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The Top 38 Sustainability Startups in 2023

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There are a lot of things to consider when building a new startup - where to get funding, how to validate your idea, and what features should the product have.

One of the challenges, however, is finding a market that is willing to pay for your solution without even knowing what it is yet.

While some people say this makes your idea too vague and hard to monetize, there’s actually good news.

There’s more money in this space than ever before by angels investing in early-stage companies.

If you're building a Sustainability startup, you must check these 38 fast-growing companies.


38 Sustainability Startups

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1) Clara Foods

1) Clara Foods

Clara creates true animal protein without using any animals at all, beginning with the world's first chicken-free egg proteins.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: South San Francisco
  • Started in: 2015
  • Founders: Arturo Elizondo, David Anchel
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: $56,750,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 5
  • Number of investors: 15

You can find their website here.

2) Goodr

2) Goodr

Goodr is a long-term surplus food management platform that uses technology to alleviate hunger and prevent food waste.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: Atlanta
  • Started in: 2017
  • Founders: Jasmine Crowe
  • Number of employees: 1-10
  • Funding amount: $2,850,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 6
  • Number of investors: 16

You can find their website here.

3) Plenty

3) Plenty

Plenty is a vertical farming firm that provides clients with fresh, pesticide-free produce.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: South San Francisco
  • Started in: 2014
  • Founders: Jack Oslan, Matt Barnard, Nate Mazonson, Nate Storey
  • Number of employees: 251-500
  • Funding amount: $541,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 6
  • Number of investors: 11

You can find their website here.

4) Persefoni

4) Persefoni

Persefoni creates an artificial intelligence platform that allows businesses to plan, monitor, evaluate, minimize, and report their carbon footprint.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: Tempe
  • Started in: 2020
  • Founders: Jason Offerman, Kentaro Kawamori, Kim Stroh
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: $13,200,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 2
  • Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.

5) EcoVadis

5) EcoVadis

EcoVadis is a collaborative platform that allows businesses to evaluate their suppliers' environmental and social performance.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: France
  • City: Paris
  • Started in: 2007
  • Founders: Frederic Trinel, Pierre Francois Thaler
  • Number of employees: 501-1000
  • Funding amount: $235,786,060
  • Number of funding rounds: 6
  • Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.

6) LanzaTech

6) LanzaTech

Companies, communities, and countries all throughout the world are benefiting from new economic opportunities.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: Skokie
  • Started in: 2005
  • Founders: Sean Simpson
  • Number of employees: 51-100
  • Funding amount: $280,400,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 7
  • Number of investors: 11

You can find their website here.

7) Greenlight Biosciences

7) Greenlight Biosciences

GreenLight Biosciences is a biotechnology firm specializing on RNA research, design, and production for human, animal, and plant health.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: Medford
  • Started in: 2008
  • Founders: Andrey Zarur, James Swartz, Marta Ortega-Valle
  • Number of employees: 101-250
  • Funding amount: $215,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 8
  • Number of investors: 21

You can find their website here.

8) Rubicon

8) Rubicon

Rubicon is a software firm that offers smart garbage and recycling solutions to businesses and governments all around the world.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: Atlanta
  • Started in: 2008
  • Founders: Lane B. Moore, Marc Spiegel, Nate Morris, Perry Moss
  • Number of employees: 251-500
  • Funding amount: $222,699,949
  • Number of funding rounds: 8
  • Number of investors: 27

You can find their website here.

9) Arabesque S-Ray

9) Arabesque S-Ray

Arabesque S-Ray is a market leader in sustainability data, consulting, and research.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Germany
  • City: Frankfurt
  • Started in: 2017
  • Founders: Andreas Feiner, Dominic Selwood, Hans-Robert Arndt, Omar Selim
  • Number of employees: 51-100
  • Funding amount: $20,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 2
  • Number of investors: 6

You can find their website here.

10) Rheaply

10) Rheaply

Rheaply is a procurement management platform that allows you to purchase, sell, trade, donate, and rent resources.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: Chicago
  • Started in: 2015
  • Founders: Garry Cooper, Tyler Skelton
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: $12,700,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 4
  • Number of investors: 16

You can find their website here.

11) Nature’s Fynd

11) Nature’s Fynd

Nature's Fynd is a food firm that produces a protein derived from a microorganism found in geothermal springs.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: Chicago
  • Started in: 2012
  • Founders: Mark Kozubal, Matthew Strongin, Thomas Jonas
  • Number of employees: 51-100
  • Funding amount: $158,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 3
  • Number of investors: 10

You can find their website here.

12) Intelex

12) Intelex

Intelex creates software for EHSQ initiatives (environment, health, safety, and quality).

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Canada
  • City: Toronto
  • Started in: 1992
  • Number of employees: 251-500
  • Funding amount: CA$160,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 1
  • Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

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13) Goodera

13) Goodera

Goodera is a technological platform that assists businesses in managing their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: India
  • City: Bengaluru
  • Started in: 2014
  • Founders: Abhishek Humbad, Richa Bajpai
  • Number of employees: 101-250
  • Funding amount: $17,612,830
  • Number of funding rounds: 3
  • Number of investors: 6

You can find their website here.

14) Ecovative Design

14) Ecovative Design

Ecovative Design is a biomaterials firm specializing in the creation of novel materials derived from natural growth processes.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: United States
  • City: Troy
  • Started in: 2007
  • Founders: Eben Bayer, Gavin McIntyre
  • Number of employees: 101-250
  • Funding amount: $90,054,293
  • Number of funding rounds: 12
  • Number of investors: 8

You can find their website here.

15) Enfuce

15) Enfuce

Banks, fintechs, financial operators, and merchants can use Enfuce's payment, open banking, and sustainability services.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Finland
  • City: Espoo
  • Started in: 2016
  • Founders: Denise Johansson, Monika Liikamaa
  • Number of employees: 51-100
  • Funding amount: € 17,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 3
  • Number of investors: 5

You can find their website here.

16) Budbee

16) Budbee

Budbee is a logistics-tech startup that focuses on sustainability while providing last-mile delivery services.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Sweden
  • City: Stockholm
  • Started in: 2015
  • Founders: Axel Warg, Fredrik Hamilton
  • Number of employees: 101-250
  • Funding amount: $112,524,328
  • Number of funding rounds: 7
  • Number of investors: 10

You can find their website here.

17) v2food

17) v2food

v2food is a plant-based meat firm that makes meat substitutes from legumes.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Australia
  • City: Sydney
  • Started in: 2019
  • Founders: Nick Hazell
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: A$112,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 2
  • Number of investors: 10

You can find their website here.

18) Grain

18) Grain

Grain is an online restaurant that serves cuisine to consumers using data and a tech-enabled network.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Singapore
  • City: Singapore
  • Started in: 2014
  • Founders: Ernest Sim, Isaac Tan, Rifeng Gao, Yi Sung Yong
  • Number of employees: 101-250
  • Funding amount: $14,205,884
  • Number of funding rounds: 4
  • Number of investors: 13

You can find their website here.

19) Karma

19) Karma

Karma creates and sells apps to help grocery shops and restaurants reduce food waste.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Sweden
  • City: Stockholm
  • Started in: 2015
  • Founders: Elsa Bernadotte, Hjalmar Ståhlberg Nordegren, Ludvig Berling, Mattis Larsson, Steven van Wel
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: $20,216,654
  • Number of funding rounds: 5
  • Number of investors: 19

You can find their website here.

20) Louis Dreyfus Company

20) Louis Dreyfus Company

The Louis Dreyfus Company is a global commodity merchandiser as well as a major agricultural asset owner and processor.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: The Netherlands
  • City: Rotterdam
  • Started in: 1851
  • Number of employees: 10001+
  • Funding amount: $100,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 2
  • Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

21) Air Up

21) Air Up

Air Up is the world's first drinking bottle that flavors pure water just by smell.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Germany
  • City: Munich
  • Started in: 2018
  • Number of employees: 51-100
  • Funding amount: € 18,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 4
  • Number of investors: 7

You can find their website here.

22) Crofarm

22) Crofarm

Crofarm aspires to create a supply chain that benefits farmers while also delivering the freshest food to businesses in the most efficient way possible.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: India
  • City: Gurgaon
  • Started in: 2016
  • Founders: Prashant Jain, Varun Khurana
  • Number of employees: 101-250
  • Funding amount: $3,784,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 6
  • Number of investors: 11

You can find their website here.

23) Carbo Culture

23) Carbo Culture

Carbo Culture is a carbon-removal startup based in the Nordics and the United States.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Finland
  • City: Helsinki
  • Started in: 2016
  • Founders: Christopher Carstens, Pia Henrietta Kekäläinen, Sam Van Wesenbeeck
  • Number of employees: 1-10
  • Funding amount: $7,083,979
  • Number of funding rounds: 4
  • Number of investors: 15

You can find their website here.

24) Nutrition Technologies

24) Nutrition Technologies

Black Soldier is used by Nutrition Technologies to make protein, oil, and organic fertilizer. Fly larvae for a better and greener future

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Singapore
  • City: Singapore
  • Started in: 2015
  • Founders: Nick Piggott, Richard Hayler, Thomas Berry
  • Number of employees: 101-250
  • Funding amount: $14,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 4
  • Number of investors: 7

You can find their website here.

25) Ispace Technologies

25) Ispace Technologies

Ispace Technologies is a cis-lunar space resource exploration firm that finds, collects, and delivers lunar ice to customers.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Japan
  • City: Tokyo
  • Started in: 2010
  • Founders: Takeshi Hakamada
  • Number of employees: 101-250
  • Funding amount: $128,814,148
  • Number of funding rounds: 7
  • Number of investors: 19

You can find their website here.

26) GoParity

26) GoParity

Personal finance and investing tool that links individuals and businesses with nonprofits seeking financing for sustainable projects.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Portugal
  • City: Lisbon
  • Started in: 2017
  • Founders: Nuno Brito Jorge
  • Number of employees: 1-10
  • Funding amount: € 900,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 5
  • Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

27) abillion

27) abillion

We're a global community dedicated to making social impact and long-term sustainability a way of life for everyone.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Singapore
  • City: Singapore
  • Started in: 2017
  • Founders: Vikas Garg
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: $6,450,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 4
  • Number of investors: 11

You can find their website here.

28) Worldfavor

28) Worldfavor

The global platform for information and management on sustainability and compliance

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Sweden
  • City: Stockholm
  • Started in: 2010
  • Founders: Andreas Liljendahl, Frida Emilsson
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: $4,559,700
  • Number of funding rounds: 3
  • Number of investors: 3

You can find their website here.

29) Bhinneka.Com

29) Bhinneka.Com

Bhinneka.Com was the first eCommerce website in Indonesia.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Indonesia
  • City: Jakarta
  • Started in: 1993
  • Founders: Hendrik Tio
  • Number of employees: 501-1000
  • Funding amount: $22,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 1
  • Number of investors: 1

You can find their website here.

30) Quentic

30) Quentic

Quentic is a health and safety, environmental, and sustainability management software company.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Germany
  • City: Berlin
  • Started in: 2007
  • Founders: Markus Becker
  • Number of employees: 251-500
  • Funding amount: $42,313,274
  • Number of funding rounds: 3
  • Number of investors: 5

You can find their website here.

31) Sulapac

31) Sulapac

With biodegradable packaging innovation, Sulapac addresses the global plastic waste problem.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Finland
  • City: Helsinki
  • Started in: 2016
  • Founders: Antti Parssinen, Laura Kyllönen, Suvi Haimi
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: € 18,763,125
  • Number of funding rounds: 5
  • Number of investors: 11

You can find their website here.

32) Seaborg Technologies

32) Seaborg Technologies

The Compact Molten Salt Reactor is a small modular reactor based on molten fluoride salt developed by Seaborg.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Denmark
  • City: Copenhagen
  • Started in: 2015
  • Founders: Andreas Vigand Pedersen, Ask Emil Jensen, Eirik Eide Pettersen, Esben Klinkby, Navid Samandari, Troels Schönfeldt
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: $25,741,823
  • Number of funding rounds: 2
  • Number of investors: 7

You can find their website here.

33) TrusTrace

33) TrusTrace

TrusTrace is a technology company that enables "Conscious Consumption and Responsible Production" through its products.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Sweden
  • City: Stockholm
  • Started in: 2016
  • Founders: Hrishikesh Rajan, Saravanan Parisutham
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: $1,696,649
  • Number of funding rounds: 4
  • Number of investors: 3

You can find their website here.

34) Land Life Company

34) Land Life Company

E2E reforestation services are provided by Land Life Company.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: The Netherlands
  • City: Amsterdam
  • Started in: 2013
  • Founders: Eduard Zanen, Jurriaan Ruys, Rebekah Braswell, Willemijn Stoffels
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: € 5,900,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 2
  • Number of investors: 5

You can find their website here.

35) Renoon

35) Renoon

Renoon is a search platform that makes it simple for buyers to locate sustainable alternatives to what they want to wear.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: The Netherlands
  • City: Amsterdam
  • Started in: 2020
  • Founders: Gabriele Trapani, Iris Skrami, Nicolò Tresoldi, Piero Puttini
  • Number of employees: 1-10
  • Funding amount: € 385,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 3
  • Number of investors: 2

You can find their website here.

36) Bynd

36) Bynd

Bynd creates a carpooling platform for individuals and businesses.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Brazil
  • City: Sao Paulo
  • Started in: 2014
  • Founders: Abraão Barros, Gustavo Gracitelli, Leonardo Liborio
  • Number of employees: 1-10
  • Funding amount: R$1,185,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 1
  • Number of investors: 1

You can find their website here.

37) e.GO Mobile

37) e.GO Mobile

e.GO Mobile AG is a company that designs and manufactures electronic automobiles.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Germany
  • City: Aachen
  • Started in: 2015
  • Founders: Günther Schuh
  • Number of employees: 251-500
  • Funding amount: € 30,000,000
  • Number of funding rounds: 1
  • Number of investors: 4

You can find their website here.

38) Vive Crop Protection

38) Vive Crop Protection

Vive develops more effective and long-lasting pesticides for organic and non-organic farming.

Details of the startup:

  • Country: Canada
  • City: Mississauga
  • Started in: 2006
  • Founders: Cynthia Goh, Darren Anderson, Gwynn Curran-Sills, Jane Goh, Jordan Dinglasan, Richard Loo
  • Number of employees: 11-50
  • Funding amount: $39,999,527
  • Number of funding rounds: 10
  • Number of investors: 12

You can find their website here.

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