Tellus Mater Foundation Supports Volans

Alejandro Litovsky

April 14, 2010

Volans has received a grant from the Tellus Mater Foundation to seed fund the Pathways to Scale Program; and support a year-long project to explore how entrepreneurs are mainstreaming the protection of natural ecosystems into the prevailing economic and business paradigm. The work will build on elements of the research The Phoenix Economy, which we published in 2009.

The project will identify and work with today’s pioneers—scientists, activists, business leaders and progressive investors—whose metrics, technologies and business models are advancing an economy that takes into account the services provided by ecosystems. Through surveys and research, it will explore the success stories for these models, identifying them as prototypes of tomorrow’s economy, creating awareness of the barriers they face to scale, and helping them increase their influence with key stakeholders, such as business, investors and government policy-makers.

A number of strategic partnerships are being put in place with international bodies, foundations and research networks to multiply the impact of the work. We are grateful for the foundation’s support and look forward to this exciting project in 2010.