The future of climate innovation: meet The Greenhouse Cohort 7

Meet the 13 startups who have just embarked on The Greenhouse climate innovation accelerator programme at Imperial College London.

Undaunted is excited to welcome its seventh cohort onto The Greenhouse accelerator programme. Despite working across different sectors and industries, these startups all have a common purpose and vision: to develop innovations that tackle climate change and create a more sustainable, equitable future for life on Earth. From smart compostable packaging made from onion waste to transforming CO₂ into carbon-negative minerals for use in construction; using AI to scale environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investments to eliminating waste in the pharmaceutical industry, these ventures are pioneering solutions that keep the climate at the core of their business.

"We’re really pleased to welcome thirteen brilliant teams with high-potential technologies onto Cohort 7 of the programme," says Jim Shaikh, Head of The Greenhouse. "We received over 85 applications from climate innovators from across the UK – the highest number we’ve had so far – and were hard-pressed to select the cohort. I’m particularly pleased that 85% of the successful teams have at least one female founder, with four all-female founding teams. Women in VC investment rounds are under-represented, and its key we address this gap and provide the right support at different stages of the entrepreneurial journey."

Let's meet meet Cohort 7!

Transforming CO₂

Many of the startups on Cohort 7 are focused on transforming carbon dioxide – capturing it from the atmosphere, finding clever ways to lock it away and even repurposing it by turning it into green materials that can be used across different industries.

Deep Blue BioTech

Deep Blue BioTech is on a mission to turn CO₂ into superior green chemicals by pioneering a technology platform powered by Synthetic Biology and AI that harnesses the power of Cyanobacteria, the fastest growing photosynthetic organism on Earth. Follow Deep Blue BioTech on LinkedIn.

Mechapres

Mechapres develops affordable and easy to integrate heat pumping and waste heat recovery solutions for industrial steam generation. Its patented design (see infographics below) achieves high-efficiency while keeping the manufacturing cost low, and enables Mechapres to take advantage of intermittent solar or waste heat, and off-peak electricity. Follow Mechapres on LinkedIn.

VENTRIX

Ventrix Labs is scaling carbon capture through existing building infrastructures. The team aims to help businesses achieve Net Zero goals by directly capturing carbon onsite via their novel solution which provides secure, viable and high-quality carbon emission reduction while improving overall operational efficiency. Follow Ventrix on LinkedIn.

In The Air Tech

In The Air Tech aims to improve air quality by making pollution-absorbing ceramic products for architects, contractors, and designers seeking affordable and sustainable air purification solutions. The company also recycles any waste or returned products into new goods. Follow its Founder, Falilat Omodudu, on LinkedIn.

Greenhouse Gas Removal refers to techniques that capture greenhouse gases already present in the air, storing or chemically converting them with some degree of permanence. CO₂RE, the UK’s national research hub on Greenhouse Gas Removal (GGR), is sponsoring three of the companies on Cohort 7 on The Greenhouse.

Medusa Materials

Medusa Materials is transforming CO₂ into carbon-negative minerals, which can then be used in construction to reduce cement use and store captured carbon.

Saol Nua

Saol Nua is a durable, bio-based polyester textile replacement, reducing plastic use and giving the fashion industry a new life. Follow Saol Nua on LinkedIn.

CapChar

CapChar is pioneering a decentralised network to scale production of 'Made in the UK' biochar carbon dioxide removal. Follow CapChar on LinkedIn.

Biochar is a charcoal-like substance created by heating plant matter (biomass) to high temperatures in a low oxygen environment – a process known as pyrolysis. It can hold onto the carbon that was in the plant matter for many years – hence it acts as a carbon store.

Fighting waste and making materials sustainable

Cohort 7 also welcomes founders working on the next generation of innovative green materials.

HUID

HUID converts onion waste into compostable smart packaging. It is developing PYBER, a card-like material made from biologically processed onion skin fibres, that provides a sustainable alternative to wood fibre paper for secondary packaging products. Follow HUID on LinkedIn.

Sequinova

Sequinova produce biodegradable and eco-friendly sparkle materials at scale for a more circular fashion and beauty industry. Follow Sequinova on LinkedIn.

Seasprout

Seasprout converts shrimp shell waste into biodegradable products for the horticulture and agriculture industry by replacing HDPE (high-density polyethylene) plastic while fostering sustainable communities. Follow Seasprout on LinkedIn.

Sealeo

Sealeo is on a mission to eliminate waste in the pharmaceutical industry by revolutionising last-mile temperature-sensitive medicine delivery via its fully biodegradable cooling material. Its novel packaging material is designed to keep vaccines cold passively, effectively, and affordably. Follow Sealeo on LinkedIn.

Green innovation in finance and investment

The UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment (CGFI) is sponsoring two startups in Cohort 7.

Biofonic

Biofonic is accelerating the adoption of sustainable agriculture through its low-cost acoustic soil sensor technology and AI. The team is on a mission to make ecosystem-based farming a winning proposition for both farmers’ bottom lines and the environment. Follow Biofonic on LinkedIn.

Fidata

Fidata is scaling ESG investments via an end-to-end AI-driven decisions platform. Follow Fidata on LinkedIn.

"We’re delighted to welcome Biofonic and Fidata to the newest cohort of The Greenhouse accelerator," says Christophe Christiaen, Head of Innovation and Impact, UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment. "CGFI is excited to support them delivering the innovations in climate data and analytics we need to transform finance for a greener future. We were impressed throughout the process by both entrants’ technical competence and vision, and their potential for environmental impact through finance."

"By supporting climate finance innovation, we contribute to the UK's economic growth and ensure a resilient future for generations to come," emphasises Dr Yllka Hysaj, Research Associate, UK Centre for Greening Finance and Investment.

About The Greenhouse

Over the past 12 years The Greenhouse, one of the most established specialist climate accelerators in the world, has refined a proven model for accelerating adaptable solutions to the climate crisis. The survival rate of Undaunted startups is 93% compared to the industry average of 10%; alumni from the programme have gone on to raise upwards of $1bn in investment, operating across 30 countries and creating over 2000 jobs globally. They include Notpla (winners of the Earthshot Prize 2022), Breathe Battery Technologies (who are now partnering with Volvo), and Naked Energy (who recently partnered with E.ON on large-scale decarbonisation projects across Europe and the UK).

“We’re incredibly proud to support the Greenhouse, and delighted to see so many female founders amongst this newest cohort of ventures,” says Michaela Wright, Head of Corporate Sustainability at HSBC UK. “Diversity of thinking is key to developing new innovative ideas to scale up climate solutions to have a real-world impact.”

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About Undaunted

Undaunted is a hub for the UK’s climate innovation community, creating new routes into green entrepreneurship and supporting the acceleration of startups and SMEs tackling climate change.

It is a partnership between the Royal Institution and the Grantham Institute - Climate Change and the Environment at Imperial College London.

The Greenhouse programme is supported by the Greater London Authority via the Mayor of London; HSBC UK, through the bank’s global Climate Solutions Partnership; and the Inflexion Foundation.

Notes to Editors: Imperial College London is part of HSBC’s global Climate Solutions Partnership, which aims to unlock barriers to finance for companies and projects that tackle climate change to bring them to scale while also delivering for people and nature. The global initiative is backed by $100m of philanthropic funding from HSBC over five years.