#143 The Future of Carbon Markets: Transparency, Local Impact, & Retail Investors | Sudhu Arumugam, CYNK

CleanTechies Podcast

In this enlightening episode, Silas and Somil delve into an engaging conversation with a visionary in the realm of carbon markets, Sudhu Arumugam, the CEO and Co-Founder of CYNK.

CYNK is an early-stage company based out of Nairobi and Singapore, and they are building a block-chained tied marketplace specifically for the African voluntary carbon markets.
Many debate the need for another carbon marketplace, but one thing is certain: trust in this space has been hard to find, and what CYNK is doing should help fix this.
Sudhu Arumugam and his co-founder, Nils Razmilovic, bring a unique blend of Finance, Blockchain, and Sustainability expertise. Their collective experience and insight have culminated in the creation of CYNK. The driving force behind their venture is the imperative need to ensure that financial benefits reach local African communities, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable environmental impact.

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Topics:

**1:40 Intro to Sudhu
**5:00 Importance of blockchain in the carbon markets and how it works
**6:05 The Data Behind Carbon Credits and How That Affects the Price
**7:45 Technology: Carbon → Blockchain
**8:40 Who their Customers are
**10:00 Growing the TAM Requires Transparency
**13:00 Pricing Carbon
**14:20 Attitude Towards Buying Carbon in Your Geography
**17:45 Retail Investors Will Catalyze the Carbon Markets
**20:30 How They Got Their First Customer
**22:10 Merging Carbon and Blockchain Cultures
**24:30 Interacting with Scientists
**27:00 Their Next Challenges
**27:50 Advice on Building in Carbon Markets Space
**30:00 Closing Thoughts

Links:

• Sudhu Arumugam | CYNK
• Connect with Somil | Connect with Silas
• For all your Climate, Renewables, and Sustainability recruitment needs, check out our sponsor NextWave Partners.
• This podcast is NOT investment advice. Do your homework and due diligence before investing in anything discussed on this podcast.

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Chapters

1. Intro to Sudhu (00:01:40)

2. Importance of blockchain in the carbon markets and how it works (00:05:00)

3. The Data Behind Carbon Credits and How That Affects the Price (00:06:05)

4. Technology: Carbon → Blockchain  (00:07:45)

5. Who their Customers are (00:08:40)

6. Growing the TAM Requires Transparency (00:10:00)

7. Pricing Carbon (00:13:00)

8. Attitude Towards Buying Carbon in Your Geography (00:14:20)

9. Retail Investors Will Catalyze the Carbon Markets (00:17:45)

10. How They Got Their First Customer (00:20:30)

11. Merging Carbon and Blockchain Cultures (00:22:10)

12. Interacting with Scientists (00:24:30)

13. Their Next Challenges (00:27:00)

14. Advice on Building in Carbon Markets Space (00:27:50)

15. Closing Thoughts (00:30:00)