Hey friends,
Over the years of building Causeartist, I’ve been lucky enough to connect with founders, creatives, and innovators who are rethinking what business can and should look like.
Every week when I sit down to put this newsletter together, I’m reminded why I started this journey in the first place: to highlight the people and companies proving that impact and innovation can go hand-in-hand.
This week’s edition really captures that spirit. From a powerful story on how one company is tackling generational poverty in the coconut farming industry, to startups reimagining aviation, housing, education, and food production, the momentum around mission-driven entrepreneurship continues to grow.
I hope you find inspiration in the stories below, whether you’re building something yourself, investing in change, or simply curious about where the next wave of impact innovation is headed.
Let’s dive in.
— Grant
Announcing - Causeartist BackOffice
From finance and compliance to growth strategy, tech, and investor readiness—Causeartist BackOffice will be your full-stack, mission-aligned operations team.
Built for impact startups, mission-driven funds, and scaling enterprises, we combine Causeartist’s storytelling reach with PIF Advisory’s operational excellence.
Featured Interview
At Causeartist, we love highlighting founders who turn lived experiences and community insights into solutions that change lives. Erik Olson, CEO of Dignity Made, has built a social enterprise tackling generational debt among coconut farmers in the Philippines.
What began as a single conversation with a farmer has grown into a thriving business that provides economic freedom, restores dignity, and protects vulnerable communities from exploitation.
There’s an ugly side to the coconut industry — one that traps farmers in extreme poverty, robs them of their land, and pushes families toward dangerous choices.
In the Philippines, home to 3.5 million coconut farmers, nearly 90% live below the poverty line.
Featured Content
7 Electric Aviation Companies Powering the Future of Flight
From startups building zero-emission aircraft to pioneers rethinking air mobility, meet the companies redefining the future of aviation with sustainability at the core.
📰 News & Opportunities
The Better Meat Co. Raises $31M Series A to Scale Production
Funding: $31 million
Goal: Expand production of its sustainable protein ingredient to replace animal-based proteins in food products
Impact: Helping reduce reliance on industrial animal agriculture and supporting a more sustainable food system
🔗 Read more
Aalo Secures $100M Series B to Build First Advanced Nuclear Power Plant in Decades
Funding: $100 million
Goal: Construct the Aalo-X, a first-of-its-kind nuclear power plant paired with an experimental data center, targeting zero-power criticality next summer
Impact: Factory mass-manufactured, fleet-deployed nuclear designed to power the future of AI, scale data centers, and expand into global markets like utilities, desalination, and industrial heat
🔗 Read more
Seabound Wins £1.1M UK Grant to Pioneer Portside Carbon Capture
Funding: £1.1 million (approx. $1.4 million) grant from the UK Government
Goal: Develop the world’s first carbon capture and emissions system at the Port of Southampton
Impact: Pioneering portside decarbonization to tackle one of shipping’s hardest-to-abate sources of emissions
🔗 Read more
Yourway Learning Raises $9M to Transform K–12 Education with AI
Funding: $9 million
Goal: Build purpose-built AI tools that personalize education and support teachers in classrooms
Impact: Unlocking more equitable, effective learning experiences for students and educators worldwide
🔗 Read more
GiveHanks Expands Mission-Driven Coffee Brand Backed by Tom Hanks
Goal: Support American veterans and their families through every cup of coffee sold
Impact: 100% of profits go to veteran-focused nonprofits including:
- Headstrong
- Hire Heroes USA
- Bob Woodruff Foundation
- Student Veterans of America
What’s New:
- Now available on Walmart.com in addition to GiveHanks.com
- Brand refresh with a bold new look
- Continued focus on gratitude as a business model
“We started this company with only one mission in mind… to create a business with great products that support Veterans and their families,” said Tom Hanks. “This is a way to give back to those who volunteered their lives to serve our country.”
IVIX Raises $60M Series B to Fight Financial Crime with AI
Funding: $60 million
Goal: Develop AI-powered tools to detect tax evasion, money laundering, and financial fraud
Impact: Strengthening global financial integrity and helping governments recover billions in lost tax revenue
🔗 Read more
Green Steel Environmental Raises $1.7M to Scale Sustainable Steelmaking
Funding: $1.7 million
Goal: Develop green steel solutions that reduce the industry’s heavy carbon footprint
Impact: Addressing one of the world’s most polluting sectors with cleaner, more resource-efficient production methods
🔗 Learn more
Geoship Celebrates Milestone in Sustainable Housing Innovation Raising $1,246,602.
Funding: Community-backed milestone of $1,246,602
Goal: Scale its bioceramic domes as a sustainable, affordable alternative to traditional housing
Impact: Advancing regenerative building practices with long-lasting, carbon-sequestering materials
🔗 Learn more
Grant Trahant
Founder | Causeartist + Causeartist BackOffice
Host | Disruptors for Good + Investing in Impact
Venture Partner | Pay it Forward Ventures
Connect: LinkedIn | X
