Welcome back! The ClimateRaise newsletter showcases actively-raising, early-stage climate startups led by founders from historically marginalized backgrounds. We connect them with investors and climate ecosystem partners through warm introductions.
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This month, we’re featuring three companies - read more about them below!
Earthodic - bio-based, water-resistant coatings
After - textile waste diversion platform
SpadXTech - leather and materials derived from bacteria
Request an intro to any of this month’s start-ups!
Featured companies
Earthodic
bio-based, water-resistant coatings
Earthodic’s Biobarc™ represents a significant advancement in coatings for sustainable packaging technology. The bio-based, water-resistant coating has been developed to offer fit-for-purpose packaging solutions, serving as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional materials like single-use plastics, laminated, and wax-dipped products. Biobarc™ makes pulped and paper-based packaging materials water-resistant, which not only protects the contents from external moisture but also increases the strength and durability of the base material. As a result, the packaging become more robust and reliable for various applications.
Earthodic was featured on HolonIQ’s 2023 list of the 100 most promising Climate Tech startups from Australia and New Zealand. Earthodic investors include Investible, Tenacious Ventures, Closed Loop Partners, Twynam Group, and Hyloh.
Co-Founder & CEO: Anthony Musumeci
Co-Founders: Melissa Mail, Fiona Donaghey, Albert Tietz
HQ: Brisbane, Australia (currently redomiciling to US)
Current funding stage: Pre-seed
Asks: optional
after
textile waste diversion platform
Australians throw away 6000 kg of textiles waste every 10 minutes. After collects that unwearable clothing and textile waste from households and businesses, recycles it, and on-sells it (eg. textile fabric, or insulation) - reporting everything back to the customer for full transparency.
After has won the Best Pitch and People’s Choice Award at the University of Melbourne, Wade Institute’s Showcase Pitch Night. The founder, Yesha, made it to the SAARI Collective’s 101 South Asian Australian Start-up Founders List. To date, after has over 15 business customers and has diverted over 11 tonnes of textile waste from landfill and done over 800 collections from Aussie households and businesses.
Co-Founder & CEO: Yesha Patel
Co-Founders: Nehal Jain
HQ: Melbourne, Australia
Current funding stage: bootstrapped
Asks: Looking to connect with businesses in Australia that deal with textile waste like uniforms, commercial linen and fabric scraps!
SpadXTech
leather and materials derived from bacteria
SpadXTech has a platform technology leveraging cellulose-producing bacteria to craft high-performance, eco-friendly materials. These innovations are poised to revolutionize a multitude of industries including textiles, automotive, construction, and packaging. Notably, our textile material mimics the luxurious feel of genuine leather while retaining coveted attributes such as suppleness, sewability, and exceptional tensile strength.
SpadXTech has won numerous accolades and awards including the prestigious NSF SBIR Phase I (2021) and Phase II (2023) awards, was an Activate Finalist (2022), won a MassCEC DICES award (2022), an IMPEL innovator (2023), won a Forge Product Development grant (2023), the Cade Prize Wildcard award (2023), and an Antares REACH grant (2023). Last year, SpadXTech was also part of the ACCEL inaugural cohort of BIPOC founders. This year SpadXTech is part of the Venture For ClimateTech Cohort 4 and a finalist for The Eddies with the Massachusetts Innovation Network.
Co-Founder & CEO: Lina Gonzalez
HQ: Worcester, MA
Current funding stage: Pre-Seed
ICYMI - last months’s features!
Payhippo - fintech for Sub-Saharan Africa’s green transition
microTERRA - food ingredient derived from aquatic plants
Kit Switch - modular interiors for sustainable retrofits
ReCarbn - energy-efficient & modular CDR
Eve - software for fleet electrification management
Wild Coast Biologics - soil health products for regenerative agriculture
The Radical Fund - climate adaptation & mitigation VC Fund in Southeast Asia
Request an introduction to the companies by filling this form.
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Resources for founders
🔍 Opportunities
Applications are open for the inaugural Buildings Tech Lab, a public-private initiative between the New York City Department of Buildings and the Partnership Fund for New York City to test new technologies to help the DOB improve how it regulates construction and development throughout the five boroughs. Early- and growth-stage tech companies with a relevant solution to one of the Lab’s two challenges can learn more and apply here. Interested applicants are invited to attend an information session on August 15th at 1pm ET. Applications close September 20.
If you're in the climate tech space, join the Drop in Malmö, Sweden, on September 16th and 17th. The Drop conference is custom-built for VCs, startups, and all those working to be planet-positive. The goal is to gather and discuss the biggest questions to expedite climate action. What to expect at The Drop: keynotes talks with unique takes, knowledge-sharing roundtables run by the climate community, and a festival of side events hosted by top VCs and ambitious startups. Apply for a ticket here to make unexpected connections, get fresh takes on climate solutions, and meet the people who could change the trajectory of your climate career.
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ClimateRaise resources
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