Derek Handley created the Aera Foundation first and then spun out Aera VC as the foundation's "first financial project," making his fund structurally rooted in a charitable studio focused on long-horizon societal questions like wisdom and polarization rather than just returns-driven climate investing. Before becoming an investor, he donated two years to co-found and serve as the first CEO of The B Team with Sir Richard Branson to shift business from profit-only to "people, planet and profit," and he maintains a distinctive life-design discipline of spending roughly half his week disconnected from email to preserve focus and reflection.

• Active pursuit of climate technology and sustainability solutions. Recently announced the launch of a new fund at Aera VC specifically designed to back founders tackling the massive challenge of reaching net zero emissions.
• Interest in the intersection of Web3 and environmental impact. Frequently discusses the potential for cryptocurrency and blockchain to support ecological goals, expressing excitement about meeting founders building climate solutions both on and off the blockchain.
• Enthusiasm for decentralized autonomous organizations and community-led initiatives. Demonstrated personal participation in high-profile social experiments, such as the collective effort to purchase a copy of the US Constitution and fundraising for Ukraine through decentralized channels.
• Appreciation for deep intellectual discourse and personal growth. Hosts a podcast series focused on wisdom and perspective, exploring niche subjects like the life lessons one can learn from a lion tracker or the importance of establishing personal rituals to bring meaning to life.
• Advocacy for open civil discourse and free speech. Expresses concern over the loss of balanced discussion in society and champions the need for safe spaces where people can share new ideas and differing viewpoints without fear of immediate backlash.