What is the Clean Growth Fund?
The Clean Growth Fund is a £101 million climate venture capital fund dedicated to empowering UK clean tech entrepreneurs. Launched in 2020, it focuses on backing innovations that tackle the climate crisis head-on by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions or boosting resource efficiency. The fund zeroes in on sectors like power, transport, industry, buildings, waste, and water — basically, where the biggest environmental impact can be made. It typically invests between £500k and £3m, mainly during the Seed or Series A stages, helping early-stage companies scale their low carbon technologies.
Main Benefits and Key Figures
Here’s a quick snapshot of what makes the Clean Growth Fund stand out:
- £101 million fund size dedicated to climate tech
- Focus on UK-based cleantech innovations
- Investment range between £500k and £3 million
- Targeting Seed and Series A funding rounds
- Forecast to abate millions of tonnes of CO2-equivalent by 2030
- Led by Beverley Gower-Jones OBE, a recognized thought-leader in cleantech investment
- Multiple award-winning fund with a skilled team of investors, engineers, and communications experts
Supporting Entrepreneurs Beyond Investment
The Clean Growth Fund isn’t just about writing cheques and disappearing. It truly understands the hurdles cleantech entrepreneurs face and sticks around to support them throughout their journey. This hands-on approach means founders get more than capital — they get a partner who’s been in the trenches and knows what it takes to grow a successful climate tech business.
Collaboration with Carbon Limiting Technologies
One of the fund’s unique strengths is its close partnership with Carbon Limiting Technologies (CLT), the UK’s most established early-stage cleantech incubator. Hundreds of entrepreneurs have benefited from CLT’s expertise in scaling and commercialising their innovations. The two organisations share the same office and work hand-in-hand, ensuring portfolio companies receive ongoing strategic, commercial, and business development support long after the initial investment.
Focus Sectors Driving Climate Innovation
The Clean Growth Fund targets key sectors where low carbon innovation can make a real difference. These include:
- Power
- Transport
- Industry
- Buildings
- Agrifood
- Waste
By concentrating on these areas, the fund aims to back technologies that will lead the way in decarbonisation and resource efficiency, helping the UK meet its climate goals.
Project Impact on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
- SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
- SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
- SDG 13: Climate Action
Commitment to Founders and the Climate Mission
Clean Growth Fund is founder-friendly, with a collaborative and responsive team that’s always ready to help. With decades of combined experience supporting early-stage SMEs, the team truly gets the challenges of building and growing a cleantech business — because they’ve been there themselves. Founders also benefit from regular Portfolio Days and networking events, creating opportunities to connect with peers and industry experts. If you’re a low carbon innovator with a UK-based technology, this fund is definitely one to watch.
