Today, he is the executive director of VertueLab*, a nonprofit working to reverse climate change by providing direct funding and holistic entrepreneurial support to cleantech startups.
“We’re focused on helping entrepreneurs overcome barriers that are particularly challenging for science-based technologies and startup companies, which often are harder to finance through traditional means,” David says.
Over the past decade, VertueLab has:
- provided over $7 million in funding,
- helped startups access more than $170 million in follow-on funding from outside sources,
- helped over 60 cleantech startups, and
- created over 480 jobs.
As an organization that leverages finance to fuel its environmental mission, it was important for VertueLab to choose a bank that shared its values.
David believes in working with partners who understand that education, policy, and behavioral changes are necessary. After hearing a Bank of the West leader speak at a climate conference about the institution’s policies and actions to divest from fossil fuels, the decision was easy.
“It’s not insignificant to commit to not funding certain activities as a bank,” he says. “I respect Bank of the West for going down that path.”
Learn more about how Bank of the West supports the global transition to a low-carbon, sustainable economy.
*VertueLab is a customer of Bank of the West.
