Causeartist Weekly #272
Hey friends,
I hope this week brings you a moment to pause, reflect, and recharge. As always, I’m grateful to have you here as we spotlight another round of incredible stories from across the impact economy.
This edition is especially inspiring, with updates from Africa to the Middle East, and across sectors like carbon removal, off-grid energy, sustainable finance, and blockchain for good.
Whether it's a Nigerian solar startup raising $18M, a low-carbon cement company launching in the U.S., or the latest global fund backed by the UNDP, the signal is clear: purpose-driven innovation is everywhere.
We're also featuring a compelling podcast episode with Global Ventures, tools to boost your digital workflow, and some exciting new partnerships in the world of stablecoins and web3 infrastructure.
Let’s dive in and keep building.
Biochar is a charcoal-like substance produced by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry wastes (like wood chips, crop residues, or manure) under low-oxygen conditions.
This process, known as pyrolysis, cooks the organic matter at high temperatures which transforms it into a stable, carbon-rich solid.
The end product is a fine-grained, highly porous biochar that is similar to naturally occurring charcoal.
Podcast Interview
Global Ventures: Scaling Impact Across the Middle East and Africa
Episode 88 of the Investing in Impact podcast features an in-depth conversation with Medea Nocentini, Senior Partner at Global Ventures and Founder of C3 – Companies Creating Change, on how technology, capital, and strategic support can accelerate sustainable development across the Middle East and Africa.
Global Ventures: Scaling Impact Across the Middle East and Africa
📰 News & Opportunities
.ORG Impact Awards Open for 2025 Nominations
Goal: Celebrate the individuals and organizations leveraging the .ORG domain for good.
Impact: Honoring leaders in education, environmental action, health, and community building. Apply now
MATI Carbon Wins $1M XPRIZE Carbon Removal Grand Prize
Recognition: Winner of the $1M grand prize
Goal: Scale its innovative enhanced rock weathering solution to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere.
Impact: Pushing the frontier of nature-based carbon removal at scale.
Arnergy Secures $18M to Power Off-Grid Homes and Businesses in Nigeria
Funding: $18 million
Goal: Expand solar energy access in underserved and remote regions.
Impact: Empowering communities with clean, reliable electricity. Read more
Queens Carbon Raises $10M to Lead Low-Carbon Cement Production in the U.S.
Funding: $10 million seed round
Goal: Bring climate-safe building materials to market using scalable tech.
Impact: Tackling one of the world’s largest sources of industrial emissions. Learn more
Blockchain for Good Alliance Launches Accelerator with UNDP Support
Initiative: New accelerator and fund supporting web3 startups with social and environmental missions.
Impact: Using blockchain for financial inclusion, sustainability, and transparency. Learn more
Mastercard Unveils End-to-End Stablecoin Payments Capabilities
Update: Mastercard is launching full-stack stablecoin infrastructure, from wallets to checkout.
Impact: Bringing stablecoin use cases into the mainstream for everyday payments. Read more
🛠 Tools of the Week
📸 Awesome Screenshot – Capture, annotate, and share screen recordings or screenshots with ease. Try Awesome Screenshot
🌱 Ecosia – Search the web while planting trees. Ecosia uses ad revenue to fund global reforestation efforts. Search with purpose
📝 Typeform – Build beautiful, interactive forms, surveys, and quizzes for audience engagement and feedback. Explore Typeform
Grant Trahant
Founder | Causeartist
Host | Disruptors for Good + Investing in Impact
Venture Partner | Pay it Forward Ventures
Connect: LinkedIn | X
