Internet ads – you probably see hundreds, maybe thousands a day without thinking about them. But it turns out the process for serving those ads involves a highly complex digital supply chain that generates 7.2 million tons of carbon emissions annually. That’s why ad-tech veteran Anne Coghlan is on a mission to decarbonize media and advertising with Scope3.

A lifelong lover of logic and problem-solving, Anne earned her Master’s at University College London in the Philosophy of Mathematics, later joining digital advertising company AppNexus in 2015. There she met future Scope3 co-founder Brian O’Kelley and helped to develop many of the technologies that underpin digital ad delivery today.

When Anne left the ad industry to join supply chain tech company Waybridge, she began to notice that a lack of consideration for sustainability and energy consumption existed across both industries.

So, in 2021, she reunited with O’Kelley and other AppNexus alumni to found Scope3, a public benefit corporation aiming to decarbonize advertising and media by better measuring the carbon emitted from digital display and video ads. In 2023, Anne made AdAge’s 40 under 40 list and secured the #2 most influential person in performance media on PMW’s Power 100 List, but the COO of Scope3 is just getting started.

Hear Anne Coghlan share how her love for math ultimately led to co-founding a startup, why online ads only scratch the surface of Scope3’s potential use cases, and what the future holds for decarbonized digital media.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Anne Coghlan on decarbonizing digital supply chains

00:53 Conor Gaughan introduces Anne Coghlan and Scope3

05:08 The beauty of math, interest in music, and academic pursuits

16:10 Studies to consulting, joining AppNexus, and Waybridge

21:27 Launching Scope3, how it works, and the media industry’s footprint

34:14 Problem solving with math, maximizing impact, and open sourcing tech

45:01 What’s next, remaining optimistic, and the future of sustainable ads

49:39 Where to learn more

51:32 End credits

If you liked this episode, listen next to Allison Wolff of Vibrant Planet on Beneficial Fire, Sustainable Software, and Nature-Based Climate Solutions

More on Scope3 and Anne Coghlan:

scope3.com

linkedin.com/company/scope3data

linkedin.com/in/annecoghlan

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference!

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just popping into the feed for a quick hello from Consensus in Conversation host, Conor Gaughan, to update you on the coming weeks.

We’ve been hard at work with some great shows planned for this summer, including a few special episodes that may look and sound a little different than our regular programming. We think you’ll really enjoy them.

So, no episode for today, but we’ll be back in June with some great new conversations. See you next week!

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com

If you’re enjoying the show please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference!

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just over one year ago, the IRS published its final rules and guidance on the transferability of clean energy tax credits. Not only did transferability solve a major flaw in the Inflation Reduction Act’s plan to support clean energy infrastructure development, but, as many founders correctly foresaw, it was about to create an entirely new financial market.

This week, we’re re-releasing our conversation with one of those visionary founders: Alfred Johnson, CEO and Co-Founder of Crux Climate, after a great live conversation we had with Alfred at American Clean Power Association’s 2024 CLEANPOWER expo, which we plan to bring to the pod later this year.

Crux is a software startup revolutionizing clean energy tax credit management, and Alfred is well-suited to break down clean energy tax incentives, share founders' lessons, and talk about the rapidly growing clean energy market, which is expected to receive $3 trillion in investments over the next decade.

A Stanford grad, Alfred Johnson worked for the U.S. Treasury Department and BlackRock before launching his first software company with co-founder Allen Kramer. That company was acquired in 2020, leaving Alfred and Allen ready for their next adventure. And, in 2023, they launched Crux Climate to develop online solutions for organizations to buy and sell clean energy tax credits, helping ensure that capital goes to the impactful startups that need it to scale, and that credits go to those that can actually use them.

Hear Alfred Johnson talk about the founding idea for Crux, how to find an ideal co-founder, and why he thinks tax credit transferability is one of the most influential government policy choices ever made.

Episode Highlights

00:00 Conor introduces ACP CLEANPOWER 2024, Alfred, and Crux

03:04 D.C. upbringing, Stanford, and the intersection of private and public sectors

12:27 The startup bug and launching Crux Climate

18:03 Crux’s core business, finding buyers and sellers, and building scale

26:16 The tax credit marketplace, a new asset class, and the near-term future

32:02 ESG, aligning purpose with profits, and creating sustainable impact

38:51 Advice for young entrepreneurs, leaving a legacy, and finding motivation

45:57 Where to learn more and end credits

If you liked this episode, stay tuned for next week’s live follow-up with Alfred, and in the meantime, listen next to Jonathan Goldberg of Carbon Direct

More on Alfred Johnson and Crux Climate:

cruxclimate.com

linkedin.com/company/cruxclimate

linkedin.com/in/alfredjohnson01

Connect with Conor Gaughan on linkedin.com/in/ckgone and threads.net/@ckgone

Have questions, or a great idea for a potential guest? Email us at CiC@consensus-digital.com

If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show on Apple Podcasts and Spotify – it really makes a difference!

Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.