🔋 Issue #58: rechargeable batteries, climate risk and floating solar
Help us by letting us know about exciting startups who might be a fit or sending founders our submission form!
Welcome back!
ClimateRaise showcases early-stage climate startups led by all women and non-binary founders, and connects them with investors and climate ecosystem partners through warm introductions.
how it works:
🔎 We find vetted, actively raising women-led climate startups.
📝 Our biweekly newsletter then highlights a diverse selection of those startups.
🔗 We introduce investors, ecosystem partners and fellow founders to the featured founders.
📩 Submit companies, opportunities and resources (or say hi!) for the newsletter here.
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Featured companies
*Featured companies are actively raising.
Ashlawn Energy, LLC.
#️⃣electricity, industry, buildings, smart grid
Ashlawn Energy is dedicated to empowering communities with innovative energy storage solutions to enable them to take local control of their own power, to contribute to reducing the impact of climate change, and to provide a better quality of life with cleaner air and less expensive power.
Ashlawn Energy has gained considerable market traction with 16 building owners and community projects. They participate in two incubators and two accelerators in New York state.
CEO: Norma Byron
HQ: Springfield, VA
Current funding stage: Pre-Seed
Asks: If you're a building owner interested in trying out their solution, let them know!
Infine
#️⃣ Food and Agriculture, Climate Risk, Water
Infine is making automated deep tech CO2 and sustainability evaluations for companies. Their SaaS offering evaluates consumer products so that the companies can make better procurement and risk management. Their system already has 170 customers. Their SaaS-pilot clients include R-kioski, part of Reitan Convenience and holding company for brands such as 7-Eleven, and Néstle. With these exciting collaborations, Infine is ready to grow and succeed around the globe!
Co-Founder & CEO: Tiina Saukko
Co-Founder & COO: Jyri Partanen
HQ: Helsinki, FI
Current funding stage: Seed
HelioRec
#️⃣ electricity, industry
HelioRec is building floating solar power plants for near-shore locations where half of the global population lives. HelioRec installs solar panels on the water, saves valuable land space and generates clean energy with a higher efficiency due to the cooling effect of water.
HelioRec's customers are TotalEnergies, Van Oord, JGH, APDL port and Brest Port and the current sales pipeline is €50M. HelioRec has a team of 9 people, including 5 PhDs. They have secured patents and trademark and are a revenue generating company, backed by Techstars and Entrepreneur First.
Founder & CEO: Polina Vasilenko
HQ: Nantes, France
Current funding stage: Seed (60% has been raised from lead investor and Techstars).
ICYMI - They are still raising
Seaweed based bacon, Umaro Foods, led by Beth Zotter and Amanda Stiles
EV charging microgrid, Electric Fish, led by Anurag Kamal and Folasade Ayoola
Biomaterials for fashion, Matereal, led by Jacqueline Ros Amable and Philip Pienkos
Request an introduction to the companies by filling this form.
Resources for founders
🙋 ClimateRaise Office Hours
Many of you have been sharing the need for broader support in your fundraising journey. In the spirit of deepening our support to founders, you now have the opportunity to connect with investors and experts for a 30 to 45-minute one-on-one chat. Fill in this quick form to connect with experts. Spots are limited, and we will be in touch if we’re able to pencil you in.
→ Pitch & Fundraising Strategy for Founders - Get feedback on your pitch and fundraising strategy with Zoe Perret, Principal at Initialized Capital. Zoe has deep experience in fundraising, complex operations, growth, and strategic planning – previously at BlackRock and in the non-profit space. She is excited to work with ClimateRaise founders in support of their fundraising efforts and pitch practice. Request a call with Zoe here.
→ Product Strategy for Founders: book some time with Peter Nocchiero and pick his brain on product strategy, product market fit and product led growth. Peter runs the climate advisory firm Alternate Future where he helps climate founders grow their startups and executives in any sector implement pragmatic climate programs. Prior to Alternate Future, he spent almost two decades as a startup product exec - 7 startups, 3 exits, pre-revenue to $200M ARR, seed to Series E. Request a call with Peter here.
→ Finance & Business Strategy : Zia Heller provides high-touch fractional, interim, and project based finance and business strategy consulting services with an entrepreneur-in-residence approach. Prior to starting The Thrivery she was on the senior leadership team at Sealed, a fin-tech innovator in the home energy space, where she helped grow the company's revenues more than 4x, expand into several new geographies, professionalize internal processes to prep for a $45M Series B, and laid the internal operational foundation for continued growth. Request a call with Zia here.
📅 Events
✺BEACON✺ An exhibition exploring how technology offers hope in a climate crisis, opens in SF July 27th. Come on a journey that reframes our future with era-defining brands building the new-wave of sustainable products and materials. Curated by Baukunst X PROWL. Full link: https://partiful.com/e/MYZyj9rBhFndE2cA3vAy
🫶 Networks
The Trust for Governors Island’s Living Lab is seeking piloting projects to be deployed on Governors Island through its new Climate Solutions Piloting Program. Their first annual Climate Solutions Challenge is focused on Water Abundance: How can water help to power climate solutions that grow blue and green jobs and create healthier communities? Applications are due August 15 and will include access to a no-fee piloting site, non-dilutive deployment grants starting at $10,000, and more. Additional piloting opportunities will be available year-round through a general application. For more information, RSVP for the webinars on July 27 at 1 PM and see govisland.org/challenge. Please contact livinglab@govisland.org with questions.
🔍 Opportunities
AirMiners Launchpad has opened applications for teams to enter their 9th batch (program dates Sep 5th through Oct 13th). Their 95 Launchpad graduate teams have raised over $90M dollars in venture and grant funding, and include three XPRIZE Milestone Award Winners! Application deadline is Friday August 11th, 2023
The US EPA National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC) is accepting applications! Candidates must be US Citizens between ages 16-29. You can learn more about the opportunity here.
📚 What we’re reading this week
How cities can respond to extreme heat
Analyzing Mass Timber’s Impact
Thanks!
~Ratnika and the ClimateRaise Team
ClimateRaise resources
📅 Check out our (new) event calendar.
📚 Read our past issues.
💡 Consult the list of previously featured companies.
🤝 Request warm introductions to featured companies.
💽 Request access to the 500+ climate tech ecosystem players database.
🙋 Forward this email to a founder to get them featured.
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