[Earth VC Monthly Roundup] November 2023 - Igniting Progress in Sustainable Ventures!

Dear valued readers,

Embrace with us on the journey of sustainable ventures in the upcoming November edition of Earth Venture Capital's newsletter!

In this edition, we will explore the latest movements in the sustainable investment landscape, as well as updates from our visionary startups who are dedicated to creating a more sustainable and prosperous future. We also aim to provide you with valuable insights and knowledge that will enhance your understanding of the emerging Climate Tech from a cross-border perspective.

DEAL RELEASE

BeeX

Accelerate Autonomous Inspections Of Offshore Wind Farms

BeeX, a Singapore-based pioneer in providing autonomous robotics solutions to safeguard underwater infrastructures, has recently closed its USD 2M bridge round. The latest round is co-led by Earth Venture Capital and ShipsFocus Ventures with the participation of SEEDS Capital, NUS Technology Holdings, and Infinita VC.

"BeeX rides on our decades-long and continuous data gathering for underwater autonomy. Our robots and software solutions help energy developers, ship owners, and governments save costs to inspect their critical structures, as well as protect their people from risky operations. Our customers have reported up to 95% less CO2 emission, 50% lower risk-to-life, and 10x better efficiency compared to conventional methods.”? said Grace Chia, CEO and Co-founder of BeeX.

Check out the full article

T?mTex

Make Revolutionary Non-Woven Textile Bio-Material

T?mTex, a producer of bio-based materials using Chitosan made from seashell and mushroom waste, has recently raised a $4.15M seed round led by Happiness Capital. Earth Venture Capital, SOSV, Parley for the Oceans, and MIH Capital also participated in the round.

T?mTex produces 100% biodegradable materials, including Series WS (made from shell seafood waste) and the new Series M (made from mushroom) using the "chitosan" - a biopolymer abundant in seafood shells and mushrooms.

The final material is breathable yet durable. It looks like real leather, yet soft enough to be hand-stitched or machine-sewn. It’s naturally biodegradable, free of plastic, and made using green, water-based chemistry.

Check out the full article

PORTFOLIO UPDATE

AlterPack

Reaching new territories

One of our portfolio companies who is passionate about replacing the current overconsumption of plastic in packaging with much more sustainable alternative from recycling food waste - AlterPacks has just expand there traction to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand and soon Japan!

No matter if it is served in restaurants or to-go, people in these countries can place their food in the freezer and microwave for their next meal without any concerns. Soups, noodles, rice bowls, nasi padang, pasta, pho, salads and more - enjoy the meal in a container without the plastic coating.

Learn more

Group 14

New silane factory in Europe aim to ease the region supply chain constraints

Recently, Group 14 kickstarted the first phase of their manufacturing efforts in Europe by commencing preparations for operations at the newly-acquired silane factory in Spreetal, Germany.

“Our investment in Germany not only brings us closer to our partners and customers,” says CEO Rick Luebbe, “it brings us closer to a global clean energy economy built on next-generation manufacturing to create new economic opportunities for local communities.”

Learn more

OUR LATEST ACTIVITIES

Earth VC workshop at Slush

The “Climate Tech Investment in Southeast Asia” workshop at Slush 2023 last week was a great success and exceeded our expectations. The event provided profound insights, fostered engaging discussions, and received wonderful support from our attendees in Helsinki.

The workshop began with a Keynote Speaker session by Earth VC, providing a captivating story of Earth VC's establishment and vision in the Southeast Asia region. Then a Panel discussion between us and our portfolio companies including BeeX and KuvaSpace dive deep into how to “Bridging the innovation realms of Europe and SEA" and various insightful discussions about opportunities and challenges that everyone should know if they try to be a part of this dynamic market.

Check out the full recap

CLIMATE INVESTMENT INSIGHTS

Oxford - Top Climate Tech Opportunities

Climate technology is quickly evolving. New organizations, policies and efforts are entering the field steadily, as climate risks grow globally. A recent publication from the Oxford Climate Tech Initiative suggested some of the most prominent opportunities to invest in the field including sectors such as storage and grid management in Energy or Land use Management and Low GHG Protein alternatives

The need for climate technology continues to rise, but equity investment in start-ups has declined for a second year amid tough conditions in private markets.

For investors in climate technology ventures, the past two years have been a test of resolve and adaptability. A combination of geopolitical turmoil, sinking valuations, inflation, and rising interest rates has set back private markets of all kinds. Total venture and private equity investment, for example, was down 50.2% year-over-year, reaching US$638 billion in 2023. Private market equity and grant funding in climate tech start-ups specifically has not fallen quite as far: 40.5% over the same time frame. But the drop still takes climate tech start-up funding back to the level of five years ago. No matter how much innovation funding climate tech companies have raised in recent years, the same pattern has appeared: relatively little investment goes into those sectors that generate the biggest shares of global emissions. However, some positive rebalancing has taken place in the past 12 months.

Energy was named the best-performing industry in the FTSE All World

According to a recent outlook by FTSE Rusell, the rising yields came despite recent falls in inflation, with further declines from current inflation levels likely to be more challenging, given headwinds such as the renewed rise in energy prices and the divergent goals of developed markets attempting to reduce inflation, whilst China attempts to increase inflation. Equity markets underperformed in Q3, with a negative performance observed in all regions, especially in developed markets, with Japan registering the best performance. However, energy prices sharply increased, primarily in oil, but also in European gas, due to supply constraints as Saudi Arabia announced production cuts. Despite a weak demand outlook, fears of tight supply led Brent oil to rise from $75 to $95 in Q3. This resulted in Energy being by far the best-performing industry in the FTSE All World.

UPCOMING EVENTS

THE LIVEABILITY CHALLENGE 2024 IS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATION

Asia's largest sustainability solutions platform, is back with its 7th edition and is now accepting applications for the Grand Final in 2024. Our goal is to find innovative solutions to urban challenges worldwide, and we are confident that we will discover the most promising ideas, as we already did in previous years.

Start-ups that focus on solutions enabling large-scale decarbonization, climate adaptation, and resilience, as well as efficient and circular food systems, are eligible to apply for the program. The team with the most potential and successful execution will have the opportunity to receive over S$2 million in funding and incubation opportunities on two main tracks - Climate Change and Food & Nutrition.

?? Earth VC is glad to be joining this year The Liveability Challenge as an Amplifier Partner. As a venture capital firm dedicated to investing in companies that address and tackle climate change, we are confident in our ability to be a part of this global platform that seeks to find innovative solutions to urban challenges.

Submit your innovations here

Thank you for joining us on this journey to drive positive change and create a meaningful impact in the world. We trust that you've found our newsletter filled with informative insights and engaging updates.

Your attention and interest are genuinely appreciated. We value your feedback and suggestions as we continuously strive to enhance our newsletter. Your input is crucial in shaping the content that matters most to you.

For those eager to delve deeper into Earth Venture Capital, visit our website or connect with us on Facebook and Linkedin. We're excited about the prospect of staying connected with you and working together toward a more sustainable future.

Warm regards,

Earth Venture Capital.