ClimateTech Founders Summit 2023

Three years after a once-in-a-generation pandemic, we have continued to be in crisis mode, with global supply chain disruptions, inflation, an energy crisis and an ongoing war in Europe. While we’re fighting various crises, the biggest challenge humanity faces is still not being addressed sufficiently: the climate crisis. 

Yet, there are more founders, start ups and investors focused on climate change than ever before. So what’s missing? 

Under the 2023 theme of ‘Pivot’ we are looking for answers to this question. What do we need to do to massively scale climate solutions? How can founders set themselves up for global scale & what support is needed from the ecosystem?  

On November 7th and 8th, 2023 - three weeks before the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates - we participated in our third virtual trans-Atlantic summit, where we heard innovative perspectives accompanied with unique opportunities to connect with fellow disruptors, creative businesses and impact-driven leaders.

It’s time to Connect. Collaborate. Disrupt.

Review Some of the Speakers:

Maiko Schaffrath, Founder & CEO, Impact Hustlers
Avra van der Zee, COO @ Elemental Excelerator
Candice Ammori, Founder @ The Climate Vine
Andrea Canepa, Managing Director, Net Zero Insights
Henry Hamilton, Investment Manager, Mercia Ventures
Akshat Rathi, Senior Reporter & Author, Bloomberg
Michal Nachmany, Founder & CEO @ Climate Policy Radar
Tim Schumacher, Co-Founder, World Fund
Margarita Skarkou, Partner, 2150
Chante Harris, Managing Director @ Something New - Stealth
Karolina Attspodina, Co-Founder & CEO @ We do Solar
…And More!

Opportunities to Participate During the Summit

The largest global gathering of climate innovators!

ClimateTech Founders Summit was initiated by 1014, Impact Hustlers and Changenow

The Summit 2022 was supported by these ecosystem partners

The ClimateTech Founders Summit launched in 2021, as some of the best climate tech founders from across Europe and North America met to form new friendships and partnerships and define the future of climate tech. With over 1,200 people having registered for the 2022 ClimateTech Summit, we’re on track to becoming one of the largest online gatherings for thought-leaders, change makers and impact-driven entrepreneurs.

ClimateTech Founders Summit 2022

2030 seemed so far when the Sustainable goals were set up, but fast forward to today, and we’re only 86 months away from the climate goals once set out to achieve a more sustainable, healthy world for everyone. With a steady increase of the industry, from innovation to funding, now more than ever it’s time to take our community along for the ride with us.

Re-view all 2022 sessions

Pitch for Climate: Launched Category

Pitch for Climate is an exciting competition for innovative, early-stage businesses to showcase their business in front of international leaders who are continually elevating and pushing the boundaries of what impact businesses can have on the planet. Listen to Round 1 to hear innovative ideas from early-stage businesses. Featured judges include Dimitry Gershenson, CoFounder & CEO, Enduring Planet, and Margarita Skarkou, ClimateTech VC, 2150.

On a Journey to a Gigaton Scale

In this session, Julie Gosalvez, CMO at Climeworks, will take you on the Climeworks journey, from an ETH spin-off, created in 2009, to one of the global leaders in the field, as Carbon removal becomes a trillion-dollar market.

How to Un**** the Planet

As we continue to identify impact driven approaches to businesses, now more than ever, we need to create pathways into and outside of our own industry. It’s time to go outside the ClimateTech bubble and create access to the impact sphere. Featuring Clay Dumas, Co-Founder, LowerCarbon Capital, and Mia Diawara, Partner, LowerCarbon Capital.

The State of ClimateTech

This conversation, with Sophie Purdom, Co-Founder, Climate Tech VC, provided an overview of the ever-evolving climate tech industry, the role of investors in climate tech innovation, and ways to get involved in the climate tech landscape.

Funding the FAANG of ClimateTech: Hunting the Gigacorns

FAANG companies — Facebook (now Meta Platforms), Amazon, Apple, Netflix and Google (now Alphabet) — have disrupted the way we view business. Is this something the ClimateTech industry should be striving for? Featuring Mara Steinbrenner, Project, Lead, Impact Festival; Chante Harris, ClimateTech Strategist, Schmidt Future; Jacob Bro, Co-Founder, 2150; Patrick Sheehan, Co-Founder, ETF Partners; and Tim Schumacher, Co-Founder, Sedo.com.

New Tools for Climate Hope

As companies are pushed to recognise their impact on the planet, more and more are being held accountable for their means and ends. Listen to this session — with Elliot Coad, Co-Founder & CEO, Ecologi — to hear how you can ensure you are not falling into the greenwashing trap and truly working towards effective solutions for the climate crisis.

The State of ClimateTech Jobs

This discussion, with Evan Hynes, Co-Founder & CEO, ClimateBase, covered hiring platforms used in the climate industry, the hiring strategies that different climate companies use, and the challenges they face hiring new talent.

Pitch For Climate: Ideas Round

Pitch for Climate is an exciting competition for innovative, early stage businesses to showcase their business in front of international leaders who are continually elevating and pushing the boundaries of what impact businesses can have on the planet. Featuring judges Mia Diawara, Partner, LowerCarbon Capital; Shilpi Kumar, Partner, Third Sphere; and Samia Qader, Investor, Climate VC.

Building a Career in ClimateTech

We need solutions and impact-driven approaches to tackle the climate crisis, and it’s essential to look beyond the “known” skills, values and in order to enact true change. Featuring Candice Ammori, Director - ClimateTech, On Deck.

Diverting the Best Talent into ClimateTech

The industry can be exclusive, and closed off to the “average professional”. In this panel, industry leaders share practical insight on how we can open our doors to more talent and solution-driven professionals. Featuring Jack Fritzinger, Founder, The Climate Guild; Dolly Singh, Founding Partners, Earth Partners; and Anshuman Bapna, Founder, Terra.do.

Addressing the New Collective with Climate Imagination

As we focus on creating solutions, innovating best practice and redefining how things are done, we can forget why we’re doing all of this….for people. Featuring Nivi Achanta, Founder & CEO, Soapbox Project.

How to Launch Your Start Up Career

Are you thinking about launching a Climate Startup? In this session, Maiko Schaffrath, Founder, Impact Hustlers, discusses how you can get started and be part of the solution to climate change.

Partnerships for Impact: Finding the Success Corporate Startup Partnerships

It may seem counterintuitive to work with the largest businesses out there, but how else can we create change in the structures that hold up the world? Featuring Maiko Schaffrath, Founder, Impact Hustlers; Daniel Kriozere, Partner, Republic; and Thomas Folker, Co-Founder & CEO, Leap.

Bursting the Bubble: Global Opportunities for an Inclusive ClimateTech Ecosystem

As we rebuild the planet (literally), there is also an opportunity to redefine how business and industry is conducted. Featuring Viraj Sawant, PhD Student, UCLA; Nalin Agarwal, Partner, Climate Collective; and James Regulinski, Co-Founder, Carbon Collective.

Aligning Activism, Policy & Innovation to Maximise Impact

As an industry tasked to solve some of the biggest issues the planet is facing, it’s becoming more apparent that the industry can not do it alone. True change and solutions to our climate crisis comes from collaborating. Featuring Maiko Schaffrath, Founder, Impact Hustlers; Louis Jamart, Climate & Health Lead, PUBLIC; Santiago Levebvre, Founder & CEO, ChangeNOW; and Tomer Shalit, Founder & CPO, ClimateView.

How do we Improve Public Private Sector Collaboration
Curious about how disruptive companies connect with the wider world? Intrigued by how founders outreach and build for the public? Learn how you can move outside of your current network to create connections like never before. Featuring Tara Phum, Founder & CEO, Numina; and Avra Van Der Zee, COO, Elemental.

ClimateTech Founders Summit 2022: Speaker Testimonials

ClimateTech Founders Summit 2021

In November 2021, world leaders came together in Glasgow, Scotland, to discuss the steps needed to reach the 1.5-degree target and limit the impact of Climate Change. While agreements made by policymakers and the world's largest corporates are essential, we believe that climate change can only be halted if one group is closely involved: entrepreneurs and startup founders — those that develop impact-driven business models which don't rely on the exploitation of resources, but create a net-positive impact instead.