Hello ESG in VC followers,
Welcome to the 7th edition of ESG in VC Insights. Curated with 🖤 every month by ESG in VC team. This will be our last one in 2022. May this coming new year be kind to us all and may it be extraordinary for ESG and impact and everything it stands for! 🎄
ESG in the News
At COP15 leaders are negotiating a natural capital and biodiversity framework covering a large scope of environmental issues ranging from pollution and soil health to deforestation and human-wildlife conflict; At the same time, Morningstar finds that asset managers are beginning to take a more sophisticated approach to biodiversity in their investments
Despite the surge in VC funding over recent years, Pitchbook finds that those numbers have not grown for female founders at the same pace
Google Cloud discusses tech solutions including AI-enabled ESG automation and geospatial climate risk analytics that will support global organizations in using technology to build a more sustainable future
While representing one of the most globally accepted impact frameworks, some point out ways in which SDGs can be used to misrepresent a country’s or organization’s true impact; Here the University of Leed’s tool illustrates which countries are successfully living within our planetary boundaries while providing a sufficient social foundation according to the Doughnut Theory of Economics
The Regulatory Report
The European Union has approved its final Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) to take effect from the beginning of 2024
US Congressmen press ESG rating agencies for greater clarity and transparency; Daniel Klier, the CEO of ESG Book discusses what is needed to make that happen
The European Union postpones its ruling on the labelling of lithium as toxic as the European EV market fears that such labelling could impede it from successfully competing with its US-based counterparts
While some European leaders have blamed U.S. energy and climate policy including the IRA for worsening the continent’s energy crisis, Jason Bordoff of Columbia’s Centre on Global Energy Policy, argues that these criticism are misplaced
Noteworthy Raises in E
🇪🇺 🇬🇧Europe
Power technology start-up, i-Rox, a France-based developer of pulsed-power technologies that can reduce the time, energy, and carbon emissions involved in mining, raises $12 million of venture funding led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures
SpaceTech start-up, OroraTech, a Germany-based developer of thermal-infrared data intelligence to monitor and manage forest fires, raises EUR 15 million of Series A funding led by Edaphon
Clean energy start-up, Ostrom, a Germany-based consumer-facing platform helping people switch, reduce, and manage their electricity consumption, raises EUR 9.3 million of Series A funding led by Adjacent Venture Capital
Clean water start-up, Cerafiltec, a Germany-based developer of water filtration systems using ceramic flat membranes, raises EUR 30.2 million of Series B funding led by Circularity Capital
SDGs - 6
Mobility Tech start-up, Enride, a Sweeden-based developer of autonomous electric trucks and transportation services, raises $500 million of venture funding ($300 million debt, $200 million Series C equity) led by Polar Structure
🌎North America
Robotics start-up, Earth Force Technologies, a US-based developer of a vegetation management system designed to prevent forest wildfires, raises $8.6 million of seed funding from Alley Robotics Ventures, Bold Capital Partners and Third Sphere
Sustainable material start-up, Natural Fiber Welding, a US-based manufacturer of plant-based materials intended to replace plastics and synthetics, raises $20 million of venture funding from undisclosed investors
AI and AgTech start-up, Gaia AI, a US-based developer of AI technologies intended to empower landowners, project developers, and investors to understand the carbon stock and timber content of their land, raises $3 million of seed funding led by E14 Fund Management
🌏 Asia & Australia
AgTech start-up, BeeHero, an Israel-based operator of beehive technology platform designed to maximize crop yields through precision pollination, raises $42 million of Series B funding led by Covent Capital
AI start-up, Avarni, an Australia-based developer of a smart carbon data platform intended to measure scope 3 emissions and reduce supply chain risk, raises $3 million of Series A funding led by Main Sequence Ventures
Noteworthy Raises in S
🌎North America
HealthTech start-up, Gate Science, a US-based developer of wearable medical devices to treat pain as an alternative to opioids, raises $150k of seed funding from undisclosed investors
SDGs - 3
EdTech start-up, SignGlasses, a US-based developer of specialized glasses allowing the deaf community to receive live sign language interpretations overlaid on top of the classroom environment, raises $25k of venture funding from undisclosed investors
FinTech start-up, Totem, a US-based developer of a digital bank intended to create pathways for financial inclusion, raises $2.2 million of seed funding led by Raven Indigenous Capital Partners
HealthTech start-up, DesiCorp, a US-based developer of biotechnologies to extend the shelf life of blood by drying it into a powder of use in remote and emergency situations, raises an undisclosed amount of funding from Keyhorse Capital
SDGs - 3
🇪🇺 🇬🇧Europe
HealthTech start-up, WeWALK, a UK-based developer of smart canes intended to promote the independence of the visually impaired, raises £2 million of venture funding led by Nesta
HealthTech start-up, Virtue, a UK-based developer of healthcare tools intended to provide hospital-level care in the home, raises £1 million of seed funding led by Midlands Engine Investment Fund
SDGs - 3
🌏 South America, Africa, & Asia
EdTech start-up, Zeraki, a Kenya-based educational platform intended to provide improved access to quality instruction, raises $1.8 million of seed funding led by Acumen Fund
SDGs - 4
AgTech start-up, DeHaat, an India-based provider of AI-enabled platform connecting smallholder farmers to better sources of seeds, fertilizers, equipment, crop advisory, and financing, raises $60 million of Series E funding led by Sofina and Temasek Holdings
EdTech start-up, Hunar, an India-based upskilling platform aiming to help women become financially independent through work in fashion, home decor, baking, and beauty, raises an undisclosed amount of angel funding
FinTech start-up, Destacame, a Chile-based platform dedicated to credit scoring for people with little or no credit history, raises $10 million of Series B funding led by Banco Santander
Noteworthy Raises in G
HRTech start-up, Chezie, a US-based developer of a human resource software platform intended to help people from underrepresented communities belong at work, raises $25k from Grant Barker, Westcove Partners, and other undisclosed investors
Latest Funds Announcements
Chicago-based Creation Investments, a global impact investment manager focused on increasing access to financial capital for unbanked and underbanked individuals in developing markets, raises $270 million for its fifth impact fund
London-based Climate Asset Management, a joint venture of HSBC and Pollination, raises $650 million to invest in nature-based solutions to climate change
New York-based Union Square Ventures raises $200 million to invest in early-stage ClimateTech
London-based venture capital firm Jenson Funding Partners has launched a £60m fund to invest in net-zero transition solutions
Berlin-based World Fund, a ClimateTech VC, has raised EUR 50 million from the European Investment Fund to invest in companies that have the potential save at least 100 million tons of CO2 equivalent per year
ESG in VC Podcast
We released a new episode last week, but we have a great lineup of guests in the new year, so please follow and tune in if you want to dive into the world of ESG further
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