Pitch
Together we can fight climate change through small scale, community based and transparent sustainability projects
Description
Summary
GreenVest will be a three-sided platform that connects investors who want to reduce their carbon footprints with innovators who have sustainability ideas but need funding to start their projects. GreenVest is unlike any other sustainability platform or website because:
- we will not only crowdfund investments but also crowdsource innovations
- we will provide complete transparency, investors see where their money goes and they receive progress updates
- we will provide accountability, investors only receive GreenVest credits for actual reductions from successful projects
- we will recognize and encourage small scale green projects as important contributions to reducing climate change
Investors can see the community based impact of the financing for projects by receiving GreenVest credits. GreenVest measures the impact each project has on the environment and returns the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to investors in the form of GreenVest credits (1 GreenVest credit equals 1 ton of CO2 reduced). Investments are small, starting at only $25.
Innovators can turn their sustainability ideas into a reality by seeking funding through GreenVest. Innovators can be individuals, school or community organizations, or NGOs. Projects seek from $1,000 to $10,000 in funding and take 1 year or less to implement.
GreenVest will also partner with an environmental organization who will help provide data and emission reduction calculations.
GreenVest will be sustainable through a 10% commission taking directly from fully funded projects (think Kickstarter for Green Projects). Additional revenue streams include website advertising and donations.
Category of the action
Changing public perceptions on climate change
What actions do you propose?
Individuals are vested in being more sustainable and reducing their impact on the environment and minimizing climate change. This is seen with the growth of the voluntary carbon offset market to over 2.5 billion in 6 years (2005-11).
GreenVest, during the first stage will focus at the multi billion $ US market, building network and communities through educational institutions.
However, even with the current voluntary offset market, individuals often still feel helpless when it comes to what they can do to fight climate change, such an insurmountable global challenge. GreenVest provides a unique solution through small scale, community based and transparent sustainability projects.
The possibilities are endless, but here are a couple example projects that could be posted on the GreenVest Platform:
Who will take these actions?
GreenVest will connect investors and innovators to take action together
For Investors
Everyone's lifestyle impacts the environment, but how I can make a difference?
Give a small investment to your favorite project and you get GreenVest credits in return. One GreenVest credit equals 1 ton of CO2 reduced which will help reduce your carbon footprint. Your investments pooled together make these sustainability projects a reality.
No two projects are alike...
At GreenVest we encourage small scale, innovate green solutions. You get to pick a project based on what matters most to you whether it is close to home, has a large CO2 reduction impact, or is a creative solution. Not matter which project you pick, we can assure you transparency. You will receive progress updates and actual impact data upon completion.
For Innovators
GreenVest depends on sourcing sustainability ideas...
Unlike any other carbon offset platform, GreenVest will rely on users to submit sustainability projects to get funding on our platform.
Who are innovators?
Individuals, school or community organizations, or NGOs with a "green" idea for a project.
Why crowdfund on GreenVest?
Unfortunately other carbon offset platforms depend on large scale projects that are often hosted by an established company. GreenVest is the only platform that offers easy funding for small scale green innovations.
What GreenVest Offers?
In addition to connecting you with investors to fully fund your green innovation, GreenVest provides tools to collect impact data and calculates environmental impact (reduction of emissions in terms of GreenVest credit).
What Makes a good project?
The following criteria may be used evaluating potential GreenVest projects:
- Generates measurable reduction: the impact can be translated into reduced Greenhouse Gas Emmissions
- Short term: less than one year implementation
- Attractive, Visual, Tangible
- Feasible
- Generates Returns/ Sustainable
- Small Scale: costs less than $10,000
Where will these actions be taken?
Globally, but initial pilot with innovators and investors will be on college campuses throughout the US.
How much will emissions be reduced or sequestered vs. business as usual levels?
3 year environmental ROI
- Total reduction made by 400 completed GreenVest projects:100,000 tons of CO2
- This is approxamitely equal to 65,222 passenger vehicles, or 37,290,851 gallons of gasoline consumed, or 70,924 acres of pine forests
What are other key benefits?
Along with emission reductions other co-benifits from projects can include:
- societal impacts
- increased employment
- decreased natural resource usage
- investment in entrepreneurship
- community investments
- network of GreenVest investors and innovators
- innovation in Green Tech
- platform for replicating successful projects
What are the proposal’s costs?
We estimate that GreenVest will need an investment of USD 45,000 dollars for hardware purchase, software development, and legal expenses. We estimate to break even in 3 years with 400 completed projects
Time line
Year 1: Launch the platform, settle 25 projects, build relations with Investors, Innovators and Educational Institutions
Year 2: Expansion to New Segments, expand to other communities, settle 150 projects
Years 3-5: International expansion, settle 300 projects
Related proposals
Proposals such as The Future Box, Climate Leave, or iCarbon could collaborate through shared networks or even use the GreenVest platform to raise funding for their sustainable idea.
References
Visit GreenVest for an MVP of the platform
State of the Voluntary Carbon Markets 2011. Molly Peters-Stanley, Katherine Hamilton, Thomas Marcello, and Milo Sjardin
Similar Initiatives that inspired GreenVest platform include:
By:
