Mark Crofton

Third Sphere works for founders transforming global systems. We’ve made over 100 investments in notable firms like Cove Tool, OneWheel and Bowery Farming. We’re usually a pre-customer investor and offer traditional venture as well as credit finance, along with coaching and connections to over 12,000 customers, investors focused on re-imagining our planet. Our team is ranked in the 99th percentile of climatetech investors on NFX Signal, and Techcrunch named us one of the top 10 VCs founders love the most. We know that climate is about more than carbon—it’s also about force multipliers like asset finance and distribution. We believe the best climate solutions don’t look like climate solutions at all, just better, faster, and cheaper products and services. We prefer rapid deployment that will get us close to 1.5C in warming while upgrading our systems to make them more resilient. But we’ll also look at moonshot opportunities because we know we need a plan B. [VC] A real investment is about more than capital. We invest at the earliest stages, usually pre-customer, stay close to our founders, and work with them from the inception of our relationship so they can build relationships with other founders, investors, and customers. [Credit] Our investments are designed to minimize dilution and preserve ownership for your team without compromising on rapid growth and impact. That’s why, in addition to venture investment, we lend and create asset finance structures like leasing vehicles. [Platform] The Third Sphere platform helps to connect portfolio founders with leading founders, investors, and customers in climatetech. We use it internally to source the most promising investments and to make introductions within our network in order to increase our portfolio’s chances of achieving rapid impact at scale. [History] We probably look familiar. We used to be known as Urban Us. Heres whats changed - https://hubs.li/Q014-Jsb0

Techstars helps founders scale their startups into world-changing businesses. Founded in 2006, Techstars is on a mission to invest in startups to enable more capital to flow to more entrepreneurs around the world in order to deliver exceptional returns to our investors. We do this by operating accelerator programs and venture capital funds, as well as by connecting startups, investors, corporations, and cities to help build thriving startup communities. Our results show why Techstars is Better for Founders than any other global accelerator: On average, 74.5% of Techstars companies will raise money within 3 years of their program; 18.5% of Techstars portfolio companies have exited 5 years after their program and 31.1% after eight years. (PitchBook June 2023)

Third Sphere works for founders transforming global systems. We’ve made over 100 investments in notable firms like Cove Tool, OneWheel and Bowery Farming. We’re usually a pre-customer investor and offer traditional venture as well as credit finance, along with coaching and connections to over 12,000 customers, investors focused on re-imagining our planet. Our team is ranked in the 99th percentile of climatetech investors on NFX Signal, and Techcrunch named us one of the top 10 VCs founders love the most. We know that climate is about more than carbon—it’s also about force multipliers like asset finance and distribution. We believe the best climate solutions don’t look like climate solutions at all, just better, faster, and cheaper products and services. We prefer rapid deployment that will get us close to 1.5C in warming while upgrading our systems to make them more resilient. But we’ll also look at moonshot opportunities because we know we need a plan B. [VC] A real investment is about more than capital. We invest at the earliest stages, usually pre-customer, stay close to our founders, and work with them from the inception of our relationship so they can build relationships with other founders, investors, and customers. [Credit] Our investments are designed to minimize dilution and preserve ownership for your team without compromising on rapid growth and impact. That’s why, in addition to venture investment, we lend and create asset finance structures like leasing vehicles. [Platform] The Third Sphere platform helps to connect portfolio founders with leading founders, investors, and customers in climatetech. We use it internally to source the most promising investments and to make introductions within our network in order to increase our portfolio’s chances of achieving rapid impact at scale. [History] We probably look familiar. We used to be known as Urban Us. Heres whats changed - https://hubs.li/Q014-Jsb0

McKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm. We are the trusted advisor to the worlds leading businesses, governments, and institutions. We work with leading organizations across the private, public and social sectors. Our scale, scope, and knowledge allow us to address problems that no one else can. We have deep functional and industry expertise as well as breadth of geographical reach. We are passionate about taking on immense challenges that matter to our clients and, often, to the world. We work with our clients as we do with our colleagues. We build their capabilities and leadership skills at every level and every opportunity. We do this to help build internal support, get to real issues, and reach practical recommendations. We bring out the capabilities of clients to fully participate in the process and lead the ongoing work.

Updata Partners is a leading technology-focused growth equity firm in Washington D.C. with over $1.5 billion in committed capital. Led by an investment team averaging more than 25 years of technology experience, Updata invests in high-growth B2B software and software-driven businesses where the combination of capital and operating experience will help accelerate success. To learn more, please visit updata.com.