Planet A Ventures

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👇

US election: A wake up call for Europe 🇪🇺🇺🇸 What does a Trump presidency mean for climate? TLDR: It’s not great news. There’s no question the election result is a major blow for climate, at a time when each week brings reports of fresh horrors from extreme weather events around the world. BUT for Europe there is also an opportunity here. For greater cooperation and powerful joint strategies on clean industrial growth, defence and energy sovereignty. It’s time to capitalise on Europe’s immense potential to become the green tech power house of the world. 

While we digest* the US results, some good news: BIG breakthrough for conservation finance! 🐘🦒 The Landbanking Group just made it WAY easier to invest in restoring biodiversity and conserving nature.  The team can now issue Biodiversity Units. Each unit corresponds to 1 km² of earth that has maintained or improved its ecological integrity for one year across 3 metrics:  → Habitat intactness → Connectivity → Flora and fauna Land stewards create these outcome-based biodiversity units by uploading their land onto the platform where investors can buy them - contributing to nature while creating financial value. This new approach closes the gap between finance and nature, paving the way for an economy with the true value of nature priced in.  Well done Dr. Sonja Stuchtey, Prof. Dr. Martin R. Stuchtey and team! Read more via press release in the comments. *Stay tuned for our breakdown on what the election results will mean for green tech in the US and Europe.

HARDWARE FOUNDERS: Fresh talent resource just dropped! Great minds don’t think alike. 🙌 With targets for 2050 relying heavily on technology that is still being developed, it’s critical we attract the brightest people on the planet to help build them. But that’s easier said than done. Hardware founders often face bottlenecks on key hires due to capital constraints, reliance on familiar networks and highly technical specs that narrow the pool. So, we’ve updated our Hardware Playbook to get you started building diverse teams. Shout out Jessica, Kim D., Wallis Grant and our friends at Norrsken VC and Speedinvest! Jump in via comments👇

🚨 Brand new job on our science team! Want to make an impact? You’re in exactly the right place. At Planet A we only invest in solutions that actually move the needle on climate. We’re looking for a brilliant Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyst to help us identify winning teams. You’ll be part of our Science Team, which has veto over which startups we invest in, and get to work closely with our portfolio founders. The role involves: → Calculating consequential LCAs to assess the potential impact of innovative solutions → Doing environmental research to form new investment hypotheses → Helping us continuously refine our impact assessment methodology → And much more! If you are excited to work at the cutting edge of green tech, we’d love to talk 👋 Apply now - link in the comments!

Big news! 📣 The Upright Project x Slush just published their first impact report. They set out to answer one question: What kind of companies are we building out of Europe today? And how do we make sure we support the founders that can truly change the world for the better. WHAT’S THE DEAL?👇 The report analyses six companies speaking on stage this year. It’s a snapshot of the ecosystem today and a case study for Upright’s impact analysis, which looks beyond traditional ESG metrics to evaluate the wider systemic impact of a product versus another. WHY IS IT EXCITING?👇 Because while we’re talking more and more about ‘impact’ in the startup community, we need to make sure we are talking about the same thing. It’s great to see the team’s approach become a new impact standard for the wider startup community. 👀 Catch co-founder Annu on stage in December! Explore the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dc9jzKa3

CLIMATE FOUNDERS! Here’s how to write a killer TEA. ⚡️ Techno economic assessments are a critical part of fundraising and a great way to build transparent relationships with your investors from day one. They help us understand if your technology is economically viable and, critically, can beat incumbents on price. 👀 They also reveal a lot about how you reach assumptions, evaluate risk and break down the path to market. Getting started can be tough, so we put together a simple guide to get you started. Jump in for: → Our TEA 101 overview → Our Top TEA Do’s & Don’ts → Planet A’s TEA Template 👉 https://lnkd.in/e89bWxxJ