LINA CONSTANTINOVICI
FOUNDER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
With an applied economist perspective, Lina has launched several organizations that contribute to shifting our macro-economic system towards more optimal outcomes - as an entrepreneur, investor, pioneer in biomimetic innovation, sustainability thought leader, futurist, educator, and philanthropic advisor.
As a pioneer in biomimetic innovation, Lina has focused on investing in and commercializing biomimetic technologies. In 2012, Lina founded StartupNectar, a biomimetic technology incubator focused on commercializing solutions based on nature’s strategies. StartupNectar was selected as a finalist in the NASA/SSV Showcase of Solutions for Planetary Sustainability in 2013. In 2015, Lina founded a think tank, the Risk and Value Creation Institute and convened investors to shift more capital to impact investing at the NASA Mountain View campus, with a subsequent convening in London at the Willis Insurance headquarters in 2016.
As a sustainability strategist, Lina has worked with organizations such as the San Francisco Department of Environment where she and her team quantified, co-authored, and presented for public hearing the Waste Offset Fee proposed legislation, a financial incentive GHG emissions reduction program towards the city's zero waste goals. For the EPA, Lina designed and led a Stakeholder Engagement process with public agencies, business and NGOs in order to develop EPA’s Standards for Sustainable Large Scale Food Venues (convention centers, hotels, ballparks). For W Hotels and Starwood, Lina developed the Strategic Management Plan for Implementing Sustainability Initiatives, the Marketing Plan for promoting sustainable initiatives to guests, the Financial Assessment and Payback Analysis of Rooftop Wind Turbine installation, and lead a strategic foresight Scenario Planning process for sustainable supply chain strategy. For Walmart, Lina developed the Organics Recycling Operations Plan for the company’s Superstores, as well as supply chain standards for the company’s apparel suppliers.
For over 20 years, Lina has been engaged in innovation in the public, private, and NGO sectors. In 2007, Lina led a research project for Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, evaluating the rate of commercialization of patented technologies developed in the lab and identifying relevant market failures related to technology commercialization. As an economic researcher, Lina contributed to inaugural the State of Green Business 2008 Report. In the domain of the future of cities, sustainable architecture, and built environment innovation, Lina is the recipient of the international RE:STORE award for her future of retail design.
Over the past 12 years, Lina has worked with early-stage ventures as a startup advisor, a mentor for accelerators like Cleantech Open, and Advisory Board member for SXSW Eco’s Startup Central. As Head of U.S. Operations, Lina contributed to building GrowVC: the first online, global marketplace for entrepreneurs. Lina served as Vice-President of the Board of Directors for Silicon Valley Environmental Partnership for 6 years. Lina is part of the leadership of the Nexus Impact Investing Working Group, Nexus Working Group on Energy, Environment, & Innovation, and heads up the Financial Advocacy initiative for the Nexus Working Group Towards Equal Justice.
She is a frequent speaker and university lecturer on entrepreneurship, impact investing, sustainability, biomimetic innovation, the future of philanthropy, the evolution of global financial systems, and applied economics. Lina has spoken at over 100 conferences over the last 10 years on these subjects.
ELLA MIREVSKI
CHIEF OPERATING and COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
Ella contributes extensive communications, relationships building and project management experience towards the success of the Innovation 4.4 team. A Romanian native, Ella is an award-winning journalist and entrepreneur with strong ties to Eastern Europe and extensive network of business and professional contacts. She developed her career as a prominent member of the Romanian press corps with publications in daily newspapers and media outlets. Upon immigrating to the United States in the early 2000s, she served as Director of Investment Administration for BV Group Ventures LLC, in Washington DC supporting multinational investment trusts. Later on, Ella leveraged her expertise as a member of the American-Romanian Business Council in NYC where she facilitated American investments and partnerships in Eastern Europe along with consulting Romanian business entering the US market. Most recently, Ella successfully launched her own international trade and business consulting company. As an active member of the business community Ella works closely with startups along with private and public partnership both in the US and Europe.
Besides work, Ella loves spending time with her husband, their two boys and Toby, their Golden Retriever.
DOUG LORENZEN
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Doug Lorenzen brings a unique mix of capabilities as an entrepreneur and CFO, guiding the initial growth stages of several successful startups over the past 15 years. He held a Partner role at the Seed Stage VC firm, Moore Venture Partners, focusing on SaaS and health-tech startups, and is currently advisory CFO for his portfolio company, Vessel Health, which does instant health testing at-home.
Prior to Moore Venture Partners, Lorenzen was the CFO of Talespin VR/AR. He spearheaded the funding and development of virtual reality simulations that put employees inside of immersive environments, teaching skills in a way that is fun and effective. Lorenzen was also the first investor, CFO, and Co-founder of Open English which has become the world’s #1 online ESL school with over 1,000 employees and operations in most of Latin America. Since 2007, Open English has raised over $120 million dollars. Additionally, Lorenzen has successfully launched Daily Hope Radio, which is the daily inspirational radio program from Pastor Rick Warren, as well as The Daniel Plan, which in partnership with Dr. Oz, promotes health and wellness throughout global religious institutions. Lorenzen’s passion is to “Build great businesses with a greater purpose.”
OUR MISSION
We accelerate the commercialization & deployment of strategically selected and vetted water, energy, health, materials science and space technology most critical to achieve the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
OUR TEAM
ADVISORS
JAY OGILVY
ADVISOR
Dr. Ogilvy co-founded Global Business Network, a research and consulting company serving over 100 of the fortune 500 with strategic planing based on alternative scenarios and intelligence. Previously, Dr. Ogilvy tought philosophy at Yale and served as Director of Research at Stanford Research Institute. He is the former Dean and Chief Academic Officer of Presidio Graduate School. Dr. Ogilvy has published nine books, including Creating Better Futures, Many Dimensional Man, and Facing the Fold.
NICK GOGERTY
ADVISOR
Advisor to hedge funds with over 20 years of experience in financial services specialising in quantitative portfolio management and trading technology. More recently, he advanced financial innovation applying blockchain technology. He created SolarCoin, a global solar energy incentive program using blockchain technology. The SolarCoin program is the largest community based energy incentive program at $4 billion deployed in 19 countries. Author of "The Nature of Value”, MIT Media Lab Fellow.
STEVE HIPSKIND
ADVISOR
Former Head of Earth Sciences at NASA Ames. Dr. Steve Hipskind is an expert on climate change and the effects of global warming with over 20 years of experience in atmospheric research. He formerly headed up NASA’s Earth Science Division where he spent the last 27 years of his career.
MICHAEL KLEEMAN
ADVISOR
Formerly a Vice President at The Boston Consulting Group, Director at Arthur D. Little, and a founding executive at Sprint International and with Wiltel, Kleeman has been involved with numerous technology companies in North America as advisor and executive.
