October Week 4, 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. Xefco
Founded: 2018 – Eveleigh, NSW, Australia
Founders: Tom Hussey and Brian Conolly
Elevator Pitch: Xefco develops advanced manufacturing solutions and applies cutting edge materials science with a focus on functional improvements, sustainable manufacturing and reduced resource consumption.
Problem they solve: The textile industry is facing challenges with wasteful resource consumption and the need for improved garment functionality. Xefco addresses these issues by introducing advanced manufacturing solutions that provide superior performance, comfort, and protection without compromising on sustainability.
Impact: By prioritizing reduced resource consumption and sustainable manufacturing, Xefco not only ensures the longevity and enhanced performance of textiles but also significantly reduces their environmental footprint. Their commitment to sustainability paves the way for a greener, more responsible textile and garment industry.
Stage: Seed.
Interested in Xefco?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch, see here.
Energy use in Transport
2. Spark e-Fuels
Founded: 2021 – Berlin, DE
Founders: Julia Bauer, Mathias Böls and Arno Zimmermann
Elevator Pitch: Spark e-Fuels is pioneering the future of sustainable aviation with their cutting-edge e-fuels technology. Founded by industry-leading experts from MIT and driven by a passion for combatting climate change, they are on a mission to transform the aviation industry with CO2-neutral e-fuels. Their focus? Designing, developing, and operating efficient and scalable e-fuel production facilities to meet the surging demand for sustainable kerosene.
Problem they solve: Traditional e-fuels, while promising, have been hindered by economic barriers and the challenges of renewable electricity intermittency. Spark e-Fuels, with its team of experts and innovative approach, bridges this gap. By integrating and optimizing the full value chain, they are addressing the industry’s urgent need for sustainable kerosene solutions that are not just environmentally responsible but also economically viable.
Impact: Through their commitment to CO2-neutral e-fuels, Spark e-Fuels is playing a pivotal role in diminishing the environmental impact of flying. Their holistic approach to sustainability encompasses more than just fuel creation; by integrating the entire e-fuels value chain, they are fostering a comprehensive environmental ethos.
Stage: Series A.
Interested in Spark e-Fuels?
If you are interested in learning more, see here.
Cross-cutting enablers
3. Airlich
Founded: 2022 – Copenhagen, DK
Founders: Rasmus Jølck and Thomas Rosenørn
Elevator Pitch: Airlich is redefining HVAC solutions with its groundbreaking technology. Drawing inspiration from natural atmospheric processes, their proprietary system not only purifies indoor air to boost health and productivity but also recirculates it, slashing energy costs and carbon footprints. With the perfect blend of UV radiation, electrostatic forces, and ozone-assisted catalysis, Airlich promises pristine air quality without the complexities of traditional HVAC systems.
Problem they solve: Modern buildings face the dual challenge of ensuring superior indoor air quality while grappling with soaring energy expenses and environmental concerns. Traditional HVAC systems often fail to strike a balance between these needs, leading to compromised air quality or exorbitant energy consumption. Airlich addresses this by harnessing AI-driven sensor systems, their technology constantly tweaks its performance, ensuring optimal energy utilization and unmatched indoor air quality.
Impact: By purifying and recirculating indoor air without the additional energy burden of heating or cooling, they markedly reduce a building’s carbon footprint and energy costs.
Stage: Seed.
Want to learn more about Airlich?
To learn more about their technology or get in touch see here.
Energy use in Industry and Buildings
4. 1S1 Energy
Founded: 2019 – Portola Valley, CA, USA
Founders: Daniel Sobek and Sukanta Bhattacharyya
Elevator Pitch: Hydrogen, not Carbon: Affordable green hydrogen enabled by boron based chemistry.
Problem they solve: The growing need to decarbonize industries, especially those deemed hard-to-abate, calls for innovative solutions. Traditional hydrogen production and some industrial processes contribute significantly to CO2 emissions and other environmental challenges. 1S1 Energy addresses this by focusing on green hydrogen, aiming to eliminate the environmental downsides associated with methane use and offering the flexibility to produce hydrogen wherever renewable energy and water are available.
Impact: By optimizing the renewable energy input for water-splitting, 1S1 Energy ensures that green hydrogen production becomes not only more sustainable but also more widespread, laying the foundation for a cleaner, greener industrial landscape.
Stage: Pre-Seed.
Interested in 1S1 Eenrgy?
To learn more about this company, see here.
Cross-cutting enablers
5. Tuuli
Founded: 2022 – Toronto, CA
Founders: Arpan Grover and Vithusan Vimal
Elevator Pitch: By streamlining the discovery and management of sustainable building materials, Tuuli empowers architects, developers, and governments to tap into the flourishing green building market, making eco-conscious decisions swiftly and efficiently. Harness the power of data with Tuuli and cost-effectively drive your building projects towards a greener future.
Problem they solve: The burgeoning demand for green buildings necessitates quick and informed decisions on sustainable materials. However, the conventional approach is often time-consuming, hindering real estate developers and architects from efficiently meeting sustainability goals. Tuuli addresses this bottleneck with its integrated platform, drastically reducing the time to select environmentally-friendly materials and providing curated material packages aligned with specific building objectives.
Impact: Their platform facilitates the construction of buildings with reduced embodied carbon, supporting the broader goal of decarbonization in the real estate sector. Through data-driven insights, EPD, and cost metrics, Tuuli ensures that stakeholders can make informed choices, leading to structures that not only stand tall but also stand green.
Stage: Pre-Seed.
Interested in Tuuli?
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.
