Hi there,
It’s been an inspiring start to autumn!
From energizing Startup Growth Playbook sessions with innovative entrepreneurs and Impact Investor interviews to exciting updates on our 2026 calendar of events, this month has been full of momentum and community spirit.
We are continuing to grow together, across conversations, collaborations, and ideas that move people, planet, and global communities forward. Let’s dive in!
BIG Business Blueprint™: Dynamic Founders Startup Growth Playbook Sessions
Our LinkedIn Live sessions this month brought together founders for open, forthright conversations on unlocking funds and optimizing funnel conversions.
Each Live session is designed as a safe space for startup leaders to ask questions, exchange advice, and connect with peers navigating similar journeys.
🌟 Here are some highlights from the two sessions:
Session #14: Unlocking Angel & Venture Capital for Founders
Most small business owners are familiar with loans and grants, but far fewer understand how to attract funding from angel investors or venture capital firms. These two sources aren’t just financing, they’re partnership capital that can accelerate growth, open doors, and unlock opportunities traditional lenders can’t.
Some of the key takeaways from Startup Growth Playbook session #14:
Angels vs. VCs serve different stages of growth. Angels invest personal money early based on the founder, story, and early traction. VCs invest institutional money when the business shows scalable growth and a large market.
Clarity beats passion. Investors want to see a clear business model, traction, realistic financials, and a clean legal structure. Organized founders get funded faster.
The best pitches combine story + data. A compelling problem, real customer proof, and a credible market opportunity matter more than buzzwords.
Fundraising is a relationship process. Research investors, use warm introductions, come prepared for due diligence, and treat capital like a partnership.
What happens after you raise is just as important. Investors back founders who communicate updates, manage capital responsibly, and deliver on milestones.
Session #13: How to Convert Early Users Into Paying Customers
In Session #13 of the Startup Growth Playbook we tackled one of the most common early-stage hurdles: how to convert early users into paying customers. Most pre-seed founders are sitting on free sign-ups, beta testers, or early adopters but revenue remains slow. Why? Because early traction is often built for validation, not conversion.
Some of the key takeaways from this session:
Conversion is a journey, not a moment. Use a simple founder-led system:
Signal → Trust → Offer → Ask → Convert.Clarity beats features. If users don’t instantly understand what outcome you deliver, they won’t pay. Your value must be explained in one sentence: “We help X do Y.”
You must ask for the sale. Most founders never explicitly ask. Practice making the offer early, clearly, and confidently.
Make it easy to pay. No long forms, no friction. One link, one click.
Conversion killers to avoid: waiting too long to charge, overloading with features, and hiding the call to action.
The Planet Positive Hub™ Membership
Our Planet Positive Hub™ continues to grow, and we would love for you to be part of it.
As a member, you’ll join a global network of over 2,000 innovators, investors, and leaders dedicated to driving meaningful change. Enjoy exclusive access to events, mentorships, and content designed to help you scale impact while staying connected to a supportive community. Gain unlimited access to the BIG Business Blueprint™ Startup Growth Playbook sessions, Discussion Boards to engage in forward-thinking conversations with other leaders, and a Knowledge Base for Investors, Startups, Executives, Academic Leaders, and Non-Profit Experts.
Starting at only $15 per month, the membership perks include:
24/7 access to our online community platform
Mentorship and fundraising support
Unlimited access to virtual and in person event recordings and expert content
Exclusive invitations to members-only events
You can experience the Planet Positive Hub™ for 30 days for free.
Building on Success: Emerald Summit™ 2025 Sets the Stage for 2026
This September, the Emerald Summit™ brought together executives, investors, startup founders, policy experts, academic leaders and students. They turned conversations into commitments, ideas into actions.
40 incredible voices shared bold solutions for a sustainable future, while connections formed across the room between investors, executives, and innovators.
From expert panels on resilience and circularity to startup pitches shaping the next decade, the Emerald Summit™ 2025 proved once again: this is where capital meets solutions, and partnerships that matter are born.
This successful edition, yet again, calls for another Emerald Summit™!
Emerald Summit™ 2026 is coming to NYC on September 18 during Climate Week.
Where startups meet investors, where policy meets action, and where the future of sustainability is decided.
Be there to make it happen.
Speakers, Partners, Sponsors, and Volunteers: This Is Your Chance to Be Part of the Action.
Whether you are sharing bold ideas, shaping this unique experience, or helping bring the Summit to life behind the scenes, we welcome you on this journey. Don’t just watch the future unfold. Help create it!
Mark Your Agenda: These are our Community Events For 2026!
After the success of 2025, our 2026 Climate Forward™ events promise to be even more inspiring! Expect new partnerships, bold ideas, and meaningful conversations.
🌟 Highlights to mark on your calendar 🌟
New York Fintech Week – April 20, 2026
A vibrant series of gatherings where founders, investors and financial innovators meet to explore how technology can reshape finance for good.
Ideal for: Fintech entrepreneurs, climate finance professionals, and early-stage investors.
NY Tech Week – June 1, 2026
A dynamic celebration of innovation bringing together startups, VCs, and tech leaders from across industries for meetups, panels, and pitch sessions.
Ideal for: Tech founders, product builders, and anyone driving innovation at the intersection of impact and technology.
Climate Week NYC – September 18, 2026
A global convening of business, policy, and sustainability leaders aligned with the UN General Assembly. Wallet Max will host the Emerald Summit™ 2026, the Bold World Awards, and our signature Sustainably Social Dinner.
Ideal for: Climate advocates, corporate executives, investors, and changemakers focused on sustainability and inclusive growth.
Do you want to get involved?
We are now accepting applications for speakers, moderators, and volunteers who want to bring their expertise and energy to these 2026 events. Whether you have an idea to share, a story to tell, or want to help make these experiences unforgettable, we would love to have you with us.
This Year’s Sponsor Hall of Fame (And Gratitude)
Will You Be Our Next Sponsor?
As we are planning our next series of high-impact gatherings, we are inviting sponsors and partners who share our mission of accelerating climate fintech, sustainable innovation, and inclusive growth.
Whether you represent a company, fund, or community organization, your partnership helps us bring more founders, investors, and innovators together to build a better future.
We are currently seeking:
Strategic Sponsors and Corporate Partners
Community and Media Collaborators
Startup Co-Hosts and InvestorContributions
Your support creates space for connection, learning, and progress.
Press Play: The Planet Positive Podcast - Season 1 Episode 9 with Puja Balachander & Sara Jones (Carbon 13)
Our Planet Positive Podcast keeps the inspiration going with powerful conversations from global leaders at the intersection of business, impact, and innovation.
Our podcast’s latest episode features Puja Balachander and Sarah Jones from Carbon13. Their mission is to grow Carbon13’s role as a leading investor and expand its reach in the sector.
Some of the key takeaways from this September’s podcast:
Climate isn’t just climate: It’s food, energy, water, health, policy, and supply chains. Both Puja and Sarah highlight emerging climate trends, such as energy pricing and energy security, AI intersecting with climate and robotics.
Impact IS the business model: Carbon13 trains founders to quantify climate and commercial scaling together. High climate impact and VC-level returns are not mutually exclusive.
And more.
Catch the latest episode we are introducing below and subscribe for updates.
Next up – Wallet Max Planet Positive Podcast - Season 1, Episode 10 with Claire Biernacki (BBG Ventures) on October 31
This month on the Planet Positive Podcast™, Bhuva Shakti sits down with Claire Biernacki, Partner at BBG Ventures, one of the first funds to boldly back diverse and female founders.
Claire and Bhuva explore how investors can drive meaningful financial inclusion and lasting impact without compromising growth. From rethinking what success looks like, to building portfolios that truly reflect our polycultural world, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone shaping the future of business and innovation.
Some of the key takeaways from this month’s podcast:
Founder–investor fit matters both ways: Founders should reference-check investors. Relationships compound over years.
What is Vertical AI and AI hype: Most startups today are “AI-enabled”, using AI as a feature. Far fewer are truly “AI-native,” where AI is core to the product’s advantage and difficult to replicate.
And more
💡 Tune in for real stories and practical insights on shaping the future of inclusive investing.
The Executive Edge Expeditor™: A Masterclass by Bhuva Shakti
Take your leadership to the next level with the Executive Edge Expeditor™ Masterclass; a focused, practical course designed to help you strengthen your executive skills and lead with purpose taught by Bhuva Shakti, Wallet Max founder and CEO.
What’s included:
Self-paced, actionable lessons tailored for busy leaders
Frameworks to elevate your impact and win-win decision-making
Industry-focused case studies and hands-on activities to practice
Certificate of completion, and bundled discount offers with other resources
Launch offer: $249 (regularly $899)
In the first lesson of the Masterclass you will learn:
Why avoiding negotiation is costing you more than you think.
What is really at stake when you undercharge (or overcharge).
How to use my Ask–Anchor–Align framework to lead negotiations that protect your time, your energy, and your bottom line.
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
Name your number without flinching.
Set terms that serve both you and your client.
Walk away from misaligned deals with your head held high.
Ready to sharpen your edge?
Stay in touch with our Community
Want more tips and insights into sustainable business and investing? Join the Wallet Max Hub — a free community of planet-positive investors and entrepreneurs, and discover how to make a bigger impact.