The
Venture Launchpad

The Carbon13 Venture Launchpad, in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs, supports early stage startups to launch high-potential, global impact climatetech ventures. Of particular interest are scalable innovations that improve the sustainability of the built environment (homes and workplaces) for communities.

Through a 20 week sprint, each startup will work intensively on understanding its potential on carbon reduction and on the business fundamentals such as value proposition, go-to-market strategy and investment readiness. Those that are successful at the end of the first phase will receive £120,000 pre-seed investment. Applications are open now to start 2nd May 2023.

Step 1 for world changing innovation

Entrepreneurs have a vital role to play in delivering climate innovation at the speed and scale needed by our planet, and the Carbon13 Venture Launchpad is the proven starting point for founders with this appetite for impact. “World changing innovation” is not just a platitude here, it is Carbon13’s singular focus.

For Climatetech Ventures

The Venture Launchpad is for teams of two or more founders who want to build high-potential climatetech ventures, who have not raised equity investment yet. A climatetech venture is any startup that address the climate emergency and helps humanity reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions. At Carbon13, we require every venture we invest in to demonstrate a potential for CO₂e emissions reduction of 10 million tonnes per year when at scale.

Support on Carbon Intelligence

Founders are not expected to know how they’ll reach that 10 million tonne target when they join. They will work with Carbon13’s roster of carbon experts, utilise our GHG Toolkit and methodologies, and work to build their carbon strategy. Then they’ll work on how to credibly communicate their carbon impact story to investors, customers and stakeholders.

Meeting future green energy needs for our communities

We need multiple solutions to achieve net zero, from new technology, to demand side measures, and creative business models. Innovation is needed to scale up impact through providing affordable and accessible solutions – fast.

In the UK our buildings (homes and workplaces) are responsible for 25% of GHG emissions. Decarbonising operational and embodied carbon in new and existing buildings is a significant priority. We invite entrepreneurs to challenge our thinking on how to tackle this issue by applying to Carbon13’s Venture Launchpad.

What if we can…

…improve standards of living while making it more affordable
…speed up grid decarbonisation by needing less energy and being smarter in how we manage heat, energy and cooling in our buildings
…enable a smooth transition to net zero by accelerating the adoption of new skills in construction, maintenance and retrofit
…connect the built environment with how we move people, goods and energy more effectively
…empower communities and workplaces to come together and engage productively in net zero

At a glance: The Venture Launchpad

Across two Phases of ten weeks, founders will rapidly develop their venture. Founders will:

At the end of Phase 1, each startup will pitch to the Carbon13 Investment Committee for £120,000 in pre-seed funding. Successful ventures will proceed to Phase 2.

Uniquely to Carbon13, the ventures will also make a second pitch, their Carbon Pitch, based solely on their venture’s potential for climate impact. Our Investment Committee will not invest in any venture which cannot present a robust case 10 million tonnes of CO₂e emissions mitigation. To learn more about the Phases click below.

Who should apply to the Venture Launchpad?

The Venture Launchpad supports founding teams (2+ cofounders) of early stage software or deeptech/science-based startups, who fit our theme of the sustainability of the built environment.

To be eligible for the Launchpad, founders must not have raised equity funding, have registered their venture in the UK, and must be committed to building a venture with the ambition of reducing emissions by millions of tonnes a year.

The Venture Launchpad adapts to the specific needs of each venture and our approach differs whether the venture is based on software or science/deeptech. Likewise, we evaluate applications differently, we are looking for the following:

For software ventures

The team should ideally include founders who between them can lead on both the product development and business development sides of the business.
Software ventures may already have a functioning MVP or equivalent product with users
But, we’ll also consider applications from strong founding teams without a product but with a deep understanding and relevant experience of the opportunity their idea will address.

For science-based or deeptech ventures

The technology the venture is working on should be TRL 4-6
Or, the founding team has deep expertise in the technology and its application, for example a PhD or Postdoc or relevant industry experience or qualifications.
The venture or team must own the IP their innovation is based on

To learn more about the kinds of ventures which should apply to the Venture Launchpad, and understand how our support adapts to each venture, click below.

Why choose Carbon13 and Barclays Eagle Labs?

Carbon13 is the Venture Builder for the Climate Emergency. We believe that entrepreneurs are the creative force which will build the Net Zero future that our climate so urgently needs. Our Cambridge origins have taught us the importance of world class carbon, commercial and scientific understanding, and our expansion to Berlin places us at the heart of Europe’s climatetech momentum.

Barclays Eagle Labs is on a mission to support the UK’s entrepreneurial community. Our passion is innovation and growth and our labs provide a wealth of support to start-up businesses as follows:

Carbon13's ventures

Carbon13 has launched and invested in 44 ventures since 2021. Half of these are software-based, including the world’s first carbon removal insurance, AI-powered building design, and quantum computing for materials discovery. The other half are science-based/deeptech ventures, leveraging innovations such as precision fermentation, bioplastics, zero carbon concrete, and methane capture.

Key Venture Launchpad facts

The Venture Launchpad starts 2nd May 2023
20 week programme across two Phases of 10 weeks
4-5 hours of mandatory, and 4-5 hours opt-in programming a week
Demo day and pitch to Carbon13 for pre-seed investment in mid-July
20-25 teams will be selected to participate in the Venture Launchpad

The application process

Applications open 21st February 2023
Applications close 4th April 2023
Rolling screening in February and March including interviews, and potentially submitting further materials

Got questions?

Each venture is unique, so if you want to discuss how the Venture Launchpad could help your venture specifically, please get in touch via the button below. We’ll connect you with the Venture Launchpad team and answer any questions you may have.