20 VCs promoting sustainability and climate tech companies

Finding investors who actually understand climate tech is harder than it looks. Most traditional VCs say they care about sustainability but can't evaluate carbon accounting models or understand multi-year hardware development timelines. You need investors who've backed climate companies through commercialization, not just those adding "impact" to their thesis after 2021.

Quick list

Finding investors who get climate tech

Experience: Find investors who've backed companies through multi-year hardware validation cycles. Most software VCs don't understand why your pilot takes 18 months instead of 6 weeks.

Network: Check if they can intro you to corporate buyers, utilities, or industrial partners—that matters more than generic accelerator connections and often requires specialized support.

Alignment: Series A climate investors often don't understand late-stage commercialization challenges when unit economics depend on scale—ensure your materials follow GDPR guidance.

Track record: Look at whether their portfolio companies actually deployed technology at scale or just built demos. Pilot projects that never left the lab are red flags—especially if you need to password-protect files during diligence.

Communication: Use Ellty to share your deck with trackable links. You'll see who actually opens your unit economics and carbon accounting methodology.

Value-add: Ask what technical support they provide during commercialization. Generic "we have a great network" answers don't help when you're optimizing catalyst performance or navigating DOE grants.

Getting meetings with climate VCs

Identify potential investors: Research recent climate deals on Pitchbook. Seed funds won't lead your Series B hardware raise, no matter how impressive your carbon removal numbers are.

Craft a compelling pitch: Show gigatons of CO2 potential and realistic path to profitable unit economics. Most investors are tired of sustainability claims without clear monetization beyond carbon credits.

Share your pitch deck: Upload to Ellty and send trackable links. Monitor which pages investors spend time on—if they skip your commercialization timeline, that's useful information.

Utilize your network: Message portfolio founders on LinkedIn and ask about actual support during pilot scaling. Most will tell you if the VC helped with customer intros or just showed up to board meetings.

Attend networking events: CERAWeek and ARPA-E Summit are where climate deals actually happen. Skip generic sustainability conferences full of consultants—track leads using deck analytics.

Engage on online platforms: Connect with partners on LinkedIn after getting introduced by a portfolio founder. Cold DMs to climate investors rarely work unless you have exceptional traction.

Organize due diligence: Set up an Ellty data room with your LCA analysis, pilot data, and offtake agreements. It speeds up the process—strong pitch-deck workflows help.

Set up introductory meetings: Lead with your technology validation milestones and customer pipeline. Don't waste 20 minutes on market size slides about the climate crisis they've seen 500 times.

Why climate funding matters now

Climate tech investment hit $70B in 2024 according to PitchBook, but deployment capital is consolidating around proven technologies. The IRA created $400B+ in climate incentives through 2032, making U.S. manufacturing economics work for the first time. VCs who sat out 2021-2023 are back, but they're focused on companies with real offtake agreements and paths to profitability without subsidy dependence. If you're raising in Q1 2025, investors want to see how you're capturing IRA benefits and building sustainable unit economics.

20 top sustainability investors

1. Lowercarbon Capital

Chris Sacca's fund backs everything from bio-oil sequestration to geothermal drilling, and they actually understand hard tech timelines.

• Recent Deals: Terraform Industries $12M Series A (Sep 2025), Charm Industrial $50M Series B (Sep 2025), Vesta $12M Series A (May 2025)
• LinkedIn: Chris Sacca LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: carbon removal, clean energy, industrial decarbonization, climate adaptation
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: lowercarbon.com

2. Breakthrough Energy Ventures

Bill Gates' fund writes large checks for long-term climate bets, but expect rigorous technical diligence.

• Recent Deals: Ionic Materials $50M Series C (Jul 2025), Commonwealth Fusion Systems $115M (Apr 2025), Form Energy $450M Series E (Feb 2025)
• LinkedIn: Carmichael Roberts LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: energy storage, fusion, sustainable aviation fuel, industrial heat, hydrogen
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Seattle, USA
• Website: breakthroughenergy.org

3. Amazon Climate Pledge Fund

Amazon's $2B fund prioritizes solutions that help their own operations decarbonize, which means clear commercial applications.

• Recent Deals: Svante $20M (Jun 2025), Infinium $75M Series C (Apr 2025), Resilient Power $60M Series B (Mar 2025)
• LinkedIn: Kara Hurst LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: carbon capture, clean energy, sustainable materials, logistics decarbonization
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Seattle, USA
• Website: amazon.com/climatepledgefund

4. Energy Impact Partners

Utility-backed fund with $4B AUM that connects startups to grid operators and energy companies for pilots.

• Recent Deals: Electric Hydrogen $380M Series C (Mar 2025), Palmetto $150M Series D (Feb 2025), Swell Energy $120M Series C (Jan 2025)
• LinkedIn: Hans Kobler LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: grid infrastructure, hydrogen, energy storage, EV charging, distributed energy
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: energyimpactpartners.com

5. Fifth Wall Climate

Real estate tech fund that pivoted to climate with $500M dedicated fund, focused on built environment decarbonization.

• Recent Deals: Watershed $100M Series C (Aug 2025), Sealed $30M Series B (Jun 2025), BlocPower $155M Series B (Apr 2025)
• LinkedIn: Brad Greiwe LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: building efficiency, carbon accounting, heat pumps, smart buildings, construction tech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Los Angeles, USA
• Website: fifthwall.com

6. Union Square Ventures

Traditional tech VC that backed Wren and other consumer climate products, good for software-first approaches.

• Recent Deals: Wren $40M Series B (May 2025), Patch $55M Series A (Mar 2025), Recoolit $25M Series A (Feb 2025)
• LinkedIn: Fred Wilson LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: consumer climate, carbon marketplaces, climate fintech, sustainability software
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: usv.com

7. Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund

$1B fund that invests in technologies Microsoft needs for their carbon negative commitment by 2030.

• Recent Deals: CarbonCure $80M (Apr 2025), LanzaJet $50M (Mar 2025), Climeworks $650M Series F (Feb 2025)
• LinkedIn: Brandon Middaugh LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: carbon removal, sustainable materials, renewable energy, carbon accounting
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Redmond, USA
• Website: microsoft.com/climateinnovation

8. SYSTEMIQ Capital

Impact fund focused on circular economy and nature-based solutions with patient capital approach.

• Recent Deals: Planetly $30M (Feb 2025), Solugen $75M Series D (Jan 2025), Notpla $20M Series B (Nov 2024)
• LinkedIn: Jeremy Oppenheim LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: circular economy, nature-based solutions, sustainable materials, waste reduction
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B
• Location: London, UK
• Website: systemiq.earth

9. 2150

European climate fund that writes €10-50M checks for hard tech with realistic 10-year timelines.

• Recent Deals: Pachama $55M Series B (Oct 2025), Climeworks $650M Series F (Feb 2025), Sunfire $215M Series D (Jan 2025)
• LinkedIn: Christian Hernandez LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: carbon removal, green hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, industrial decarbonization
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Paris, France
• Website: 2150.vc

10. Congruent Ventures

Bay Area fund that backs energy and mobility infrastructure with strong utility and corporate partnerships.

• Recent Deals: Turntide Technologies $225M (Jan 2025), Zanskar $20M Series A (Nov 2024), Sense $105M Series C (Oct 2024)
• LinkedIn: Abe Yokell LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: smart grid, electric motors, energy management, EV infrastructure, industrial efficiency
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: congruentvc.com

11. Obvious Ventures

James Cham and Nan Li's fund backs world-positive companies with strong focus on industrial climate solutions.

• Recent Deals: Modern Hydrogen $32M (Mar 2025), Aclima $30M Series C (Feb 2025), NotCo $235M Series D (Jan 2025)
• LinkedIn: James Cham LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: industrial decarbonization, alternative proteins, climate adaptation, circular economy
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: obvious.com

12. TDK Ventures

Corporate VC from battery manufacturer that invests in energy storage and materials innovation.

• Recent Deals: Natron Energy $50M Series C (Aug 2025), QuantumScape $200M (Jun 2025), Factorial Energy $100M Series D (Apr 2025)
• LinkedIn: Nicolas Sauvage LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: battery technology, energy storage, materials science, EV components
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: San Jose, USA
• Website: tdkv.com

13. Galvanize Climate Solutions

Growth equity fund with $1B+ AUM focused on scaling proven climate technologies to deployment.

• Recent Deals: Gradient $40M Series B (Jun 2025), Goodleap $800M (May 2025), Aurora Solar $250M Series E (Mar 2025)
• LinkedIn: Katie MacDonald LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: residential solar, heat pumps, EV charging, energy efficiency, climate fintech
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: galvanizeclimate.com

14. G2 Venture Partners

West Coast infrastructure fund that backs energy transition and mobility with $500M+ AUM.

• Recent Deals: Electric Era $20M Series A (Jul 2025), Nuvve $15M (May 2025), FreeWire Technologies $125M Series C (Apr 2025)
• LinkedIn: Jon Previant LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: EV charging, grid storage, microgrids, renewable energy, energy management
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C
• Location: Menlo Park, USA
• Website: g2vp.com

15. Extantia Capital

Deep tech climate fund based in Singapore with focus on Asia-Pacific deployment and water/agriculture tech.

• Recent Deals: Source Global $130M (May 2025), Advanced Ionics $12.5M Series A (Apr 2025), Oxylus Energy $4.5M Seed (Mar 2025)
• LinkedIn: Ruchira Shukla LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: water tech, agtech, hydrogen, industrial efficiency, climate adaptation
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: Singapore
• Website: extantia.com

16. S2G Ventures

Food and agriculture fund with $2B AUM focused on sustainable food systems and regenerative agriculture.

• Recent Deals: Apeel Sciences $250M Series F (Apr 2025), Indigo Ag $150M (Mar 2025), Pivot Bio $100M Series D (Feb 2025)
• LinkedIn: Sanjeev Krishnan LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: food waste, regenerative agriculture, alternative proteins, sustainable packaging, agtech
• Stage Focus: Series A, Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Chicago, USA
• Website: s2gventures.com

17. Voyager Ventures

Houston-based energy transition fund backed by Centrica with focus on industrial decarbonization.

• Recent Deals: LanzaTech $200M (Feb 2025), Syzygy Plasmonics $76M Series C (Jan 2025), Infinium $75M (Nov 2024)
• LinkedIn: Shannon Steffen LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: carbon-to-chemicals, sustainable fuels, industrial processes, hydrogen, CCUS
• Stage Focus: Series B, Series C, Growth
• Location: Houston, USA
• Website: voyagerventures.vc

18. NextGen Venture Partners

Late-stage climate fund that backs companies approaching commercialization with proven technology.

• Recent Deals: Twelve $130M Series C (Nov 2025), Redwood Materials $1B Series D (Oct 2024), Li-Cycle $135M (Sep 2024)
• LinkedIn: Bill Clerico LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: circular economy, battery recycling, carbon utilization, sustainable materials
• Stage Focus: Series C, Growth
• Location: San Francisco, USA
• Website: nextgenvp.com

19. Collaborative Fund

Brooklyn-based fund that backs consumer-facing climate solutions and marketplace models for sustainability.

• Recent Deals: Recurrent Energy $75M (Oct 2025), Oatly $425M (May 2024), Thirty Madison $140M Series C (Apr 2024)
• LinkedIn: Craig Shapiro LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: consumer climate, sustainable brands, climate marketplaces, circular economy
• Stage Focus: Seed, Series A, Series B
• Location: New York, USA
• Website: collaborativefund.com

20. Prime Impact Fund

European growth fund with €300M focused on scaling climate solutions across energy, mobility, and built environment.

• Recent Deals: Skeleton Technologies $150M Series E (Sep 2025), Einride $500M Series D (Jun 2025), Sunfire $215M Series D (Jan 2025)
• LinkedIn: Pia Santavirta LinkedIn
• Sector Focus: energy storage, autonomous EVs, green hydrogen, grid infrastructure, industrial electrification
• Stage Focus: Series C, Series D, Growth
• Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
• Website: primeimpactfund.com

Track which investors engage with your deck

These 20 investors closed deals from 2023 to November 2025. Before you start reaching out, set up proper tracking.

Upload your deck to Ellty and create a unique link for each investor. You'll see exactly which slides they view and how long they spend on your LCA methodology or offtake agreements. Most climate founders are surprised to learn investors skip technology slides but spend 10+ minutes reviewing unit economics and IRA benefit calculations.

When investors ask for pilot data or financial models, share an Ellty data room instead of messy email threads. Your carbon accounting, customer pipeline, and cap table in one secure place with view analytics. You'll know if they're actually reviewing your materials or just collecting decks.

Common questions

How do I know if an investor is still active in climate?

Check their portfolio page for deals in the last 12 months. Many VCs added "climate" to their thesis in 2021 but stopped writing checks after SVB collapsed. Look for 2024-2025 investments, not 2021 announcements.

Should I pitch software VCs for hardware climate tech?

Only if they've backed similar capital intensity before. Most software investors don't understand why you need $50M to get to commercial scale or why your pilot takes 24 months. They'll pass after diligence even if they take the meeting.

What's the difference between climate VCs and impact funds?

Climate VCs want venture returns with climate impact as a feature. Impact funds prioritize climate outcomes and accept lower returns. Know which you're pitching because their diligence focuses on different metrics.

How many investors should I contact for a climate raise?

Plan for 50-100 conversations to close a round. Climate deals take 6-12 months because technical diligence is thorough. Start earlier than you think and keep twice as many investors warm.

When should I set up a data room?

Before sending your deck. Climate investors will ask for pilot data, LCA reports, and customer LOIs immediately. Having an Ellty data room ready speeds up diligence by weeks.

Do climate investors actually care about deck analytics?

Yes, because it shows you're data-driven. If you're asking them to trust your carbon models, showing you track engagement metrics demonstrates you understand what matters and iterate based on feedback.