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Verdn
An API to bundle trackable climate donations with any transaction
- 1-20 employees
- B2B
- Sustainability
- API
- Social Impact
- Environmental
- eCommerce
- City of London, London, UK
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Company mission
Their mission is to Ctrl+Z global ecosystem collapse by making sustainability profitable for companies.
Our take
Businesses are facing considerable consumer pressure to be more sustainable, however their options are often costly, slow and ineffective. That’s the problem Verdn attempts to solve with its climate-impact API. The company was founded in 2020 and recently graduated from Y Combinator’s W22 batch.
Verdn offers an API and Shopify app that enables companies to support eco-projects such as tree planting, ocean plastic cleanup, and coral planting with any transaction. The impact is transparent and trackable by end-customers via dashboards available post purchase.
Verdn has facilitated the recovery of over 300,000 kilos of ocean-bound plastic and the planting of over 1 million trees. They aim to continue growing in the e-commerce space while also moving into new, interesting verticals (like banking and benefits) with their API.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Benefits
- Generous stock options to all employees — our first hires will have a lot of responsibility, which means they should also have a lot of upside.
- Flexible / hybrid work model — the current 4-man team is in our London office almost every day, and we're keen to grow the team in-person. That said, we are happy to support a fully remote or hybrid solution for exceptional candidates.
- 3 duvet days a year — take the day off, paid, no questions asked.
- Equipment — we'll get you a new MacBook (we can vouch for the new M1 chips!) and whatever accessories you'll need to be productive in the office.
- Amazing office amenities — our WeWork office has tea, coffee, beer and snacks (honesty market), foosball and ping pong tables, a huge common area with a large outdoor balcony, and a wellness room.
- Unlimited holiday (minimum 31 days)
Company values
- Curiosity comes first: the best ideas often lie just beyond the horizon, and we never deter people from exploring uncharted territory.
- Question with honesty and integrity: When intentions are right, no question is beyond the pale. This is as true for our business practices, as it is for our societal wiring.
- Passion without ego: we strive for a culture where people have strong opinions loosely held, where the best ideas rise to the top, and people don't have their feelings hurt along the way.
- No double-standards: hypocrisy is anathema to both how we conduct ourselves as individuals, and how we act as a business. We always strive to lead by example.
- Be accountable as a group: We don't let anyone hang out to dry when things go wrong. Nor do we tend to individualise success. We're a team, simple as that.
Leadership
Christopher Mjelde
(CEO)Background in green tech and performance marketing. Business Management graduate from King's College London. Writes movie scripts when I have time.
Rory McMeekin
(CTO)Full-stack developer and designer. I make electronic music in my spare time, as well as trying and failing to make stuff in 3D. Big fan of pizza (maybe a bit too much).
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Verdn
Christopher Mjelde (CEO)
- We acknowledge that we're starting on the back foot when it comes to diversity. Verdn has two male, white founders, and a relatively homogenous investor base.
- We're trying to solve the most global problem there is — our team not only should be, but has to be, as diverse as possible for us to accrue the wisdom and perspectives we need to tackle it effectively.
- My co-founder Rory and I have known each other for 10 years, and it is a huge priority for us to try to replicate that familiarity and comfortability with new team members. It's especially important that everyone feel like they can express themselves openly, and voice their opinion on anything.
- We're working to minimise bias in our application processing and outreach, for example by removing gender and ethnicity. This is however only a first step, and we have much yet to learn, and we will be looking to constantly improve.
Articles
Endorsements
All
Nice people (1)
My opinions are valued (1)
Team energy (1)
If you have something to contribute, it'll be taken up! Co-founders Rory and Chris have been very receptive of new ideas and practices. The company is still very young, so there's a lot of room to own initiatives and bring your thoughts to the table.
Product
My opinions are valued
Jul 2022
There's a great atmosphere in the team and there's no shortage great energy! There are lots of ideas in the room but there's a pragmatic approach to solving problems. The enthusiasm for great product and customer experience is reflected in the team's output.
Product
Team energy
Jul 2022
Chris and Rory have made it very easy to work here and have been open to suggestions from day one. They're honest and mindful, and care deeply about a sustainable and positive environment at Verdn.
Product
Nice people
Jul 2022
