelfuels.com
Founded in 2004, Propel Fuels connects consumers to better fuels. With Flex Fuel and advanced diesel locations across California, Propel provides new fuel choices that perform better, deliver higher value, and support healthier communities. The company has pioneered clean fuel retail, leading the industry with unparalleled innovation in retail technology and customer experience. Propel has also developed CleanDriveŽ, the nation’s first integrated carbon emission reduction tracking platform to quantify impact and accelerate market adoption of low carbon fuels. Propel seeks to inform and empower public policy by quantifying what it learns as a leading downstream provider of the best low carbon options available. Propel is not only a leader in clean fuel; it is also a brand that inspires the loyalty of die-hard fans. In a recent poll with their customers, Propel found that about 65 percent were interested in electric vehicles (EV) today, and 92 percent of these would want to charge at Propel EV stations. The Propel brand is a channel for delivering new technologies and accelerating the transition to an equitable, zerocarbon future.
Koichi Kurisu believes regulated markets are the greatest force for good ever created by mankind, and that innovation is the most promising means to extend their gains and address deficiencies. Missteps, dead ends, and sidebars aside, Koichi’s career has focused on innovation. He’s worked in film, in tech, and in the last 20 years, at the base of the industrial pyramid in cleantech — from construction, mining and packaging to transportation fuels. Innovation in these traditionally conservative industries has been hard, but with the support of better data, stronger stories, and inspired investors, the best clean technologies are getting funded and scaling to meet enormous demand. Koichi has a wide variety of experience, ranging from branding, contract manufacturing, and corporate finance to green building, intellectual property COO strategy, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and supply chain management.
Koichi Kurisu
23
Sistema.bio Developing prefabricated modular biodigesters to bring clean energy and sustainable agricultural practices to over 100 million farms.
SEC TO R
Clean Energy & Agriculture
R EGIO N
Colombia, India, Kenya, Mexico
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Alex Eaton
TIT LE
Co-Founder & CEO
sistema.bio
Sistema.bio provides access to innovative biodigester technology, training, and financing to address the challenges of poverty, food security, and climate change. The company was founded in 2010 in Central Mexico after five years of R&D in the technology and business model. Sistema.bio manufactures and distributes highquality, affordable biodigesters that enable farmers around the world to convert waste into energy and fertilizer. By providing flexible interest-free repayment plans and comprehensive monitoring services, Sistema.bio works with farmers to ensure they become more sustainable, independent, and productive. The company operates globally with the potential to bring clean energy and sustainable agricultural practices to over 100 million farms. From operational hubs and field offices in Latin America, East Africa and Asia, Sistema.bio’s team engages directly with farmers and also with local farmer networks to promote in local languages with local leaders under local conditions. The enterprise is currently offering direct sales around local field offices in Mexico, Colombia, Kenya and India and through partnerships in 12 other countries.
Alex is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sistema.bio, a social business that works with smallholder farmers around the world to address climate change, food security, and poverty. Alex is an Ashoka Fellow, a Switzer Environmental Leadership Fellow, and an Endeavor Entrepreneur. He is also Co-Founder of GLE, a production and storytelling company. Alex was Director of Sustainability at charity: water, Director at the International Renewable Resources Institute (IRRI) and Co-Founder of the Latin American Biogas Network (RedBioLAC). Previous roles include freelance journalist, photographer, cinematographer, educator and mountain, river and helicopter ski guide. Alex has a MS in Environmental Engineering and a BA in Journalism, and he is currently based in Mexico City. Growing up on a farm in rural New Hampshire in the U.S., Alex is extremely focused on the interaction between agriculture, Co-Founder & CEO natural ecosystems and society, and identifies principally as a farmer.
Alex Eaton
25
Skyven Technologies Decarbonizing the industrial sector with clean, emissions-free solutions that save customers money by turning industrial plants into their own heat sources.
SEC TO R
Clean Energy
R EGIO N
United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Arun Gupta
TIT LE
Founder & CEO
skyven.co
Industrial process heat is the last bastion of fossil fuels. It accounts for 20 percent of all fuel burned on Earth and is nearly devoid of clean alternatives. Skyven Technologies is overcoming this carbon stronghold by turning industrial plants into their own heat sources. The company’s Thermal RE-injection™ solution captures high-value, lowtemperature heat rejected from process equipment such as boilers and dryers and re-injects it back into the facility to displace fossil fuels. Rather than charging for the tech, Skyven bills for the clean heat it produces at rates lower than the cost of fuel. Customers save money and reduce emissions with zero capital outlay. Once the plant is as efficient as possible, Skyven goes a step further. Their Intelligent Mirror Array (IMA™) technology captures heat from the sun, raises its effective temperature (up to 400 degrees F), and injects it into the plant to further displace fossil fuels. Recognition for their work includes the 76West $1M Grand Prize as well as awards from the National Science Foundation.
Dr. Arun Gupta is the Founder and CEO of Skyven Technologies, a company decarbonizing the industrial sector with clean, emissions-free solutions for thermal energy. From building prototypes in his garage to winning multimillion-dollar contracts with some of the world’s largest companies, Arun has pioneered both the technology and business of clean thermal energy. Prior to founding Skyven in 2013, Arun was a lead design engineer for the Texas Instruments Digital Light Products (DLP) group, where his work served as the foundation for one of the most innovative product development programs being pursued by one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies. Arun holds a Ph.D from the University of Texas at Dallas in the field Founder & CEO of micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) engineering.
Arun Gupta
27
Smarter Sorting Building the world’s first smart chemical database, using machine learning to provide a reuse solution for household hazardous waste.
SEC TO R
Waste Management
R EGIO N
Canada, Taiwan, United States
Smarter Sorting is a VC funded startup that uses machine learning to build the world’s first smart chemical database. The company has developed a reuse solution for household hazardous waste (HHW). Smarter Sorting provides a scanning device for workers at HHW sites to quickly identify and sort material for donation, reuse or recycling, rather than incineration. In so doing, the company allows municipalities to take waste of extreme negative value and use its proprietary software to sort that waste into high-value commodities that are sold into established markets. By helping North America’s largest retailers and biggest cities identify items in their regulated waste stream, the technology literally turns waste into product. Smarter Sorting is determined to build world-class tech that transforms the chemical waste management industry, speeding the planet’s advancement towards a zero-waste future. Smarter Sorting works with 17 municipalities and several retailers in the U.S. and Canada.
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Chris Ripley
TIT LE
CEO
smartersorting.com
As a Business Development, Sales and Operations leader, Chris drives rapid growth and sustainable results for start-up, late stage, and high growth emerging technology, mobile and consumer product environments. His background includes success in building high-performing teams, developing critical relationships, and fostering collaboration to support business objectives and spur top and bottom line growth. Known for his high energy entrepreneurial leadership style, Chris leverages his cross-industry experience to design and implement strategies and process improvements that fuel innovation, increase productivity, and drive organizational capability. He exploits his talent for pioneering business applications on mobile devices, as well as his skill in rapid application development, to drive growth with emerging technologies and innovative consumer products. CEO Chris has served as the CEO of Smarter Sorting since October 2015.
Chris Ripley
29
Switch Automation Making all buildings smarter and more sustainable with a platform that integrates data, systems, and equipment to reduce operating and energy expenses.
SEC TO R
Smart Building
R EGIO N
Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Technology and big data are transforming the way the world lives, works, and plays. But building management hasn’t changed; it’s still riddled with archaic spreadsheets, inaccessible data, clunky architecture, and silos. According to research, 40 percent of building occupants are dissatisfied with the temperature and air quality in their buildings, and the building sector as a whole is responsible for 40 percent of global energy usage and carbon dioxide emissions. It’s time to improve the way we manage buildings. Switch Automation is leading that charge. The company’s smart building platform combines deep insight and robust tools that help businesses monitor, benchmark, and optimize building performance. The Switch Platform can be configured to match the needs of any business in a variety of industries, from commercial real estate to grocery to financial services, beginning with one building or an entire portfolio. The platform can employ fault detection, real-time control, and much more. With Switch Automation, discover how proactive building management can positively impact business.
Deb Noller
TIT LE
Co-Founder & CEO
switchautomation.com
Deb Noller is the dynamic CEO and Co-Founder of Switch Automation, a smart building software company specializing in building performance optimization. With 20+ years of experience in real estate, technology and sustainability, she is passionate about helping enterprises leverage digital facilities management to execute more efficient business operations. Deb studied environmental management and computer science at James Cook University where she is a recipient of the JCU Chancellor’s Award. She began her career as a software engineer and launched three successful companies prior to founding Switch. Noller is an active member of the Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network (DWEN), was named one of Dell’s Founders 50, and she is Co-Founder & CEO recognized as one of the Top 50 Female Entrepreneurs in Australia by Rare Birds.
Deb Noller
31
The Jackfruit Company Making jackfruit mainstream by providing consumers with this delicious, healthy, sustainably sourced meat alternative that also improves farmer incomes.
SEC TO R
Plant-Based Food
R EGIO N
Canada, United Kingdom, United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Annie Ryu
The Jackfruit Company (TJC) converts a heavily underutilized miracle crop — jackfruit, the world’s meatiest plant and highest-yielding tree crop — to income for farming families, and delicious, nutritious plant-based foods. Today, TJC is responsible for 70 percent of all jackfruit retail product sales and is the largest single buyer for jackfruit in the world. With its original retail product line launched in 2015, TJC is a top 5 brand in Refrigerated Meat Alternatives, with distribution in thousands of retailers from coast to coast. With its newly launched Smoked Pulled Jackfruit, TJC is the second plant-based entrant into the Fresh Meat category, after Beyond Meat. TJC partners with over 1,000 farming families in southern India, contributing 10-40 percent of their annual income, and the company has grown over 7x since 2016 — including doubling in food service in 2018. TJC’s aim is to mainstream consumption of jackfruit, a more than $1 billion opportunity, by meeting rising consumer demand for plant-based foods with a true plant, in contrast to heavily processed alternatives.
TIT LE
Founder & CEO
thejackfruitcompany.com
Annie Ryu is Founder and CEO of The Jackfruit Company (TJC), the world’s largest jackfruit buyer and #1 jackfruit brand. While attending Harvard, Annie discovered the jackfruit plant as part of her work in India implementing a maternal and child healthcare program she developed with her brother. In jackfruit, Annie saw an incredible opportunity to convert an underutilized crop to nutritious, delicious food, and income and opportunity for farming families. Annie worked to build TJC during her junior and senior years at Harvard, simultaneously winning Harvard’s Women in Business Competition, Harvard’s i3 Innovation Challenge, and the Resolution Project’s Social Venture Challenge, and being recognized as a Global Good Fund Fellow, an Honorary Fellow at the Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship at MIT, and one of Glamour’s Top 10 College Women. Graduating first in her class in 2013 (Sophia Freund Prize), Annie declined the Fulbright Fellowship and the Rockefeller Fellowship, and subsequently left Harvard Medical School to work full-time building TJC. In recognition of Founder & CEO her work, Annie was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 and to Top Women in Grocery.
Annie Ryu
33
TreeZero Fighting deforestation by making North America’s only 100 percent tree-free, carbon-neutral paper products.
SEC TO R
Paper Products
R EGIO N
Canada, United States
EN T R E P R E NEU R
Mike Nilan
TIT LE
CEO
treezero.com
The manufacture, distribution, and consumption of paper-based products require substantial agricultural inputs, use a wide array of natural resources, generate significant amounts of waste across the supply chain, and can adversely impact biodiversity. Consequently, consumer goods companies, universities, and governments are now sourcing clean-tech options for their paper supply. TreeZero is the only 100 percent treefree, carbon neutral paper brand in North America. The company’s paper products are made using sustainable, sugarcane-based natural resources. One pallet (40 boxes) of TreeZero paper saves 24 trees, while one pallet of 30 percent recycled paper saves only seven trees. In addition, TreeZero paper delivers excellent print quality when compared to regular recycled paper. As a mission-driven company, TreeZero strives to help customers minimize the environmental impacts of selling and using paper and actively invests in programs to fight deforestation. The company avoids the use of millions of trees for paper and off-sets the generation of tons of CO2 annually.
Michael Nilan was the Founder of OneCoast Network, the largest wholesale gift and home decor manufacturer’s representative company with over 20 showrooms across the United States. He managed over $500 million in annual revenue as Chairman and CEO from 1997 to 2001. He was also the Founder of MarketSource International, a sourcing company that provided expertise in product development, manufacturing, and sourcing of consumer goods primarily for the gift, housewares, and consumer electronics markets. There, he served as the CEO from 2002 to 2009, with offices in Atlanta and Shanghai. Since 2010, Mike has served as the Director and CEO of TreeZero, the world’s most sustainable paper company. His desire is to create a world-class company that focuses on products that are good for the CEO environment and future generations, including his children’s.
Mike Nilan
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O N B E H A L F O F U S , T H A N K YO U .
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