Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.
Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.
Devin: What is your superpower?
Prof. Alan: Creative problem-solving
The world doesn’t change on its own—people with vision, grit and creativity drive progress. Few embody this more than Prof. Alan Arthur Tratner, who helped organize the very first Earth Day in 1970 and has since built a global legacy supporting green entrepreneurs and inventors.
Alan’s work reminds me that bold action in the face of crisis can spark lasting transformation. In today’s episode, he shared the story of rushing to the oil-soaked beaches of Santa Barbara after the catastrophic 1969 spill, an experience that moved him to tears and propelled him into environmental activism. “I broke down, fell on my knees and cried... and then I just said we’ve got to stop this. We have to find a way to do it,” Alan recalled.
That determination led him to found Green2Gold, a unique non-profit incubator that has nurtured over 100,000 inventors, entrepreneurs and more than 300 non-profits focused on environmental and social responsibility. Alan’s approach is rooted in the belief that innovation can solve the problems it helped create. “We invented our way into this mess, we could innovate and invent our way out,” he explained.
One of the most compelling aspects of Alan’s work is his early embrace of investment crowdfunding. He recognized that democratizing access to capital could accelerate the development of climate solutions. “Equity crowdfunding was the democratization of investing. No longer did you have to be wealthy or be in power... anyone in the world, accredited or unaccredited, could invest in an American company,” Alan said.
Through Green2Gold’s programs, Alan continues to champion breakthrough technologies in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and disaster recovery. His “Build Back Green” project, for instance, emerged in response to the devastating wildfires in Lahaina and now provides a blueprint for rebuilding communities in sustainable, resilient ways.
If you’re inspired by Alan’s vision or want to learn more about Green2Gold’s work, visit green2gold.org. For entrepreneurs and inventors seeking support—or anyone interested in investing in a better world—Alan and Green2Gold are showing what’s possible when we put creativity and collective action to work for the planet.
tl;dr:
Alan Tratner shared his journey from the first Earth Day to launching the Green2Gold impact incubator.
He described the critical role of innovation and entrepreneurship in addressing environmental crises worldwide.
Alan emphasized the power of equity crowdfunding to democratize investment for green ventures and climate solutions.
He highlighted the importance of perseverance, creativity and passion for lasting impact in nonprofit and business work.
Alan offered actionable advice for aspiring changemakers to lead with purpose and build sustainable ventures.
How to Develop Creative Problem-Solving As a Superpower
Alan’s superpower lies in the fusion of creativity, scientific thinking and practical experience. As he described, “I think that creative spark, that passion, you know, I try to give our entrepreneurs and our nonprofits the same feelings about... inventing in the fields that are going to make a difference.” He credits his background in science, art and design, as well as years of nonprofit leadership and invention, for giving him a “quiver of superpowers” that enable him to help others become problem solvers and critical thinkers.
Illustrative Story:
Alan shared how he has supported over 315 nonprofits and 100,000 entrepreneurs through Green2Gold by applying his expertise in nonprofit management, invention and funding. For years, he persisted with a wind turbine invention that was ahead of its time, waiting 45 years for the right moment to see it realized. He emphasized that passion and perseverance are crucial. “If you quit, you can’t win,” Alan said, reflecting on the decades he devoted to innovations that now have renewed relevance.
Actionable Tips for Developing Creative Problem-Solving:
Treat your venture or nonprofit as a passionate career, not just a hobby
Put your whole self—brain, energy and opportunities—into your mission
Embrace challenges and persist through setbacks; don’t give up if progress is slow
Surround yourself with people who share your passion and drive
Think entrepreneurially, even in nonprofit work, to build sustainability and legacy
By following Alan’s example and advice, you can make creative problem-solving a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Prof. Alan Arthur Tratner (Earthling):
Founder /Chairman of Green2Gold, Green2Gold global impact Incubator---501 c 3
About Green2Gold global impact Incubator---501 c 3: Helped found Earth Day and the first UN International Conference on the Human Environment. Pioneered impact incubation for over 55 years in green tech, sustainability, and regenerative solutions. Leading the transition to sustainability and a global, inclusive green economy. Supported over 100,000 members and 315 socially and environmentally responsible nonprofits.
Website: Green2Gold.org
Biographical Information: Alan Arthur Tratner, is the International Director of Green2Gold and has served as the President of the Inventors Workshop International and the Entrepreneur’s Workshop, Director of the Small Business Entrepreneurship Center in California, a SCORE (US SBA) consultant, and was publisher of the Lightbulb Journal and INVENT! magazines. He is an inventor and serial entrepreneur, with 13 inventions/patents. He has been dubbed the “Minister of Ideas” by the media and has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Inc., Entrepreneur, Business Week, TIME, USA Today, America Online Forum, NPR, and has appeared on OPRAH, CNN, Good Morning America, and CNBC. Alan has mentored and assisted thousands of green technology, sustainable ecology and energy companies and inventors. He was a former Professor of Environment and Energy, participated in the First International United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, Stockholm Sweden, was staff member of Environmental Quality Magazine and helped establish Earth Day. He founded the Environmental Education Group Foundation with many supporters, including Nobel prize winner Dennis Gabor. Alan traveled the USA conducting the Ultimate Crisis and Solutions for Survival seminars, led an environmental and alternative energy delegation to the former Soviet Union for the Citizen’s Ambassador Program. He was editor of Energies Journal for the Solar Energy Society of America, published the Geothermal Energy magazine and Geothermal World Directory. In the 1990’s he became Director of the Green Business Conference of the ECO EXPO, created the Eco Inventors and Eco Entrepreneurs Workshops, and the New Environmental Technologies Exhibits. In 2012, Alan was inducted into the International Green Industries Hall of Fame and honored with Lifetime Achievement.
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/prof-alan-tratner-3935506/
Support Our Sponsors
Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include FundingHope, RedLineSafety, and Ovanova PET. Learn more about advertising with us here.
Max-Impact Members
The following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:
Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name Here
Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar
If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.
Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.
SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "Crowdfund Like a Pro: Insider Marketing Secrets from Jason Fishman." He’ll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you’ll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don’t miss it!
Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern - Apply by June 6, 2025, to pitch your active Regulation Crowdfunding campaign live on Superpowers for Good—the e360tv show where impact meets capital. Selected founders will gain national exposure, connect with investors, and compete for prizes. To qualify, you must be raising via a FINRA-registered portal or broker-dealer and align with NC3’s Community Capital Principles. Founders from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. Don’t miss this chance to fuel your mission and grow your impact!
SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We’ll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Soon, we’ll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!
Community Event Calendar
Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.
African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2025 (ADIS25), Wednesday–Friday, May 28–30, 2025, at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.
Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.
Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.
Call for community action:
Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.
If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.
We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode.
Share this post