Mr. Libby began his career in the US. Government and later at a global managing consulting firm. Mr. Libby is a Presidential Leadership Scholar Steering Committee Member of the Milken Young Leaders Council, Leadership Council Member of Tech NYC, a Fast Company Impact Council Member, a Concordia Summit Advisor a member of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Youth Advisory Council, founding GLG Social impact Fellow and a NationSwell Councilmember Mr. Libby was previously also a Foundation Trustee and Char of the Admissions Committee of the Harvard Club of New York City, as well as a member of the Advisory Council of the Clinton Global initiative
Mer Libby was been invited to speak at Harvard the United Nations, and numerous business conferences. His work has been covered in publications including the New York Times. Bloomberg BusinessWeek Fast Company, Reuters, and television appearances including CNBC Mr. Libby graduated magna cum laude from Harvard College
in this interview, Oliver shares how dedicated themselves to tasting a new approach to building companies and how their team has pioneered an innovative effective mode that aligns the interests of entrepreneurs, investors other stakeholders and society to succeed together.
Oliver Libby: Closing the gap between net zero and net positive impact on the environment
This week our TTI Interview Series covers our member Oliver Libby, Oliver is the Managing Partner of Hatzimemos/ Libby Holdings (H/1, Ventures and City Rock Venture Partners. Based in NYC and founded in 200g H/L. Ventures highlighting the importance of building high-growth businesses that protect people, and the planet while encouraging strong diverse leadership Mr. Libby also chairs the Board of The Resolution Project, inc., a non-profit organization based an NYC that he founded in 2007.
Making up a holistic company-building ecosystem
Oliver, tell us about your work and how it intersects with the impact space.
When Eric Hatzimeros and Clever co-founded H/L Ventures in zao, bay siedlicated themselves to taking a new approach to truiting companies. Thee unique model comsines Daily Active Engagement with founders and focuses on investing in growth, impact, and diversity
H/L Ventures manages a family of companies and funds that make up a holistic company-building ecosystem. At the heart of this system is H/L Studio which was among the first venture studios to include socisi mpact in its investment thesis. That verture studio is now supportec by our opportunity fund, CityRock Ventures, and our managed services group. H/L Strategies among other entities
Our has pioneered an innovation, effective model that aligns the interests of entrepreneurs, investors other stakeholders and society to succeed together.
Protect and promote people and the planet
What is your own definition of impact?
Impact companies offer innovative solutions that protect and promote peaple and the pianet Our impact thesis encompasses restent communities financial inclusion heaith and wellness, sustainability, and more, with an emphasis on diverse and female founders.
Climate Change
What do you believe is one of the most important issues that need to be solved over the next 10 years?
We have to make significant progress on the climate crisis. This is simply not something we can put off or make incremental changes on. The inftalion Reduction Act set a sbong incentive for the green economy to scale, and its now up to us to make sure that opportunity isnt squandered
At impact investors we can point the way, but it's also important for us, with our experience in the space to spread awareness that no one company of a handful of companies going to solve this problem for us. There are many innovative companies offering practical solutions that cart be key parts of the green economy engine. They might never be unicorns, but they can sit drive very nice returns. We as impact investors, need to be champions for a new mindset in venture capital. away from the inherited mythology around unicorns
We can also be standard bearers for a cross-sectoral approach to solving climate change, involving the public sector media. philanthropists, investors and innovators. If we're going to solve a crisis of this magnitude that's what it will take Climate change is and will affect everyone, but no one more than already marginalized communities. As impact investors, we've seen what innovative solutions can do to transform communities. Now we all need to come together to scale those solutions globally
Continually overcoming the perception on impact investing
What do you think some of the biggest challenges in the impact space?
There are many, but a few of the top ones are
1. Continually overcoming the perception that impact investing is concessionary
2. Also overcoming the fear thud all ESG investing is now just trendy green/impact-washing
3. Ensuring that the aid ways of VC cannot define the way in which we invest and support impact-oriented founding teams
4. The continued bias against underrepresented founders and
5. The fact that impact measurement frameworks are still fragmented, imperfect and extremely difficult to compare across sectors and firms
Measuring impact on our own rubric, 4 P's; Protecting & Promoting People & Planet
Tell us more about the long-term vision you have for your work and how you measure & quantify your impact.
Our long-term vision is for impact investment to become a normal lens for all investing We believe strongly that Growth, impact, and Diversity can all together drive returns and not only de good but do well for investors. We are also a pioneer in the trend for VCs to become much more helpful, founder-friendly and hands-on (in a useful way which is something that defines our investment approach We measure our impact on our own rubric of the 4 Ps. Protecting & Promoting People & Planet. We are also working with the company Proof on 3rd party metrics verification. Also, we measure the diversity of the portfolio which is one of the most diverse representative VC portfolios in the world
Impact investing is philanthropy
What are some of the misconceptions You’ve noticed regarding what "impact" is all about?
Tell us more about the long-term vision you have for your work and how you measure & quantify your impact.
Our long-term vision is for impact investment to become a normal lens for all investing We believe strongly that Growth impact, and Diversity can all together drive returns and not only do good but do well for investors. We are also a pioneer in the trend for VCs to become much more helpful, founder-Mendly, and hands-on linn useful way!, which is something that defines our investment approach. We measure our impact on our own rubric of the 4 Pis. Protecting & Promoting People & Planet. We are also working with the company Proof on 3rd party metrics verification. Also, we measure the diversity of the portfogo, which is one of the most diverse and representative VC portfolios in the world
Impact investing is philanthropy
What are some of the misconceptions you've noticed regarding what "impact" is all about?
3. Ensuring that the old ways of VC cannot define the way in which we invest and support impact-oriented founding teams.
The continued bias against underrepresented founders and
5. The fact that impact measurement frameworks are still fragmented, imperfect and extremely difficult to compare across sectors and firms
Measuring impact on our own rubric, 4 P's; Protecting & Promoting People & Planet
Tell us more about the long-term vision you have for your work and how you measure & quantify your impact.
