Robert Suarez | +1 415 305 0140 | robert@karmal.com | Truckee, CA
Robert Suarez is a venture design and innovation leader with over 20 years of experience in creating and scaling sustainable solutions for people, systems, and planet. He originates, develops and grows impact ventures in the areas of regenerative ecosystems, circularity and humane tech.
Robert has a proven track record of delivering award-winning design and innovation outcomes for large corporations, startups, and impact partners, such as Planet Home, Singularity University, and IDEO. He holds a BFA in Industrial Design from Carnegie Mellon University and an MS in Biomimicry from Arizona State University. He is passionate about applying his expertise in user research, creative direction, and product design to address the most pressing challenges of our time.
Experience
Forest Venture lab
Co-founder + Director (2020 - present)
Origination, acceleration, and growth of new ventures and projects including Music for Humane Tech, Reforestation robotics, EdTech for Action Sports and Lab to Land Institute’s genomics for climate. Ideation, operation and delivery of impact programs for IDB, Burners without Borders, Yolo County Land Stewardship, Dollar Donation Club, Blue Ocean Network, Community Foundation Programming for woody biomass utilization among other active nature-based solutions initiatives.
PLANET HOME
Chief Solutions Officer (2018 - 2020)
Defined and operationalized the Planet Home multi-faceted environmental impact program including a thought leadership and investment conference, experiential exhibit village, innovation workshop series, digital community and comprehensive solutions index for the benefit of people and planet. Developed the Planetary Services Taxonomy in alignment with SDGs for understanding environmental challenges, research and ventures/impact initiatives.
SINGULARITY UNIVERSITY
Managing Director of Innovation + Design (2014 - 2018)
Cultivating corporations, startups and NGOs to create scalable impact products and services. Created and directed impact and innovation programs focused on individuals and small teams including all educational programs, including Global Impact Challenges (GIC), Global Solutions Program (GSP), Executive Program (EP)LaunchPad, Accelerator, Startup Network and Corporate Innovation.
LEVEL MONEY
VP of Design + Founding team (2012 - 2014 exit)
As employee #1, I designed and developed a fair an award-winning personal finance app, service, education and advocacy platform for young Americans. Funded by Kleiner Perkins in 2013, acquired by Capital One in 2015.
IDEO
Senior portfolio Director (2003 - 2012)
Responsible for developing a multi-million dollar portfolio of cutting-edge design work that helps organizations of all scales create differentiated and delightful customer experiences. This involved maintaining a network of executive-level global client relationships across industries to identify opportunities for transformative innovation as well as directing multiple concurrent design teams to deliver the work.
LOCAL IMPACT + ADVISOR
Advisor: Lab To Land Institute Climate Resilience Through Genomic Technologies
Advisor: TTCF Forest Futures Forest Health and Community Development
Mentor: Founded Outdoors
Co-Founder: Stomp Sessions Sports Ed-Tech acquired by Outside Inc. 2022
Former Board Member: Tahoe Expedition Academy
Founding Board Member: Truckee Roundhouse Community Makerspace
Advisor: Olivia.AI (acquired by NU BANK)
Advisor: Sweep (Acquired by Affirm)
EDUCATION
ARIzona state university
master of science, biomimicry
The MS in Biomimicry is offered through ASU’s School of Life Sciences. Biomimicry, by its very nature, is a philosophy and a methodology for creating sustainable solutions to real-world problems.
carnegie mellon university
bachelor of fine arts, industrial design
Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design is one of the oldest design programs in North America. The Carnegie Technical School offered classes in design as early as 1915, and in 1936 awarded its first Industrial Design degree.
center for humane technology
Foundations of humane technology
Certificate: Credential ID 56466300