IronOak Brain Trust Member: Eric Letsinger

Impact Bonds Lead, IronOak Energy Capital
President, Quantified Ventures

What do you do within the renewable energy sector and why is it essential?
Quantified Ventures advises organizations in the social, public, and private sectors in designing and structuring impact investment transactions, primarily through a Pay for Success model in which payments for services are based on the outcomes achieved. We work to deploy impact capital to scale proven solutions that will make a difference in achieving social and environmental outcomes
 
Can you describe 2 of your most impactful past projects or engagements?
Quantified Ventures is leading the way in applying the ‘Pay for Success’ model to the environmental sector. We recently helped the DC Water and Sewer Authority issue the nation’s first ‘Environmental Impact Bond’ to fund implementation of green infrastructure, and are working to apply this approach in addressing other environmental issues such as in agriculture, forestry management, fisheries, and energy.
 
What are you most excited about for the renewable energy industry in 2017-2018?
Quantified Ventures strongly believes that the Pay For Success model can be used to de-risk public investment in renewable energy and look forward to pursuing such transactions in 2017-18.  
 
What is the role of impact capital going to be moving forward?
There is now $16B in ‘Impact Capital’ available for investment to scale innovations that will make a difference in the world. All the major financial institutions, plus foundations and high-net worth families have Impact Investing units that are an attractive source of capital for companies that can deliver both financial and social returns.
 
What are 1-2 pieces of advice you would give someone thinking about entering the renewable energy industry today?
Jump in and innovate on Day 1 to advance/scale what works and shed what doesn’t.