Carbon13 Venture Launchpad
We believe entrepreneurs are the creative force that will help accelerate our journey to Net Zero.
We’ve partnered with the Carbon13 Venture Launchpad to help pre-seed / early stage businesses launch high-potential, global impact ClimateTech ventures.
The Carbon13 Venture Launchpad is a ClimateTech accelerator that helps support early-stage founding teams to work intensively on their carbon impact, investment readiness and go-to-market strategy.
Carbon13 invests across the technology spectrum, including hardware, software, process systems, materials, deep tech and business model innovations capable of driving real and rapid change on a global scale.
Carbon13 backs ventures to protect Earth’s Vital Systems, such as climate and biodiversity. We support founders who will successfully demonstrate the technical feasibility of their product or service alongside compelling evidence that their start-up will achieve significant scale, for example ventures aiming to address climate change working towards a minimum mitigation potential target of 10 million tonnes of CO2e per year.
It’s not expected that applicants to the Venture Launchpad will know how they will assess and quantify their ability to achieve impact which contributes to protecting Earth’s Vital Systems - as part of the Venture Launchpad each founder receives training and support from Carbon13 experts to develop a Carbon Case which outlines how they aim to create impact and a commercial proposition.
Through the programme there will also be an opportunity to pitch for £200,000 in pre-seed funding.
Timeline
Applications open
10 February 2024
Applications close
Monday 31 March 2025
Cohort start
Thursday 15 May 2025
Why ClimateTech?
Addressing climate change is an urgent and complex challenge and we believe that innovators and entrepreneurs are the creative force who can help build the Net Zero future.
ClimateTech ventures are startups working on innovations to address climate change and support the reduction or removal of greenhouse gas emissions.
This encompasses solutions such as renewable energy or carbon capture, but also innovations with an indirect impact on emissions, such as solutions which reduce waste, e.g. textiles or food, or improve biodiversity.
What is the format of the Venture Launchpad?
We’re looking for up to 15 businesses to take part in the next Launchpad.
Through a 20-week sprint, each business will work intensively to understand its carbon reduction potential and to develop business fundamentals such as value proposition, go-to-market strategy and investment readiness.
Phase 1 takes 10 weeks and focuses on business intelligence, carbon intelligence, teaming and showcasing your business to potential investors with one-to-one tailored support.
At the end of Phase 1, each business will have the opportunity to pitch to the Carbon13 Investment Committee for £200,000 in pre-seed funding.
Phase 2 will progress with those businesses that secure the pre-seed funding and for a further 10 weeks they will focus on getting the business funding ready. Each business will present at a Climate Innovation Showcase and showcase their solution and vision to experts and investors.
Who is the Venture Launchpad for?
The Venture Launchpad works with teams who are looking to raise their first round of investment. This ranges from teams workshopping early stage ideas, all the way to established businesses with revenue.
We’re seeking applications from:
- Teams with the capability and commitment to building high-potential and high-impact ClimateTech ventures including software or or hardware
- UK-registered businesses. Investment offered may be Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) or non-SEIS. In either case, ventures who have previously raised dilutive funding are welcome to apply however Carbon13 will need to examine their previous investments on a case by case basis.
- Businesses able to fully participate in the Venture Launchpad for its whole duration.
- Businesses working on direct carbon removal or products or services that aim to reduce emissions, from robotic recycling to soil health measurement – or who can see a climate application for their innovation but don't yet understand its potential.
- Scalable innovations working on the future of food systems or on the use of land, sea and nature for Net Zero.
Support from Barclays Eagle Labs
Barclays Eagle Labs will work with your venture to support your startup milestones across product, investment case and impact. Support includes:
- Physical space at Eagle Labs Cambridge
- Help and support from the Eagle Labs team
- Access to the wider Eagle Labs services such as Demo Directory, mentorship and Funding Readiness Programmes.
Introducing Carbon 13
Carbon13 is the Venture Builder for the Climate Emergency. We believe that entrepreneurs are the creative force which will build the Net Zero future. Our Cambridge origins have taught us the importance of world class carbon, commercial and scientific understanding, and our expansion to Berlin places us at the heart of Europe’s ClimateTech momentum.
Carbon13 has launched and invested in 71 ventures since 2021. Half of these are software-based, including the world’s first carbon removal insurance, AI-powered building design, and quantum computing for materials discovery. The other half are science-based/deeptech ventures, leveraging innovations such as precision fermentation, synthetic biology, carbon negative concrete, and carbon capture.
Carbon13 in numbers:
- £9 million investment across 72 ventures since 2021.
- 8 alumni ventures have been nominated for the Earthshot Prize.
- 100s of domain experts, carbon experts, entrepreneurs in residence.
Article
Barclays Eagle Labs and Carbon13
Barclays Eagle Labs and Carbon13 announce five-year partnership to scale start-ups that accelerate the transition to net zero.
Climate and Nature Innovation
Incubating innovation to accelerate Net Zero.