Latest news with #BuildersVision
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Inside a low-key Walmart heir's bid to save nature (while making a profit), after crediting it with helping him survive rare cancer diagnosis
Lukas Walton, an heir to the fortune, has quietly invested $15 billion of his wealth into Builders Vision, a Chicago-based organization focused on environmental and societal impact through sustainable investments in clean energy, food, and agriculture. Preferring to stay out of the spotlight, Walton believes in engaging the business community for scalable change and insists that impactful projects can deliver financial returns comparable to traditional investments. In the current economy, the work, opinions and battles of billionaires can be hard to avoid—yet the dynasty behind the leading business in the Fortune 500 tends to stay out of the spotlight. Every now and again members of the Walton family, whose relatives began the Walmart empire, will quietly share their thoughts on the political or economic outlook before returning to their work. And that's precisely how Lukas Walton has wanted it to be. The man worth $39 billion courtesy of the business founded by his grandfather, Sam Walton, established Builders Vision in 2017 as an umbrella for his philanthropic, investment, and advocacy work. The focus of the Chicago-based company is to deploy capital, advocate for change, and support partners more widely in a range of endeavors across clean energy, food and agriculture, and ocean preservation. Walton had declined all media interviews, but spoke to the Financial Times for the first time in an interview published today, saying he had made the decision to prevent people 'leading with their assumptions' about him. Instead Walton has directed his time and funds towards environmental efforts and told the FT he had plowed $15 billion of his own funds into Builders Vision—to bankroll endeavors that come with both financial and societal returns. Walton, 39, is adding his voice to a wider push from other billionaire philanthropists for a greater focus on a more sustainable and equal planet. Earlier this year, for example, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates confirmed the largest philanthropic donation from an individual in modern history. He announced the Gates Foundation will receive the vast majority of his wealth—approximately $200 billion—to be spent within the next two decades. While Walton's motives are clear—he wants the world to be more 'humane and healthy'—he has experienced first-hand the benefits that access to good nutrition can bring. As a preschooler Walton was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and, according to the Walton family, was cured in part thanks to his mother feeding him an all-natural diet. Walton said he is 'constantly reminded' of how lucky he is to be alive, and added: 'My parents taught me the good habits that have kept me around. My mom basically raised me out of her garden, and that way I got to learn where our food comes from.' The Colorado College graduate continued: 'Starting with food and agriculture, I want to put my money to work and I saw there was a space for innovative, flexible capital. 'My gut feeling all along has been to engage the business community because of its size and scale.' Fundamental to Walton's belief is that investors—and indeed his high net worth peers—need to see returns if they are going to fully engage their capital in projects which have societal or environmental benefits. As such, he told the FT, his projects should not be framed as charitable because they have a very clear focus on returns that either match or outperform the rest of the market. Walton has already undertaken significant projects which he says demonstrate returns, for example backing a business in Nebraska that purchases and then leases farmland for organic agriculture. Making the green economy a more palatable investment than markets is certainly no small undertaking, but Walton, the CEO of Builders Vision, maintains: 'The opportunities are out there. '[The finance gap] is not for lack of pipeline. But people first need to realize that the environment is industry, it's infrastructure, it's financial products, it's not simply trees.' It seems Walton—ranked 37th on Bloomberg's Billionaires Index—is happy to get on with the job in his own way. He's often spotted cycling to the office in Chicago, and drives a Volvo SUV instead of the higher-end luxury vehicles preferred by other billionaires. His urge to stay out of the limelight extends to his hobbies. The quiet of trail biking, he says, is a draw because 'it's one of those places I can't be on a phone call.' This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
5 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Carbon Upcycling Closes $18M Investment Led by Builders Vision to Bolster Cement Manufacturing Resiliency
CALGARY, AB, June 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Carbon Upcycling Technologies ("Carbon Upcycling"), a leader in carbon and resource utilization, announced today the closing of its USD 18 million investment round led by Builders Vision, a team of investors and philanthropists accelerating tomorrow's most promising solutions across agriculture, food, and oceans. The latest investment builds on a landmark period of momentum for Carbon Upcycling as the company develops its first-of-its-kind carbon capture & utilization technology project at the Ash Grove Mississauga Cement Plant, and executes on its newly signed memorandum of agreement with TITAN Group to assess projects at two of its cement plants. The investment round garnered follow-on participation from a strong contingent of existing investors, including Business Development Bank of Canada, Climate Investment, Amplify Capital, and strategic investors CRH Ventures, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, and TITAN Group. The continued participation of returning investors underscores the growing confidence in Carbon Upcycling's commercial readiness and role in manufacturing localized, low-carbon building materials. "Builders Vision's investment, along with the continued support of our partners, is a powerful signal that the market is ready for scalable, science-based solutions like Carbon Upcycling," said Apoorv Sinha, CEO of Carbon Upcycling. "With the support of Builders Vision and our strategic partners, we are setting the foundation for low-carbon construction, demonstrating that it is not just possible — but practical, profitable, and available today." Carbon Upcycling's groundbreaking technology produces high-performance, sustainable supplementary cementitious products by utilizing and upcycling locally sourced, low-value materials and captured CO₂ emissions. In doing so, the technology localizes critical building material supplies, bolstering construction supply chains and significantly reducing cement emissions. "Carbon Upcycling is redefining what's possible in industrial decarbonization by turning waste and emissions into valuable, scalable materials," said James Lindsay, Investment Director at Builders Vision. "Their technology is widely applicable to a number of local feedstocks and quickly integrates onsite to existing production facilities, and that's what the market needs. We're proud to support their growth as they lead the charge toward a more sustainable and resilient construction industry, starting with a flagship project that sets a new global standard." With this latest investment, Carbon Upcycling is poised to lead the next era of low-carbon innovation in construction. By combining scalable carbon capture with waste utilization, the company addresses a critical environmental challenge while laying the groundwork for a resilient, clean supply chain to support tomorrow's infrastructure. To learn more about Carbon Upcycling, visit About Carbon Upcycling Carbon Upcycling is a carbon and resource utilization company, strengthening critical cement supply chains for the infrastructure of tomorrow. Its technology offers a value-add solution for CO₂ emissions and industrial waste materials by upcycling them into low-carbon supplementary cement products. The patented system captures and reduces emissions through carbon capture and abatement while fostering localized, circular supply chains. Carbon Upcycling is backed by a syndicate of strategic investors, including Builders Vision, Business Development Bank of Canada, Climate Investment, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures, Clean Energy Ventures, and Amplify Capital, as well as three of the world's leading cement manufacturers: CRH, Cemex, and TITAN Group. Learn more at About Builders Vision: Builders Vision is a team of investors and philanthropists accelerating tomorrow's most promising solutions across food and agriculture, energy and oceans. By deploying capital from grantmaking to market-rate investments, we aim to maximize financial returns and lasting impact. We are diversified and risk-aware, ensuring our investments balance both financial growth and long-term sustainability. The team's portfolios include over 300 grantees, over 100 emerging and established fund managers across all asset classes, and nearly 50 direct investments in companies and accelerators. A more resilient future for investors, communities, and the planet requires harnessing the collective power of innovation, capital and collaboration. We work closely with leaders and visionaries at the cutting edge of sustainability. At the heart of everything we do are our partners — the entrepreneurs, advocates, scientists and co-investors — who are closest to the solutions that will transform industries and achieve lasting impact.
Cision Canada
03-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Energize Capital raises $430 million to capitalize and scale digitally-enabled climate solutions
Backed by leading institutional Limited Partners, Ventures Fund III underscores the need for thematically aligned investors in today's market CHICAGO, June 3, 2025 /CNW/ -- Energize Capital, a leading multi-stage investor in climate solutions, today announced the close of its Ventures Fund III ("Ventures III") totaling $430 million in capital commitments to the fund and its related vehicles. The firm's fifth institutional fund and third of its Ventures strategy, Ventures III will deploy into earlier-stage companies focused on scaling energy and industrial transformation through digital and software-enabled solutions. This latest raise brings Energize's total assets under management to over $1.8 billion and will empower the specialist firm to continue leveraging its team's decades of expertise in climate technology to support entrepreneurs through both financial capital and extensive operational and commercialization support. Today's economy is undergoing a profound transformation, placing new demands on capital partners to navigate emerging complexity and create value. Technologies like AI are redefining industrial processes, driving innovation, efficiency, and scalability. At the same time, the reshoring of manufacturing, evolving global supply chains, and the accelerating energy transition are reshaping critical infrastructure. These shifts are creating significant opportunities in areas such as grid interconnection, next-generation manufacturing, and the circular economy—all of which increasingly rely on digital tools to manage complexity and unlock value. With a thesis grounded in digital-first climate solutions and a track record of scaling companies in these evolving sectors, Energize is well-positioned to be a critical partner in this next chapter. "Now on our third ventures fund, the Energize team has been investing in climate technologies and solutions across several cycles, and we've experienced firsthand how this space has evolved in both market size and complexity," said John Tough, managing partner at Energize Capital. "Today more than ever, operators need specialist investors with deep domain expertise and operational know-how to help them scale their solutions and achieve enduring growth. We are excited to back the next generation of entrepreneurs and are honored to be supported by a group of world-class Limited Partners who align with our mission of investing in climate solutions with ambition." Energize's Ventures Fund III is backed by LPs that represent leading institutional, corporate strategic, family office and impact investors. New LPs in the fund include Första AP-Fonden (AP1), Capricorn, Reference Capital, Keeling Capital, Keysight Technologies, WEX Venture Capital, and several other international pensions. Among returning investors are GE Vernova, CDPQ, Builders Vision, UBS, WEC, and others. "As an investor committed to accelerating the energy transition, Builders Vision values Energize's deep industry insights and proven approach to scaling energy transition SaaS businesses," said Scott Gerdes, director of private investments at Builders Vision. "The close of Ventures Fund III is an opportunity for Energize to further enhance its in-depth research, valuable industry connections, and hands-on team, all of which are crucial for driving broader market adoption. By collaborating with forward-thinking companies and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Energize is fueling growth and contributing to the creation of a cleaner, more resilient energy ecosystem." 1 The fund will back asset-light climate solutions, with a particular focus on companies operating in the industrial digitization, next generation infrastructure and energy transition sectors. To date, Energize has deployed capital from Ventures III into several investments, including Tyba, a battery software optimization platform; Archive, a technology solution for brands to launch and scale profitable resale businesses; and Nira, a software platform that supports grid interconnection for energy developers. About Energize Capital Energize Capital is a leading investor in climate solutions. Founded in 2016 and based in Chicago, Energize seeks to scale sustainable innovation by partnering with the builders and operators shaping the future. To date, Energize has funded 36 companies and deployed more than $920 million through its Venture and Endurance strategies. Founded in partnership with Invenergy, the firm is backed by strategic, institutional, and impact LPs including Första AP-Fonden (AP1), GE Vernova, Capricorn, CDPQ, Builders Vision, UBS, WEC, Reference Capital, Keeling Capital, Keysight Technologies, WEX Venture Capital, and more. For more information on Energize, please visit
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Energize Capital raises $430 million to capitalize and scale digitally-enabled climate solutions
Backed by leading institutional Limited Partners, Ventures Fund III underscores the need for thematically aligned investors in today's market CHICAGO, June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Energize Capital, a leading multi-stage investor in climate solutions, today announced the close of its Ventures Fund III ("Ventures III") totaling $430 million in capital commitments to the fund and its related vehicles. The firm's fifth institutional fund and third of its Ventures strategy, Ventures III will deploy into earlier-stage companies focused on scaling energy and industrial transformation through digital and software-enabled solutions. This latest raise brings Energize's total assets under management to over $1.8 billion and will empower the specialist firm to continue leveraging its team's decades of expertise in climate technology to support entrepreneurs through both financial capital and extensive operational and commercialization support. Today's economy is undergoing a profound transformation, placing new demands on capital partners to navigate emerging complexity and create value. Technologies like AI are redefining industrial processes, driving innovation, efficiency, and scalability. At the same time, the reshoring of manufacturing, evolving global supply chains, and the accelerating energy transition are reshaping critical infrastructure. These shifts are creating significant opportunities in areas such as grid interconnection, next-generation manufacturing, and the circular economy—all of which increasingly rely on digital tools to manage complexity and unlock value. With a thesis grounded in digital-first climate solutions and a track record of scaling companies in these evolving sectors, Energize is well-positioned to be a critical partner in this next chapter. "Now on our third ventures fund, the Energize team has been investing in climate technologies and solutions across several cycles, and we've experienced firsthand how this space has evolved in both market size and complexity," said John Tough, managing partner at Energize Capital. "Today more than ever, operators need specialist investors with deep domain expertise and operational know-how to help them scale their solutions and achieve enduring growth. We are excited to back the next generation of entrepreneurs and are honored to be supported by a group of world-class Limited Partners who align with our mission of investing in climate solutions with ambition." Energize's Ventures Fund III is backed by LPs that represent leading institutional, corporate strategic, family office and impact investors. New LPs in the fund include Första AP-Fonden (AP1), Capricorn, Reference Capital, Keeling Capital, Keysight Technologies, WEX Venture Capital, and several other international pensions. Among returning investors are GE Vernova, CDPQ, Builders Vision, UBS, WEC, and others. "As an investor committed to accelerating the energy transition, Builders Vision values Energize's deep industry insights and proven approach to scaling energy transition SaaS businesses," said Scott Gerdes, director of private investments at Builders Vision. "The close of Ventures Fund III is an opportunity for Energize to further enhance its in-depth research, valuable industry connections, and hands-on team, all of which are crucial for driving broader market adoption. By collaborating with forward-thinking companies and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Energize is fueling growth and contributing to the creation of a cleaner, more resilient energy ecosystem."1 The fund will back asset-light climate solutions, with a particular focus on companies operating in the industrial digitization, next generation infrastructure and energy transition sectors. To date, Energize has deployed capital from Ventures III into several investments, including Tyba, a battery software optimization platform; Archive, a technology solution for brands to launch and scale profitable resale businesses; and Nira, a software platform that supports grid interconnection for energy developers. About Energize CapitalEnergize Capital is a leading investor in climate solutions. Founded in 2016 and based in Chicago, Energize seeks to scale sustainable innovation by partnering with the builders and operators shaping the future. To date, Energize has funded 36 companies and deployed more than $920 million through its Venture and Endurance strategies. Founded in partnership with Invenergy, the firm is backed by strategic, institutional, and impact LPs including Första AP-Fonden (AP1), GE Vernova, Capricorn, CDPQ, Builders Vision, UBS, WEC, Reference Capital, Keeling Capital, Keysight Technologies, WEX Venture Capital, and more. For more information on Energize, please visit Media ContactRobiny Jamerson, Energize Marketing & Communications, rjamerson@ 1 No compensation was provided in exchange for this testimonial SOURCE Energize Capital Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
CNBC
01-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Billionaire Lukas Walton names new CIO for his family office
Builders Vision, the family office of billionaire Walmart heir Lukas Walton, has promoted Noelle Laing to chief investment officer. The Chicago-based firm uses philanthropy and impact investing to address three global challenges: clean energy, food sustainability and ocean health. Laing started working with Walton 12 years ago when he was a client at Cambridge Associates, where she managed impact investments. She joined Builders Vision in 2019 and has served as CIO of the firm's philanthropy arm, Builders Initiative, since 2022. In that capacity, Laing shifted 90% of the $1.7 billion endowment to "mission-aligned investments" that advance social and environmental causes and led a team that invested more than $300 million in early-stage startups and fund managers. In her new role across the full family office, Laing will also oversee some family trusts and the firm's asset management arm. A spokesperson told CNBC that Builders Asset Management has a multibillion-dollar taxable portfolio but declined to specify its size. "Noelle has been instrumental in the success of our investment strategies and is the perfect person for the job," said Walton in an announcement. "Through increased coordination and shared vision, we can be even more effective at pursuing these goals across our sectors." Laing is consolidating the two divisions' investment teams and will oversee about 20 investors. She plans to make about a half dozen hires, bringing the team's headcount to nearly 30. Builders Vision represents a growing class of family offices with assets and headcounts that rival those of institutional investors. Laing told CNBC that this scale allows Builders Vision to tackle its core causes in a wide range of ways spanning nonprofit grants, small bets on startups that are piloting new technology and multimillion-dollar co-investments and allocations to fund managers. "It's a spectrum of investments, and it allows us to really get a deep view of the different ways that we can get exposure and move oceans, food and agriculture and energy into the future," she said. "We can choose which tool in which portfolio to see that vision through." Builders Vision recently backed Norway's Bluefront Equity, a sustainable seafood fund. In November, the firm co-guaranteed $70 million of debt held by the Bahamas, allowing the government to borrow at a lower cost and allocate the savings to marine conservation. The Inside Wealth newsletter by Robert Frank is your weekly guide to high-net-worth investors and the industries that serve them. Subscribe here to get access today. Laing started her career at Cambridge Associates in 2003, leaving in 2008 to work at the Red Cross and a pension fund. She returned to the investment advisory in 2010. At Cambridge, she consulted on Walton's then-fledgling venture capital fund, S2G Investments. The $2.5 billion fund was spun off from Builders Vision in May 2024. Laing is part of a small but growing group of women managing investments for the ultra-rich including Erin Harkless Moore of Melinda French Gates' Pivotal Ventures and Margo Doyle of S-Cubed Capital, the family office of billionaire venture capitalist Mark Stevens. Rebecca Carland, now CIO of the Knight Foundation, served as CIO of Builders Asset Management until late last year. All four women are also alumna of Cambridge Associates, the top advisor to wealthy families, endowments and foundations with some 300 senior investment staff. David Jallits, another Cambridge Associates veteran, oversees investments for Chicago's Duchossois family. "You have so many resources and so many people's different opinions, which is such a big part of the magic of Cambridge," Laing said. "It's a great training ground for a place like Builders Vision where you can focus and then implement kind of the best ideas from from Cambridge."
