SOSV’s Post

SOSV Climate Tech Summit (Free | Virtual | Oct 14-18) > Main Stage Session > " 🏗 Steel and Cement's Electrifying Future" ➡ Register to the Summit (free): https://lnkd.in/dfQmzNwG (4,500+ registrants) At 7-8% each, #steel and #cement production are responsible for 15% of global emissions. Since 2020, investors have funded dozens of startups – $2.8B for steel and $925M for cement – aiming to decarbonize these indispensable #industrial sectors. Today, the best approaches are far from settled. Both Massachusetts Institute of Technology-spinout Sublime Systems and Electra use novel electricity-based (as opposed to heat) technologies to create green cement and steel, and both are on the path to their first production plants – Sublime with an $87M federal grant, and Electra with an $85M round backed by Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures. The greening of steel and cement may hinge on their success. Featuring: - Leah Ellis, Co-founder & CEO, Sublime Systems - Sandeep Nijhawan, Co-founder & CEO, Electra Moderated by Julia Attwood, Industrial Decarbonization Specialist, BloombergNEF ### ➡ Agenda of Main Stage & Breakout Sessions: https://lnkd.in/dBXKxEcG ➡ Separate registration to the VC/Startup Matchmaking (400+ investors, | Virtual | Free): https://lnkd.in/dGFJgacN Some of the Main Stage Sessions (15+ sessions): 💰 2024: A new Chapter in Climate VC? 💰 Crossing the Chasm to Series B 💰 Climate Tech is Too Capital Intensive. (But Not Always) 🔋 Battery Wars: Can The Best Tech Win? ⛏️ Koloma: The Clean H2 Under Our Feet ☢️ Nuclear Fission: Terrapower’s Wyoming Reactor ⚡️ Energy at Big Tech 🏗️ Steel and Cement’s Electrifying Futures ☀️ SPF 1000: Modifying Solar Radiation Breakout Session Partners (15+ interactive sessions): ARPA-E, Cipher News, Collaborative Fund, DCVC, Energy Impact Partners, Engine Ventures, Gigascale Capital, Goodwin, HAX, IndieBio, Khosla Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, MCJ, Pale blue dot, Syensqo Ventures

#Steel and #Cement are among key #industrial sectors in which SOSV has invested via its deep tech programs HAX and IndieBio with companies such as Minus Materials, Starstone and Amatec. This session at the upcoming SOSV Climate Tech Summit (Oct 14-18) will explore the approaches of two "first generation" startups that have reached a first inflection point in deploying their technology.

SOSV Climate Tech Summit (Free | Virtual | Oct 14-18) > Main Stage Session > " 💹 Growth Investors Backed off. What Will Bring Them Back?" ➡ Register to the Summit (free): https://lnkd.in/dfQmzNwG (5,000+ registrants) Like every other stage of climate investing, the #growth stage declined year-on-year in the first of 2024, down 33% with 13% fewer deals, according to Sightline Climate. On the face of it, that’s a surprise considering the rapid progress of key firms across many categories, many with powerful #tailwinds thanks to the #IRA and other factors. For big check writers, where are goal posts and what are the best plays? Our panel addresses that question from the standpoint of two major growth investors and a VC eager to see them step in. Featuring: - Emmanuel Lagarrigue, Partner & Co-Head of Global Climate, KKR - Katie Rae, CEO & Managing Partner, Engine Ventures - Scott Himmelberger, Director, Decarbonization Partners, a BlackRock and Temasek JV Moderated by Allie Garfinkle, Senior Finance Reporter, Fortune === Agenda of Main Stage & Breakout Sessions: https://lnkd.in/dBXKxEcG ➡ Separate registration to the VC/Startup Matchmaking (500+ investors, | Virtual | Free): https://lnkd.in/dGFJgacN Some of the Main Stage Sessions (15+ sessions): 💰 2024: A new Chapter in Climate VC? 💰 Crossing the Chasm to Series B 💰 Climate Tech is Too Capital Intensive. (But Not Always) 🔋 Battery Wars: Can The Best Tech Win? ⛏️ Koloma: The Clean H2 Under Our Feet ☢️ Nuclear Fission: Terrapower’s Wyoming Reactor ⚡️ Energy at Big Tech 🏗️ Steel and Cement’s Electrifying Futures ☀️ SPF 1000: Modifying Solar Radiation Breakout Session Partners (15+ interactive sessions): ARPA-E, Cipher News, Collaborative Fund, DCVC, Energy Impact Partners, Engine Ventures, Gigascale Capital, Goodwin, HAX, IndieBio, Khosla Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, MCJ, Pale blue dot, Syensqo Ventures

#ClimateTech is dead, Europe is always behind... Is UK Climate Tech poised for take-off? Despite a vibrant early-stage ecosystem, the UK still fails to fund and scale break-outs (see graph). Post Series A, successful European founders struggle more than their US counterparts to access the capital and talents they need to go big. The UK Climate Tech family is prolific... ✅ 5,000 climate tech startups, second only to the US ✅ £2.6 billion in funding in 2023 ✅ Emerging leaders in offshore wind, green hydrogen, nuclear fusion and CCUS ✅ Already a few unicorns (BeZero Carbon, Octopus Energy, OVO) ... however, old challenges persist: ▪️ Culture of risk aversion ▪️ Limited scale-up capital ▪️ Fragmented ecosystems 🖋️ Thoughtful piece by Alastair Hamilton, Gisa Springer, Jayanti Kar and Harry Forbes, link in the comments below 👇

#Steel and #Cement are among key #industrial sectors in which SOSV has invested via its deep tech programs HAX and IndieBio with companies such as Minus Materials, Starstone and Amatec. This session at the upcoming SOSV Climate Tech Summit (Oct 14-18) will explore the approaches of two "first generation" startups that have reached a first inflection point in deploying their technology.

SOSV Climate Tech Summit (Free | Virtual | Oct 14-18) > Main Stage Session > "⚡️💰 Blitzfunding. Raise Like Our World Depends On It." ➡ Register to the Summit (free): https://lnkd.in/dfQmzNwG (already over 4,500 registrants!) Can #ClimateTech companies raise large rounds right off the gate? (like some AI companies) While growth investors have slowed the pace, a few relatively new startups have succeeded in raising huge rounds aiming for faster commercial deployment. In this panel at the SOSV Climate Tech Summit (Oct 14-18), the founders at geo-thermal power leader Fervo Energy, home heat-pump champion Aira, and industrial heat innovator Antora Energy have raised more than $1.1 billion in little more than four years since inception. By VC standards, such #blitzfunding is the outer limits; to have an impact on global warming, it may be the right stuff. Featuring: - Tim Latimer, CEO, Fervo Energy - Martin Lewerth, Group CEO, Aira - Andrew Ponec, Co-founder & CEO, Antora Energy Moderated by Benjamin Joffe, Senior Partner at SOSV ### ➡ Agenda of Main Stage & Breakout Sessions: https://lnkd.in/dBXKxEcG ➡ Separate registration to the VC/Startup Matchmaking (400+ investors, | Virtual | Free): https://lnkd.in/dGFJgacN Some of the Main Stage Sessions (15+ sessions): 💰 2024: A new Chapter in Climate VC? 💰 Crossing the Chasm to Series B 💰 Climate Tech is Too Capital Intensive. (But Not Always) 🔋 Battery Wars: Can The Best Tech Win? ⛏️ Koloma: The Clean H2 Under Our Feet ☢️ Nuclear Fission: Terrapower’s Wyoming Reactor ⚡️ Energy at Big Tech 🏗️ Steel and Cement’s Electrifying Futures ☀️ SPF 1000: Modifying Solar Radiation Breakout Session Partners (15+ interactive sessions): ARPA-E, Cipher News, Collaborative Fund, DCVC, Energy Impact Partners, Engine Ventures, Gigascale Capital, Goodwin, HAX, IndieBio, Khosla Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, MCJ, Pale blue dot, Syensqo Ventures

🚀 Europe’s Fastest-Growing Climate Tech Companies 🌍 European climate tech has had a standout couple of years, with infrastructure and hardware startups securing some of the largest funding rounds. Sifted have reported the fastest-growing companies in this space, based on headcount growth between June 2023 and June 2024, the results reflect the sector’s focus on green hardware solutions—from heat pumps to gigafactories. It's incredible to see Startups like these flourish and lead the innovation wave. (full report in comments) Here are the top climate tech companies to watch, based on their remarkable team growth: Aira (Stockholm, Sweden) 🌡️ 🔹 Heat pumps for consumers 🔹 Growth: 892% 🔹 Raised €200m in debt to expand heat pump rollout cylib (Aachen, Germany) 🔋 🔹 Lithium-ion battery recycling 🔹 Growth: 251% 🔹 Secured €55m Series A led by Porsche Ventures Ingrid Capacity (Stockholm, Sweden) ⚡ 🔹 Energy storage batteries 🔹 Growth: 173% 🔹 Raised $100m in April 2023 Weev (Belfast, Northern Ireland) 🔌 🔹 EV charging network 🔹 Growth: 167% 🔹 Raised £50m in May 2023 Jimmy Energy (Paris, France) ⚛️ 🔹 Nuclear micro-reactors 🔹 Growth: 146% Other notable companies include BASQUEVOLT (solid-state battery gigafactory), newcleo (nuclear tech), Stark Future SL, GeoPura (hydrogen power solutions) and Electra (fastest e-charging). These climate pioneers are leading the charge towards a greener future, backed by major funding and rapid team expansion. 🌱 #ClimateTech #GreenTech #Innovation #Sustainability #StartupGrowth

🌍⚡ We are thrilled to announce that the Vertex Exploratory Fund has co-led measurable.energy’s recent £4M Round alongside Clean Growth Fund! measurable.energy is a groundbreaking UK tech company revolutionizing energy efficiency with their smart, AI-enabled power sockets, and the new round will accelerate its growth in the UK and beyond, paving the way for a greener future. measurable.energy’s innovative technology can reduce electricity costs and carbon emissions in offices by up to 40%—a game changer for commercial real estate where plug power makes up approximately 40% of electricity consumption. “The Vertex Exploratory Fund actively seeks out disruptive frontier technologies. Climate is a core theme in our investment strategy, and we look for solutions to address the pressing challenge of greenhouse gas emissions. measurable.energy stood out as one of the most promising startups in the UK in the climate space, offering a low-touch, intuitive, and compliance-ready solution that effectively reduces power waste. The company is at the forefront of providing the tools necessary to drive positive change and the Vertex Exploratory Fund is proud to partner with them on this journey.” - Shang-Wei Chow, Managing Director Investment of Vertex Exploratory Fund   Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gnRU4d4v #VertexExploratoryFund #CleanTech #Sustainability #Investment #EnergyEfficiency #measurableenergy #Innovation Clifton Sim Hui Min Chua

🌱 Next up, let’s dive into the world of fusion energy with Brian Berzin, Co-founder and CEO of Thea Energy! Founded in 2022, Thea Energy is on a mission to revolutionize fusion energy by harnessing the latest breakthroughs in stellarator physics and engineering. They’re taking a faster, simpler approach to commercializing fusion energy, ditching the complex, modular magnets in favor of sleek, computer-controlled arrays of planar coils. Talk about a game-changer! Brian first set his sights on the fusion space in 2016, when there were only two VC-funded fusion startups in the U.S. Fast forward to today, and that number has skyrocketed to over 40! We’ll uncover what sparked Brian’s interest back then and how he’s continued to master this rapidly evolving field. 💡 Fun fact: Fusion energy boils down to largely two buckets- Magnetic confinement: Using powerful magnets to keep plasma in check. Inertial confinement: Using lasers or other techniques to quickly heat or compress plasma, creating the perfect fusion conditions. 💼 Quick Glance at Brian’s Journey: 👉 BS in Finance and Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University 👉 Founder of LUMENESSENCE 👉 Investment Banking Analyst at Houlihan Lokey 👉 VP Strategy at General Fusion 👉 Investor at Aeterna Capital Partners Brian shares some wisdom on building a successful company: “There’s always something to learn, and often, you can learn it from those who’ve been there before.” We love his growth mindset! And let’s not forget the powerful reminder: no matter how tough the problem you’re tackling, if you’re resourceful, you don’t have to go it alone. The magic of learning from others is real! Why do we think this so cool? Brian’s work is set to reshape the future—manufacturing energy without depending on natural resources. Talk about changing the way humanity functions! Tune in next week as we explore some of the most impactful tech set to shape the world for centuries, tackling climate change and the geopolitics of energy. Oh, and did we mention there’s a massive opportunity for #AI and #ML in this space too? 😉 Subscribe: https://lnkd.in/g2A9uNFY #climatetech #startups #earthfirst #innovation #technology #sustainability #leadership #climatechange #fusion #FusionEnergy

MCJ Fund II raises $80.6mm for climate tech - MCJ has closed its second fund with total capital commitments of $80.6M, raising total assets under management to over $115M. - The fund is dedicated to supporting startups that drive energy transition and address climate change impacts. - Investments focus on solutions that strengthen infrastructure and meet growing power demands sustainably. - Recent investments include companies in battery storage, carbon removal, nuclear development, water-risk intelligence, and green infrastructure software. - MCJ's network enhances investment success, connecting tech and industrial leaders with portfolio companies. - The firm has facilitated over 50 hires and hundreds of connections within its network. - New limited partners include corporate strategics across various industries, providing invaluable support and insights. - The firm has rebranded as "MCJ," simplifying its logo and web address. - The My Climate Journey podcast remains a key platform for discussing climate impacts and solutions, reaching over 35K subscribers. - The investment team has expanded, with new roles and a focus on portfolio support strategy. - Jason Jacobs has transitioned to a role as Founder and Venture Partner, continuing to guide strategy and connections. - MCJ is inspired by founders aiming to create cleaner, more profitable, and resilient industries. - The firm expresses gratitude for the support from its investors, network members, and industry leaders. https://lnkd.in/g56Y7Nuh