Hi, climate friends 👋 

After just one week of kicking off this newsletter, we’ve been able to make 4 investor connections, help a climate startup gain new beta testers, and help a founder find new users. None of this would be possible without all of you, so thank you to everyone in this community. Let’s keep making connections! 🎉

In today’s episode:

• Introducing Viro

• Detailing their business model, tech, traction and team

• Why do we need this now?

• How you can help them!

- Angelica 💜

Featured Startup: Viro

📍 Headquarters

Nashville, Tennessee

⚙️ Technology

Viro believes in the power of individual action growing into collective action creating systemic change. With Viro, users find a like-minded community striving to make a meaningful impact in the world.

🎉 Today (August 3rd), Viro launches the Verify feature powered by AI/Machine Learning. Users can now open the Viro app, point the camera to the sustainable habit they are completing, and the action is detected and auto-logged. This feature verifies the action with photo evidence and eliminates friction when logging, going from 7 button presses to 2.

💲 Business Model

• B2B: Viro helps businesses with ESG/CSR/Social Impact initiatives.

• B2C: Viro connects sustainable brands to their climate-conscious audience. Most businesses are taking steps to be eco-friendly, and we raise awareness of this to an eager community.

🚀 Traction

• Raised an Angel round from Bay Area investors

• Landed a Fortune 500 client Insperity

• 1st Place @ Amazon Hackathon International 2022

• Presented Viro at SXSW Official Climate Showcase 2023

🙏 Founder

Nick Arbuckle: Founder

Before COVID, Nick toured as a bass guitarist for multiple Grammy award-winning artists. This is where he found his passion for sustainability.

Prior to every concert, Nick went on long runs and inevitably fell in love with each city. They were all unique in their own way (culture, food, architecture, street names), but what they all share in common is pollution in the streets and smog in the air. While performing, Nick would see the crowd of people and think, "We can do something about this! Inspiring collective action can create a significant impact".

💁🏻‍♀️ Why Now?

The concept of a carbon footprint is inherently guilt-ridden. We are reprimanded and taught to feel shame for simply living life. It's even in the name - looking back at your footprint at the destruction you caused - no wonder so many in the world are apathetic. Viro flips the script - they’re forward-looking and celebrate every positive action taken for the environment each day.

Additionally, people want to work for companies that have a positive impact on the world. Millennials and Gen Z expect their employers to empower them to make more sustainable decisions in their own lives; only 16% feel they are able to influence their organization's sustainability efforts (Deloitte). Employees are not asking; they are EXPECTING companies to do good. Viro helps companies engage their employees in sustainability.

How Can the Community Help?

💸 Fundraising

Upcoming pre-seed round of $1M to accelerate growth

 🏢 Businesses

Seeking businesses of all sizes that want to involve their workforce in sustainability initiatives. Viro pairs well as a product for ESG & Sustainability Consultants.

🤝 Partnerships

Viro partners with impact-driven brands to reward consumers. This is a great way to connect your sustainable brand with Viro’s climate-conscious audience. Current rewards partners include: Liquid Death, Daily Crunch Snacks, Sap’s Originals, AllBirds.