Planet A Ventures Talks Investing in Early-Stage Climate Startups

In Episode 62 of the Investing in Impact podcast, Causeartist contributor, Rafael Aldon, speaks with Jessica Burley, Investor at Planet A Ventures, on investing in early-stage startups that are developing climate change solutions.

Learn more about the Investing in Impact podcast.

Jessica Burley is an investor at Planet A Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in climate tech startups. She holds a Politics degree from Cambridge University and has a background in climate finance and sustainable development.

Prior to joining Planet A, she worked as an analyst at a climate VC firm and as a researcher for the United Nations.

What is Planet A Ventures?

Planet A Ventures is a venture capital firm that invests in climate tech startups. The firm was founded in 2022 and has raised €160 million for its first fund, which it plans to invest in early-stage startups that are developing solutions to climate change.

Planet A’s Investment Thesis

Planet A invests in climate tech startups that are working to decarbonize the economy. The firm’s investment thesis is based on the following pillars:

• Science-based targets: Planet A only invests in startups that have set ambitious science-based targets to reduce their emissions.
• Impact: Planet A measures the impact of its investments on the environment.
• Diversity: Planet A is committed to investing in a diverse set of startups, including those founded by women and people of color.

Planet A Ventures’ Core Principles

• Tomorrow’s economy is based on today’s investment decisions. Venture capital has the power to accelerate the transformation to a sustainable future. Planet A Ventures was founded on this belief.
  
  The firm exists to support bold and brave founders who are driving the green transformation. When Planet A’s founders profit, the planet profits too.
  
• Make scientific impact investing the new normal. Planet A Ventures’ scientists and entrepreneurs collaborate closely to assess the ecological innovation potential of a startup.
  
  The firm strives to make this science-meets-business approach a standard in venture capital. Planet A Ventures does not just acknowledge the environmental impact of economic decisions, but makes it the compass guiding those decisions.
  
  That is why the firm openly shares its methods and results to inspire and support others to adopt a scientific approach.
  
• Investing is just the start. Through its operational platform and extensive network, Planet A Ventures helps and mentors founders to develop their companies, with impact as the central metric of success.
  
  The Planet A Platform is a source of expertise for founders and their teams, providing access to successful entrepreneurs, proven scientific experts, and impact-driven investors.

Some of the Companies in Planet A’s Portfolio

Some of the companies in Planet A’s portfolio include:

• Carbon Re: Carbon Re is a company that uses artificial intelligence to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Makersite: Makersite is a company that helps companies manage their product supply chains in a sustainable way.
• one.five: one.five is a company that makes circular biomaterials that can replace single-use plastics.

Check out the full portfolio list.

Planet A Ventures is a leading venture capital firm that is investing in climate tech startups. The firm’s mission is to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy.

The team at Planet A are passionate about making a positive impact on the planet, and they are committed to investing in the next generation of climate tech innovators.

If you are a startup that is developing solutions to climate change, I encourage you to reach out to Planet A Ventures.

The firm is always looking for new investment opportunities.