Disruptors for GOOD | Social Entrepreneurs and Social Enterprises

For decades, nonprofits have relied on the same narrow funding playbook. Donations spike at year end. Grant cycles are slow and unpredictable. Teams spend enormous time fundraising instead of delivering impact.Meanwhile, trillions of dollars move through global markets every day with no connection to social outcomes.In Episode 235 of the Disruptors for GOOD podcast, we sat down with Martin Simms and Aaron Rafferty, co founders of WYDE Impact Exchange, to explore a bold alternative.What if markets themselves could fund missions automatically.What if trading activity generated real nonprofit revenue And what if transparency and accountability were built directly into the system.WYDE is not another crypto exchange chasing speculation. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

The push to decarbonize the world’s energy systems now overlaps with a long standing problem: what to do with the massive amount of agricultural waste produced every year.Billions of tons of crop residues and animal waste are generated across the globe. Much of it is left to rot or is burned, which adds to air pollution and releases methane.The result is a two sided problem.We face avoidable environmental damage on one side, and a large source of unused energy on the other.A growing group of startups is working to change this. They are building practical technologies that convert agricultural waste into clean energy that farmers and rural communities can actually use.These companies are cutting waste, lowering emissions, and supporting local economies. They are also helping build a circular bioeconomy that treats waste as a resource rather than a burden.Read full post ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

The global move toward cleaner energy is gaining speed, yet two issues continue to shape its future. We need a dependable and sustainable supply of battery materials, and we need storage systems that can carry the grid through long periods of weak wind or sunlight.The surge in electric vehicles and utility scale renewables has put real pressure on both fronts. It has exposed how fragile a linear, mining dependent supply chain can be and how little short duration storage can do when the grid faces extended stress.These gaps must be solved if the energy transition is going to hold up over the long run.A new generation of startups is rising to meet this challenge, fundamentally disrupting both the Circular Economy for battery materials and the Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES) market.These innovators are not just fixing problems; they are building the technological and logistical backbone of a truly resilient, decarbonized grid.Read full list ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Ben & Jerry’s is often celebrated as the blueprint for socially conscious capitalism, a company that set out to prove business could serve both profit and purpose.Founded in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the brand grew from a local scoop shop into a global symbol of activism wrapped in indulgence.Its mission, famously defined as a three-part balance between product quality, economic sustainability, and social justice, positioned the company decades ahead of mainstream corporate responsibility trends.But behind the lighthearted flavor names and progressive branding lies a far more complicated story. Over the past four decades, Ben & Jerry’s has struggled to reconcile its idealism with industrial reality, and its activism with corporate ownership.The 2000 acquisition by Unilever(SEC Filing) marked a turning point, one that gave the brand global reach but also sparked ongoing tension over how far a subsidiary can push social and political boundaries inside a multinational conglomerate.The company’s evolution highlights both the potential and the pitfalls of value-driven business. Its impact programs, from Fairtrade sourcing and regenerative agriculture to refugee employment and racial equity initiatives, have made real contributions to ethical commerce.Yet, the same mission has exposed Ben & Jerry’s to accusations of hypocrisy and partisanship. The gap between its public commitments and operational constraints has grown increasingly visible as global scrutiny around corporate activism intensifies.Today, Ben & Jerry’s stands as both a pioneer and a cautionary tale.Its enduring popularity and strong brand equity demonstrate the power of purpose-driven storytelling, while its public controversies and internal governance conflicts reveal the structural limits of idealism in a profit-driven system.The lessons drawn from its trajectory extend well beyond ice cream, they speak to the broader tension facing any brand that dares to mix business with belief.Full case study ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Climate action often feels heavy. The headlines focus on crisis, the solutions demand sacrifice, and the average person ends up believing their choices are too small to matter.Robert Luo has been working to break that cycle.As the CEO of Tanbii, he is building a platform that turns climate restoration into a daily habit through play.His team has found a way to turn virtual energy into real world reforestation.The idea is simple.When people enjoy something, they stick with it.When they see the results of their actions, they stay committed.Tanbii uses those truths to make sustainability feel accessible, social, and rewarding.Players plant virtual trees, complete missions, and build worlds within the game.Behind the scenes, every eligible planting triggers a real tree planted on the ground through verified NGO partners.What began as a frustration with the traditional sustainability message has grown into a global early access community with thousands of players and thousands of trees already planted.In this interview, Robert breaks down the origin story of Tanbii, how the platform works, and what it takes to create a climate action experience that people actually enjoy.Full interview ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Allbirds is a sustainable footwear and apparel company founded in 2015 and headquartered in San Francisco, California (though with roots in New Zealand).Its mission centers on creating environmentally responsible apparel using natural materials, minimizing carbon footprint, and promoting sustainable consumer habits.From its early viral growth and celebrity adoption to raising hundreds of millions and going public in 2021, Allbirds enjoyed momentum as a “sustainable darling.”However, since its IPO, the company has struggled with declining revenues, losses, leadership turnover, over expansion, and brand fatigue. In 2024, revenues fell ~25 % year over year to ~$189.8 million, with net losses exceeding $93 million.Key lessons include the hazards of rapid product-line expansion beyond core brand identity, balancing growth with profitability, and the challenge of proving sustainability claims under investor scrutiny.The remainder of this case study dissects Allbirds’ journey across structural, financial, competitive, operational, and strategic dimensions, and concludes with forward-looking recommendations and lessons for other impact-driven companies.Full case study here ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

The idea that doing good should be simple is not new. The problem is the world rarely makes it simple. That is where Tab for a Cause comes in. What started as a clever college experiment has grown into one of the most accessible digital giving tools on the internet.With nothing more than an internet connection and the habit of opening new browser tabs, millions of people have helped raise real dollars for causes that matter.Under the leadership of co founder and CEO Alex Groth, the company has pushed a straightforward idea into a global engine for everyday generosity.The platform has already helped raise two million dollars for nonprofit partners, all without asking users for a single cent.It turns a routine digital behavior into a steady source of funding for environmental, health, education, and animal welfare efforts around the world.Below, Alex walks through the origin story, the mission, how the business works, and what tools power the team behind it.Read full interview. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In the crowded world of consumer packaged goods, few companies truly live their mission from the inside out. Waiākea Hawaiian Volcanic Beverages, founded in 2012 in Hilo, Hawai‘i, stands apart as one that does.Co-founded by Ryan Emmons, his cousin Alex Preston, and friend Matt Meyer, the brand was built on a simple but revolutionary idea: great taste should never come at the planet’s expense.From using 100% post-consumer recycled plastic to pioneering OceanPlast®, a proprietary coastal recycling initiative, and creating the Kōkua Initiative nonprofit to uplift local communities, Waiākea has become a model for what the next generation of sustainable businesses can be.The company’s products, from its naturally alkaline volcanic water to its new coffee line, all flow from a foundation of respect for the land, its people, and a shared responsibility for the future.We sat down with Ryan Emmons, Co-Founder and CEO, to talk about the origins of Waiākea, the company’s triple-bottom-line philosophy, and how it continues to redefine what it means to build a purpose-driven brand.Full interview ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

At Causeartist, we love highlighting founders who turn lived experiences and community insights into solutions that change lives. Erik Olson, CEO of Dignity Made, has built a social enterprise tackling generational debt among coconut farmers in the Philippines.What began as a single conversation with a farmer has grown into a thriving business that provides economic freedom, restores dignity, and protects vulnerable communities from exploitation.There’s an ugly side to the coconut industry — one that traps farmers in extreme poverty, robs them of their land, and pushes families toward dangerous choices.In the Philippines, home to 3.5 million coconut farmers, nearly 90% live below the poverty line.Full interview ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Oddbird is transforming the wine industry, proving that world-class wines can be just as sophisticated and celebratory without alcohol.Founded in Sweden in 2013 by a former social worker who witnessed the impact of alcoholism on families firsthand, Oddbird was born from a desire to challenge the role of alcohol in modern culture.Today, the brand stands as a pioneer in the dealcoholized wine movement, serving at several Michelin-starred restaurants, including Eleven Madison Park, and even partnering with Porsche in Sweden, where each new car is delivered with a bottle of Oddbird’s sparkling wine.Joining his mother’s mission, Mehmet Gürbüzer now leads the company as CEO, turning her vision into a global brand.Under his leadership, Oddbird has rapidly expanded across international markets, achieving 200% growth in the U.S. since launching late last year, selling over 7 million bottles annually, and generating nearly $30 million in revenue.At the heart of Oddbird’s philosophy is the idea of being liberated from alcohol. The team partners with renowned vineyards across Italy, France, and Spain, hand-selecting high-quality varietals for natural fermentation.Moa Gürbüzer Founder, Mehmet Gürbüzer CEOEach wine is aged for 12–36 months before undergoing a patented vacuum-distillation process that gently removes the alcohol while preserving complexity, structure, and flavor.Every bottle represents a meticulous four-to-five-year journey, a labor of love that celebrates craftsmanship, culture, and conscious living.In this Founder Spotlight, we speak with Mehmet Gürbüzer, CEO of Oddbird, to explore how the brand started, the mission driving its growth, and how it’s quietly reshaping how we think about wine and wellbeing.Full interview ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

When most people think about brushing their teeth, they rarely think about nutrition. For Vladimir Vukicevic, it became the foundation for a new way of thinking about health and habit.As the Co-founder and CEO of Better & Better, Vladimir is reimagining what daily wellness can look like, starting with something as simple and universal as toothpaste.Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Vladimir’s story is one of resilience and reinvention.After surviving a childhood cancer diagnosis and enduring long-term side effects from chemotherapy, he faced a new challenge: managing his health through daily supplements that were difficult, costly, and easy to forget.That frustration sparked an idea that would eventually lead to Better & Better—a wellness company built on the belief that health should be effortless, integrated, and sustainable.Better & Better’s breakthrough product is a 2-in-1 vitamin-infused toothpaste that delivers essential nutrients through one of the body’s most absorbent pathways—the mouth.With every brush, users not only clean their teeth but also nourish their bodies with vitamins like D3, B12, and Zinc, without the need to swallow another pill.Under Vladimir’s leadership, the company has become a pioneer in what he calls “habit-based health,” creating products that transform daily routines into opportunities for better living.Beyond innovation in wellness, Better & Better is deeply committed to environmental responsibility, using recyclable, sugarcane-based packaging, bamboo toothbrushes, and naturally derived ingredients that are better for both people and the planet.Read full interview with the founder. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In an industry dominated by excess packaging and synthetic ingredients, Lola Arnao is carving out space for what the brand calls “slow beauty”, a movement focused on simplicity, sustainability, and self-care that’s good for both people and planet.Founded by a mother-daughter duo in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, Lola Arnao creates concentrated, plastic-free skincare products designed specifically for people with sensitive skin.Each product is handcrafted in small batches, formulated with plant-based ingredients, and wrapped in sustainable, low-waste packaging.We spoke with Angela Gargano, Lola Arnao’s co-founder, a wellness entrepreneur and lifelong advocate for cleaner living, about the inspiration behind the brand, what slow beauty really means, and how they’re proving that mindful growth can be just as powerful as scaling fast.Read full interview. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Every year, universities across the world throw away thousands of pounds of perfectly good food, from untouched entrees to overproduced menu items.For Raccoon Eyes AI, a startup born out of Georgia Tech, this isn’t just a statistic. It’s a challenge to be solved through data, design, and behavioral science.Founded by a group of engineering students who turned their senior capstone project into a full-fledged impact company, Raccoon Eyes helps dining halls measure, understand, and reduce food waste through a blend of smart hardware, analytics, and playful behavioral nudges.Read full interview with CTO and Co-founder, Ivan Zou. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Mural Pay’s founder, Sinclair Toffa, joins Disruptors for GOOD to share how stablecoins and programmable payments can rewire cross-border money movement for businesses, creators, and marketplaces.From early inspiration in West Africa to on-the-ground deployments with global platforms, Sinclair explains why faster settlement, lower fees, and end-to-end transparency are changing what is possible for millions of people who work and sell across borders.Episode highlights:Why high-speed, programmable rails make payouts and treasury simpler for platforms and marketplacesHow creators and contractors receive earnings instantly, with fewer failures and lower feesThe role of clear policy in unlocking bank participation and enterprise adoptionHow forward-deployed engineering compresses time to value for complex launchesA vision for accounts that are global by default, portable, and compliantPractical use cases to spark ideas:Creator and freelancer platforms paying out at scale in Africa and Latin AmericaArtisan marketplaces issuing dedicated accounts for each seller and releasing escrow instantly on deliverySaaS platforms embedding cross-border collections and payouts without rebuilding core bankingRoyalty distributors consolidating multi-platform streams and paying artists same week ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

On this episode of Disruptors for GOOD, I sits down with Kevin Barenblat, Co-founder of Fast Forward, to unpack how the nonprofit accelerator is helping mission driven teams use technology, and now AI, to scale impact.From the early days of tech nonprofits to a new wave of AI powered organizations, Kevin shares what he is seeing on the ground, what the 2025 AI for Humanity Report reveals, and how philanthropy can help the sector move faster and more responsibly.Fast Forward launched the first accelerator dedicated to tech nonprofits and has now supported more than 100 organizations.Alumni have reached hundreds of millions of people and unlocked over one billion dollars in cumulative follow on funding, a signal that this model works at scale. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Trusty is building a simple, human way to pass down more than money. In this episode, Trusty co-founder and CEO Randy Frisch joins to share how a digital Letter of Wishes, paired with AI and secure sharing, can reduce confusion for families, bring advisors into the loop, and preserve the stories behind the things we love.Key takeawaysTrusty creates a digital Letter of Wishes with video messages, so heirs understand intentMax AI powers image recognition, document summaries, and an estate Q and A agentConsumer app is free, advisor platform is licensedCharities can be named as beneficiaries, sentimental value is captured alongside dollarsPurpose is clarity, less conflict, and stronger human connection during life transitionsWhat Trusty doesCreate a digital Letter of WishesCapture what should go to whom, in your own words and voice. Record short video wishes so heirs understand the why, not only the what.Add and assign assets in secondsSnap a photo, Trusty detects the category and fills key details with high accuracy, then you can assign an heir and add notes.Store and explain your estate planUpload wills, powers of attorney, and related documents. Trusty extracts key facts, provides plain language summaries, and lets you ask questions through an AI agent.Invite the right peopleShare access with a spouse, children, executors, and advisors. Everyone sees what they need, when they need it.Security you can rely onBank grade encryption, biometric login, and a clear stance that personal data is never used to train AI models. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Hey friends,Welcome back to Funding Rounds, where we break down the week’s most impactful startup and venture funding announcements—highlighting the mission, the money, and the impact behind it all.This week, over $1 billion was invested across public safety tech, clean energy, autism care, robotics, carbon removal, and more. Let’s get into it.First Due Secures $355 Million to Scale Public Safety SoftwareFunding: $355 MillionGoal: Expand public safety and emergency response software solutionsImpact: Empowering first responders with technology to improve community safety🔗 Read moreHeron Power Lands $38M Series A to Fast-Track All-Electric FutureFunding: $38 millionGoal: Accelerate transition to an all-electric futureImpact: Advancing clean energy adoption across industries🔗 Learn morebeatBread Raises $124M to Empower Independent MusiciansFunding: $124 millionGoal: Offer flexible financing to independent musiciansImpact: Expanding access to capital for artists without sacrificing ownership🔗 Learn moreEquatic Secures $11.6M Series A to Scale Carbon Removal and Green HydrogenFunding: $11.6 millionGoal: Advance permanent carbon removal and green hydrogen productionImpact: Scaling technologies to address climate change at the source🔗 Read moreVulcan Elements Closes $65M Series A to Boost U.S. Rare Earth Magnet ProductionFunding: $65 millionGoal: Produce high-performance rare earth magnets in the U.S.Impact: Strengthening domestic supply chains for critical clean energy materials🔗 Read morePositive Development Secures $51.5M Series C to Advance AI-Powered Autism TherapyFunding: $51.5 millionGoal: Expand access to play-based developmental therapy and enhance its AI model for personalized autism careImpact: Supporting children with autism and their families through at-home, relationship-focused, and development-driven programs🔗 Learn moreBetter Nature Lands $1.5M to Expand Clean-Label Tempeh in UK and AbroadFunding: $1.5MGoal: Grow alternative protein product lines globallyImpact: Driving plant-based innovation in the protein market🔗 Read moreFORT Robotics Secures $18.9M Series B ExpansionFunding: $18.9 millionGoal: Advance safety and security solutions for robotics and physical AI systemsImpact: Enabling safe, secure, and dynamic control for autonomous machines across industries including agriculture, construction, defense, and factory automation🔗 Learn moreAira Lands €150M to Accelerate Europe’s Shift to Electric Residential HeatingFunding: €150 millionGoal: Accelerate clean home energy adoption across EuropeImpact: Driving decarbonization of residential heating🔗 Read moreCirculate Capital Closes $75.8M Latin America & Caribbean Environmental Fund to Tackle Plastic WasteFunding: $75.8 millionGoal: Combat plastic pollution and scale recycling infrastructure in Latin America & the CaribbeanImpact: Reducing ocean plastic, creating jobs, and building resilient recycling supply chains🔗 Read more📢 Final ThoughtsThat wraps up this week’s Funding Rounds. Over $1 billion invested into systems that touch nearly every part of our lives—from how we heat our homes and power our cities, to how we create music, deliver therapy, and protect our communities.If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, leave a quick review, and check out all the stories mentioned today at causeartist.com. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

In this episode of Disruptors for GOOD, host Grant Trahant speaks with Jorge Richardson, co-founder and CEO of Hope Hydration, a startup on a mission to make free water universally accessible—powered by beautiful, connected hardware and backed by advertisers.Fresh off a $20 million Series A funding round, Jorge shares how Hope is transforming how people interact with hydration infrastructure by combining smart IoT technology, elegant design, and ad-driven revenue models.Their refill stations are already popping up in airports, stadiums, and major cities, with big plans ahead.It’s a powerful mix of hardware, software, and social impact, and Jorge and his team are already making waves in cities like New York, LA, and Miami.If you're into climate solutions, smart cities, or just love hearing how bold ideas come to life, this episode is for you. ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Varda Raises $187M Series C to Manufacture Medicine in Space 🚀Funding: $187 millionGoal: Bring zero-gravity biomanufacturing to commercial scaleImpact: Creating life-saving therapies that can only be made in orbit🔗 Learn moreAWAKE Chocolate Lands $8M CAD to Fuel Functional Chocolate Growth 🍫Funding: $8 million CADGoal: Expand caffeinated chocolate snacks as an alternative to energy drinksImpact: Blending deliciousness and wellness in every bite🔗 Learn moreSHIFT Invest Hits €92M First Close for Impact Fund 🌏Funding: €92 millionGoal: Back circular economy, food, and climate startupsImpact: Driving sustainability-focused VC across Europe🔗 Read moreGeologicAI Raises $44M for AI-Driven Mining Innovation ⛏️Funding: $44 millionGoal: Digitize geological exploration with AI and automationImpact: Making mining cleaner, faster, and more efficient🔗 Read moreHadrian Raises $260M to Build Automated Space Factories 🛰️Funding: $260 millionGoal: Modernize precision manufacturing for aerospaceImpact: Accelerating innovation in national and planetary security🔗 Read moreFortuna Health Raises $18M to Modernize Medicaid Access 📲Funding: $18 million Series AGoal: Rebuild Medicaid infrastructure with user-friendly techImpact: Empowering millions to access benefits more easily🔗 Learn moreProvectus Algae Raises $12.6M for Bio-Based Climate Solutions ♺Funding: $12.6 million Series AGoal: Scale precision fermentation using algae for sustainable ingredientsImpact: Creating new climate-positive materials through biology🔗 Learn moreBetterComp Raises $33M to Advance AI in Compensation Strategy 📊 ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.

Carbon to Sea Initiative Commits $4M to Ocean Carbon Removal R&DFunding: $4 million joint investment with MEOPARGoal: Advance research on ocean-based carbon dioxide removal in CanadaImpact: Unlocking ocean tech as a scalable solution for climate mitigation🔗 Read moreTrusty Raises $1M to Redefine Estate Planning with AIFunding: $1 million pre-seed roundGoal: Build modern, AI-powered Letters of Wishes for families and advisorsImpact: Making legacy planning more accessible, personalized, and human🔗 Read moreBilt Raises $250M to Accelerate Community-Centric HousingFunding: $250 million at a $10.75B valuationGoal: Expand its housing and neighborhood commerce platformImpact: Reinventing the renter experience while building stronger local economies🔗 Read moreOpen Philanthropy Launches $120M Fund for Innovation and GrowthFunding: $120 million fundGoal: Support ambitious nonprofits and research orgs with breakout potentialImpact: Accelerating high-leverage projects in global health, AI safety, and more🔗 Read moreOpen Philanthropy Launches $120M Fund for Innovation and GrowthOpen Philanthropy has launched a $120 million Abundance and Growth Fund to accelerate scientific innovation, improve housing and regulatory policies, and reduce the cost of living.🔗 Read moreLGND Raises $9M to Make Earth Data ActionableFunding: $9 millionGoal: Democratize environmental intelligence for climate actionImpact: Helping organizations translate raw geospatial data into meaningful impact🔗 Read moreFoundation EGI Raises $23M to Rethink Global InfrastructureFunding: $23 millionGoal: Develop innovative platforms for sustainable infrastructureImpact: Empowering regions to build smarter, more resilient communities🔗 Read moreLorient Capital Closes $500M Fund III for Healthcare FoundersFunding: $500 million Fund IIIGoal: Back founder-led healthcare companies at the intersection of care and technologyImpact: Fueling innovation in patient-centric, value-based care🔗 Read moreOpenEvidence Raises $210M to Reinvent Medical AIFunding: $210 million at $3.5B valuationGoal: Build the fastest-growing clinical AI app for physiciansImpact: Streamlining real-time decision-making at the point of care🔗 Read more ----------------------------------------Disruptors for GOOD is powered by Causeartist, a nonprofit media company dedicated to bridging the gap between capital and culture by spotlighting founders, investors, and organizations reimagining how business can serve people and the planet.Through storytelling, events, and open-access education, Causeartist helps create a shared language of impact, inspiring more founders to build with purpose and more funders to invest with intention.By amplifying ideas and innovations across industries, Causeartist transforms awareness into action and cultivates a community where paying it forward is part of the foundation for growth.