September Week 3, 2024: In this weekly series, we highlight 5 climate tech startups to watch by featuring the incredible startups, companies, or projects that are leading the fight against the climate crisis.
Each month, we add these startups to our running list, which we have categorized based on fuel emission sector data from the most detailed, recent data SBC could identify from the World Resource Institute in 2016.
This initiative from Startup Basecamp aims to support founders by giving them access to networking and exposure opportunities that help them to scale and finance their climate tech solutions.
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With care,
Guillaume and the SBC TEAM
Cross-cutting enablers
1. Actual
Founded: 2018 – San Francisco, CA, USA
Founders: Rajesh Chandran, Derek Lyons & Karthik Balakrishnan
Elevator Pitch: Actual offers a capital planning software designed to streamline sustainability and resilience. It provides a collaborative platform for businesses to build capital plans, assess impacts, minimize risks, and maximize ROI while aligning with strategic priorities.
Problem they solve: Navigating decarbonization and sustainability requires a coordinated effort across industries. Actual addresses this by enabling clear communication and collaborative decision-making among diverse stakeholders through its comprehensive planning platform.
Impact: Actual supports the global push for decarbonization by helping industries invest responsibly and effectively. The platform ensures that capital investments are both scientifically valid and economically viable, aiding stakeholders in implementing their sustainability commitments efficiently.
Stage: Seed.
Interested in Actual?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch, see here.
Cross-cutting enablers
2. Planted
Founded: 2021 – Cologne, DE
Founders: Wilhelm Hammes, Heinrich Rauh & Cindy Schüller
Elevator Pitch: Planted combines innovative software solutions with actionable environmental projects to assist companies in achieving their sustainability goals. By seamlessly integrating CO₂ emissions management and local reforestation projects, Planted empowers businesses to make impactful, verifiable changes towards sustainability.
Problem they solve: Many companies struggle to quantify their carbon footprint and implement effective, measurable sustainability practices. Planted addresses this by providing tools for calculating emissions, identifying reduction opportunities, and facilitating tangible environmental action through reforestation and forest protection.
Impact: Planted significantly enhances local biodiversity and aids in carbon sequestration through its reforestation projects in Germany. These efforts not only help reduce atmospheric CO₂ levels but also restore natural habitats, contributing to ecological health and resilience against climate change.
Stage: Seed.
Interested in Planted?
If you are interested in learning more, see here.
Energy use in Industry and Buildings
3. Sustaine
Founded: 2018 – Williamstown, MA, USA
Founders: Malcolm Smith & Gary Fromer
Elevator Pitch: Sustaine simplifies access to cheaper and cleaner energy for small to medium-sized businesses through proprietary software. Their platform quickly identifies top energy options and secures them, all at no cost to the business.
Problem they solve: Many businesses are unaware that sustainable energy is both affordable and available. Sustaine helps bridge the gap by providing easy-to-understand energy solutions that reduce operating expenses.
Impact: By promoting cleaner energy sources, Sustaine helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint while benefiting from energy cost savings of 20-40%.
Stage: Pre-seed.
Want to learn more about Sustaine?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch see here.
Cross-cutting enablers
4. Yook
Founded: 2020 – Hamburg, DE
Founders: Antoine Verger & Varena Junge
Elevator Pitch: Yook’s smart calculation engine empowers companies to rapidly assess the environmental impact of their products. With advanced life cycle analysis (LCA) tools, Yook enables businesses to identify carbon hotspots, simulate eco-friendly design choices, and communicate transparent sustainability efforts to customers.
Problem they solve: Most companies struggle to measure and manage the product-related emissions that constitute the majority of their carbon footprint. Yook provides precise data to help companies reduce emissions and make informed product development decisions.
Impact: By facilitating data-driven decarbonization and promoting eco-conscious design, Yook helps companies reduce product emissions, enabling the transition to a more sustainable economy.
Stage: Early Stage.
Interested in Yook?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch, see here.
Cross-cutting enablers
5. Polar Performance Materials
Founded: 2012 – Oakville, CA
Leadership: Hap Hewes
Elevator Pitch: Polar Performance Materials leads in North America with innovative, eco-friendly manufacturing of ultra-high purity alumina, designed for high-tech industries like aerospace and semiconductors. Their cutting-edge process ensures exceptional product quality while reducing environmental impact.
Problem they solve: Manufacturers in high-tech industries need materials with ultra-high purity for optimal performance and durability. Polar Performance Materials addresses this need by providing top-quality alumina that meets stringent industry standards for a variety of demanding applications.
Impact: Polar’s innovative manufacturing techniques optimize resource use and reduce energy consumption. By producing high-quality alumina at lower temperatures and with fewer processing steps, Polar not only improves product consistency but also minimizes its environmental footprint, supporting sustainable practices in materials science. Their sustainable process minimizes energy use, reduces steps, and recycles nearly all materials, lowering their own and their customers’ carbon footprints.
Stage: Early Stage.
Interested in Polar Performance Materials?
If you are interested in learning more, see here.
Do you know of other startups we should include in our Startups to Watch Series? Submit to our list!
How do these startups fit in with all the others we have looked at?
Check out our running list of the 400+ climate tech startups to watch we have featured.
