Cutting carbon for 98% of Australian businesses
Small Steps Vol. 70: Our impact thesis for Trace 🍃; single-use plastic everywhere🧋; and human rights x ChatGPT 🤝
“Hope is telling the truth. Hope is taking action. And hope always comes from the people.” - Greta Thunberg
Kick start
🌏 In the wake of COP27 late last year, many of us are wondering what we can tangibly do in the uphill battle toward decarbonisation. The good news is that startups like Trace are here to help and are making it easier than ever for small and medium enterprises (who make up 98% of businesses and produce over 146 million tonnes of Australia’s annual carbon emissions) to reduce avoidable emissions, and sustainably offset unavoidable emissions.
🍃 Trace is a carbon footprint assessment, reduction and offsetting tool that is on a mission to embed reduction practices into tens of thousands of businesses, and has already facilitated the offset of over 42,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions. Check out our impact thesis for the company below.
What we’re thinking about
♻️ Plastic everywhere. The Minderoo Foundation has released the second edition of the Plastic Waste Makers Index, delivering the hard-to-swallow pill that there is more single-use plastic in circulation than ever before. Almost all of this is made from virgin materials, with cradle to grave emissions from single-use plastics in 2021 being the equivalent of the total emissions of the United Kingdom. To soften this blow, we have seen a strong trend of startups tackling this problem from the bioplastics and biomaterials angle, with companies getting creative with the inputs used - from potato waste to seaweed. Keep an eye out for more details to come in Giant Leap’s upcoming Impact Startups Benchmark Report, to be released soon!
🤖 The human rights risk behind ChatGPT. Last edition we highlighted the potential healthcare boon from the rise of ChatGPT, but we’re not discounting the very real human risk that can come with it. ChatGPT’s darker side has set tongues wagging this week, with Time reporting that Open AI exploited Kenyan workers in the development of ChatGPT’s safeguards. This is a timely reminder that rapid change must not be at the expense of human rights, including labour rights.
New paths
🚀 Future Super is looking for a Compliance Manager (Investments), a Senior Risk Manager, a Member Advocate and a Talent Manager
⚕️Seer Medical is after a Commercial Lead (UK) and a Senior Project Manager (US)
🧻 Who Gives a Crap is hiring a Financial Planning & Analysis Analyst and a Junior Retail Account Manager (UK)
💰 Switch Automation wants a Global Financial Controller (US)
👷 Goterra is seeking Waste Operators and Assistants, and a Site Manager
🔥 Also, check out our Giant Leap Fund jobs board for over 80+ available positions or fill out our expression of interest form. There’s even more jobs at ethical companies on the global B-Work job board.
Giant leaps
🛫 Erik Peck, Swoop Aero co-founder and former Hercules aircraft captain, recently scored some exciting coverage in Forbes.
💔 Who Gives A Crap turned your ex’s love letters into toilet paper for Valentine’s Day.
📈 Giant Leap Partner Rachel Yang recently spoke on the investor outlook for 2023 at KPMG High Growth Ventures’ Q&A.
For the road
🔋 Charged and ready to go. Meet the 11 Aussie battery startups tapped for hyper-acceleration as part of Supercharge Australia’s new accelerator aimed at pioneering lithium battery innovation in Australia.
👩🏻⚕️ The future of healthcare? According to Boston Consulting Group’s latest report, it involves more home care, a further focus on women’s health, advances in digital health and additional support from tools like generative AI.
🏖️ Inside Australia’s massive beach clean-up. According to the CSIRO, the amount of plastic on our beaches has reduced by nearly one-third since 2013. The peak research group primarily credits efforts from local councils in changing their processes around waste management. They also say broader awareness from Australians on the effect of plastics on marine wildlife, and initiatives like Clean Up Australia Day attributed to the result.
👭🏽 When Aussie billionaires back women creating startups. Andrew and Nicola Forrest’s Tattarang investment firm has backed Startmate, nominating that its funds go towards increasing participation from women in the sector. It follows a similar and earlier investment from the Forrest’s Minderoo Foundation, aimed at increasing indigenous participation in startups.
🗓️ One for the calendar. Keeping on women-led business, the Wade Institute is teaming up with Scale Investments to hold an International Women’s Day Lunch on March 8.
🥅 Can VCs do more to champion indigenous entrepreneurship? Startup accelerator program Barayamal is challenging VCs across the country to tip 3% of their total fund raised into indigenous entrepreneurship to address huge funding inequality.
👋 That’s handy. US scientists grow artificial human skin in the shape of a hand in significant breakthrough that could prove to be revolutionary for skin injuries and burn victims.
🐻 Totally bear-able. Hourly Bears, a Twitter stream with new and curious bear pics -- you guessed it -- every hour.