13 Best Clean Energy Venture Capital Firms

Over the past few years, the renewable energy industry has been one of the up-and-coming industries. However, the growth of the clean & green energy sector includes innovative technologies and large-scale infrastructure projects, which require substantial investments at each step.

Finding funds for startups in the renewable sector is complex and expensive compared to traditional startups. Fortunately, Venture Capital funding has made it easier for green companies to find funds and ensure healthy growth early.

There are several clean energy venture capital firms in the industry that back seed-stage, early-stage, or other startups to help them grow and ensure a sustainable and clean energy future.

Venture Capital (VC) investment is absolutely essential for the growth of renewable or clean energy. Understanding the importance of clean energy venture funds for startups, we have listed the top 13 green venture capital firms dedicated to investing in the green energy revolution.

But before that, let’s know what clean energy venture capital is and how it can help ensure a sustainable tomorrow.

What is Clean Energy Venture Capital?

Clean Energy Venture Capital is an investment firm for eco-innovative and rapidly growing ventures specializing in fund investments, direct investments, and fund of funds investments.

Green venture capital firms generally invest in startups that are early stage, environmentally friendly, and have enormous potential to grow. They not just provide funds to startups but also guide them on how to use that capital in the venture.

Overall, it won’t be wrong to say that clean energy venture capital is a crucial source of equity for startups in the renewable industry.

Best Clean Energy Venture Capital Firms

Venture capital funding of clean energy and cleantech startups has grown dramatically over the past decade. The data shows that in 2002, only 43 clean energy startups received venture capital funding in the US, raising a combined amount of around $230 million.

In contrast, as per the Cleantech Group survey, investors allocated about $64 billion in total funding to cleantech businesses in the first half of 2021. Also, this amount is expected to surpass $100 billion in the coming time.

Also, professionally managed clean energy ventures usually are closely-held corporations or private partnerships funded by public & private funds, foundations, wealthy individuals, foreign investors, corporations, endowment funds, and the venture capitalists themselves.

Here, we have compiled the top venture capital firms across the globe that focus on clean energy. The list will discuss who they are, their investment structures, and more. Now, let’s take a closer look at these renewable energy venture capital firms:

1. Energy Foundry

Founded by Jason Blumberg and Sara Chamberlain, Energy Foundry is a venture capital company headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, US.

The firm is committed to investing venture capital in the most promising energy innovators. Basically, Energy Foundry works with brands that focus on solving today’s most pressing issues in the energy industry with rapidly scalable, disruptive business models.

Energy Foundry collaborates with leading companies across the globe to build and scale new ventures. Their approach includes various essential tools to bring great ideas to market and blends venture funds with the perks of partnership.

Additionally, Energy Foundry works with startups in the renewable industry to provide them with the tools and resources they need to grow further and ensure a green future.

While its primary focus is to make smart investments in startups, this venture capital firm has also designed an energy innovation hub. It works with corporations, entrepreneurs, utilities, investors, and GOV/NGOs to turbocharge energy entrepreneurs.

Important Details

Founded: 2012

Headquarter: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Firm Type: Privately Held

Invested: $22+ Million

Specialties: Venture Capital, Energy, Impact Investing, and Community Building

Notable Investments: Digital H2O, Sistine Solar, Invektek, Azumo, Omnidian, and others

See Related: Best Commercial Solar Finance Companies