Investments
Backing Founders who solve our planet's most pressing challenges
Our investments in startups generate a direct impact that is measurable. Clima Now makes pre-seed & seed investments of up to half a million Swiss Francs from companies based in Western Europe.
Our investment focus
We invest in startups that offer a solution for tackling the planet's largest environmental problems. We focus our investment activities on GET FAST DRAWDOWN:
GET
Green Energy Transition
The decarbonization of the energy sector and associated value chains is a critical success factor on the path to a netzero world. We focus on solutions which optimize energy utilization, stabilize grids and integrate green energy effectively. We back solutions that minimize project risks for CAPEX-intensive infrastructure while creating positive feedback loops to attract profit-oriented capital for new energy investments.
FAST
Food & Agricultural System Transition
The agricultural sector contributes 20% to the total annual GHG emissions and practices lead to land surface sealing, loss of biodiversity and replacement of wetlands and forests by agriculture. We back solutions that reduce agricultural losses throughout the production chain, optimize energy efficiency and that promote a shift towards plant-based diets, ensuring nutritional security.
DRAWDOWN
Carbon Drawdown
To mitigate climate change, we are focusing not only on reducing carbon emissions but also on backing Negative Emission Technologies (NETs) that permanently capture atmospheric carbon. We back Carbon Dioxide Removal technologies distinguished by high permanence of carbon storage and strong scalability without compromising the environment.
What Impact Investing means to us
Our impact strategy centers on responsible, science-backed solutions that substantially drive system change within our three focus areas. We exclusively support purpose-driven founders whose business models' success is directly tied to positive and measurable impact on a net zero world. We review the impact of the solutions using our internal impact framework. Together with the start-ups, we continuously monitor their key performance indicators (KPIs) and their overall potential.
What startups are we looking for?
- Diverse and purpose-driven founders: It is our responsibility to provide capital to founding teams that are value-driven and diverse. We firmly believe that diverse and inclusive teams work better in the long term.
- Scalable business models with quantifiable impact: We seek solutions that play a signifcant role in changing global systems by mitigating climate change effects or promoting resource efficent practices & processes. Large markets are addressed and the climate impact is directly linked to the business success of the start-ups.
- Early-stage with industry disruption potential: We seek early-stage solutions (pre-seed/seed) with breakthrough technologies (TRL<7) based in Western Europe. We support solutions with tickets ranging from CHF 0.2 - 0.5 M and and attach great importance to the composition of the investor consortium. We don't lead rounds.
We pursued these approaches in 2024
At the beginning of 2024, we set strategic key areas for our investment focus topics. This is how we worked on and implemented them this year:
- Green Energy Transition: 🔋Energy Storage and Grid Power Communities
The continuous increase in renewable energies is driving the need for effective long-duration energy storage solutions that go beyond conventional Li-ion batteries such as thermal or mechanical energy storage. We also see rare metals and minerals as critical raw materials in the energy transition and are paying close attention to battery recycling technologies that address this.
âž” We have placed a focus on delving deeper into the area of Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES) and have published an in-depth deep dive including a comparison of the various LDES technologies.
- Food & Agricultural System Transition: 🌾Climate-Smart & Regenerative Agriculture
Upstream food production must become more sustainable and more adaptable to a changing climate. We are monitoring and supporting new agricultural practices and the further expansion of viable and climate-friendly low-tech food sources to meet the calorie needs of a global population of 10 billion people by 2050.
âž” To explore potential solutions, we conducted an in-depth analysis with over 15 expert interviews, focusing on innovations in green ammonia and alternative fertilizers. These solutions have the potential to reduce dependence on high-emission synthetic fertilizers while improving soil health and crop resilience to climate change. Our ultimate goal is to secure an investment that benefits both farmers and consumers.
- Carbon Drawdown: 🌊 Blue Carbon
The world's oceans have absorbed more than 90% of the excess heat caused by humans and offer significant potential for carbon dioxide storage (15 gigatonnes annually). However, they are threatened by increasing CO2 saturation and ocean acidification, which puts immense pressure on marine ecosystems.
âž” We have invested this year in the Hamburg-based company Planeteers, which accelerates the natural process of converting industrial CO2 by neutralizing it with limestone into mineralized water that is stored in the oceans for more than 10,000 years. Their method helps to counteract the acidification of the oceans caused by climate change. Clima Now is investing in Planeteers because carbon removal is crucial to achieving net-zero targets, and we are also sponsoring a test in the Elbe with a research grant to create an MRV model and help quantify their greenhouse gas emission reduction.
Do you have a startup in the areas of Green Energy Transition, Food & Agriculture or Carbon Drawdown and are looking for an investor?
The Investment Committee
“Our Earth is our heritage. I am assuming responsibility for this. Now!”
Martin Meili worked for 30 years as a general practitioner in a group practice in Zurich. Through datuma.ch, he and his brothers have been funding projects that are combating climate change for a long time already. In 1970, he took part in the first-ever Earth Day as an exchange student in the USA and already then was confronted with the problems of climate change and the “point of no return”. With his commitment to Clima Now, he would like to work to ensure that viable solutions are at last promoted and appropriate measures adopted. Martin is president of the foundation board of Clima Now.
“I want to actively shape the future instead of waiting.”
Swiss-born Nathalie, who has a Spanish background, was already influenced in her childhood by the social commitment of her parents, who worked in India. After graduating from the University of St. Gallen and subsequently working in consulting with PwC in London and Bain & Company and Zurich, she was employed by LGT Venture Philanthropy before founding her own consultancy, mavia, in Zurich in 2012.
The idea for Clima Now originated from her many years of cooperation with the Meili family, out of a shared desire to focus on the most important issue facing society today and to pool resources accordingly. Nathalie is the Executive Director of Clima Now.
The future belongs to those who innovate for a greener world
From a young age, Marco was profoundly inspired by people who embrace risks and envision a brighter world. Consequently, he pursued his studies in Entrepreneurship at the Copenhagen Business School. He was astounded by the significant strides that the Nordic country had taken in climate action compared to Switzerland. Marco dedicated the following years to establishing innovative ventures for the Migros Group, with the goal of enhancing the overall quality of life in Switzerland.
He firmly believes in the transformative potential of creative destruction, where innovative solutions combined with capital, drive the societal changes necessary to safeguard our climate.
«Innovative approaches like that of Clima Now are needed to counteract climate change. Through my participation on the Investment Committee, I hope to be able to make a small contribution to the Foundation’s success.»
Dirk Muenchis an analyst, entrepreneur and impact investor. He co-founded Persistent, the largest impact venture builder in Africa, which has led to the formation of over 15 companies. Dirk is a co-founder of the Energy Access Entrepreneur Fund, which finances energy companies in Africa through their early growth stages, and an independent board member at Übermorgen Ventures. Dirk’s motivation is to foster global sustainable development and in particular to minimize climate change.
Tina Dreimann is co-founder and managing director of better ventures and, as an investor, wants to shift the fixed stars of our economy. With better ventures, she supports founders by bringing relevant entrepreneurial experience and a relevant network beyond initial financing. Tina has helped build various start-ups. She is convinced that value-driven entrepreneurs improve the world and that profit should not take precedence over impact.