Ed Barker talks to Gabriel Scheer, Senior Director, Investments & Innovation at Elemental Impact.
Elemental Impact is a nonprofit venture fund investing in companies with environmental and community impact. Gabriel’s path goes from startups like Lime to investing in climate impact. The conversation covers Elemental’s donor-funded model, where exits are recycled into new investments and allow longer time horizons for hardware-heavy climate solutions. Beyond writing checks, Elemental runs strategy and project tracks, providing coaching and a community of 160+ portfolio companies.
In a time of policy uncertainty in climate and AI-driven data center energy and cooling needs, can Elemental’s innovative financing model, such as the “Development SAFE,” change the investing model? And what role does Seattle’s under-marketed climate tech potential hold?
00:00 Introduction
01:40 Gabriel's Background
08:10 What is Elemental Impact?
13:31 Operating Model and Portfolio Support
23:50 Tech, Policy and the Current Climate
28:36 AI, Data Centers, and Innovation
34:03 Seattle as a Climate Tech Hub
37:45 The Future and Final Thoughts
About Your Host
Ed Barker has enjoyed a weird and varied career. Ed is a Brit now resident in Seattle and has founded three startups, enjoyed a long career in corporate strategy, and most recently as a VC. Sound Investments shines a small light on the fantastic work being done in the Pacific Northwest entrepreneurial community.
Studio 1878
Ed is Founder of Studio 1878, a podcast strategy and production studio focused on helping brands tell smarter, more human stories. We work with founders, operators, and marketing leaders to design shows that serve clear strategic goals. Studio 1878 handles the full process - from concept and positioning through recording, editing, and distribution. Our work blends editorial thinking with production craft, prioritizing substance over noise. The result is podcasts that build trust, credibility, and long-term brand value.
Gabriel Scheer, Elemental Impact
Gabriel is Senior Director of Investments and Innovation at Elemental Impact, a nonprofit climate tech investor with offices across the US. He leads the transportation, energy, built environment, and water portfolios, overseeing more than 75 companies and deploying $30M+ across 40 investments in companies including Dimensional Energy, Found Energy, and Forum Mobility. Before Elemental, Gabriel was on the founding team at Lime as its first government relations hire, founded two companies, and spent time at Frog Design and in microtransit and car sharing. A Seattle native, he has been recognized as one of the city's 100 most influential people and was a 2010 recipient of the Marshall Memorial Fellowship.
Connect with Gabriel:
Elemental Impact: elementalimpact.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gabrielscheer
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