Shockwave Foundation

About Shockwave

Shockwave’s mission is to fuel bold innovation for climate resilience, empowering frontline communities to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Through strategic investments and grants, the organization catalyzes transformative solutions in climate adaptation, emphasizing projects with scalable impact and long-term sustainability.

Employing an integrated capital model, Shockwave supports both the development of startups and the strengthening of resilient systems. Its approach is rooted in optimism, creativity, and a commitment to progress that transcends traditional boundaries—advancing a sustainable future for people and ecosystems globally.

Shockwave’s Approach Includes:

• Providing seed funding at critical early stages, prioritizing projects that enhance economic potential in developing nations.
• Utilizing a blended capital model of program-related investments and philanthropic grants ranging from $25,000 to $1,000,000 USD, targeting organizations with proven, scalable solutions.
• Pursuing a 20-year vision, beginning with an initial $50 million USD in investments and grants, with a strategy to reinvest returns to maximize long-term impact.
• Centering its vision on those most affected by the climate crisis, helping communities reduce risk, manage shocks, and build sustainable futures.

Shockwave’s Process

Shockwave operates with a process that is clear, connected, and focused on impact. The organization believes in the power of ideas and is committed not only to funding solutions but also to building a global network of changemakers, knowledge sharing, and fostering connections that accelerate progress.

• Transparent Funding Model: Shockwave prioritizes openness in its funding processes. It employs transparent due diligence methods that can benefit others in the ecosystem, increasing accountability to partners, funders, and the communities it serves. The foundation encourages others to adopt similar practices to drive collective progress.
• Curated Selection Process: Rather than accepting unsolicited proposals, Shockwave utilizes a proactive and curated approach to identify partners aligned with its mission. This method ensures precision, efficiency, and high-impact outcomes.

Throughout its work, Shockwave values efficiency, collaboration, and a strong commitment to identifying and supporting effective solutions—together.

Background

Established in 2020, Shockwave builds on the work of its founder, Paul Traina, who sought to confront some of the world’s most urgent global challenges.

The name "Shockwave" is inspired by Alvin Toffler’s book Future Shock, which predicted a world of such rapid change that adaptation would become increasingly difficult. True to its name, Shockwave aims not only to adapt but also to mitigate and respond to the disruptive forces of the climate crisis—empowering communities to thrive amid unprecedented transformation.

Shockwave embraces complexity, views systems holistically, supports innovative and high-risk ideas, and operates with a long-term vision. It believes that even small interventions today can pave the way for significant, enduring progress. 

Contact: https://shockwave.org/contact/