Accelerating Climate Finance and the Transition to Net-Zero
The importance of climate finance in the global fight against climate change was widely accepted and recognised by countries at the COP26 conference last year. Funding for the solutions needed to fight the climate crisis, a definitive challenge of our generation, is critical to the survival of our planet. As more governments turn towards achieving their green growth ambitions with their climate friendly policies, the private sector could use this momentum and provide investment to spur innovation and growth in the cleantech sector. With time conscious solutions and an appetite for risk, the private sector is well suited to tackle the climate crisis. Companies can provide for ground-breaking ideas and solutions, with the right amount of funding.
The Cleantech Venture Day’s primary focus is about providing that opportunity to procure funding for its investment ready cleantech innovators from its high-profile network of investors. Cambridge Cleantech recently held its Cleantech Venture Day, a pitching- and- investment event. The two-day hybrid event took place on the 18th and the 19th of May. It received over a 110 applications from 20 countries and 7 cleantech sub-sectors. The 18th was a day of networking for innovators and investors and panel discussions held in person in London. The event took place at the London office of Taylor Wessing, a global law firm, and a member of Cambridge Cleantech. The event was also co-sponsored by the Choose Paris Region , a premier business and innovation catalyst supporting international companies with their development in the Paris Region.
Sylvie Russell, Head of Operations at Cambridge Cleantech recalls that, “It was a great pleasure to meet sustainable-focused investors, corporates and SMEs in person for the first part of the Cleantech Venture Day. During the networking reception at the Taylor Wessing offices, with a fantastic view of London, I enjoyed listening to conversations around investments in green solutions and cross-border collaborations between France and the UK. A greener (and not so distant) future is definitely conceivable thanks to the 24 pitching companies and their ingenious solutions!”
The networking event was followed by top innovative pitches by the selected 24 investment ready cleantech companies to an audience of high-profile investors looking for climate- positive solutions, on the 19th. . Over 60 meetings with the pitching companies were requested by investors following the two-day event.
“It was terrific to see yet another action packed Cleantech Venture Day, with 24 of the most investment ready cleantech innovators, from across the globe, pitching to a room full of cleantech focussed investors. Over 60 follow on meetings with the pitching companies have been requested by investors and we are hoping to see the £135m already invested through the Cleantech Venture Day format reach even higher levels of funding.” said Martin Garratt, Chief Executive of Cambridge Cleantech.
The Cleantech Venture Day was also co-sponsored by Clean Growth UK, J A Kemp, KPMG, Birketts, Business Isle of Man, Kiss, NovAzure and S-Tech
The UK ranks top in Europe for total climate tech Venture Capital funding. As of December 2021, London start-ups have raised $3.3B in VC investment since 2016, 16% of Europe’s total and is home to 416 climate tech companies – more than any other European city. London leads in Europe for the number of climate tech start-ups.- the city is home to 3 climate tech unicorns and 6 potential future unicorns. Cambridge Cleantech located at the heart of the Cambridge Phenomenon is linked to some of the of the most highly innovative centres both in the UK, including London and Oxford, and internationally through its global cluster partners. With such positive trends in the growing cleantech sector, Cambridge Cleantech continues to grow as a powerful catalyst in the sector both in the UK and globally, leading the efforts towards the transition to Net-Zero.