Lecture Notes on Cultivo and Investment in Nature

Introduction

• Speaker: Thanked organizers and Marco for the opportunity.
• Topic: Introduction and explanation of Cultivo's mission and methods.

Cultivo's Mission

• Goal: Accelerate investment into nature at scale.
• Target: Regenerate 1% of the world's land to healthy ecosystems (size of Mongolia or two Texas states).

Approach and Methodology

• Technology Use:
  • Data and tech used to identify high-quality global projects.
  • Operates like a search engine for natural capital.
• Proprietary Algorithms:
  • Assess degradation, land cover/vegetation changes.
  • Forecast natural capital returns (soil moisture, carbon capture, biodiversity).
• Investment Packaging:
  • Projects are made into investment products showing financial, natural, and social returns.

Implementation and Monitoring

• Partners: NGOs and project developers work with local communities.
• Transparency: Use of experts, sensors, satellites to audit projects.
• Focus: Unlock investment into nature at scale by addressing 'how'.

Customer Engagement

• Portfolio Types:
  1. Unlock natural capital in existing lands.
  2. Create natural capital portfolios for institutions without land assets.
  3. Monetize credits from natural capital portfolios.

Natural Capital Valuation

• Starting Point: Land asset, building up to various land uses (e.g., wind farms, regenerative agriculture).
• Key Gains: Biodiversity, water, carbon.
• Impact:
  • New revenue streams.
  • Increased land value through climate resilience and EBITDA improvement.

Case Study and Project Example

• Grassland Portfolio in North Mexico:
  • Affecting SDGs, permanence, carbon storage, biodiversity, water, social aspects.
  • Technology ensures social/environmental safeguards.

Institutional and Global Partnerships

• Key Partners: IFC, Aspiration, AIDA, World Bank Climate Warehouse, etc.
• Transparency and Trust: Carbon Opportunities Fund with IFC and others.

Team and Global Presence

• Team Size: 24 people across US, Mexico, UK, Spain.
• Headquarters: California, public benefit corporation.
• Board Members: Influential leaders like Mark Carney.

Grasslands Focus

• Importance: Often overlooked in nature-based solutions.
• Scale: Covers more than half of the planet (3 billion hectares).
• Outcome: Low-risk carbon removal credits.

Ecosystem and Execution Strategy

• Docking Station Concept: Integrate investors, tech, developers, registries, local partners.
• Key Elements: Speed, efficiency, transparency with tech and experts.

Growth and Scaling

• Market Position: Potential unicorn platform.
• Foundations: Building trust with ecosystem partners; capital moves at the speed of trust.
• Growth Indicators: Increasing customer pipeline, revenues, repeat business.
• Partnerships: Collaborations with NGOs and landlords.
• Technology and Financing: Proving technology platform, closing financing round.
• Call to Action: Invitation for interest and questions.

Conclusion

• Emphasis: Need for speed in scaling up efforts for the planet's needs.
• Acknowledgment: Thanks for audience's time and attention.