The Rise of Climate Tech Startups
Climate change is no longer just a political issue — it's a startup opportunity. In the past five years, climate tech has become one of the fastest-growing sectors in venture capital, attracting billions in funding and talent from across the globe.
From decarbonisation to regenerative agriculture, a new wave of founders is working on practical, scalable solutions to our planet’s most urgent problems.
Here are five standout startups — and the bold founders behind them — that are driving the green revolution forward.
1. Charm Industrial – Turning Plant Waste into Carbon Storage
Founder: Peter Reinhardt (former Segment CEO)
What they do: Charm converts biomass into a carbon-rich liquid and injects it underground, permanently storing carbon.
Why it matters: It’s one of the few solutions that offers measurable, permanent carbon removal.
2. Heirloom – Accelerating Natural Carbon Capture
Founders: Shashank Samala, Noah McQueen
What they do: Heirloom uses minerals to absorb CO₂ from the air, speeding up a natural process known as mineralization.
Impact: Their goal is to remove 1 billion tons of CO₂ by 2035.
3. Plenty – Reinventing Agriculture with Vertical Farming
Founder: Matt Barnard
What they do: Plenty builds indoor vertical farms using AI and robotics to grow crops sustainably, using 95% less water and zero pesticides.
Why it’s innovative: It brings fresh food closer to urban centres with minimal footprint.
4. Twelve – Turning CO₂ into Products
Founders: Nicholas Flanders, Etosha Cave, Kendra Kuhl
What they do: Twelve uses electrochemical reactors to transform CO₂ into everyday materials — like jet fuel, sunglasses, and car parts.
Vision: Replace fossil fuel-based production with air-based alternatives.
5. Watershed – Helping Businesses Go Carbon Neutral
Founder: Taylor Francis, Christian Anderson, and John Sargent
What they do: A carbon accounting platform that helps companies like Shopify, Airbnb, and Stripe measure and reduce emissions.
Strength: Combines data automation with actionable climate insights.
Why Now?
- Investor momentum: Over $70B invested in climate tech between 2020 and 2023.
- Policy support: Climate-related legislation and incentives are growing globally.
- Talent shift: Top engineers and designers are leaving Big Tech to build for the planet.
Climate tech is no longer a niche. It's a global movement backed by capital, policy, and innovation.
The Road Ahead
As the climate crisis intensifies, we need both systemic policy changes and breakthrough technologies. These startups represent just a slice of what’s possible when bold ideas meet real urgency.
The next decade won’t be won by hope alone. It’ll be led by builders.
And climate tech is where they’re heading.
