Aera VC Founding Partner Derek Handley joins us to discuss his company, what led him down this path, and what his investment focuses are, including synthetic biology, carbon reduction, plastics and oil, and how the next wave of sustainable startups can engage a competitive market.

At the dawn of mobile, Derek Handley wanted to be an innovator, building a global company. About a decade ago, he had an existential crisis: What would happen if his business, his identity all went away? From this, Derek moved fully into sustainability and founded Aera VC to pick up where the climate pioneers left off. 

Now, Aera VC is investing in sustainability leaders that are tackling carbon in chemicals, reduction of industrial reliance on fossil fuels, the struggle for a plastics replacement, and how concrete is negatively affecting global emissions despite it being a more climate change champion.

Cody and Derek also discuss the industrial revolution and how though it changed the world for the positive, the early warning signs of the fossil fuels’ destructive nature didn’t come to the forefront for a very long time. 

Connect with our guest:

• Derek Handley, Aera VC: https://www.aera.vc/team-member/derek-handley/

• Aera VC LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aera-vc