Nine investors fund Perth cleantech startups in 2026. CEFC, ARENA, and FFI write the largest cheques. Giant Leap and Artesian back early-stage climate companies. Here's who to approach and in what order.
Western Australia is Australia's fastest-growing renewable energy market. Green hydrogen, offshore wind, and rooftop solar are all raising capital in Perth in 2026.
Perth cleantech investment splits between large federal programs and smaller commercial VCs. CEFC and ARENA are non-dilutive but slow. Giant Leap and Artesian move faster with smaller cheques.
Fortescue Future Industries brings corporate capital and WA market access in one relationship. A FFI partnership is worth more than the cheque - they open WA government and utility doors.
This guide covers 9 active Perth cleantech investors and what each needs to see in 2026.
| Type | Check size | Sector focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEFC | Federal green bank | A$1M-A$100M+ | Renewables, storage, green hydrogen | cefc.com.au |
| ARENA | Federal grants/loans | A$50K-A$50M | Renewables, innovation, hydrogen | arena.gov.au |
| Fortescue Future Industries | Corporate VC/grants | A$500K-A$50M | Green hydrogen, renewables, tech | ffi.com.au |
| Quinbrook Infrastructure | Infrastructure VC | A$10M-A$500M | Renewables, grid, storage infra | quinbrook.com |
| Giant Leap Fund | Impact VC | A$500K-A$5M | Cleantech, circular economy | giantleap.com.au |
| Artesian VC | Impact VC | A$500K-A$10M | Cleantech, climate, impact tech | artesianvc.com |
| Grok Ventures | Family office | A$1M-A$50M | Cleantech, energy transition | grokventures.com |
| Macquarie GIG | Infrastructure investor | A$10M-A$1B+ | Green infra, renewables, storage | macquarie.com |
| WA Renewable Energy Fund | State government grants | A$50K-A$5M | WA renewable projects, innovation | energy.wa.gov.au |
Share your cleantech pitch with Perth investors
Ellty gives you trackable data room links. Send different documents to government and VC investors.
Start free 14-day trialWhat Perth cleantech investors look for
Perth cleantech investors prioritise WA market fit and carbon abatement quantification. A project that addresses WA's specific energy transition challenges gets faster decisions.
Government funders (CEFC, ARENA, WA Fund) require policy alignment and TRL documentation. Apply with technical validation reports - desk-based projections won't get funding.
Use private equity data room standards from day one. Perth cleantech raises often scale to infrastructure fund sizes quickly.
Carbon abatement per dollar invested is mandatory for every Perth cleantech investor. State it in your first slide - not your appendix.
Perth cleantech founders have the best natural advantage in Australia right now. Solar, hydrogen, and offshore wind are all here. The gap is founders who understand how to navigate the government capital stack.
9 Perth cleantech investors
1. CEFC
Australia's federal green bank - largest cleantech capital source with WA green hydrogen focus.
Recent Deals: WA renewable energy and green hydrogen financing 2025-2026; national cleantech portfolio active
LinkedIn: CEFC LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Cleantech, renewable energy, infrastructure
Stage Focus: Growth, infrastructure
Location: Canberra, Australia
Website: cefc.com.au
2. ARENA
Federal renewable energy grants for Perth cleantech - non-dilutive before approaching VCs.
Recent Deals: A$1.9B+ in grants committed; WA hydrogen and offshore wind projects funded 2025-2026
LinkedIn: ARENA LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Renewable energy, clean tech, R&D
Stage Focus: Pre-seed (grants)
Location: Canberra, Australia
Website: arena.gov.au
3. Fortescue Future Industries
Andrew Forrest's A$6.2B green hydrogen fund - Perth's biggest cleantech backer.
Recent Deals: Green hydrogen projects ongoing; Phoenix hydrogen hub; global clean energy portfolio expanding 2025
LinkedIn: Fortescue Future Industries LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Green hydrogen, clean energy, renewables
Stage Focus: Series A, growth
Location: Perth, Australia
Website: ffi.com.au
4. Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners
Specialist renewable energy infrastructure fund active in Australian power projects.
Recent Deals: Australian renewable power projects 2025; QS1 and Cottonwood solar assets actively managed
LinkedIn: Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Renewable energy, infrastructure
Stage Focus: Growth, infrastructure
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Website: quinbrook.com
5. Giant Leap Fund
Impact VC for cleantech requiring genuine environmental metrics - not ESG language.
Recent Deals: Cleantech impact investments 2025; WA environmental and sustainability portfolio growing nationally
LinkedIn: Giant Leap Fund LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Cleantech, impact, sustainability
Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Website: giantleap.com.au
6. Artesian VC
Impact mandate with ASEAN sustainability network - Perth cleantech with export thesis preferred.
Recent Deals: Cleantech and sustainability investments 2025-2026; ASEAN climate-tech and impact portfolio active
LinkedIn: Artesian VC LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Cleantech, impact, sustainability
Stage Focus: Seed, Series A
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Website: artesianinvest.com
See who's reviewing your Perth cleantech pitch
Ellty tracks investor interactions with your data room so you follow up at the right time.
Start free 14-day trial7. Grok Ventures
Mike Cannon-Brookes's fund backing cleantech at any stage with genuine long-term conviction.
Recent Deals: Sun Cable investment ongoing; Australian cleantech and renewable energy portfolio active 2025
LinkedIn: Grok Ventures LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Cleantech, renewables, climate
Stage Focus: Seed to growth
Location: Sydney, Australia
Website: grokventures.com.au
8. Macquarie Green Investment Group
Global green infrastructure investor with offshore wind and hydrogen focus in WA.
Recent Deals: Global green infrastructure projects 2025; offshore wind and hydrogen assets growing in Australia
LinkedIn: Macquarie Green Investment Group LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Green infrastructure, hydrogen, offshore wind
Stage Focus: Infrastructure
Location: Sydney, Australia
Website: macquarie.com
9. WA Renewable Energy Fund
Western Australian government fund for clean energy projects and startups based in WA.
Recent Deals: WA cleantech and energy projects supported 2025; government grants active statewide for founders
LinkedIn: WA Renewable Energy Fund LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Renewable energy, cleantech
Stage Focus: Pre-seed (grants)
Location: Perth, Australia
Website: wa.gov.au
Perth's green hydrogen opportunity
Perth is Australia's green hydrogen capital with A$40B+ in projects under development. Founders building hydrogen technology have a market access advantage no other Australian city offers.
FFI, CEFC, and ARENA all have dedicated hydrogen investment programs with Perth focus. Stack government capital before approaching commercial investors for hydrogen projects.
Use venture capital data room best practices alongside government reporting requirements. Perth hydrogen raises need both VC-standard financials and government grant compliance documentation.
The WA Hydrogen Jobs Plan commits A$8B to local hydrogen industry development by 2030. Every Perth cleantech investor references this commitment when evaluating hydrogen companies.
Cleantech due diligence in Perth
Perth cleantech due diligence runs four tracks: TRL, commercial validation, regulatory, environmental. All four start simultaneously once a term sheet is issued.
IP protection is critical for Perth cleantech companies targeting Asian markets. Read our IP due diligence guide to prepare before any Perth cleantech investor meeting.
Technical diligence covers grid connection status, environmental approvals, and TRL verification. Read the technical due diligence guide to prepare your technology documentation.
Legal diligence for Perth cleantech includes land access agreements and state licensing requirements. Check the legal due diligence guide to understand what Perth investors verify in contracts.
How to raise for a Perth cleantech startup
Apply to ARENA and the WA Renewable Energy Fund before any equity raise. Government validation cuts commercial investor diligence timelines by 30-50%.
Use AI-powered tools to model your carbon abatement calculations before pitching. Perth cleantech investors verify abatement numbers with independent analysts.
Know what documents go in your data room. Read our data room documents guide to prepare the right technical and commercial materials.
Perth cleantech rounds close in 3-6 months for commercial-stage projects with government backing. Start conversations 6 months before you need capital.
How to pitch a Perth cleantech investor
Lead with WA market fit and carbon abatement data. Perth investors back numbers, not narratives.
- 1.Apply to ARENA and WA Fund firstGovernment validation before equity raise reduces VC diligence time significantly.
- 2.State TRL level and Perth market fitShow where you sit in WA's energy transition. Investors need geographic specificity.
- 3.Quantify carbon abatement per dollarState tonnes of CO2 abated per year and per dollar. Every Perth investor checks this.
- 4.Send data room with permits and TRL reportsInclude grid connection status and WA approvals. Use Ellty for NDA access control.
- 5.Follow up with one WA milestoneA grid connection approval or ARENA grant milestone moves Perth cleantech investors fast.
How Ellty helps you land a Perth cleantech investor
Ellty is a data room for cleantech founders. Share technical reports with the right investors.
- 1.Organise technical and permits documentsAdd TRL reports and WA approvals. Set separate access for government and VC investors.
- 2.Share trackable links with investorsSend each investor a unique link. Ellty logs every open and time on each document.
- 3.Follow up when investors are activeSee who reviewed your technical docs. Follow up same day they're reading your reports.
Perth cleantech investors: common questions
- Yes. ARENA non-dilutive funding validates your technology and reduces VC diligence requirements.
- CEFC requires commercial-stage technology (TRL 7+). ARENA funds earlier-stage WA projects.
- Government grants take 3-6 months. Commercial VC seed rounds take 3-4 months with government backing.
- Yes. FFI, CEFC, and ARENA all have dedicated hydrogen programs. Stack government before equity.
- TRL reports, WA permits, grid connection docs, ARENA applications, and carbon abatement models.
