- A16Z's Peter Levine is contributing to climate repair differently than VCs typically do.
- Instead of investing, he's training climate nonprofits who serve marginalized communities.
In 2020, long-time Andreessen Horowitz general partner Peter Levine stepped back from the pace of his career as a venture capitalist after a terrifying bout with cancer left him rethinking his priorities.
Flash forward to three-years after his surgery, Levine tells Insider that his recovery has been nothing short of a "miracle." He's now doing a little investing for A16Z again, in "selective" startups, he said. But more importantly, he's been inspired to focus on a new philanthropic project. The Levine Impact Lab has launched in partnership with the Honnold Foundation – a solar-technology non-profit founded by Levine's friend, renowned rock climber Alex Honnold.
The idea is to bring Silicon Valley startup-like training to non-profits, particularly select organizations already involved and vetted by the Honnold Foundation. It's mission is to bring solar solar energy to marginalized communities.
"Just because you're a non-profit versus a for-profit tech company, everyone runs into the same issues. Networking, best practices, recruiting, marketing, fundraising, board composition" Levine told Insider. "If I can take the expertise that I have built over the past decade as a venture capitalist and provide that to these nonprofits in partnership with Alex Arnold, who's become a friend of mine, it's like, it's freaking awesome."
The initial cohort has been selected but Levine says the plan is to select a new cohort every year and to freely give away all documents and curriculum so that any non-profit may benefit.