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Backing Purpose-Driven Founders for a Sustainable Future
- Daisy Moll
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
The latest group of judges for the RISE Awards has been announced this week. Joining the panel is Ben Keene. Sustainable Times sat down with Keene to learn more about his background and what lens he will bring to the judging process.
For Keene, judging the RISE Awards is an extension of his day-to-day work. As a long-time leader in sustainability and impact innovation, he spends his time connecting founders, investors, and changemakers who are tackling some of the planet’s biggest challenges. “Whether it’s climate tech, conservation, or circular economy models — my work is about spotting great ideas, helping them grow, and getting more people involved,” Keene says.
This blend of strategic insight and practical experience will be brought to the RISE Awards judging panel on 6th November.
Keene jokes that he entered sustainability as many do when, at eight, he joined World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) after a school project revealed the reality of endangered species. By 19, he was in the foothills of Mount Kenya, witnessing first-hand the interlinked challenges of climate change, soil health, politics, and food systems. “It encapsulated everything that’s important, why wouldn’t you work in this space?” he reflects.
That early passion has since evolved into a career spanning eco-tourism, startup mentoring, and entrepreneurship. Across all of it runs the belief that sustainability can’t sit in a niche. “It has to be part of everyday life,” he says. “The question is how to get more people involved, and then give that collaboration real purpose.”
Huge opportunities
In his work with climate and nature-based businesses, Ben is seeing more innovation than ever before but also an increasingly widening funding gap. “Climate investment 1.0 hasn’t always paid back quickly, and that’s made some investors cautious. But regulation and market shifts will unlock huge opportunities. The winners will be the ones ready to accelerate when the moment comes.”
Keene is particularly excited about the role of AI in conservation and climate solutions. As an example, he cites machine learning cameras used in Pakistan’s Karakoram mountains to alert farmers to the presence of snow leopards, preventing conflict and saving lives. Similarly, AI-driven drones are being used in Kenya’s Lewa Conservancy to prevent rhino poaching entirely for six years.
“There are risks with AI, but the upside is huge if we use it for positive impact,” he says. “Wherever you see inefficiency or waste, there’s opportunity — and circular economy models are the future.”
A better business case for the planet
For Keene, judging is about championing the ideas that can shape markets and mindsets. “We have the solutions. Now it’s about bringing more people into the movement, building with purpose, and making the better business case for our planet the only business case.”
He’ll be looking for founders with strong, adaptable teams and robust business models, companies with the resilience to scale and the timing to seize their moment. “It’s about people as much as the product, the mindset, the skills, and the ability to adapt.”
If you are a startup looking to get feedback from an esteemed judging panel sign up to the RISE Awards before 31st August.
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