Shawn Gagne, 41, Environmental Entrepreneur
Shawn Gagne has helped plant more than 6,000 trees.
Shawn, 41, is the founder and CEO of Urban Offsets in Greensboro, which creates local carbon markets to build sustainable and resilient 
communities.
“I went through Launch Greensboro’s start-up accelerator at co//ab shortly after moving to Greensboro. With the resources around me, I feel secure that I can stay and grow Urban Offsets right here in Greensboro.”
Earning a Master’s degree in environmental science, with a focus on climate science, Shawn is in tune with today’s climate issues. As a scientist and an entrepreneur, Shawn believes that he can improve the environment by creating a better market for reducing greenhouse gases by planting community trees.
“Ultimately we want to bring trees into the economy and help cities understand the value they can provide as infrastructure assets.”
Urban Offsets helps cities plant trees in areas that need them. Then it connects carbon credits (1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2) per credit) from other projects around the country to each tree in the community. Shawn likes to think of this as creating “Environmental Mutual Funds”. Urban Offsets then sells those carbon credits to colleges and universities looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while investing in their local communities. It’s a win-win-win.
“The challenge for us has been proving trees are assets for cities. By doing what we do best, we’re meeting the needs of both municipalities and colleges.”
In 2015 Shawn won the NC IDEA competition, which came with a $50,000 prize that went straight into Urban Offsets.
“Urban Offsets was the only green company finalist in the competition. This helped emphasize to me that there is value in monetizing healthy cities and universities.”
Locally, Urban offsets works closely with Elon to support its sustainability goals and with Greensboro Beautiful, a local nonprofit & volunteer organization that works to conserve and enhance the beauty and ecology of our community.
“The cool thing is that a lot of our trees get planted on public school properties and in public parks. Trees are the real connections that bring our communities together and help create memories for our children and our neighbors.”
