"My advisors have already paid the industry tax - instead of spending years figuring it out myself, I get the insight in a single conversation."
Evergreen Exchange is a high-integrity carbon registry transforming tech-driven and nature-based environmental solutions into traceable carbon offsets. “We saw a broken carbon market plagued by ‘double counting’ where the same offset is claimed multiple times,” explains CEO Casey Stabile. “So we built a solution using blockchain and encryption to ensure every offset is traceable from creation to retirement. Our mission is to bring trust and reliability to a market trying to align business with environmental responsibility.”
“One of the hardest things was figuring out ‘what we actually do’ - which sounds odd, but is surprisingly common in startups,” says Casey. “We had valuable services, but struggled to define our core proposition. Connectd’s advisors helped clarify our positioning and bring focus. Sometimes it only takes one phrase from the right advisor to unlock your direction. They helped refine the last 10–20% that really polished us and gave me the confidence to take the business to market.”
Casey took a strategic approach, bringing in advisors across key business areas. “One is a BlackRock and Goldman Sachs veteran guiding our fundraising strategy. Another helps with process and segmentation. A third, from the food and agri space, opens doors in that industry. Their collective knowledge, networks, and experience have helped us move faster and smarter. These are industries with tight gatekeeping, and the advisors have helped us navigate them with precision.”
“It’s mission critical. You might have a great product, but without the right strategic direction, it can be misapplied,” says Casey. “Board-level advisors bring timing, patience, and context. One told me, ‘You only need to be 10% more knowledgeable than the investor to appear as an expert.’ That kind of insight is priceless. More than anything, having trusted, experienced voices to guide you reduces the weight of tough decisions.”
“Do it, 100%. If you can afford it, bring them in,” Casey urges. “Unlike transactional relationships, this felt like building a team. These are people who genuinely want to help you succeed. You can gut-check decisions, get strategic insight, and access networks you’d never reach on your own. When you’re on the pitch playing the game, they’re your coaches - helping you see the bigger picture and make smarter moves.”
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