Highlight x New York Tech Week 2023

Sustainability by Design: Using Technology to Shape Product Development for the Better

The challenge of creating a more sustainable world is equally vital and daunting. While there is no singular or simple solution, the most successful businesses, investors, and brands prioritize finding ways to do their part. On October 16th, 2023, Highlight’s CEO discussed the business of impact investing with Acre Venture Partners’ Sam Kass, Verb Energy's Bennett Byerley, and Colgate-Palmolive's Taylor Anderson and how Highlight's innovative product testing platform enables sustainable product creation that resonates with consumers.

Dana Kim, Founder and CEO of Highlight

Dana Kim is the Founder and CEO of Highlight. For years, Dana worked as a qualitative market researcher with CPG companies like Coca Cola, Nike, Starbucks, and more, being the (literal) boots on the ground collecting important product insights, the old way. Dana has spent hours, days, weeks in malls, grocery stores, focus group facilities, etc. as a field researcher tasked with collecting critical physical product feedback from target consumers. After about 5 years of experiencing this acute pain point, Dana applied to her MBA with the intention of building a product testing solution, which is how she ended up meeting Ethan in entrepreneurship circles at The Wharton School.

Bennett Byerley, Co-Founder and COO of Verb Energy

​Bennett Byerley is the Co-founder and COO at Verb Energy, Inc, an energy company that makes caffeinated energy bars and other food & beverage products, and he is pursuing a Master’s in Sustainability Management at Columbia. Bennett graduated with honors from Yale University with a Bachelor of Arts in Ethics, Politics, and Economics. At Verb, Bennett and his co-founders have scaled the organization to become one of the fastest growing food & beverage brands in the country. As Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Bennett oversees business operations, supply chain, team building, among other functions, and he was recognized as a member of Forbes 30 Under 30 for Food & Beverage in 2019.

Sam Kass, Partner at Acre Venture Partners

​Sam Kass is the former Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition in the Obama administration, Executive Director of Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! Campaign and the Obama family chef. He is a Partner in Acre Venture Partners.

Taylor Anderson, Senior Director, Global Insights Capabilities at Colgate-Palmolive

Taylor Anderson is the Senior Director, Global Insights Capabilities Colgate-Palmolive. After starting his career at Nielsen (then ACNielsenBASES), Taylor joined Colgate-Palmolive in 2006 and has spent the time since growing into an equal parts analytical, creative, & empathetic insighter and change agent.  With experience gained across product categories, geographic divisions, analytics, and even consumer affairs, Taylor currently leads the enhancement of the Insights team's capabilities & skills in order to maximize their impact to driving growth at Colgate-Palmolive.