171. Nature’s Balance Sheet: Kevin Webb Invests in Biodiversity with Superorganism

Kevin Webb, Managing Director of Superorganism, joins Erum and Karl to discuss why biodiversity is the next frontier for venture capital. After 15 years backing SaaS unicorns and marketplaces, Kevin made a radical pivot to launch a $25M fund focused exclusively on biodiversity-driven startups. In this conversation, Kevin breaks down why nature has been catastrophically undervalued in our economic systems, how his fund identifies venture-scale opportunities in everything from invasive species leather to AI-powered ecosystem monitoring, and why measuring biodiversity is infinitely harder than tracking carbon emissions. He shares portfolio highlights including companies turning Burmese pythons into luxury goods, explains why sea otters would make ideal board members, and reveals the cultural, technological, and regulatory shifts that could transform biodiversity from a conservation concern into a mainstream asset class within the next decade. This episode is essential listening for founders, investors, and anyone interested in the intersection of nature, technology, and capital.Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.messaginglab.com/groweverything⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chapters:(00:00:00) - Nature as Undervalued Infrastructure(00:01:00) - AI, Intelligence Premium, and Economic Disruption(00:05:00) - Animation, Uploaded Intelligence, and Biotech Narratives(00:09:00) - Color, Bio-Dyes, and Experiencing the World(00:12:00) - Kevin Webb's Journey from SaaS to Biodiversity VC(00:17:00) - Why Biodiversity Is Harder to Quantify Than Carbon(00:21:00) - Superorganism's Investment Thesis and Portfolio(00:26:00) - Invasive Species as Business Opportunity: Python Leather(00:32:00) - Biodiversity, Human Health, and Disease Spillover(00:36:00) - Misconceptions About Building in Biodiversity(00:40:00) - Fund Raising, LPs, and Long-Term Capital(00:45:00) - Quick Fire Round: Sea Otters, Octopi, and Redwoods(00:50:00) - eDNA, Measurement, and the Future of Nature TechLinks and Resources:Superorganism131. Leaf It to Science: How Foray Bioscience's Ashley Beckwith is Reforesting the Future64. Swaying Away from Plastics: Julia Marsh's Seaweed Solutions159. The Future Is Fungi Awards: From Mushroom Dreams to Real-World ThingsThe Color FactoryThe 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis - Citrini Research Atoms vs.Bits - Citrini ResearchTopics Covered:biodiversity investing, biodiversity venture capital, Superorganism VC, Kevin Webb Superorganism, nature based solutions startups, invasive species business model, climate and biodiversity tech, impact investing in nature, biodiversity as an asset classHave a question or comment? Message us here:Text or Call (804) 505-5553⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Grow Everything⁠⁠⁠⁠Music by: Nihilore Production by: Amplafy Media