Thirteen active investors back cleantech in Sydney. They include dedicated climate VCs, a government green bank, and angel groups. This guide covers who writes checks, what sizes, and what each fund wants from you.
Sydney has a deeper cleantech investment pool than most founders know.
The CEFC committed A$6.1 billion in new investments in just six months to December 2025.
Dedicated climate VCs like Virescent Ventures and Climate Tech Partners write early-stage checks.
You'll find generalist VCs that back climate alongside SaaS, and specialists who only touch energy. venture capital resources on this list cover check sizes and what each fund wants from you.
| Type | Check size | Sector focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virescent Ventures | Climate tech VC | A$2M-A$15M | Clean energy, electrification, mobility, circular economy | virescent.vc |
| Wollemi Capital | Climate infra VC | A$19M-A$100M+ | Solar, battery storage, bioenergy, natural capital | wollemi.com |
| Investible | Early-stage VC | Seed to Series A | Energy, buildings, food, transport, sustainable industry | investible.com |
| Main Sequence Ventures | Deep tech VC | A$1M-A$73M | Decarbonisation, green materials, energy storage, agtech | mseq.vc |
| Artesian CESF | Seed VC | A$25K-A$5M | Clean energy, IoT, energy storage, biofuels, solar | cesf.com.au |
| Climate Tech Partners | Dedicated climate VC | A$5M-A$15M | Energy, transport, industrials, critical minerals | climatetech.partners |
| IP Group Australia | University IP VC | Seed to Series A | Hard-to-abate industrials, heavy transport, green steel | ipgroupplc.com |
| CEFC | Government green bank | A$1M-A$1B+ | All clean energy and emissions reduction technologies | cefc.com.au |
| EnergyLab Angel Group | Angel network | A$10K-A$100K | Clean energy, climate adaptation, circular economy | energylab.org.au |
| Southern Cross VP | Early-stage VC | A$2M-A$10M | Solar, hydrogen, smart grid, battery management | sxvp.com |
| Bandera Capital | Pre-seed and seed VC | A$200K-A$1M | Cleantech, building decarbonisation, climate services | bandera.capital |
| Carthona Capital | Thematic VC | A$404K-A$50M | Carbon management, sustainability platforms, SaaS | carthonacapital.com |
| Sydney Angels | Angel network | A$25K-A$200K | Broad tech including cleantech, healthtech, fintech | sydneyangels.com.au |
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Start free 14-day trialWhat is a cleantech investor?
Cleantech investors back founders building solutions to the energy transition.
They cover solar, battery storage, grid tech, transport, and clean industrial processes.
Most also back adjacent sectors: water technology, circular economy, and sustainable agriculture.
Check sizes start at A$10K angel rounds and scale to A$1B+ at CEFC. Compare New South Wales investors for broader NSW context on active VC activity.
We're backing this because it's real, reliable and replicable - a model where agriculture and renewable energy work together, underpinned by economics that stand up at scale.
13 Sydney cleantech investors backing founders in 2026
1. Virescent Ventures
Virescent Ventures is Australia's only dedicated climate tech VC, managing A$500M+ across two funds.
They backed DryFlow Magnetics, IND Technology, and NRN in 2025-2026.
Set up an Ellty data room before approaching them. They review technical specs alongside climate impact data.
- Stage: Series A-B primary
- Check size: A$2M-A$15M
- Focus: Clean energy, electrification, mobility, circular economy
- Recent deals: DryFlow Magnetics A$10M seed co-lead; NRN; IND Technology
- LinkedIn: Virescent Ventures LinkedIn
2. Wollemi Capital
Wollemi Capital invests in infrastructure-scale cleantech projects, not early-stage startups.
They committed A$80M with QIC to Australia's first paddock-to-power precinct in February 2026.
- Stage: Growth and infrastructure
- Check size: A$19M-A$100M+
- Focus: Solar, battery storage, bioenergy, circular economy
- Recent deals: MPower A$19M (Sep 2025); Kalfresh Bioenergy A$80M (Feb 2026)
- LinkedIn: Wollemi Capital LinkedIn
3. Investible
Investible is Sydney's early-stage climate tech VC, based at 180 George Street.
They led SPEC Toolbox's A$3M Pre-Series A in January 2026 and backed Hachiko in December 2025.
- Stage: Pre-Seed to Series A
- Check size: Seed to Series A
- Focus: Energy, buildings, food, transport, sustainable industry
- Recent deals: SPEC Toolbox A$3M Pre-Series A (Jan 2026); Hachiko (Dec 2025)
- LinkedIn: Investible LinkedIn
4. Main Sequence Ventures
Main Sequence manages A$1B+ as CSIRO's deep tech VC fund.
Fund 3 closed at A$450M and has made 10+ investments in the past 12 months.
They back deep science companies in energy storage, green materials, and agtech.
- Stage: Seed to Series B
- Check size: A$1M-A$73M
- Focus: Decarbonisation, green materials, energy storage, agtech
- LinkedIn: Main Sequence LinkedIn
5. Artesian CESF
The Artesian Clean Energy Seed Fund is a A$26M seed vehicle cornerstoned by CEFC and Australian Ethical.
They invest in 30-50 cleantech startups per fund cycle, with checks from A$25K to A$5M.
- Stage: Seed, Series A follow-on
- Check size: A$25K-A$5M
- Focus: IoT, energy storage, biofuels, solar, wave energy, green building
- LinkedIn: Artesian LinkedIn
Share your data room before the pitch
Use Ellty to control access and see which cleantech VCs open your files.
Start free 14-day trial6. Climate Tech Partners
Climate Tech Partners launched in 2023 and closed a A$50M first fund in June 2025.
Corporate partners include Airbus and Qantas, who co-anchor with CEFC and Australian Ethical.
- Stage: Series A primary
- Check size: A$5M-A$15M
- Focus: Energy, transport, industrials, critical minerals
- Recent deals: Hullbot A$16M Series A; Renewable Metals (Apr 2026)
- LinkedIn: Climate Tech Partners LinkedIn
7. IP Group Australia
IP Group launched its A$150M Climate Catalyst Fund in March 2026, with CEFC as co-anchor.
They focus on hard-to-abate sectors: industrial processes, heavy transport, and green steel.
- Stage: Seed to Series A
- Check size: Seed to Series A range
- Focus: Hard-to-abate industrials, heavy transport, green steel
- Portfolio: Hysata, Electralith, Optigrid, Banksia Minerals
- LinkedIn: IP Group LinkedIn
8. CEFC
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation is Australia's government green bank, based in Sydney.
CEFC co-invests with private VCs and runs an Innovation Fund for early-stage climate tech companies.
Upload your documents to Ellty before approaching CEFC. They run structured diligence on every deal.
- Stage: All stages - venture to project finance
- Check size: A$1M to A$1B+
- Focus: Full energy transition spectrum
- LinkedIn: CEFC LinkedIn
9. EnergyLab Angel Group
EnergyLab is Australia's largest climate tech accelerator.
Its Angel Group is the only dedicated clean energy angel network in Australia and NZ.
Individual angels write A$10K-A$100K cheques into pre-seed and seed cleantech startups.
- Stage: Pre-seed and seed
- Check size: A$10K-A$100K per angel member
- Focus: Clean energy, climate adaptation, circular economy, alternative protein
- LinkedIn: EnergyLab LinkedIn
10. Southern Cross Venture Partners
Southern Cross Venture Partners manages a dedicated Renewable Energy Venture Capital Fund.
Portfolio includes Sunman Energy (Global Cleantech 100) and Wattwatchers.
- Stage: Seed to growth stage
- Check size: A$2M-A$10M
- Focus: Solar, hydrogen, IoT, smart grid, battery management
- LinkedIn: SCVP LinkedIn
11. Bandera Capital
Bandera Capital is a Sydney pre-seed and seed VC with 12 cleantech and climate investments.
They backed Conry Tech's A$3M seed round for commercial HVAC decarbonisation in 2025.
- Stage: Pre-Seed and Seed
- Check size: A$200K-A$1M
- Focus: Cleantech, building decarbonisation, climate services
- LinkedIn: Bandera Capital LinkedIn
12. Carthona Capital
Carthona Capital is a thematic Sydney VC with A$400M+ deployed across three funds.
They backed Pathzero, a carbon accounting platform, alongside several Sydney angels.
- Stage: Seed to Series B
- Check size: A$404K-A$50M
- Focus: Carbon management, sustainability platforms, SaaS
- LinkedIn: Carthona LinkedIn
13. Sydney Angels
Sydney Angels is NSW's primary angel network with 250+ members, established in 2008.
Individual angel cheques run A$25K-A$200K, with syndicated rounds reaching A$1.5M.
- Stage: Early-stage and seed
- Check size: A$25K-A$200K per angel; up to A$1.5M syndicated
- Focus: Broad tech including cleantech, healthtech, fintech
- LinkedIn: Sydney Angels LinkedIn
Global Cleantech 100 reveals 2026 winners - cleantech investment trends by Cleantech Group
Government grants for cleantech founders
Sydney cleantech founders can access non-dilutive capital from ARENA and CEFC alongside VC.
ARENA has funded billions in renewable energy R&D grants since its founding in 2012.
CEFC's Innovation Fund writes equity cheques from A$1M alongside private VCs. Review how investors run due diligence so you know what's coming when CEFC reviews your deal.
Non-dilutive grant funding signals credibility to VCs before they write their first cheque.
How CEFC backs early-stage cleantech
CEFC's Innovation Fund co-invests with private VCs at seed and Series A stages.
They've anchored Virescent Ventures, Climate Tech Partners, and Artesian CESF.
Read about fundraising strategies before approaching CEFC. They run structured diligence on every application.
You won't get a second look if your documents aren't organized. Prepare your room first.
Building a cleantech data room
Cleantech VCs want different documents than software investors.
You'll need technology specs, IP filings, environmental impact data, and financial models.
Set up an Ellty data room before your first outreach. Use due diligence checklists to make sure your documents are complete before you share.
Learn what environmental due diligence covers before building your room. Cleantech VCs go deeper than SaaS investors on this.
How to pitch cleantech investors
Steps that Sydney cleantech VCs use to evaluate founders in 2026.
- 1.Start with your technology, not the market sizeCleantech VCs know the opportunity. Show the tech first.
- 2.Match your stage to the right investor typeSeed rounds go to EnergyLab or Bandera, not CEFC.
- 3.Share documents via trackable linksUse Ellty to see who opens your clean energy files.
- 4.Show your government funding stackARENA grants and CEFC interest signal strong validation.
- 5.Follow up when investors open your data roomEllty notifies you. Call the day they review your files.
How Ellty helps you land a cleantech investor in Sydney
Organise your clean energy data room the way NSW VCs expect. Show the tech and impact data that matters.
- 1.Upload technical specs and IP filingsCleantech VCs ask for technology and IP before financial projections.
- 2.Set access permissions per investor typeEarly-stage angels need different docs than CEFC's deal team.
- 3.Get notified when a VC opens your data roomFollow up the day a cleantech investor reviews your files.
What Sydney cleantech founders ask most
- Yes. Virescent Ventures and Climate Tech Partners both specialise in climate tech. CEFC also backs early-stage companies.
- Technology specs and IP filings. Cleantech VCs evaluate the science before the market size.
- Yes, via CEFC's Innovation Fund or through funds it anchors. Apply early, they run detailed diligence.
- Before first outreach. Cleantech VCs ask for technical documents immediately after intro calls.
- No. They back any deep science company. CSIRO origin helps but isn't a requirement.
- ARENA grants and R&D Tax Incentives are common. CEFC co-invests alongside private VCs.
