Kara

We’re bringing you a fantastic resource for funds looking to collect diversity data! The latest paper from the Diversity Data Alliance is the perfect starting point for those looking for a clear framework to begin collecting diversity data on their portfolio companies. Diversity Data Alliance is the first coalition of industry organizations aimed at identifying and creating solutions for underrepresentation across VC and startups. The paper was written by 2Gether-International, All Raise, BLCK VC, Diversity VC, SomosVC (fka LatinxVC), StartOut, and VetsinTech. We’ve found that many companies are eager for a deeper understanding of how and why they should collect diversity data. This paper offers a step-by-step guide and also provides sample questions and formats for collecting data. Enjoy the read!! : https://lnkd.in/eAg-WT3H

Here are some upcoming conferences we’re excited about! We will be attending Slush and Impact/Week conferences, please reach out if you will be there! Impact/Week (Barcelona in 2024), COP29 Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan in 2024), Impact Europe (Bilbao), Slush (Helsinki), SuperInvestor (Monte-Carlo), WebSummit LLC (Lisbon), PEI Responsible Investment Forum: Europe 2024 (London), VERGE (San Francisco) and SOCAP Global (San Francisco) Let us know if you’re attending. #sustainability #conferences

🌍 Major Milestone for Sustainable Finance in Canada! 🇨🇦 Canada has just announced the development of Climate Taxonomy and Disclosure Rules for capital providers. This move is a game-changer, designed to align financial flows with long-term decarbonization goals. The new framework will improve transparency, consistency, and accountability in how financial institutions approach climate-related investments, paving the way for more informed and impactful decisions. It's exciting to see government leadership at the forefront of climate action, ensuring that capital is directed towards a sustainable future. At Kara, we are eager to see this initiative come to life and to support the development of this taxonomy as it evolves. We believe it's a critical step in helping both investors and companies drive meaningful climate action. Read more about this important development here: https://lnkd.in/gJafHq32 #ClimateFinance #SustainableInvestment #ESG #Decarbonization #Canada #SustainableFuture #GreenEconomy #ClimateAction #CapitalProviders

Scaling ClimateTech Startups Across the US & Europe: Opportunities and Challenges 🚀 In today's interconnected world, building a company across continents should be easier. But navigating cultural differences, market dynamics, and administrative hurdles can still pose significant challenges. A few days ago, Kara's founder and CEO Miriam Roure joined David Smith (Enduring Planet), Gabriel Scheer (Elemental Impact), Samia Qader (Climate Tech 360) and Maiko Schaffrath (Impact Hustlers) to explore the complexities and opportunities of funding and scaling climate tech startups on both sides of the Atlantic. A few key insights emerged from the conversation: 💡 Don't Overlook Grants: There are a wealth of grants available in both the US and Europe, though the process of finding them can be tricky. In the US, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is deploying capital at scale, and initiatives like Elemental Impact’s new fund are helping startups access it. No need to wait for your grants to arrive either—Enduring Planet offers grant advances to bridge the gap. 🏙 Unique Market Opportunities in Europe: Though the US remains the largest and most attractive market for climate tech companies, Europe offers distinct advantages, particularly with regulatory incentives and city-level governments eager to test and adopt new technologies. 💰 Cross-Continental Fundraising is Tough: Investors prefer to back companies where they can add value. European investors, often constrained by state LP mandates, may struggle to invest outside their home regions. Meanwhile, US investors tend to move faster, take more risks, and respect founders’ time more effectively. 🤝 Tap Into Founder Networks: The best advice often comes from those who’ve been in your shoes. Many founders are willing to share their experiences, so don’t hesitate to reach out to peers who have scaled successfully across continents. 🌍 Find a Landing Pad for Expansion: When expanding into a new continent, leverage local resources like accelerators, co-working spaces, and state-funded programs to get established. And if you already have some customers in that location tap into them to help open up introductions to other potential customers. A huge thank you to Impact Hustlers and 1014 - space for ideas for hosting this insightful event! Photo credit: Jamie Isaacs   #ClimateTech #Entrepreneurship #ScalingStartups #USvsEurope #Founders #ImpactInvesting #Innovation #Sustainability

A recent study from IESE Business School found that carbon emissions in portfolio companies of SFDR funds dropped compared to similar funds outside of the regulation. Emissions from companies in Article 8/9 funds decreased by 6.6% after SFDR was introduced in March 2021, outperforming the non-SFDR funds. While the regulation is still in the process of being fine-tuned, this is encouraging news as regulation continues to grow in the United States and the UK. Regulation can help push companies to make the right changes and can have a material impact on desired  environmental outcomes . You can read more here: https://lnkd.in/dVYqFPgG #SFDR #regulation #sustainability Robert Raney, CFA

Last week, our team joined 250 venture capital investors and LPs at VentureESG's FRAME conference, the first event of its kind dedicated solely to sustainability in venture capital. The energy and enthusiasm in the room were truly inspiring! We’re still processing the wealth of insights shared, but here are five key takeaways from the discussions: 1. LPs Demand Data Harmonization: There’s a growing call for standardized sustainability data. European state-level LPs are looking to collaborate to create a unified blueprint of indicators and data-sharing protocols to seamlessly request and receive data from their invested GPs. 2. Making Sustainability in VC “invisible”: The future vision for sustainability in venture capital is to make it invisible—not as an add-on, but fully integrated into the investment process, making sustainability a default part of the decision-making. 3. Actionable Steps for Companies: While for many collecting reliable sustainability data remains a challenge (not if using Kara!), the real value lies in guiding companies toward implementing best practices. It’s not just about data, but about driving tangible improvement. 4. The Opportunity in Climate Change: As the global economy shifts to tackle climate change, new markets are emerging, presenting significant opportunities for high returns. The business case for sustainability has never been stronger. 5. Europe vs. US – Closing the Gap? European VC has rapidly embraced sustainability, with over 70% of new funds now classified under SFDR Articles 8 or 9. While the US has lagged behind, recent developments indicate that this might be changing soon. A big congratulations to Hannah Leach, Johannes Lenhard, Danika Patel, Oliver Nixon, and the entire VentureESG team for an incredible event. We are proud to have been a sponsor and look forward to many more impactful conversations in the future! #VentureESG #Sustainability #VentureCapital #ClimateAction #ImpactInvesting #KaraSustainability Miriam Roure Núria Zaragoza Vicente (she/her) Brooke Latham Cecile Blilious Caroline Maurice-Buchanan Jonas Schorr Shaun Chaudhuri

Miriam Roure, Kara's founder and CEO, is proud to be part of this panel next Tuesday at Climate Week! Please register to join us for a discussion on funding and scaling climate tech startups in the US and Europe. Some of the questions we will address will be: - How to navigate the ClimateTech fundraising landscape in the US & Europe - Opportunities for European startups expanding to the US - Opportunities for US startups expanding to Europe - Best practices & common mistakes when scaling & funding ClimateTech startups in Europe & the US. Miriam will be joined by the following speakers and moderator: David Smith, VP Growth & Partnerships at Enduring Planet Gabriel Scheer, Senior Director of Innovation at Elemental Excelerator Maiko Schaffrath, Founder at Impact Hustlers Learn more & register here: https://bit.ly/4ee62Xy

We look forward to attending VentureESG's FRAME conference in London this week and meeting investors interested in harnessing the power of capital sustainability.  Please don't hesitate to reach out if you are going to be in town! To find out more and register, visit https://lnkd.in/e4KA7dyT.

Limited Partners, and in particular, pension funds, have a big role to play in addressing climate change as part of their investment strategy and thesis. It's fantastic to see the NY Pension Fund taking the lead and adding $2B to its climate strategy. As the State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli says: “As trustee of the Fund, one of my top priorities is safeguarding the investments made for the benefit of the more than one million participants in the New York State retirement system. (...) To foster long-term financial success, it is essential to address the climate-oriented investment challenges faced by the Fund’s portfolio. Climate change is an increasingly urgent risk facing all investors.” https://lnkd.in/eUmfn2TG Office of the NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli

We are getting excited for NY Climate week. We’re using this guide to find the best events. Thank you Sonam Velani, Alec Turnbull and Nicole Kelner for creating this insightful and visually delightful resource. Here are some that we are particularly excited about: Sept 23-24 - 🥂 Climate Tech Cocktails at Brooklyn’s Paramount Theater!  Sept 24 - 👩🏽🔬 Female Founders & Funders Lunch with Planeteer Capital and Earthshot Ventures in Union Square.  Sept 24 -  💻 Amazon Web Services (AWS) Climate Tech & AI Forum with  Stephen Blalock and Lisbeth Kaufman Sept 25 - 💰 Climate Capital Summit hosted by Equal Ventures Sept 26 - Governors Island on Wednesday for the 🗽 NY Climate Exchange Sept 26 - Newlab at the Brooklyn Navy Yard for ☀️ New Climate Futures And these other fun ones: 🧑🏿🔬Climate Science Fair - Sept 21-23 🎬 Climate Film Fest - Sept 20-22 😂 Climate, Comedy, and Cocktails! - Sept 25 What events are you looking forward to? https://lnkd.in/e7mBChKT