Cleantech Group

Happy Tuesday!   Let's dive into last week's climatetech activity (08/07 - 14/07) - Check out i3connect.com for more details on our research at Cleantech Group.   Ecosystem Highlights & News: Direct Air Capture (DAC) startup 1PointFive signed the largest carbon dioxide removal credit purchase agreement yet with Microsoft for 500,000 metric tons of CDR credits.   Blackhorn Ventures' Industrial Impact Fund II has closed at $150M, targeting early-stage SaaS and AI startups that are addressing industrial resource management and decarbonisation at scale. The deadline for 'Powering the Blue Economy: Power at Sea Prize' competition by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is July 26. Up to $1.7M will be awarded to startups advancing marine energy-powered technologies.   Researchers at University of Cambridge took inspiration from the process of charging a battery, but instead charged activated charcoal in order to develop a charcoal sponge to capture CO2 emissions.   Umami Bioworks partnered with IKP's Centre for Smart Protein and Sustainable Material Innovation (IN) to accelerate research for cultivated seafood, as well as partnering with Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology, Chennai to set up an R&D facility on campus.   Deals:   🌿 Agriculture & Food Transforming CO2 into alternative proteins, NovoNutrients (US) pulled in $18M in Series A funding to construct its pilot plant. The round was led by Woodside Energy and CM Venture Capital.   ⚡ Energy & Power Arkion (formerly Skyqraft), a AI-powered grid inspection startup, announced $4M in funding for scaling. The round was led by Subvenio Invest, alongside Neptunia Invest and Antler.   ⚗ Materials & Chemicals Mantle (US), a startup using metal-additive manufacturing to produce production-grade tools, raised $20M in Series C funding led by Schooner Capital, with participation from 11.2 Capital, Fine Structure Ventures and others.   🌍 Resources & Environmental Management Desalination startup, ZwitterCo (US), secured $58.4M for its oversubscribed Series B round led by Evok Innovations with participation from DCVC, HG Ventures and others. The funds will go towards the international expansion and advancement of its water treatment solution.   🚢 Transport & Logistics EVOS Energy (AU), a fleet energy management startup, raised $2.6M ($4M AUD) in the first tranche of its Series B round to scale its manufacturing capabilities and market expansion.   ♻ Waste & Recycling Polystyvert (CA), a recycling-tech startup for styrenic plastics, announced a $12M ($16M CAD) first tranche of its Series B round led by Infinity Recycling, alongside SWEN Capital Partners and Earth Foundry. The funding will go towards industrial-scale commercialization of its recycling technology for highly contaminated polystyrene waste   #startups #cleantech #netzero #watermanagement #climatetech #greeneconomy #electricmobility #Investments #climateecosystem #carbonoffsets #recycledmaterials   Image Source: Arkion

For the latest #cleantech investment updates, from feedstock derived SAF to polystyrene recycling, check out Arianna Bernas' latest Recent Deals, featuring: 🌿NovoNutrients technology transforming CO2 to protein ⚡Xurya Daya Indonesia, provider of PV solar installation 🧪 Aether Fuels, a sustainable fuel developer 🌍 Apiday ESG platforms 🚛 VOLANT AEROTECH, developer of eVTOL aircraft ♻️ Polystyvert recycling solutions for polystyrene https://hubs.ly/Q02GK3-k0

How are financial institutions adapting to new mandatory disclosure regulations for measuring and disclosing their climate impact? While regulatory requirements for reporting environmental impact vary globally, the EU's Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation and global entities such as the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials are driving more comprehensive reporting and standardizing emissions accounting. As investors and corporations increasingly turn to advanced tools to automate and visualize data inputs, innovation in emissions monitoring software offers to reduce the burden of reporting. Find out how the landscape of impact reporting is evolving in Holly Stower’s latest perspective: https://hubs.li/Q02GDWP00 Pathzero, SWEEP, Normative.io

Here are last week's top venture funding deals in climatetech, as selected by Cleantech Group: 🌾 Agriculture & Food NovoNutrients 🇺🇸, developer of technology that transforms CO2 into protein products, raised $15 million in Series A funding from Woodside Energy and CM Venture Capital. This follows an earlier $3 million Series A investment in April 2023. Funds will be used to support the construction of a pilot plant in the San Francisco Bay Area. 💡 Energy & Power: ENEIDA.IO 🇵🇹, designer of smart sensors and industrial wireless networks for electric utilities and large process industries, raised $11.3 million in Series A funding from Junction Growth Investors, Santander, Korys, and HCapital Partners. The investment will support product development and accelerate R&D. 🧪 Materials & Chemicals: Mantle 🇺🇸, producer of production-grade tools, molds, and dies using metal additive manufacturing, raised $20 million in growth equity from Schooner Capital, Fine Structure Ventures, Foundation Capital, Corazon Capital, 11.2 Capital, and Build Collective to expand operations and development efforts. 🌲 Resources & Environmental Management: Apiday 🇫🇷, developer of a platform that collates ESG data, automates ESG reporting and certification processes, and collaborates with third parties to improve ESG scores, raised $10.8 million in Series A funding to accelerate growth. Investors AENU, daphni, and Gallion.exe participated in the round. 🚚 Transport & Logistics: EVOS Energy 🇦🇺, provider of an energy and fleet management software platform for electric vehicles and an at-home EV charger, raised $4 million in Series B funding from existing investors. The round will support expansion across Southeast Asia and meet demand from Australian passenger EVs and fleets. ♻️ Waste & Recycling: Polystyvert 🇨🇦, developer of solutions for recycling polystyrene, raised $16 million in Series B funding from Earth Foundry, Infinity Recycling, and SWEN Capital Partners. The funding will be used to further diversify its intellectual property portfolio. Find out more about our research and consulting capabilities here: i3connect.com #cleantech #climatetech #greeneconomy #greentech #decarbonization #emissionsreduction #netzero #innovation #startups #venturecapital Images: HEYCO® Products Corp. operating its Mantle 3D printer (left). Heyco-printed tool for a deep-ribbed consumer product (right). Credit: Heyco Products

Happy Tuesday!   Let's dive into last week's climatetech activity (01/07 - 07/07) - Check out i3connect.com for more details on our research at Cleantech Group.     Ecosystem Highlights & News:   Big congratulations to the 13 exciting startups announced for Undaunted: Tackling climate change with innovation's Cohort 7, including CapChar, Biofonic, Deep Blue BioTech, SEALEO, Sequinova, and others - More information: https://lnkd.in/ebm8vsAJ    CapChar won Oxfordshire Greentech's PR Accelerator programme too, (supported by Mixology PR) alongside RePolyWise and re-universe.   GET Fund secured a €100M first close for its new cleantech fund targeting hybrid hardware-software solutions at Series A and B rounds. U.S. Economic Development Administration is granting $504M to 12 designees from the Tech Hubs Program. Including Elevate Quantum, receiving $40.5M which is anticipated to lead to 50 quantum startups and 10,000+ new jobs. Full awardee list: https://rb.gy/vawadl   Seaya closed its climate-tech fund, Seaya Andromeda, at €300M for impact-driven companies across circular economy, decarbonisation, and energy transition sectors. LPs incude Nortia, Santander, Bpifrance and more.   Deals: Lot's of early-stage activity to dig into   🌿 Agriculture & Food Reusable packing startup, Vytal | The reuse system (GE), raised €6.2M by Emerald Technology Ventures to continue scaling its software and expand into new markets.   ⚡ Energy & Power ORUS ENERGY (FR), providing AI-powered energy management systems for commercial buildings, announced its €2.2M Seed round led by b2venture and Asterion Ventures.   ⚗ Materials & Chemicals Cambridge Electric Cement (UK), a startup for decarbonised cement through recycled building materials, announced its £2.25M Seed round to industrialize production of its low carbon cement at CELSA UK's EAD Facility. Zero Carbon Capital led the round, with participation from Cambridge Enterprise Ventures, Almanac Ventures and others.   🌍 Resources & Environmental Management Forest carbon offsets startup, Tree.ly (AT), secured a €5M Seed round led by PortfoLion Capital Partners to accelerate its growth within European markets and drive innovation for new forest-based climate protection solutions.   🚢 Transport & Logistics Urtopia E-Bike (CN), raised $10M in its Series A round led by Guangyuan Hesheng, Yidiantianxia and Tongxiang Jintong Fund, with participation from several others.   ♻ Waste & Recycling Sensorita (NO), a sensor-based waste management startup, has pulled in $3.25M in Seed funding to scale-up its technological offerings. Brick & Mortar Ventures led the round with with participation from Telenor.   #startups #cleantech #netzero #lowcarboncement #climatetech #greeneconomy #electricmobility #Investments #climateecosystem #carbonoffsets #recycledmaterials   Image Source: ACCSESS - How Can We Decarbonise Cement Production?

Could innovation allow geothermal heat and power production to increase dramatically in the near future? Drilling constitutes up to 75% of project cost, being the biggest project risk. Breakthroughs in innovation could revolutionize the industry - geothermal energy could potentially provide up to 17% of global energy needs. Advancements in drilling technology, such as the use of polycrystalline diamond drill bits and directional drilling, have significantly improved the rates of penetration in geothermal projects, offering potential for further cost reductions and faster drilling speeds. Innovators are increasingly targeting hot dry rock formations, opening geothermal power up to geographies where underground reservoirs for heat/steam circulation are not readily available. As power demand is projected to double by 2040 and increasing demand for net-zero power, geothermal power offers itself as a viable solution. Discover the breakthrough innovators in the new advent for #geothermal drilling in Selene Law’s latest perspective: https://hubs.li/Q02G2sv20 Fervo Energy, Eavor Technologies Inc., Sage Geosystems Inc., Utah FORGE, Geomachine Oy, Canopus Drilling Solutions, Hephae Energy Technology

Don't miss our groundbreaking one-day event in Boston on September 10, Adaptation & Mitigation: New Innovation & Venturing Opportunities for a 2° World. Join 100+ sustainable innovation leaders and visionaries to identify and assess the opportunity sets and discuss how we mobilize the critical capital needed for climate adaptation, making our businesses, industries, cities, and countries more resilient. Secure your spot today and save $100 with code FLASHSALE. Register now: https://hubs.li/Q02FtP2C0 #CleantechGroup #ClimateAction #Adaptation #Resilience

Here are last week's key venture funding deals in climatetech, as selected by Cleantech Group's research team: 🌾 Agriculture & Food Gênica 🇧🇷, developer of biological inputs for soybean, corn, and sugarcane, raised $12M in growth equity funding from Mitsubishi Corporation's Agrex do Brasil S.A. and Banco do Brasil. The capital will be used to expand international distribution of its products. 💡 Energy & Power: GlassPoint, Inc 🇺🇸, manufacturer of solar steam generators for the oil and gas industry, raised $2.5M from MIG Capital to expand its team and advance development of the world's largest solar process heat plant for mining company Ma'aden. 🧪 Materials & Chemicals: UNCAGED Innovations 🇺🇸, producer of a bio-based, plastic-free alt-leather made from grains, raised $5.6M in Seed funding from Green Circle Foodtech Ventures, Fall Line Capital, Ponderosa Ventures, Golden Seeds, and InMotion Ventures. 🌲 Resources & Environmental Management: Natcap 🇬🇧, developer of an analytics platform that allows businesses to trace their environmental impacts, has closed a $10M Series A round from investors Norinchukin Bank, Yeo Ventures, Pelican Ag, André Hoffmann, David Craig, and Oxford Science Enterprises. The capital injection will go towards scaling its technology and customer acquisition. 🚚 Transport & Logistics: Urtopia E-Bike 🇭🇰 raised $10M in Series A funding. Investors included Guangyuan Harmony, EclickWorld, Tongxiang Jintong Fund, Kongho Fund, Brizan Venture, Gao Bingqiang, and DCM Ventures, and the funding will support continued operations and growth. ♻️ Waste & Recycling: Sensorita 🇳🇴, developer of commercial bin sensors and software to monitor fill level and waste types, raised $3.25M in Seed funding from Brick & Mortar Ventures and Telenor to further enhance its technological offerings. Find out more about our research and consulting capabilities here: i3connect.com #cleantech #climatetech #greeneconomy #greentech #decarbonization #emissionsreduction #netzero #innovation #startups #venturecapital Image credit: Uncaged Innovations

🛳 🚥 As maritime traffic is projected to increase by 240%-1,200% by 2050, emissions could rise up to 17% globally. Policy, regulation, innovation, and scaling of sustainable technologies - how will ports adapt to #decarbonize? While software-based solutions exist, deep decarbonization of port operations will only come from full electrification, requiring battery-electric and hydrogen-electric solutions alongside energy storage and smart charging solutions. However, challenges in #greenhydrogen supply and costly transport and storage remain a barrier. Reaching global shipping decarbonization targets by 2050 will require at least $1.9T in investment. Where do port decarbonization opportunities lie, and which innovators are leading maritime sustainability? See where maritime shipping sustainability is headed in Sunena Gupta and Nicole Cerulli's latest perspective: https://hubs.li/Q02FN-NL0 PortXL, PIER71™, PortXchange [B-Corp], Portcast, Teqplay, QuinteQ Energy , SunGreenH2, Voyex, Amogy, Prometheus, AZANE Fuel Solutions

⚡️ 𝑰𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒔 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒄𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 ⚡️ Thank you The iMPACT Magazine - ASSISTAsia for outlining the importance of cleantech innovation #ecosystems globally and how they are catapulting breakthrough #solutions to protect human health and food supply in the face of #climatechange. A pleasure to collaborate in this with my colleague Lucy Chatburn at Cleantech Group. You may read the full article here: https://shorturl.at/6fXsb Lucy and I will be talking cleantech ecosystems and unpacking their powerful effects on driving innovation this week. Stay tuned! European Commission EIT - European Institute of Innovation and Technology