Nina Foote is a Partner and the Head of Growth at Volution, a UK-based venture capital firm that invests in technology companies. With a rich background that spans both the arts and business strategy, Nina’s career took a unique turn after spending 13 years at Christie’s. In this episode, Jenn and Nina discuss the intersection of venture capital, ESG, and sustainable business growth. Nina also explains how Volution’s bold ESG and Carbon Carry Initiative is incentivising portfolio companies to prioritise sustainability. By offering a share of carry based on ESG performance, Volution is not only holding itself accountable but also driving real impact within its portfolio.
Incentivise Sustainability with Tangible Rewards:
Nina highlights Volution’s incentive structure that ties sustainability metrics to financial rewards. This approach can motivate teams to prioritise sustainability initiatives, aligning profitability with positive impact.
Even with early stage companies you can integrate ESG into Core Strategy:
Assess your company’s current ESG practices and identify areas where these principles can be more deeply embedded into your business model (e.g., check out frameworks from ESGVC).
Foster Diversity Through Leadership and Investment:
Just 2% of funding goes to female entrepreneurs. Nina highlights the crucial need for increased female representation in decision-making roles - and greater support for female founders - especially in male-dominated sectors like fintech and SaaS. By championing diversity from the ground up, VCs can unlock potential and drive more inclusive, innovative businesses.