September Week 4, 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.
Do not hesitate to join our collective movement by requesting your membership.
With care,
Guillaume and the SBC TEAM
Energy use in Industry and Buildings
1. Smalt
Founded: 2023 – Berlin, DE
Founder: Aleksandar Kalabic
Elevator Pitch: Smalt is revolutionizing the talent supply chain to fuel Europe’s green energy transition. By addressing the severe shortage of over 3 million skilled trade workers needed for critical energy transition tasks, Smalt offers transformative solutions.
Problem they solve: With a significant gap in skilled labor for solar installations, heat pump setups, and other essential energy services, Smalt’s innovative training and employment model is crucial for scaling up Europe’s green infrastructure.
Impact: By efficiently bridging the skilled labor gap, Smalt directly supports the acceleration of the green energy transition, enabling a broader and faster rollout of sustainable energy solutions across Europe.
Stage: Seed.
Interested in Smalt?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch, see here.
Energy use in Transport
2. Clearly
Founded: 2021 – London, UK
Founders: Danielle Walsh & Pedro Baiz
Elevator Pitch: Clearly is a B2B SaaS platform that empowers fleets and cities to achieve net-zero emissions by providing transparent and actionable data insights. Their trip-level data enables organizations to track emissions, optimize decarbonization projects, and verify carbon reduction.
Problem they solve: Managing emissions is often fragmented and inefficient due to scattered data. Clearly integrates and analyzes data at the trip level, enabling fleets and cities to set actionable net-zero goals and execute targeted emissions-reduction initiatives.
Impact: Clearly helps organizations lower emissions by identifying optimal decarbonization strategies, ensuring compliance, and facilitating carbon credit trading, supporting the global transition to net-zero.
Stage: Seed.
Interested in Clearly?
If you are interested in learning more, see here.
Energy use in Industry and Buildings
3. Splight
Founded: 2021 – San Mateo, CA, USA
Founders: Fernando Llaver, Thomas Vadora & Carlos Caldart
Elevator Pitch: Splight uses real-time data and machine learning to double transmission capacity and enhance grid reliability. Their technology transforms existing infrastructure by leveraging inverter-based resources to reduce grid congestion and curtailment.
Problem they solve: Grid inefficiencies limit the capacity for renewable energy integration, causing operational challenges like curtailment and congestion. Splight addresses this by creating a data-driven operational layer that enhances grid flexibility and capacity without physical upgrades.
Impact: By maximizing grid efficiency, Splight facilitates the integration of more renewable energy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and advancing the clean energy transition.
Stage: Seed.
Want to learn more about Splight?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch see here.
Energy use in Transport
4. Vapaus
Founded: 2018 – Helsinki, FI
Founder: Mikko Ampuja
Elevator Pitch: Vapaus provides an impactful, cost-effective zero-emission benefit bike service to employers, promoting sustainable mobility and employee well-being through cycling.
Problem they solve: Many companies struggle to offer eco-friendly commuting options while improving employee health and happiness. Vapaus solves this by providing a convenient and emission-free cycling solution that benefits both the environment and employee productivity.
Impact: Vapaus actively reduces CO2 emissions through cycling, helps companies meet sustainability goals, and compensates for unavoidable emissions by supporting carbon sequestration projects, contributing to a greener future.
Stage: Early Stage.
Interested in Vapaus?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch, see here.
Cross-cutting enablers
5. Altrove
Founded: 2024 – Paris, FR
Founders: Thibault Martin & Joonatan Laulainen
Elevator Pitch: Altrove is pioneering the development of advanced inorganic materials critical for achieving Net Zero goals. Utilizing AI and automated lab technologies, Altrove accelerates the discovery and production of material alternatives necessary for sustainable technologies.
Problem they solve: Altrove addresses the shortage of critical materials needed for sustainable technologies by innovating faster, more efficient methods for discovering and producing material alternatives, ensuring secure supply chains for essential inorganic materials.
Impact: By focusing on the creation of materials critical for Net Zero technologies, Altrove helps reduce reliance on insecure and environmentally harmful resources, promoting a more sustainable and efficient approach to material production in key industries.
Stage: Pre-Seed.
Interested in Altrove?
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.
