FAQs
Building a company with Carbon13
What is the application process for your programme?
The application process is in multiple stages. Stage 1 is a brief eligibility questionnaire. Stage 2 is an application form which will require about two hours to complete via SurveyMonkey Apply. Your submitted application will be independently assessed by two members of our team using a scoring matrix. Using the scoring matrix the team will decide who will be invited for an interview. Applicants chosen for interview will be interviewed by two people from our team. The team will then reconvene and agree which applicants should be offered a place on the programme.
How much experience do I need?
How do you assess people’s applications?
I don't fit the standard mould of an entrepreneur, should I still apply?
This is currently not reflected in venture investment, with founders from “non-traditional” backgrounds struggling to secure the funding despite studies overwhelmingly demonstrating that, when it comes to radical innovation, diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones.
Our positive approach to diversity allows us to contribute to transforming this element of the status quo and to give every founder a chance to secure funding. We will assess applicants based on the principles mentioned here and as outlined in our diversity and inclusion policy.
Can I apply if I already have an idea for a venture?
Can I apply to the programme if I have raised investment already?
Can I apply if I already have a team?
Yes, but at least two members from the existing team members need to apply as individuals and reference their cofounder/s name within their Stage 2 application.
Do I have to team up with someone or can I go through this programme alone?
How will you help me get funding for my venture?
Will Carbon13 provide me with business ideas to help reduce carbon?
What type of ventures do you look for?
We are looking for entrepreneurs who have experience in or are ambitious to create carbon emissions reducing ventures in the key industries listed below:
- Agriculture and food
- Energy
- Buildings and construction
- Manufacturing
- Transport, mobility and logistics
- Finance
- Consumer
All our founders are asked to commit to attempting to build a venture which, if it reaches its potential, can reduce emissions by 10m tonnes of CO2e per annum. This requires systematic, ambitious thinking about solutions, markets, and business models.
Do I need an idea for a venture to join Carbon13?
One of the core ideas underlying Carbon13 is that it’s the strength of the team that matters, more than the idea. “Ideas” evolve many times between their original conception and the arrival of a solution to a customer’s problem in the marketplace.
However:
Technical founders:
If you are a data scientist, a software developer, an AI/ML specialist: you may join with or without an idea for a startup. If your work as a scientist or engineer is rooted in the physical or natural sciences, we would typically expect you to come with the beginnings of an idea, or at least a domain space that you intend to explore for startup opportunities.
Commercial or Venture Catalyst founders:
Most commercial or venture catalyst founders join in the expectation of working up an idea in collaboration with a technical founder. Of course your co-founder will welcome you having your own ideas, especially if you have validated them with customers. And, you will perhaps have domain spaces in which you feel particularly passionate about making an impact. But normally, if you have a specific idea that you want to pursue, as a commercial or venture catalyst founder you should be bringing the first customers for that idea to the table with you.
Working on the Venture Builder
Who owns my IP?
Do I need to quit my job? How many hours do I need to dedicate to the programme?xperience do I need?
How will you ensure the right cofounder to complement my skillset is part of the cohort?
What if I don’t find a cofounder on the programme?
Can I find someone outside of the cohort to be my cofounder?
A target to remove 10mn tonnes CO2e from the emissions base is ambitious, how will you help my venture to achieve this?
How many participants will have a scientific background?
Each programme typically consists of approximately:
- 25% Technical founders (Science/Engineering)
- 25% Technical founders (Software, Data & ML)
- 35% Commercial founders
- 15% Venture Catalyst founders
Which areas of climate tech will the cohort come from?
Who decides how you move through the phases of the programme?
So long as you have formed a cofounding team, you will move from Phase 1 to Phase 2 of the programme. Your newly formed team will need to pitch to an investment committee to move from Phase 2 to Phase 3.
Our intention is to invest in 10 to 12 ventures to move onto Phase 3.
Are there any reasons I might not stay on this programme?
Yes.
1. If you do not form a team with another participant
2. If your team doesn’t secure investment at the end of stage 2 of the programme
3. If you breach any of our terms of our code of conduct policy.
Everyone who joins Carbon13 to build a venture focused on carbon emission reduction and climate change becomes part of our community for life. We value our relationship with the Carbon13 alumni and will support you in any way we can via our network.
What happens if my venture does not receive the investment?
What type of support can I expect from Carbon13 during the programme?
aWe will provide you with access to our network and expertise on how to build and grow your carbon emission reducing start-up, a stipend to cover your living costs for the first two phases of the programme, as well as pre-seed investment if you progress to Phase 3. We will run a variety of workshops and activities as part of this process – but the “point” of Carbon13 is to build ventures, not to provide “classes”.
However:
Technical founders:
If you are a data scientist, a software developer, an AI/ML specialist: you may join with or without an idea for a startup. If your work as a scientist or engineer is rooted in the physical or natural sciences, we would typically expect you to come with the beginnings of an idea, or at least a domain space that you intend to explore for startup opportunities.
Commercial or Venture Catalyst founders:
Most commercial or venture catalyst founders join in the expectation of working up an idea in collaboration with a technical founder. Of course your co-founder will welcome you having your own ideas, especially if you have validated them with customers. And, you will perhaps have domain spaces in which you feel particularly passionate about making an impact. But normally, if you have a specific idea that you want to pursue, as a commercial or venture catalyst founder you should be bringing the first customers for that idea to the table with you.
What are the objectives of Phase 1?
Programme leader-driven support, to a cohort of 80. By the end of Phase 1 (6 weeks) entrepreneurs need to seek to form 2-3 person teams dedicated to developing businesses that:
- have a serious, rapid and sustainable impact on emissions or some other aspect of the climate crisis
- can reach the market in a year and gain serious market traction in two years
At the end of Phase 1, teams will progress to investigating and validating a specific venture’s feasibility, desirability, viability and effectiveness, but the first emphasis is on forming a complementary and strong venture team rather than on a specific venture idea. Those who do not form a team by the end of Phase 1 will leave the programme, though they remain a part of the Carbon13 community and are welcome to apply to a future cohort.
Participants will receive a stipend of £1,000 during Phase 1.
What are the objectives of Phase 2?
During Phase 2 (3 months) teams will work to uncover a venture which can make rapid and sustainable climate impact and is capable of rapidly going to market and validate the venture through discussions with customers and other stakeholders. Teams will be preparing to pitch to the Carbon13 Investment Committee at the end of Phase 2.
Teams will receive a stipend of £3,000 per team member during Phase 2.
Teams who are successful in their pitch at Investment Committee will receive a £120,000 investment from the Carbon13 SEIS Fund. A total of £40,000 (excluding VAT) of this investment is then returned to Carbon13 in order to cover part of the costs of Phase 3 of the programme. As a result, your new venture retains a net £80,000, which it can use as it sees fit as you prepare for the next stage of development.
A number of teams will then move to Phase 3.
What are the objectives of Phase 3?
Cambridge Venture Builder
Do I need to move to Cambridge?
The first phase of the programme (“Teaming & Ideation”, 6 weeks) will be delivered partly in person, partly virtually. This means that on the “in person” days you will need to attend in person, in Cambridge, while on the “virtual” days you can be located anywhere. There is no hybrid delivery where some people are in person and others are virtual on the same day. Delivery will take place during our “core hours” of 0930-1530 UK time (see more on “core hours” below).
You will need to be able to attend the in person part of the programme in Cambridge, UK. Please do not apply to the venture builder if this is not possible for you.
Of course, the most effective way to take advantage of the extraordinary Cambridge tech cluster is to move here for the duration of the programme. However, after the first six weeks of the programme, teams can, if they choose, work remotely.
We have three Modes of operation within the programme. These are:
Full – everyone is expected on site or online within core working hours
Specialist support – custom, targeted, optional workshops, and dedicated 1:1s with Domain Experts and other community partners
On-call – during co-working and holiday time
Our programme embraces flexitime and therefore operates with core working hours between 0930 – 1530. We all have different daily rhythms, commitments and interests. Phase 1 is mostly Full Mode. Phase 2 has less Full Mode – you need time to seek out your customers and work with them– and introduces more specialist support alongside events to engage our wider community. In Phase 3, specialist support becomes less frequent but higher value, with increasing events to engage externals.
If you need any further information or help, please contact us on hello@carbonthirteen.com.
What is the process for receiving investment into my venture?
The investment represents the first £120,000 of equity investment into your company. The investment is made through a documentation known as an Advanced Subscription Agreement (“ASA”). The ASA does not put a valuation on your venture as it is designed to ensure that you do not suffer excessive dilution in the early stages of your journey. The investment under the ASA will convert into equity in your company when you raise your first round of investment with other investors, but given that it reflects the first monies into your venture it will benefit from a 20% discount to the valuation from those next investors.
This investment should enable your venture to start hiring and begin to demonstrate business traction and evidence of an investible business plan. This should make it possible for your venture to raise money from other investors, prior to or following the showcase days, due to take place at the end of Phase 3.
The investment will also enable you to pay Carbon13 a portion of the costs of participating in Phase 3. During Phase 3, Carbon13 and its partners will provide your venture with a variety of services and, to contribute towards the payment for these services, your venture will be required to make a payment of £40,000, using the investment proceeds.
How are people being paid - is the stipend taxable?
Every individual who accepts a place on the venture builder programme will receive a stipend of £1,000 for Phase 1, and £1,000 per month in Phase 2, for the period they remain on the programme.
You should check your own tax position. We believe that a stipend does not count as wages earned, so no PAYE will be withheld, but depending on your circumstances the stipend could count as taxable income, so you will need to plan to set aside money for the taxes you will owe on your stipend at the end of the tax year.
If your venture is accepted onto Phase 3, Carbon13 SEIS Fund will make an investment into your venture (see more details below). Your venture can use part of the investment proceeds to pay you, but this would be taxable as income.
Europe Venture Builder
Is the programme run in English or German?
The programme language is English. You need to be comfortable to run a business in that language.
Berlin is a very cosmopolitan city with many people living largely in English, however if you plan to run your business in Germany it can be helpful to learn the language, but Carbon13 allows their ventures to incorporate either in Germany or the UK.
Do I get financial support to start the journey?
Beyond the possible investment into the startups, we also pay a stipend to the participants. We are conscious that not everyone has large savings to finance the time before the investment and we want to become as diverse a community as possible.
So, every individual who accepts a place on the venture builder programme will receive a stipend of 1,000€ for Phase 1, and 1,000€ per month in Phase 2, for the period they remain on the programme.
How do the startups get funded?
The investment represents the first 120,000€ of equity investment into your company.
This investment should enable your venture to to demonstrate business traction and evidence of an investible business plan. This should make it possible for your venture to raise money from other investors, prior to or following the showcase days, due to take place at the end of Phase 3.
The investment will also enable you to pay Carbon13 a portion of the costs of participating in Phase 3. During Phase 3, Carbon13 and its partners will provide your venture with a variety of services and, to contribute towards the payment for these services, your venture will be required to make a payment of 40,000€, using the investment proceeds.
Who are the Domain Experts and Entrepreneurs in Residence?
Carbon13 is first and foremost a community of people who have decided to fight climate change through startups. We believe our community combines the best possible support system and network for anyone wanting to start a climate tech startup.
Beyond our core team and the growing list of alumni with successful startups from our earlier cohorts, our Domain Experts (DE) and Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIR) are a key part. Our Entrepreneurs in Residence provide expertise and advice based on their own entrepreneurial experiences to our cohort and enrich Carbon13’s founders existing networks with their own. You can find a list of EIRs here. There are about 3-5 EIRs per cohort who work directly with the startups.
Domain Experts are highly valued members of the Carbon13 community, who bring their significant business and technical knowledge to bear on the success of our cohorts of ventures. DEs are about 150 strong and are working with our cohorts on a case-by-case basis.
Do I need to move to Berlin?
The first phase of the programme (“Teaming & Ideation”, 6 weeks) will be delivered partly in person, partly virtually. This means that on the “in-person” days you will need to attend in person, in Berlin, while on the “virtual” days you can be located anywhere. There is no hybrid delivery where some people are in person and others are virtual on the same day. Delivery will take place during our “core hours” of 0930-1530 Berlin time.
You will need to be able to attend the in person part of the programme in Berlin, Germany.
Please do not apply to the venture builder if this is not possible for you.
Of course, the most effective way to take advantage of the extraordinary Berlin tech cluster is to move here for the duration of the programme. However, after the first six weeks of the programme, teams can, if they choose, work remotely.
We have three Modes of operation within the programme. These are:
Full – everyone is expected on site or online within core working hours
Specialist support – custom, targeted, optional workshops, and dedicated 1:1s with Domain Experts and other community partners
On-call – during co-working and holiday time
Our programme embraces flexitime and therefore operates with core working hours between 0930 – 1530. We all have different daily rhythms, commitments and interests. Phase 1 is mostly Full Mode. Phase 2 has less Full Mode – you need time to seek out your customers and work with them– and introduces more specialist support alongside events to engage our wider community. In Phase 3, specialist support becomes less frequent but higher value, with increasing events to engage externals.
If you need any further information or help, please contact us on hello@carbonthirteen.com.
How are people being paid – is the stipend taxable?
Every individual who accepts a place on the venture builder programme will receive a stipend of 1,000€ for Phase 1, and 1,000€ per month in Phase 2, for the period they remain on the programme.
You should check your own tax position.
If your venture is accepted onto Phase 3, Carbon13 Fund will make an investment into your venture (see more details below). Your venture can use part of the investment proceeds to pay you, but this would be taxable as income.
What format will the investment take?
The investment represents the first 120,000€ of equity investment into your company.
This investment should enable your venture to start hiring and begin to demonstrate business traction and evidence of an investible business plan. This should make it possible for your venture to raise money from other investors, prior to or following the showcase days, due to take place at the end of Phase 3.
The investment will also enable you to pay Carbon13 a portion of the costs of participating in Phase 3. During Phase 3, Carbon13 and its partners will provide your venture with a variety of services and, to contribute towards the payment for these services, your venture will be required to make a payment of 40,000€, using the investment proceeds.
Where will the ventures formed as part of the programme be registered?
Will you help me with the legal set up of the company?
Investment
Who will invest in my venture?
What do your investors want/where is the money coming from?
Do I have to split the stake in my venture on an equal basis with my cofounder?
What format will the investment take?
If a Carbon13 Fund invests in your venture, then this investment represents the first £120,000 of equity investment into your company.
This investment is made through a SAFE note. A SAFE note does not put an immediate valuation on your venture as it is designed to ensure that you do not suffer excessive dilution in the early stages of your journey.
The investment under the SAFE will convert into equity in your company when you raise your first round of investment with other investors, at a 20% discount compared to the share price paid by those other investors. There is a £3.5 million valuation cap for the purposes of the SAFE conversion.. If you do not raise additional funds within 12 months of our investment, then the SAFE converts at a £1.2 million pre-money valuation.
All ventures who pitch for investment to the Carbon13 Investment Committee also allocate 3% of their capital in share options to Carbon13 (this is sometimes known as “sweat equity”).
The investment should enable your venture to start hiring and begin to demonstrate business traction and evidence of an investible business plan. This should make it possible for your venture to raise money from other investors, prior to or following the showcase days, due to take place at the end of Phase 3.
The investment will also enable you to pay Carbon13 a portion of the costs of participating in Phase 3. During Phase 3, Carbon13 and its partners will provide your venture with a variety of services and, to contribute towards the payment for these services, your venture will be required to make a payment of £40,000, using the investment proceeds.
What happens if my venture fails and has already received the investment?
What happens if my venture does not receive investment?
Everyone who joins Carbon13 to build a venture focussed on carbon emission reduction and climate change becomes part of our community for life. Beyond that we have invested in startups who had originally attended an earlier cohort but were not ready to receive investment at the time of their cohort.
We value our relationship with the Carbon13 alumni and will support you in any way we can via our network.
Other
How is Carbon13 different from other venture builder programmes?
Can you help me with a visa to allow entry to the UK?
For the first part of the programme (Phase 1 and most of Phase 2) most participants are able to participate on a standard visitor visa. Depending on your country of residence this can take upwards of 30 days to be issued. Depending on your itinerary you may also require a transit visa in some countries to be allowed to make connections. For this kind of visa application Carbon13 can provide an official letter of invitation to support your application.
During Phase 2, as you move to incorporating your company and undertaking commercial activity, you will most likely require a different visa if you intend to stay in the UK for a longer period. Carbon13 are one of the recognised accelerator programmes on the Tech Nation visa fast-track through which you can apply for a Global Talent Visa. Any application that you submit via Tech Nation will be seen and processed before any others, you can expect to receive a decision on your Global Talent application within 2 weeks.
A Global Talent Visa is a Tier 1 visa, meaning it is attached to you as an individual rather than your organisation or role, giving you unparalleled flexibility and access to the UK tech ecosystem. If you are interested in finding out more about the Tech Nation visa process, please click here for a more in-depth video.
There are also a number of different types of visas which might allow you to stay longer in the UK, and there is more information here:
Visa regulations and immigration rules are subject to constant change. Please always consult with your country’s embassy or consulate in the UK or with the UK’s embassy in your home country.
Where will the ventures formed as part of the programme be registered?
Why do a venture builder programme at all?
Carbon13’s Venture Builder supports you as an entrepreneur with finding technical and commercial co-founders, gives you access to industry experts, experienced entrepreneurs and coaches and helps you plug into the Cambridge innovation ecosystem. The programme will help you to raise finance and provides you will the skills and tools necessary to avoid the pitfalls in decision making that plague early stage ventures.
You will build connections and relationships that your company will capitalise on for its lifetime, whilst de-risking the initial stages of your venture journey with a monthly stipend and opportunity for investment at the end of Phase 2.
61% of the UK’s most successful startups start life through accelerator programmes and the Carbon13 venture builder programme will provide you with the essential building blocks to create a scalable, CO2e emissions reducing venture, quickly and effectively. The climate cannot wait.