LINA CONSTANTINOVICI

FOUNDER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 

With an applied economist perspective, Lina has launched several organizations that contribute to shifting our macro-economic system towards more optimal outcomes - as an entrepreneur, investor, pioneer in biomimetic innovation, sustainability thought leader, futurist, educator, and philanthropic advisor.

As a pioneer in biomimetic innovation, Lina has focused on investing in and commercializing biomimetic technologies. In 2012, Lina founded StartupNectar, a biomimetic technology incubator focused on commercializing solutions based on nature’s strategies. StartupNectar was selected as a finalist in the NASA/SSV Showcase of Solutions for Planetary Sustainability in 2013. In 2015, Lina founded a think tank, the Risk and Value Creation Institute and convened investors to shift more capital to impact investing at the NASA Mountain View campus, with a subsequent convening in London at the Willis Insurance headquarters in 2016.

As a sustainability strategist, Lina has worked with organizations such as the San Francisco Department of Environment where she and her team quantified, co-authored, and presented for public hearing the Waste Offset Fee proposed legislation, a financial incentive GHG emissions reduction program towards the city's zero waste goals. For the EPA, Lina designed and led a Stakeholder Engagement process with public agencies, business and NGOs in order to develop EPA’s Standards for Sustainable Large Scale Food Venues (convention centers, hotels, ballparks). For W Hotels and Starwood, Lina developed the Strategic Management Plan for Implementing Sustainability Initiatives, the Marketing Plan for promoting sustainable initiatives to guests, the Financial Assessment and Payback Analysis of Rooftop Wind Turbine installation, and lead a strategic foresight Scenario Planning process for sustainable supply chain strategy. For Walmart, Lina developed the Organics Recycling Operations Plan for the company’s Superstores, as well as supply chain standards for the company’s apparel suppliers.

For over 20 years, Lina has been engaged in innovation in the public, private, and NGO sectors. In 2007, Lina led a research project for Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, evaluating the rate of commercialization of patented technologies developed in the lab and identifying relevant market failures related to technology commercialization.  As an economic researcher, Lina contributed to inaugural the State of Green Business 2008 Report. In the domain of the future of cities, sustainable architecture, and built environment innovation, Lina is the recipient of the international RE:STORE award for her future of retail design.

Over the past 12 years, Lina has worked with early-stage ventures as a startup advisor, a mentor for accelerators like Cleantech Open, and Advisory Board member for SXSW Eco’s Startup Central. As Head of U.S. Operations, Lina contributed to building GrowVC: the first online, global marketplace for entrepreneurs. Lina served as Vice-President of the Board of Directors for Silicon Valley Environmental Partnership for 6 years. Lina is part of the leadership of the Nexus Impact Investing Working Group, Nexus Working Group on Energy, Environment, & Innovation, and heads up the Financial Advocacy initiative for the Nexus Working Group Towards Equal Justice.

She is a frequent speaker and university lecturer on entrepreneurship, impact investing, sustainability, biomimetic innovation, the future of philanthropy, the evolution of global financial systems, and applied economics. Lina has spoken at over 100 conferences over the last 10 years on these subjects.

LORI FRANZ

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CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Lori brings decades of senior level international operations track record  and early-stage operational startup investment experience, most recently with Bessamer Ventures, the oldest venture fund in Silicon Valley. Lori has previously served as VP of Operations for a global holding company managing dozens of international businesses. Lori is also a certified Cybersecurity specialist. She serves as Advisory Board Member to Girls in Tech.