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.
Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!
Devin: What is your superpower?
Emily: Informed decision-making
Cities across the world are grappling with rising temperatures, making outdoor spaces increasingly unlivable. The urban heat island effect exacerbates the problem, and traditional cooling solutions often come with high energy costs or water consumption. ThermoShade, founded by Emily Dinino, offers an innovative alternative—a cooling Technology that provides relief without requiring electricity or water.
ThermoShade’s high-tech shade panels use passive radiative cooling, leveraging phase change materials to absorb heat during the hottest parts of the day and recharge overnight. “We saw a gap in the market,” Emily explained. “Shade alone is not cutting it. People and animals need a solution that provides real relief, and we’re delivering just that.” These advanced panels can make shaded areas feel up to 20 degrees cooler than traditional awnings.
Emily developed ThermoShade while earning her MBA at UCLA. Inspired by firsthand experiences of extreme heat in Los Angeles, she and her team conducted over 100 interviews with scientists, engineers, and potential customers to refine the concept. “We realized that most existing solutions required electricity or water—resources that aren’t always available or sustainable,” Emily said. “By applying phase change materials in a new way, we created a cooling solution that’s both effective and accessible.”
Beyond urban environments, ThermoShade is exploring applications in agriculture, particularly for dairy farms where heat Stress impacts cattle productivity. The company is currently conducting a pilot study with Fresno State to analyze how the technology can improve livestock health and efficiency.
ThermoShade is currently raising capital through a regulated investment Crowdfunding campaign on MicroVentures. “We believe crowdfunding makes sense for us because people understand the challenges of extreme heat,” Emily said. “It’s an opportunity to engage the public in a solution they can benefit from directly.”
With climate change making extreme heat an increasingly urgent issue, innovative and sustainable solutions like ThermoShade are more critical than ever. By leveraging advanced materials and smart design, Emily and her team are helping cities, communities, and industries adapt to a warming world without exacerbating the problem.
ThermoShade’s innovative panels use phase change materials to provide passive cooling, reducing heat by up to 20 degrees.
Emily Dinino developed ThermoShade during her MBA at UCLA, conducting extensive research to refine the technology.
The company is raising funds on MicroVentures to scale its impact and expand into new markets.
A pilot study with Fresno State aims to assess the effectiveness of ThermoShade in agriculture, particularly for dairy cattle.
Emily’s superpower is informed decision-making—she synthesizes data, perspectives, and insights to drive Innovation and solve complex challenges.
Emily Dinino’s superpower is informed decision-making—the ability to synthesize data, perspectives, and insights to confidently determine the best course of action.
“Being a founder means navigating an overwhelming amount of input—from investors, customers, and advisors. I take in all that information, challenge assumptions, and make informed decisions that align with our mission,” Emily explained.
One defining moment of this ability occurred in her role as a Finance manager at an ed-tech nonprofit. Tasked with developing a 10-year strategic plan, Emily had to balance competing priorities from the board, funders, co-founders, and department heads. By distilling complex financial and operational data into a cohesive model, she secured buy-in from all stakeholders, ensuring the plan’s success.
For those looking to develop this superpower, Emily offers the following insights:
Actively listen to diverse perspectives. Understand not just what people are saying, but why they believe in their approach.
Challenge assumptions. Question conventional Wisdom to uncover the best path forward.
Use data to validate decisions. Gather and analyze information before committing to a course of action.
Stay confident in your expertise. Recognize that while advice is valuable, you know your business best.
Surround yourself with trusted mentors. Seek guidance from experienced individuals who can help refine your thinking.
By following Emily’s example and advice, you can make informed decision-making 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!
Emily Dinino (she/her):
Founder and CEO, ThermoShade
About ThermoShade: ThermoShade’s mission is to make cities and communities more resilient to climate change by providing a cooling alternative that is clean, effective, and affordable. ThermoShade is a high-tech passive cooling shade panel that can be affixed to any outdoor structure, creating a shady space that feels up to 20°F cooler than under a basic awning. Implementing ThermoShade will help avoid electricity related GHG emissions, improve grid resilience and affordability, deliver energy savings to customers, and improve public health and safety outcomes.
Website: getthermoshade.com
Other URL: https://invest.microventures.com/offerings/thermoshade?referral_code=ThermoShadeSuperpowersForGood
Biographical Information: Emily Dinino is the Founder & CEO of ThermoShade. She spent two years studying the problem of extreme heat as her master’s thesis and is passionate about finding solutions to protect people and animals impacted by heat stress. Emily has extensive experience in finance and entrepreneurship across investment banking, venture capital, and nonprofit finance. She has been an investor in mission-driven technology and consumer companies from Pre-Seed to Series C and is intimately familiar with the challenges early-stage companies face. Emily holds a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/emilydinino and linkedin.com/company/thermoshade
Instagram Handle: @getthermoshade, @emilydinino
Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include FundingHope, Pivotal Health, SuperCrowdLA and Crowdfunding Made Simple. Learn more about advertising with us here.
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 | Add Your Name Here
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 April 15, 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, April 16, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Gene Massey, Chairman/CEO of MediaShares, will lead a session on “Secrets For Creating Great Content To Attract Investors.” He’ll share expert insights on crafting compelling content that engages and converts potential investors. Whether you’re launching a crowdfunding campaign or looking to enhance your storytelling strategy, this session is a must-attend! Don’t miss it!
SuperCrowdLA: we’re going to be live in Santa Monica, California, May 1-3. Plan to join us for a major, in-person event focused on scaling impact. Sponsored by Digital Niche Agency, ProActive Real Estate and others. This will be a can’t-miss event. Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!
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!
Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET – Click on Events.
Igniting Community Capital to Build Outdoor Recreation Communities, Crowdfund Better, Thursdays, March 20 & 27, April 3 & 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET.
Asheville Neighborhood Economics, April 1-2, 2-25.
Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.
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.
Originally Published on https://www.superpowers4good.com/
Notifications
