Green Venture Capitalists Fueling Clean Growth and Carbon Removal

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Posted Nov 3, 2024

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Green venture capitalists are playing a crucial role in accelerating clean growth and carbon removal efforts. They're investing in innovative startups that develop sustainable technologies, such as carbon capture and utilization.

These investors are targeting sectors like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and eco-friendly consumer goods. They're backing companies that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote environmentally friendly practices.

One notable example is the investment in companies that use artificial intelligence to optimize energy consumption and reduce waste. This technology has the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption and lower emissions.

Green venture capitalists are not only investing in existing technologies but also supporting the development of new ones. They're funding research and development in areas like advanced biofuels and green chemistry.

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Green Venture Capital

Aster Capital is a Climate Tech VC with two decades of experience, supporting companies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy.

First Imagine Ventures invests in startups accelerating the energy transition, with a portfolio that includes Solar Materials, which received a €12.2M Series A investment.

Credit: youtube.com, Jason Green (Emergence Capital): Why Startups Really Get Funded by Venture Capitalist

Nucleus Capital is a Berlin-based early stage climate and food tech VC, having invested in Root Global, which secured an €8M Seed investment in August 2024.

Aster Capital gives its founders immediate access to mentorship and a global network, helping them fast-track their vision.

First Imagine Ventures' portfolio includes EH Group, a company working towards the energy transition.

Nucleus Capital has invested in Cirplus, a company that's part of its early stage climate and food tech portfolio.

First Imagine Ventures' portfolio companies also include Dryad, which is accelerating the energy transition.

Nucleus Capital has invested in Ucaneo, which received a €6.75M Seed investment in September 2024.

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Investors and Funds

DeepTech & Climate Fonds is a new German deeptech and climate tech VC that invested in companies like Cylib, LiveEO, and Fernride, among others.

Their focus on early-stage investments in Europe is a promising trend in the green venture capital space.

Capricorn Investment Group is known for its commitment to sustainability, investing in companies that work on clean energy, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture.

Their investment philosophy is centered around driving positive environmental and social impact through their clients' portfolios.

VC Investment in German Start-Ups on the Rise

Credit: youtube.com, How Startup Funding works: Seed money, Angel Investors and Venture Capitalists explained

VC investment in German start-ups is on the rise, with a new German deeptech and climate tech VC, DeepTech & Climate Fonds, making significant investments in early-stage companies.

DeepTech & Climate Fonds has invested in companies like Cylib, which raised €55M in a Series A round in 2024.

The VC has also invested in LiveEO, Proxima Fusion, Planqc, and Fernride, showcasing its focus on supporting innovative and sustainable start-ups in Germany.

DeepTech & Climate Fonds is a great example of the growing interest in deeptech and climate tech investments in Germany, and it's likely that we'll see more of this trend in the future.

World Fund

World Fund is a Berlin-based €300M climate tech VC that invests in early and late-stage startups. Its portfolio includes Ecoworks, Sunroof, Aedifion, and IQM.

World Fund's investment focus is on climate tech, and it has a significant amount of capital to back its portfolio companies. The fund's size and scope make it a notable player in the climate tech investment space.

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World Fund's portfolio companies are working on a range of climate-related solutions, from renewable energy to sustainable materials. This diversity of focus reflects the fund's commitment to supporting a wide range of climate tech startups.

World Fund is not the only VC to have invested in Ecoworks, however - Haniel, a German industrial holding, also invested in the company.

Clean Energy and Tech

Clean energy and tech are at the forefront of the green venture capitalist scene. This sector is where innovative startups and established companies come together to revolutionize the way we produce, consume, and think about energy.

Clean Energy Ventures, for example, targets early-stage startups that are revolutionizing the energy sector, with a focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing energy efficiency.

The company's leadership has been investing in early-stage climatetech companies for over 15 years, with the goal of helping their investments achieve significant scale to address global climate change.

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Credit: youtube.com, Venture Capital, Climate Tech and COP28

Clean Energy Venture Group, on the other hand, provides early-stage seed funds for energy startups and strives to invest in firms that specifically focus on climate change while ensuring attractive financial returns.

Here are some notable investments made by Clean Energy Venture Group:

  • 60Hertz
  • ConnectDER
  • Nth Cycle
  • ClearTrace

These companies are just a few examples of the many innovative startups that are being supported by green venture capitalists in the clean energy and tech space.

Vestas

Vestas is a Danish wind turbine manufacturer that has taken a significant step into the world of clean energy by establishing Vestas Ventures, its corporate VC arm. Vestas Ventures invests in sustainable energy startups, including Northvolt, Hysata, and Modvion.

Vestas Ventures focuses on backing startups that accelerate the energy transition, which is a crucial aspect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The fund invests in both early and late-stage startups, providing them with the necessary resources to grow and scale.

One notable investment made by Vestas Ventures is in Hysata, which received a $111M Series B investment in May 2024. This investment highlights Vestas Ventures' commitment to supporting innovative startups in the clean energy space.

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Vestas Ventures' investments are not limited to Hysata; the fund has also invested in Northvolt and Modvion. These investments demonstrate Vestas Ventures' dedication to promoting sustainable energy solutions and reducing the world's reliance on fossil fuels.

By investing in startups like Hysata, Northvolt, and Modvion, Vestas Ventures is helping to drive the transition to clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is a critical step towards creating a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Abb Technology

ABB Technology Ventures is a corporate VC that brings the global technology and distribution power of ABB to the table.

Founded in 2009, ABB Technology Ventures (ATV) has a portfolio featuring innovative companies like Northvolt, Graphmatech, and Freewire.

ATV's investment approach is unique, making decisions deal by deal if a business unit sponsors them.

Sustainable Future

Future Energy Ventures is an investor in future energy, future cities, and future technologies, backed by E.ON and with a large portfolio that includes Prisma Photonics and Virta.

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Sustainable Future Ventures is an independent VC at the intersection of climate tech and the built environment, with Patrizia as its anchor investor and access to their huge network.

Future Positive Capital invests in climate tech startups such as Aerones and Cowboy, and is based in Paris.

Energy Impact Partners collaborates with leading energy utilities to invest in and accelerate the growth of startups working on innovative solutions for a cleaner and more efficient energy system.

Patrizia, the anchor investor of Sustainable Future Ventures, is a €58B real asset investor.

Energy Impact Partners has over $4B AUM and aggregates many utilities as fund investors, with a portfolio that includes Instagrid and Reverion.

Future Energy Ventures recently announced the first close of Fund II at €110M, and has invested in Nuventura, a company that received €25M in Series A funding.

Energy Impact Partners invests in exceptional companies decarbonizing the global economy and brings together brilliant entrepreneurs and influential corporates to help transform the global economy towards a sustainable future.

Sustainable Future Ventures recently invested in Piclo and Leap, and makes its first investments from Late Seed to Series B.

Energy Impact Partners' platform enables them to invest across the low carbon economy of the future, and their specialties include Electrification, Energy Technology, and Venture Capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the largest climate venture capital fund?

The largest climate-focused venture capital fund is the Decarbonization Partners Fund I, which raised $1.4 billion in 2024. This fund is a joint effort between BlackRock and Temasek, exceeding its target by $400 million.

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  192. Wattalps (wattalps.com)
  193. Samara (samara.energy)
  194. Sunswap (sunswap.co.uk)
  195. Move Energy (moveenergy.vc)
  196. ekWateur (ekwateur.fr)
  197. Farmless (farmless.com)
  198. Tem (tem.energy)
  199. Granular Energy (granular-energy.com)
  200. Revent (revent.vc)
  201. Blume Equity (blumeequity.com)
  202. Solarduck (solarduck.tech)
  203. Carbonfuture (carbonfuture.earth)
  204. Carbon Removal Partners (carbonremoval.partners)
  205. Root Global (rootglobal.io)
  206. Nucleus Capital (nucleus-capital.com)
  207. Clean Growth Fund (cleangrowthfund.com)
  208. Net Zero Ventures (nzventures.vc)
  209. Spine (spine.energy)
  210. Verbund X Ventures (verbundx.com)
  211. Ionate (ionate.energy)
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  213. Read Breakthrough Energy Venture (breakthroughenergy.org)
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  217. Clean Energy Ventures (cleanenergyventures.com)
  218. Capricorn Investment Group (capricornllc.com)
  219. True Ventures (trueventures.com)
  220. Energy Foundry (energyfoundry.com)
  221. Clean Energy Venture Group (cevg.com)
  222. Element 8 Angels (E8) (e8angels.com)
  223. Energy Impact Partners (EIP) (energyimpactpartners.com)
  224. Energize Ventures (energize.vc)
  225. BP Ventures (bp.com)
  226. Powerhouse Ventures (powerhouse.fund)
  227. BMW i Ventures (bmwiventures.com)
  228. Alliance Ventures (alliance.vc)
  229. Centrica Innovations (centrica.com)
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  233. SEB Greentech Venture Capital (sebgroup.com)

Colleen Boyer

Lead Assigning Editor

Colleen Boyer is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a keen eye for compelling storytelling. With a background in journalism and a passion for complex ideas, she has built a reputation for overseeing high-quality content across a range of subjects. Her expertise spans the realm of finance, with a particular focus on Investment Theory.