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14: Measuring sustainability and ESG | Max Middleton & Jake Wombwell-Povey of Vala Capital

15 Dec 2020 / Podcast Tax Enhanced

By Dr Brian Moretta

Measuring sustainability is not a trivial challenge and there seems to be a plethora of options now. Vala Capital's Max Middleton and Jake Wombwell-Povey have done a huge amount of work in figuring out how to apply sustainability frameworks to startups and small companies.

In this episode of The EIS Navigator, we take advantage of this groundwork to discuss some of the varying frameworks, the differences between them and what they really mean to startups. We also discuss what the current surge of interest in ESG means for investors, and the outcomes that companies may have.

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Max Middleton has overall responsibility for the Vala Sustainability EIS Fund and supports equity transactions across all Vala funds. Max is an experienced VC investor with a track record of supporting businesses building a more sustainable future. Max joined Vala after several years at the Ingenious Group, where he served as Investment Manager for the Ingenious Infrastructure Ventures EIS Service (AUM £20m+), leading on sourcing, evaluation, negotiation and execution of deals in the ‘infra-tech’ (energy, mobility, built environment, resource efficiency) arena.

Jake Wombwell-Povey is the founder and former CEO of Goji, a fintech asset management platform. Jake led the company through a number of VC-led investment rounds from some of Europe’s largest fintech VCs including Axa and Anthemis. Goji now provides asset management services to clients across Europe administering over £400m of assets.

Vala Capital valacap.com

Frameworks

Impact Management Project impactmanagementproject.com
Sustainable Accounting Standards Board sasb.org
Certified B Corporation bcorporation.uk

Suggested reading

Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist by Kate Raworth

Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of Reluctant Businessman by Yvon Chouinard

The Value of Everything: Making and Taking in the Global Economy by Mariana Mazzucato