VertueLab
OVERVIEW: VertueLab is a nonprofit that works to address climate change by investing in, developing, and supporting startups within the cleantech, or Greentech, business sector.
IP TAKE: This funder only supports companies and startups looking to make an impact on climate change. Traditional nonprofits will make better use of their time looking elsewhere. However, the funder is open to contact, so don’t hesitate to reach and introduce your organization to see how they can support your climate change investments.
PROFILE: Established in 2007, VertueLab addresses climate change by supporting cleantech startups. It seeks to “unleash innovation and entrepreneurship that will solve environmental challenges and catalyze shared economic prosperity.” The nonprofit was founded as Oregon BEST, the first organization in the country to support cleantech startups through direct, program related investments. It rebranded as VertueLab in 2018 and now supports efforts to mitigate climate change through the Climate Impact Fund, which envisions itself as part of the Divest-Invest movement.
Cleantech is a concept that originated in the venture capital investment community and encompasses support and development of “green” business sectors which including industries such as solar, wind, water purification, and biofuels.
VertueLab’s Climate Impact Fund supports and funds “for-profit companies creating the technology innovations that will reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.” It provides gap funding to startups that may not typically receive capital support because they are high risk and may take longer to produce measurable outcomes. In addition to financial support, these companies also receive something called “holistic entrepreneur support,” which VertueLab believes will make the beneficiary companies more likely to attract additional attention which will in turn allow the company to grow, presumably allowing them to do more good environmentally.
Since 2011, VertueLab has provided over $7.4M in support for technology development and validation. Contact VertueLab for more information the types of companies it supports and to apply.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
LINKS: