TLDR:
Key Points:
- Pollination, a specialist investment firm, has launched a $150 million venture capital fund to support climate and nature startups.
- The fund will target energy, transport, food and agriculture, carbon and nature management, and the circular economy.
A rapidly growing investment firm, Pollination, has announced a new $150 million venture capital fund to support climate and nature startups in Australia. Founded by climate and environmental law expert Martijn Wilder, the fund will provide up to $12 million in funding to selected companies in emerging sectors. With an initial commitment from Queensland Investment Corporation, the fund will focus on energy, transport, food and agriculture, carbon and nature management, and the circular economy of recycling and reuse.
Pollination’s chief investment officer, Diana Callebaut, highlighted Australia’s potential in early-stage investment, particularly in energy markets, carbon measurement, and land regeneration. The fund aims to begin making investments later in 2024, with a focus on supporting local innovators working on global climate change challenges. The fund will also help close the funding gap experienced by early-stage companies in these sectors.
Notable companies already in Pollination’s portfolio include carbon accountants FlintPro, seaweed farmer Sea Forest, sustainable food company Goterra, energy startup MGA Thermal, and emissions platform Ruminati. The fund is expected to take three to five years to allocate capital, with a plan to reinvest in top opportunities.
Overall, the new venture capital fund from Pollination aims to drive innovation in climate and nature startups, supporting the growth of these sectors in Australia while addressing global challenges such as climate change and nature preservation.
