Over half the Net-Zero target is based on technology that isn’t commercialised yet. Climate tech is the opportunity and challenge of our times.

On the 10th and 11th of October 2023, we were lucky to attend Cleantech Venture Day, the meeting place for climate-positive companies, investors and corporates, facilitated by Cambridge Cleantech, a Cambridge-based organisation connecting innovators, corporates, academics, SMEs and investors for a smarter, more sustainable future.

The impressive potential of the collection of innovative startups truly blew us away. Enjoy!

Key takeaways

• The scale of waste from today’s consumption is mind-blowing. 45% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from all the food, materials and produce we consume daily. H&M alone creates 4.3 billion dollars of overproduction. Now think about the rest of the high street.

• New regulations, such as ESG fines, are coming down the line, accelerating change and the transition to a local carbon economy.

• Global cleantech funding amounted to $82bn in 2022. The UK is second to the US for investment and financing in climate tech, making it a great place to do business and connect with the broader ecosystem.

• Energy ($42bn) attracted the largest funding globally, followed by transport ($19.5bn) — EVs achieved nearly $15bn) of capital — and the circulate economy ($13.3bn). Software is also growing faster than hardware investment at 27%YOY. [1]

• Our trash is truly our treasure. Climate tech start-ups are using our waste and potentially turning it into gold. This covered everything from wood and air conditioners to turning our data exhaust to better behaviours around energy consumption.

• An equitable transition with enhanced funding is needed to achieve Net-Zero goals by 2050.

Why this matters: Sustainability will be a core component of business strategy. Innovations can’t just be shiny. They need to show tangible, measurable outcomes for business and the planet.

Meet the inspiring companies pitching below:

👚 Pattern Project - a Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) Accelerator Alumni are tackling global fashion overproduction with AI-powered on-demand distributed manufacturing networks.

🌡 Thermulon - creating rapid, scalable and affordable aerogel production, the world's most insulating material.

💡 Verv - data & AI specialists delivering energy savings to our customers through our Smart AI Isolator and plug technology.

🏢 Teknobuilt - uses digital engineering to help the world build safely, smartly and sustainably.

🔆 SpinDrive - provides design, prototyping and serial production of active magnetic bearings for Original Equipment Manufacturers. SpinDrive reduces energy losses in the machine by half.

♻ RAIKU Packaging - is a 100% natural, beautiful and compostable alternative to plastic bubble wrap and packaging filling.

✅ CAMBOND LIMITED - working to start a revolution in environmentally friendly Bio-Adhesives in the UK and China

💧 Seloxium - is revolutionising the mining & and refining sectors by selectively extracting valuable metals from water

📱 Ailuna - a sustainability and employee engagement app and platform for those who want to make a more significant difference in our world.

💡 Power to Hydrogen - accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy using their Clean Energy Bridge™.

🚤 Pixii - who make Electric vessels from recyclable materials.

🔴 InferSens - is an edgeAI deep tech company focused on transforming sensor technology.

🚛 CoolRun | Hubl Logistics Ltd - their patented technology delivers innovative food transportation solutions that remove the non-tail-pipe emissions of refrigerated vehicles.

🌞 Freesuns - designs beautifully integrated solar roof tiles for residential, commercial and heritage buildings

🍇 Dogtooth Technologies - develops and sells intelligent autonomous fruit-picking robots.

🌊 Water Experts powered by BOSAQ - gathers the best experts in the field of water to offer the best possible solutions for all water challenges.

🗣 Mixology PR - is an integrated PR and communications agency that consults, strategies, and drives campaigns that achieve direct business impact.

⚡️ Want to make sustainability a differentiator for your organisation

🙌 Thanks to James Cole Sam Laakkonen Zoë Loughlin Hannah Scott Lamia Sbiti Michael Greenland Jim Totty

Footnotes

1. KPMG research, Cleantech Venture Day, 2023