Founder Highlight Series : Dane De Forest
This month’s Founder Highlight Series is on Dane De Forest, Managing Director at Launchpad Impact Ventures.
In this insightful interview with Launchpad Impact Ventures, we delve into the inspiring founding story of the organization and the driving force behind its commitment to making a positive impact in the tech industry. The interview explores the resources and support that Launchpad Impact Ventures provides to tech ventures, emphasizing their unique approach of blending expertise with innovation.
We also touch upon the favorite user-friendly platforms recommended by Launchpad Impact Ventures and their recent session with Subak Australia, offering a glimpse into their visions and goals for continued social impact and environmental initiatives. As Launchpad Impact Ventures gears up to broaden its horizon and enter new markets, their commitment to social and environmental impact is set to deepen, laying down a sustainable path for the future of the tech industry.
1.Can you tell us a bit about the founding story of Launchpad Impact Ventures and what motivates your team to make a positive impact in the tech industry?
Launchpad Impact Ventures’ journey started with a vision to utilise the power of technology for good. We're a team of tech enthusiasts, and we saw an opportunity to bridge the gap between ambition and impact in the start-up space. We founded this venture with a deep-rooted belief that technology isn't just a tool, but a powerful ally in addressing some of the world's most pressing issues. Our motivation is simple: to support bold thinkers and doers who are using tech to tackle social and environmental challenges. We're all about fostering a thriving community of innovators and changemakers, united in our goal to drive positive change in the tech sector and beyond.
2.What are the resources that Launchpad Impact Ventures provides to tech ventures?
Launchpad Impact Ventures is where expertise meets innovation. Our team is made up of product management specialists, venture architects, designers, and software engineers, skilled across platforms including mobile with specialisation in AI and Machine Learning. We engage with founders in two key ways: offering our professional services or rolling up our sleeves to partner as co-founders in a venture studio model. This allows us to partner with influential domain experts who need venture-building and technical expertise to help solve a problem in their space. It's all about empowering them to amplify their impact through innovative use of technology.
3.How can organisations tap into your resources and gain advice on leveraging technology to enhance impact?
Any early-stage tech company in sectors like health, fitness, personal growth or sustainability can tap into what we offer at Launchpad Impact Ventures. We’re particularly keen on supporting pre-seed and seed-stage ventures, guiding them to leverage technology for greater impact. If you're looking to get advice or support, just reach out to us. We’re always eager to explore different ways to help start-ups and organisations scale their impact.
4.What are your favourite user-friendly platforms that you would advise new organisations to explore?
For new NFP organisations who may be bootstrapped we swear by platforms like Udemy for upskilling, Mighty Networks for managing community, gated content, and audience engagement, and of course, leveraging ChatGPT to support everything from customer support to creative content generation. But at the end of the day, it's all about picking platforms that are not just powerful but also easy to use, catering to your specific organisational needs.
5,You have recently facilitated a session in our program with our cohorts. What were your thoughts and how do you plan to inspire and collaborate with other businesses in the tech industry to promote a more sustainable future?
Our recent session with Subak Australia was a great experience, - it was great to hear about different purpose-driven NFPs looking to drive awareness and tackle climate change. We are passionate about using technology to tackle climate change and it’s heartening to see the different organisations and ways individuals are bringing awareness and driving systemic change.
Looking ahead, Launchpad Impact Ventures is gearing up to broaden our horizon, we’re eyeing markets in the UK and doing more work in the US. We're also gearing up to raise a seed fund to scale our ability support to start-ups. Our commitment to social and environmental impact is only going to deepen as we grow. We’re launching an internally developed tool called CarbonFit next year which rewards and incentivises employees for walking by planting trees.
Our goals involve expanding our reach, enhancing our networks, and doubling down on our commitment to making a positive impact, and laying down a sustainable path for the future of the tech industry.