SOFI meets... Robert Gardner
Pardon the Interruption
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We’re excited to launch SOFI meets... — a new podcast from the team at SOFI ai, where we sit down with leaders shaping the future of investment, sustainability, technology, and institutional decision-making.
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In each episode, we go beyond the headlines to understand what’s really happening across pensions, insurance, wealth, and beyond — speaking directly with the changemakers pushing boundaries and asking better questions.
For our debut episode, SOFI & mallowstreet CEO Stuart Breyer is joined by Robert Gardner, CEO and co-founder of Rebalance Earth, to explore a bold question:
Can nature become an investable asset class — and if so, what does that mean for investors, markets, and the planet?
Rob draws on his 25-year journey across finance and sustainability to make a powerful case for rethinking how we value the natural world — not just ethically, but economically. From sphagnum moss to oyster reefs, from Argentina’s hyperinflation to the future of responsible AI, this is a fascinating and timely conversation about the intersection of natural capital, climate risk, and financial innovation.
Key Takeaways from the Episode
1. Creating a New Asset Class from Nature-Based Solutions Rebalance Earth is working to make nature investable — just like infrastructure or real estate. By monetising ecosystem services like water purification, carbon storage, and flood resilience, they’re building frameworks where organisations pay for the benefits nature provides.
2. The Twin Crisis of Climate Change and Nature Loss With 70% of ecosystems degraded and global temperatures on track to rise by 2°C within 15 years, the need for scalable, nature-based solutions is urgent. Nature, as Rob says, is “4 billion years of R&D” we can deploy now — if we act.
3. The Utility and Value of Natural Ecosystems Examples like sphagnum moss (which stores 20x its volume in water) and oyster reefs (which clean water and protect coastlines) demonstrate how undervalued natural assets are — and why the UK, one of the most nature-depleted countries globally, must act fast.
4. The Role of Technology and AI in Scaling Solutions From AI meeting assistants to satellite mapping tools, Rebalance Earth is using technology to punch above its weight while remaining mindful of the environmental footprint of digital infrastructure. Their AI policy aims to double impact while cutting carbon.
5. Investment Ambition & Scaling for Global Impact With plans to raise £150 million this November and £1 billion within two years, Rebalance Earth is building towards a £10 billion nature restoration model. Their investment thesis? Deliver financial, nature, social, and inspirational returns.
6. Why Nature Risk = Portfolio Risk Rob makes a clear call to institutional investors: If you believe there’s a significant chance climate and nature risks will impact your portfolio in the next decade, what are you doing to build resilience today?
This is just the beginning. New episodes of SOFI Meets will drop regularly, featuring voices from across the investment, sustainability, and innovation landscape.
📅 Coming soon: Robert Cochran of Scottish Widows, sharing his perspective on pensions, member engagement, and the rise of TikTok.
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