💰66 CVCs Funding ClimateTech

PLUS: 12 investors reveal 6 ways a CVC can support a Climate Startup’s growth

March 19, 2025

Corporate venture capital (CVC) is becoming a strategic lifeline for climate startups and a smart play for big businesses.

Unlike independent VCs, CVCs are backed by large companies looking to invest in ideas that align with their business strategies.

For startups, it’s more than just funding — it’s a gateway to corporate-scale resources, distribution channels, new contacts and industry expertise.

And for corporates, it’s a chance to stay ahead of the curve by tapping into up-and-coming climate innovation.

A three-way win for corporates, startups and the environment? We tracked 66 CVCs who think so.

Just last week 4 CVCs made fundraising headlines after backing:

  • Ucaneo, a Direct Air Capture startup who received funding from Aramco Ventures to accelerate the development of Germany’s largest DAC demonstration plant, set for launch in 2026.

  • Glenntex, a Swedish startup specialising in graphene functionalisation, who secured investment from Paulig’s venture arm PINC to advance its technology, which enhances recycled plastics, reduces virgin plastic use by up to 30%, and improves packaging circularity.

  • Supercritical Solutions, a green hydrogen startup who raised £14 million co-led by Shell Ventures and Toyota Ventures to scale its ultra-efficient, high-pressure electrolyser technology, aiming to cut hydrogen production costs below £1/kgH2 this decade.

This week, we take a closer look at the role of CVCs in the ClimateTech Capital Stack according to 12 CVC investors and build a list of 66 CVCs in the space along with the verticals they are investing in.

In this Edition:

💵 66 CVCs Backing Climate Techs

Hot on the heels of this semi-viral post we put together a list of 66 CVC investors who come highly recommended.

From energy giants to industrial heavyweights and tech titans from around the world, get ready to supercharge your network with a must-save list on the who’s who of the Climate CVC investing landscape and where they’re investing next.

💡 12 CVC Investors Have Their Say

Corporate venture capital (CVC) is a critical force in Climate Tech and beyond just capital can provide numerous benefits to a scaling startup. So we caught up with 12 CVC investors to hear their thoughts on what their investment can bring.

Tl;dr:

  • Opening Doors: Helping startups access customers, infrastructure, and technical validation, fast-tracking growth and overcoming early hurdles.

  • Strategic Fit Over Short-Term Gains: Prioritising long-term partnerships and strategic alignment, accelerating commercialisation and unlocking large-scale opportunities.

  • Bridging the Commercialisation Gap: Providing patient capital and industry expertise to navigate the tricky path from proof-of-concept to market adoption.

  • Later-Stage Growth: Stepping into Series B+ rounds, providing capital for capex-intensive models and positioning themselves as potential future acquirers.

With insights from: Givaudan, Honda Xcelerator Ventures, Eneco Ventures, ICL PLANET Startup Hub, TechEnergy Ventures, LRF Ventures, TDK Ventures, Döhler Ventures, Yanmar Ventures, HG Ventures, EDP Ventures, ABB Electrification Ventures

👋 Corporates x CVCs at HackSummit

Heading to the HackSummit on May 15-16th and looking for their next collaboration across Energy, AgriFood, Materials, Mobility and Decarbonisation are decision-makers from: Romande Energie, Nourish Ventures, ICL PLANET Startup Hub, Givaudan, Shell Ventures, Hochland, DSM, TetraPak, Nestlé, Trafigura, L’Oreal, InMotion Ventures, De Nora…to name a few.

If you're working on a game-changing solution that corporate giants need to hear about, now is your chance to connect with the right backers and hear first-hand where a collaboration can take you.

As the climate capital stack continues to diversify, startups in the Climate Tech space are finding new ways to access the resources they need to scale and innovate.

From seed funding to corporate partnerships, angels, government grants, and growth investors, the layers of capital are growing more interconnected, meaning more opportunities to accelerate solutions that can truly move the needle.

If you’re fundraising, come ready to meet Asset Managers, Family Offices, VCs and CVCs with capital ready to deploy at the upcoming HackSummit in Lausanne, this May 15-16th.

Hope to see you there.

Laura at Hack

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