Episode #54: Meet the Startup Reimagining Death for a Sustainable Future
Tech Optimist Podcast — Tech, Entrepreneurship, and Innovation
In this episode of the Tech Optimist podcast, Drew Wandzilak interviews Tom Harries, Co-founder and CEO of Earth, about the company’s innovative approach to transforming individuals into life-sustaining soil. By combining ancient principles with modern technology, Earth offers a sustainable and meaningful alternative to traditional end-of-life options, honoring loved ones while nurturing the environment.
Episode #54: Meet the Startup Reimagining Death for a Sustainable Future
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Join us on the Tech Optimist and learn about Earth, a company offering a sustainable alternative to traditional end-of-life options. Drew Wandzilak, an investor at Alumni Ventures, interviews Tom Harries, Co-founder and CEO of Earth, who shares how his company transforms individuals into life-sustaining soil in a natural and environmentally conscious way. This method not only honors the cycle of life by returning to the earth but also nurtures the environment, providing families a meaningful way to celebrate their loved ones. Discover how Earth blends ancient principles with modern technology to create meaningful farewells that embrace environmental consciousness.
Watch Time ~31 minutes
The show is produced by Alumni Ventures, which has been recognized as a “Top 20 Venture Firm” by CB Insights (’24) and as the “#1 Most Active Venture Firm in the US” by Pitchbook (’22 & ’23).
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Creators and Guests
HOST
Drew Wandzilak
Senior Associate at Alumni Ventures
Drew has worked in high-growth industries as both an investor and operator, focusing on how people and technology interact within organizations. His venture experience began at AV’s Seed Fund, identifying and supporting early stage founders across a variety of industries. This experience led him to join Holistic Industries, a leading private multi-state operator of cannabis cultivation facilities and dispensaries, where he focused on business intelligence, corporate development, and M&A. Prior to rejoining AV, he worked with the founding team of Mirage, an NFT marketplace and view layer for augmented reality assets. Drew has a BS from Northwestern University in Education and Social Policy with concentrations in Learning & Organizational Change and Entrepreneurship. He is also an ambassador of Northwestern’s Farley Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and a member of Chicago Inno’s 25 under 25.
GUEST
Tom Harries
Co-founder and CEO of Earth
Tom is the CEO and Co-founder of Earth, a company that specializes in a proprietary process called “soil transformation,” an environmentally friendly alternative to burial and cremation.
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