WTC Insights - Impact

In celebration of our 40th anniversary, we hosted the 40-hour-long ‘Welcome To Change’ festival and brought together an exceptional group of thinkers and leaders on topics in Finance, Impact and Technology. Sam Sutaria, CEO at WaterBear, revealed how the ‘Netflix for nature’ platform is evolving into a true social action platform.

Waterbears are microscopic animals found all over the world and known for being almost indestructible. A powerful metaphor for the resilience and wonder of nature itself. They are WaterBear’s mascot for a reason. Coincidentally, around the launch of the WaterBear media platform, scientists found waterbears on the moon. A reminder, he suggested, of how extraordinary the natural world really is.

People around the world are paralysed
Generally, people care deeply about the climate, nature and social justice, yet feel increasingly powerless. While an estimated 70% of WaterBear’s community wants to do more, only 30% feel they know what to do or how to do it. We’re paralysed. We lack agency, access and clear pathways to action.

Platforms are failing us
Today’s dominant digital platforms are largely shaped by algorithms designed to reinforce existing beliefs and biases. Decisions about what entire generations see, learn and engage with are often made by a small, homogenous group, limiting diversity of voices and perspectives. Rather than enabling meaningful action, many platforms amplify division, distraction and disengagement.

We can change our way out of it collectively
To move forward, Sutaria emphasised, change cannot happen individually;, it must happen collectively. What is needed is a new paradigm: one that is inclusive, transparent and rooted in trust, where technology actively supports positive impact on the planet.

WaterBear is evolving in response to this challenge. Once described as “the Netflix for nature,” the platform now positions itself as a social action platform. One where human storytelling leads directly to measurable impact. The ambition is simple but radical: to move from story to action.

Stories from the frontline
At the heart of this vision is the belief that everyone is a storyteller. WaterBear brings together NGOs, brands, indigenous leaders, creators and conscious citizens under one roof, countering the fragmentation that often prevents good work from being seen. By elevating high-quality, authentic stories from the frontlines (those already doing the work) the platform aims to create a shared, global consciousness around solutions.

Sutaria highlights two key audiences in particular. For climate-anxious younger generations, the challenge is to offer hopeful, empowering content that restores a sense of agency and participation. For NGOs and grassroots organisations, the need is visibility. Their powerful stories and practical solutions should reach the people who are ready to act.

All eyes on the Amazon
One of WaterBear’s most tangible innovations is its link between attention and impact. Viewing time on the platform can now be translated into real-world action, such as trees being planted in the Amazon. In a world where time is our most valuable commodity, Sutaria argued, even the minutes we spend watching content can become a force for change.

People care. The systems around us are broken, but the opportunity lies in rebuilding platforms that restore trust, enable action and turn collective concern into collective impact.