Nicole Rojas, MBA ’22, on Her Story Behind Clean-Tech Startup

TL;DR

Lasso is a platform that automates the process of tracking methane emissions on farms, making it financially viable for farmers to implement emission reduction practices.

Transcript

Carol Massar, Tim Stenovec live at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Before we wrap up today, our special broadcast from the campus, we wanted to get to one more student who is actually tackling, actually she's a graduate, she's an alum. But she's tackling, I think it's safe to say, one of our biggest challenges of all time. >> Yeah, Nicole... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧑‍🌾 Lasso automates data collection to help farmers track their methane emissions accurately.
• 🧑‍🌾 The platform enables farmers to make a financial case for emission reduction, attracting external funding.
• 🧑‍🌾 Sustainability efforts in agriculture can benefit both the environment and the financial viability of farms.
• ❓ Stanford's entrepreneurship and experiential learning opportunities have been instrumental in the development of Lasso.
• 📽️ The government's support for emission reduction projects in agriculture provides a favorable environment for Lasso's operations.
• 💋 Lasso's initial partnership with a US Dairy brand marks a significant milestone for the company.
• 💗 Lasso's focus on sustainability in agriculture aligns with the growing importance of ESG considerations.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Lasso help farmers track their methane emissions?

Lasso automates the process of data collection, replacing manual methods like phone calls and farm visits. This allows farmers to have accurate data to support their emission reduction efforts and attract funding.

Q: What is the significance of addressing emissions on cattle farms?

Cattle farming is a significant contributor to carbon emissions. By reducing emissions on cattle farms, Lasso helps address one of the biggest challenges in combatting climate change.

Q: How did the co-founder of Lasso manage to start the company while studying at Stanford?

The co-founder took advantage of courses and resources at Stanford, such as Stanford Climate Ventures and Startup Garage, to refine the idea and gain insights into entrepreneurship and fundraising.

Q: How does Lasso support farmers in their fundraising process?

Lasso provides resources and guidance for fundraising, including feedback on pitch decks and connections to potential investors from the Stanford network.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Lasso provides a business case for on-farm emissions reductions by automating the manual process of collecting data on methane emissions.

• The platform helps farmers make financial sense of implementing emission reduction practices, attracting external funding and supporting their brand claims.

• The company's focus on sustainability in agriculture improves the financial viability of farms while also benefiting the environment.