#77. New resources for startups + consumer education on sustainable choices
Understory newsletter on climate and sustainability tech
Hello! This week we feature startup resources - check out our newest section of the newsletter. We will make this a recurring feature going forward. Enjoy!
We also have some new Understory content and announcements that you shouldn’t miss.
Register for our Startups Driving Sustainability Showcase on October 21st. Our speakers will talk about applying sustainability to real estate, fashion, waste, and data. Featuring JLL, eKlozet, Mycocycle, and Refinitiv.
New podcast episode! Nathan Stuck from Ad Victoriam Solutions talks about the ins and outs of B Corps, especially the purpose and values that underpin them and the rigorous process to become one.
Read more about Mimica and how they help to reduce food waste with their innovative label technology in our latest profile piece.
Understory is hosting a panel on the Circular Economy at Sustainable Fashion Week on October 29th. Get your tickets now! There are both onsite and virtual ticket options, which include fashion shows, other engaging panels, and more!
📚 Worth Reading
Vice and Vox took on consumer education around various sustainability issues that impact our everyday lives. Vox dissected the problems of fast fashion and how garment waste ends up in Africa and other emerging countries. In fact, approximately 15 million garments arrive in Accra, Ghana each week.
Vice looks at every day items we use from toilet paper to smartphones to cotton t-shirts. The article lays out the environmental impact of each item and, more importantly, gives ideas of what each of us can do to make an impact. It starts with one single swap!
worth reading (Vox) and worth reading (Vice).
🚀 Funding and Congrats!
Blueprint Power was acquired by BP for an undisclosed amount. Blueprint Power turns buildings into a flexible power network, especially for dense urban areas.
Five Seasons Ventures closed a €180 million second fund which will focus on food tech companies that make a sizable environmental or social impact.
New Age Meats, a cultured meats company, raised $25 million in Series A funding.
BeeHero, a smart platform for precision pollination, raised $19 million in new funding. Their platform tracks the movement and health of bees in real time.
Normative raised €10 million in capital from both European and U.S. climate tech funds. The company offers a carbon accounting platform.
Made of Air, a German startup that produces carbon negative thermoplastics, raised a €5 million seed round.
Greywing raised $2.5 million in seed funding and launched its new platform that helps maritime vessel operators track carbon emissions created by crew changes.
💡 Startup Spotlight
The Climate Service (TCS) offers a SaaS platform that helps companies assess and report climate risk.
🌱 Startup Resources
gener8tor launched a new sustainability accelerator focused on sustainability and climate tech startups. Each cohort has five companies - applications are now open. Anyone who wants to get involved can connect directly with the Managing Director on the Understory Slack workspace.
The Maritime Blue Innovation Accelerator is currently accepting applications. The program is an intensive mentor-based, four month program focused on helping maritime industry startups learn how to scale and grow.
PitchBook published its 2021 Sustainable Investment Survey breaking down the investor perspective on sustainable investing. Pages 15 and 16 specifically speak to the VC perspective and are a must read for startups looking to raise money.
👀 Quick Hits
Google announced new ways its helping consumers find sustainable options including listing carbon footprints on products and flights, eco-friendly routing on Google maps, and removing climate denial paid content on Google and Youtube.
GM is increasing its investment into EV charging infrastructure and plans to spend up to $750 million in the next four years.
Dow announced new cleantech innovation with plans to build the first ever net zero ethylene and derivatives complex, which will decarbonize approximately 20% of Dow’s ethylene capacity.
Multiple net zero pledges this week including the International Council on Mining and Metals, JPMorgan joining the UN Net Zero Banking Alliance, and the International Air Transport Association.
The USDA will invest more than $146 million in sustainable agricultural research projects and NASA released a Climate Action Plan.
Even the Pope is urging climate action. “Everyone has a role to play”.
🎧 Podcast
Nathan Stuck of Ad Victoriam Solutions: demystifying B Corps
Nicole Doucet of Open Water: climate-friendly bottled water
Hetal Parekh of EnerYields: financing green building projects
The Understory Podcast is also available on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and Google Podcasts.
⚙️ Jobs
Find and share your open positions on the Understory Slack channel.
🆕 Analyst / Senior Analyst at Amplify Capital
🆕 ESG Analyst at Aviva Singlife
🆕 Multiple roles at Rheaply
🆕 Circular Economy Program Manager at Amazon
🆕 Manager, Sustainability at Deloitte
Multiple VC roles at Revaia
Senior Software Engineer at Gaiascope
Climate Change and Sustainability - Manager at EY
Product Lead, Sustainability at JLL
Regional Sustainability Value Practice Lead at Google
Project Leader/Principal, Climate & Sustainability at BCG
Multiple roles at Sway, seaweed bioplastic company.
Climate and Net Zero Specialist at Citibank
Sustainability Tech Investment Principal at G-Force
Account Manager at Climate Neutral
Multiple Roles at TheRealReal
Head of Marketing at ZigZag Global
VP / Director of Marketing at Cloverly
Software Engineer at Joulea
Multiple Roles at Patch
Director of Sustainability at MassMutual
Senior Product Manager, Re-commerce at REI
Head of Product, Bus Dev Director, Engineers at Nitricity
Developer roles at Gybe
🗓 Events
October 21: Startups Driving Sustainability - October Showcase (REGISTER NOW!)
October 26-27: ClimateTech Founders Summit
October 28-30: Sustainable Fashion Week Atlanta (TICKETS AVAILABLE!)
October 31-November 12: COP26 - Glasgow
December 1: Startups Driving Sustainability - December Showcase
📧 Stay in Touch!
You don’t have to wait for our weekly newsletter for all the latest content. Join us on Slack or follow along on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter to see real-time updates.
Until next week!