Climate Entrepreneurship Moves Beyond Metros: Greenr Data Maps Rise of Green Startups in India’s Tier 2/3 Cities

• The data maps 300+ climate startups across 106 cities in 28 states
• Waste management, agroforestry, textiles, and energy emerge as the top four key sectors, with 60% of green enterprises focused on addressing India’s critical waste challenges
• Small-town founders, majority with under five years’ experience, lead the shift; solutions span households, RWAs, schools, corporates and municipalities. 
• Complements national priorities including Swachh Bharat (Urban) 2.0, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastics, and Mission LiFE’s circularity goals, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainable growth

Data from the Greenr Sustainability Accelerator by TechnoServe, supported by the IKEA Foundation and Visa Foundation, indicates an interesting perspective wherein India's climate entrepreneurship landscape or India's climate innovation is not restricted to Tier-1 cities. Across three cohorts, the program has supported 300+ small and growing green businesses (SGBs) spanning 106 cities in 28 states. Of this, nearly 45% of the startups come from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, signalling the growing decentralisation of climate innovation in the country.

Notably, 60% of these enterprises are focused on addressing India’s waste management challenges, highlighting the critical role played by entrepreneurs from smaller cities in tackling some of the nation’s most pressing environmental issues. These startups are driving innovation across critical segments within each sector. For example, in waste management, key sub-sectors include e-waste, wastewater management, plastics recycling, upcycling, and the development of green construction materials from agricultural waste among others. The data specifically identifies waste management, agroforestry, textiles, and energy as the top four emerging sectors for climate innovation, showcasing a diverse entrepreneurial landscape across India. Their work complements national priorities including Swachh Bharat (Urban) 2.0, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastics, and Mission LiFE’s circularity goals, reinforcing India’s commitment to sustainable growth.

The strategic support provided by the Greenr Sustainability Accelerator is translating into tangible results. Over the past two cohorts, Greenr-backed startups have demonstrated an impressive 61% average revenue growth and contributed to a 24% increase in job creation. To further fuel this growth, the program has facilitated over $16 million in funding, structured across 55% equity, 35% debt, and 10% grants, enabling these green businesses to scale their solutions and maximize their impact.

This entrepreneurial surge is largely driven by a new cohort of founders, with a majority having less than five years of business experience, underscoring the rise of fresh entrepreneurial ecosystems beyond traditional startup hubs. Reinforcing this shift, 60% of the Greenr-supported businesses are women-led, showcasing significant female leadership in India's climate action. This vibrant ecosystem is particularly prominent in a diverse set of Tier 2 and 3 cities including Jaipur, Bhubaneshwar, Surat, Indore, Coimbatore, Kochi, Guwahati, Madurai, Dehradun, and Bhopal, which collectively represent the top 10 cities for Greenr-backed innovation.

Ajay Menon, Senior Practice Lead at TechnoServe India and Program Director, Greenr Sustainability Accelerator, says: “India’s climate transition will be won in Tier-2 and Tier-3 India. The entrepreneurs we work with are building practical solutions where the need is greatest - converting waste to value, renewable energy, and circularity at the last mile, rather than chasing unicorn valuations. When we combine hands-on, bespoke advisory with access to fairly priced financing (equity, debt or grant funding) and market linkages, these founders grow revenues, create jobs, and deliver measurable environmental outcomes. The data is clear: climate innovation is no longer a metro story; it’s a small-town movement. And it requires continued momentum, powered by systemic change from a convening of the right stakeholders to provide the needed support in terms of business building, financing, access to markets, support for pilots and changes to policy in favour of circular economic business models.”

A prime example of this success is Plastroots from Nagpur, Maharashtra. This zero-landfill waste management company provides end-to-end dry waste solutions and circular economy models for communities, governments, and industries. Founded in 2019, Plastroots directly addresses the challenge of unsegregated rural waste, where nearly 75% often goes unmanaged by structured systems. With Greenr's support, Plastroots successfully scaled its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance vertical, generating over ₹3 crore in revenue within 12 months, achieved 5x business growth, and expanded operations across Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.

About Greenr Sustainability Accelerator

The Greenr Sustainability Accelerator by TechnoServe, supported by the IKEA Foundation and Visa Foundation, is one of the largest not-for-profit accelerators dedicated to green small and growing businesses (Green SGBs). Launched in 2023, the program supports startups in sectors such as waste management, textiles, agroforestry, cleantech, renewable energy, green construction, food & agriculture, and feminine hygiene. Over the past two years, Greenr has enabled 200+ green startups to achieve 61% average revenue growth, unlock $16M in funding, and create 24% more jobs. The accelerator provides 12–15 months of hands-on support, including a dedicated business advisor, access to market and corporate linkages, green financing opportunities, and impact measurement through Environmental Impact Assessments. By combining TechnoServe’s five decades of global expertise with deep local networks, Greenr empowers entrepreneurs to build scalable businesses that generate environmental impact, and help India gradually transition from a linear to a circular economy.

Learn more: www.getgreenr.org

Carbon Masters Raises Fresh Capital to Expand Biomethane and Organic Fertiliser Operations Across India

Carbon Masters India Pvt Ltd (CMIPL), a climate-tech venture pioneering circular economy solutions, has raised an undisclosed amount in a fresh round of equity funding led by Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia (SEEAA), Sangam Ventures, and IAN Group. The round also saw participation from Sriram Sankaran, Managing Director of Synchron Group, and Muthu Murugappan, CEO of Murugappa Group.

As part of this investment, Vikram Raman from SEEAA and Sriram Sankaran have joined Carbon Masters’ Board of Directors.

Carbon Masters, co-founded by Som Narayan and Kevin Houston, is committed to converting organic waste streams otherwise bound for landfill into renewable biomethane and bio-enriched organic manure, marketed under its flagship Carbonlites brand.

The company executes CBG (Compressed Biogas) and Organic manure projects through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and joint ventures (JVs) with strong waste management partners. Its flagship JV, Sustainable Impacts with Hasiru Dala Innovations, operates one of the few authorized wet waste processing facilities in Bangalore designated to handle the city’s bulk generators’ organic waste. The project has also secured pipeline injection clearance from GAIL, with pipeline laying now completed. This positions the plant uniquely to process waste at scale, and injecting biomethane into India’s gas grid to decarbonise households. It will also supply Carbonlites gas to hotels, restaurants, and industries as a substitute for LPG and CNG

Through this replicable SPV model, Carbon Masters is building a robust business framework to partner with municipalities and private operators across India to help it in its transition to net zero. 

With this fresh equity infusion, Carbon Masters will:

• Expand production capacity of Carbonlites Biomethane (CBG),
• Scale its Carbonlites bio-enriched organic fertiliser portfolio,
• Enhance efficiency across existing operations.
• Team building across sales marketing and R&D .

The company is now preparing for its next equity round to finance five upcoming SPVs, with Ostara Advisors, India’s first climate-tech-focused Transaction Advisory firm, appointed as investment bankers.

CMIPL currently operates five CBG plants across Karnataka, Telangana, and Tamil Nadu, collectively processing over 36,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste annually through anaerobic digestion. Its 80+ member team supplies Carbonlites CBG to commercial kitchens, industries, transport fleets, and city gas networks, while Carbonlites Bio-Enriched Organic Manure supports regenerative agriculture by improving soil health and farm productivity.

“We are proud to support Carbon Masters in its mission to decarbonize critical sectors of the Indian economy. Investing in scalable clean energy infrastructure and sustainable agriculture solutions is vital to building a resilient and inclusive low-carbon future.”, Gilles Vermot Desroches, SVP, Corporate Citizenship, Schneider Electric & President, SEEAA. 

“Carbon Masters’ innovative circular economy business model aligns with our vision of financing deep decarbonization pathways. The company’s potential to displace fossil fuels while improving soil health makes it a compelling climate-tech investment.” Karthik Chandrasekar, CEO, Sangam Ventures

“IAN has topped up its investment in Carbon Masters. This is a strong endorsement of the team’s execution and their ability to keep evolving. Carbon Masters reflects IAN’s thesis of solving real problems through innovation.”, Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder, IAN Group. 

“We are grateful for the continued trust of our investors, which reflects confidence in our business and growth plans. This investment will help us further strengthen operations and scale sustainably, as we continue to support India’s transition to a low-carbon future and help our customers meet their net zero goals.” Som Narayan, CEO & Co-founder, Carbon Masters

About Carbon Masters

Carbon Masters India Pvt Ltd (CMIPL) is a climate-tech company focused on building a circular economy. Through its Carbonlites brand, the company converts wet municipal waste into Compressed Bio-Methane Gas (CBG) to replace fossil fuels, and Bio-Enriched Organic Manure to improve soil health. Its core value proposition lies in reducing carbon emissions while lowering operational costs for customers.

Website: https://www.carbonlites.com/

About the Investors

Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia (SEEAA)
Founded in 2019, SEEAA is an impact investment fund initiated and managed by Schneider Electric in collaboration with Norfund, EDFI, and Amundi. Its mission is to support 350 million people in Asia who lack access to clean energy.

Sangam Ventures
Sangam Ventures is an early-stage venture fund investing in climate-tech companies that drive decarbonization, resilience, and sustainable development in India.

IAN Group
India’s largest platform for seed and early-stage investments, IAN combines capital, mentoring, and global market access to support entrepreneurs. Its network spans 19 sectors across India and 7 other countries.

Govt Collab with Bezos & Rockefeller Backed GEAPP To Accelerate Climate-Tech Entrepreneurship In India

The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), a central government department under India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) to accelerate climate-tech entrepreneurship in India.

The GEAPP was founded through a collaboration of The Rockefeller Foundation, the IKEA Foundation, a Dutch charitable organization founded in 1982 by Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA, and the Bezos Earth Fund, a $10 billion philanthropic commitment by Jeff Bezos to combat climate change. GEAPP was launched at COP26 in 2021 to accelerate clean energy access and drive sustainable economic growth.

The two-year DPIIT-GEAPP partnership, with a provision for extension, will support early-stage climate-tech startups through funding access, mentorship, pilot opportunities, and market linkages. The initiative seeks to build a strong pipeline of scalable, investable ventures aligned with India’s net-zero ambitions.

Key Highlights of the Collaboration

• ENTICE Challenge: A competitive platform offering up to USD 500,000 in rewards for startups developing impactful clean energy solutions.
• Funding & Mentorship: Early-stage climate-tech startups will receive investment support through partners like Spectrum Impact and Avana Capital.
• Integration with Startup India: DPIIT will connect the initiative to Startup India’s network, ensuring outreach through major government schemes.
• Net-Zero Vision: The partnership aligns with India’s long-term climate goals, fostering scalable and investable ventures.

Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at DPIIT, emphasized that India’s climate leadership depends on a strong entrepreneurial base.

Saurabh Kumar, Vice President – India at GEAPP, described the MoU as a pivotal step toward systemic change through government-private sector collaboration.

Climate Tech Leader Ecozen Raises Over $23 Million

• Ecozen was founded in 2010 by three IIT Kharagpur alumni – Devendra Gupta, Prateek Singhal and Vivek Pandey. It develops climate-smart solutions and has expertise in advanced motor and control technology, and cooling technology.
• Ecozen has achieved an impressive CAGR of over 83% in revenue growth over the last three years.
• This round of investment will be directed toward scaling Ecozen's flagship solutions, including Ecotron, Ecofrost, and advanced motor control systems.

Ecozen, a leading climate-smart technology solutions provider, has raised over $23 million in debt funding from responsAbility Investments AG, Northern Arc Capital Limited, Maanaveeya Development & Finance Private Limited, and others. This funding will help Ecozen drive scale in its current businesses while furthering its position as a leader in sustainable technologies.

Ecozen has recorded an outstanding CAGR of over 83% in revenue growth over the past three years, underscoring its rapid and sustained success. The company has manufactured over 300,000 Ecotron solar pump controllers to date, with an impressive 100,000 units produced between March and December 2024 alone. These innovations have contributed to the abatement of more than 2 million metric tons of greenhouse gases (GHG), including a remarkable 660,000 metric tons in 2024 alone. In addition, Ecozen’s Omni controller is enabling existing customers to utilize solar energy across a broader range of applications, while also positioning Ecozen to foray into new market opportunities.

In 2025, Ecozen is expanding its portfolio with innovative products tailored to the evolving needs of communities and businesses. With a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation, the company will continue to pave the way for a future where growth and environmental responsibility go hand in hand.

Devendra Gupta, CEO and Co-Founder of Ecozen, said, "This funding reaffirms the confidence our partners have in Ecozen’s ability to drive impactful change through innovation. We are excited to be on a rapid growth path, driven by the increasing need for sustainable, climate-smart solutions. This funding will help us reach more people, expand our operations, and strengthen our impact in India and beyond. Our focus has always been on empowering our customers and providing them with the tools they need to thrive in a changing world. I’m truly grateful for the trust and support from our investors—responsAbility, Northern Arc, Maanaveeya and others, including our existing partners, who share our vision and are helping us create lasting positive change.”

Neha Baid, Team Head, Sustainable Food Debt, APAC, at responsAbility Investments AG, added,"Ecozen’s innovative solutions resonate deeply with our commitment to support sustainable and impactful ventures that are focused on climate mitigation, food loss and waste reduction and fostering overall climate resilience. We are proud to contribute to their journey of empowering rural and industrial stakeholders with advanced climate-smart technologies.

Mr. Ashish Mehrotra, MD & CEO, Northern Arc Capital said, “Northern Arc is delighted to support Ecozen in their journey of creating a sustainable impact through innovative technologies. This partnership underscores our unwavering commitment to addressing climate change and fostering climate-first businesses. With the launch of our USD 125 million climate fund dedicated to supporting businesses that control and mitigate climate change, we aim to empower enterprises like Ecozen to grow and prosper. Together, we strive to advance climate-sustainable solutions and contribute meaningfully to a greener, more resilient future for all."

"Over the past four decades, Maanaveeya has supported businesses that drive social change and economic empowerment. Ecozen exemplifies the potential of innovative technology to solve real-world problems. We look forward to seeing them expand their footprint and impact even further." highlighted Dr. Gouri Sankar, the Managing Director of Maanaveeya Development & Finance Private Limited.

Ecozen Solutions Pvt. Ltd. is a climate-smart technology solutions company that creates a positive impact on millions of lives. Our diverse product portfolio includes Ecotron, Ecofrost, Eco-Freeze, Ecozen Atta Chakki, Ecotron Omni, and E-Bike Controllers, catering to a range of industries and needs. Committed to sustainability and innovation, Ecozen continues to lead the way in advancing technologies that drive environmental and economic benefits. For more information about Ecozen Solutions, please visit www.ecozensolutions.com

4 Indian NGOs Selected Among 14 for Grants from Google.org Supported Sustainability Fund

Four Indian Non-profit organizations (NGOs) have been selected by a Google-backed fund for their AI-driven climate solutions. These organizations are part of the APAC Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0, which is supported by a $5 million grant from Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google. 

The selected organizations are:

1. INREM Foundation: Developing AI-enabled open digital solutions for community access to water contamination data.

2. CEPT Research and Development Foundation (CRDF): Using machine learning and satellite imagery to protect lakes and their carbon sink function.

3. Institute for Financial Management and Research (WELL Labs): Creating advanced models for village-level water security insights.

4. Gujarat Mahila Housing Sewa Trust (MHT): Developing an AI-powered model to identify urban heat islands and suggest community-centric solutions.

This initiative aims to foster technology- and AI-driven solutions to address critical environmental and social challenges.

The APAC Sustainability Seed Fund is a significant initiative aimed at addressing climate change and promoting sustainability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Initiated by Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) and supported by Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), The APAC Sustainability Seed Fund 2.0's current fund amount is $5 million i.e. for the second round (Seed Fund 2.0).

The fund aims to support innovative, technology-driven solutions that tackle pressing climate and sustainability challenges. It focuses on Renewable energy and decarbonization, Climate adaptation, Waste management and circular economy, Air quality, Water preservation, and Biodiversity protection.

The fund aims to help vulnerable and underserved communities in the Asia-Pacific region adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Climate Tech Startup Aurassure Raises ₹4 Crore in Seed Round from Unicorn India Ventures

• Aurassure becomes the first investment from Unicorn’s recently announced Fund III
• Aurassure is an IoT enabled climate tech startup, a pioneering environmental technology company committed to revolutionising sustainability efforts through hyperlocal data insights
• Funds to be primarily used for team building, expanding data analytics and sales & marketing
• Unicorn India ventures has recently announced its first close of Rs 1000 crore Fund III at Rs 225 Crore

Bhubaneswar-based IoT enabled climate tech startup Aurassure has raised INR 4 Crore in a seed round led by Unicorn India Ventures.

The funds raised will be deployed to strengthen product capabilities by creating a data analytics team, acquiring product certifications for international scaling, and sales team expansion for growing reach to multiple cities.

Aurassure using its powerful IoT enabled intelligent systems has the capabilities to collect real time data and analyse it to provide accurate forecasts and updates on disasters and frequently changing weather patterns like floods, air pollution, and rainfall along with other climate data which can empower governments and citizens in making decisions for a healthy and safe lifestyle. The Company has successfully onboarded prestigious clients including Tata Realty, L&T Realty, P&G, Honeywell, IIT Bombay and Google. Aurassure has witnessed a 40% QoQ growth and has expanded its operations to cities like Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Aurangabad, Rajkot and Delhi.

Aurassure aims to bring people together to fight against the rising issues of the environment, namely pollution, global warming, and climate change.

Akanksha 

Akanksha Priyadarshini, Co-founder & CEO, Aurassure, says, “Empowering communities with hyperlocal data to build resilience against climate change is not just a mission, it's a responsibility we wholeheartedly embrace. Together, we're not just innovating but driving a positive change for a healthier, more resilient, and sustainable future, one city at a time. Our vision goes beyond data collection. We aim to be instrumental in policy-level decision-making by providing vital insights to form responsible environmental practices. We also plan to offer robust decision support systems and environmental consultancy services, guiding governments and organisations in making sustainable choices.”

Aurassure’s mission is to improve the liveability of cities of the world, impacting billions of lives by enabling responsible climate actions through real-time data & AI. The company provides cutting-edge sensor-based devices and AI-powered analytics platforms that empower governments, corporations, researchers, and communities to make informed decisions and take meaningful action to protect our environment. The Company has recently launched Aurassure Care, a smart air quality monitoring device for indoor environment monitoring that can be integrated with BMS and air purification solutions. It can also enhance the green ratings of commercial spaces. The Company also has products like Aurassure Trust for flood monitoring designed to provide crucial and timely insights for flood-prone areas and Aurassure Infra for outdoor air quality weather and GHG monitoring.

Commenting on the investment, Bikram Mahajan, Partner, Unicorn India Ventures, says, “Although the global environment monitoring market is valued at over $12 billion, of the 1.4 million devices needed just for air quality monitoring, only 3% are operational, underscoring the urgent need for action and the vast market potential. In our quest for a scalable climate-tech venture, Aurassure stood out. In a world choked by data silos and the escalating threat of climate change and air pollution, the Aurassure platform leverages AI, machine learning, and data points from multiple devices to generate accurate insights and actionable intel. Driven by a powerhouse team, Aurassure resonated with our ethos of championing disruptors, and we're thrilled to partner with them as they redefine environmental monitoring to pave the way for a cleaner future. “

Aurassure's notable revenue growth in the last one year underscores the escalating demand for smart environment tech products and services, setting the stage for the company to potentially multiply its earnings by 6x in 2024. In the next 12 – 18 months, Aurassure aims to deploy over 1000 sensor devices in 8 cities across the country. It is also targeting to expand in Southeast Asia and Africa, and subsequently, into Europe and the United States. The company's growth plans for the next year are marked by geographical expansion, revenue diversification, team strengthening, and global readiness along with certifications for international scaling.

About Aurassure:

Aurassure, a Bhubaneswar-based climate tech startup, is a pioneering environmental technology company committed to revolutionizing sustainability efforts through hyperlocal data insights. Founded by NIT Rourkela alumni, including Akanksha Priyadarshini, Vamsi Krishna, Raviteja Cherukuri, and Omprakash Patra, with a combined experience of over 25 years in developing IoT-based products, with a mission to improve the liveability of cities around the world impacting billions of lives by enabling responsible climate actions through real-time data & AI. We specialize in providing comprehensive data on air quality, urban flood monitoring, weather patterns, and more. Our cutting-edge sensor-based devices and AI-powered analytics platform empower governments, corporations, researchers, and communities to make informed decisions and take meaningful action to protect our environment. With a visionary mission to transform our world, Aurassure strengthens resilience and environmental sustainability, fostering a greener and healthier future.

About Unicorn India Ventures:

Started in 2016 by Bhaskar Majumdar and Anil Joshi, Unicorn India Ventures is a technology focused early-stage venture fund that invests capital in emerging and visionary startups. Unicorn India Ventures launched its first fund with a corpus of Rs 100 crore From its first Fund, UIV has invested in 17 companies like SmartCoin, Open Bank, Sequretek, Pharmarack, Genrobotics, Clootrack, FutureCure to mention some. The Internal Rate of Return (IRR) was more than 60 percent year over year. The Fund has emerged as the best performing early stage fund in India with the stellar exits provided by the fund to its LPs.

Fund II is a Rs 300 crore fund launched in 2020 that has invested in 20 companies so far like Gamerji, ForeignAdmits, Probus, Daalchini, Esmito, Finin. Most of the portfolio is scaling up fast and has had several uprounds.

Unicorn India Ventures has recently announced its first close of Rs 1000 crore Fund III. The first close reached at Rs 225 crore. With this Fund, UIV aims to build a portfolio of 25 startups that are focused on global SaaS and digital platforms. From the sector's perspective, the Fund is looking at newer sectors of climate tech, agritech, spacetech and the semiconductor ecosystem. 

 

TRST01 Launches India’s 1st Ever Blockchain-enabled Global ESG Tool – Footprint

• Hyderabad based TRST01 is India’s leading provider of blockchain solutions
• Footprint is the World’s 1st ESG Blockchain automation tool from India
• Designed to help organisations monitor, measure, analyse and report ESG performance
• In sync with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• The tool incorporates the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board framework
• Allows Companies access to real-time verifiable environmental performance monitoring

TRST01 (TrayamBhu Tech Solutions Pvt. Limited), a leading blockchain climate-tech company, announces the launch of Footprint- World’s 1st ESG Blockchain automation tool.

It is a cutting-edge ESG automation tool designed to help organisations monitor, measure, analyse and report their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. This will be first Global ESG automation tool product using web3 interface (Blockchain). 

The Footprint ESG automation tool has been developed to meet the growing demand for transparency and accountability in an organisation’s sustainability practices. With the tool's advanced features and functionalities, businesses can easily track their ESG performance and report their progress to stakeholders, investors and customers.

We must take responsibility and action to create an environmentally, socially and economically positive corporate footprint. It's a new beginning for reliable and automated environmental impact measurements powered and secured by blockchain.

“We make big promises at climate treaties and commit to ambitious goals to cut down on emissions, but are we even close enough to our sustainability targets? We must take responsibility and action to create an environmentally, socially and economically positive corporate footprint. Footprint by Trst01 is a game-changer to help you do just that”, said Prabir Mishra, CEO of TRST01

Footprint by TRST01 follows the latest ESG reporting standards, including the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). It also in sync with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to provide a comprehensive view of an organisation's ESG performance.

One of the critical features of Footprint is its industry-specific content that offers customized materiality topics arrangement. This feature enables companies to report the most relevant ESG metrics and critical issues for more meaningful engagement with investors, customers and other stakeholders.

Another essential feature of Footprint is its supply chain management reporting. The tool allows companies to track and report their suppliers' ESG performance, providing a comprehensive view of their supply chain sustainability practices. This feature is crucial as companies increasingly recognize the importance of responsible sourcing and sustainable supply chain practices.

Footprint by TRST01 has been designed keeping in mind an organisation’s triple bottom line – People, Planet and Prosperity. This simple easy to use tool helps companies track and report on their ESG performance, supporting their efforts to reduce their environmental impact, promote social responsibility and foster economic growth.

The ESG automation tool is blockchain-enabled, providing a secure and transparent way to verify the accuracy, authenticity and reliability of the ESG data. This is particularly important as companies face increasing scrutiny and pressure to disclose accurate ESG information.

"Footprint is a vital tool for any company committed to sustainability and social responsibility," said Mr. Suraj Teja, COO of TRST01. "With its advanced features, industry-specific content, and blockchain-enabled data integrity verification, ‘Footprint’ is poised to become the leading go-to ESG automation tool for companies looking to enhance their sustainability practices which will eventually reflect positively in their profits and prosperity."

About TRST01

TRST01 (Trust O One) is a Blockchain-technology company that uses emerging technologies to address Industry Pain points on Trust, Transparency, and Traceability. Its unique technology platform TRST01 creates pure technology dominance among products and services to address the newer challenges in Digital Transformation, New Normal, and Industries 4.0. The focus is to cater to diverse industry issues by delivering Blockchain Solutions suited to business requirements. TRST01 primary focus is on Blockchain technology Climate, Agriculture and Food.

Sustainable Water-Tech Startup, Uravu Labs, Raises Seed Funding Led by Anicut Capital, Rocketship.vc and Speciale Invest

The funding round was led by Anicut Capital and co-led by Rocketship.vc and Speciale Invest and saw participation of investors from India, Europe, and the US.

Capital to be utilized for tech commercialization and expansion into new geographies

Uravu Labs, a Bangalore based startup focused on building a renewable water infrastructure, has recently announced its seed round of funding. The lead investor in the round was Anicut Capital and it was co-led by Rocketship.vc and Speciale Invest. The company also received participation from investors like Vesta (France), Venture Catalysts (India), Verso Holdings (Luxembourg), Spectrum Impact (India), Echo River Capital (US) and other angel investors from India, the US and the Middle East.

The company plans to utilise the capital to scale its 100% renewable water technology. Their unique technology harnesses inexhaustible atmospheric moisture and uses only renewable energy to produce high-quality drinking water. The industrial-scale and affordable solution has the ability to transform various markets - primarily the beverage industry, real estate and hospitality sectors, and will be commercialised by 2023.

Founded in 2019 by Pardeep Garg, Swapnil Shrivastav, Venkatesh R, and Govinda Balaji, Uravu Labs is dedicated towards bringing the next water revolution. Uravu Labs is thus eyeing to expand its team in R&D, engineering, marketing and business development roles to support its growth and commercialisation in the next two years through the new funds.

The company has signed beverage giants such as AB InBev and Radico Khaitan as customers and is reaching out to many more beverage and commercial customers in the Indian, Southeast Asian, Middle East, and Japanese markets. The fresh funding will build the path for further expansion in these geographies. The company also plans to work with strategic government and CSR partners to reach drought-stricken remote areas in India and Africa by next year.

Speaking on the announcement, Dr. Pardeep Garg, CEO and Co-founder, Uravu Labs said, “The seed investment will enable Uravu to accelerate its ongoing work of minimising the stress on groundwater. It will further enable us to mitigate resource depletion by converting abundantly available air into water using only renewable energy. With field pilots already out, the company is aiming to rapidly test and scale the solution with key customers.” presenting the startup’s determination to help nature and the communities getting affected daily.

On the seed funding, lead investor Ashvin Chadha, Managing Partner, Anicut Capital said, “The Uravu Labs team has embarked on a unique and impactful journey to revolutionise renewable water technology. They bring a rich experience of delivering on clean technology and mobilising the commercialization of the same for industry. With their remarkable innovation and technology stakeholders can adapt, maintain, and thrive on an enriching agenda of renewable water infrastructure.

"Our support to Uravu Labs comes in the wake of our renewed focus to build on the sustainability momentum for the wider industry and to continuously strengthen and encourage startups aiming to change the status quo.” said Ashvin, while stating his trust in the company and the product.

“The concept of 100% renewable water is groundbreaking and we were excited by the progress that the team has made. We believe that Uravu and renewable water will be an important part of our efforts to tackle climate change," added Sailesh Ramakrishnan, Partner, Rocketship.vc validating the good news.

“We believe that climate-tech will play a pivotal role course-correcting environmental degradation. We know that the need for this tech is NOW!, not sometime in the future. We are very pleased to continue to invest in Uravu Labs and partner through their pioneering journey to building sustainable water infrastructure for the world from India.” said Vishesh Rajaraman, Managing Partner, Speciale Invest.

Swapnil Shrivastav, Co-founder, Uravu Labs added, “100% renewable water is the missing puzzle in the transformation towards a more sustainable world and Uravu is aiming to truly deliver real world environmental and social impact with its scalable solution in the mid-to-long term”.

Speaking further on the scalability and commercial plans, Balaji, Co-founder of Uravu Labs added "We have built a strong team on the engineering side and this team is capable of achieving the commercial scale in the fastest possible manner".

Their work was also appreciated by other investors like Jean-Baptiste Lacoste, who highlighted the team’s effort by saying, "At Vesta, we believe that an investment done in the right ideas can make an impact on the whole society and Uravu's 100% renewable water solution serves this purpose. It isn't every day that you get to invest in such innovative and purposeful ideas."

Julien Machot, Managing Partner at Verso Fund, further added, "The team at Uravu is providing the technical solutions we currently need to harvest the most essential asset on earth: water. At VERSO, we value replacing unsustainable water, the backbone of many industries and individuals, with renewable forms that will affect billions of lives. Moreover, Uravu's contribution to sustainability opens up horizons for all other sectors.

Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, Co-Founder & President, Venture Catalysts Group said, “Today it has become the prerogative of every company, big or small, to adopt models of sustainability and innovation that are in line with the demands of climate crisis, to ensure a better future for everyone. Venture Catalysts are proud to invest in a company like Uravu Labs, that focuses on making renewable water available to people, something which was unfathomable and apparently impossible. We look forward to supporting this novel cause to promote a safer, healthier, and accessible future with renewable water for everyone.”

This new-age climate-tech startup has previously raised an undisclosed amount during a pre-seed funding round led by Speciale Invest in 2021. Other investors included angel investors like Peter Yolles (Echo River Capital), Soren Schroder, Shigeru Sumimoto (Conselux Corporation), and Tomoki Kaneko (Kaneko Cord). Since then, there has been commendable growth in their team size and customer traction, catalysing the change we all want to witness in the water sector.

About Uravu Labs:

Uravu Labs is a Bangalore-based startup on a mission to build sustainable water solutions for the climate adaptation era. It’s a cross-functional team of scientists, engineers, and designers pushing boundaries of innovation and creativity to conceive a new kind of 100% renewable water infrastructure which utilises inexhaustible atmospheric moisture and only renewable energy to produce high quality drinking water. The company has also been a recipient of many awards - it was a global finalist in the Water Abundance XPRIZE, winner in UNIDO’s FLCTD Challenge, and a semi-finalist in the Ashirvad Water Challenge. Using the potential of technology and design, the company aims to deliver measurable environmental and social impact by transforming how the society sources and distributes high-quality drinking water that is accessible to all.

About Anicut Capital

Anicut Capital is founded by financial services veterans Ashvin Chadha and IAS Balamurugan. Anicut Capital currently manages two debt funds with an AUM of INR 1400cr and equity based Angel Fund. Recently, Anicut Capital has announced the first close of INR 500cr Anicut Opportunities Fund I. The first close corpus stands at INR 110cr. The investment firm is aiming to deploy the raised funding across 10-15 growth stage companies across Anicut and non-Anicut portfolios over a span of two years. Anicut Angel fund has deployed INR ~200cr in early and growth stage start-ups with cumulative AUM of INR 1600 cr. A few of Anicut's portfolio companies include brands like Neemans, Bira, Sugar cosmetics, Earth rhythm, Wingreens, Blue Tokai, Sharechat, Mcaffeine, Milkymist, XYXX, Curatio Healthcare, Agnikul and Grip Finance etc

ClimateTech Startup Climes Raises $1.2 Mn in Its 1st Round of Funding Led by Sequoia Capital India and Kalaari Capital

Climes Founders

Climes is addressing the gargantuan climate finance problem which has been a huge obstacle in the fight against climate change

Partnered with brands such as MakeMyTrip, zingbus and TEDx

Climes, a ClimateTech company, announces its first round of funding of USD 1.2 million. The company is building an engine that accelerates the flow of fresh capital towards climate solutions by making it convenient for brands and individuals to take meaningful climate action.

Founded by Anirudh Gupta (ex-Airbus) and Siddhanth Jayaram (ex-Kalaari Capital), Climes unlocks an untapped source of capital, amidst an urgent need to finance climate action. While total commitments for climate finance have steadily increased over the last decade, the actual ‘flow’ of capital to meet internationally agreed climate objectives significantly lags required levels. This is as per the 2021 edition of the Global Landscape of Climate Finance. It goes on to say that an increase of at least 590% in annual climate finance is required to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change. This is the problem that Climes takes head on.

The first round saw participation from Sequoia Capital India, Kalaari Capital, Nithin Kamath (Zerodha, Rainmatter), and Avaana Capital. Other notable participants in the round include Satyen Kothari (Cube Wealth) and Anshuman Bapna (Terra.do) from Stanford Angels, Keshav Reddy (Reddy Futures), and climate-tech founders Arjun Gupta (Smart Joules) & Akshay Singhal (Log9 Materials) among others.

On the announcement, Co-Founders, Anirudh & Siddhanth said “Finance is the single biggest lever to solve climate change. Fantastic projects and solutions for carbon mitigation exist all around us. However, the finance needed to scale these projects is simply not flowing fast enough. With this capital raise, Climes is i) building the necessary digital infrastructure to enable a big chunk of this money to flow transparently and ii) designing the right incentives for all market players to benefit. The delta of each rupee/dollar/euro that flows through Climes will have an outsized multiplier impact on global carbon mitigation.”

The Climes’ engine, at a macro-level, allows for a transparent flow of finance from where it is to where it needs to be. At a micro-level, it acts as the gateway for individuals and brands to take their first step towards climate action.

Climes’ mission is to reverse the effects of climate change by letting individuals take “climate action in a single click”. It is a first-of-its-kind climate start-up whose technology allows consumer-facing brands to go climate-positive in just a matter of hours. The tech-stack built by Climes integrates seamlessly into the checkout pages of everyday consumer brands.

With this, customers can neutralise emissions specific to their purchase or order. The emission calculations are based on accurate mathematical models, in line with global standards of carbon accounting. Next, they choose from a list of independently-certified (Verra, Gold Standard etc.) or rigorously verified climate solutions based in India. These solutions either remove atmospheric carbon by restoring green cover in degraded lands, or avoid additional emissions by replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources.

This individual-led climate action is enabled by consumer brands. Partnering with Climes is the quickest way for brands to become climate-positive and kickstart their sustainability agenda with minimal effort. Some of the brands associated with Climes so far include TEDx, MakeMyTrip, Wedding Brigade and Zingbus. There are at least a dozen more in the pipeline.

Vani Kola, Managing Director, Kalaari Capital said “The rising awareness of the need for carbon neutral lifestyle and climate costs require urgent new solutions. Entrepreneurs offering solutions with climate-sensitiveness can create key differentiating propositions. Sid and Ani have lofty goals to bring climate awareness and action. Climes’ solution makes it possible for brands to embark on that transition by allowing customers to carbon-neutralise every transaction”

Adding to this, Nithin Kamath, Founder & CEO, Zerodha & Rainmatter said “The ideal solution towards climate change problems is to reduce consumption which may not be possible at all times. Making people aware of their carbon footprint and then making it available to offset maybe a good mid-way path. We are excited to be a part of their journey and learn ourselves along the way.”

The company intends to use the capital on two fronts. One, deploy more integrations with brands in fashion, food, travel, beauty & personal care, and enable a pathway for brands to become climate leaders within their categories. And two, expand their tech-stack to swiftly onboard high-quality climate solutions within India, as well as to measure and report impact transparently.

According to the founders of Climes, any climate plan should follow a simple formula, devoid of current complexities - ‘Cut what you can, neutralise what you can’t.’ In other words, reduce avoidable emissions through climate-friendly operations, and neutralise unavoidable emissions, through platforms like Climes.

Village Capital and The Lightsmith Group To Accelerate 16 SMEs and Startups Scaling Climate Adaptation and Resilience Solutions in Africa and Asia

Applications Open In Africa and Asia For Adaptation SME Accelerator Project (ASAP)

Village Capital and The Lightsmith Group (“Lightsmith”) announced today that applications have opened in Africa and Asia for the Adaptation SME Accelerator Project (ASAP), a program for SMEs and startups that are scaling market-based and contextualized solutions to critical climate adaptation and resilience challenges.

"Accelerating the growth of selected climate adaptation solutions companies in developing countries is the key final step in the ASAP strategy," said Jay Koh, Managing Director of the Lightsmith Group. "By connecting SMEs identified through the Adaptation Solutions Taxonomy to resources of a world-class accelerator, we can demonstrate how these companies can scale up their solutions to the growing impacts of climate change, especially in the places that are most vulnerable."

"SMEs and startups provide the local, contextualized solutions for climate adaptation and resilience in developing countries." said Adedana Ashebir, Regional Director, Africa and Middle East at Village Capital, “Despite this fact, many struggle to secure financing and lack the operational capacity to scale their solutions. Through ASAP, companies at the intersection of impact, inclusion, and investability will have a chance to bring their ideas from vision to scale.”

ASAP is a grant-funded initiative led by The Lightsmith Group and supported by the Global Environment Facility’s Special Climate Change Fund, Conservation International, and the Inter-American Development Bank that seeks to build an ecosystem for small- to medium-sized companies in emerging markets that have technologies, products, and services that can be used to build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

“Developing countries’ climate adaptation needs are immense and diverse, and the private sector has an important role to play in filling the gap. In Asia and Africa, one of the biggest barriers to investment in climate resilience is the lack of financing available for small and medium-sized enterprises and their locally developed adaptation solutions,” said Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chairperson of the GEF. “The dedicated climate resilience accelerator under ASAP, a project supported by the Special Climate Change Fund, will help connect small businesses with investors and financing sources that can help them develop and grow innovative and impactful climate resilience products and services.”

Each of the sixteen companies selected for the accelerator will have the opportunity to work closely with industry experts, investors, and ecosystem partners to develop the networks they need to scale their impact.

All startups in the program will be invited to join Abaca, Village Capital’s global online platform that helps entrepreneurs analyze and prepare their businesses for investment. The network also matches them with the right investors and resources.

Applications close on January 31, 2022. Full details and eligibility criteria can be found at this link.

For more information, reach out to Rustin Finkler at Village Capital (rustin.finkler@vilcap.com) or Brian Parham at Lightsmith (brian.parham@lightsmithgp.com).

About Village Capital

Village Capital helps entrepreneurs bring big ideas from vision to scale. Our mission is to reinvent the system to back the entrepreneurs of the future. Our vision is a future where business creates equity and long-term prosperity. Since 2009, we have supported more than 1,000 early-stage entrepreneurs through our investment readiness programs. Our affiliated fund, VilCap Investments, has invested in more than 110 program graduates.

About The Lightsmith Group

The Lightsmith Group is an investment firm pursuing superior returns by investing in companies that address critical societal needs. Lightsmith invests in growth-stage companies providing technology-enabled business services and solutions in the areas of energy, water, food and agriculture, and climate resilience. Lightsmith won the Global Innovation Lab for Climate Finance competition in 2016 for its concept for the first climate adaptation and resilience private investment strategy and received the Lab’s formal endorsement in September 2017. For more information on The Lightsmith Group, please see: www.lightsmithgp.com. Lightsmith also oversees the Adaptation SME Accelerator Project (ASAP), an initiative supported by the Global Environment Facility, Conservation International, and the Inter-American Development Bank. For more information about ASAP, please see: www.climateasap.org.

About Conservation International

Conservation International works to protect the critical benefits that nature provides to people. Through science, partnerships and fieldwork, Conservaton International is driving innovation and investments in nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, supporting protections for critical habitats, and fostering economic development that is grounded in the conservation of nature. Conservation International works in 30 countries around the world, empowering societies at all levels to create a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet. Follow Conservation International's work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About The Global Environment Facility

The Global Environment Facility was established 30 years ago to tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental problems. Since then, it has provided more than $21.5 billion in grants and mobilized an additional $117 billion in co-financing for more than 5,000 projects and programs. The GEF is the largest multilateral trust fund focused on enabling developing countries to invest in nature and supports the implementation of major international environmental conventions including on biodiversity, climate change, chemicals, and desertification. It brings together 184 member governments in addition to civil society, international organizations, and private sector partners. For more information please see: www.thegef.org

About the Special Climate Change Fund

The GEF-managed Special Climate Change Fund has two decades of experience helping vulnerable countries adapt to a changing climate, focusing on bankable, innovative solutions that can be scaled. Since 2001, the SCCF has invested more than $360 million in adaptation measures that have benefited more than 7 million people and increased private sector engagement in climate resilience products and services. Through the SCCF, donor governments have supported the training of more than 200,000 people, expanded access to climate information services, and provided flexible solutions to enable developing countries including small island states to adapt to a fast-changing climate.

Microsoft Azure Powered Climate-Tech Startup Respirer Living Sciences to Provide Real Time Air Quality Levels Across 122 Indian Cities

Image ~ http://atmos.urbansciences.in/

Powered by Microsoft Azure, Respirer Living Sciences is simplifying air quality monitoring in India

Provides insights on critical air quality levels across 122 Indian cities

To help spread awareness about air quality, climate-tech startup Respirer Living Sciences has developed a dashboard that provides real-time access to air quality pollution data. Powered by Microsoft Azure, this dashboard data can be leveraged to devise solutions from citizens and policymakers to tackle air pollution.

With an objective to improve the quality of life for people, the team at Respirer evaluated several parameters and air quality stood out among them. The startup realized that people were keen to know about the air quality in their immediate surroundings. However, the cost of setting up air quality monitoring solutions was very high, which prompted Respirer to start developing affordable air quality monitoring platforms, using sensors and IoT. However, sensors sometimes malfunctioned and recorded unnecessary data and noise which sometimes led to inaccuracies.

To achieve complete accuracy in mentoring air quality data, Respirer collaborated with Microsoft Research (MSR) India’s Center for Societal Impact through Cloud and Artificial Intelligence (SCAI). The startup is one of the four organizations in the program’s first cohort. MSR enabled them to integrate fault detection technology in their platform. Respirer platforms also use a technique called dependable IoT, developed by researchers at MSR, that monitors the health of IoT-based devices using a fingerprint of their battery’s performance.

Using machine learning and data visualization, Respirer built a dashboard, enabled by Power BI, to study data from 240 government air quality monitors as part of the National Clean Air Program tracker. The Power BI dashboard is able to run the data through Azure’s SQL servers, making the process fast and seamless. More importantly, it enables the Respirer team to execute all of this with a shorter turnaround time and with a small development team. It also enables government officials to check if any of their monitoring stations go offline and repair them in real time.

He's on a mission to enhance the quality of the air we breathe. Catch @rsutaria, Founder & CEO, @urbansciencesIN on the latest episode of #MicrosoftElevatedPitch, where he talks about how his #Startup is solving the pollution problem in the country. pic.twitter.com/hp5l6KP1Go

— Microsoft India (@MicrosoftIndia) August 18, 2021

Ronak Sutaria, Founder of Respirer Living Sciences said -

About 40 out of the 240 Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Stations set up by the government are in and around Delhi alone, which is why it’s no surprise that the city always leads in conversations around air pollution. Even in places where data exists, it’s stored in databases that not many track regularly or are not accessible to citizens. Scientific and accurate data in this space can provide meaningful insights and increase awareness about air quality across the country to enable greater involvement and action from citizens and policy makers.

The Respirer solution costs one-twentieth the price for installation of a regulatory air quality monitoring system. It provides easy access to data around historical trends and levels of different pollutants across individual cities on a yearly basis or during different times of the day. It also enables anyone to select different filters to get insights that are meaningful to them, thus eliminating the need for any data science knowledge.

Ronak added, "Typically, it would have taken us four to six months and a team of developers to pull out all the analytics and visualize that amount of data at these depths. But with Power BI, we were able to execute this project in just a little under four weeks with just one analytics engineer."

Respirer’s long-term vision is to create a network of low-cost air quality monitoring sensors to provide a wider scientific view of the air that India breathes. A reasonable analysis of air quality index in India will require a simplified collection of data across 4,000 to 8,000 locations in the country. The startup’s plan is to fill this gap with affordable air quality monitoring devices.

Around 1,000 Respirer devices have been used by housing societies, schools, industrial companies, and even government organizations for monitoring air quality in their locations. Respirer is working towards building a platform to make the data publicly available, across a unified platform, allowing delivery of hyper-local air quality data so citizens know the quality of air they are breathing at not just city level but even at a neighborhood level.