Carbon13, a venture builder dedicated to addressing the climate emergency, has successfully closed the first phase of its ambitious €30 million fund. This significant development marks their first investment venture outside the UK, showcasing their commitment to global expansion. The fund will be channelled into six promising German startups, each set to receive €120,000. These investments signify a strategic move in their expansive portfolio which already includes over 50 climate tech startups. The investments are made through Carbon13’s newly established Venture Builder in Germany.
About the Company
Established in 2021 within Cambridge’s thriving tech ecosystem, Carbon13 has rapidly grown, collaborating with more than 500 founders through its Venture Builder and Venture Launchpad programmes. In just two years, they have partnered with innovative companies like Kita, Infyos, Nium, Biozeroc, Materials Nexus, and Tierra Foods.
We continue to see the results from combining world-leading talent and ingenuity with a burning passion to combat the climate.” This approach is evidently attracting global investors, captivated by what Dee describes as “the magic of innovation in the art of what is possible.
Dr. Nicky Dee, Carbon13’s founder and CEO
Expansion and impact
Michael Langguth, the co-founder and chief strategy officer, sheds light on their rigorous selection process, stating that out of thousands of applications, 500 founders were chosen. These founders have since co-founded over 140 startups. Carbon13’s latest investment round marks their 64th pre-seed investment, totalling £7 million in UK startups alone. Langguth emphasizes their ambition: “Our sights are set on making sure this potential is maximised.” He envisages an expansion of their programmes and startups, enhancing the acceleration process to create a more significant impact.
Carbon13’s ethos revolves around the pivotal role entrepreneurs play in the transition to Net Zero. They aid founders in embedding carbon reduction into every aspect of their strategy. This approach ensures that as startups scale, their carbon reduction impact scales concurrently. Carbon13 invests exclusively in startups that have been nurtured in their programmes, namely the Venture Builder in Cambridge and Berlin, and the Venture Launchpad. These programmes focus on assembling high-potential founders and providing early-stage teams with the necessary support to maximise their carbon impact.
Diverse portfolio in carbon reduction
Carbon13’s portfolio showcases a diverse range of innovative solutions. The first six beneficiaries from the Venture Builder in Berlin include VoltVogel, an EV charging service, and Climalyst, a carbon capture and storage startup. Other startups like Point2Hectare focus on agritech solutions, utilizing biochar for soil enhancement, while Hoop Solar develops semi-transparent solar greenhouses. The portfolio’s breadth extends from Mardeca, aiming to reduce emissions from global shipping, to Fungtional.bio, which operates at a microbial level, offering digital nutrition coaching to support the circular bioeconomy. This varied approach underlines Carbon13’s commitment to finding carbon reduction solutions in almost every conceivable sector.
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