Impact investing in seaweed as a nature-based solution for global food security and the blue economy
Sarah Wan-Yau, Managing Director, Potato Impact Partners, USA
Speaker
Speaker
Seagriculture USA
11 - 12 September 2024
Ketchikan, Alaska, USA
About speaker:
Sarah Wan-Yau is Managing Director of Potato Impact Partners (PIP), the U.S. social impact arm of Potato Productions. She leads and directs strategic impact investments and partnership initiatives, and leverages the assets and networks of Potato sister companies across the Asia-Pacific to elevate PIP’s work and impact globally. Previously, Sarah served dual roles as Senior Advisor to Potato Productions and Representative for The Asia Foundation in Singapore, heading regional programs and initiatives across Southeast Asia. Prior to this, she served in leadership roles at The Asia Foundation in board and organizational strategy and development; public-private partnerships and fundraising; and program initiatives in women's empowerment, environmental sustainability, governance and regional cooperation across Asia. Sarah’s experience and interests in providing funding and resources to ecosystem partners; working with local communities on the ground to identify needs and opportunities; and passion for convening multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration to address large, complex environmental issues, drives her work at PIP. Sarah lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband and two kids, and enjoys reading, practicing yoga, and hosting themed parties.
Company:
Potato Impact Partners (PIP) is a social venture amplifying positive impacts in education, food security, and sustainability through creative collaborations between the US and Southeast Asia (SEA). PIP makes impact investments in innovative seaweed aquaculture ventures; manages university partnerships to engage youth in sustainability and impact investing; and collaborates with changemakers to represent the diverse voices of SEA. PIP backs ventures innovating in seaweed aquaculture to accelerate global food security and the blue economy, and invests in innovations disrupting the sustainable seaweed aquaculture value chain. They invest across all stages, sectors, and technologies addressing market failures that prevent the reliable supply and growth of high-quality, price-controlled sustainable seaweed. PIP amplifies their impact through strategic partnerships and co-investments with blue economy leaders in the ecosystem.
PIP is the US-based subsidiary of Potato Productions, a group of social ventures in Singapore spanning design, media, publishing, film and entertainment, education, healthcare, and technology.
Presentation:
Potato Impact Partners (PIP) is an impact investor in seaweed aquaculture startups that have positive impacts on global food security and the blue economy, especially in support of coastal communities and their livelihoods. PIP’s theory of change; investment case for seaweed; and value proposition of serving as a bridge between Southeast Asia/APAC and North America/Europe will be shared. This talk aims to present “learnings to date” and serve as a beginning for ongoing conversations with seaweed ecosystem stakeholders.