An increasingly fertile area is innovation to tackle the climate crisis — both for the potential societal impacts and the financial returns. Overall climate tech (along with all venture) funding was down a lot in the first half of the year, but VC firms have been putting more smaller investments into early-stage climate companies. The Inflation Reduction Act adds close to $400 billion to further the cause. 

For 11 years, early-stage founders — with seed or series A funding — have applied to pitch at our annual climate tech event, VERGE. Among the themes that stand out in 2023: While most activity is still in energy and carbon, there is increasing diversity of ideas in food startups (seaweed, insects) and building businesses (biosolar roofs, materials that sequester carbon).

This year, of 120 companies that applied, we identified seven of the most promising startups in each of five categories: energy, carbon, transport, food and buildings. The Climate Tech 35 were selected based on strength in six criteria: the solution, business model, customer need, customer traction, team and pitch presentation. All companies are incorporated, have a product ready, and employ at least one person full-time.

Watch the founder video pitches below (scroll to see all 35).  Community voting for the People's Choice Winner has closed and the winner will be announced mid-September 2023. The "people's choice" winner could be covered on GreenBiz.com and can pitch live — along with 25 GreenBiz-selected finalists — at VERGE in San Jose, California in October. The top prize is $20,000; two runner-ups each get $10,000. — GreenBiz staff