Top Tier Impact

“You can’t imagine how mad I get when people say nuclear fusion is 30 years away. We are 7-8 years away now.” 🎥 While filming the nuclear fusion episode of Road to Utopia (Prime Video US) in a beautiful French city, the entrepreneur we included had a fair complaint about what some people say when it comes to breakthroughs in fusion. On a high level, here are 3 reasons why nuclear fusion is only a few years away now: 🧲 Superconducting magnets have changed the game Today, high-temperature superconductors (HTS) allow for compact magnetic confinement - this is a key leap to address a core engineering bottleneck in fusion and it was only made in the last few years. 🤖 AI and advanced simulation are unlocking plasma control The rise of machine learning and real-time diagnostics has dramatically improved plasma confinement and stability, which have been some of the toughest challenges to crack in fusion. 🛠️ Real engineering rather than theory By now, multiple companies have locked in timelines for grid-ready fusion power, such as Helion for 2028. These timelines are already based on concrete testbeds, supply chains in motions and signed power agreements. More than $6 billion has been funneled into fusion startups in recent years. It enabled companies to move faster than government labs did. The fusion market is expected to double in 10 years. 🎥 You can watch the nuclear fusion episode of Road to Utopia on Amazon Prime Video in the US or with a VPN set on the US.

Impact starts with awareness. And this Earth Month, on April 10th, we’re bringing that awareness to life like never before. I’m excited to announce that we’ll be hosting a one-of-a-kind event in NYC in partnership with Arcadia Earth and NeueHouse—an evening designed to challenge perspectives, create real conversations, and drive action. 🌍 Arcadia will take us on an immersive journey into a future shaped by inaction—because sometimes, seeing is the only way to truly understand. 💡 Top Tier Impact is bridging the gaps between industry leaders, investors, entrepreneurs, and the public with a dynamic roundtable featuring Stephanie Benedetto, Amy McCrae Kessler and Peter Fusaro, tackling the pressing issues of our time. The discussion will be moderated by Valentino Vettori 🍽 And because the most impactful conversations happen in smaller, unfiltered settings, we’re closing the night with an intimate dinner—a space for real dialogue, new ideas, and meaningful connections. This is not just another event—it’s an experience you don’t want to miss. 📍 Find the details and register here: https://lu.ma/shn0dqui Let’s create impact, together.

🌱 Clean energy solutions are expected to exceed $1 trillion in value in the coming years. In Road to Utopia, Francesco A. Volpe, CEO & Founder of Renaissance Fusion, explores how fusion power might reshape our energy future. “Road to Utopia” is driven by a big question: What does your unique version of Utopia look like? What would happen if we all empowered each other to build a new, bottom-up version of utopian living? 🌍 “Road to Utopia” (Prime Video US) is a new docuseries by Alessa Berg on impact entrepreneurship. In this episode, we explore the potential and the opportunity of reaching a new paradigm in energy creation through cold fusion and its profound impact on the future of our planet as a part of our journey on the road to utopia. Watch now on Amazon Prime US or through a US-based VPN: https://lnkd.in/eJdkNPgc #RoadToUtopia #ImpactInvesting #Entrepreneurship #CleanEnergy #Sustainability

Mycelium, the root structure of fungi, is poised to revolutionize food systems, sustainability, and materials over the next decade. Last week, the TTI Food Systems Panel on Mycelium, led by Robert Kupstas (TTI Food Systems Lead), explored mycelium's potential in food systems, sustainability, and beyond. The discussion included expert insights on mycelium as an alternative protein, scaling challenges, investment trends, and future innovations. Thanks to all the panellists for their valuable insights: Tomas Byckovas, Co-founder, Biohifas Marc Violo, Founder & CEO, MycoStories David Brandes Founder, planetary Susanne Gløersen, Founder, Fungi Investment Collective & The Future is Fungi Award #ImpactInvestment #SustainableFoodSystems #FoodTech #AgTech #TTInetwork #TTIevent

Thank you UpLink - World Economic Forum for hosting a gathering all about natural capital. Our panel covered how technology can mainstream the adoption of nature investing. On a high level, I believe there are two ways in which tech plays a key role in scaling the adoption of nature as an asset class: 📊 The quantification of the asset class 📈 The risk/return profile of the asset class MRV, deployment, transparency, connection. A lot of solutions are available, and a lot still needs to be figured out - especially how to make technology interface and “click” with industry at scale. And how can business learn from nature? I think we have plenty left to learn from nature’s cycles… ♻️ We are going through an intense phase right now. We may as well accept the cycle’s challenges and make the most of its opportunities. Onwards!

TTI London hosted a record-sized dinner on Nature & Climate Investment! Global impact investment in nature and climate must triple to $542B annually by 2030 to meet climate, biodiversity, and land restoration goals. Leading investors are integrating natural capital risk assessments into their portfolios to underline the financial industry’s growing recognition of nature’s economic value. The latest TTI dinner brought together investors, founders, and companies focused on nature and climate. TTI founder Alessa Berg joined the group to discuss the evening's 'impact question'. Thanks to TTI London Ambassador Seth Elliott Elliot for organizing this important event! Thanks to all who attended: Aura Malcev, Sustainable Business Growth Strategist at GrowthMARK Consulting Ayşe Yılmaz, Founder of OTTAN Christian Matuschka, Climate Investor at Lightrock Christopher Ramsay, Partner at Pelican Ag Daniel Hillman, Co-founder of Kaly Group David SYED, Lawyer at Dentons Dina Ding, Founder of ELBA CONCEPT Doruk Isil, Founder of Karbonomics Edward Thorne, Partner at Sand River Elena Mariotti, Managing Director at Cerberus Capital Management Dr Emre Eren KORKMAZ, Founder of Oxford Centre for Technology and Development Francis Akpata, Director of MAJLIS ENERGY Frederick Leuschner, CEO & Founder of GreenTrade Impact GmbH Jean-Jacques Jouanna, Managing Director at NovAzure Kate Chan, Nature Finance Associate at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and Young ESG Professionals Network Kishan Changlani, CEO at World Climate Athletes Milti Chryssavgis, CEO & Founder of Drashta Impact Peter Jäderberg, Principle & CEO at JC Impact Investing (Jäderberg & Cie. Group) Peter Read, Investor at Vitruvian Partners (continues in comments section) #ImpactInvesting #NatureCapital #SustainableFinance #GreenEconomy #TopTierImpact

The Austin Hub is coming alive! During a week filled with parallel events like SXSW and RegenWorld, we were able to sell out the exclusive Impact Convergence: Austin SXSW 2025 event at Casa de Luz - not once, but twice! This shows the immense interest people have for the unique space that TTI curates between impact and investment. Austin's rapid economic growth, $25B in infrastructure investments, and commitment to sustainability create a prime opportunity for impact investors to drive social, environmental, and financial returns in sectors like clean energy, affordable housing, and conservation. The TTI intimate gathering brought together impact investors, innovators, leaders and corporates for meaningful conversations and collaborative opportunities. We heard from Julian Guderley on the TTI Austin Hub vision and learned about exciting impact projects like the Rainforest Partnership with Founder Niyanta Spelman and Dollar Donation Club with Seth Blaustein. It was an afternoon of connection, inspiration, and expanding the movement towards a sustainable future. Looking forward to more events that bring together the TTI community. #TTIEvent #TTINEtwork #ImpactInvesting #SustainableBusiness #RegenerativeEconomy

We opened the last Top Tier Impact climate VC panel with a big question: "Given the current geopolitical situation, what do you think will happen to climate tech in the next 5 years?" The TLDR is that self-sustaining business models are critical, along with enabling sovereignty. More specifically: ♻️ The era of relying on government support is over - Climate tech ventures will benefit from being economically viable from the ground up, enabling themselves to thrive in a capital-driven world and/or independently. ✊ Climate tech will align with sovereignty & defense - The current geopolitical landscape also presents opportunities. Climate tech can double down on enabling energy security, resource independence and resilient infrastructure. 📈 Europe must retain its innovations - Europe must mobilize more late-stage funding to scale domestic technologies and get better at commercialization across different company stages. Our VC panelists shared various insights during the session, such as: “Startups underestimate how hard it is to finance a first-of-a-kind project. Banks won’t take the risk, so creative funding strategies are essential.” Dr. Nadine Geiser (World Fund) “Many climate startups built on hype are about to face a harsh reality - only those with real economic value will survive.” Doerte Hirschberg (Climentum Capital) “The biggest climate tech winners will be those that align with industrial priorities, such as energy security and supply chain resilience.” Jonny Everett (Marble) “Climate tech isn’t one industry - it’s a transformation across many sectors, each with different challenges, timelines and barriers to scale.” Alex Gawley (Zero Carbon Capital) 👉 You can request attendance to our next online VC panel here: https://lnkd.in/gVprxkA8 #ClimateVC #ClimateTech #Geopolitics

💰 A shift toward a circular economy could create trillions in economic opportunities by 2030. Marcos Bulacio highlights ways to reuse resources and cut waste in "Road to Utopia". “Road to Utopia” is driven by a big question: what does your unique version of Utopia look like? What would happen if we all empowered each other to build a new, bottom-up version of utopian living? 🌍 “Road to Utopia” (Prime Video US) is a new docuseries by Alessa Berg on impact entrepreneurship. In this episode, we explore the vision of a circular economy, a world where the abundance of waste becomes the abundance of opportunity and a path towards healing and recovery on the way to the road to utopia. Watch now on Amazon Prime US or through a US-based VPN: https://lnkd.in/eJdkNPgc #RoadToUtopia #ImpactInvesting #Entrepreneurship #CircularEconomy #Sustainability

Sustainable aviation startups are taking off, but scaling them will require more investment and innovation. We mapped out 6 verticals ranging from biofuels to hydrogen-powered aircraft, namely: 1. Biofuels 2. eFuels  3. Next-generation battery systems 4. eVTOLs (electric vertical takeoff & landing aircraft) 5. Electric and hybrid-electric aircraft  6. Hydrogen-powered aircraft There are many challenges yet to solve... such as fuel production scalability, infrastructure development and regulatory approvals. Did we miss any startups that should be on this infographic? Let our team at Top Tier Impact know here: https://lnkd.in/gR9ANgWH #climatetech #sustainableaviation #scalability