
Climate Scale-Up’s Cohort
The World’s Top Climate Innovators, Scaling for Global Impact
The Climate Scale-Up Cohort brings together the most innovative, high-growth climate tech companies scaling solutions for a net-zero future.
About the Cohort
The Climate Scale-Up Cohort is an exclusive selection of growth-stage climate tech companies, handpicked for their groundbreaking solutions and potential for global impact. These companies have been rigorously vetted through a nomination process involving top venture capital firms and investors.
We reached out to over 400 VCs, reviewed hundreds of portfolio companies, and carefully selected 14 top picks that are shaping the future of climate technology. Our selection process ensures that only the most promising and scalable innovations gain access to the resources and network needed to accelerate their global expansion.
Through this program, these companies receive tailored support in fundraising, project financing, and strategic market entry—positioning them for success at the highest level.
Cohort Stats
400+ VCs & Investors Engaged – We tapped into a global network of top venture capital firms and investors to identify the most promising climate tech solutions.
Hundreds of Companies Reviewed – A rigorous evaluation process ensured only the most impactful and scalable innovations were considered.
14 Top Climate Tech Companies Selected – The best of the best, chosen for their potential to scale, attract investment, and drive global climate impact.
$500M+ Raised Pre-Cohort – These companies have already secured significant funding before joining Climate Scale-Up.
$500M+ More in the Pipeline – Positioned to unlock further investments and strategic partnerships for rapid expansion.
Our 2025 Cohort
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Troy Helming
EarthGrid, Founder and CEO
Troy Helming founded 2 of the most successful renewable energy companies in the USA: Tradewind Energy (largest wind developer in USA in 2017) & Pristine Sun (leading developer of community utility-scale solar farms in USA). He sits on the board of numerous solar and clean energy companies, and has been an advisor, investor, executive director of over a dozen successful companies. He's the author of The Clean Power Revolution (2004) and creator of The Freedom Plan (2005): a blueprint to convert North American to 100% clean renewable energy.
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Philip Kessler
TURN2X, Founder and CEO
Philip, the CEO of TURN2X, is a seasoned entrepreneur who previously founded and successfully exited an AI company. Now leading TURN2X, he is driving innovation in the energy sector with technology that produces CO2-neutral electric natural gas from green hydrogen and biogenic CO2.
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Daniella Zakon
Upwell Materials, Founder and CEO
Daniella Zakon is the Founder and CEO of Upwell Materials, a biomaterials company based in Woods Hole, MA. Daniella earned her B.S degree in marine ecology after studying the impacts of rising CO2 on coral reefs in Thailand and Malaysia. She went on to receive her master's degree in environmental studies and business management while living and working in the Middle East. She has worked in green tech, sustainable fashion, clean cosmetics, micro-algae and more.
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Alexandra Dowling Lari
Upwell Materials, Co-Founder and CMO
Alexandra Dowling Lari is Co-Founder and CMO of Upwell Materials, a biomaterial company based in Woods Hole, MA. Alexandra holds an undergraduate degree from Harvard University in English Literature and a graduate degree from Parsons School of Design in Marketing and Brand Management. She has worked in sales, marketing, luxury fashion and beauty for over twenty years for companies including LVMH, Moda Operandi and Captain Blankenship.
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Raviv Turner
NatureX RMS, Co-Founder and CEO
Raviv Turner is the Co-Founder & CEO of NatureX RMS, a climate and nature risk management platform using AI co-pilots for earth observation. Raviv is also a Founding Member of the Nature Tech Collective, a non-profit member organization that helps financial institutions, insurance companies, and corporations manage their climate and nature risks. Raviv is a TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) nature data working group member. He speaks on the topics of climate and nature risks, nature insurance, GeoAI, spatial finance, and digital MRV.
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Thiago Picolo
Re.Green, Partner and CEO
Thiago Picolo is CEO of Re.green, Brazil’s leading ecological restoration company, and has led multiple private-equity backed companies in Brazil. Previously served as CEO of Hortifruti Natural da Terra, Brazil´s largest fresh food retailer. Thiago started his carreer in finance, at Morgan Stanley and GP Investimentos, and holds a B.A. in Economics from Harvard University and OPM from Harvard Business School. Thiago is a board member at Zamp and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies.
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Russ Wilcox
ArtifexAI, Founder and CEO
Russ Wilcox, CEO of ArtifexAI, pioneers the application of artificial intelligence in urban transformation, leveraging historical city data to create more sustainable metropolitan environments. A thought leader at the intersection of AI and public policy, he brings over 16 years of expertise in machine learning and data science to address global urban and sustainability challenges.
As a member of the prestigious American Society for AI and a 2024 Autodesk Global Sustainability Leader, Russ bridges the gap between technological innovation and practical implementation. His insights on democratizing AI have been shared at the World Economic Forum and through multiple TedX talks.
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Laureen Meroueh, PhD
Hertha Metals, Founder and CEO
Dr. Laureen Meroueh, Founder and CEO of Hertha Metals, is leading this venture-backed startup with groundbreaking technology designed to revolutionize steelmaking and significantly reduce emissions. Hertha Metals is on a trajectory to become the global catalyst for decarbonizing the steel industry, leveraging the unique and cost-effective technology that utilizes any grade of iron ore, including waste oxides, to produce pure iron and steel, while dramatically reducing CO₂ emissions. With an unparalleled ability to execute at unprecedented speeds, Hertha Metals is reshaping the future of sustainable steel production.
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Rory Brown
Airhive, Co-Founder and CEO
Rory Brown, Co-Founder and CEO, leads Airhive in scaling their DAC technology, backed by partners like Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. The company is launching a 1,000-tonne facility to drive impactful climate action. Airhive is advancing Direct Air Capture (DAC) with modular, cost-effective systems that remove CO₂ directly from the atmosphere.
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Marie-Noëlle Keijzer
WeForest, Co-Founder and CEO
Marie Noëlle is the co-founder and CEO of WeForest, a non-profit organization dedicated to tackling some of today’s most pressing challenges: global warming, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and poverty. Leading a team of 90 professionals -primarily based in Africa - she has overseen the restoration of more than 71,000 hectares (an area comparable to Singapore) with nearly 100 million trees, transforming the lives of half a million people, creating habitats for endangered species, and positively impacting adjacent landscapes 40 times larger (an area roughly equivalent to Yosemite National Park or 3 million hectares).
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Shashank Samala
Heirloom Carbon, Founder and CEO
Shashank Samala, Co-Founder and CEO, leads Heirloom in pioneering scalable, cost-effective carbon removal solutions. Under his leadership, Heirloom has secured significant investments, including a recent $150 million Series B round, to scale their technology. Heirloom accelerates natural carbon mineralization, using limestone to capture CO₂ from the air, aiming to remove 1 billion tons by 2035. -
Saman Baghestani
S3 Markets, Co-Founder and CEO
Saman is the Co-Founder and CEO of S3 Markets, driving the adoption of low-carbon commodities in hard-to-abate sectors like cement, steel, and ammonia through a book-and-claim system, helping organizations credibly reduce Scope 3 emissions and advancing progress towards global net zero. Saman is passionate about leveraging his background in climate and finance to unlock financial support for radically decarbonized commodity producers in an effort to tip commodity markets towards low carbon modes of production.
An MIT graduate with climate and sustainability expertise, Saman co-founded SHIFT, a tool search engine for corporate sustainability, developed technology for the UN Global Compact resource library, and led the 2024 MIT Sustainability Summit on systems change for planetary wellbeing.
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John Auckland
Seafields, Founder and CEO
John Auckland has founded Seafields to pioneer a new approach to fighting climate change by introducing aquaculture to the open ocean using a little-known wonder crop, the brown seaweed, Sargassum.
He also founded TribeFirst, the leading global equity crowdfunding marketing agency that's helped more than 120 companies launch their brands and raise their money at the same time. Co-Founded GreenTribe, a pre-seed and seed stage impact investment fund. Also Co-Founder of JustCarbon, which is using Web3 technology to improve the carbon credit certification industry. -
Malte Feucht
Phlair, Founder and CEO
Phlair (formerly Carbon Atlantis) is redefining Direct Air Capture (DAC) with a scalable, cost-effective technology that removes CO2 from ambient air for permanent storage or reuse in CO2-negative chemicals. Their innovative hydrolyzer for acid/base regeneration enables efficient and affordable DAC processes, addressing critical challenges in industries like aviation and aluminum production. Led by Malte Feucht, Founder and CEO, Phlair helps leading customers such as Shopify and Stripe achieve their net-zero goals.
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Jason Aramburu
Applied Carbon, Co-Founder and CEO
Jason Aramburu, Founder and CEO, is a seasoned entrepreneur recognized by MIT Technology Review and the World Economic Forum for his groundbreaking work in climate tech. He looks forward to collaborating with the cohort to advance scalable carbon removal solutions. Applied Carbon is transforming agriculture and industry with innovative biochar technology that sequesters carbon, improves soil health, and reduces methane emissions.
Our Earlier Cohorts
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Hiro Iwanaga
Talus Renewables, Co-Founder and CEO
World’s first commercial modular green ammonia, hydrogen to fertilizer plant.
Hiro Iwanaga is a leader and visionary in the green technology space. As the Co-Founder of Talus Renewables, he led the creation of the world’s first modular and zero-emissions capable green ammonia system, which has applications in the agriculture, manufacturing, and renewable fuel industries. Talus’s inaugural installation in partnership with the Kenya Nut Company is replacing a costly and unreliable supply chain, increasing food security, and reducing carbon emissions - all while reducing overall costs for farmers.
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Kate Kallot
Amini.ai, Founder and CEO
Time’s 100 most influential people in AI.
Amini is solving for Africa’s environmental data scarcity. We have developed a holistic solution, utilizing AI and space technologies at scale to drive systemic change and promote economic inclusivity for farmers and supply chain resilience across Africa and beyond.
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Peter Fernandez
Mombak, Founder and CEO
Backed by Microsoft, AXA, Rockefeller Foundation, Bain Capital.
Peter Fernandez is the former CEO of Brazilian ridehailing company 99, which became Brazil's first unicorn upon acquisition by China's DiDi Chuxing at a $1B valuation. He is an angel investor and advisor to over 20 tech startups in Brazil and the United States. Peter was previously Head of YouTube and Mobile for Google Latin America, and before that was Head of Latin America for AdMob, a tech startup that was acquired by Google.
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BJ Johnson
Clear Flame, Co-Founder
Fast Company’s Next big thing in Tech.
Dr. BJ Johnson’s purpose in founding ClearFlame is to reverse climate change. His vision builds on the existing infrastructure, talent pool and industrial assets we use today to deliver everything from car batteries and groceries to mining equipment and generators. ClearFlame’s goal is to convert the more than 3 million diesel trucks on the road today and turn them into clean-burning engines.
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Geoff Chapin
Carbonwave, Founder and CEO
World Economic Forum’s Top Innovator Award.
Geoff Chapin is the CEO and Co-founder of Carbonwave, the world’s leading developer of ultra-regenerative, plant-based, advanced biomaterials from seaweed. The company transforms sargassum seaweed - a resource long considered waste, which does not need land or other inputs to grow - into biomaterials, including cosmetic emulsifier Seabalance 2000, that can replace petroleum products and other harmful industrial inputs. In addition to Carbonwave, Geoff also serves a Board Member at E2 and PRIME Coalition. He previously worked at C-change and is a veteran company builder in the green economy.
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Cody Friesen
Source.co, Founder and CEO
Winner of McNulty Prize, Backed by Bill Gates and Blackrock.
Dr. Cody Friesen, founder and CEO of SOURCE Global, PBC, is an innovator and business leader who is passionate about using advanced technology to solve humanity’s most pressing and essential challenges. Friesen and his team developed the SOURCE® Hydropanel, a revolutionary technology that sustainably produces perfectly balanced drinking water using sunlight and air and is independent of infrastructure. In 52 countries, SOURCE Hydropanels are bringing high-quality, renewable water to homes, schools, luxury hotels, remote work sites and communities facing water quality and scarcity issues.
Success Stories
Peter Fernandez, MOMBAK
“Climate Scale-Up is amazing.
I literally would not be at Davos if it was not for Climate Scale-Up, because Davos is this giant, nebulous, hard to navigate event where it's very easy to get lost in the multiplicity of possible events that you could be at.
Climate Scale-Up is organizing it for us so that it's high value and we waste as little time as possible trying to figure out what to do.”

Apply to Be Part of the 2026 Climate Scale-Up Cohort
Unlock Funding, Partnerships & Global Expansion
Join a select group of high-growth climate tech companies chosen from hundreds of nominations by top investors. Gain exclusive access to funding, corporate pilots, and international market opportunities at Davos, COP, and Climate Week NYC.