Mimi Billing stated in an article this week at The Financial Times Online that, “Being seen to be green will benefit companies but a lack of scrutiny can encourage corporate greenwashing: bending the truth to appear environmentally friendly. “One of the most prominent examples of greenwashing is Volkswagen’s emissions-cheating scandal in which it rigged ‘clean… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Start-up Company Law
Some Investors Stepping Up Due Diligence Regarding “Greenwashing” In Startups
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Rate of Start-ups Created in Austria Remains Low Compared to Other European Countries
Christina zur Nedden reported recently at The Financial Times Online that, “Austria, like Germany, has a deftness for creating highly specialised companies — often less well-known ‘hidden champions’ — that are also global leaders in their field, according to the agency charged with promoting investment in the country. “The Austrian Business Agency (ABA) paints a… Continue Reading
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Tech Startup FBN Faces Pressure From Traditional Suppliers
Jacob Bunge reported recently at The Wall Street Journal Online that, “Inside a packed arena last December, 2,700 farmers sipped coffee from paper cups and listened to remarks on the Midwestern economy: incomes down, costs up and bankruptcies rising. “The speaker wasn’t a politician or an academic. He was Charles Baron, co-founder of Farmers Business… Continue Reading
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Synthetic Biology Startup Zymergen Inc. Raises $300 million
Bloomberg writer Sarah McBride reported today that, “Synthetic biology startup Zymergen Inc. has raised $300 million in a new funding round—a signal of investors’ confidence that biological science can be harnessed in novel ways to manufacture products. “The funding round was led by Baillie Gifford & Co., the U.K.-based funds giant, with participation from Baron Capital Inc. and a… Continue Reading
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Shortage of Ag Workers Leads to More Interest in Farm Robotics
Financial Times writer Emiko Terazono reported recently that, “The coronavirus pandemic and a shortage of agricultural workers has led to a spike in interest and investment in farm robotics and automation. “‘We have seen an enormous increase in interest and orders,’ said Pål Johan From, chief executive of Norway’s Saga Robotics. “Saga has received about… Continue Reading
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HSBC Pollination Climate Asset Management- An Asset Management Venture Focused on “Natural Capital”
Reuters writer Simon Jessop reported today that, “HSBC Global Asset Management has teamed up with climate change advisory firm Pollination Group to create an asset management venture focused on ‘natural capital,’ which seeks to put a value on resources such as water, soil and air to help to protect the environment. “The new venture –… Continue Reading
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Venture Investments in Plant-Based Meat Soars
Bloomberg writer Emily Chasan reported late last month that, “Hoping to find the next Beyond Meat, venture investors have more than doubled their bets on alternative protein makers this year, raising more than $1 billion for startups that focus on everything from lab-grown meat to protein derived from volcanic microbes. “More than 20 faux meat startups raised about… Continue Reading
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The Pandemic Sparks New Demand For Vertical Farming
Dickson Despommier indicated in a column late last month in The Wall Street Journal that, “The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted agricultural production and supply chains around the world. Farmers have often struggled to get their food to distant markets, and sharp shifts in demand have repeatedly forced them to dump crops. Avoiding such logistical problems is… Continue Reading
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Agricultural Technology Greenhouse Startup AppHarvest Raises More Money
Bloomberg writer Emily Chasan reported today that, “In a bid to push more sustainable production into the U.S. food system, hedge funder-turned impact investor Jeff Ubben is backing agricultural technology greenhouse startup AppHarvest in his first deal since leaving ValueAct Capital Management LP in June to launch a new firm, Inclusive Capital. “AppHarvest, which is… Continue Reading
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FBN Raised $250 Million To Expand Agriculture Tech Platform
Bloomberg writer Katie Roof reported today that, “Farmers Business Network Inc. [FBN] says it raised $250 million in financing to expand its agriculture technology platform. “The financing round was led by BlackRock Inc., with participation from investors including Lupa Systems, T. Rowe Price Associates Inc., GV and Kleiner Perkins. “The investment values the company at… Continue Reading
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