Planet A Ventures

HARDWARE CAPITAL! From research to deployment - your new CAPEX database 🤓 Climate hardware is central in the race to net zero. But funding continues to be a, if not THE, core barrier to scale. That’s why we teamed up with Aurum Impact and Celsius Industries to build a public CapX funding database. To help hardware founders find the right kind of capital for them. The database covers all levels of technology readiness (TRL) and includes equity, debt, and grants. 50% emissions targets for 2050 coming from technologies still in the prototype and demo stage. It’s time to solve hardware’s funding problem. ✍️ We are continuously building the database. If you are an investor in CapX impact startups or know someone we should include, add them here: https://lnkd.in/dk6AdpUm Shout-out Kim D., William Earle A'Hern, Jack Holmes, Jan Hendrik Heihoff, Miki Yokoyama!

2025 WE ARE READY FOR YOU. The planet is at a tipping point and it’s time for Europe to deliver. Looking back at the massive wins across the Planet A portfolio this year, we feel more energised than ever to work with founders truly moving the needle. Let’s get to work! 

Measuring impact is complicated. As investors, THE key question we have to answer when we assess innovative solutions is: ”Can this deliver the change in the system that we need?” There is a growing consensus in favour of the systemic approach PLUS a range of tools to help navigate the natural complexities of these calculations. THE KEY? Focusing efforts on the most impactful factors. In Part II of our Avoided Emissions Series, we take a closer look at:  → Measuring systemic impact → Why uncertainty is inevitable in any systemic assessment → Scientific tools to address uncertainty strategically Ready to dive in? Check out the second article by our science team, Benedikt and Kritesh—linked below 👇 👀 What’s your approach to measuring impact? Tell us in the comments! 

Amid a sharpening focus on Europe’s competitiveness, the EU is stepping it up for innovators. 🇪🇺💪 IF implemented green technologies are set for a further boost. 🟢 The ambitious Clean Industrial Deal is Ursula von der Leyen’s flagship initiative. 🟢 Financing and regulatory conditions for VCs, startups, scale-ups, and other innovators are set to improve considerably. 🟢 In short: Green tech investments in Europe are being turbocharged. OUR TAKE? There’s never been a better time to invest in green technologies. However, the EU and its member states must now deliver on the announcements. Check out the key takeaways from the president’s opening speech on what EU policy means for green tech over the next four years.👇 Let’s go! 

JOB OPENING!🔥 We’re looking for an HR Generalist to join us at Planet A. We support founders tackling the world’s largest environmental problems. For this we need the brightest minds on our planet. That’s why we’re growing our team. Your role will be crucial in ensuring we attract, retain, and develop great people who will truly make a difference. You’ll be: → Managing a range of internal HR responsibilities → Including recruitment, HR operations, and learning and development This is a part-time, remote-friendly role designed for anyone looking for flexibility and the opportunity to make an impact—whether you're balancing family, personal interests, or other commitments. 👋 Apply now via comments!

We need big, bold ideas more than ever.🔥⚡️ That’s why we are proud to be chosen as an Official Nominator for The Earthshot Prize 2025! The Earthshot Prize is designed to search for and scale the most innovative solutions to the world’s greatest environmental challenges. Planet A company 44.01 won the prize in ‘22 for their solution removing CO2 from the atmosphere forever by mineralising it as rock. The race is now on to find the winning solutions making real, tangible, progress towards one of the five earth shots:  → Clean our air → Revive our oceans → Protect and restore nature → Build a waste free world → Fix our climate Let’s go! 💥

IMPACT ASSESSMENT. Time we start talking the same language. It's crucial we identify and fund green tech solutions that can offer a cheaper, easier, scalable alternative to the status quo. To identify those winners of tomorrow, we need to understand how new technologies impact the system. That’s where rigorous scientific assessment comes into play. But there is a problem. ”Avoided emissions” are a key metric used by startups and investors to evaluate (and communicate) the environmental impact of technological innovation. However, different approaches and methodologies are leading to varying - and sometimes misleading - results. In our mini-series, we explain why it’s CRUCIAL to look at the bigger picture if we want to make a meaningful impact. Ready to dive in? Check out our first article by our science team, Benedikt Buchspies and Kritesh Shridhar—linked in the comments below 👇

Scaling affordable carbon removal technology is more urgent than ever. That’s why we were hugely excited to partner with Phlair this year. Their pioneering DAC technology has the potential to make a radical impact in the race to Net Zero. Removing carbon is not an ‘either / or’ solution. Alongside massive efforts to curb emissions, we also need to remove billions of tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere. So, it’s critical that founders working on different solutions to removing carbon from the atmosphere at scale succeed. In this interview at Carbon Unbound our GP Tobias deep dives on:  → Securing growth-stage investment → The power of impactful connections and relationships → Quantifying CDR impact 

TO WATCH 👀 Energy startups accelerating the transition! The clean energy transition is well underway but cost, reliability and infrastructure remain big hurdles for renewables. Plus, as a planet, we ‘simply’ need to consume way less energy. Of course, there’s nothing simple about it. In ClimateHack Jessica spotlights teams building solutions that are paving the way for life beyond fossil fuels 🔌☀️ Podero - Enterprise software helping utilities manage customer energy assets for grid stabilisation and energy trading Deep.Meta - AI SaaS increasing energy efficiency and reducing waste in steel production Plus, special mention to our own portfolio companies! GA Drilling - Unlocking geothermal energy, anywhere in the world. Sunhero - Autonomous renewable energy for every household. Check out the full list in the comments ⬇

First impressions on Trump’s re-election? ”For global climate policy, it's code red,” our GP Lena tells Sifted. The result is a setback for green innovation, set to weaken landmark climate legislation like the IRA and benefit oil and gas interests. ☀️ However, unlike 2016, economic momentum and popular support will continue to drive the green transition, even among some Trump supporters. 📈 The result could also create positive opportunities, with strong regulation and targets making Europe more attractive destination for green tech funding. Division and fragmentation are not inevitable. The EU is aligned behind a strong green, competitive industrial agenda in the Clean industrial Deal. We continue to push for greater collaboration and scaling innovative tech made in Europe. Read the full article👇