Gratitude Railroad

Join us for a virtual session "State of the Impact Venture Market" on Wednesday, October 16th. We will be hosting investors Aaron Walker (Founder and CEO of Ruthless For Good) and Thomas Knowles (Managing Partner and Co-CEO of Gratitude Railroad) to discuss various topics shaping the industry today, including the current fundraising environment for both fund managers and founders, as well as unpacking different approaches to early-stage venture. Aaron and Thomas will also explore the evolving role of DEIJ, the rise of anti-ESG sentiments, and the upcoming election and recent policy changes This event is exclusively for accredited investors. Register here: https://lnkd.in/g62XndMM

We are excited to announce our latest investment in itselectric, a company at the forefront of urban EV charging innovation. This investment aligns with our strategy to expand our portfolio in the high-growth EV charging market, with a focus on solutions that increase access and equity in underserved communities. Gratitude participated in itselectric's $6.5M seed round, co-led by Uber and Failup Ventures. This capital will accelerate the deployment of their cost-effective, smart grid-integrated chargers, which feature a compelling revenue-sharing model that benefits both the company and local communities. We invite you to read our latest blog post, written by Emma Leavy, on why we invested in itselectric and the significant potential we see in this company.  #ImpactInvesting #EVcharging #PortfolioNews https://lnkd.in/gZtrinHa

At Gratitude Railroad, we have always believed that impact investing means thinking long-term. That's why we've been tracking and backing renewables-related companies and funds for over a decade. Despite economic challenges, the momentum in climate tech and infrastructure remains strong, fueled by policies like the Inflation Reduction Act. We've expanded our investments in solar and EV charging, focusing on access and equity in underserved communities. Our Managing Partner Rebekah Saul Butler recently penned a piece in the GreenMoney Journal about our firm’s perspectives around the green transition and what trends are exciting us. https://lnkd.in/gMAfUYTP #ImpactInvesting #RenewableEnergy #Sustainability #GreenTech

We are excited to share the latest Gratitude Railroad updates in our Summer Newsletter, centered around the theme of Resilience and Growth.      Since the start of 2024 we:      •Grew our Inclusive Capital Fund Investment Committee to include Regina Green   •Launched a new strategy with Plankton Energy to invest in community and commercial solar   •Established the Gratitude Impact Foundation in partnership with LOHAS   •Documented our investor community in “The Soul of Impact” film by Nic Askew   •Invested in Common Trust Groundwork Fund, itselectric, and Cherryrock Capital    In addition to these highlights, our Managing Partners, Thomas Knowles and Rebekah Saul Butler, reflect on the evolution and current state of the impact investing industry, the growing commitment to mobilize impact capital, and the resilience and growth of our portfolio companies and funds in 2024, despite last year’s market changes.      We invite you to read on for updates on recent investments, portfolio company news, and a glimpse into our upcoming community events for the rest of the year. https://lnkd.in/gy5JvkTg #impactinvesting #impactventurecapital #investorcommunity

Last month we partnered with Foundation House to co-host the first "Unlocking the Next Trillion for Impact Summit" in Greenwich, CT. The Summit brought together over 90 investors, founders, fund managers, and impact leaders to learn and consider 1) How do we take a systems approach to unlocking the next trillion for impact? and 2) How do we catalyze solutions to bring about positive systemic change? We were thrilled to feature portfolio companies including itselectric in our entrepreneurs panel and fund managers in our portfolio to lead sessions centered on our core investment themes: Reduce Greenhouse Gases (Sarah Sclarsic, Voyager Ventures VC), Educate for the Future (Ashley Bittner, Kalos Ventures), Advance Health Equity (Elana Berkowitz, Springbank, Lenore Champagne Beirne, Bright Ventures), and Bridge the Wealth Gap (Adrianna Samaniego (she/her/ella), Cherryrock Capital). To learn more about the content and full lineup of speakers, we invite you to read the event recap by Foundation House: https://lnkd.in/gnmtguJz

Congratulations to itselectric on raising $6.5M to expand operations and accelerate curbside EV charging across major US cities in 2024. We are thrilled to partner with co-founders Tiya Gordon and Nathan L. King to invest in itselectric and bring affordable and accessible EV infrastructure to some of the densest urban areas in the country with key deployments directly supporting Uber’s goal of helping rideshare drivers go electric. Read the full story in Fortune: https://lnkd.in/e7DuKYNf

In partnership with Fiduciary Trust International, we hosted a Climate Equity Happy Hour in New York City to bring together impact leaders and investors advocating for climate solutions that benefit all communities. It was a fantastic evening of networking and learning. We are grateful to our moderator, Jeff Finkelman, CFA, and guest speakers Shannon Dulaney, Sonam Velani, Sasha Novograd Brown, and Lauren Zullo—for sharing their insights and experiences. Their contributions are invaluable as we navigate the complexities of mitigating climate change while addressing the needs of middle- and low-income communities, a critical step towards realizing our net-zero ambitions!

We are excited to announce our investment in Mae, a health equity startup that combines digital pregnancy and postpartum support with local community-based doulas. Our latest blog post delves into the critical need for innovation and investment in maternal health, and highlights three key reasons we are thrilled to be backing Mae. https://lnkd.in/gSb_ywwb

Our team is growing! We are excited to announce that we are hiring a Community and Operations Associate. This is a role that will provide exposure to exciting companies and funds at the forefront of innovative and impactful solutions. This person will be a key administrator and executor of our investor engagement program, including investment calls, topical roundtables, portfolio site visits, and impact happy hours. This person will also manage our team’s internal operations. The successful candidate will be experienced in operations, administrative support, event planning, and/or project management, with startup experience or a startup mindset. If this sounds like you or someone you know, we invite you to learn more and apply! https://lnkd.in/gdpRXVE5