News

October 2010

William Rosenzweig, a member of the On-site sanitation programme’s consortium advisory group honoured with the Oslo Business for Peace Award.

Rosenzweig Recognized Among World's Leaders for Focus on Consumer Health and Sustainability San Francisco (October 19, 2010) – William Rosenzweig, co‐founder and Managing Director of Physic Ventures, was honoured with the Oslo Business for Peace Award, presented jointly by the Business for Peace Foundation and International Chamber of Commerce in Oslo, Norway. Rosenzweig, the only American among seven winners, was selected for his astute leadership and innovative approach to creating successful businesses focused on personal health and sustainable living.

The Oslo Business for Peace Award (http://www.businessforpeace.no) recognizes individuals who represent the ideals of social responsibility and ethics in business. Recipients are selected by a committee comprised of notable Nobel Laureates, including Professor Muhammad Yunus, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his pioneering work in micro finance and his leadership of the Grameen Bank. Past U.S. recipients include GE Chairman and CEO Jeffrey R. Immelt, who was selected in 2009. This year, Rosenzweig receives the award alongside six other global luminaries, including Ratan Tata, Chairman of India’s USD $95B Tata Group business conglomerate.

“Receiving the Oslo Business for Peace Award is a truly humbling experience and an indication that Physic Ventures’ approach of investing in keeping people healthy is a critical and effective platform for enabling transformational solutions to global challenges,” said Rosenzweig. “By design, Physic Ventures invests in financially‐driven new business models that also generate positive social and environmental impact; an honor such as this is a gratifying confirmation that we’re supporting some of the most impactful portfolio companies in the world.”

Physic Ventures provides financial and strategic resources to entrepreneurs using innovative science and technology to address some of the world’s most pressing challenges: escalating health care costs due to rising chronic disease and an aging global population, natural resource depletion and global warming. The firm’s portfolio includes Energy Hub, Gazelle, GoodGuide, Halosource, Novomer and Pharmaca among others.

“Just as the name Yunus is synonymous with microfinance and Maathai with tree‐planting on a grand scale, the name Rosenzweig is synonymous with venture capital effectively directed at health, wellbeing and sustainability goals,” said John Elkington, CEO of Volans and a widely recognized leader of the corporate sustainability movement. “Will Rosenzweig of Physic Ventures is someone who, alongside the likes of John Doerr and Vinod Khosla, is channeling critically needed venture funding into vital areas of tomorrow's economy. This award could not go to a more deserving champion of change.”

William Rosenzweig has spent more than 20 years integrating the practices and perspectives of an entrepreneur, venture investor and educator. Will served as founding CEO of The Republic of Tea, an award‐winning specialty tea company credited with creating the premium tea category in the United States.

“Many congratulations to Will and Physic Ventures,” said Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, anchor investor in Physic Ventures. “This award is a tremendous recognition of Will’s accomplishments and the promise of Physic’s pioneering model. Will and the Physic team are building a portfolio of companies which address the most pressing health and sustainability issues, leveraging market‐driven solutions with meaningful impact.”