Post by Eric Lagier

Let's start this post with a fact: One day you will die. Excited to see extensive coverage of our byFounders portfolio company, MEINE ERDE, on Danish National Broadcaster DR - Danmarks Radio. Speaking on the topic of death is considered taboo. I understand. Discussions around death are complex, uncertain, and definite.  That said, for the sake of our wallet and the environment, we need to address the elephant in the room: have you thought about what you want to happen to your body when you die? At the moment, you only have two options: cremation and burial. Both hold cultural significance, but they can be very expensive and, unfortunately, not good for the environment. Finances oftentimes become a focal point of conversations around burials and, I don’t know about you, but I would prefer that it wasn’t. Nor do I want them to be stained by thoughts about how much CO2 emissions they’d be releasing. It should be about celebrating the life lived and mourning its finale. So how can we accept that, while most industries have been truly transformed in the last decades, the death care industry remains totally dead in the ground? We can’t. So we are set on a mission to change it. If you’re still here, I haven’t spooked you too much, in which case, please read on to find out why I’m so excited about our portfolio company: MEINE ERDE. We Need a More Sustainable and Wholesome Way to Accompany the End of Life Deciding what to do with your remains is an extremely intimate matter. Still, it’s a topic we will all (at least for the foreseeable future) need to tackle. If not for ourselves, then for someone else. Therefore, it’s almost unbelievable to me that people haven’t called for more attention and innovation earlier. But, we’re finally starting to see some potential for change. Worldwide, people are growing conscious and vocal about making sustainable life choices - death care plans notwithstanding. Regulations have been slow to answer people’s new demands, but in January 2023, the United States led by example as New York responded to demand and became the 6th state to legalize human body composition. Across the Atlantic, we now see Europe following suit. Why? Because thought leaders, with a deep level of empathy and drive, are taking action. The founders of MEINE ERDE, Pablo Metz and Max Huesch , bring unprecedented skills and drive to the death care industry, and an ambition to make changes that will serve people better. The solution MEINE ERDE has built is not only eco-friendly but truly positive for the environment. Their technology turns human remains into fertile soil (instead of ashes) using 90% less energy than crematoria thanks to a cocoon made almost fully from recycled materials. Have you planned how you would like to depart this world? As they say in Danish - "Af jord er du kommet... Til jord skal du blive" 🙏

Video Content