As the global energy crisis intensifies, so too does the effort to tackle it — and increasing attention is coming from the tech sector. Climate tech investment from the Seedrs investment community soared in 2022.
And with private investing becoming a popular route for consumers to back the businesses they believe can shape the world, we’ve explored a trio of Seedrs community-backed startups that are tackling some of the biggest energy challenges.
You can find out more about investing with Seedrs here.
The climate tech market is moving fast, and there are some fantastic opportunities to discover investment opportunities in businesses that are raising on Seedrs now. Over the last six months, the three companies we’ll explore below have raised a combined £5m from Seedrs investors. Solar and wind energy are championed as two key solutions to the energy crisis, and three companies – Solivus, Hydro Wind Energy and Ripple – are leading a step change in how we bring these energy sources to market.
Solar for all
Solivus tells us that with the rising interest in solar energy in both domestic and commercial settings, there’s a question that regularly comes up: is this building suitable for solar panels? Often, it turns out, the answer is no. Issues with the weight, fixtures, and fittings on many buildings mean that a solar installation isn’t possible with traditional panels.
It’s a problem that affects as many as 40% of commercial buildings, and that’s a lot of real estate that Solivus believes could be housing the solar farms of the future. To tackle the issue, the startup has developed a range of lightweight panels that it has already successfully used on sports stadiums and an airport. The lighter-weight solution not only helps utilise space, but it’s also helping businesses decarbonise and work towards their ESG targets.
It’s an idea that clearly resonated with investors. Solivus’ recent campaign with Seedrs over-funded by 105%, with £2,070,803 of investment now being used to expand and build on its initial early success.
A new era for offshore
Offshore wind often conjures up images of vast swathes of wind turbines out at sea. Now, US company Hydro Wind Energy says it has found a more efficient solution — one that can be used in deep water, which is where it claims 80% of the world’s wind resources lie.
Its ‘OceanHydro Omni’ is a floating turbine that uses a vertical axis rotor to provide up to 90% efficiency from wind to electrical power, compared to 40% for traditional turbines.
Global players and investors are taking note. Hydro Wind Energy has been selected for Shell’s StartUp Engine and AWS’s Clean Energy Accelerator. Plus, its recent Seedrs funding round achieved a staggering 272% over target.
Clean energy ownership for everyone
While producing the energy is a mammoth task, getting it to market and changing consumer behaviour is another. As the cost of living crisis grows, many households are likely more concerned about reducing costs than where their energy comes from. This is an issue for sustainable solutions, which may come at a premium.
London-based company Ripple has found a novel — and literal — way to get the everyday consumer invested in where their household energy comes from. Ripple calls it a “clean energy ownership” platform, which enables households and businesses to part own large-scale wind farms. Then, they have the green, low-cost electricity supplied to them via chosen utility partners including Eon.
The company’s first two wind farms were oversubscribed, and with plans for more wind and solar farms, the momentum is building. What’s more, Ripple recently attracted 2,111 investors and a £2,158,875 investment via the Seedrs platform, achieving 424% of its original target.
Investing in climate tech
Investment in climate tech is on the up — our recent Seedrs Sector Report showed that 58% more climate tech funds were raising capital year-on-year, with the number of investors up 37% over the same period. As the climate crisis rages, it’s an industry growing fast to meet the rising demand from consumers and businesses alike for reliable, sustainable energy solutions.
Having facilitated over £40.1m of investment into climate tech firms in 2022, Seedrs is a great place to discover businesses that are trying to shape our future.
Learn more about companies that are raising now.
In paid partnership with Seedrs.
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