What started as a vision in our Venture Builder has, in just over two years, grown into a company closing a $15M Series A. Cocoon is now preparing to deploy its first commercial production facility in the US.
The Venture Accelerator
The super advisor for ambitious climate startups
Applications are open now to start 4th May 2026
Image Reaforma are repurposing construction and manufacturing waste into low carbon building materials
The Carbon13 Venture Accelerator supports and invests in founders working on the solutions to the climate emergency.
Think of this accelerator as your superadvisor. We work one on one with you to make your startup investable, scalable and high impact on the climate and Earth’s life support systems.
You’ll also have the chance to pitch for investment from Carbon13 for €150 000 – 250 000.
This is doing, not talking.
We make
the beginning scalable the world class world changing the science the opportunity the climate emergency the mission
Application deadline - 27th March
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Who should apply to the Venture Accelerator
The Venture Accelerator supports founding teams of early stage software or deeptech/science-based startups which are addressing challenges to Earth's Life Support Systems including climate, decarbonisation, water, biodiversity, adaptation and resilience etc.
To be eligible for the Accelerator, your startup should:
- Have two or more founders.
- Be registered in the UK or EU
- Be intending to raise a round in the next 12 months of €~1-3 million
- TRL 6-7 preferred
What we look for in a startup team differs depending on whether it's a software or a deeptech/science-based venture. Likewise, our support adapts to the very different challenges faced by those founders.
The strongest ecosystem for climate tech is now your personal brains trust
Our ecosystem is one of the strongest and richest support systems in climate tech entrepreneurship today. Think of us as one giant brains trust focused on entrepreneurship and carbon reduction.
Domain Experts
over 400 with sector specific, entrepreneurial, and technical expertise, mission driven for the climate
Corporate partners
Our network of corporate partners, eager to work with startups
Entrepreneurs in Residence
who embed into your startup. All are successful founders themselves.
Carbon experts
who guide and push you to maximise your carbon impact, then quantify it for a Carbon Case.
Investor partners
support you on your investment readiness and your long term fundraising strategy.
At a glance
Across two Phases, founders will rapidly develop their venture.
01 - The application process
- We assess applications on a rolling basis. There is an advantage in applying as early as possible.
- The final deadline for applications will be the 27th March.
- Applications are assessed on a rolling basis so we strongly recommend you do not wait for the deadline but apply as soon as you are ready.
- The first step is a written application form. This will also require you to film a two minute video.
- The second stage consists of two interviews with the Carbon13 team to understand your venture and team in more detail.
- For successful candidates, we will also have a due diligence process to confirm our offer to you.
02 - The Venture Accelerator structure
The next cohort starts 4th May.
There are two Phases to the programme.
Phase 1
- A 7 week sprint focused on your pitch for Carbon13 investment.
- The programme is completely remote, built around one on one deepdives with your Entrepreneur In Residence.
- Focuses include your go-to-market, tech roadmap, traction, investment readiness and carbon case.
- Startups which begin the programme give Carbon13 1% in options, recognising our role as advisors.
Phase 2
The ventures Carbon13 invests in proceed to Phase 2 - the Growth Phase.
- 12 month phase focused on supporting you to raise 1-3 million euros within 12 months.
- Again support is highly bespoke and one on one. Focused on hitting milestones and investor conversations.
- In-person pitch opportunity at our Showcases, to an audience of invited investors and partners.
- For ventures that do not receive our investment, we will still provide some lighter touch support.
03 - The key benefits
- You become part of Carbon13's ecosystem, one of the leading investors in early stage climatetech in Europe
- A highly bespoke approach where you work with us one on one to tackle your venture's specific challenges
- You'll build your "Carbon Pitch" and carbon case, to understand how to strategise for impact and lock in to your business model a potential 10 million tonnes of CO2e emissions reduction per year
- 1-1 weekly deep dives with Entrepreneurs-In-Residence (all successful founders)
- Milestones on product/market fit, go-to-market, and team and culture.
- Investment Pitch and strategy for raising the next round
- Opportunity for pre-seed investment from Carbon13 of €150 000 - €250 000. This is done through a SAFE and is designed to supply you with the capital to go on to raise the follow on funding of €1-3 million. This SAFE targets a 4-7% equity stake. There may be an opportunity for follow on funding from Carbon13.
- For ventures which win our investment, we support you to raise your next round through access to our investor community and invitation to Climate Innovation Showcase to partners and investors
Got questions?
Book a short call with Carbon13’s Sara Jones. She can answer questions on eligibility, how to make a good application, how the accelerator would work for your venture and what you could expect to achieve.
News, raises & milestones
Learn more about Carbon13’s progress and community. Here we share fundraising news from our ventures, collaborations with our partners, and our own news, opinion, and milestones.
Cooloop prepare to take carbon-negative acetic acid to industry
Co-Founders of COOloop Dr Rajan Lakshman and Ike Omambala are using £150 000 Carbon13 Venture Builder funding to commercialise their carbon-negative acetic acid production process. Working closely under the supervision of Professor Akshat Tanksale and Alan Chaffee...
Introducing: The European Venture Accelerator
Carbon13 launches new European Venture Accelerator, its most ambitious programme yet. The moment Europe in 2026 is at an inflection point. We face some of our strongest headwinds, yet we've also never been more sure of our focus and our strengths. We’ve also learned...
Berlin Climate Innovation Showcase Day
Last Thursday, we brought together Berlin Cohort 4 and Cambridge Cohort 8 at Google’s Berlin headquarters — nine teams, two cohorts, one shared mission: building ventures that move the needle on net zero.
What makes today’s pitches special is the community behind them. Our portfolio shows what’s possible when climate ambition meets real execution. Our alumni share hard-won experience with generosity and honesty. Our domain experts help founders navigate complex science and markets with confidence. Our entrepreneurs in awalk alongside teams through every challenge and breakthrough. And our impact experts make sure the climate case at the heart of each venture is as strong as it can be.
TetraxAI ready to scale after raising €1.5m in pre-seed round
TetraxAI raises €1.5 million in pre-seed funding to build their AI-driven platform due to diligence and risk management for clean energy infrastructure. The pre-seed round was led by The Footprint Firm with participation from Norrsken Evolve and non-dilutive funding from NEOTEC, Spain’s national deep-tech prestigious grant programme funded by the Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI).
Forge Minerals Funding Annoucement
Founded in 2024 after going through Carbon13’s Venture Builder, Forge Minerals has closed £1M in pre-seed funding. The round was co-led by Sustainable Ventures and The Conduit Impact Fund with co-investment from Old College Capital the University of Edinburgh’s...