Seed Stage investment landscapes for Cleantech Startups
Qualified Cleantech Seed Investors
Here's a list of venture capital firms and funds that fit your criteria for Seed investment in Cleantech, focusing on Pan-European or geography-agnostic approaches, and with recent investments.
Description: BEV is all about tackling the climate crisis head-on by backing companies that are developing groundbreaking solutions to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They look for big, bold ideas that can truly move the needle.
Team members with their background and what they are famous for:
Rodi Guidero: Executive Director and Managing Partner at BEV. He's known for managing strategic investments for Bill Gates and previously served as general counsel for several venture capital firms.
Carmichael Roberts: Co-Founder of Material Impact and Co-Lead of the Investment Committee at BEV. He's a serial entrepreneur renowned for his work in material science, holding a PhD in organic chemistry from Duke and an MBA from MIT Sloan.
Typical ticket size: They usually invest between $500,000 and $50 million.
Pitch Submission link: You can submit your interest via their Submission of Interest Form on their website.
Geography preference: They are truly geography agnostic, investing globally.
Types of investment they make: They primarily make equity investments (preferred), but also offer grant funding and structured capital.
Investment process in brief: Their process is guided by "Grand Challenges" aimed at reducing greenhouse gases by 0.5 gigaton. They look for projects that can attract other investors and fill critical gaps in climate technology. They support portfolio companies with technical, operational, market, and policy expertise.
Suggestions or recommendation while dealing with them: Focus on demonstrating how your project can achieve significant greenhouse gas reduction and its potential to attract co-investors. Highlighting how your solution addresses a critical, unmet need in the climate tech space is a big plus.
Description: DCVC backs entrepreneurs who are using "Deep Tech" – think advanced technologies like AI and computational biotech – to solve some of the world's most complex and high-stakes problems. They recently even closed a dedicated Climate fund, showing their commitment to the space.
Team members with their background and what they are famous for:
Zachary Bogue: Co-Founder and Managing Partner. He's recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and has a background in Environmental Science from Harvard and Law from Georgetown.
Matthew Ocko: Co-Founder and Managing Partner. A seasoned technology entrepreneur, he holds over 50 patents and studied Physics at Yale.
Dr. John Hamer: Managing Partner of DCVC Bio. With a PhD in Microbiology, he previously worked at Monsanto Growth Ventures and is a Packard Fellow.
Dr. Kiersten Stead: Also a Managing Partner at DCVC Bio. She holds a PhD in Molecular Biology and Genetics and an MBA, making her a formidable scientist-investor.
Typical ticket size: While not explicitly stated, similar deep tech VCs often invest in the range of $3 million to $500 million, which can give you a ballpark idea.
Pitch Submission link: There's no direct pitch submission link, but their contact information is available on their website.
Geography preference: They have a strong global presence with offices in the USA, India, China, and Southeast Asia, and support companies expanding across the USA, Europe, and beyond. So, they are geography agnostic.
Types of investment they make: They invest in deep tech companies from early-stage startups to established growth businesses, typically using standard venture capital equity instruments. For early stages, they likely utilize SAFE or Convertible Notes.
Investment process in brief: Their focus is on highly technical, data-driven AI companies that address critical challenges. They pride themselves on identifying and nurturing "deep tech" solutions.
Suggestions or recommendation while dealing with them: If you're pitching, ensure your solution addresses a practical, high-stakes problem using advanced technology. Consider having Director & Officer (D&O) coverage if you're aiming for a Series A round, as some of their partners recommend it.
Description: Energy Impact Partners (EIP) is an investment firm squarely focused on the clean energy transition. They're all about optimizing energy consumption and boosting sustainable energy generation.
Team members with their background and what they are famous for:
Hans Kobler: Founder and Managing Partner. A 25-year veteran in energy and climate tech investing, he's a pioneer in corporate venture capital and famously took ICx Technologies public.
Lindsay Luger: Co-founder and Partner. She brings over a decade of experience in energy tech investing.
Sameer Reddy: Managing Partner for their Flagship fund. He has over 15 years of experience in the energy transition and climate tech sector.
Matthias Dill: CEO and Managing Partner for their European operations. He was a founder of Statkraft Ventures.
Typical ticket size: Their typical deal size falls in the range of $10 million to $50 million.
Pitch Submission link: There's no direct pitch submission link, but you can find general contact information on their site.
Geography preference: They have a global reach, explicitly mentioning North America and Europe, qualifying them as geography agnostic.
Types of investment they make: They utilize equity and quasi-equity instruments, and engage in venture, growth, and credit investments.
Investment process in brief: EIP operates on a "purpose-built investment platform" that strongly emphasizes collaboration with strategic corporate investors. They conduct an ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) assessment for every investment and invest across various strategies including Flagship (inflection/growth), Frontier (early-stage deep decarbonization), and Elevate Future (underrepresented founders).
Suggestions or recommendation while dealing with them: Highlight potential for collaboration with corporate partners. Be prepared to discuss your ESG alignment and demonstrate resilience in your business model. It's a good idea to prepare for financial modeling questions during their assessment.
Description: Social Impact Capital is a "finance-first social impact VC," meaning they aim for strong financial returns while creating significant positive social and environmental impact. They dive deep into research to find the most impactful ideas.
Team members with their background and what they are famous for:
Sarah Cone: Founder & Managing Partner. She's known for her obsessive, research-driven approach to solving complex social impact problems, aiming to build venture-backable, future billion-dollar companies.
Typical ticket size: Not explicitly stated, but their focus on early-stage "best ideas in impact" suggests a range appropriate for Seed rounds.
Pitch Submission link: No direct pitch submission link, but they encourage founders to "REACH OUT" via their contact section.
Geography preference: They invest worldwide from New York City, making them geography agnostic.
Types of investment they make: They utilize repayable financial instruments within programmatic activities, as well as loans or equity. They likely also use standard early-stage instruments like SAFEs or Convertible Notes.
Investment process in brief: Their investment process is driven by deep research into pressing social impact challenges, seeking to back groundbreaking solutions as early as possible.
Suggestions or recommendation while dealing with them: Emphasize how your technology addresses a "world-changing" or "grand global challenge" and how it aligns with both financial viability and significant positive impact.
Description: Techstars is a global investment platform that offers mentorship-driven accelerator programs across various verticals, including a strong focus on Cleantech and Climate tech.
Team members with their background and what they are famous for:
David Cohen: Co-founder and CEO. A serial entrepreneur, he is famous for championing the "Give First" philosophy, which is central to the Techstars ethos.
Andrew Cleland: Chief Investment Officer. He brings extensive experience in corporate development and venture capital and serves as a board member for numerous successful companies.
Typical ticket size: They typically invest $220,000, which includes a $200,000 uncapped Most Favored Nation (MFN) SAFE and a $20,000 fixed-percentage Convertible Equity Agreement (CEA) for 5% common stock.
Pitch Submission link: You can apply to their accelerator programs directly via the "Apply Now" link on their website.
Geography preference: With locations globally across the Americas, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Asia & Oceania, they are truly geography agnostic.
Types of investment they make: Uncapped MFN SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) and Fixed-percentage Convertible Equity Agreement (CEA).
Investment process in brief: Their core investment process revolves around a 3-month mentorship-driven accelerator program. This program provides not only capital but also unparalleled access to their vast network of mentors, alumni, and investors. Their mission is to democratize access to entrepreneurship globally.
Suggestions or recommendation while dealing with them: Embrace their "Give First" mentality and be ready to actively engage with their extensive mentor network. When applying, clearly articulate your unique value proposition, a sustainable business model, detailed financials, strong team, market fit, go-to-market strategy, scalability, and product roadmap.
Description: Fifty Years backs entrepreneurs who are leveraging technology to solve some of the world's biggest problems, with a particular emphasis on addressing the climate crisis. They actively help founders build companies from the ground up.
Team members with their background and what they are famous for:
Ela Madej: Founding Partner. A serial entrepreneur and Y Combinator alum, she co-founded Base, which was later acquired by Zendesk.
Seth Bannon: Founding Partner. An entrepreneur and investor, he co-founded Impact.Tech and has seeded notable companies such as Solugen, Astranis, and Upside Foods.
Typical ticket size: Not explicitly stated, but they focus on early-stage ventures.
Pitch Submission link: They primarily accept pitches via recommendations or through their interest form for upcoming cohorts.
Geography preference: They prefer companies with their initial go-to-market strategy in North America or Europe, which qualifies them.
Types of investment they make: While not explicitly detailed, they are a venture capital firm that helps "start companies," suggesting they utilize equity and potentially early-stage instruments like SAFEs or Convertible Notes within their cohort programs.
Investment process in brief: Their "Spinout Playbook" outlines a structured approach to company building. This includes defining the "perfect" co-founder, preparing for sales, active networking, meeting, collaborative work, and stress-testing relationships. Their core focus is on transforming breakthrough research into viable startups.
Suggestions or recommendation while dealing with them: Frame your solution as addressing a "civilization-scale problem" that can be solved with technology. Consider their "Mr. Burns test": your product should be so compelling that even someone like Mr. Burns (from The Simpsons) would buy it, even if he doesn't care about sustainability.
Description: Material Impact Fund focuses on building "deep tech" companies that are powered by innovations in material science. Their goal is to make the world "cleaner" through these foundational scientific advancements.
Team members with their background and what they are famous for:
Carmichael Roberts: Co-Founder & Managing Partner. (Also Co-Lead Investment Committee at Breakthrough Energy Ventures). He's a serial entrepreneur specializing in material science, with a PhD in organic chemistry from Duke and an MBA from MIT Sloan.
Adam Sharkawy: Co-Founder & Managing Partner. He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering, has 23 issued US patents, and has held operating roles in public healthcare companies.
Typical ticket size: They typically invest between $3 million and $10 million.
Pitch Submission link: You can submit pitches via their general email: info@materialimpact.com.
Geography preference: They are geography agnostic, investing in innovative material science solutions regardless of location.
Types of investment they make: They are a venture capital firm investing in deep tech companies powered by material science. They utilize standard equity investments and are often involved in the very early "inception-stage" before a company is fully formed, likely using SAFEs or Convertible Notes.
Investment process in brief: They specialize in "inception-stage investing," often getting involved even before a company is formally established. They take a hands-on approach, focusing on innovations in material science that address "Maslowian needs" such as water scarcity, food supply chain efficiency, sustainable manufacturing, and advancements in mobility and energy. They prioritize aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Suggestions or recommendation while dealing with them: Clearly articulate how your material science innovation addresses fundamental needs and aligns with UN SDGs. Be prepared to discuss your technology's potential for significant impact and show transparency regarding your impact data.
Description: +ND Capital Fund (formerly NanoDimension) invests in disruptive technologies across various scientific disciplines, including life sciences, physical sciences, and data sciences, with a clear focus on energy-related innovations.
Team members with their background and what they are famous for:
Aymeric Sallin: Founder & CEO. He is known for discovering nanotechnology and was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and is a member of the Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences.
Eric Moessinger: Partner. He focuses on life sciences investments and previously worked as a consultant at Bain & Company.
Typical ticket size: Not explicitly stated, but they operate as a venture capital fund investing in early-stage disruptive technologies.
Pitch Submission link: You can send pitches to their general email: info@nd.capital.
Geography preference: They invest across both the United States and Europe, making them suitable for your criteria.
Types of investment they make: They operate as a venture capital firm, primarily making equity investments. Given their early-stage focus, they likely also utilize SAFEs or Convertible Notes.
Investment process in brief: While a detailed process isn't publicly outlined, their focus is on identifying and nurturing companies with disruptive technologies in areas like life sciences, physical sciences, data sciences, and energy.
Suggestions or recommendation while dealing with them: Highlight the disruptive nature of your technology and how it can impact relevant industries, especially within energy, life sciences, or other deep tech areas.
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