Climate Management Platform Funding

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.

💡 Inside an Investor’s Funding Rolodex: Grant & Loan Providers I Trust 🎯 European Innovation Council Accelerator • grants up to €2.5 M + equity up to €15 M • ideal for deep‑tech teams with clear impact plans 📑 Horizon Europe RIA & IA • collaborative R&D grants €3 M–€10 M+ • partner with universities or industry leaders for stronger consortia 🏦 InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility (EIB‑backed) • loan guarantees up to 50 % on €25 000–€7.5 M financing • lower interest rates and better terms 🌱 Innovation Fund • grants cover up to 60 % of eligible costs for large‑scale clean energy projects • pair with national agencies like the Swedish Energy Agency for co‑funding 🇸🇪 Vinnova • feasibility grants up to SEK 500 000 • innovation project grants up to SEK 10 M • fast open calls, strong on sustainability metrics 💸 Almi • loans from SEK 50,000 to SEK 5 M at below‑market rates • local coaching to turn pilots into scale‑ups 🇫🇮 Business Finland • R&D grants up to 50 % + innovation loans up to €2 M • expert reviews and export market introductions 🇬🇷 Hellenic Development Bank • loans €50 000–€1 M + 80 % guarantee cover • digital platform for green transition schemes 🌍 EASME (COSME & LIFE programmes) • COSME guarantees on €25 000–€1.5 M loans • LIFE grants for environment & climate action pilots ⚡ EIT Climate‑KIC • combined grants, coaching & investor matchmaking • rapid follow‑on funding & corporate pilots 🔌 EIT InnoEnergy • equity investments + grants up to €100 000 • access to utilities & corporate partners 🚀 Fast Track to Innovation (Horizon Europe) • close‑to‑market grants up to €3 M at 70 % funding • accelerated timelines, clear market readiness 🇫🇷 Bpifrance (France) • innovation grants & soft loans up to €3 M • equity co‑investment in high‑potential scale‑ups 🇬🇧 Innovate UK • grant competitions up to £2 M for UK‑based R\&D • access to KTN networks and industry experts 🇪🇸 CDTI (Spain) • aid for tech projects: grants, repayable advances & soft loans • strong on international R&D partnerships 🇩🇪 KfW (Germany) • start‑up loans up to €25 M at subsidised rates • green financing for energy and climate ventures Founder Tips to Navigate Grants & Loans • align programmes with your tech readiness and reporting capacity • build clear impact metrics and stakeholder support • plan applications months in advance, allowing time for feedback • focus on quality over quantity, target two programmes max #startupfunding #grantwriting #non‑dilutivecapital #loans #EUfunding #innovation #cleantech #deeptech #founderjourney #investorinsight

Worth applying. Almost $2.1B in funding for climate and ESG technologies! Nine funding routes worth knowing if you're building in clean tech, sustainability or ESG right now. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programme - up to around $1.6 million across Phase I and II, recently reauthorised through 2031 after a five month lapse. https://lnkd.in/en3AziQe National Science Foundation (NSF) America's Seed Fund - up to $305,000 for Phase I, a strong low-friction entry point via their Project Pitch process. https://seedfund.nsf.gov Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) - non-dilutive funding for high risk, high reward energy technology, often several million dollars per award. https://lnkd.in/eBdJRt_K Third Derivative - RMI and New Energy Nexus's global climate tech accelerator, connecting hard tech startups to investors and corporate partners rather than writing a fixed cheque. https://lnkd.in/eHr55UtC European Union Innovation Fund - one of the world's largest clean tech programmes, with individual grants ranging from tens of millions to over a billion euros. https://lnkd.in/ew3KXYGn EIC - European Innovation Council Accelerator - pairs a grant of up to 2.5 million euros with optional equity investment of up to 10 million euros for deep tech SMEs. https://lnkd.in/ej-qXnHK Breakthrough Energy Fellows - catalytic, non-dilutive funding from $50,000 to $500,000 for early stage climate innovators. https://lnkd.in/e__iKQ49 Elemental Impact - a non-profit climate investor backing companies from pre-seed to Series C, including a Data Center Innovation Initiative funded by Amazon, Google, Meta and Microsoft. https://lnkd.in/ekPnxNRK New South Wales Clean Technology Innovation Grant - up to 5 million Australian dollars for Australian businesses piloting lab-proven clean technologies, applications close 8 September 2026. https://lnkd.in/ejSr4WzD A few things worth knowing before applying: some of these are non-dilutive grants as well as equity investments, deadlines and open/closed status shift constantly, and a handful (like the EU Innovation Fund) operate on a completely different scale to early stage programmes, so it's worth matching the opportunity to your stage rather than chasing the biggest number on the page.

💸 Funding & Grants Series - Grants and CSR programs that Bharat Climate Startups can apply to directly-   As I continue to meet founders across India through Bharat Climate Startups, I see the same thing again and again—startups doing powerful climate work, but struggling to find the right kind of funding. - The good news? Some forward-thinking corporates, CSR arms, and philanthropic platforms are supporting startups directly — through grants, incubation, and ecosystem partnerships. Here are 5 such programs you can explore: 🔹 1. ACT For Environment (ACT Grants) 💰grants and fellowships  📌 For startups working on decarbonisation, circular economy, sustainable mobility, climate finance 🌱 Backed by India’s top startup founders and VCs 🔹 2. HCLFoundation 💰 Grant + incubation support for tech-led climate solutions 📌 Themes include waste, water, clean energy, biodiversity, tech, rural development 🔹 3. Social Alpha – Energy Labs & CleanTech Innovation Challenge 💰 Pilot funding + lab access + seed support + fellowships 📌 For startups innovating in clean energy, sustainable cooling, and clean air 🔹 4. SELCO Foundation 💰 Grant + co-development + field deployment + Incubation  📌 Works with startups on energy access, rural livelihoods, and climate resilience   🔹 5. Venture Center (Official Account) 💰 Fellowships, Grants, Incubators and CSR 📌 For startups working on environmental sustainability and climate change solutions 🌱 Focus areas include energy efficiency, renewable energy, air pollution, waste management, and circular economy 📩 Working on something aligned? Or looking to collaborate with CSR teams, foundations, or ecosystem platforms? Happy to connect — just drop a message. India’s startup ecosystem is waking up to the climate crisis. And it’s our moment to build together. 💚🇮🇳 #ClimateAction #ImpactFunding #BharatClimateStartups

One of the most overwhelming parts of building in #climate is constructing a "capital stack". Unlike building in SAAS, in #climatetech you need to fund physical "stuff" and returns on investments take longer-- this means you can't only rely on VCs and need to get creative. Daniel Kriozere put a panel together this week to demystify this, bringing together companies from across the stack: from where we at Streamline Climate sit with grants, to VC funding, to equipment financing with Luc Gerdes and Camber Road, etc.. ( 🧩 See the chart below for how it all fits together ) Having a full capital stack represented on a panel meant we could explore when and why each capital sources was relevant. A lot of climate tech is early and unproven, making traditional funding harder to access and you need to combine multiple. Financing these "first of a kind" #FOAK projects requires a larger risk appetite which fewer lenders have. Some of the key takeaways shared: 1) Match the type of capital to the specific business function. Ex: if you need expensive equipment, consider equipment financing rather than operating off of your balance sheet 2) These capital sources are not competing against eachother, rather they are collaborating. For example, the best time for Venture Debt is right after raising a VC round. 3) This is hard. There is no one-size-fits-all. --- 💚 Shoutout to the 9Zero Climate Innovation Hub for hosting us. They're bringing the sf climate ecosystem together - thanks for all the awesome work done by Matthew Joehnk and Duncan Logan

With AQUILA.is's Climate Hero Club, we are mapping the climate tech ecosystem in Southeast Asia. This time, we’re spotlighting two key categories driving sustainability: Climate Venture Capital and Climate Debt Funds. 💰 Climate Venture Capital is fuelling the next generation of climate innovations by supporting early-stage startups that have transformative solutions. 🚀 Investment in climate tech startups accelerates the transition to a low-carbon economy. 🌍 Funding innovative solutions bridges the period between early- and mass adoption. 💡 Strategic capital helps companies invest in developing groundbreaking technologies in renewable energy, circular economy, and carbon reduction. Meet the venture capital firms backing climate pioneers in Southeast Asia: Gentree Fund AgFunder Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Clime Capital Cocoon Capital Forge Ventures Golden Gate Ventures Green Tower The Radical Fund Vectors Capital AVV (Ascend Vietnam Ventures) Earth Venture Capital ITI Fund WV Wavemaker Partners Plug and Play APAC Monk's Hill Ventures Sif.vc AC Ventures 🏦 Climate Debt Funds provide essential financing to scale sustainability projects and infrastructure. 🔋 Debt funding supports large-scale renewable energy, energy efficiency, and carbon reduction projects. 📈 Sustainable finance models help companies expand operations affordably while stimulating environmental responsibility. 🌱 Climate-focused debt solutions play a crucial role in meeting net-zero targets and ensuring long-term impact. These funds are driving sustainable finance and climate action in the region: Captii Ventures Navis Capital Partners Asian Development Bank (ADB) Mirova Norfund Pentagreen Capital Red Hat Impact responsAbility Investments AG Aquila Capital January Capital Community Investment Management Saison International Pte. Ltd. Lend East LendForGood Lendable Tikehau Capital Temasek Meridiam These financial leaders are shaping the future of climate tech investment in Southeast Asia. View the entire ecosystem directory here: https://climatehero.club/

🎥 Recording + Slides Available | €385M Horizon Europe Funding for Carbon Management If you missed Climate Finance Solutions’ live session, the full recording and slides are now available. 📌 Recording + slides linked in the first comment The 45-minute expert briefing covered open Horizon Europe carbon management opportunities across TRLs 4–8, totaling roughly €385M in funding, with individual awards up to €25M. Covered in the session: • CCUS and carbon utilisation projects from pilot through FOAK deployment • CO₂ storage appraisal, injection pilots, and infrastructure readiness • Cluster-based and biotech-enabled CO₂ utilisation pathways 🎯 What the recording helps you assess: • How upcoming calls align with your technology maturity and project scope • How to make your consortium delivery realistic and competitive • How evaluators view siting, infrastructure integration, and TRL progression • Where common risk areas arise in carbon management proposals 💪 About Climate Finance Solutions: Our team at CFS has secured €500M+ in European grants and $1.6B+ globally, with deep Horizon Europe experience and EU evaluators and funding specialists. #HorizonEurope #CarbonManagement #CCUS #EUFunding #CarbonCapture

Funding the Climate Transition Brazil’s federal government announced last week the creation of a new platform to fund their plans for climate transition and ecological transformation projects: Brazilian Platform for Investments in Climate and Ecological Transformation (known by acronym “BIP”). The big idea here is to have a place to connect international investors with sustainable development projects in Brazil. International partners and funding helped in the development of the new platform. The initial focus will be on three sectors: nature-based solutions and the bioeconomy; industry and mobility; and energy. According to the government, among others, the goals of the platform are to: Map and prioritize project pipelines aligned with the government's plans and identify mechanisms to scale them up, in partnership with relevant sectoral initiatives Bring together a global community of investors from public and private sectors, development finance institutions, and multilateral climate funds to expand domestic and international capital available for priority projects Develop potential financing mechanisms and explore ways to enable the strategic and catalytic use of public capital to mobilize private investment, including partnerships with multilateral development banks and national development institutions. Bring forward private sector perspectives on political barriers to help unlock investments in priority sectors Within the three focus sectors, the Platform has already identified and included pilot projects totaling US$10.8 billion in capital that still require that the final investment be made. Among others, these projects include: ·       A company developing a $3 billion renewable fuels proposal aimed at producing 1 billion liters per year of green diesel and sustainable aviation fuel from macauba, a Brazilian plant; ·       As US$1.15 billion project that will be the first industrial-scale green fertilizer plant in Brazil; ·       A $3.5 billion green hydrogen plant; ·       A plan to raise US$425 million to finance the development of low-emission extraction methods for rare earth elements; ·       Reforestation projects of different types; ·       A project to spurt investment US$2.5 billion in the construction of industrial hubs in Brazil for the production of green hydrogen and hot briquetted iron (HBI) aimed at decarbonizing the steel industry. Brazil’s plans for its Ecological Transition and adjusted climate goals will require this funding – and the joint work of private, public, domestic, and international players.  #sustainability #climatefinance #sustainablefinance #equity #energy #cleantech #cliamtecch #esg #decarbonization #Brazil #climatechange #melonlatam #latinamerica

The current landscape for ESG and impact investment is heavily dominated by climate-focused funds, reflecting the growing demand for sustainable and responsible investing. A review of the largest impact funds that closed this year shows that seven out of the top 10 are clearly climate-focused, while the remaining three likely integrate climate goals among other impact priorities. This indicates the overwhelming importance of climate in the impact investment space. Even amidst a general slowdown in private equity (PE) fundraising, climate funds have managed to raise significant capital. So far this year, $21.6 billion has been raised in final closes, nearly double last year's amount for the same period. Despite broader fundraising challenges, climate funds have been more resilient, with Brookfield’s second global transition fund expected to raise $17 billion, which will further bolster overall figures. What's particularly interesting is the rise of smaller, innovative climate-focused funds. For example, Amsterdam-based private equity firm Mentha raised €153 million for its first impact buyout fund. While smaller than the mega-funds, this success highlights how credible, climate-focused offerings can still attract institutional investors, even in a slow fundraising environment. Mentha's success shows that well-structured climate buyout strategies are becoming viable and attractive, not just in venture capital or infrastructure but also in buyouts. This trend is also supported by a recent report from Rede Partners, which noted that energy transition and decarbonization are the primary focus areas for limited partners (LPs) in their impact programs. These areas are driven by tangible results, favorable market trends, and an abundance of investment opportunities. Investors are seeking climate funds with differentiated approaches, which stand out even in challenging conditions. From a recruitment perspective, this rise in climate-focused and ESG investment presents growing opportunities for roles related to impact and sustainability. Companies and funds focused on climate transitions, decarbonization, and energy efficiency are likely to require talent specializing in ESG compliance, impact measurement, and sustainable business practices. This creates an attractive market for recruitment firms that specialize in ESG and impact investment roles, as demand for professionals in these areas is set to rise. The climate investment boom is not only driving financial returns but also reshaping the talent landscape.

The climate tech ecosystem is growing 🌎 The climate tech sector has entered a new phase of maturity, driven by a more sophisticated and diverse capital stack. From early-stage innovation to full-scale deployment, the Climate Capital Stack highlights how funding sources have expanded to meet the evolving needs of climate solutions. The map illustrates the layers of this stack, showcasing key investors and capital providers across venture capital, growth equity, infrastructure, and catalytic funding. In the early stages, venture capital continues to play a critical role in financing innovation. Early-stage VC investors are supporting high-risk, high-reward opportunities, particularly in emerging technologies. Late-stage venture capital is increasingly selective, with a focus on companies that demonstrate strong market fit and scalability. These investments are essential for pushing breakthrough technologies past the “valley of death.” As companies grow, growth equity and private equity step in to provide larger checks for scaling proven solutions. Investors in this layer are gravitating towards mature business models with clear profitability paths, such as industrial decarbonization, energy software, and renewable supply chains. The rise of infrastructure funding reflects the sector’s shift toward deployment and project finance. Infrastructure investors are now more willing to support technologies beyond traditional solar and wind, expanding into energy storage, grid management, and low-carbon fuels. These funds offer lower-risk, long-term capital critical for financing large-scale, capital-intensive projects. Catalytic capital remains crucial for addressing funding gaps, particularly for first-of-a-kind (FOAK) projects and technologies that are too risky for traditional investors. This patient, impact-driven capital ensures that promising innovations can progress towards commercialization. At the base of the stack, corporate investors, banks, and governments are pivotal players. Corporate venture capital aligns strategic priorities with financial returns, while banks provide both venture and commercial debt for scaling operations. Governments, through grants and infrastructure funding, continue to accelerate climate action by backing early-stage R&D and incentivizing large-scale deployment. This evolving capital ecosystem underscores the need for alignment between funding sources and climate solutions. Matching the right capital to the right stage is essential to drive progress, enabling climate tech to move from innovation to implementation and deliver meaningful impact. Source:  Sightline Climate #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction #investment #tech