#20: The other half of Stepchange’s origin story: integrating fatherhood, investing, and a values-driven life with Anay Shah

A bit over a year ago Ben met Anay Shah. In the months that followed Anay and Ben spent hours, then days, then months bringing forth Stepchange. Anay has not only become a fund co-founder and close friend—he’s also shared in the joy of parallel newborn parenting—both he and Ben had new babies less than a month apart over the summer.

Together, they explore Anay’s journey from his early days at the State Department to leadership roles at global fintech startups (Remitly and Tala), focusing on financial inclusion in emerging markets, and how that path led him ultimately to climate tech and venture investing. Anay accidentally coined the idea of “techno-obligation,” the belief that we have a responsibility to use technology for solving urgent global challenges, particularly climate change.

The conversation dives into how loss, the birth of their children, and an awareness of the finite nature of time have shaped their perspectives on life and work, and how those experiences influenced the founding of Stepchange.

Referenced in the episode:

• On Children, Meaning, Media and Psychedelics - Ezra Klein and Jia Tolentino

• Image of Earth’s atmosphere

• Cheaper, Faster, Better: How We'll Win the Climate War by Tom Steyer

• Speed and Scale

• #16 - Introducing Stepchange, our new venture fund

Get connected:

• Anay - LinkedIn | anay@stepchange.vc

• Ben - LinkedIn | ⁠Climate Papa⁠

To get in touch, email ⁠ben@climatepapa.com⁠

Music: Sheeba Marie - Persephone

Intro Music:Slynk & Lazy Syrup Orchestra - Mellow Kinda Hype (Balkan Bump Remix)