| | July 202119STARTUP INSIDERSTARTUPINSIDERBy Michiel van Deursen, Founder, Capital VSoon after selling my first company to eBay, I was all of a sudden a `man without a mission'. I felt lost, and lacked direction I had had all my life before this point. I knew one thing - that I wanted to add some value to the world. I am from the first generation of internet pioneers who believed they could change the world and defy established rules, so it was already within me to pursue more. I had no idea where to start. In the beginning I decided to look for start-ups that worked on solar energy, in Africa or even charities that needed help. I missed the total disruption that I was used to, something that changed the system, not just a part of it. I knew myself by now, and I knew I had to take a step back for a while to clear my mind, and delve deeper into what I could put my focus in. My years of hard work and little rest, and not looking after myself physically, resulted in me being extremely unhealthy. I didn't feel good in myself. So, I googled what the biggest goal for the body is, and decided I would take on an Ironman - never one to shy away from a challenge. I also simultaneously decided I would travel the world, to train in the most epic places on earth, and embarked on a trip that shaped my future direction. Before this point, I never considered myself to be a conscious consumer. Believing the best I could do was to recycle here and there. During my travels, I came to understand the impact we all have on the planet. How everything each of us do is connected. How we exploit earth, destroy life, and how animal agriculture is at the forefront of all of this exploitation. Imagine a world where there is plenty of nature. Wildlife everywhere. Biodiversity instead of monoculture. Where the air is clean and the water too. No more climate change and much less suffering for both humans and animals. This is all a lot more within reach when we take animals out of the production system. THE NEXT BIG THING IN CLEANTECHMichiel van Deursen
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