NextBillion’s Post

While 2023 saw a decline in VC investments across many sectors due to factors like lower valuations and macroeconomic uncertainty, the energy domain has maintained last year's momentum. The mobility and energy sectors are rapidly merging globally, driven by game-changing tech and consumer demands.    Many thanks to VentureCapital Magazin for giving me the chance to share my views! A key challenge? Ensuring adequate capital for decarbonizing all sectors as we transition to sustainable solutions like EVs, solar, and heat pumps. The expansion of renewables needs a fundamental transformation of the energy system to handle decentralized, volatile supply.     At E.ON One, we firmly believe that innovations like smart grid management, AI-powered optimization, and innovative business models will play a crucial role in enabling this sustainable future. However, we cannot achieve this transformation alone.    I'm keen to hear your perspectives on the key aspects that stand out to you in the article as well as on some thought-provoking questions:   1️⃣ How can established firms drive innovative startup growth in these converging sectors?  2️⃣ What strategies can we collectively implement to accelerate the energy transition while ensuring a reliable, decentralized renewable grid?  3️⃣ What are the most promising investment opportunities you see emerging at the intersection of mobility and energy?    I would love to read your insights below!     Fancy reading more? Have a look at my interview at VentureCapital Magazin https://lnkd.in/eT4G2BwN   #EONONE #InnovationFinance #ClimateAction #SmartMobility #EnergyTransition #GreenFuture #VCInsights

The US emerged as the top climate-tech financing market in 2024, with $6.7 billion mobilized in the first half of the year. Most of this financing was for clean power companies — renewable energy equipment makers and project developers — as well as startups along the energy storage value chain. Climate-tech companies from mainland China raised $5.1 billion in the same period. Canada placed third with $1.8 billion. #climatetech #climatefinance #climateVC

🌍 Why Cleantech Funding Slowed Down in 2024—And Where It Still Boomed 📉 2024 marked a noticeable dip in global investment towards sustainability, hitting a four-year low according to the Crunchbase report. This year echoed a lull in cleantech equity funding, with deal counts dropping significantly. However, within this slowdown lies a tale of strategic pivots and robust opportunities. While traditional sectors like batteries, wind, and solar experienced stark declines, others such as carbon capture, storage, and reuse saw impressive growth. Hydrogen startups also maintained a strong funding stream, highlighting a strategic pivot towards sectors with substantial long-term sustainability potential. Investors are clearly zeroing in on what they deem as the next big climate solutions. Despite the drop in overall equity funding, there were still significant investments in fusion energy, carbon capture, energy storage, and electric vehicles (EVs). Such mega-rounds demonstrate a continued appetite for groundbreaking clean energy innovations. Noteworthy players include Pacific Fusion with its $900M Series A, Intersect Power raising over $800M, and Form Energy securing $405M. These companies, among others, are charting the course for next-generation energy solutions with innovative technologies. Interestingly, debt financing emerged as a pivotal avenue, accounting for over $14 billion. This shift underscores how cleantech firms, particularly mature ones, are leveraging debt to fund growth sustainably, mitigating share dilution risks. Climate-focused funds like Lowercarbon Capital, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and TPG Rise Climate Fund continue to lead the charge, solidifying the sector's future. In conclusion, while 2024 presented challenges for cleantech funding, specific sectors still thrived. A balance of equity and debt financing will be key in sustaining cleantech growth in the future. #Cleantech #SustainableInvesting #GreenEnergy #Recruitment #SeenInGreen #Sustainability #NewYear

Only 5 days left to apply! ⏳ Apply to the Baker Hughes Energy Ideas Generation Program and grab the chance to turn your innovative #solutions into reality with: 💡 State-of-the-art testing facilities 🌍 Global market access and cross-border support 👨🏫 Expert guidance and mentorship from industry leaders 💸 Equity-free funding up to $20K 📈 Opportunities for post-program engagement, including commercial deals and technical advancements Apply now to tackle key #challenges around emissions control & abatement, clean power production, industrial innovation, and other innovative solutions. 👉 Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gM9HW5EH 📅 Deadline: 9th June 2024 📩 For inquiries, reach out to: sanjivani.d@link-innovations.com #Innovators #Startups #Ideation #Evolution #Explore #Funding #Support #EnergyTechnology #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #EnergyStorage #EnergyEfficiency #Growth #IndustryExpert #CoCreation #Collaboration #Research #Opportunities #NetZero #CleantechSustainibility #CircularEconomy #Decarbonisation #CleanPower #ClimateTech #carboncapture #OpenInnovation #StartupAcceleration

💰Money in the Bank! Happy to announce the close of our €30M Series A fundraise. It was an intense, interesting and fun process. A ride that makes for good learnings. Below my top 3 tips to all those embarking on a similar journey: 🔑 Money always has a price. Today money is more expensive than it was 24 months ago. Adjust: Target round size, raise more if you can and re-align your growth plan in line with the market. Today's sweetspot is not growth at all cost. It is an ambitious plan with a laser focus on activities that unlock critical tech and commercial milestones. 🤝 Investors are not there just for cash. They are instrumental to grow the company, pick not just the money but the right partners. We welcome onboard three parties with very complimentary expertise on maturing complex hardware with Innovation Industries, commercializing clean-tech across the globe with Global Cleantech Capital and deep knowledge of the nascent H2 markets and Dutch and European public funding landscape that is paramount to our journey with Invest-NL. 🎢 Fundraising can be a pain in the butt. It’s also an opportunity in disguise. Many investors will push you on (re)defining and sharpening your product market fit. Approach the fundraise not as a financial transaction but rather a journey to improve your business (plan). Work with great external partners such as Beekers Capital and INGEN HOUSZ to support your process but own your fundraise. Thanks to all involved, let’s unlock 100% green hydrogen with Battolysers! Special thanks to the core team with Mattijs Slee, Bouke Hylkema, Geert Wassens Olivier Malle Koen Derks Rik Beekers Reda Atibi Tom van Vuren Praveen E.

**Balun Energy in the Spotlight: Accelerating the Energy Transition** At Hans(wo)men Group, we are committed to investing in startups that are shaping a more sustainable future. That’s why we are proud to see Balun Energy, one of our portfolio companies, featured in brutkasten’s article about Austrian startups driving the energy revolution. Balun Energy is at the forefront of the energy transition, developing innovative solutions that make renewable energy smarter, more efficient, and accessible to everyone. Their work is transforming how energy is generated, distributed, and consumed, bringing us closer to a carbon-neutral future. 🌱 As investors, we are inspired by Balun Energy’s vision and determination to tackle one of the world’s most pressing challenges: climate change. Their cutting-edge approach exemplifies how technology and entrepreneurship can create a lasting impact. Giovanni Superti-Furga Yury Zhuk Josef Schenk #sustainability #greenstartups #innovationtechnology

BREAKING NEWS: PRODUCT LAUNCH We’re excited to launch our new thematic Blackfinch Energy Transition EIS Portfolios! Across society, in our everyday lives, individuals and businesses have recognised that we must transition to a more efficient and cleaner future – known as the Energy Transition. The building, industry and transport sectors are looking to be powered by green energy. They want to have this green energy available to them consistently and reliably. And they want to be able to ensure they use it responsibly, efficiently and with minimal waste. We’ll invest into the technology to make that happen. Legislation and regulation are important driving forces behind this change, creating a wave of innovation as some of the UKs greatest technology minds come together to try and solve the problems facing industry, transport, buildings and infrastructure alike. Through our extensive Group experience in Property, Energy, Infrastructure and smaller companies investing, alongside our technology-led Venture Capital team, we have a unique combination of expertise and insight across the areas which will participate in this Energy Transition. To learn more about this new product, join us on our next webinar: https://lnkd.in/eE4eFRZR #EnergyTransitionTech #EISTaxRelief #GreenTechStartups #NetZeroInnovation #NetZero #SustainableTechVentures #EnergyInnovationEIS #TechForGood #DecarbonisationTech #EnergyTechVentures #InvestInCleanTech #EnterpriseInvestmentScheme #EIS Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more: https://lnkd.in/ecZCVMqz

Part 2 of 2: Good morning. Here is today's #sustainableIT and #ClimateTech news for technology partners. Updates for November 22, 2024 include: 1. Startup Incubator: The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) has selected three startups for its next cohort in the Emerging Tech Track. The startups are Blip Energy of Chicago, Illinois; Evercloak Inc. of Ontario, Canada; and Transaera, Inc. of Somerville, Massachusetts. The incubator is funded by Wells Fargo and co-administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 2. Investment - IT Services: Kintarra of Santa Clarita, California, has invested in ITSco - Integrated Technical Services of Durham, North Carolina, as part of a joint effort to expand #ITservices, IT asset disposition (#ITAD) and sustainability capabilities. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. 3. Asset Sale: Honeywell is selling its Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) business to Protective Industrial Products (PIP) for $1.325 billion. Private equity firm Odyssey Investment Partners owns PIP. Honeywell's overall business focus remains automation; the future of aviation; and the #energytransition. The strategy involves a march toward $1 billion in sustainable technology revenues. 4. M&A - Renewable Energy: Altus Power, Inc. has acquired a 3.4 MW solar project from Chaberton Energy, a Maryland-based national #RenewableEnergy project developer. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. 5. Canada - CEO Priorities: Roughly 75% of Canadian CEOs expect it will take at least three years to see substantial returns on their ESG investments, a KPMG survey found. Read the entire daily update: https://lnkd.in/dX5end6v

BREAKING NEWS: PRODUCT LAUNCH We’re excited to launch our new thematic Blackfinch Energy Transition EIS Portfolios! Across society, in our everyday lives, individuals and businesses have recognised that we must transition to a more efficient and cleaner future – known as the Energy Transition. The building, industry and transport sectors are looking to be powered by green energy. They want to have this green energy available to them consistently and reliably. And they want to be able to ensure they use it responsibly, efficiently and with minimal waste. We’ll invest into the technology to make that happen. Legislation and regulation are important driving forces behind this change, creating a wave of innovation as some of the UKs greatest technology minds come together to try and solve the problems facing industry, transport, buildings and infrastructure alike. Through our extensive Group experience in Property, Energy, Infrastructure and smaller companies investing, alongside our technology-led Venture Capital team, we have a unique combination of expertise and insight across the areas which will participate in this Energy Transition. To learn more about this new product, join us on our next webinar: https://lnkd.in/erkv2Rn3 #EnergyTransitionTech #EISTaxRelief #GreenTechStartups #NetZeroInnovation #NetZero #SustainableTechVentures #EnergyInnovationEIS #TechForGood #DecarbonisationTech #EnergyTechVentures #InvestInCleanTech #EnterpriseInvestmentScheme #EIS Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eCQaVwpQ

📣 We’re doing good things here at Blackfinch Group and Blackfinch Ventures The energy transition is one of the biggest investment opportunity sets of our lifetime and we’re providing an access point for clients through our NEW Energy Transition EIS. To learn more about this new product, join us on our next webinar: https://lnkd.in/eE4eFRZR #EnergyTransitionTech #EISTaxRelief #GreenTechStartups #NetZeroInnovation #NetZero #SustainableTechVentures #EnergyInnovationEIS #TechForGood #DecarbonisationTech #EnergyTechVentures #InvestInCleanTech #EnterpriseInvestmentScheme #EIS Don't invest unless you're prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high risk investment and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more: https://lnkd.in/ecZCVMqz