WTF Is Happening in Climate Tech?

Climate tech has a vibe right now: big money, high pressure, and no time to waste.

It’s got momentum (hi, $7.6B in 2024 U.S. clean energy VC funding), growing pains (ahem, capital bottlenecks), and a massive chip on its shoulder (because climate urgency). But the good news? People still care. Founders are still building. And the planet still needs saving—yesterday.

So, WTF is actually going on?

1. Funding Isn't Dead. It's Just Selective Now. 

Climate tech isn't immune to market cycles, but it’s weathering them better than most. There’s a vibe shift from “fund everything green” to “show us your path to profitability and your climate impact.” Meanwhile, corporate strategics and policy (Inflation Reduction Act) are helping keep the lights—and the checks—on. Investors want: 

• Commercial traction
• Clear decarbonization math
• CapEx-savvy founders
• Infrastructure plays with big upside

2. Carbon Is Still King. But the Kingdom Is Complicated.

Carbon removal, carbon credits, carbon accounting, and carbon marketplaces. The demand is very real and evolving fast. What we're seeing: 

• Carbon removal - still buzzy, but scrutiny is rising
• Offsets - under fire, but too entrenched to ignore
• MRV (measurement, reporting, verification) - having a moment
• Scope 3 - the new frontier (and headache) for orgs everywhere

The bottom line? Carbon talk is getting technical, and companies need to speak both science and story.

3. The Messaging Gap Is a Problem.

Most climate tech companies are amazing at exactly that: climate and tech. Messaging? Not so much. Some say too much (“we’re solving 8 global problems”). Some say too little (“we reduce emissions”). And some say nothing the average human can understand. Want to be taken seriously by VCs, press, and policymakers? Say what you do, how it helps, and why it matters—in real human words. What works: 

• Simple, clear impact statements
• Sector-specific positioning
• Values-forward storytelling
• Not sounding like a white paper

4. Where's the Opportunity?

We're glad you asked. Climate tech isn’t slowing down—it’s just growing up. And that means more attention on outcomes, less tolerance for BS. Founders who can deliver real results and real stories are going to win. Media, public, and investor interest is shifting from “climate doom” to “climate hope.” If your company can embody that? You’re golden. Smart bets right now: 

• Hard-to-abate sectors (cement, steel, shipping)
• Industrial decarbonization tools
• Energy storage and grid innovation
• Electrification plays
• Climate-resilient agriculture and food systems

Oh, and let’s not forget that U.S. policy whiplash is real. Under the Trump administration, regulatory rollbacks could reshape everything from EV incentives to climate disclosure rules. Companies need to build with resilience in mind—politically and otherwise.

No Pressure. Just the Planet. 

The climate isn’t waiting. Neither are we. If you’re building in this space—hell yeah, keep going. Just remember: in a world full of noise, clear and courageous storytelling is part of your climate solution.

And if you need help with that? You know where to reach us.