Prince William's Earthshot Prize and Venture Capital Firm 500 Global Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Climate Innovation in Emerging Markets

[My2cents1975]

500 Global is a multi-stage venture capital firm with $2.1B in assets under management (as of March 31, 2025) that invests in founders building fast-growing technology companies.

This is a fantastic story where entrepreneurs creating innovation to address climate challenges while maintaining quality of life can access material funding and back-office expertise to rapidly commercialise these ideas.

Prince William and the Earthshot team deserve massive credit for this win.

The Earthshot Prize and 500 Global Announce Strategic Partnership

we can see with our own eyes that the events talked of happened. The YouTube channel with lots of video content (that had to be paid for) of their events showing their scale and size exist. The prize winners and nominees who have received funding and been able to expand their operations exist and have spoken of the support they have received. Are you suggesting these happened by magic, rather than the Earthshot charity doing what it says it does?

Given these expenses are also a line item in the audited accounts, are you also suggesting the auditors didn’t comply with the audit standards, and didn’t have a team of people going through the charity’s financial records to test that the claimed expenses were properly incurred and had evidence to support them? Because that’s what an independent audit entails.

I haven't said the events didn't happen.

I haven't suggested the accounts don't meet with compliance standards.

I haven't suggested the prizewinners don't receive support or that ES isn't doing what it says it does i.e. basically networking and eliciting various elements of said support from third parties.

I'm merely wondering why the running costs of a self-admitted networking project add up to so very much more than the total of the core prizes at the heart of the project (paraphrasing from foreword to the IR).

There is no clarity on the breakdown of these costs and until there is (unlikely) it's impossible to say whether the expenditure incurred in relation to prize awards represents value for money.

Quite

I'm merely wondering why the running costs of a self-admitted networking project add up to so very much more than the total of the core prizes at the heart of the project (paraphrasing from foreword to the IR

Perhaps you’d like to share with us your (expert I presume) views on how much this kind of structure should cost to run then, before taking issue at what it self-evidently did?

And I’m not sure why you believe that the prize alone is all they intend to offer? When first introduced the Royal Foundation said “The Prize is about much more than awarding achievement - it is a decade of action to convene the environmental world with funders, businesses and individuals to maximise impact and take solutions to scale..”.

In a post where I was commenting on the media's focus, I wrote that in the way much of the media was presenting it.

I imagine flying in people like Kylie, paying their expenses, appearance fee and their staff would cost a couple of quid at least.

It comes across as a PR and networking junket.

Perhaps you’d like to share with us your (expert I presume) views on how much this kind of structure should cost to run then, before taking issue at what it self-evidently did?

No idea. But as it's replicating similar endeavours it's a bit of a mystery as to why it needs to exist at all unless of course as a royal PR vehicle.

And I’m not sure why you believe that the prize alone is all they intend to offer?

Something else I haven't said.

I've acknowledged all along it's a networking consortium committed to defraying the costs of direct support for winners to third parties.

Exactly

@Serenster with the receipts as usual!

And as ever, super supporters spout debunked narrative in response to fact.

"Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" (Karr)

I have to say something here , although I don’t agree with @CathyorClairein this instance, there is absolutely no way she could be classed as a supporter!
she is that rare breed of republican that actually is a republican and not a faux h and m supporting republican!

For those actually interested...Earthshot 2025 finalist matter has signed an agreement with Ikea to bring its innovative filter to capture microplastic fibre from washing machines preventing water pollution. Microplastic fibres are the most abundant form of microplastics in the environment.

Even better, the filter can be retrofitted to most brands of washing machines. The company is based in Bristol, employing people and paying tax.

Earthshot 2025 Finalist Matter receives backing from Inter IKEA Group to combat microfibre pollution — Matter.

Oh that is excellent news 👍 , it’s wonderful to see initiatives actually being implemented and helping employment in the U.K. too!

It is striking that this poster persistently repeats narrative no matter how debunked and many of the supposed insights "coincide" with super-supporter talking points.

It is one thing to be pro-republic. It is quite another to pretend that the Earthshot monetary prize is the only part of the Earthshot experience when the actual Earthshot alumni have been quite vocal of how priceless the networking and other support has been!

But I will take your word for it since your posts come across as balanced!

although I understand your frustration ( I really do! ) @CathyorClaireis just as critical of h and m as us , but as a republican will obviously eye all royals with suspicion particularly at this time with one unsavoury act after another coming out! 🤣

Notpla (which is my personal favorite) is also UK based.

This Veterans Day weekend, I was at an NFL (American football) match.

When you look at all the plastic used in the concession stands, multiply across the NFL, then think of all the other professional sporting leagues (basketball, baseball, ice hockey, football/soccer, etc.) then throw in the semi-pro, college, high school...just replacing the plastic packaging in sports with sustainable seaweed based packaging alone represents an amazing export opportunity for Notpla.

And since their series A funding is 2024, IMHO, they are probably in talks for series B for a mid 2026 / early 2027 close for that round of funding and I suspect the pre-money valuation will skyrocket for the B round!

The story behind Notpla’s €23 million funding round | Article | Packaging Europe

Whereas clearly you're employed by them so know every detail intimately?

See this is why I get annoyed at the media!
why are they not reporting this? Instead of fluff pieces about ex royals!
it should not be something that has to be searched for.
im not into sports but I was surprised at just how much plastic is used by one stadium! , it’s these “little “ changes that will help in the long run.

Rude and uncalled for!
some people are genuinely interested in the environment and making it cleaner for everyone.

Employed by who? Please clarify?

I’m sure @jeffgoldblum is a big girl and can reply for herself.

You seem to have gotten confused! It was the op that was accused of being employed by them not me! 🤣🤣 , so she is asking for herself!

My bad 😂

🤣 sort of thing I do all the time!

🤣 sort of thing I do all the time!

And as ever, super supporters spout debunked narrative in response to fact.

I suppose it depends if you regard references from the ES Impact Report supporting points I've made as debunking really.

I assume 'super supporter' is directed at me. Can you explain what it means and why you consider me to be one?

Thank you 🙂