Top Micro-VCs for Climate Tech Pre-Seed Funding

Founded by Bill Gates and supported by other major tech philanthropists, this fund focuses on accelerating the development of innovative climate solutions. While it invests across stages, its ecosystem heavily supports early-stage climate tech ventures with significant capital and high-level strategic connections.

The earliest-stage venture fund dedicated exclusively to climate change, Carbon Blue targets founders at the idea or prototype phase. They provide small, early checks and hands-on support to help entrepreneurs validate their climate tech concepts before seeking larger follow-on rounds.

This accelerator and investor platform focuses specifically on early-stage climate tech startups. They offer a structured program including mentorship, networking, and seed funding to help founders de-risk their technologies and prepare for subsequent venture capital investment.

Prelude focuses on early-stage companies solving fundamental environmental challenges. They specialize in pre-seed and seed investments in sectors like climate change, energy, and agriculture, providing founders with deep technical expertise and access to a specialized network of industry leaders.

While a large firm, Khosla has a strong historical presence in early-stage climate tech. They invest heavily in disruptive clean technology startups, including energy, agriculture, and transportation, often leading or co-leading pre-seed and seed rounds for ambitious founders.

This fund invests in early-stage companies that develop technologies to reduce carbon emissions. They focus on scalable business models in cleantech, energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructure, providing capital and strategic support to help startups navigate the complex regulatory landscape.

EIP is a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage companies transforming the energy sector. They focus on digitalization, decarbonization, and decentralization, offering startups not only capital but also access to a global network of corporate partners and industry experts.

A climate-tech specific venture studio and fund, Retroficiency works with entrepreneurs to build and scale early-stage startups. They provide hands-on support in product development, business strategy, and fundraising, focusing heavily on solutions that can significantly reduce carbon emissions.

The Canadian extension of Breakthrough Energy, this fund supports early-stage climate tech innovation within Canada. It provides capital and strategic guidance to startups working on hard-to-abate sectors, helping them access both local and international markets.

Europe's largest innovation and investment platform for climate tech, Climate KIC supports startups through its accelerator program and investment fund. It offers seed funding, mentorship, and access to a vast network of corporates and mentors to help early-stage ventures grow.

DCVC invests in deep tech companies, including those in the climate sector. While they invest across stages, their data-driven approach often identifies promising early-stage climate technologies that can leverage data science and AI for environmental impact.

This venture firm invests in seed-stage companies across technology and life sciences, with a notable focus on cleantech. They provide strategic support and capital to early-stage startups developing innovative solutions for energy, sustainability, and environmental challenges.

Genia Capital is a global climate tech venture fund that invests in early-stage startups. They focus on companies developing technologies that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, providing capital and operational support to help founders scale their solutions.

Initially focused on national security, In-Q-Tel has expanded into climate tech and sustainability. They invest in early-stage startups whose technologies can address critical challenges in both national security and climate, providing unique access to government and corporate partnerships.

A prominent VC firm with a strong cleantech practice, Kleiner Perkins invests in early-stage startups disrupting traditional industries. They focus on energy, transportation, and agriculture, providing founders with the capital and strategic guidance needed to scale early-stage innovations.

A global innovation platform connecting entrepreneurs with investors in the clean energy sector. They offer accelerator programs, investment opportunities, and networking events to help early-stage climate tech startups accelerate their growth and secure funding.

While primarily a seed-stage VC, Point Nine has invested in various climate tech startups. They focus on early-stage companies with strong teams and scalable business models, providing capital and operational support to help founders navigate the early growth phase.

Sorenson is a venture firm that invests in early-stage companies led by underrepresented founders, including in the cleantech sector. They focus on technology startups that have the potential to create significant social and environmental impact, providing capital and mentorship.

While primarily a grant-making foundation, The Energy Foundation supports early-stage climate tech initiatives through strategic investments and partnerships. They focus on clean energy policies and technologies, providing resources to help startups navigate regulatory and market barriers.

The world's most famous startup accelerator, Y Combinator supports thousands of early-stage companies, including many in climate tech. They provide seed funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities to help founders launch and scale their startups, regardless of sector.