Ep 32: David Buzby, Private Impact Investor
Today’s guest is David Buzby. David has been starting, building and investing in “impact” businesses for the last 27 years with an emphasis on renewable energy generation, energy storage/grid services, wastewater treatment and e-commerce. If exploring the intersection of investing for profit and for impact is interesting, then this one is for you. Enjoy the show!
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Show Notes
Today’s guest is David Buzby.
David has been starting, building and investing in “impact” businesses for the last 27 years with an emphasis on renewable energy generation, energy storage/grid services, wastewater treatment and e-commerce.
He currently sits on the Board of Cambrian Innovation, Leading Edge Crystal Technologies, Paragon Power and Stem, as well as being a member of the Investment Committee at the PRIME Coalition.
He has in the past been a founding investor and director of SunRun (NASD:RUN), SunEdison (NYSE: SUNE), Valueclick (NASD:VCLK), Brilliant Light Power, Bright Plain Renewable Energy, Prevalent Power, Resource Holdings and Best Internet.
David has an MBA from the Harvard Business School and a BA from Middlebury College.
In this episode we discuss:
- The two moments in David’s life that led him to focus on impact based businesses
- How David got his start in the impact business world
- Some of the companies that David has started, invested in, and advised
- The criteria David uses for his investments and the dual focus on impact and profits
- Some of the issues with funding impact businesses with traditional venture capital, and thoughts on how to solve
- A teaser of what David is thinking about doing next
- David’s thoughts on science risk, time horizons, upside, price on carbon, nuclear, and more
Links to topics discussed in this episode:
- David Buzby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-buzby-8840a217/
- Johns Manville: https://www.jm.com/
- SunEdison: http://www.sunedison.com/
- Jigar Shah: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jigarshahdc/
- SunRun: https://www.sunrun.com/
- Stem: https://www.stem.com/about-us/executive-team/
You can find me on twitter @jjacobs22 or @mcjpod and email at [email protected], where I encourage you to share your feedback on episodes and suggestions for future topics or guests.
Enjoy the show!
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*Editing and post-production work for this episode was provided by The Podcast Consultant