Elbow Beach

We’re hosting our fifth catalyst dinner on Tuesday, 29 April 2025 in partnership with Climate Connection on the topic: The Future of Advanced Manufacturing. The UK Government identified advanced manufacturing as one of the eight pivotal sectors in its industrial strategy, recognising its potential for long-term economic growth and global competitiveness. Advanced manufacturing will also be crucial for meeting net zero goals. This dinner brings together industry leaders, academics, investors, policymakers and innovators to explore how the UK can strengthen its position in advanced manufacturing and lead on the global stage. If you’d like to join us in discussing the future of advanced manufacturing and connect with industry leaders, send us a message. #ClimateTech #ClimateConnection

Elbow Beach CEO & Managing Partner Jonathan Pollock recently spoke to Cleantech for UK about our investment approach. Read the full piece below.

After launching our second fund last month, I’ve been reflecting on the progress of the incredible companies we backed in Fund I. Across the board, the startups achieving the most traction, growth, and resilience tend to share three common traits: 🔍 1. Customer Obsession The most successful teams are laser-focused on solving real, painful problems for their customers. They deeply understand what value they’re creating and act fast based on real feedback. Product-market fit doesn’t happen by accident — it’s engineered by listening carefully to your customers. 🌍 2. Exporting  Yes, exporting is tough, but the companies already selling internationally are growing the fastest. The UK makes up just ~3% of global GDP and ambitious founders know the biggest markets and returns lie beyond our borders. Tariffs may impact incumbents, but nimble new entrants are often better positioned to adapt and thrive. 👥 3. Building Teams Full of Talent Founders are the spark, but it’s world-class teams that build lasting companies. The best leaders we back are bold enough to hire people better than themselves in certain roles and invest in developing talent from within. It takes courage, but it’s a game-changer. None of this is easy. But done consistently, executing in these three areas will undoubtedly  unlock success when building transformative technology businesses. I’m curious to hear from others. Founders, investors, operators,  what else have you seen as critical to scaling early-stage ventures?  #venturecapital #startups #fundraising #founders #scaling #UKtech #globalgrowth #talent

The UK is home to the third-largest VC ecosystem in the world and a high density of early-stage deal flow – driving innovation in future tech for the net zero economy.    Fantastic to host a Climate VC Breakfast at the British Consulate bringing together top Bay Area investors and innovators, with the discussion spanning:    ✅ UK climate #tech investment, which surged 24% in 2024, reaching £4.5 billion—attracting more equity funding than anywhere else in Europe or Canada ✅ The UK’s stable regulatory environment as the first major economy to set a legally binding net zero target ✅ UK-based climate tech success stories like 💡 Tokamak Energy, which raised £100m in December from a UK and global syndicate to advance its revolutionary “squeezed-doughnut” fusion tech 🔋 Highview Power, which secured £300m to build the UK’s first commercial-scale liquid air energy storage plant and is backed by Goldman Sachs and Sumitomo 🌱 Octopus Energy Ventures, which is soon launching a £500m fund 🌍 ETF Partners - The Environmental Technologies Fund, which closed its 5th fund at £285m 🚀 Elbow Beach Capital, backed by the British Business Bank, which will support 36 startups over the next four years ➕ incubators like Carbon13 and Imperial College London’s Undaunted Program, which are helping to drive the next wave of #innovation. Taylor Wessing Silicon Valley Bank Voyager Ventures AiiM Partners Grainne (Grace) Barron Georgia Roden Penny Harwood Máire P. Walsh Nare Janvelyan, PhD Hilary Shannon David Bates Jack Turner Gerald Brady Tim Roper

The Elbow Beach team are looking forward to a busy April! We’ll be at the following events: 💡 Leicester Innovation Festival: Clean tech edition – Friday, 4 April. Investment Analyst Josie French will be attending the Clean Tech innovation mixer at Loughborough University. ✈️ Capital to Climate: Future of Electric Flight – Friday, 25 April. CEO and Managing Partner Jonathan Pollock (JP) will be at Innovate UK’s Future of Electric Flight event as part of their Financing Net Zero series. 🌍 Innovation Zero Congress – Tuesday, 29 April. JP and Josie will be attending the UK’s largest Net Zero Congress at Olympia London. 🦾 Catalyst Dinner: The Future of Advanced Manufacturing – Tuesday, 29 April. Elbow Beach is sponsoring Climate Connection’s Catalyst Dinner: The Future of Advanced Manufacturing and CTO Tom Hardy and Climate and Investment Associate Dr Flowra Zhang will join JP and Josie at the event. 🌿 Climate Tech Time – Wednesday, 30 April. Josie will be attending the UK's biggest monthly event for climate tech hosted by Climate Connection. If you’re attending any of these events, drop a comment below, we’d love to connect! #ClimateTech #VentureCapital 

Pleased to welcome Dr Flowra Zhang to Elbow Beach! Flowra joins us as Climate and Investment Associate from Marble, where she was a Founder-in-Residence working on CO2 removal solutions. Flowra has a PhD in Earth Science and Engineering from Imperial College London. At Elbow Beach, Flowra will be developing and conducting rigorous climate impact assessments to inform investment decisions, following the launch of our second fund. She will also support industry research, deal sourcing, and due diligence. #ClimateTech #VentureCapital #NewHire 

Spring Statement 2025: A Defining Moment for UK Climate Tech With Chancellor Rt Hon Rachel Reeves set to deliver the Spring Statement today, my hope is that she will take this opportunity to build the foundations to make the UK a global leader in climate, advanced manufacturing and deep tech innovation. 🌍💡 The UK has the talent, research facilities, fund managers, and breakthrough companies to lead the next wave of transformational technology—but we need the right conditions to unlock private capital and scale high-growth sectors. 🔹 Three key asks for the Chancellor: 1️⃣ Expand & Empower the National Wealth Fund & British Business Bank – These institutions are vital to crowding in private capital to high-growth sectors. Scaling their efforts will ensure the UK remains competitive and a magnet for global investment. 2️⃣ Provide a Clear Roadmap for Strategic Sectors – With updates on the industrial strategy set for June, the Spring Statement must offer signals on where government backing will be strongest. Investors need certainty to align capital with national priorities. 3️⃣ Boost Market Confidence – The UK has strong economic fundamentals, but investor sentiment matters. Talking up Britain’s leadership in climate tech and innovation will send a powerful signal to global markets. The UK has a unique window of opportunity as international investors reconsider their commitments to the US. The prospect is to make Britain the destination of choice for innovation, investment, and long-term growth. #SpringStatement #ClimateTech #Innovation #Investment #UKLeadership

The backing from the British Business Bank is a real vote of confidence in our mission and in Britain’s entrepreneurs. We are looking forward to the journey ahead. 

Elbow Beach is proud to back Britain’s entrepreneurs with the launch of our new targeted £80M Climate Impact Fund, cornerstoned by the British Business Bank. The UK is a global leader in climate technology innovation. With £63m already secured, we’re going to be seeking out the UK’s most commercial pioneering technological solutions to big industrial problems and helping them to scale. More in today’s The Times: https://lnkd.in/erVB9sF4 #FundLaunch #VentureCapital #ClimateChange #ClimateTech  

Elbow Beach Capital Co-Founder and CTO Tom Hardy spoke to Mewburn Ellis about our diverse portfolio, how we identify potential investments, and the UK climate tech scene.   Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/exUVYAAJ