Planet Positive Lab

The first week of the programme set the stage for a journey of discovery, collaboration, and positive transformation for our founders, featuring addresses from Robert Hannigan, Warden of Wadham College and Henry Lane Fox, CEO and co-founder of Founders Factory. A sense of entrepreneurial spirit was ignited among the participants!

We also had the privilege of hosting Warren East, former CEO of Rolls-Royce and Honorary Wadham Fellow, whose vast industry knowledge and leadership experience brought valuable lessons to the aspiring climate tech entrepreneurs. Moreover, the workshops by operators from Founders Factory and the BMW Foundation provided hands-on experience and guidance.

To top it all off, a captivating panel discussion featuring Carolyn Hicks from Brill Power, Nicholas Hawker from First Light Fusion, Vassilis Ragoussis from OXECO, and Tim Kruger from Origen and DryGro, provided unique perspectives and valuable insights into the world of climate tech and the Oxford ecosystem. This was followed by a Lunch & Learn session of serial entrepreneur, Charlie Curtis, whose entrepreneurial journey and success stories left everyone eager to push the boundaries of what's possible.

We kicked-off week 2 with an inspiring start as we delved into the crucial aspects of building, hiring, and retaining a world-class team. Led by Farah Kanji, Chief People Officer at Founders Factory, participants gained valuable insights on cultivating a talented workforce. Following this, Frank Webster, General Counsel & Head of Corporate Development, and Emma-Jane Willan, CFO, both from Founders Factory, enlightened us on the intricacies of cap table management, providing essential guidance for strategic decision-making. Additionally, Kelli Corney, Brand Strategy and Innovation expert at Sonder & Tell, shared her expertise on crafting a minimum viable brand for your company.

On Friday, we had the privilege of hosting a thought-provoking panel discussion with impact investors: Sergio Carvalho from Planet First, Elodie Broad from Balderton, George Darrah from Systemiq Capital, and Antiona Coad from Oxford University Endowments provided invaluable insights on defining, measuring, and reporting data that potential investors seek. This session equipped attendees with the necessary knowledge to effectively communicate their business's impact and engage with investors. As we wrapped up the week we were joined by Dr. Mary Johnstone-Lewis, Chair of B-Lab UK, and engaged in a reflective discussion and debrief, allowing for an exchange of learnings, takeaways, and thought-provoking questions.

In this week’s Planet MasterClass, our founders were given the chance on-the-spot to tell their stories to panellists Pilita Clark from the Financial Times, Freya Pratty-Williams from Sifted, and Soheb Panja from Field7. Workshopping in real-time, they shared their tips for catching the attention of top media outlets.

In our venture lab, Founders Factory covered how to build products from a design-thinking perspective and highlighted the growth marketing strategies you need for a successful launch.

Then in our People Module, Tatyana Bezuglova, Tech Leader (ex- Airbnb, Dropbox, Facebook, Waymo) ran a workshop on goal setting for your team and yourself.