Investing in Nature-Based Infrastructure in the Age of AI
An intimate gathering for founders, investors, and leaders exploring how ecological restoration scales beyond philanthropy.
Details
When: Thursday, October 1, 2026 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM PDT
Where: Menlo Park, CA
Format: Small-group discussion | By Invitation Only
The Thesis
Capital is pouring into AI infrastructure. Yet every digital economy remains bound by physical realities: energy, water, land, and soil.
AI can generate code in seconds, but it cannot instantly replenish an aquifer or grow a mature forest. As intelligence becomes abundant, nature may become the defining scarcity of the next 25 years.
Can nature become investable without destroying what makes it valuable?
Fresh from Climate Week NYC 2026
Fresh off meetings with leaders from the Aspen Institute, Acumen, TED, and Wall Street, co-host Sathya Raghu will share a candid look at:
Where institutional capital is actually moving vs. what remains talk.
How Nature Economic Zones align ecological restoration with commercial returns.
Why nature is emerging as a primary asset class.
Case Study: Veltoor (250 Acres)
Soul Forest is testing a model where 80% of a landscape is restored while the remaining 20% hosts sustainable enterprises (wellness, education, hospitality) that fund the forest’s permanent protection.
3-Year Field Results:
🌿 Biodiversity: Plant species: 201 → 506 | Animal species: 192 → 281
🌱 Soil Health: Soil organic carbon: 0.16% → 0.43%
💧 Water Security: Retention capacity expanded by +20M liters
🤝 Capital & Partners: ~60 families ($10M+) and leading institutions committed to the zone.
Featured Speaker and Hosts
Sathya Raghu (LinkedIn) | Founder & CEO, Soul Forest
Chartered Accountant turned climate entrepreneur with 15+ years of building across farms, forests, and climate innovation. Co-founder of Kheyti (2022 Earthshot Prize Winner, Protect and Restore Nature); Aspen, Acumen, Mulago, and TED Fellow.
Co-Hosted By
Vinod Sirimalle (LinkedIn) Director of Product, AI Commerce at PayPal. Tech leader and investor advising climate tech initiatives and sustainable capital models.
Deepti Illa (LinkedIn) Marketing executive and growth leader. Through Thedas Ventures LLC (planet restoration) and Thedas (GTM & brand agency), she scales climate innovations.
Suhani Mohan (LinkedIn) Director of Impact Investing at SV2. Former deep-tech climate investor and co-founder of the Bay Area South Asians Climate Association (BASACA).
Who Should Attend
Investors, family offices, founders, and builders focused on long-term value creation over the next 25 years.