Member Spotlight: Jonathan Azoff

This week, I spoke with Jonathan Azoff, Co-Founder and General Partner of SNØCAP founder & consultan. We discussed about scaling impact-driven businesses, the power of community, and the untapped potential in waste innovation.

We also discussed what makes 9Zero’s Climate Hub such a unique space for collaboration—spoiler alert: it involves the cold brew tower.

Laura Knaub: What’s Your Climate Journey?

Jonathan Azoff: My climate journey began in Silicon Valley, where I worked as a software engineer and helped build and grow several companies. Some of which were even acquired by organizations like Disney and Zillow. Experiencing the full lifecycle of these businesses provided invaluable insights into entrepreneurship and scaling ventures.

After working for larger companies, I helped launch a logistics business centered around the sharing economy—my first exposure to sustainability. The business showed me that sustainability could be built into business models without taking away from the value proposition of a product.

I decided to dive in, and joined the inaugural board of Sweet Farm, a non-profit that started in the Bay Area. Sweet Farm is an organization that combines regenerative farming practices, farm animal rescue and rehabilitation, and research to advance sustainable technologies.

As we became more engaged in our research partnerships, we started to meet founders and even invested in a few as angel investors. My focus was on understanding how to help these businesses become venture-scale. Our role was to identify business models with the highest likelihood of success. This effort ultimately led to the founding of SNØCAP, a fund designed to advance science and sustainability through financial innovation. We focus on supporting high-potential business models and developing pathways for others to follow.

Today, SNØCAP collaborates with universities, communities, and co-founders across the U.S. to foster innovation in areas like materials development, new processes, and platform solutions. Our goal is to bring more innovation to market and change whole systems in the process.

Beyond SNØCAP, I’m actively involved in community-driven initiatives like Work on Climate, 9Zero, and media projects like The Climate Film Festival. I’ve also helped sponsor and launch Climate Weeks across the U.S.

Laura Knaub: Why Did You Choose to Collaborate with 9Zero?

Jonathan Azoff: An advisor to Sweet Farm actually introduced me to Luke, an investor in 9Zero. From the start, I saw strong synergies between 9Zero’s vision and my own. I was particularly impressed with Duncan’s approach to building a community and leveraging collective gatherings to inspire change.

Meeting Duncan felt serendipitous—we were in parallel fields with similar goals, yet our paths had never crossed before. Over time, our collaboration grew, and we even worked together on a financial product that will launch this year. The alignment in our missions made 9Zero an ideal partner.

Laura Knaub: Do You Have a Favorite Spot or Feature at the Climate Hub?

Jonathan Azoff: Standing in front of the cold brew tower (sponsored by SNØCAP) in the kitchen is my favorite spot. It’s where some of the most exciting conversations with other members happen. The casual atmosphere fosters connections that spark new ideas and collaborations.

Laura Knaub: What’s Been Inspiring You Lately?

Jonathan Azoff: I’ve been deeply inspired by the potential value in waste. Around 90% of everything we produce ends up in landfills, a tremendous untapped opportunity—a free resource that society will pay you to take.

If we can develop the science to convert waste effectively while driving down costs, we could fundamentally transform industries and society. Meeting innovators in the circular economy excites me because they’re tackling these challenges head-on. The key question is: Which models can truly drive costs down while remaining scalable? While logistics remain a significant hurdle, the potential for impact is enormous.

Laura Knaub: Can You Share a Moment at the Climate Hub That Made You Think, “This Is Exactly Where I Need to Be”?

Jonathan Azoff: This happens almost daily! A recent example stands out: As an investor, I needed to learn more about battery recycling mechanisms for a new technology I was exploring. I posted a question in the 9Zero Slack and was blown away by the number of responses. Not only did people share their knowledge, but many also offered their time to help.

In such a niche and often secretive field of science, this level of openness and support is rare. The 9Zero community is uniquely equipped to tackle these challenges, and having access to such brilliant minds is incredibly satisfying.

Laura Knaub: Any other question you'd like to answer?

Jonathan Azoff: What Drives You to Work in Climate and Deep Tech, and Why Now?

For the first time in my life, I feel like I can pursue something ambitious, make money, and have fun—all while making a meaningful impact. Every business today must reckon with its environmental footprint and resource constraints, so working in climate isn’t just a moral choice; it’s a practical one.

I want to show people that working in climate doesn’t mean compromising on financial stability or career growth. You can do both—and it’s incredibly exciting! As we grow this industry, we’re also building the foundation for a better society.

The rise of AI and the evolving job market have created a unique moment where people can apply their skill sets in transformative ways. This isn’t just about solving problems—it’s about building something fulfilling while shaping the world we live in. I’m passionate about helping others recognize that opportunity and supporting them in their journey.

Next
Next

Member Spotlight: Andrew Koch