The Vulcan Inc. is a Seattle-based private investment company that conducts a wide-range of projects related to science, public policy, technology, art, and real estate. Vulcan also gives funds toward environmentalist research and climate change policy efforts.

Background

The company was created in 1986 by Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft and his sister Jody. The company’s main work is to oversee all business and giving activities of Paul Allen. After Paul Allen died in 2018, it was reported that The Vulcan owned 16 business and nonprofit units, including an NFL team, a biology research center, a media production company, real estate operators, and several museums. ¹ Most of the staff at Vulcan are scientists and engineers who came from major technology companies such as Google and Microsoft.

Branches

Vulcan Capital

Vulcan Capital (est. 2003) is the public and private investment firm for Vulcan Inc. Vulcan has made investments with companies like Amazon, Uber, Microsoft, Netflix, Spotify, Post, and Progressive. ²

Vulcan Productions

Vulcan Productions is the film and digital arm of Vulcan Inc., producing documentaries that include environmentalist advocacy. ³

Vulcan Real Estate

Vulcan Real Estate is the real estate business arm of Vulcan Inc. ⁴

Vulcan Sports and Entertainment

Vulcan Sports and Entertainment oversees the ownership of sports teams and entertainment facilities.

Vulcan Arts + Entertainment

Vulcan Arts + Entertainment oversees the music and arts facilities for Vulcan Inc. ⁵

Funding

The Vulcan Inc. has claimed to have given $50 million of grants towards research, education, development, and conservation projects for the environment. ⁶

Allen stated that the Vulcan would influence policy regarding “ocean health, conservation, and climate change.” ⁷ Vulcan uses its Washington, D.C. location to influence public officials and policy issues. Its influence involves using drones and its tech platform EarthRanger to monitor areas of wilderness to record information on wildlife through devices such as cameras, animal collars, and vehicle sensors.

Vulcan also uses similar technological measures to influence issues on ocean life. Through its platform Skylight, Vulcan monitors illegal activities of fishing and gives the information to private government entities that are available anywhere else to the public. Andy Min has labeled this advanced technology as “military-grade intelligence.” ⁸

Vulcan conducts showings of documentaries through its media arm Vulcan Productions to stabilize the climate change awareness movement.

Leadership

Jody Allen is the chair of Vulcan Inc. and trustee of the Paul G. Allen Trust. She formerly worked as the chief executive officer of Vulcan as well as working on the board of The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. She mainly heads natural and environmental reform projects through Vulcan and her foundation Wild Lives Foundation. ⁹

Bill Hilf is Vulcan’s chief executive officer, who heads all funding, research, and technological initiatives in environmental issues. ¹⁰

David Franco is the chief financial officer for Vulcan Inc., his prior work was with The Walt Disney Company and Holland America Group. ¹¹

Andy Min is the vice president of impact at Vulcan. He formerly worked as vice president of Dell and as executive of several technological companies. ¹²

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2. “Vulcan Capital.” Vulcan Capital – Home. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://capital.vulcan.com/Investments.aspx.
3. Vulcan Productions. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.vulcanproductions.com/who-we-are.
4. “Vulcan Real Estate.” Vulcan Real Estate – Home. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://vulcanrealestate.com/About-Us.aspx.
5. “Sports & Entertainment.” Vulcan. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.vulcan.com/areas-of-practice/vulcan-sports-entertainment.
6. “Climate Change.” Vulcan. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.vulcan.com/areas-of-practice/philanthropy/key-initiatives/climate-change.
7. Callahan, David. “Inside Vulcan, a New Model for Solving Some of the World’s Biggest Problems.” Inside Philanthropy. July 18, 2019. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2019/1/22/inside-vulcan-philanthropy-a-new-model-for-solving-some-of-the-worlds-biggest-problems.
8. Callahan, David. “Inside Vulcan, a New Model for Solving Some of the World’s Biggest Problems.” Inside Philanthropy. July 18, 2019. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2019/1/22/inside-vulcan-philanthropy-a-new-model-for-solving-some-of-the-worlds-biggest-problems.
9. “Leadership.” Vulcan. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.vulcan.com/About/Leadership.
10. “Leadership.” Vulcan. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.vulcan.com/About/Leadership.
11. “Leadership.” Vulcan. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.vulcan.com/About/Leadership.
12. “Leadership.” Vulcan. Accessed July 22, 2019. https://www.vulcan.com/About/Leadership.