Innovation

To Tom Soto, innovation means anticipating the future and crafting solutions that address the evolving needs of society, the environment, and the economy. Illustrated by Wayne Gretzky’s philosophy to "skate to where the puck is going to be," Soto emphasizes foresight and adaptability. His “innovate or die” mindset drives his commitment to tackling climate challenges with forward-thinking solutions.

Latimer Partners, established in 2021, represents Soto's vision for empowering organizations to navigate the complexities of sustainability. It is a groundbreaking, data-driven platform designed to accelerate the global shift toward sustainable energy. By streamlining the complexities of decarbonization, compliance, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) integration, it enables organizations to track emissions, improve efficiency, and make data-informed decisions. This innovation supports businesses in aligning their operations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while reducing environmental impact.  

Soto’s leadership is rooted in decades of climate advocacy. His prior achievements, such as reducing diesel buses and fostering clean heavy-duty fuels, catalyzed job creation and decarbonization efforts. These experiences inspired him to create tools like Latimer Partners that empower businesses to embrace sustainability while navigating the challenges of public sentiment and regulatory demands. Latimer Partnersexemplifies Soto’s belief that sustainability is essential for businesses seeking long-term success. By offering actionable strategies and fostering transparency, the platform positions organizations to lead the charge toward a greener, more resilient future. Soto’s innovation demonstrates the transformative power of aligning environmental responsibility with economic progress.

Inspiration

When asked what inspired him to found Latimer Partners, Tom led with the quote “one point in innovation can shift an entire economy.” As he delved further into this philosophy, it became clear that the main motivation behind Tom’s work has been to lift climate-focused companies out of the Valley of Death. This is the point in the life cycle of a startup where it struggles to reach profitability and free cash flow, which happens to be when a lot of companies fall under. Tom felt like he was the only person that both had money and substantial knowledge about the environment, whereas everyone else seemed to only have one. Hence, it was logical for him to use these two strengths to kickstart the journeys of the aforementioned companies. Additionally, Tom saw an opportunity when he was consulted by two California pension funds to help generate capital. He saw not just dollar signs, but also a road to job creation by using Latimer Partners to generate money for these funds through business for good. By focusing the pensions on solar, waste, water, and wind investments, Tom has been able to make a net-positive impact by contributing to both retirement security and the environment. Tom started out his investing career with the vision of a time in the future where legislation and capital would create clean jobs and a sound economic base for the future. After putting his money behind his vision, he has been surprised by how fast climate-focused firms have thrived and scaled up.

Overall impact

One of the specific functions of Latimer Partners that Tom stressed was the biomass sector of investments. Investments serve to help drive a plant to buy distressed bioplant facilities where they incinerate dead wood and biomass, then use these plants to create renewable clean energy to use in the place of coal when solar and wind power are not an option. The way he proposed this was that he would employ young people to clear dead wood from California forests, wood that covers a significant amount of forest space and creates disastrous risk for starting and spreading forest fires. Once this wood is harvested it would be incinerated in a high heat process to create electricity, and in the process turning the wood into charcoal briquettes which could be repurposed for agricultural use. 

This process would have a few specific outcomes beside the obvious environmental benefits. Firstly, the employment of the younger generation is a priority, and this process would create jobs for those in need. Secondly, the briquettes swallow carbon and expel oxygen, and could be sold to farmers and used to fertilize soil. Thirdly, carbon credits from this method, solar, and wind provides three revenue streams for the firm. Finally, California is facing a crisis in the insurance industry with the disastrous effects of forest fires on California homes. The reduction of dead trees would significantly reduce forest fire risk, which would allow insurance companies to remain in California.

Business benefit

Latimer Partners, LLC. has distinguished itself by prioritizing sustainability-focused investments in underserved markets. By strategically aligning capital with clean energy, technology, and infrastructure projects, they demonstrate how purpose-driven innovation can directly benefit a business. This unique approach has allowed the firm to generate significant returns while advancing social and environmental goals, further opening new opportunities in a rapidly expanding market. For example, the firm has successfully been able to raise capital for renewable energy projects that reduce carbon footprints and lower operational costs for partnering businesses. These initiatives have shown to not only generate consistent returns but also position the Latimer Partner group as a leader in green finance, allowing them to gain a significant increase in both institutional investors and socially conscious stakeholders.

By embedding sustainability into its core mission, the firm is passionate about creating lasting social impact. In aligning business decisions with core values, they are motivated by a shared sense of purpose, contributing to heightened productivity and intentional actions. Additionally, by investing in business within underserved communities, the Latimer Partners have stimulated local economies and created jobs. “There are currently 4.5 million workers in the renewable energy sector, 3 times more than in the Coal and Fossil Fuel industry combined. We are working to help rebuild the middle class,” Soto says. This further exemplifies the company’s dual focus on profit and purpose. The Latimer Partners model has proven that investing in the climate innovation sector is not only profitable but also a powerful catalyst for social equity, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.

Social and environmental benefit

Tom described the economic benefits of Latimer Partners' biomass sector mentioned previously, but he also stressed the environmental impacts of each focus in his firm. These benefits ranged from micro to macro impacts from simple net carbon reductions to saving lives and businesses on a larger level.

Tom stated that 100,000 truckloads of biomass removed from forests would significantly decrease the risk of forest fires, leading to a quantifiable reduction in deaths and homes destroyed in these areas. Another example of benefits of Latimer’s investments is removing grease from restaurants and universities and repurposing it for non potable agricultural use. Tom said the capital returns on this function were measurable.

Tom also described his actions as a forefront in changing the municipal procurement policy of diesel, essentially eliminating diesel from large transport vehicles in California. Now they are a proponent of electric vehicles, with developing a fully renewable and integrated EV infrastructure as one of Latimer Partners' foci. Missions like these highlight Latimer’s devotion as a corporation to working towards a regenerative economy that does not sacrifice capital gains. 

Interview

Tom Soto, Managing Partner and Founder