Supporting entrepreneurial climate solutions

Global Grants for Indian Climate Startups- India’s climate solutions are rooted in local realities — but their impact goes far beyond. From watertech innovation in Karnataka, to bioplastics and recycling in Maharashtra, to sustainable fabrics in Gujarat. From agri-waste transformation in Punjab and Haryana, to offshore wind tech rising off Tamil Nadu’s coast, to climate-resilient innovations in Odisha and West Bengal, and air filtration breakthroughs in Uttar Pradesh — I’ve had the privilege of meeting the founders building them — makers, engineers, scientists, and storytellers who are quietly reshaping the future. Through Bharat Climate Startups, I’ve been traveling across India to learn from these ground-up solutions — and I’m constantly reminded that while the problems may be global, so are the solutions. If you're building something in this space, here are 5 international grants and programs that Indian startups can apply to 👇 🔹 1. GSMA Foundation Innovation Fund for Climate Resilience & Adaptation 💰 Up to £100,000 (~₹1 crore) in equity-free funding 📌 For digital climate solutions improving resilience in underserved communities 🌱 Open to startups in South Asia, Africa, and Indo-Pacific 🔹 2. The Earthshot Prize Prize 💰 £1 million (₹10+ crore) per winner 📌 For scalable solutions tackling nature loss, water, air quality, waste, or climate 🌱 Indian startups are eligible — and have been finalists! 🔹 3. Echoing Green Fellowship 💰 Seed funding + 2 years of support 📌 For early-stage climate and social entrepreneurs 🌱 Open to Indian founders with bold ideas and deep impact 🔹 4. ACT For Environment – by ACT Grants (India) 💰 ₹20–50 lakh in catalytic seed grants 📌 For climate innovations in green mobility, clean energy, agriculture, circularity, and carbon removal 🌱 One of the boldest Indian philanthropic funds backing frontier environmental solutions 🔹 5. Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance (by CPI) The Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance 💰 Seed + pilot support + investor connections 📌 For ideas that unlock private finance for climate solutions 🌱 Several India-based innovations have already been selected 🔹 6. Imagine H2O Accelerator Program 💰 Non-dilutive funding + mentorship + access to a global investor network 📌 For startups working on water conservation, wastewater treatment, and climate resilience 🌱 Open to startups worldwide, including India 📩 Know someone working on a globally relevant climate solution? Or building one yourself? Message me if you want help navigating these grant calls — or just want to swap notes. Here's to building a vibrant support ecosystem for climate innovators! 💚 The world is watching — and India’s innovators are ready. 🌏 #ClimateAction #ImpactFunding #BharatClimateStartups #ClimateFinance

I'm happy to share the release of the #WiSER White Paper, "Igniting a Global Sustainable Economy," following the impactful discussions at the WiSER Annual Forum during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week - ADSW 2025. This report highlights the critical role of female entrepreneurs in driving climate solutions and provides actionable strategies to bridge gender gaps in finance, scalability, AI, mentorship, and accessibility—especially for women in the Global South. Why This Matters: Women-led ventures are key to unlocking innovation in sustainability, yet systemic barriers persist. This paper outlines 5 recommendations: 🔹 Increase Gender-Focused Investment : Boost funding, financial literacy, and microloans for female-led climate projects. 🔹 Scale Women-Led Ventures : Streamline policies and partnerships to accelerate growth. 🔹 Harness AI & Digital Tools: Bridge the AI literacy and access gap to empower business expansion. 🔹 Strengthen Mentorship and Networking: Build cross-sector collaborations to provide women with the resources to succeed. 🔹 Empower Women in the Global South : Address legal and financial barriers, invest in STEM education, and improve access to markets and resources. Dive into the full report below or on Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company)’s website for insights on turning these strategies into action: https://lnkd.in/dyAFPEP2 Thanks again to my fellow roundtable participants: Lawratou Bah, CFA, Mirella Amalia Vitale, Natasha Shenoy, Hajar Alketbi, Manal B., Mariam Alnaqbi, Shaima Al Mulla

Al Gore's Just Climate fund raises $175M from Microsoft and CalSTRS to back climate startups #JustClimate, the climate-focused #VC firm backed by Al Gore’s Generation Investment Management, has raised $175 million from Microsoft’s Climate Innovation Fund and CalSTRS to accelerate nature-based climate investments. While climate finance has historically prioritized energy and transportation, Just Climate is shifting focus to natural solutions such as reforestation, biological fertilizers, and biodiversity protection technologies—critical areas that remain underfunded despite their potential to reverse emissions and restore ecosystems. This #fund expands Just Climate’s investment strategy beyond industrial climate solutions to include agriculture, forestry, and land-use change, which contribute to 15% of global emissions. The firm has already made its first investment, leading the Series B round for NatureMetrics, a company using eDNA technology to assess biodiversity. By directing capital towards restoration finance platforms and carbon verification technologies, Just Climate aims to bridge the gap in funding for nature-based solutions while delivering measurable climate impact. With major backing from institutional investors like Microsoft and CalSTRS, this fund signals a growing recognition that nature is a powerful—and investable—tool in the fight against climate change. The article on TechCrunch in the first comment.

I've spent the past two years researching climate innovation inside companies. Trying to understand how companies can move past easy wins and not just wait around for climate tech to be available. And I'm thrilled to finally share my findings publicly. 🙌 The biggest takeaway: Climate innovation is corporate innovation. 🛠️ Climate innovation requires the same conditions and resources as corporate innovation to flourish: commitment from leadership, culture of risk-taking, and resources dedicated to exploration 🧗 Sustained, incremental improvements that align with existing business context outlast the disruptive, high-profile breakthroughs. Incremental advancements more smoothly integrate into business-as-usual, which makes them more likely to stay embedded 👷 Staff that are passionate about sustainability but don't have it in their title are one of the most impactful solutions to find new climate solutions. But they must have the support and resources to identify and act on new ideas. 🤝 Climate innovation can't be done in a vacuum, companies need to actively engage the larger climate innovation ecosystem. Each part of the ecosystem (government, universities, investors, startups, etc.) plays a critical role to de-risk and speed up new climate solutions - for companies it's around demand signaling and catalyzing innovators. I'm excited to share the full framework that identifies the key levers that companies can utilize to unlock climate innovation, with a real-world example for each. You can access the report and framework here: https://lnkd.in/esVc8Ykr If you're actively working on this topic or trying to advance climate innovation within a company, DM me. And please share any other corporate climate innovation resources in the comments.

Venture Capital is not set up for Climate tech. You don't need to spend a lot of time fundraising as an early-stage startup to know this. The rate of VC funds shot up between 2010-2020, valuations were at an all-time high and we started to think we could throw money at anything and it will give us 20 to 30% return annually (IRR). Well just about anything. As long as it was SaaS. Hard tech is a whole new ball game. Green steel and CO2 capture, for example, require substantial investment at an early stage and need more time to break even and scale. VC may eventually come in and play an important role but the early capital stack for climate tech startups looks different than traditional VC-backed companies. To get to product market fit Climate tech start-ups need a combination of the following in their capital stack: -Non-dilutive project Grants: from governments, philanthropic foundations, private grants and prizes -Angel Investors / Syndicates : High net worth individuals, previous founders etc Catalytic Capital: These are funds prioritizing impact potential over financial returns -Rolling funds: funds raised on a rolling quarterly basis, minimizing the hurdle to fund launch. Typically thematically or community-focused, with similar terms to VC deals  -Accelerators/ Incubators/ Fellowships: Programs offering funding and resources such as strategic partnerships, advisors, and workshops to help founders build and iterate on their ideas and technology.  (Kinda like what we are doing with Energy Tech Nexus) You should talk to VCs, but do so knowing that many may not ready to take the cost burden until you have sufficiently derisked your solution. And if that is the case, you have other options. #founder #climatetech #VC #entrepreneurs

One of the biggest misconceptions in #ClimateTech investing is that capital alone will drive the success in this sector. But after spending time working with climate-focused founders, evaluating investment opportunities, and tracking key trends, I’ve realized that the most valuable investors bring more than just capital—they bring deep networks, real founder relationships, and the ability to unlock non-obvious opportunities. I spent over 100hours in the past month catching up with the most promising early-stage climate tech founders in Africa and emerging markets. It's not just about building a solid pipeline, but also tracking these startups to understand their unique challenges firsthand, and see where smart capital can drive outsized impact. 🚀 A few things I’ve learned along the way: ✅ The best deals don’t come from cold inbound—they come from trust. Many of the most promising climate founders I know don’t actively fundraise in traditional ways. They prioritize investors who understand the long-term commercialization journey. ✅ Sourcing is an art - The ability to identify non-obvious climate opportunities before they hit mainstream VC radars is where the alpha is. Some of the best companies I’ve engaged with are led by technical founders who need investor-partners that understand both science and scale. ✅ Support is everything - Writing the check is the easy part. But actually helping a climate startup go from lab to market, navigate regulatory complexity, and access global expansion channels? That’s where real value creation happens. Looking at firms like Planet A Ventures, Delta40 Venture Studio, Pale blue dot, and Satgana I see a common theme—they don’t just invest, they build ecosystems. ClimateTech isn’t just an investment category; it’s a once-in-a-generation opportunity to drive both transformational impact and financial returns. For me, it’s about knowing which founders are quietly building game-changing solutions, long before they hit the headlines. It’s about understanding that the right capital, at the right time, with the right support, is what turns a promising startup into an industry-defining company. #ClimateTech #VentureCapital #FounderNetworks #DealFlow #DeepTech #ClimateFinance #ImpactInvesting

Why do energy terms sound like scary German monsters? 😱 First, it was Energiewende—the dramatic “energy transition.” Now, it’s Dunkelflaute—dark doldrums when, for a few consecutive days, the wind dies, the sun hides, and energy grids struggle to cope with demand. In 2024, #Dunkelflaute hit Germany hard: wholesale electricity prices soared to €1,000/MWh, coal plants sprang back to life, and energy imports became a lifeline. For #climatetech startups, this daunting term presents a significant business opportunity. Every founder should consider whether their solution could help tackle this challenge and change the narrative to capture this opportunity. Here are a few opportunity fields for startups: 1. Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES): This is naturally the obvious one, and many companies are already working on solutions (e.g., hydrogen, flow batteries, and thermal storage). What's interesting here is that a solution like Reverion (biogas to electricity and back to hydrogen/methane) can fit this challenge, even though it wasn't on the company's radar when it was founded or part of our investment thesis. 2. Grid Flexibility Solutions: Balancing supply and demand is critical during Dunkelflaute periods. Startups can develop AI-powered demand response systems or virtual power plants that aggregate distributed energy resources, especially cross-border solutions as the topic becomes highly political. 3. Predictive Analytics for Weather and Energy Markets: Dunkelflaute events can be forecasted with greater precision. Startups offering real-time grid analytics and weather forecasting tools can help utilities and industries plan ahead. 4. Hybrid Renewable Systems: If you can't solve the macro, offer a solution to the end user. Pairing wind, solar, and other sources with storage creates local resilience for commercial and residential customers. Solving Dunkelflaute isn't just about energy and geopolitical stability; it's about unlocking a significant business opportunity for climate tech startups. Let's break the doldrums together! What’s your take on tackling Dunkelflaute? Share your thoughts! #venturecapital #energytransition #renewables  

India’s climate tech boom has arrived and it’s the best time to get investors interested in your startup. If you’re building in climate tech, you already know the market is hot. India is scaling up renewable energy, agritech is driving promising breakthroughs, and sustainability is becoming an increasingly viable investment. Angel investors like Anupam Mittal, Nandan Nilekani, Rajan Anandan are backing bold, future-focused startups, while VCs like Blume Ventures and Avaana Capital are betting big on scalable, sustainable solutions. But knowing how to begin, where to secure capital, and how to utilise resources is what separates an idea from a funded project or venture. The money is there; the challenge is tapping into it, and it’ll take more than a pitch deck to get a check. Raising capital is about knowing where to look, who to approach, and how to position yourself. Here’s how you can go about it: 💡 Government grants (MNRE, DST, NABARD) are great for early R&D, but they come with paperwork and pilot project requirements. Get your proof of concept ready before you apply. 🚀 Incubators and accelerators (Villgro ,CIIE, Social Alpha) offer early-stage/ seed funding, mentorship, and access to investor networks. If you need strategic guidance and help with refining your business model, this is where you should be. 💰 Angel investors are looking for startups with traction. A working prototype, partnerships, or signed LOIs will get their attention. 📈 VCs invest in scalable solutions. They want to see market demand, execution strategy, and a team that can deliver. Startups that crack this code not only raise capital, they build momentum, move markets, shift mindsets, and turn ideas into impact. Funding is available. Opportunities are growing. Now’s the time to take your shot and get noticed. #climateaction #startup #climatetech #sustainability #VCs #grants #angelinvestors #funding

The ClimateTech Policy Coalition - a group of organisations including techUK, Startup Coalition, Undaunted: Tackling climate change with innovation, Cleantech for UK, Tech Nation & Tech Zero - has published its annual report outlining short-term opportunities for the #Government to scale technologies in order to combat #climatechange. The policy actions and quick wins suggested include: ▶️ Establish a regulatory sandbox for innovative waste reuse, integrating the circular economy. Leverage the newly created Regulatory Innovation Office (RIO) for coordination ▶️ Update Plastic Definitions: Amend the Finance Act 2021 to clarify “plastic” in the Plastic Packaging Tax, ensuring natural polymers are not disadvantaged ▶️ Introduce a retrofit sandbox under RIO to help startups navigate regulatory barriers in deploying innovative technologies for domestic retrofits ▶️ Support Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM): Maintain timelines to consult on high-quality VCM standards in 2025, ensuring market integrity and distinguishing credit types ▶️ Funding for Greenhouse Gas Removal: Define qualification criteria and robust monitoring standards to enable GHG removal credits under the UK ETS, incorporating industry best practices ▶️ Novel Food Authorisation Reform: Streamline approval processes for cultivated meat and other novel foods post-Brexit to support sector growth, supported by RIO-led initiatives ▶️ Agricultural Robotics Regulations: Reform regulations on agricultural automation as part of the Labour Government's 2025 Food Strategy, unlocking innovation to address labour shortages #climatetech #sustainability #sustainabletech #policy

Between 5 and 10 billion tons of carbon will need to be removed from the atmosphere annually by mid-century, so how do we possibly build an industry of that scale from the ground up? IMHO - strategic, collaborative action that sends is a good starting point in today's world. The recent news from the Frontier coalition, which Google is proud to be a part of alongside partners like Stripe and Shopify, is a perfect example of this "catalytic capital" in action. By pre-purchasing credits, we provide early-stage companies with the guaranteed revenue they need to scale, secure financing, and prove their commercial viability. This approach de-risks the path for breakthrough climate solutions that are still on the learning curve. The latest commitment supports three fascinating companies: 🟢 The coalition has committed $1.7M to purchase future carbon removal from innovative startups Karbonetiq (U.S.), Limenet (Italy), and pHathom Technologies, Inc (Canada). 🟢 This investment specifically targets two highly promising but under-explored pathways: ocean alkalinity enhancement and surficial mineralization. 🟢 This marks Frontier's fifth round of pre-purchases, advancing a wider goal to invest over $1 billion in permanent carbon removal by 2030. This is the kind of deliberate, solutions-oriented strategy that fosters the innovation ecosystem we desperately need! Read more here: https://lnkd.in/emXNUxKH #CorporateStrategy #ClimateTech #CarbonRemoval #Sustainability #Innovation