How to Use LCAs for VC Investments - Dr Benedikt Buschpies (Planet A Ventures)

How to Use LCAs for VC Investments - Dr Benedikt Buschpies (Planet A Ventures)

Author: Hugo Rauch February 27, 2025 Duration: 46:12

Listen now on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.

***

This week, we’re joined by Dr. Benedikt Buchspies, a scientist at Planet A Ventures, one of Europe's leading climate-tech VC funds. Benedikt has been pioneering the use of lifecycle assessments (LCAs) in venture capital for years and is showing that science + VC = impact.

In this episode, we cover:

* What an LCA is and how it measures climate impact

* Why most VCs ignore environmental data (and why they shouldn’t)

* How impact and financial returns align in early-stage startups

* The challenges of modeling long-term systemic impact

* What VCs should do to implement LCAs in their funds

* And much more..

👉 If you’re an impact investor, this is a must-listen episode.

***

⌛TIMESTAMPS

* 00:00 Introduction and the Journey from Science to VC

* 05:30 Understanding Impact Assessment in Venture Capital

* 10:20 Quantifying Environmental Impact and Systemic Change

* 15:10 Correlation Between Financial and Environmental Performance

* 20:02 Guiding Investment Thesis with Impact Assessments

* 24:15 Integrating Sustainability into Investment Processes

* 32:36 Pros and Cons of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

* 38:05 Implementing LCA in Investment Firms

* 40:23 Fire Questions and Conclusion

***

▶️ CONNECT WITH BENEDIKT

* Dr. Benedikt Buchspies – https://shorturl.at/f40rA

***

🔗 CONNECT WITH ME

* Newsletter - https://climateventuresvco2.substack.com/

* LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugorauch/

* Email - climateventuresvco2@substack.com

* YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@VCo2_HugoRauch

***

📚 REFERENCES AND MENTIONS

* LCA - A scientific method for measuring environmental impact

* Emissions scopes – Different levels of carbon accounting for companies

* Monte Carlo Simulation – A technique for modeling uncertainty

* Systemic Impact Modeling – Assessing the broader effects of a startup

* SFDR & EU Taxonomy – Sustainability regulations that apply to impact VCs

* Scenario Analysis – A way to estimate how different variables affect an LCA result

***

🎙️PAST EPISODES YOU’LL LOVE

* Heidi Lindvall on Impact Assessments (Pale Blue Dot)

* Tim Schumacher on selling to climate deniers (World Fund)

***

💚 LEAVE A REVIEW

* Apple Podcasts - https://shorturl.at/HIDcg

* Spotify - https://shorturl.at/yDTfR



This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit newwavenewsletter.substack.com

Hugo Rauch hosts New Wave, a podcast that lives at the intersection of business ambition and scientific reality. This isn't about distant predictions or abstract science; it's a grounded exploration of the technologies and companies being built right now to address our environmental future. Each episode focuses on the practical journey, dissecting the models, the breakthroughs, and the hard decisions that define the climate tech landscape. You'll hear from founders, researchers, and investors who are actively shaping this space, getting into the specifics of what works, what doesn't, and why. The conversations move beyond hype to examine the tangible mechanics of creating viable solutions, from energy storage and sustainable materials to carbon removal and regenerative agriculture. It’s for anyone who thinks about the climate challenge not just as a crisis, but as a complex and urgent field of innovation. By tuning into this podcast, you gain a clearer understanding of the economic forces and scientific principles driving the next generation of environmental solutions. New Wave connects the dots between the lab, the boardroom, and the impact we need to see in the world, offering a sober yet optimistic look at where substantive progress is truly being made.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 91

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