Hey friends,
This week we’re spotlighting innovations that show how impact is being redefined across industries, from technology that strengthens America’s safety net for families, to yogurt that reshaped food business culture, to new breakthroughs in AI and clean fuels.
Our latest Causeartist interview features the team behind Lulo, a startup tackling one of the most overlooked but vital areas of social infrastructure: making public assistance programs easier and more effective for families.
We’re also sharing our Chobani case study, diving deep into how the yogurt company transformed the food industry through equity, access, and community reinvestment.
On the news front, startups raised over $140 million this week across climate, AI, and civic tech, with innovations in aviation fuel, road safety, and materials discovery. Plus, nonprofits get new fundraising tools designed to stretch every dollar further.
Let’s dive in.
— Grant
Featured Interview - How Lulo is Building Tech That Makes the Safety Net Work for Families
Lulo started at Blue Ridge Labs at the Robin Hood Foundation, with a founding team passionate about reimagining access to programs like WIC. Learn how they’re designing technology that turns red tape into resilience for low-income families.
In this conversation, we speak with Dani Lopez, Co-Founder and CSO of Lulo, a tech startup built to help families fully access WIC benefits and reclaim dignity, time, and nutrition.
Case Study: Chobani - How a Yogurt Company Redefined Equity and Access in Food Business
Chobani didn’t just disrupt grocery store shelves, it redefined what it means for a food brand to lead with purpose. From profit-sharing with employees to investing in refugee communities, explore how Chobani built one of America’s most trusted companies.
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📰 News & Funding Rounds
Lavoit Raises €1.2M to accelerate its AI-driven hydrogen production
- Funding: €1.2 million
- Goal: Support next-gen clean hydrogen solutions
- Impact: Backing youth-led climate innovation to accelerate the energy transition
Lavoit, led by 19-year-old founder and CEO, has secured €1.2 million from ReGen Ventures, Starship Ventures, Project Europe, and Wave Ventures to accelerate its AI-driven hydrogen production system. The vision began when the founder built their first electrolyzer in a barn at the age of 16.
Today, Lavoit is pursuing the ambitious goal of becoming the world’s largest producer of green hydrogen by 2030.
The company’s AI-first hydrogen system addresses electricity—the largest cost driver—through real-time optimization and full-stack control.
With two pilot projects already live and discussions underway with dozens of industrial plants across Europe, Lavoit is positioning itself at the forefront of the clean hydrogen transition.
Cyvl Raises $14M to Help Cities Build Safer Roads
- Funding: $14 million
- Goal: Use AI and data analytics to improve road infrastructure
- Impact: Enhancing road safety and efficiency for urban populations
Traditional infrastructure assessments often rely on slow, manual surveys. Cyvl instead uses computer vision and advanced analytics to automate road condition monitoring, allowing municipalities to prioritize repairs and reduce maintenance costs.
With U.S. infrastructure needs growing and road safety becoming a critical concern, Cyvl aims to help cities build smarter, safer, and more resilient transportation networks.
OXCCU Raises $28M for Sustainable Aviation Fuel
- Funding: $28 million
- Goal: Scale technology that converts CO₂ into sustainable aviation fuel
- Impact: Reducing aviation emissions with breakthrough carbon-to-fuel tech
Causeartist
Aviation is one of the hardest-to-decarbonize sectors, responsible for over 2 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. OXCCU’s process bypasses the need for green hydrogen—often a costly input for SAF—and instead uses direct CO₂ conversion, significantly lowering production costs.
With two pilot projects already underway, the funding will support scale-up efforts and partnerships with airlines and energy providers to bring cleaner, more affordable fuels to market.
CuspAI Secures $100M Series A to Revolutionize Materials Discovery
- Funding: $100 million
- Goal: Apply AI to accelerate sustainable material development
- Impact: Transforming manufacturing, clean energy, and climate tech through AI-powered discovery
The company’s platform applies advanced AI models to simulate and identify novel materials at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional R&D. This breakthrough has wide-ranging applications—from developing lighter, stronger components for clean energy infrastructure to creating sustainable alternatives in manufacturing and consumer products.
By accelerating the pace of innovation, CuspAI aims to reduce the environmental footprint of industries while opening up new frontiers in climate tech and materials science.
Givebutter Adds New Features to Stretch Every Nonprofit Fundraising Dollar
- Update: Expanded financial management tools integrated into its platform
- Impact: Helping nonprofits unite donor management, fundraising, and finance to maximize every dollar raised
Causeartist
The expanded platform now unites donor management, fundraising campaigns, and back-office financials in a single interface. For nonprofit leaders, this means less time toggling between systems and more clarity on how resources are being deployed.
By offering nonprofits a modern, cost-effective alternative to legacy fundraising software, Givebutter continues its mission to empower changemakers with tools that are easy to use, transparent, and built to maximize impact.
Grant Trahant
Founder | Causeartist + Causeartist BackOffice
Host | Disruptors for Good + Investing in Impact
Venture Partner | Pay it Forward Ventures
Connect: LinkedIn | X
