Top 14 Venture Capital Firms for CleanTech Startups

When you're preparing to raise capital for your CleanTech startup, knowing which investors to approach is critical. Finding a partner who understands the specifics of climate tech or green technology can make all the difference. It ensures you're talking to people who value your mission from the start.

To help you identify the right investors, our team has put together this guide to the top venture capital firms in the space. We've highlighted key players to give you a straightforward overview of your options before or during your fundraise.

Actively raising? You can now access non-dilutive funding options like venture debt and credit lines through Rho Capital. Rho provides access to business banking, corporate cards, and bill pay—all built for startup teams moving fast.

Key Takeaways

• Securing venture funding provides your CleanTech startup with the capital and strategic support needed to scale your operations and impact.
• Firms like Third Sphere, Clean Energy Ventures, Powerhouse Ventures, and The Westly Group are notable backers in the CleanTech industry, actively investing in companies with environmental missions.
• Whether you are actively raising or have just closed a round, our platform helps you manage your new capital with integrated business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

Which VC Firms in CleanTech Are Right for Your Stage?

Whether your company is in its early stages or preparing for an exit, knowing which investors to approach is key. Here’s a brief overview of CleanTech VC firms and the stages where they invest.

Pre-seed and Seed VC Firms in CleanTech

Pre-seed and seed funding is the earliest capital you'll raise, often used to develop your initial product and establish market fit. Some seed stage venture capital firms that focus on green tech include Powerhouse Ventures, Evergreen Climate Innovations, and Energy Foundry.

Early Stage VC Firms in CleanTech

Early-stage funding, typically Series A and B, is for startups with proven traction that need capital to scale their team and operations. For founders in this phase, early stage VC firms like Third Sphere and Clean Energy Ventures are active investors in the climate tech space.

Late Stage VC Firms in CleanTech

Late-stage rounds provide significant capital to established companies for rapid growth, market expansion, or to prepare for an exit through an acquisition or IPO. Notable late stage venture capital firms, including California-based investors like The Westly Group and DBL Partners, have a history of backing major clean technology companies.

Many climate tech venture capital firms invest across multiple stages, from seed to exit. As you grow, non-dilutive financing can be a great complement to equity, and Rho Capital can help you access venture debt and other options to extend your runway. Once you secure funding, our integrated platform helps you manage it with business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay.

To help you identify the best partners for your company, we've outlined key details for top VC firms in the CleanTech sector. The following list covers their investment stages, geographic focus, and what makes each one unique.

1. Third Sphere

Third Sphere is an early-stage venture firm that invests in companies aiming for significant climate impact and financial returns. They focus on solutions that can scale quickly to address environmental challenges.

The firm invests across a range of industries, including CleanTech, GovTech, and Real Estate, showing a broad interest in foundational technologies. Their portfolio includes notable companies like vertical-farming startup Bowery Farming and several successful exits to major corporations like BP and Michelin.

Founders with scalable technology in climate, government, or real estate sectors may find Third Sphere to be a good partner. As you consider equity partners, Rho Capital can also help you access non-dilutive financing to complement your fundraise and extend your runway.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Private Equity, and Debt
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, GovTech, Real Estate, Smart Buildings
• Geographical Presence: Based in New York
• Founded: 2013
• Notable Investments: Bowery Farming, Mark43, Blueprint Power
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 130 investments and 10 exits.

You can refer to their website here.

2. Clean Energy Ventures

Clean Energy Ventures invests in companies bringing new energy technologies and business models to market. They focus on startups with the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The firm backs companies with deep technical foundations, such as Advanced Ionics, which is developing low-cost green hydrogen, and LineVision, which helps utilities increase capacity on existing power lines. Their portfolio companies often attract strategic investment from major corporations, indicating strong industry validation.

This firm is a good match for founders with hardware or deep-tech solutions that address major decarbonization challenges. Once you secure funding, our platform can help you manage your new capital with integrated banking and spending tools.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage, Late Stage Venture, Convertible Note
• Industries of Focus: Clean Energy, CleanTech
• Geographical Presence: Based in Boston
• Founded: 2017
• Notable Investments: OXCCU, LineVision, Nth Cycle, Advanced Ionics
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 60 investments

You can refer to their website here.

3. Powerhouse Ventures

Powerhouse Ventures backs seed-stage startups developing software to accelerate decarbonization in the global energy and mobility industries. They focus on companies with innovative digital solutions designed for significant environmental impact.

The firm shows a clear preference for software-based models, supporting companies like Raptor Maps, a solar asset management platform. This focus suggests an interest in capital-efficient businesses that can scale quickly to address climate issues.

This firm is a strong match for founders using a software-first approach to solve problems in renewable energy or transportation. As you prepare your seed round, remember that non-dilutive financing can be a powerful complement, and Rho Capital can help you access options to extend your runway.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Convertible Note
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, Software, Energy, Mobility
• Geographical Presence: Based in Oakland, California
• Founded: 2018
• Notable Investments: Raptor Maps
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 47 investments and 6 exits

You can refer to their website here.

4. The Westly Group

The Westly Group is a venture capital firm that invests across multiple stages, from seed to private equity. Based in Menlo Park, they have a history of backing businesses in the CleanTech and service industries.

The firm is known for backing category-defining companies, with a portfolio that includes major names like Tesla, Procore, and Planet Labs. Their track record shows a focus on businesses with strong exit potential, including SentinelOne's record-setting IPO and Luminar's SPAC merger.

This firm is a good fit for founders with ambitious, high-growth companies that have the potential for a large public exit. As you prepare for your fundraise, Rho Capital can help you access non-dilutive financing to strengthen your position before talking to equity partners.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, Service Industry
• Geographical Presence: Based in Menlo Park, California
• Founded: 2007
• Notable Investments: Tesla, SentinelOne, Luminar Technologies, Procore, Planet Labs
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 100 investments and 25 exits

You can refer to their website here.

5. SE Ventures

SE Ventures is a global venture capital fund with over $1 billion in assets, backed by industrial technology leader Schneider Electric. They invest in companies developing solutions for climate, energy, and industrial efficiency.

As a corporate venture arm, they have a clear focus on technologies that complement Schneider Electric's business, from AI-driven energy platforms to industrial cybersecurity. Their portfolio includes unicorns like Scandit and Claroty, alongside strategic acquisitions and public listings.

The firm is a great match for founders in industrial tech or energy whose products could align with a global corporation like Schneider Electric. Once you secure funding from a strategic partner, our integrated platform helps you manage and deploy your new capital efficiently with tools for banking, corporate cards, and bill pay.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, Sustainability, Industrial Automation, Energy, AI
• Geographical Presence: Based in Menlo Park, California
• Founded: 2017
• Notable Investments: AutoGrid, Scandit, Proterra, Volta Charging, Claroty
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 45 investments and 4 exits

You can refer to their website here.

6. Blue Bear Capital

Blue Bear Capital invests in companies that apply data-driven technologies and AI to improve energy and industrial infrastructure.

The firm has a clear focus on digital solutions for traditional sectors, backing companies like FreeWire Technologies, which develops EV chargers, and TruckLabs, which creates fuel-saving aerodynamics. Once you secure funding, our platform helps you manage your new capital with integrated banking and spending tools.

This firm is a strong match for founders with software or data-science solutions for the energy and infrastructure markets. As you evaluate equity partners, Rho Capital can also help you access non-dilutive financing to strengthen your capital strategy.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Convertible Note
• Industries of Focus: AI, Data, Energy, Infrastructure, CleanTech, SaaS
• Geographical Presence: Based in Los Angeles
• Founded: 2016
• Notable Investments: FreeWire Technologies, TruckLabs, Ocient
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 67 investments and 4 exits

You can refer to their website here.

7. DBL Partners

DBL Partners is a venture capital firm known for its "double bottom line" investment strategy, backing companies that deliver both strong financial returns and positive social or environmental benefits. They invest across multiple stages, from seed to private equity, focusing on businesses with a clear mission.

The firm has a history of backing transformative companies. Their portfolio highlights include early investments in Tesla, SpaceX, SolarCity, and The RealReal, as well as satellite-imagery company Planet. This track record signals a focus on high-growth companies with the potential for market-defining outcomes.

This firm is a good fit for founders whose companies have a core mission tied to social or environmental impact. As you prepare for your fundraise, Rho Capital can help you access non-dilutive financing to strengthen your position, and once you secure funding, our integrated platform helps you manage and deploy your new capital efficiently.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Private Equity, Debt
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, Sustainability, Impact Investing, Information Technology, Health Care
• Geographical Presence: Based in San Francisco
• Founded: 2004
• Notable Investments: Tesla, SpaceX, SolarCity, The RealReal, Planet
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 80 investments and 14 exits

You can refer to their website here.

8. Evergreen Climate Innovations

Evergreen Climate Innovations supports early-stage startups that are bringing impactful climate technologies to market. They provide capital and support to help entrepreneurs scale their solutions.

The firm has a history of backing companies with tangible products, from NanoGraf's energy-dense batteries to Wright Electric's zero-emission aircraft. Their focus on businesses with clear exit potential is demonstrated by the successful acquisition of car-pooling platform SPLT by Bosch.

This firm is a good match for founders at the seed or early stages whose companies are centered on impactful climate solutions. As you prepare for your fundraise, Rho Capital can also help you access non-dilutive financing to complement your equity round and strengthen your capital strategy.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of Focus: Clean Energy, CleanTech, Impact Investing, Renewable Energy
• Geographical Presence: Based in Chicago
• Founded: 2010
• Notable Investments: SPLT, Wright Electric, NanoGraf Technologies
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 47 investments and 5 exits

You can refer to their website here.

9. Neotribe Ventures

Neotribe Ventures is an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in breakthrough technologies. They focus on companies with ambitious ideas that have the potential to redefine their industries.

The firm has a strong track record of backing companies through to major exits, including the Robinhood IPO and the acquisition of CipherTrace by Mastercard. This history signals a focus on high-growth businesses with clear paths to liquidity, particularly in deep tech and enterprise software.

This firm is a good match for founders developing highly technical or imaginative solutions with large market potential. As you prepare for your fundraise, Rho Capital can help you access non-dilutive financing to strengthen your position before talking to equity partners.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Private Equity
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, Cyber Security, Enterprise Software, Robotics
• Geographical Presence: Based in San Francisco
• Founded: 2017
• Notable Investments: Robinhood, Energy Vault, Heliogen, CipherTrace
• Portfolio Snapshot: 77 investments and 8 exits

You can refer to their website here.

10. Lateral Frontiers

Lateral Frontiers is a venture fund that invests in early and growth-stage companies across Africa. They support businesses that are building foundational technology for the continent.

The firm backs companies that become regional leaders, attracting major global investors like Andreessen Horowitz and Tiger Global to their portfolio. Their investment in Octavia Carbon, the first direct-air-capture startup in the Global South, shows a focus on globally significant climate technology.

This firm is a good fit for founders building technology-driven businesses for the African market, from FinTech to CleanTech. As you prepare to raise capital, Rho Capital can help you access non-dilutive financing to strengthen your position before approaching equity partners.

• Investment Stages: Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture, Debt
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, FinTech, Health Care, Logistics, Mobile
• Geographical Presence: Africa-focused, based in New York
• Founded: 2017
• Notable Investments: Octavia Carbon, Carry1st, Mono, SeamlessHR
• Portfolio Snapshot: 48 investments and 1 exit

You can refer to their website here.

11. Earth Foundry

Earth Foundry is a Chicago-based venture fund that invests in early-stage energy and CleanTech startups. They provide capital to companies developing new solutions for the power grid, energy efficiency, and storage.

The firm backs companies with strong technical foundations that go on to become market leaders. Their portfolio includes cybersecurity unicorn Dragos, smart-panel maker Span, and battery innovator NanoGraf, showing a focus on businesses with clear paths to major milestones and successful exits.

This firm is a good fit for founders at the seed or early stages with deep-tech solutions for the energy industry. As you prepare for your fundraise, Rho Capital can also help you access non-dilutive financing to complement your equity round and strengthen your capital strategy.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, Energy, Power Grid, Impact Investing
• Geographical Presence: Based in Chicago
• Founded: 2013
• Notable Investments: Dragos, Span, NanoGraf Technologies
• Portfolio Snapshot: 35 investments and 5 exits

You can refer to their website here.

12. Fledge

Fledge operates as a global network of business accelerators, focusing on for-profit companies with a clear social or environmental mission. They provide capital and structured support to early-stage ventures aiming for significant impact.

The firm’s portfolio includes companies like Evrnu, a textile recycling innovator, and Burn Manufacturing, which makes high-efficiency cookstoves, showing a focus on tangible, sustainable products. This makes Fledge a great choice for founders of mission-driven companies who are looking for hands-on guidance, and as you prepare, Rho Capital can help you access non-dilutive financing to strengthen your capital strategy.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Debt
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, Sustainability, AgTech, Social Impact, Renewable Energy
• Geographical Presence: Based in Seattle with a global network
• Founded: 2012
• Notable Investments: Evrnu, Burn Manufacturing, Shift Labs
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 89 investments

You can refer to their website here.

13. Trousdale Ventures

Trousdale Ventures is a venture capital firm that backs mission-driven companies aiming to create positive global change. Based in Los Angeles, they invest across a wide range of sectors, from CleanTech and transportation to consumer goods.

The firm is known for backing highly ambitious companies, with a portfolio that includes major names like SpaceX, Neuralink, and The Boring Company. This track record indicates an appetite for ventures with transformative potential and significant market impact.

This firm is a good fit for founders with bold, category-defining ideas that have the potential for massive scale. As you prepare to approach investors with this level of ambition, Rho Capital can help you access non-dilutive financing to strengthen your position.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of Focus: CleanTech, GreenTech, Electric Vehicle, Transportation, Consumer Goods
• Geographical Presence: Based in Los Angeles
• Founded: 2019
• Notable Investments: SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Company, Solugen, Hagerty
• Portfolio Snapshot: 86 investments and 1 exit

You can refer to their website here.

14. Prelude Ventures

Prelude Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in companies developing climate-focused technology. They support businesses across multiple stages, from seed to late-stage, with an emphasis on solutions that can make a significant environmental difference.

The firm invests broadly within the climate space, backing companies in AgTech, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing. Their portfolio includes several high-profile unicorns and public companies, including Lime and Planet, which indicates a focus on businesses with the potential for major market impact and successful exits.

This firm is a good match for founders with high-growth companies that have a clear path to market leadership. As you prepare for your fundraise, Rho Capital can help you access non-dilutive financing to strengthen your position before talking to equity partners.

• Investment Stages: Seed, Early Stage Venture, Late Stage Venture
• Industries of Focus: AgTech, Clean Energy, Carbon Capture, Food and Beverage, Manufacturing
• Geographical Presence: Based in San Francisco
• Founded: 2013
• Notable Investments: Lime, Planet, Fervo Energy, GreenLight Biosciences, Benson Hill
• Portfolio Snapshot: Over 150 investments and 14 exits

You can refer to their website here.

What This Tells Us About The VC Scene for CleanTech Companies

This list of investors shows a broad and mature funding environment for companies in the CleanTech sector. You'll find strong support across the board, from seed firms that back new ideas to late-stage partners funding major growth. This balance means there are viable funding paths available, whether your company is in its early days or preparing to scale.

While many top firms are in hubs like the Bay Area, there are also key investors in New York, Boston, and Chicago, giving you geographic flexibility. As you plan your equity round, Rho Capital can connect you with non-dilutive options to strengthen your financial position. Once you secure funding, our integrated platform helps you manage that new capital with the banking and spending tools needed for growth.

Raise Confidently with Rho

Knowing which investors to approach saves you critical time and effort during a fundraise. A targeted list helps you focus on partners who are genuinely aligned with your company's mission.

If you’re seeking funding, Rho Capital connects you to non-dilutive funding options like venture debt and credit lines through a fast, guided process. Once capital is secured, Rho provides integrated tools—business banking, corporate cards, and automated bill pay—to help you manage and deploy funds efficiently.

FAQs about Venture Capital Firms Focused on CleanTech

What are the main hubs for CleanTech venture capital firms in the US?

Key hubs for CleanTech VCs include the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, and New York. These cities have a high concentration of investors focused on funding companies with environmental missions, from seed stage to late stage.

What do early-stage CleanTech VC firms look for in a startup?

Early-stage firms look for a strong team, a clear technological advantage, and evidence of product-market fit. Once funded, our platform helps you manage your new capital with integrated banking, cards, and automated payments.

Are there many CleanTech venture capital firms in Europe?

Yes, Europe has a growing number of CleanTech venture capital firms, particularly in cities like London, Berlin, and Stockholm. These investors are actively funding solutions in renewable energy, sustainability, and industrial efficiency across the continent.

How is a corporate venture capital firm different?

Corporate VCs are investment arms of large corporations. They often seek strategic alignment with their parent company's business, providing startups with capital, industry expertise, and potential partnership opportunities for faster growth.

How can my startup get funding without giving up equity?

You can access non-dilutive financing like venture debt or credit lines. Our team at Rho connects you with these options, helping you secure capital to extend your runway without diluting your ownership.