Shape the System

About the Guest Aymeric Maudous is the Co-founder of Lord of the Trees , an Australian-based environmental technology company pioneering drone-assisted reforestation. With over two decades in the environmental sector and a Master’s in Environmental Management from UNSW, Aymeric combines cutting-edge robotics and AI with Indigenous ecological knowledge to regenerate degraded landscapes. His work has taken him from the Daintree Rainforest to Borneo and beyond, where he collaborates with local communities to restore ecosystems and biodiversity at scale. Episode Summary In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner talks with Aymeric Maudous, founder of Lord of the Trees, about reimagining reforestation through technology and traditional wisdom. Inspired by a David Attenborough documentary and the natural cycle of birds dispersing seeds, Aymeric’s “lightbulb moment” led to a model where drones replace birds, dropping nutrient-rich seed pods to restore damaged ecosystems faster and more efficiently. Aymeric explains how Lord of the Trees blends high-tech solutions—AI, robotics, and drones—with low-tech, traditional ecological knowledge from Indigenous communities. This unique hybrid approach not only accelerates land restoration but also ensures cultural and environmental authenticity. Their process spans from detailed soil and species analysis to creating digital twins of landscapes and performing precision planting with military-grade drones. The discussion explores the enormous global opportunity—1.7 trillion hectares in need of reforestation—and the challenges that come with scale, regulation, and trust in the carbon credit market. Aymeric also delves into their upcoming plans to use blockchain to verify and bring transparency to reforestation projects. Beyond the tech, he shares the human side of the work: his joy in being on the ground, learning from local communities, and leaving behind a living legacy for future generations. Key Takeaways 1.7 trillion hectares of land globally could be reforested—an area roughly equal to the USA and China combined. Lord of the Trees combines high-tech drones and AI with local ecological knowledge to regenerate land sustainably. Each project begins with ecosystem mapping and creating a digital twin, allowing precision planting tailored to the environment. Transparency is key: blockchain and distributed ledger technology will enable public verification of reforestation progress and carbon credits. True regeneration requires maintenance and balance, not just planting—nature thrives through care, sequencing, and community collaboration. Notable Quotes “I was watching a David Attenborough documentary when I thought — why don’t we replace birds with drones and make our own seed pods?” — Aymeric Maudous “Not all land needs to be reforested. Plains and savannas are just as important as rainforests in maintaining balance.” — Aymeric Maudous “We use drones, AI, and robotics — but we also rely on thousands of years of local ecological knowledge. It’s a symbiosis of high-tech and low-tech.” — Aymeric Maudous “With technology today, including blockchain, we can trace every tree planted — creating a new source of truth for environmental restoration.” — Aymeric Maudous “I love being barefoot with Aboriginal people, walking through the forest, learning about trees and birds. That’s where the magic happens.” — Aymeric Maudous Resources Lord of the Trees Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth Ventures Scale up for success. We’re here for that.
We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone.  From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey. Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights.  Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help. Links: Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/ Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

About the GuestGrant Gunnison is the Co-founder of Zero Homes, a company tackling the climate crisis by rethinking how single-family homes transition off fossil fuels. Based in Colorado, Grant brings a unique mix of hands-on contracting experience and a background in advanced technology and software. His journey from working in construction to building digital tools for home electrification gives him both credibility and a practical lens on the industry’s challenges. At Zero Homes, he leads efforts to make retrofitting old houses easier, more affordable, and more scalable.Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Grant Gunnison of Zero Homes about the enormous challenge—and opportunity—of decarbonising single-family homes. With about 80 million houses in the US alone, 60 million of which still run on fossil fuels, the scale of the problem is staggering. Yet as Grant explains, solving climate issues in housing isn’t only about emissions—it starts with addressing everyday homeowner concerns like cost, comfort, and reliability.Grant outlines how Zero Homes uses digital technology to transform a historically fragmented, slow, and opaque process into something fast, transparent, and homeowner-friendly. Instead of waiting for something to break and spending weeks gathering quotes from contractors, Zero’s platform enables homeowners to scan their houses, share utility data, and quickly receive detailed project options. This approach not only saves time but also sets contractors up for success by giving them accurate data before they step foot in a home.The conversation also delves into the broader market dynamics—why electrification solutions like heat pumps are only now becoming more efficient and cost-effective, how Zero Homes complements rather than competes with solar providers, and where financing and even insurance could reshape the economics of retrofits. Looking ahead, Grant shares Zero’s ambition to expand across the US, scale their digital-first marketplace model, and eventually explore international opportunities.Key TakeawaysAround 20% of US emissions come from single-family homes, with roughly 60 million homes still powered by fossil fuels.Most homeowners act when driven by pain points: high bills, discomfort, or broken systems, while fewer than 5% are motivated primarily by climate concerns.Zero Homes’ process reduces the homeowner’s time investment from 10–15 hours to about 1 hour, while providing pricing on multiple projects.Heat pumps and related electrification products now offer higher performance at lower operational cost, aligning climate benefits with homeowner needs.Zero Homes is scaling quickly, currently operating in four US states with plans to reach a dozen within a year.Notable Quotes“About one fifth of all emissions today come from single-family homes in the US… that’s about 80 million homes.” — Grant Gunnison“The number of people that fall into the climate warrior column is extremely thin… definitely less than 5%.” — Grant Gunnison“We’re reducing the amount of time a homeowner needs to spend just gathering the right information by at least an order of magnitude.” — Grant Gunnison“You cannot build your way out of the climate crisis… you have to go back in and fix the old houses.” — Grant Gunnison“We’ve delivered hundreds of projects, and now it’s about scaling the solution to be the front door for homeowners.” — Grant GunnisonResourcesZero HomesShape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

About the GuestChris Hull is the Co-founder of Otus, an education platform built to help schools and teachers understand students more holistically. A former seventh-grade social studies teacher, Chris brings classroom credibility and a deep empathy for the realities of teaching at scale. His career shift was driven by a simple but stubborn problem: with 150 students a year, how can a teacher truly know each child and act on that knowledge? Otus is his answer—uniting data, context and tools to make teaching more effective and sustainable.Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner digs into how schools actually “run” and why the systems behind them matter as much as what happens at the front of the classroom. Chris Hull explains how Otus consolidates scattered student information—attendance, standardised assessments, classroom-level skills, interests and what’s worked before—into a single, living profile that follows each learner across years and teachers.Why it matters: teachers juggle six classes and around 150 students, making it hard to personalise learning or even keep up with who’s progressing on what. Otus acts like a Fitbit for learning—wearing it doesn’t improve outcomes by itself, but it gives visibility, saves time (often 1–2 hours per week), and shortens the loop between instruction, evidence and adjustment.Under the hood, Otus integrates with existing student information systems (no “rip and replace”), supports classroom assessments, and layers in AI to answer plain-English data questions, recommend right-time resources from content partners, and help educators build assessments faster. Commercially, Otus is bought at the district level; implementations are measured to ensure apples-to-apples comparisons, with onboarding possible inside 30 days.Market-wise, the US has ~15,000 districts and Otus reports adoption in 300+ and growing—pointing to a network effect that’s emerging but not yet fully realised. The near-term roadmap is about speed and scale: connect more systems, compress time-to-insight, and make the “every student has a plan” feature a practical norm for schools and families.Key TakeawaysUnify the data that matters: attendance, assessments (state and local), classroom skills, interests and proven strategies live together in one student profile that travels year to year.Save teachers real time: districts report educators reclaiming 1–2 hours per week, redirecting effort toward instruction and differentiation.Meet schools where they are: Otus integrates with existing SIS and testing platforms, enabling crawl-walk-run change rather than rip-and-replace.Put AI to work usefully: ask data questions in plain English, get recommended resources, and generate assessments—speeding up the plan-teach-measure loop.Scale through districts: the US has ~15,000 districts; Otus is in 300+ today with ~30-day onboarding, building momentum towards broader adoption.Notable Quotes“I had 150 students every year.” — Chris Hull“What Otus does is it puts all that information in one place and… allows you to have that articulation from one person to the next so that you’re not starting from scratch.” — Chris Hull“Learning is hard. It takes effort. So how do we get to that part more quickly?” — Chris Hull“We make it more discoverable and deliverable by using AI to just allow you to ask it in plain English.” — Chris Hull“We can get them onboarded within 30 days.” — Chris HullResourcesOtus — https://otus.com/?utm_source=shapethesystem.org

About the Guest(s)Nis Benn is the co-founder of Hyme Energy, a Copenhagen-based company pioneering solutions to decarbonise industrial heat at scale. With a background spanning sociology, consulting, political organising, and deep-tech startups, Nis has consistently chased high-leverage, system-level climate solutions — from nuclear innovation to Hyme’s molten-salt heat storage.Episode SummaryIn this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Nis Benn of Hyme Energy about one of the world’s biggest yet overlooked climate challenges: industrial heat. While most clean-energy discussions focus on electricity, heat accounts for roughly a third of global emissions — largely produced by directly burning coal, oil, or gas for steam and high-temperature processes.Nis traces his path from climate-centred politics and nuclear R&D to Hyme, where the team is commercialising molten-salt thermal storage. Hyme uses renewable electricity to heat a specialised hydroxide salt to ~520°C, storing energy as heat and dispatching it as steam — the medium many factories already use. That retrofit-friendly approach lets manufacturers decarbonise without ripping out existing systems.Beyond emissions, the economics matter: industry spends trillions annually on fossil energy for heat. Hyme’s model pairs lower, more predictable energy costs with reliability and innovative commercial structures (e.g., heat offtake agreements in partnership with asset managers), allowing customers to “buy heat” as a service. On the engineering front, Hyme’s corrosion breakthroughs enable long lifetimes using standard stainless steels in most of the system — a key step to bankability and scale. Hyme is targeting first commercial plants from 2026 and meaningful scale by 2030.Key TakeawaysIndustrial heat is massive: About one-third of global emissions come from process heat, much of it from direct fossil combustion.Store power as heat: Hyme heats molten hydroxide salts with renewables, then delivers on-demand steam for existing processes.Minimal retrofit: Because many factories already run on steam, Hyme can slot in with limited disruption.Compelling economics: Rising energy and CO₂ costs + access to cheap renewables = strong business cases and multi-market optimisation.Path to scale: First FID-ready projects in 2026, scaling via partnerships/licensing toward hundreds of plants through the 2030s.Notable Quotes“Around 30% of global emissions come from industrial heat — it’s the single biggest emissions sector.” — Nis Benn“If you already use steam, Hyme can just produce it another way.” — Nis Benn“Reliability is what industrial players care about most — our job is to deliver that with renewables.” — Nis Benn“You can ‘buy heat’ as an outcome — not worry about the kit behind it.” — Vincent TurnerResourcesHyme Energy: https://hyme.energyBackground reading on industrial heat, thermal storage, and energy marketsShape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth VenturesMore about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

About the Guest(s):Nate Spiteri is the co-founder of Shopfront, a pioneering Australian company focused on revolutionizing the secondhand market space through a tech-driven approach. With a background in banking and a keen interest in impact businesses, Nate transitioned from the financial sector to the startup realm. He played a crucial role as the first hire in a successful alternative credit scoring startup that aimed at assisting people with impaired credit histories. In parallel, Nate explored the world of fashion through his streetwear brand and gained invaluable insights into the e-commerce ecosystem, which ultimately led him to establish Shopfront.Episode Summary:In this captivating episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner invites Nate Spiteri, co-founder of Shopfront, to explore the evolving landscape of the secondhand economy, with a particular focus on fashion. Vincent, a self-professed skeptic of shopping's pervasive consumer culture, delves into the concept of sustainable consumption and how it aligns with living well, posing important questions about the nature of secondhand goods and their potential to mitigate waste.Nate shares his journey from working in the banking sector to immersing himself in impact businesses, eventually co-founding Shopfront. The discussion centers around the fragmented nature of the current secondhand marketplace ecosystem and how Shopfront aims to address these inefficiencies. By facilitating sellers to list their items across multiple platforms seamlessly, Shopfront enhances the circular economy and encourages more sustainable consumer behaviors. As Nate articulates the hurdles and opportunities in creating a scalable venture in this space, he highlights the potential impact of technology in transforming how secondhand goods are traded and perceived globally.Key Takeaways:Secondhand Economy Growth: The secondhand market is a burgeoning multi-billion-dollar industry projected to grow significantly, fueled by increasing awareness and demand for sustainable consumption.Challenges of Listing: Sellers face inefficiencies in listing products across fragmented marketplaces. Shopfront aims to simplify this by enabling multi-platform listings to save time and increase sale opportunities.Market Focus: Shopfront currently prioritizes fashion, targeting vintage sellers who experience pain points in navigating existing marketplaces, although there is potential to expand into other secondhand verticals such as furniture and sporting goods.Brand Importance: Building a robust brand is critical for Shopfront’s strategy to distinguish itself from competitors and foster a supportive seller community.Changing Marketplace Dynamics: Global platforms are beginning to shift towards no-fee seller models, preferring buyer fees, which could influence how Shopfront and similar platforms operate in the future.Notable Quotes:"I've always been pretty big on impact businesses, so when I came back from Melbourne, I really wanted to do something with my impact hat on.""It's easy to find people who buy; it's harder to find people who sell because there's more you need to do to sell.""If you put all this in a boiling pot, all of a sudden, you've got these more affordable garments being exploded in kind of Gen Z millennials.""A big part of what we did early on was mapping out all our competitors and realizing they all have the same color palette.""Brand is incredibly powerful for us. We've had users say, 'I didn't even know this existed.'"Resources:ShopfrontReference to marketplaces such as eBay, Depop, Etsy, Facebook MarketplaceB Corp CertificationExplore how Shopfront is paving the way for a more sustainable and efficient secondhand marketplace through innovation and technology. Listen to the full episode for a deeper understanding and stay tuned for more insightful discussions on transforming systems for the better with Shape the System. Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

About the Guest(s):Nick Hodges is an innovation-driven entrepreneur and the founder of Halcyon, specializing in engineering and developing novel solutions in the energy sector. With a background in business and an aptitude for learning engineering, Nick has combined these skills to address challenges in energy generation, particularly in distributed energy systems. His venture focuses on creating efficient, aesthetically pleasing, shrouded turbines designed for urban environments, with an aim to redefine how wind energy can be harnessed effectively in towns and cities.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of Shape the System, Vincent Turner welcomes Nick Hodges from Halcium to discuss innovative approaches in wind energy production, specifically for urban environments. As Shape the System enters its fifth year, the conversation takes a fresh turn towards the often-overlooked sector of small-scale wind energy. Nick shares his journey from a business education to becoming an engineering adept entrepreneur, driven by the global demand for energy security and independence. Emphasizing the crucial role of distributed energy, Nick elaborates on his mission to make cities greener and less reliant on traditional power grids through the integration of wind turbines that are both efficient and visually unobtrusive.Nick explores the mechanics and economic aspects of shrouded wind turbines, a novel approach poised to revolutionize urban wind power generation. The conversation delves into the challenges and opportunities these turbines present compared to large-scale, traditional wind generation methods. Nick explains that while large wind turbines rely on vast open spaces for maximum efficiency, his shrouded turbines are optimized for urban landscapes, utilizing building-induced wind effects to generate power. Emphasizing the aesthetic appeal and architectural complement of Halcium's turbine design, Nick underscores the rising interest from various sectors seeking sustainable energy solutions. As urban areas see a growing need for renewable energy sources, Halcium stands out with its mission to enhance cityscapes while contributing to global energy goals.Key Takeaways:Distributed Energy Systems: Combining solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage creates a robust energy network for urban and rural settings, enhancing energy security.Urban Wind Turbine Design: Halcyon has devised shrouded vertical-axis wind turbines that capitalize on turbulent urban wind patterns, offering efficient and aesthetically pleasing energy solutions.Engineering Challenges: While smaller-scale wind solutions face inherent efficiency challenges compared to large-scale turbines, optimizing urban design can counterbalance these.Economic Considerations: Halcium's goal is to achieve cost parity with solar energy, making their turbines a viable financial investment for distributed energy systems.Manufacturing Vision: Committed to local manufacturing, Halcium aims to stimulate regional economies while reducing environmental impact from transportation logistics.Notable Quotes:"A complete distributed energy system needs solar panels for when it's sunny, wind turbines for when it's stormy, then battery power to store that energy until you're ready to use it.""People see our design and they go, that's what's missing. That's what I need for my energy solution.""Instead of competing with open field turbines, we optimized our technology for urban areas, utilizing the unique wind patterns created by buildings and city structures.""A wind turbine can actually be something intriguing at least, or an architectural statement rather than something that's seen as visual pollution.""Our mission is to change energy for the better, which includes how we produce, consume, and even the logistics of energy products."Resources:Halcium: Halcium(not directly mentioned but inferred)WeFunder: Halcyon Raising Fund Link – Halcyon is raising funds to advance their turbine projects.Embark on the full episode for an intriguing exploration of how Halcyon is set to reshape urban energy landscapes. With innovation at the forefront, stay tuned to Shape the System for more compelling stories and insights from pioneers in sustainable technology.

About the Guest(s):Heidi Diestal is a fourth-generation turkey farmer at Diestal Family Ranch, based in California. With a rich history in farming, her family has been pivotal in setting standards for organic farming in the United States. Passionate about progressing sustainable agricultural practices, Heidi focuses on integrating regenerative farming methods to enhance the quality and sustainability of food production.Kristine Root is the Chief Marketing Officer at Regenefied, a certification company based in Denver, Colorado. With a strong background in marketing and sustainability, Kristine is dedicated to measuring the positive impact of regenerative farming on ecosystems and the food system’s health. Her work with Regenefied aims to bridge the gap between science and consumer understanding, promoting environmentally refined farming practices through rigorous certification processes.Episode Summary:In this episode of Shape the System, Vincent Turner explores the transformative potential of regenerative farming with Heidi Diestal from Diestal Family Ranch and Kristine Root from Regenefied. The conversation delves into the intricacies of turkey farming and contrasts conventional methods with regenerative practices. Kristine and Heidi illuminate the regenerative agriculture landscape, discussing the direct benefits their approaches have on the environment, food quality, and consumer health. They share insights into how data and research support the narrative of sustainable farming being a viable solution to current agricultural challenges.The discussion reveals groundbreaking research that underscores the health benefits of regeneratively farmed turkey, highlighting improvements in nutrient density and omega-3 levels. The episode emphasizes consumer-driven demand for higher quality food and presents a compelling case for how sustainable practices can revitalize ecosystems and support better dietary outcomes. By shedding light on the certification standards employed by Regenefied and Diestal’s progressive farming techniques, the episode presents a future where agricultural techniques harmonize with nature for better environmental and consumer outcomes.Key Takeaways:Regenerative farming enhances nutrient density in turkey, providing better omega-3 levels and antioxidants compared to conventional farming methods.The partnership between Regenefied and Diestal Family Ranch exemplifies how rigorous certification can substantiate claims of sustainability and quality within the food industry.Consumer awareness and demand for nutrient-rich products are growing, with studies showing that healthier soil leads to healthier plants and animals, ultimately translating into better quality food.The discussion on regenerative agriculture ties together the elements of environmental sustainability, consumer health, and agricultural resilience.While regenerative agriculture demands more initial effort, it promises long-term benefits for farms, consumers, and ecosystems worldwide.Notable Quotes:"Do right by the bird, and the bird will do right by you." - Heidi Diestal"Regenerative agriculture is about farming in harmony with nature, looking at how practices influence life in the soil and above." - Kristine Root"We were thrilled with the opportunity to look at nutrient density; it's never been done in this way before." - Heidi Diestal"88% of the US population is considering a broader spectrum of values beyond taste and price when it comes to food." - Kristine Root"Regenerative farming offers a pathway out of systemic challenges in agriculture through positive ecological impact." - Kristine RootResources:Diestal Family Ranch: Learn more about Heidi Diestal's** **farming practices.Regenefied: Explore the certification standards and practices promoted by Kristine Root and her team.Articles and peer-reviewed studies on the impact of soil health on nutrient density in food.Discover more profound insights by listening to the full episode and stay tuned for more content from the Shape the System series, bridging innovative farming solutions with real-world applications. Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

About the Guest(s):Paul Bevan is the founder and CEO of Magic Valley, a pioneering company in the cultivated meat industry. Based in Melbourne, Australia, Paul has been a vegan for over a decade and was vegetarian for 20 years before that. Before founding Magic Valley, he had a diverse career path that included roles in credit and fraud analytics for banks, as well as ventures in operating a mixed martial arts gym and a finance brokerage. His rich background in various industries has uniquely positioned him to drive innovation in the sustainable food sector.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Paul Bevan, CEO of Magic Valley, about the groundbreaking work his company is doing in the realm of cultivated meat. The conversation digs deep into the burgeoning field of alternative proteins, highlighting the significant strides made in developing lab-grown meat that is both sustainable and free of animal cruelty. Paul shares his personal journey from working in the banking sector to vegan activism and eventually leading a meat production company while maintaining his ethical values.Paul introduces the concept of cultivated meat, explaining the process of growing meat from cultured cells without animal slaughter. He and Vincent examine the industry's current landscape, assessing the opportunities and challenges surrounding plant-based and lab-grown meat solutions. They touch on the environmental, ethical, and economic factors that contribute to the industry's growth potential, while also addressing consumer acceptance and the quest to achieve price competitiveness with traditional meat products. The conversation underscores the critical importance of scale, regulatory approvals, and consumer education as pivotal elements of a successful transition to this innovative agricultural model.Key Takeaways:Environmental Impact: Understanding that traditional meat production heavily contributes to global deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, cultivated meat offers a promising solution to these issues.Technological Advances: Magic Valley is at the forefront of creating cultivated meat products from cells without using animal components, marking critical world-first achievements.Scaling Challenges: Scaling production remains a significant hurdle but is essential for achieving competitive pricing against traditional meat, highlighting the need for capital and infrastructure investments.Consumer Education: Educating consumers about the benefits and process of cultivated meat is essential to increase acceptance and trust in new food technologies.Industry Collaboration: Partnerships are vital in this nascent industry to leverage diverse expertise, from food science to engineering, to bring cultivated meat to market effectively.Notable Quotes:"People weren't interested in a slightly better veggie burger; they just wanted to keep eating meat.""We create the same meat products that people are familiar with… but we can do it in a way where there's no animal cruelty involved.""Price point has always been difficult, but we know technology works; it's just about scale now.""Younger generations are much more open to change and adopting new technologies, and that applies to food products as well.""When talking about food choices, the consumer's key component now becomes the cost."Resources:Learn more about Magic Valley: Magic Valley's website To fully appreciate the dynamic discussions and insights from Paul Bevan on the exciting landscape of cultivated meat, tune into the complete episode. Stay connected to Shape the System for more impactful stories and innovations shaping our world. Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au 

About the Guest(s):Raz Razgaitis is the CEO of Flow Water, a company focused on providing clean and trustworthy drinking water solutions across the United States. With a background in tech and a decade spent running early-stage tech companies, Raz shifted his focus to address the systemic issues surrounding tap water quality. Through Flow Water, Raz aims to reduce dependency on single-use plastics and champion the notion that access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human right. The company, under his leadership, has reached the milestone of achieving 1 billion fills of Flow Water, establishing itself as a key player in water purification technology.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner converses with Raz Razgaitis, CEO of Flow Water, exploring the pivotal issues of water quality and infrastructure in the developed world. Despite the prevalent assumption that water-related challenges are exclusive to developing regions, Razgaitis reveals that water quality issues, including contaminants such as lead and microplastics, are also significant in countries like the United States. With an innovative approach, Flow Water is tackling these challenges head-on by providing advanced purification technology and addressing the global dependency on bottled beverages.Razgaitis details the journey from a personal realization about his children's hydration habits to implementing a large-scale solution combating water trust issues. By deploying technology that transforms tap water and restores consumer confidence, Flow Water aims to offer an eco-friendly and health-conscious alternative to bottled water. Raz emphasizes the environmental impact of single-use plastics and advocates for sustainable practices that encourage consumers to refocus on treated tap water. This episode offers an insightful exploration of how technology and brand trust can be leveraged to resolve longstanding issues in water quality and consumption habits.Key Takeaways:Water Quality Challenges: The developed world, particularly the U.S., faces significant water quality issues, including lead, PFAS, and microplastics.Flow Water’s Mission: Flow Water focuses on making tap water trustworthy and tasty to reduce reliance on bottled beverages and address plastic pollution.Technological Solutions: The company uses advanced purification and remineralization processes to offer superior tasting water, akin to bottled water, but with environmental benefits.Health and Sustainability: By encouraging better hydration habits, Flow Water is tackling public health issues linked to dehydration and advocating for environmental sustainability.Strategic Deployment: Flow Water targets public spaces like schools, gyms, and hotels to maximize consumer exposure and drive home the importance of clean water access.Notable Quotes:"Every human deserves access to clean drinking water that they can trust, and that it's a fundamental human right.""We are now in a world today where even if you live in a first-world country, you have to treat your water twice.""If the worse your water is, the more you're forced to buy bottled water.""When we deploy a flow water unit, we'll see a 100 to 500% increase in daily hydration.""The beauty of flow water and the product of flow water and the magic of flow water is the water itself."Resources:Flow Water Website: Flow WaterTEDx Talk by Raz Razgaitis: For insights on environmental impact and sustainable hydration practices.American Academy of Pediatrics: Referenced in discussion about safe lead levels in drinking water.New England Journal of Medicine: Study on microplastics, mentioned in relation to health impacts.Encouraging the audience to explore these resources reinforces the depth of the conversation and the importance of the topics discussed. Listen to the full episode for an inspiring discussion on transforming our water systems for healthier communities and a healthier planet. Stay tuned for more enlightening content from Shape the System.

About the Guest(s):Josh Bloomfield is the Founder and CEO of GiveCloud, a remote-first company aiming to transform how nonprofits operate and connect with donors. Based in Ottawa, Canada, currently residing in Florida with family, Josh’s career began immediately post-high school when he ventured into building grant management software for the US government. His experiences range from developing enterprise applications and security to gaining insights into user experience. Josh's vision was initially inspired by his entrepreneurial family, particularly his grandfather and father, who owned and operated a renowned local bakery. He aimed to apply technological advancements to under-resourced entrepreneurs, eventually leading to the inception of GiveCloud in 2017. Under Josh's leadership, GiveCloud now supports thousands of nonprofits globally to deepen donor relationships via enhanced digital fundraising tools.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner interviews Josh Bloomfield, the innovative mind behind GiveCloud, a company dedicated to aiding nonprofits in maximizing their digital fundraising efforts. The discussion traverses Josh's unique professional journey from developing government software straight out of high school to founding GiveCloud with a mission-driven purpose. Josh's passion for using technology as a means to empower nonprofits, specifically in optimizing their interactions with donors, takes center stage. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone interested in learning about the intersection of commerce principles, technology, and charitable giving.Throughout the episode, Josh delves into the intricacies of nonprofit operations, comparing them to eCommerce logistics and emphasizing the vital impact of modernizing digital fundraising techniques. Key themes include the transformative power of donor engagement, the art of ‘trust raising’ over traditional fundraising, and the necessity of nonprofits adopting efficient business practices to enhance their impact. Josh's insights reveal the challenges and opportunities facing the nonprofit sector in embracing technology and the potential shifts required to connect more deeply with their donor base.Key Takeaways:Nonprofits lag in adopting modern digital fundraising tactics, similar to eCommerce businesses.There's a significant opportunity for nonprofits to enhance donor engagement through better technology and a focus on impact-driven donations.The charity sector can benefit from leveraging principles used in behavioral economics and technology design to increase donation levels.Nonprofit organizations could enhance their operational efficiency by emulating smart business practices.There is a burgeoning trend for for-profit companies to incorporate philanthropic efforts directly into their business models.Notable Quotes:"We are a team of people doing our life's best work, trying to help nonprofits do their life's best work." – Josh Bloomfield"There's a lot of risk to having a lot of your finances come through a single channel." – Josh Bloomfield"What if we could at least make the donation experience 100 times better, make it feel more human, make it feel more delightful?" – Josh Bloomfield"A delighted donor becomes a more devoted donor." – Josh Bloomfield"We want to be the platform that enables true connection to impact." – Josh BloomfieldResources:GiveCloud: The company's official website.Charity Water: A nonprofit mentioned as a benchmark for operationalizing impact connectivity.Steve Jobs and Apple: Referenced for their influence on technology and product design.As a listener, this episode provides profound insights into revolutionizing nonprofit operations through technology. Tune in to learn how GiveCloud is pioneering innovative solutions to bridge nonprofits and their donor communities. Stay connected to Shape the System for more enlightening stories that challenge conventional systems. Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

About the Guest(s):Don Weatherbee is the CEO of Regenexx, a forward-thinking organization focused on innovative precious metals recovery techniques. Transitioning from an accounting background, Don has extensive experience in the mining sector, including coal and oil sands, before joining Regenexx in 2015. His operational expertise coupled with leadership roles has equipped him with the tools to helm Regenexx's ambitious endeavors in sustainable technology and precious metal recycling.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of "Shape the System," host Vincent Turner converses with Don Weatherbee, CEO of Regenexx, unveiling the intricacies of precious metals recycling. Exploring a world often overshadowed, Don narrates his journey from a traditional mining accountant to a sustainability-driven CEO, revolutionizing how we perceive and process precious metals from resources like catalytic converters.As the discussion unfolds, Don highlights the critical deficit in the supply of platinum group metals (PGMs), exacerbated by geopolitical issues and finite earth resources. He articulates the unique Regenexx leaching technology that mitigates environmental impact and harnesses economic potential by efficiently recycling PGMs from used catalytic converters. The conversation further delves into the significance of PGMs in global industries, the current obstacles in traditional recycling methods, and the promising innovations spearheaded by Regenexx.Key Takeaways:Precious Metals Recycling: Regenexx is pioneering a revolutionary hydrometallurgical process to recover platinum group metals from catalytic converters, spotlighting the scarcity of these critical resources.Industry Insights: The global demand for PGMs is rising, with supply already in deficit by 259,000oz annually, leading to increased focus on sustainable recycling over traditional mining.Environmental Benefits: The Regenexx method minimizes the environmental footprint associated with mining and traditional recycling, emphasizing the crucial need for earth-friendly resource recovery techniques.Economic Viability: Regenexx aims to scale operations, reflecting a significant market opportunity within the $20 billion catalytic converter industry and beyond.Strategic Expansion: Future growth plans include geographic expansion and potential international licensing, aligning with the mission to broaden sustainable metal recovery practices globally.Notable Quotes:"Precious metals are the most rare metals in the earth's crust.""Platinum and palladium are essential oxidizers and conductors used in catalytic converters and fuel cells.""Our hydrometallurgical process is transforming precious metals recovery with minimal environmental impact.""Mining alone can't meet future global demands; recycling is crucial to sustain growth.""We're at a commercial scaling inflection point, with vast opportunities ahead in sustainable recycling."Resources:Regenexx: regenexx.comCanadian Exchanges and Trading Symbols: RGX (Canada), RGXT (US)Engage fully with this episode to explore the transformative potential of sustainable precious metals recycling. Stay tuned for additional insightful content from the "Shape the System" series, where more innovative stories and thought leaders await to reshape how we consider the world around us.Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au  

About the Guest(s):Hugo SpowersHugo Spowers is a pioneer in sustainable auto technology and the founder of Riversimple, a company dedicated to developing hydrogen fuel cell cars. With a background in mechanical engineering and a deep interest in environmental sustainability, he left a career in motor racing to focus on creating a new kind of vehicle that could revolutionize personal mobility. Riversimple aims to create highly efficient, eco-friendly cars through innovative design and business models, setting new standards for the automotive industry.Episode Summary:In this episode of "Shape the System," host Vincent Turner interviews Hugo Spowers, founder of Riversimple, a groundbreaking company focusing on hydrogen fuel cell cars. This enlightening conversation covers Hugo's journey from a career in motor racing to becoming a leader in sustainable transportation. They delve deep into technical and systemic issues plaguing current automotive models and explore the revolutionary changes Riversimple is bringing to the industry, starting from the business model and extending to the manufacturing process.Hugo Spowers discusses the need for a complete redesign of how cars are built and sold to make them truly sustainable. He explains the drawbacks of current vehicles, from massive CO2 emissions to the hazardous particulates released from tyres, and how the auto industry's existing business models exacerbate these issues. Riversimple, by contrast, never sells cars outright but offers them as a service package that includes fuel and maintenance, thus aligning the company's profitability with sustainability goals.Key Takeaways:Innovative Business Model: Riversimple offers cars as a service rather than selling them outright, internalizing all costs to focus on longevity and efficiency.Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology: Hydrogen fuel cells are a highly efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional internal combustion engines and even some electric batteries.Systemic Change Over Incremental Change: Transitioning to sustainable vehicles requires a complete overhaul of current systems rather than small, iterative changes.Weight and Efficiency: Reducing the weight of vehicles dramatically improves their efficiency and reduces negative impacts, such as tyre particulate emissions and resource consumption.Collaborative Ecosystems: Building a sustainable transportation system involves aligning the interests of multiple stakeholders, including local authorities, manufacturers, and consumers.Notable Quotes:Hugo Spowers: “We will never sell a car; we'll only sell a service. That’s how we align our interests with sustainability.”Hugo Spowers: “Our cars do feel significantly different to your average modern car, very direct and engaging.”Hugo Spowers: “We save more money on the fuel for the car over the life of the car than the premium we pay for the carbon fiber.”Hugo Spowers: “There's no way to do this incrementally. It's a step change opportunity at a systems level.”Hugo Spowers: “It’s not just about improving technology; it’s about changing the business model that makes sustainability profitable.”Resources:Riversimple Website"Natural Capitalism" by Paul Hawken and Amory LovinsDame La truck CEO's comments on charging electric trucksHisata's efficiency claims for their electrolyzerListen to the full episode to discover how Riversimple is poised to transform the landscape of personal mobility through innovative, sustainable design and business models. Stay tuned for more insights and stories on "Shape the System." Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

About the Guest(s):Wayne McIntyre is the CEO and co-founder of Relocalize, a groundbreaking startup focused on transforming the production and distribution of food and beverages. With a robust background in technology startups and leadership roles, Wayne has a unique perspective that blends his personal passion for environmental sustainability with professional expertise. He holds over two decades of experience in diverse markets, having transitioned from a corporate lawyer in the U.S. to a pioneer in decarbonization efforts for food systems.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of "Shape the System," host Vincent Turner converses with Wayne McIntyre, the co-founder and CEO of Relocalize. The dialogue dives deep into the mechanics and innovations aimed at disrupting the centralized model of food and beverage production. Turner and McIntyre explore the complexities of our current food system, emphasizing the inefficiencies and environmental impacts brought about by extensive logistics and supply chains. The discussion offers keen insights into how modern technologies like AI, automation, and the Internet of Things are making it possible to decentralize production at a micro scale, thereby reducing costs and carbon footprints.Wayne McIntyre elaborates on the unique journey of Relocalize, from its conception to its current operations. He sheds light on the strategic choice of starting with packaged ice due to its high logistic costs and monopoly-driven market dynamics. The conversation transitions into the economic and environmental advantages of microfactories, the technological challenges encountered, and the promising future of expanding this model to other food and beverage products. McIntyre highlights that through the use of autonomous microfactories, Relocalize can produce ice and other items at a lower cost, ensuring a more sustainable future for food and beverage distribution.Key Takeaways:Innovative Production Models: By leveraging AI, robotics, and the Internet of Things, Relocalize has developed autonomous microfactories that significantly cut down on traditional logistic costs and carbon emissions.Strategic Entry with Packaged Ice: The choice to start with packaged ice allows Relocalize to disrupt a monopolized market with a high logistical expense, offering both economic and environmental benefits.Economic Efficiency: The microfactory model reduces costs by eliminating the need for extensive trucking, warehousing, and other traditional supply chain requirements.Autonomous Operations: The technology stack enables remote management and predictive maintenance, ensuring high uptime and reduced operational costs.Future Expansion: With a proven model in the ice market, Relocalize aims to extend its microfactory approach to beverages and possibly fresh food products, aligning with long-term goals of decarbonizing the food system.Notable Quotes:"Our vision for relocalize right from the beginning was, whether it's a tomato or a package of ice, how do we make something at that distribution center and take that whole value chain right from the beginning and collapse it?""The only way we can do this is to take complete control of that system. We need to own that chain. Actually, even better, we need to get rid of the entire chain.""This is a market that really is ripe for disruption and in so many ways, because not only is it geographic monopolists, you know, they're very happy where they are. They're order takers, ultimately.""We really proved the things that could be proven and the things that didn't work. We learned a lot from that. Right now, we're building that first full-scale system.""I'm really looking forward to there being 100 companies like us pursuing this opportunity. Because at the end of the day, we need to get food off of trucks, we need to decarbonize our food system."Resources:Relocalize: WebsiteKPMG High Growth Ventures: WebsiteTune in to the full episode to uncover more about how Relocalize is aiming to decarbonize and transform our food systems. Stay connected for more insightful episodes from Shape the System!  Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

About the Guest(s):Peter Vranes is the co-founder and CEO of Nutromics. With over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience, Peter previously took a skincare company from startup to a successful trade sale. Fascinated by health diagnostics, he shifted his focus to medtech. Alongside co-founder Hitesh Mehta, Peter is on a mission to revolutionize health diagnostics and patient outcomes through continuous biosensing technology. Under his leadership, Nutromics has raised $55 million and assembled a team of 60 experts in Melbourne and San Diego.Episode Summary:In this episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner speaks with Peter Vranes, co-founder of Nutromics, about revolutionizing health diagnostics to improve patient outcomes. Peter shares his journey from the skincare industry to pioneering technology in medtech. The discussion introduces Nutromics' innovative approach to continuous health monitoring through biosensors, aimed at transforming reactive healthcare into a proactive model.The conversation delves into the current state of patient diagnostics, emphasizing its inefficiencies and limitations. Peter illustrates how critical diagnostic markers often fluctuate quickly, making timely and continuous data crucial for effective treatment decisions. He explains how Nutromics' platform leverages DNA-based biosensors to provide real-time monitoring, thus addressing life-threatening conditions like heart attacks and sepsis with unprecedented accuracy and speed. The discussion also touches on the company's collaboration with top-tier universities and its future plans to extend the technology's reach from hospitals to everyday individual health monitoring.Key Takeaways:Legacy Diagnostic Systems: Today's healthcare heavily relies on blood draws that provide single data points, often delayed, for over 70% of clinical decisions, which can lead to inefficiencies and life-threatening oversights.Continuous Monitoring: Nutromics is developing a platform of DNA-based sensors to provide continuous, real-time health data, crucial for conditions with rapidly changing biomarkers like heart attacks and drug dosages for sepsis.Target Vertical Integration: Nutromics strategically focuses on high-impact verticals (ICU, cardiology, renal, etc.) to establish strong use cases and optimize their technology's application before a broader rollout.Proactive Healthcare Vision: The ultimate goal is shifting from reactive to proactive healthcare by creating a system that alerts individuals of health issues before they become symptomatic.Collaborative Innovation: Peter underscores the importance of collaborating with world-class researchers and being persistent in securing and developing groundbreaking technologies.Notable Quotes:"70% of all clinical decisions are based on lab diagnostics like the ones we described; the current system has been a legacy system for decades.""The holy grail of healthcare is shifting from a reactive to a proactive model, rendering symptomatic diagnosis obsolete.""We are on our way to revolutionizing diagnostics, which is what we're trying to do.""When you know you've got a tech that can save someone's life and people are dying today because this isn't in the market, you have to go.""We feel privileged to be given the opportunity to do this. That's what drives us, that legacy we are going to leave behind."Resources:Nutromics Website: NutromicsUniversity of California, Santa Barbara: UCSBTim Ferriss' Books: The Four-Hour Body, The Four-Hour WorkweekDive deep into the future of health diagnostics with Peter Vranes and learn how Nutromics is changing the system. Don’t miss this insightful episode and stay tuned for more transformative stories from Shape the System. Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au 

About the Guest(s):Paul Frasca: Paul Frasca is a co-founder of Sustainable Salons, an organization dedicated to minimizing waste in the beauty industry by turning salon waste into valuable resources. With a background in hairdressing and a keen interest in sustainability inspired by his partner Evelina, Paul has been pivotal in introducing sustainable practices into salons across Australia and New Zealand. Paul is also involved in innovative recycling solutions, such as using human hair for oil spill cleanups and creating fertilizers.Episode Summary:In this captivating episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner welcomes Paul Frasca, co-founder of Sustainable Salons, to discuss the revolutionary impact of sustainability in the hair and beauty industry. Turner’s humorous remark on discussing hair without personally having any sets a light tone for the intense subject matter. Frasca shares his journey from hairdressing to pioneering sustainability initiatives, influenced in part by his italian heritage and sustainable living principles inherited from his grandparents.The conversation dives deep into the specific waste challenges within salons, including metals, plastics, and human hair, and how Sustainable Salons has developed innovative solutions to transform these waste products into valuable resources. Using hair to clean up oil spills and create fertilizers are just two of their groundbreaking initiatives. Paul also sheds light on the logistics and operational challenges behind making sustainability viable, capturing the importance of point-to-point solutions and vertical integration in recycling. The episode underscores the need for industries to adapt swiftly to sustainability norms and the role of brands in driving this change.Key Takeaways:Sustainable Salons Initiatives: Sustainable Salons tackles waste in hair salons by recycling metals, plastics, and even human hair, converting these into useful products like hair booms for oil spills and fertilizers.Three-Pillar Approach: The organization’s sustainability strategy focuses on people, planet, and profit, ensuring that environmental solutions also benefit communities and businesses financially.Educational Outreach: The company integrates sustainability into educational frameworks, making it a part of the curriculum in hairdressing schools to inspire future generations.Reverse Logistics: Effective recycling relies on sophisticated reverse logistics and point-to-point solutions, which Sustainable Salons has meticulously developed.Global Potential: Sustainable Salons is setting a precedent in Australia and New Zealand, with potential applications in other regions and industries, encouraging innovation and partnership in sustainability practices globally.Notable Quotes:"I never came from some green world… I was born in Australia, but having italian migrants, grandparents and parents, they grew up a very different way." - Paul Frasca"Each boom, just to give you some stats, can hold up to eight times its weight, and it's highly attractive to oil." - Paul Frasca"So we've had to build it from scratch. And right now we have far better software than the courier companies do." - Paul Frasca"If we're going to solve this egg, we’re going to have to crack it, right? We're going to have to really get in here and solve this problem." - Paul Frasca"The way you're thinking is just so 1980s, it's dead. You've got to rethink sustainability from the ground up." - Paul FrascaResources:Sustainable Salons: WebsiteTeslar: WebsiteCritical: WebsiteSoils Alive: WebsiteOz Harvest: WebsiteKiwi Harvest: WebsiteFor more insights and to stay updated on groundbreaking sustainable solutions in various industries, make sure to listen to this episode and stay tuned for more content from Shape the System. Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au 

About the Guest(s):Christa Stelzmuller: Christa Stelzmuller is a prominent technologist and leader currently serving at charity: water, an organization dedicated to bringing clean and safe water to people in developing countries. With a rich background in consulting and startups, particularly in mission-driven enterprises, Christa combines her technical expertise and passion for social impact to drive charity: water's technology and data initiatives. She has been instrumental in integrating innovative technological solutions to enhance both operational efficiency and donor engagement within the organization.Episode Summary:In this riveting episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner engages with Christa Stelzmuller from charity: water to delve into the critical issues surrounding global water infrastructure and how technology plays a pivotal role in transforming lives. Christa shares her journey from consulting and startups to spearheading technological advancements at charity: water, driven by a mission to bring clean, safe water to communities in need. The episode highlights the organization’s innovative efforts in using sensors and data to ensure water sustainability and impact.As they explore the state of water infrastructure, Christa outlines the challenges faced by millions who lack basic access to clean water, spanning across Africa and Southeast Asia. She discusses how charity: water utilizes technology, such as IoT sensors, to monitor water projects and ensure their long-term sustainability. The discussion also touches on the broader impact of clean water on health, education, and economic opportunities within communities. Christa reveals how charity: water's data-driven approach not only enhances their operations but also builds transparency and trust with donors.Key Takeaways:The Technology Behind Clean Water: Charity: water leverages innovative technological solutions, including IoT sensors, to monitor and ensure the long-term sustainability of water projects in remote areas.Impact on Communities: Access to clean water directly influences education, health, and economic opportunities, particularly empowering women and girls.Dual Funding Model: Charity: water's unique approach separates donor funds into operational expenses and direct project funding, ensuring 100% of certain donations go straight to water projects.Brand and Partnerships: Strategic storytelling and brand partnerships play a critical role in building trust and expanding charity: water’s impact globally.Data and Growth Strategies: The organization employs data-driven tactics common in e-commerce to attract and retain donors, maximizing their mission's reach and effectiveness.Notable Quotes:"703 million people lack basic access to clean water in the world today." – Christa Stelzmuller"Water has a follow-on impact to many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals." – Christa Stelzmuller"Charity: water was looking for technologists and really thinking about technologists and engineers as revenue drivers." – Christa Stelzmuller"The 100% model was established to reinforce the idea of being able to trust where your dollar is going to go." – Christa Stelzmuller"Our mission is our product." – Christa StelzmullerResources:Charity: water websiteVincent Turner's LinkedInUN Sustainable Development GoalsFor more captivating insights and to experience how charity: water is revolutionizing access to clean water through technology and data, listen to the full episode and stay tuned for more episodes of Shape the System. Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au 

About the Guest(s):Dr. Aditya Nagrath is a distinguished individual with a profound background in mathematics and computer science, highlighted by his PhD from the University of Denver. Following his academic ventures, he founded Elephant Head Software, a dynamic contract software engineering firm that rapidly launched over 35 product lines, consisting of 50 applications with an efficient team of engineers. Building on this momentum, Dr. Nagrath spearheaded the innovative math education platform, Elephant Learning, which is designed to empower children's understanding of mathematics as a language.Episode Summary:In this engaging episode of "Shape the System," host Vincent Turner invites Dr. Aditya Nagrath to the conversation to discuss the evolution and challenges of mathematics education. The episode sets off with a discussion on the diverse educational systems within the United States and how they are adapting (or not) to modern pedagogical insights, particularly in the realm of mathematics education.The episode delves into Dr. Nagrath's Elephant Learning platform, which leverages adaptive algorithms to make mathematics education more conceptual, akin to learning a language. The system, designed with user engagement in mind, presents mathematics as puzzle games and promises significant improvements in students' math learning within a short timeframe. Highlighting the platform's scholarship program, the episode also touches upon the challenges and strategies of making high-quality math education accessible to economically diverse populations.Key Takeaways:Mathematics education in the US varies greatly due to a decentralized system across states and districts, leading to disparities in teaching methods and outcomes.Dr. Nagrath emphasizes the importance of conceptual understanding in mathematics, likening it to learning a language—both require immersive and experiential learning for mastery.Elephant Learning's platform addresses math education by providing personal, adaptive learning experiences, aiming to reduce math anxiety and increase proficiency.The learning system promises an average of 1.67 years of math progress within 13 weeks, reshaping how children interact with the subject.A financial model that ensures engagement: Elephant Learning's scholarship program charges a variable fee based on income to maintain a value perception and consistent usage among learners.Notable Quotes:"The value in the human knowledge is, can I instruct the computer to do it, or can I get the calculator to do it?" - Dr. Aditya Nagrath."Four out of five students are starting kindergarten unprepared…mathematics is the answer." - Dr. Aditya Nagrath."As long as you understand the teacher and it's fun. Well, you're not anxious of it, right." - Dr. Aditya Nagrath."The value in any human being's mind for anything is the dollar value ascribed that you paid for it." - Dr. Aditya Nagrath.Resources:Dr. Aditya Nagrath: Elephant Head SoftwareScholarship Program: [Application Process](mention of a process but no direct URL provided)Learning Platform: Elephant LearningFor anyone eager to reshape a child’s relationship with mathematics and foster a deeper understanding in a fun, adaptive way, listen to the full episode for inspiring insights from Dr. Aditya Nagrath and learn about the breakthroughs of Elephant Learning. Stay tuned for more episodes from "Shape the System" that highlight innovative approaches to evolving the systems we live by.  Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au

About the Guest(s):Kat Roma Greer is the Artistic Director of Micro Galleries, a global roaming arts initiative that focuses on using art as a tool for positive change in under-resourced communities. With her expertise, Kat leads a team of creative individuals developing small-scale innovative solutions to address both local and global issues through artist residencies, workshops, and the well-known Micro Galleries Live Festival. She is deeply passionate about the intersection of art and social impact, particularly in regions undergoing issues such as climate disruption and unequal resource distribution.Episode Summary:In an enthralling episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner explores the transformative power of art with Kat Roma Greer, the dynamic force behind Micro Galleries. This conversation delves into the unique ability of art to address complex societal and environmental issues, highlighting the incredible initiative that Micro Galleries embodies. Engaging with creators from around the world, the platform harnesses creativity to inspire change and offer innovative perspectives on pressing challenges.Kat's work demonstrates a clear link between the arts, knowledge sharing, and problem-solving in a tangible form. Throughout the discussion, key points emerge regarding the importance of contextual understanding and empathy within the creative process. Covering a major concern in Chiang Mai, Thailand - the smoky season resulting from agricultural burning, Kat discusses the approach of using art to communicate deeper societal narratives that data alone cannot capture. The episode truly captures the essence and roles of artists in pushing boundaries, fostering dialogue, and imagining solutions that could potentially be carried forward by others with greater resources.Key Takeaways:Micro Galleries is an initiative that uses art to generate social and environmental impact, primarily focusing on issues like equitable access and climate disruption.The role of the artist extends beyond traditional boundaries, including complex idea generation, collaboration, and risk-taking to address and highlight societal problems.Artistic interventions can effectively communicate the nuanced experiences of communities affected by global issues, potentially leading to innovative real-world solutions.The episode discusses the historical role of art in presenting subversive commentary on political and societal issues, often leading to change or greater awareness.The structure of Micro Galleries allows a blend of local and international artists to work on projects, creating a global network aimed at fostering creativity and social change.Notable Quotes:"We use the arts to address problems in under-resourced communities and work with them to creatively express those issues and find some solutions." - Kat Roma Greer"Artists have this unique ability to sit in that space, and from that comes some really fantastic possibilities and solutions that are kind of innovated or imagined up." - Kat Roma Greer"Artists are quite often some of the most intelligent and aware and well-read people that I encounter because they need to be, because of the work they're producing." - Kat Roma Greer"So a lot of artists, for example, will lend each other equipment and resources. So there's a lot of resource sharing that occurs." - Kat Roma Greer"We think we play a seeding role, a grassroots role, and we're connecting very much on the ground with the exact people that are affected by these issues." - Kat Roma GreerResources:Micro Galleries Website: Micro GalleriesInstagram Handle: @microgalleriesFacebook Page: Micro Galleries FacebookJoin us for an inspiring journey through the world of creative activism with Kat Roma Greer on Shape the System. Tune into the full episode to gain a deeper understanding of how art intertwines with social and environmental discourse, and discover a community where art is truly being used as a catalyst for positive change. Stay connected for more enlightening conversations that challenge us to rethink the way the world works. Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au 

About the Guest(s):Ari Tulla is a passionate healthcare entrepreneur focused on delivering better health solutions through technology and data. With his roots firmly planted in Finland, Ari has been a Bay Area resident for over 16 years, dedicating the last 14 to spearheading healthcare companies. His inspiration stemmed from personal challenges, as he and his wife faced a long journey with health issues, eventually leading to the birth of their children through IVF after overcoming obstacles tied to thyroid tumors and autoimmune diseases. Ari's prior ventures include BetterDoctor and Quest Analytics, where he led initiatives to improve healthcare accessibility. Currently, he’s the CEO of Elo, a company redefining personalized nutrition to combat chronic illnesses and promote overall health.Episode Summary:In this enlightening episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner engages with Ari Tulla in a profound discussion on transforming health outcomes through personalized nutrition. The episode sheds light on systemic health issues and the power of targeted intervention in creating more sustainable, healthy lifestyles.Ari Tulla delves into the detrimental effects of sugar consumption, the normalization of unhealthy food, and the rise in chronic conditions like obesity and metabolic diseases. He shares his journey from personal health struggles to entrepreneurship, grounding his mission in the desire to fundamentally reshape how people approach health, particularly through the lens of nutrition.Key insights into the inadequacies of the current healthcare systems are coupled with Ari's vision of utilizing data to tailor health solutions. By leveraging advancements like 3D-printed gummy vitamins and AI-driven models, Elo aspires to make precision nutrition a reality for a healthier society.Key Takeaways:Chronic illnesses such as obesity and metabolic diseases are significantly influenced by the extensive intake of sugar and processed foods.Personalized nutrition, affirmed by individual blood tests, can address specific deficiencies and improve overall health outcomes.Engaging in healthy behaviors requires systemic changes, as current societal norms and commercial influences perpetuate unhealthy choices.Innovations in data utilization and product personalization, like 3D-printed gummy vitamins, represent a new frontier in the field of nutrition.Elo's expansion into B2B partnerships aims to scale the impact of personalized nutrition to broader audiences through established wellness-oriented communities.Notable Quotes:"We possibly lost our son because we didn't have the right care at that moment and it felt really bad for us, of course." - Ari Tulla"Food is the main cause [of chronic diseases]." - Ari Tulla"Stop eating carbs in the morning. That will change everything." - Ari Tulla"You have more sugar, so you're going to lose weight. And let's say multiply that by 1000 days." - Ari Tulla"We're going to be talking to tens of thousands or more people who are coming from these partners." - Ari TullaResources:Ari Tulla's LinkedIn: ProfileElo's Website: https://www.elo.health/Quest Analytics: https://questanalytics.com/BetterDoctor: https://betterdoctor.com/Enjoyed the episode? Listen to the full conversation and join us as we continue exploring innovative ways to shape the system for a healthier tomorrow. Stay tuned for more thought-provoking content that challenges and inspires.

About the Guest(s):Howard Pearl is the Chief Executive of Charitable Adult Rides and Services, Inc. (CARS), which operates under the parent nonprofit that has been functioning for 107 years and collaborates exclusively with nonprofits. Known for running the largest vehicle and real estate donation program in the US, CARS serves a broad range of clients, including renowned organizations like the American Red Cross, American Kidney Foundation, and Sierra Club, among many others. With more than 9000 clients, Howard leads CARS on its mission to maximize donations and funnel them back into various charitable causes.Episode Summary:In this thought-provoking episode of Shape the System, host Vincent Turner sits down with Howard Pearl, the trailblazing Chief Executive of CARS (Charitable Adult Rides and Services, Inc.), to delve into the intricate world of nonprofit organizations and their impact on our society. The conversation unfurls the nuances of charity inception, operations, and fundraising, shedding light on an ingenious model of asset-based contributions to generate funding for nonprofits.Howard Pearl shares compelling insights into the multi-faceted reasons that drive individuals to start and support various charitable causes, revealing the symbiotic relationship between those who wish to contribute to society and those in need. With a particular focus on CARS, Pearl elucidates the process and advantages of non-cash charitable contributions, specifically vehicle and real estate donations, and how they capitalize on consumer behavior to benefit thousands of charities across the US.Key Takeaways:Nonprofits Arise from Altruism and Social Needs: Individuals start charities prompted both by altruistic desires to contribute and societal needs that require organized assistance.Undesignated versus Designated Funding: Nonprofits thrive on undesignated funds as they offer flexibility in addressing the organization's immediate needs, as opposed to designated funding which is restricted to specific purposes dictated by donors.Profitable Niche in Asset Donations: Vehicle and real estate donations are crucial sources of nonprofit funding due to their tendency to be motivated by convenience for the donor and potential tax benefits.Redefining Nonprofit Innovation: Pearl discusses the 'On The Go' project, an initiative that aims to address transportation needs of seniors, showcasing how nonprofits can innovate to find new revenue sources while serving community needs.Leading with Purpose: Howard Pearl's personal journey into nonprofit leadership highlights the value of applying commercial acumen to philanthropic efforts, bringing efficacy to altruism and driving systemic change.Notable Quotes:"We are the largest vehicle and real estate donation program in the US that you have never heard of.""The donor and the donors' wishes are, without a doubt, the single most important part of the equation.""Undesignated funding… it's just money I can spend on anything that I legitimately need.""It's a great asset class to give for a number of reasons… the tax implications are really huge.""My job isn't any different than being the CEO of any other corporation… we will grow and change with [society]."Resources:CARS (Charitable Adult Rides and Services, Inc.) Website: Not mentioned in the transcriptOn The Go: otgrides.org as mentioned for the transportation initiativeKPMG High Growth Ventures: Not mentioned in the transcriptTune in to the full episode to follow Howard Pearl's enlightening insights on the transformative world of nonprofit organizations and how, through innovative methods, charities are reshaping the landscape of philanthropy. Stay connected for more engaging content that seeks to uncover how individuals and organizations shape the systems around us for the better. Shape the System is  an independent podcast with support from KPMG High Growth Ventures More about KPMG High Growth VenturesScale up for success. We’re here for that.We navigate founders and their teams to the services they need to reach their next milestone. From startup to scale and beyond. No matter where you are right now, we’ll get you the help you need to drive your business forward. We help founders fully realise their potential, as well as the potential of their team and their business, by connecting them to the expertise, skills and resources they need at every stage of their growth journey.Our extensive experience in partnering with evolving businesses means that we can provide you with tailored support as well as independent and practical insights. Whether you are looking to refine your strategy, establish your operations, prepare for a capital raise, expand abroad or simply comply with regulatory requirements, we are here to help.Links:Website: About (highgrowthventures.com.au)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/kpmg-enterprise-high-growth-ventures/Contacts: highgrowthventures@kpmg.com.au