October Week 3, 2023: In this monthly 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
Waste (water & landfills)
1. Flexpenser
Founded: 2020 – Stockholm, SE
Founders: Kewmars Kazemzadeh and Giulia Gaudenzi
Elevator Pitch: Liquid delivery systems without breaking the seal.
Problem they solve: Traditional liquid dispensing methods risk breaking the seal, leading to contamination and requiring preservatives or sugars to prevent oxidation.
There’s a lack of scalable, low-cost, modular technology for liquid dispensing across various industries, from beverages to pharmaceuticals.
Flexpenser addresses these problems with their innovative technology, ensuring contamination-free liquid dispensing, reducing waste, and offering a scalable solution that can be adapted across a multitude of products and industries.
Impact: Flexpenser’s zero-loss dispensers significantly reduce waste, directly addressing the issue of the 2,000,000 tons of liquid pollution emitted daily. Waste Reduction: According to the University of Gothenburg, if everyone in Sweden used Flexpenser for just their milk cartons, the nation’s liquid waste would be reduced by 20%. This is a tangible impact on a national scale from just one product category.
Stage: Seed.
Interested in Flexpenser?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch, see here.
Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use
2. Aberland
Founded: 2022 – Oxford, UK
Founders: Philippe Jutras and Eric Gulledge
Elevator Pitch: Cultivate wheat beyond farming.
Problem they solve: Traditional wheat cultivation is dependent on climatic conditions, making it vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as unpredictable weather patterns, droughts, and pests. Conventional farming can often lead to land degradation, water overuse, and other environmental issues. Furthermore, as the global population grows, there’s increasing pressure on agricultural systems to meet the rising demand for food.
Impact: By producing wheat from cells rather than plants, Aberland ensures that wheat production is less affected by changing climatic conditions. This contributes to food security even in the face of global climate challenges. Enhanced Sustainability: Cell-based cultivation likely uses fewer resources (land, water, pesticides, etc.) than traditional farming, reducing the environmental footprint of wheat production.
Stage: Pre-Seed.
Interested in Aberland?
If you are interested in learning more, see here.
Energy use in Industry and Buildings
3. Echandia
Founded: 2012 – Stockholm, SE
Management: Fredrik Hellström
Elevator Pitch: Echandia delivers cutting-edge battery and fuel cell systems for the maritime sector, propelling the industry towards a sustainable future with emission-free solutions for ships and marine vessels.
Problem they solve: With targets set for the maritime industry to be emission-free by 2050, there’s a pressing need for reliable and efficient electric solutions to replace traditional fossil fuel systems. Demand for Durable Solutions: The maritime environment can be harsh, requiring battery systems that are both durable and safe.
Impact: By facilitating the shift from fossil fuels to electric solutions, Echandia plays a crucial role in significantly reducing CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector. Meeting Global Climate Goals: As a member of the Global Maritime Forum’s Getting to Zero Coalition, Echandia is actively contributing to global efforts to achieve the 2050 climate goals and reduce GHG emissions.
Stage: Non disclosed.
Want to learn more about Echandia?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch see here.
Cross-cutting enablers
4. Climatize
Founded: 2019 – Santa Cruz, CA, USA
Founders: Alba Forns and Will Wiseman
Elevator Pitch: Climatize is revolutionizing climate investment by democratizing access to clean energy projects. With just a $5 minimum, we’re empowering a new generation of investors to directly contribute to sustainable solutions, combatting greenwashing and making a real difference.
Problem they solve: Many individuals recognize the urgency of climate change but feel they lack the means to make a tangible impact. Inaccessible Clean Energy Investments: Until now, direct investment in clean energy projects may have been out of reach for the average person due to high entry barriers or lack of awareness. Greenwashing: Some companies and projects claim to be “green” without genuine sustainable practices, misleading consumers and investors.
Impact: Climatize is bridging the gap between individual investors and genuine clean energy projects, fostering a powerful collective approach to tackling climate change and driving sustainable practices in the energy sector.
Stage: Pre-Seed.
Interested in Climatize?
To learn more about this company, see here.
GHG Capture, Use, and Storage
5. Purifire Labs
Founded: 2019 – Cambridge, UK
Founders: Neel Shah and Matt Pearce
Elevator Pitch: PuriFire Labs is leading the revolution in green hydrogen and carbon-neutral methanol production, leveraging proprietary technologies to decarbonize global shipping and the chemicals sector.
Problem they solve: The global shipping and chemicals industries are significant contributors to carbon emissions. Transitioning them to cleaner energy sources is crucial for global sustainability efforts. Need for Scalable Green Hydrogen & Methanol Production: While green hydrogen and carbon-neutral methanol offer sustainable alternatives, scalable production methods are needed to meet industry demand.
Impact: By producing green hydrogen and carbon-neutral methanol, PuriFire Labs offers fuels that generate zero net carbon emissions, significantly reducing the carbon footprint of industries that adopt them. Advanced Carbon Capture: Integrating carbon capture technologies means not only producing clean energy but also actively reducing existing CO2 in the atmosphere.
Stage: Pre-Seed.
Interested in Purifire Labs?
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.
