Ben Gleisner

Ben Gleisner is a New Zealand economist, social entrepreneur and founder and chief executive of Cogo, the climate fintech company that helps consumers and businesses understand and reduce their carbon footprint through the banking apps they already use.

Before founding Cogo, Gleisner spent seven years at the New Zealand Treasury, where he led the team that created the Living Standards Framework in 2011, the policy architecture that underpinned New Zealand’s internationally recognised Wellbeing Budget. He also spent two years on New Zealand’s international climate change negotiating team, working on the emissions trading scheme.

In 2010, while still at Treasury, Gleisner co-founded Conscious Consumers, a social enterprise connecting ethically minded shoppers with sustainable businesses. That venture grew to more than 20,000 consumer members and 500 business customers before evolving into Cogo, a pivot from consumer app to financial infrastructure.

Cogo now reaches more than 30 million people and small businesses worldwide, partnering with major banks including NatWest, ING Group, Westpac, Commonwealth Bank, Kiwibank, BNZ, ASB and TSB to embed carbon tracking directly into their platforms. The company has raised over $34 million from investors including K1W1 (Sir Stephen Tindall’s fund) and Icehouse Ventures and operates from offices in Wellington, Hong Kong, Japan and Europe.

Gleisner’s work has been recognised with a Climate Action Innovator Award at the Sustainable Business Awards, first place in the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Green Fintech Competition and the inaugural Canstar Innovation Excellence Award.

His profile is noteworthy because it represents a rare bridge between public policy and entrepreneurship. Gleisner helped design how New Zealand measures national success, then built a company that puts climate data into the hands of millions — proving that Wellington-born ideas can shape how global banks talk to their customers about carbon.

Sources: Cogo · NZ Herald · Impact Boom