"Iron" and "Oak" are, of course, key components in buildings. But, more importantly, the acorn of the "Oak" represents the power of small but potent ideas to mature into something much bigger and more powerful. Many ideas in the green economy are like this -- not yet fully analyzed or nurtured. "Iron" is used to convey the sense of a strong, solid foundation -- in this case, referring to a preference for quantitative analysis to justify a new project, product or initiative. As such, IronOak Innovations aims to be a catalyst to bring those ideas to fruition by relying on numbers and data versus anecdote and hype. Our first new web product to do this is here for 
your review: g-bit, the Green Building and Business Informatics Tool.

We aim to help clients and partners reframe today's environmental challenges as economic opportunities by asking the right questions and bringing fresh ideas and unique perspectives, all drawn from strong foundations in science and policy, the worlds of private equity and entrepreneurship, as well as international work and research. More importantly, we then seek to partner with leading organizations and experts to co-create plans for vetting and acting on these ideas for new initiatives, projects and programs. 

To learn more about how IronOak thinks follow us on Twitter or read our Blog. 

In addition to focusing on environmental sustainability, IronOak Innovations commits 10% of its profits (as dollars or time) to support (1) non-profit work in the U.S. and internationally and (2) mentoring and career development for students and young professionals. Current targeted organizations include the following:

• CaboVerde Children: "...a non-profit humanitarian organization that strives to help the children of Cape Verde Islands overcome the burdens of poverty and to become healthy, educated, self-sustaining and contributing members of society..."
  
• UNICEF: "...The United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF - works for children's rights, their survival, development and protection in 190 countries..."
  

In addition, IronOak's Founder, Dr. Christopher Wedding, co-teaches the Sustainability Leadership Capstone at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School. This course focuses on social entrepreneurship and includes a pro bono consulting engagements with non-profits in Ethiopia and Eastern North Carolina.