Construex’s Post

Clean tech startups have closed around $1.23 billion in funding in 2023. When I came across this figure I was genuinely surprised to see homegrown start-ups finally gaining traction for solving problems that have been prevalent since the turn of the century.  On a closer look I found that 54% of these funds were raised by the EV sector with EV Giants and ancillary industries building on to the momentum started over the past few years. While evidently being better for the environment from an emissions standpoint, the EV ecosystem is heavily dependent on conventional energy sources and rare earth elements. In order to have a more well rounded approach towards sustainability we need to look beyond this industry. Aside from one renewable energy giant who contributed to the second largest chunk of the $1.23 billion funding, we are woefully underfunded when it comes to other clean-tech sectors like waste management, clean water, circular economy and food/agriculture. Startups from these sectors are riddled with challenges like scalability, cost intensive R&D and easily accessible government subsidy.  Given the heightened awareness about ESG norms, acceptance of climate change and key initiatives being undertaken at global summits like COP28, sectors like electrification, mobility and energy will continue to have the attention of investors. However start-ups who can crack the problem for the aforementioned hard to scale clean-tech sectors will unlock progress to a future which can potentially start to limit climate change. #cleanenergy #climatechange #startup #cleantech #ev #renewableenergy #cop28

🛩️ The road to sustainable transportation is proving turbulent, as recent setbacks in the aviation industry show. Universal Hydrogen's collapse and Fulcrum Bioenergy's "Trash-to-SAF" facility shutdown are reminders of the challenges faced by green transport innovators. Their fall actually made me think of the cleantech bubble of 2010-2011, where high-profile failures like Solyndra left investors wary. Yet, climate tech startups raised a near-record $8.1B in Q1 2024. So, how can today's innovators avoid past pitfalls? Key strategies include: * Diversifying funding sources * Forming strategic partnerships * Strengthening supply chains * Allowing more time and capital for development Read more from me at Sustainability In The Air - https://lnkd.in/edM-VbsF

I would also add a few additional comments about the Fulcrum closure and lessons we can learn: Be realistic about timelines and scale-up. Commercialising new technology will likely take longer than we think. And if the scale-up is too big or too fast, failure is more likely. -Be prepared to talk about technical challenges. Too often, I have been criticised for being too pessimistic. We need to be realistic. -Talk openly about the reasons for failure. Too often, companies have a "nothing to see here" approach, sticking to the sales pitch. Many companies plan to use the same gasification technology as Fulcrum, but if the technical challenges are unclear, how will these companies succeed? No one seems to know what exactly went wrong at Fulcrum. Was it the gasifier design? Was it the feedstock complexity? Was it the wrong metallurgy or all of the above?

🌱 Collaboration will drive solutions forward in the built environment 👇 Our latest "State of Climate Tech 2023" report highlights that investments in the built environment have been more resilient than overall climate tech investments. The report features insights from Gonzalo Galindo Gout, President, CEMEX Ventures. He mentioned, "the data affirms the industry's commitment to decarbonize the built environment through promising initiatives, such as CCUs, alternative fuels, circular business models, and more efficient water consumption. Nevertheless, cooperation between different stakeholders is the only way to address humanity's critical climate challenge in a complex and interconnected industry such as construction." Check out the entire report for more such insights, innovation and updates: link in the comments section. #climatetech #startups #builtenvironment #investement #venturecapital

For those who have an innovative way to capture and/or utilize carbon, submit your solution to uplink for a chance to win! #carbon #sustainability #innovation #impact #startups

Be a #Solutionist Carbon is a double-edged sword. Carbon isn't the enemy. It's a building block of life. #Carbondioxide (#CO2) plays a crucial role in maintaining Earth's temperature through the greenhouse effect. Without a certain level of CO2, our planet would be too cold to support life. The challenge lies not in carbon's existence, but in its abundance. Let's shift focus to carbon capture and utilization, transforming this element from a climate culprit to a valuable resource. Nature has sustained life for us, let's ensure it continues to do so. Choose #sustainability.

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) is transforming how we handle industrial CO2 emissions, and it’s especially vital in ammonia production. By leveraging CCUS, we can significantly reduce our carbon footprint, making blue ammonia a cornerstone of sustainable production. This not only aligns with global net-zero goals but also positions us for the future of clean energy. #CCUS #BlueAmmonia #Sustainability #AmmoniaProduction #NetZero #Innovation #ADNOC #ADNOCGROUP #FERTIGLOBE #FERTIL #Ammonia #ArtificialIntelligence #SustainableFinance #ESG #UAE #ICV

Calling All Startups in Carbon Capture & Utilization to Apply! 🏭 👇 Are you a startup pushing the boundaries of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technology? Or do you know someone who is? Then read onwards... ⚒ Beyond just reducing emissions, it is crucial for us to unlock economic potential in industrial #CCU by transforming captured CO2 into valuable materials for diverse industrial applications. 🤝 To fast track the future of industry decarbonization, UpLink - World Economic Forum has launched a global challenge to identify and support startups (Pre-seed to Series A) that are reshaping how we capture, reuse, and recycle CO2. 🌍 Challenge Focus Areas: - Carbon Capture Technologies - Reuse & Recycling of Carbon - Industrial Integration 👉 Convinced? Easy Apply by 12th September!! Link is in the comments section below. Ministry of Economy and Planning - MEPsaudi | aramco | AEON Collective | SABIC | Global CO2 Initiative | Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability | World Economic Forum #carboncapture #circulareconomy #climatetech #decarbonization #hardtoabate #startups

🌱 🌍 #EarthDay is all about recognising the impact we have on our #planet but perhaps more importantly the power of collective action.   The #FoundationIndustries currently generate 28 million tonnes of materials per year producing 50 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (#CO2), accounting for 10% of the UK’s CO2 #emissions.   🚨 We know we need to act now and take immediate action to #decarbonise and move towards a #sustainable future – and we’re helping #startups and spinouts to develop the #innovative #materials #processes and #technologies that could change the world.   And while the figures make for grim reading there’s lots of positive changes happening across the sectors and the formation of groups like Foundation Industries Sustainability Consortium (FISC) prove the value of working together to drive change faster and more efficiently. 🤝 #NetZero #FIVe #EarthDayEveryday

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