Latest news with #climatetech
Reuters
13 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Dutch climate tech firm Dexter Energy raises 23 million euros
July 2 (Reuters) - Dexter Energy, an Amsterdam-based climate tech firm, has raised 23 million euros ($27.1 million) via a funding round to expand its AI-driven services for renewable energy and batteries, the company said on Wednesday. WHY IT'S IMPORTANT: The investment reflects the growing reliance on AI technologies to navigate Europe's volatile renewable energy markets and accelerate the clean energy transition. KEY QUOTES: "We're excited to welcome Klima and Mirova aboard. They share our belief that AI is now essential infrastructure for an electricity grid increasingly powered by renewables and storage," said Luuk Veeken, CEO and founder of Dexter Energy. BY THE NUMBERS: Dexter Energy's AI-backed trading solutions can increase wholesale market revenues by up to 30% for renewable energy producers, the company said. Its latest funding round was led by financial services firm Alantra. Other investment firms involved in the funding included France's Mirova, ETF Partners and Newion. WHAT'S NEXT: Dexter plans to expand its services in the Netherlands and other European markets. The company was founded in 2017, and it uses AI technology and data for trading on power markets. It says its underlying price forecasting models draw from more than 12 external sources, including weather models and market data. ($1 = 0.8490 euros)
Bloomberg
7 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Former Meta CTO Says AI Will Prompt a New Wave of Energy Innovation
Climate tech is not the hot investor thesis it once was a couple of years ago. After several record breaking years, and billions of dollars being poured into climate startups, venture capital investments are way down. This week on Zero, Akshat Rathi speaks with Mike Schroepfer, who runs Gigascale Capital, a venture firm focusing on climate investments, and used to be Meta's chief technology officer.
Bloomberg
25-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Zero: Climate Tech Has Lost its Shine. Now What?
Climate tech is not the hot investor thesis it once was a couple of years ago. After several record breaking years, and billions of dollars being poured into climate startups, venture capital investments are way down. This week on Zero, Akshat Rathi speaks with Mike Schroepfer, who runs Gigascale Capital, a venture firm focusing on climate investments, and used to be Meta's chief technology officer. Schroepfer shares his views on the current investment climate, the danger of funding cuts to US research, and why demand for AI will prompt a new wave of energy innovation.
Forbes
23-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How A New Wave Of Defence Spending Is Helping Climate Innovators
Ally LaTourelle Whitney, Founder of the Government Affairs Accelerator Why National Security Spending Might Be the Unexpected Ally of Climate Tech As global powers escalate military spending, climate advocates are sounding the alarm: could this defence-first posture stall momentum for green innovation? Not necessarily, argues Ally LaTourelle Whitney, founder of the Government Affairs Accelerator. For her, the answer isn't retreat — it's realignment. 'National security and sustainability are no longer separate conversations,' she says. 'What we're seeing is not a full redirection of funding, but a diversification of portfolios.' And the numbers suggest just how serious the global defence pivot has become. In 2023, the United States passed a record $858 billion defence budget. Germany committed €500 billion to military and infrastructure upgrades. Japan approved its largest postwar defence package. With the war in Ukraine and broader geopolitical tensions continuing to unsettle global markets, defence spending is surging. But LaTourelle Whitney — who also advises America 2030, a $50 million growth-stage fund investing in dual-use technologies — sees a deeper opportunity. Technologies that address both security and climate needs are gaining traction, and the once-clear line between the two sectors is blurring fast. A trained lawyer with experience spanning public policy, finance, and science, LaTourelle Whitney has long operated across sectors. Today, she's at the forefront of a new wave of investors backing 'dual-use' innovation — technologies that serve both military and civilian purposes. 'Lightweight composites, autonomous systems, low-emission fuels — these aren't just military tech,' she explains. 'They're also the building blocks of sustainable infrastructure.' Whitney points out that many modern defence innovations, by necessity, are greener than their predecessors. 'Defence tech is lightweight, electric, reusable — and increasingly dual-use. Consider field-deployable solar panels or autonomous drones designed to reduce fuel-heavy operations. These are defence-first, but they're also climate-supportive.' The U.S., EU, and Asia have been increasing defence budgets while simultaneously issuing mandates for greener military operations — from logistics to procurement. These dual pressures are accelerating the convergence of sustainability and security in innovation. Climate tech is now intertwined with strategic concerns like energy independence and infrastructure resilience. A 2022 report by the International Military Council on Climate and Security called climate change a 'threat multiplier,' exacerbating everything from conflict and migration to economic instability. 'As defence tech becomes more sustainability-conscious, there's growing legitimacy for climate considerations within historically conservative procurement channels,' says LaTourelle Whitney. Examples of this shift are already emerging. The Pentagon has issued calls for field-deployable solar panels and autonomous systems to reduce reliance on vulnerable fuel supply chains. NATO's Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA), launched in 2023, is funding startups that deliver both operational efficiency and environmental value — from robotics to energy-generating textiles. Meanwhile, companies like Crusoe — which captures flare gas from oil fields and converts it into power for data centres — are demonstrating how climate solutions can have direct applications for edge computing and battlefield energy needs. 'There's a new generation of investors who no longer see sustainability and security as separate lanes,' says LaTourelle Whitney. 'They're thinking holistically — about how technology reduces conflict risk, resource dependence, and geopolitical instability. That's fuelling support for what some now call 'peace tech.'' Despite continued growth in climate tech investment, the capital is shifting toward solutions that serve infrastructure, resilience, and supply chain security. 'Pure-play consumer green tech may feel the squeeze,' LaTourelle Whitney cautions. 'Especially if it lacks ties to critical systems.' Her advice to climate-focused founders? Speak the language of strategic value. 'Can your technology operate off-grid? Does it reduce reliance on foreign-sourced materials? Can it serve disaster zones or conflict environments? If yes, you've got a compelling pitch.' She also encourages climate tech entrepreneurs to explore non-traditional funding paths. Agencies like DARPA or NATO's DIANA, public-private partnerships, and government procurement programmes offer alternatives to venture capital that may be more aligned with the moment. 'Don't just think VC,' she adds. 'Think procurement, think policy, think long-term geopolitical relevance.' The strategic pivot toward dual-purpose technology is already taking hold in national policy. The war in Ukraine, pandemic-era supply chain shocks, and rising concerns over technological sovereignty have pushed governments to reconsider their priorities. 'We're seeing a real shift — mandates for greener defence logistics, sustainable materials like biobased nylons, and remote technologies that support humanitarian and military operations alike,' LaTourelle Whitney says. And climate tech is well-positioned — if it adapts. 'Being green won't be enough,' she concludes. 'But being green, resilient, and strategically relevant? That's a winning formula.'
Entrepreneur
23-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Startupbootcamp India Launches Pre-Accelerator to Boost Clean Energy Startups
The programme is expected to receive over 300 applications by the July 31 deadline. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Startupbootcamp India (SBC India), a newly launched joint venture between Startupbootcamp Australia and BRK Ventures, has announced the launch of a specialised pre-accelerator programme focused on nurturing early-stage clean energy startups in India. The initiative, aimed at catalysing breakthrough innovations in the climate tech space, will support startups working in six high-impact domains: AI-driven energy systems, renewable integration, next-generation energy storage, green hydrogen, net-zero solutions, and blockchain-enabled decentralized energy markets. Trevor Townsend, CEO of Startupbootcamp Australia, said, "We're excited to partner with BRK Ventures to launch Startupbootcamp India and support the next wave of climate tech innovation. India has the talent, urgency, and scale to drive impactful climate solutions that resonate both locally and globally." The programme is expected to receive over 300 applications by the July 31 deadline. It officially begins in August 2025 and will run for three months, culminating in a showcase day in November where participating startups will present their progress to marquee venture capitalists and early-stage investors. Kamal Bansal, Managing Partner at BRK Ventures, stated, "India's energy transition needs a 360-degree approach to tackle challenges like urban pollution, flooding, and climate-induced agricultural disruption. Our belief is to support climate-tech-focused startups in their very early days with strategic partnerships like SBC Australia." SBC India aims to provide participating startups with tailored mentorship, funding access, and exposure to a global network of industry experts and corporate partners. The programme focuses on helping entrepreneurs at the idea and seed stage develop actionable roadmaps and prepare for scalable growth. Startupbootcamp Australia brings a strong track record to the Indian market, having partnered with global corporations such as Shell, Bosch, GE, Microsoft, and AWS to accelerate cleantech ventures worldwide. This venture with BRK Ventures marks a significant step in building a bridge between India's local climate challenges and global innovation ecosystems. "This isn't just about startups," Townsend added. "It's about building a clean energy future, and we believe the best ideas often begin in the earliest stages." With its first cohort set to launch soon, SBC India stands poised to become a key player in shaping India's clean energy startup ecosystem and advancing the country's journey towards a net-zero economy.
