Latest news with #climateTech
Entrepreneur
19 hours ago
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Stride Green, Khari Foods, and The Tarzan Way Raise Early-Stage Funding
The Indian brands have announced their latest investment rounds. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Stride Green Raises USD 3.5 Mn Funding Led by Micelio Stride Green has raised USD 3.5 million in a seed round led by Micelio Technology Fund and Incubate Fund Asia, along with other strategic investors. The funding will be deployed to scale its tech-enabled asset financing and lifecycle management solutions for India's clean energy sectors, including electric mobility, battery storage, and renewable energy. It will also be used to expand the team and deepen technological capabilities. Founded by Ishpreet Gandhi and Vivek Jain, Stride Green is a climate-tech platform offering end-to-end leasing, financing, and lifecycle management services for sustainable businesses. Its proprietary technology stack provides real-time analytics, operational alerts, and insights that enhance asset performance and longevity. Currently, the Gurugram-based platform manages over 3,000 cleantech assets and partners with OEMs and logistics companies. "At Stride Green, we're driven by deep domain expertise and a clear purpose to develop innovative and scalable solutions for the climate-tech ecosystem," said Vivek Jain, Co-Founder and CEO. "With mission-aligned partners like Micelio and Incubate, we are empowered to deliver high-impact solutions for a more sustainable future." Stride Green now aims for vertical and geographic expansion, positioning itself as a critical enabler in India's green economy transition. Khari Foods Secures INR 3 Cr from Meri Punji IMF Grahill Wellness, the parent company of Delhi-based clean-label brand Khari Foods has raised INR 3 crore in a seed round led by Meri Punji IMF Private Limited to scale its healthy snacking footprint nationwide. The funds will be deployed toward product innovation, team expansion, R&D, and strengthening marketing and distribution across tier I and tier II cities. Founded in 2022 by Yash (Co-Founder and CEO) and Sunil Bansal (Co-Founder and COO), Khari Foods offers palm oil-free, maida-free snacks enriched with fibre and micronutrients. Its diverse product line includes Ragi Crispies, Beetroot Crispies, Jowar Puffs, Snack Mixes, and Dates-based sweets—designed for health-conscious consumers aged 20–40 in urban and semi-urban markets. "From day one, our focus has been on building a brand that delivers nutritious, flavourful snacks made for Indian tastes, without cutting corners," said Yash. "This INR 3 crore fundraise marks a pivotal moment for us, enabling faster growth and exciting new launches." Backed by a state-of-the-art facility in Haryana, Khari Foods stands out with proprietary formulations and end-to-end supply chain control. The brand is projecting a 208% jump in annual revenue run rate this year, underlining its momentum in India's evolving healthy snacking segment. The Tarzan Way Bags INR 2 Cr from Inflection Point Ventures and more Noida-based AI-powered travel tech startup The Tarzan Way has secured INR 2 crore in seed funding, led by Inflection Point Ventures, with additional backing from Your Trips Limited (UK), Prateek Maheshwari (Founder, PhysicsWallah), and other angel investors. The funds will be allocated towards product development (35%), operations (25%), marketing (20%), HR (15%), and miscellaneous needs (5%), including the launch of the startup's upcoming "Exploration App." Founded in 2020 by Shikhar Chadha and Shivank Tripathi, The Tarzan Way empowers users to design hyper-personalised, authentic holidays in seconds using AI. The platform combines deep tech with a storytelling approach to deliver immersive itineraries, a smart booking engine, 24/7 live concierge, and one-click travel planning. "Our passion lies in creating memories that last. We don't just plan trips; we help people craft stories that stay with them forever," said Shikhar Chadha, Co-founder. Ankur Mittal, Co-founder of Inflection Point Ventures, added, "Tarzan Way bridges the gap between rigid travel plans and chaotic self-planning, offering travellers smart, tailored experiences." With 300% YoY revenue growth, 70% MoM user growth, and INR 13.5 Cr in gross bookings, The Tarzan Way is quickly establishing itself as a global leader in experiential, tech-driven travel.
Wall Street Journal
7 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Behold, a Climate-Tech Venture Fund Closed in 2025
Planeteer Capital, a New York venture firm led by Managing Partner Sophie Purdom, defied the odds this year by closing a $54 million first-time fund to invest in climate-tech startups. Such funds are far and few between. Just 23 venture funds that have climate as an investment focus were raised in the U.S. last year, representing a 15-year low, according to research from Silicon Valley Bank, a commercial bank division of First Citizens Bancshares.
Geek Wire
29-05-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Microsoft's carbon footprint rises 23.4% at halfway point to ambitious 2030 net-zero climate goal
Sustainability: News about the rapidly growing climate tech sector and other areas of innovation to protect our planet. SEE MORE Microsoft is supporting the development of low-carbon building materials, such as this more climate friendly concrete being tested at one of its data centers in 2023. (Microsoft Photo/ Dan DeLong) Microsoft's carbon footprint has grown 23.4% since the software and cloud giant set a goal in 2020 to shrink its climate emissions to zero within a decade. But while that sizeable increase is troubling, the company maintains it's sticking with its timeline and making meaningful progress in addressing its emissions. 'As we enter the second half of this decade, nothing has changed. We remain laser focused on our commitment to achieving these goals,' said Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft's chief sustainability officer, in an interview with GeekWire. The company today released its 2025 Environmental Sustainability Report, which includes its progress on climate, water conservation, waste reduction and ecosystem protection. Though Microsoft's carbon impacts are up over the five-year stretch, they actually declined 8% from fiscal year 2023 to the last fiscal year — an accomplishment the report makes little mention of. The company was responsible for more than 15.5 million metric tons of emissions last year, more than twice that of the city of Seattle in recent years. The vast majority of the Redmond, Wash., company's emissions fall under the Scope 3 category, which includes capital investments in buildings and data center servers; purchased goods and services such as Xbox and Surface consumer products; electricity consumption by customers using Microsoft devices; employee travel and commuting; and other sources. Microsoft and fellow cloud giants such as Amazon and Google are rapidly expanding their data center holdings to meet artificial intelligence demands, which boosts their emissions due to the facilities' energy use and construction with carbon-intensive steel and concrete. Carbon-curbing efforts To address those sources, Microsoft has been paying for new clean energy deployment, including nuclear power, and and it's piloting the use of building materials such as lower-carbon concrete and a data center built with engineered timber. Just last week the company announced that over the next few years, it would buy 622,500 metric tons of a climate-friendly cement from Sublime Systems to be used for its facilities and other projects. The company is also a lead supporter of carbon dioxide removal projects that capture carbon from the air, trap it in vegetation and basalt rocks, and pull it from seawater. Last years, Microsoft signed deals to remove 22 million metric tons of carbon over 15 years or more — more than twice the amount purchased in the previous four years combined. 'We're aiming to build markets for products that we need to meet sustainability commitments, like carbon dioxide removal, low-carbon building materials, sustainable fuels, and, of course, carbon-free energy,' Nakagawa said. 'And these are markets that in many cases didn't exist 10 years ago, let alone five years ago — and some of them are quite nascent.' The company is partnering with other corporations to speed the growth and has made nearly $800 million of investments in new technologies from its Climate Impacts Fund. The potential for rapidly scaling these solutions makes Nakagawa 'pragmatically optimistic' that the 2030 goal can be reached. The company aims to slash its carbon footprint to under 6 million metric tons by the end of the decade, and will match that amount with carbon removal agreements to hit net zero. From there it plans to remove all of its historic emissions as well. Progress on other sustainability targets: Zero waste: The company is reached a reuse and recycling rate for its services and other hardware of 90.9%. Ecosystem protections: Microsoft previously met its goal of protecting more land than it uses, and has has exceeded that mark by more than 30%. Water conservation: The company is providing clean water and sanitation for more than 1.5 million people, and is using new strategies to significantly cut the amount of water used to cool dataservers. Challenges and global tailwinds But there are still bumps along the way. Microsoft has managed to keep its data center energy impacts low by paying for long-term 'power purchase agreements' that fund clean energy construction. Those projects, however, don't necessarily provide juice for their own operations. In Wisconsin, for example, a community is concerned about plans for a new natural gas plant that will help power a Microsoft-backed multi-billion dollar data center that's being built in their area. The company has an agreement that supports the construction of a 250 megawatt solar facility in the state, but that won't cover the entire demand for the data center. And there are the challenges posed by the Trump administration's efforts to slash funding for clean energy startups and other climate innovation, as well as rolling back environmental regulations. Some corporations have scaled back their climate goals and are speaking less openly about sustainability programs. Nakagawa brushed aside current U.S. politics, and noted that Microsoft is a 'true multinational business.' 'We continue to see a global demand for activities that are making our business more sustainable, more efficient and more productive. And at a global scale, we're seeing policies emerging that are driving our business forward and driving many of these commitments forward as well,' she said. 'Our experience,' Nakagawa added, 'shows us that these commitments are good for our customers and our planet and the company.'
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Olive Gaea and Blue Gecko Consulting announce strategic partnership to accelerate climate action and sustainability communication
Dubai, UAE: Climate-Tech leader Olive Gaea and award-winning sustainability communications agency Blue Gecko Consulting have announced a strategic partnership to help businesses across the GCC and beyond achieve sustainability goals and communicate their progress with purpose and clarity. The partnership combines Olive Gaea's powerful technology and climate strategy expertise with Blue Gecko's deep communications know-how—offering companies an end-to-end solution to manage ESG performance, measure, reduce, and abate emissions, while engaging stakeholders through compelling sustainability storytelling. A Full-Service Solution for Real Climate Impact At the core of the collaboration is Zero, Olive Gaea's AI-powered SaaS platform designed to simplify carbon accounting and ESG reporting. Zero automates emissions data collection across all three scopes, analyzes data to provide AI-generated Net Zero pathways, and offers carbon offsetting options and ESG disclosures aligned with international standards. Meanwhile, Blue Gecko brings over a decade of experience working with clients in the GCC to translate complex ESG strategies into narratives that resonate. Ranked among the Top 10 Sustainability Communications Consulting Companies in the GCC, Blue Gecko specializes in humanizing ESG data by telling the stories of people and communities positively impacted and embedding sustainability narratives across all communication channels for consistency. 'Together, we offer a complete package – from strategy to storytelling,' said Vivek Tripathi, Co-Founder and CEO of Olive Gaea. 'Zero by Olive Gaea is designed to make decarbonization and ESG leadership effortless and achievable. Businesses don't just need to act on climate—they need to show how and why it matters. That's where Blue Gecko's storytelling expertise is invaluable.' 'Innovative companies like Olive Gaea are pivotal in helping companies define and refine their sustainability objectives and set clear roadmaps toward ambitious targets. But they need us to complete the circle. We work alongside them to understand a company's sustainability goals and intended impact—allowing us to shape a meaningful narrative that extends from internal communications all the way through to stakeholder communications,' added Michelle Ponto, Founder and Managing Director, Blue Gecko Consulting. A Timely Solution for a Changing Regulatory Landscape This partnership comes at a pivotal time. With the introduction of UAE's Federal Decree-Law No. 11/2024, effective May 30, 2025, and the Cabinet Resolution 67/2024 which comes into effect in Jan 2026, companies will face greater responsibility and opportunity to contribute to the country's Net Zero 2050 goals. The new mandates aim to drive effective emissions management nationwide, bolster the UAE's contribution to global climate goals, and spur innovation and research to elevate the private sector's role in advancing sustainability. Olive Gaea and Blue Gecko are uniquely positioned to support companies navigating this shift—by providing both the tools to act and the communications strategies to showcase impact.
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Olive Gaea and Blue Gecko Consulting announce strategic partnership
Dubai, UAE: Climate-Tech leader Olive Gaea and award-winning sustainability communications agency Blue Gecko Consulting have announced a strategic partnership to help businesses across the GCC and beyond achieve sustainability goals and communicate their progress with purpose and clarity. The partnership combines Olive Gaea's powerful technology and climate strategy expertise with Blue Gecko's deep communications know-how—offering companies an end-to-end solution to manage ESG performance, measure, reduce, and abate emissions, while engaging stakeholders through compelling sustainability storytelling. A Full-Service Solution for Real Climate Impact At the core of the collaboration is Zero, Olive Gaea's AI-powered SaaS platform designed to simplify carbon accounting and ESG reporting. Zero automates emissions data collection across all three scopes, analyzes data to provide AI-generated Net Zero pathways, and offers carbon offsetting options and ESG disclosures aligned with international standards. Meanwhile, Blue Gecko brings over a decade of experience working with clients in the GCC to translate complex ESG strategies into narratives that resonate. Ranked among the Top 10 Sustainability Communications Consulting Companies in the GCC, Blue Gecko specializes in humanizing ESG data by telling the stories of people and communities positively impacted and embedding sustainability narratives across all communication channels for consistency. 'Together, we offer a complete package – from strategy to storytelling,' said Vivek Tripathi, Co-Founder and CEO of Olive Gaea. 'Zero by Olive Gaea is designed to make decarbonization and ESG leadership effortless and achievable. Businesses don't just need to act on climate—they need to show how and why it matters. That's where Blue Gecko's storytelling expertise is invaluable.' 'Innovative companies like Olive Gaea are pivotal in helping companies define and refine their sustainability objectives and set clear roadmaps toward ambitious targets. But they need us to complete the circle. We work alongside them to understand a company's sustainability goals and intended impact—allowing us to shape a meaningful narrative that extends from internal communications all the way through to stakeholder communications,' added Michelle Ponto, Founder and Managing Director, Blue Gecko Consulting. A Timely Solution for a Changing Regulatory Landscape This partnership comes at a pivotal time. With the introduction of UAE's Federal Decree-Law No. 11/2024, effective May 30, 2025, and the Cabinet Resolution 67/2024 which comes into effect in Jan 2026, companies will face greater responsibility and opportunity to contribute to the country's Net Zero 2050 goals. The new mandates aim to drive effective emissions management nationwide, bolster the UAE's contribution to global climate goals, and spur innovation and research to elevate the private sector's role in advancing sustainability. Olive Gaea and Blue Gecko are uniquely positioned to support companies navigating this shift—by providing both the tools to act and the communications strategies to showcase impact. For media inquiries, please contact: Olive Gaea Jessica Scopacasa, CMO | Blue Gecko Consulting Michelle Ponto, Managing Director mponto@ |
