Builders Vision is an environmentalist-aligned venture capital firm that was founded by Walmart heir Lukas Walton. It makes investments and gives charitable donations to support the development of environmentally friendly technology and practices. ¹

Builders Vision has three divisions, including two venture capital funds and a nonprofit organization. Its main purpose is to finance for-profit environmentalist business start-ups. ²

Background

Builders Vision is a left-of-center venture capital firm that was created by Walmart heir Lukas Walton in 2014. It invests in and donates to environmentalist organizations that create technology that advances environmentalist agendas. ³

Walton has argued that the most effective way to advance environmentalism is to invest in research and development of technologies that would allow businesses to adopt environmentally friendly practices. ⁴ Builders Vision uses philanthropic donations in conjunction with strategic investments in for-profit start-up companies to further its goal of promoting environmentalism. ⁵

Builders Vision also advocates for environmentalist policy that supports its investments and philanthropy. ⁶ Its advocates for left-progressive policy regarding energy, waste management, healthcare, welfare, food, and agriculture. ⁷

Structure

Builders Vision has three branches through which it operates: Builders Initiative, a nonprofit organization, and two investment funds: Builders Private Capital and Builders Asset Management. ⁸

Builders Initiative

Builders Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that invests in and provides grants to environmentalist energy businesses. ⁹ It was founded by Lukas Walton and other members of the Walton family in 2017. According to its 2019 tax returns, Walton was its sole contributor, giving more than $28.5 million. ¹⁰ It also reported having $217 million in noncharitable assets and $484 million in net assets. ^{11 12}

Builders Private Capital

Originally named S2G Ventures, Builders Private Capital was founded in 2014 to invest in vegan meat companies, genetically modified foods research, and food supply chain infrastructure. S2GVentures expanded in 2021, changing its name to Builders Private Capital, and expanding its investment portfolio to include a broader scope of environmentalist initiatives. Builders Private Capital invests in companies focusing on conservation and waste removal in the oceans. ¹³

Builders Asset Management

Builders Asset Management serves as a source of revenue creation for Builders Vision. It invests in non-environmentalist focused companies for a higher return-on-investment in comparison to Builders Vison’s other branches’ investments. Builders Asset Management’s website claims that its profits are reinvested into the other branches of Builder Vision’s philanthropic efforts. ¹⁴

Lukas Walton

Born in 1986, Lukas Walton is the grandson of Sam Walton, founder of Walmart. Walton’s father John Walton died in a plane crash in 2005 when Lukas was 19 years old. He then inherited one-third of his father’s estate. As of February 2022, Walton is estimated to have a net worth of $16.3 billion. ¹⁵

Walton has founded and invested in several businesses that create technology and implement strategies aimed at achieving environmentalist goals. ¹⁶ Walton studied environmental science and economics at Colorado College and has stated that the most effective way to achieve environmentalist goals is by funding for-profit solutions to allow markets to implement environmentalist practices, replacing existing methods of energy creation, waste management, recycling, and agriculture. ¹⁷

1. McKay, Serenah. “Lukas Walton Starts Builders Vision to Fund Businesses Tackling Environmental, Social Challenges.” Arkansas Online. November 7, 2021. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/nov/07/walton-venture-puts-capital-in-change/.
2. McKay, Serenah. “Lukas Walton Starts Builders Vision to Fund Businesses Tackling Environmental, Social Challenges.” Arkansas Online. November 7, 2021. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/nov/07/walton-venture-puts-capital-in-change/.
3. Peters, Adele. “Walmart Heir Lukas Walton Is Launching a Platform to Reshape the Food System.” Fast Company. October 12, 2021. https://www.fastcompany.com/90685059/walmart-heir-lukas-walton-is-launching-a-platform-to-reshape-the-food-system.
4. McKay, Serenah. “Lukas Walton Starts Builders Vision to Fund Businesses Tackling Environmental, Social Challenges.” Arkansas Online. November 7, 2021. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/nov/07/walton-venture-puts-capital-in-change/.
5. “A Look at Our Oceans 2050 Impact Vision.” Builders Vision. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.buildersvision.com/case-study/oceans-2050-impact-vision.
6. “A Look at Our Oceans 2050 Impact Vision.” Builders Vision. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.buildersvision.com/case-study/oceans-2050-impact-vision.
7. “Impact Areas.” Builders Vision. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.buildersvision.com/what-we-do.
8. McKay, Serenah. “Lukas Walton Starts Builders Vision to Fund Businesses Tackling Environmental, Social Challenges.” Arkansas Online. November 7, 2021. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/nov/07/walton-venture-puts-capital-in-change/.
9. McKay, Serenah. “Lukas Walton Starts Builders Vision to Fund Businesses Tackling Environmental, Social Challenges.” Arkansas Online. November 7, 2021. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/nov/07/walton-venture-puts-capital-in-change/.
10. Builders Initiative, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
11. Builders Initiative, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
12. Builders Initiative, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2019.
13. “Investing in Entrepreneurs at the Forefront of Change.” Builders Private Capital. Accessed February 10, 2022. https://www.buildersprivatecapital.com/#how-we-started
14. ^[1] “Builders Private Management.” Builders Private Management. Accessed February 10, 2022. https://www.buildersassetmanagement.com/
15. “Lukas Walton.” Forbes. Accessed February 7, 2022. https://www.forbes.com/profile/lukas-walton/?sh=4613ec3e1d5d
16. “Walmart Heir Lukas Walton Joins Fund to Eradicate Waste.” Crain’s Chicago Business. December 7, 2021. https://www.chicagobusiness.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/walmart-heir-lukas-walton-joins-family-offices-fund-eradicate-waste.
17. McKay, Serenah. “Lukas Walton Starts Builders Vision to Fund Businesses Tackling Environmental, Social Challenges.” Arkansas Online. November 7, 2021. https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2021/nov/07/walton-venture-puts-capital-in-change/.