Causeartist Weekly #314: Scaling Circularity: eBay’s $300k and UNICEF’s Blockchain Grants

Hey friends,

From the halls of government in Ethiopia and California to the edge of space with AI-native satellites, the infrastructure for a sustainable future is being built in real-time.

We’re seeing a powerful shift where "impact" is no longer a peripheral goal but the core driver of regulatory change and massive capital raises. Whether it’s the formal recognition of social enterprises in East Africa or the "starting pistol" for climate disclosures in the world’s fifth-largest economy, the momentum is undeniable.

In this edition, we dive into the controversial but necessary world of responsible deep-sea mining, explore how Grove Collaborative scaled the B Corp model, and highlight over $300M in new funding and grants hitting the ecosystem.

Let’s dive in.

Featured Interview

Inside Impossible Metals and the Push for Responsible Deep-Sea Mining

The technology for harvesting critical minerals from the ocean floor has barely changed since the 1960s. Big tracked vehicles.

Vacuum dredges. Sediment plumes.

The same architecture, decade after decade.

Oliver Gunasekara looked at that and saw an opportunity.

He's the CEO of Impossible Metals, a deep tech startup building a fleet of autonomous underwater robots designed to collect polymetallic nodules from the seafloor with a fraction of the environmental disruption of conventional methods.

On this episode of Disruptors for Good, Oliver walks through the technology, the regulatory landscape, the environmental tradeoffs, and why he thinks the first commercial deep sea mining operations are closer than most people realize.

Listen to full episode

Case Study: Grove Collaborative

The Business Case for Sustainability: How Grove Collaborative Scaled
Grove Collaborative has become a household name in the sustainable consumer goods space.

This case study breaks down their journey as a B Corp, their aggressive plastic-free goals, and the lessons social entrepreneurs can learn from their path to becoming a public company.

Read Full Case Study

🗞️ News and Headlines

California Fires the "Starting Pistol" on Climate Disclosures The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has finalized the rules for SB 253 and SB 261. Starting in 2026, large corporations must report emissions and climate risks. This move effectively mandates climate transparency for any major US company doing business in California. Read the Policy Update
A Historic Win for Social Enterprise in Ethiopia After eight years of advocacy, Ethiopia has formally recognized "Social Enterprise" in its new National Entrepreneurship Policy. This landmark move is expected to unlock tax incentives and resources for ventures tackling poverty and environmental issues across the country. See the Announcement
Australia Doubles Down on SEDI The Australian Government has committed an additional AU$3.9 million to the Social Enterprise Development and Investment (SEDI) program, signaling a long-term commitment to making social enterprises "investment ready." Learn More

🌎 Events, Grants, and Opportunities

eBay Circular Fashion Fund: Eight businesses will receive $50k each, with one global winner eligible for a $300,000 investment from eBay Ventures. Focus: Resale, repair, and upcycling.
UNICEF Venture Fund: Seeking blockchain-based solutions in emerging markets. Up to $100,000 equity-free funding in crypto (ETH/BTC/USDC) for open-source digital public goods.
U–LAC Social Innovation Grants: Up to €250,000 per project for organizations strengthening social innovation ecosystems across the EU, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
Climate Smart Communities Initiative (CSCI): Deadline: March 12, 2026. US-based climate resilience projects can apply for grants up to $115,000.

💰 Funding and Capital Watch

Tomorrow.io Raises $175M for AI-Native Weather Satellites: Tomorrow.io is launching "DeepSky," the world’s first AI-native weather satellite constellation, to provide unprecedented climate data and predictive power.
Dataro Secures $14.28M Series A for Nonprofit AI: The Australian-based startup is using machine learning to help nonprofits optimize their fundraising and donor engagement.
CHAMP Titles Raises $55M to Digitize Government Efficiency: By replacing paper-based vehicle titling with digital solutions, CHAMP is reducing administrative waste and improving government transparency.
Chowbus Raises $81M to Support Culturally Rooted Restaurants: A major win for the "operating system" of independent, culturally significant restaurants, helping them scale in a competitive digital economy.

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Until next week,