20 Pre-Seed Climate Tech Investors — 17 Currently Deploying

HAX backs pre-seed startups solving hard industrial-scale challenges using innovative hard tech (plasma, physical AI, advanced chemistry) in energy, compute, transportation, health…

Back European founders with strong qualities (not CV/pedigree) building businesses for a better human future, assessed on characteristics like productivity, grit, and commercial ac…

Carbon Removal Partners invests in early-stage companies developing technologies to reverse climate change through carbon removal at industrial scale, guided by scientific rigor an…

Earthshot Ventures backs technologies defining the next industrial era by focusing on energy, AI, and critical minerals—markets where new inventions unlock outsized returns and pos…

Backing breakout researchers and entrepreneurs emerging from the world's leading research labs and innovation ecosystems, solving the toughest problems across technology and life s…

We invest in early stage companies building future-shaping businesses, specifically software and hardware working within climate across three pillars: Optimise (decarbonise existin…

Invest in AI-first and frontier-technology companies building scalable solutions across data, infrastructure, productivity, health, energy, and industry, positioned as the foundati…

MaRS helps innovators build a better world by providing startups and scale-ups with commercialization support, connections to capital, customers and talent, and access to an expans…

Back pioneers building technology at the edge of the impossible—ideas that aren't normal but will become inevitable. Support founders in motion and builders chasing new frontiers f…

Invest in early stage startups that close gaps of access for all, prioritizing a more fair, just, and equitable society for low income communities and underrepresented communities …

We help founders build a healthier & more sustainable future by investing capital, time & belief to accelerate success. We invest in driven founders building pioneering companies t…

Deep Science Ventures combines available scientific knowledge with founder-type scientists to create high-impact ventures across agriculture, computation, climate, pharma, and educ…

BlueYard invests in technologies that move toward utopia or hold the line against oblivion—applied computation fueling breakthroughs enabling a safe, stable, and prosperous world.

Back engineers and researchers surfing new computing waves (robotics, genomics/CRISPR, GenAI) as they transform massive industries. Computing keeps eating more of the world.

We back the rare humans with the grit to solve the toughest challenges. Accelerating solutions in Healthcare & Life Sciences, Security & Resiliency, Sustainable Food Systems, Clima…

Biotechnology acceleration and early-stage investing in synthetic biology, life sciences, and food/agriculture innovation

Pre-seed VC backing founders globally applying AI to drive systemic change for people and planet, focusing on traditionally under-digitized sectors like manufacturing, supply chain…

We build and back ventures capable of mitigating at least 10M tonnes of CO2e per annum once at scale, selecting entrepreneurs to build climate-tech ventures addressing Earth's crit…

Build the capability and confidence of Victorians to create, scale and invest in technology-driven startups

Blue Ivy Ventures provides Yale alumni accredited investors access to diversified venture capital investments co-invested alongside leading VC firms, combining a curated annual fun…

How many pre-seed climate tech investors are actively deploying right now?

DryPowder tracks 20 pre-seed climate tech funds. Of these, 17 are currently deploying capital based on recent fund closes, portfolio activity, and partner signals. Use DryPowder's fund matching to see which ones fit your specific startup.

What check size do pre-seed climate tech VCs write?

Among 20 pre-seed climate tech funds on DryPowder, check sizes run from $25K–$20M. Ranges vary by fund size, vintage, and whether the fund leads rounds. Each fund profile shows check size detail and lead preference.

How do I get a meeting with a pre-seed climate tech VC?

A warm intro is still the fastest path. Most pre-seed climate tech VCs on DryPowder do accept cold outreach or direct applications, but response rates vary widely by fund. Before reaching out, use DryPowder's AI matching to get a fit score and specific talking points. Founders who lead with thesis-aligned framing get significantly better response rates than those sending the same deck to every fund on a list.

How long does a pre-seed round take to close?

Most pre-seed rounds close in 4-8 weeks once a lead is committed. The process is faster than seed because checks are smaller and terms are simpler. A SAFE or convertible note is standard. Founders who close quickly typically have a lead committed, 2-3 other investors lined up, and a hard deadline. Open-ended rounds with no timeline tend to stall.

How many pre-seed climate tech investors should I be talking to at once?

Most fundraisers recommend a parallel process: identify 20-40 target investors but approach your highest-fit funds first. Of the 17 pre-seed climate tech funds currently deploying, not all will match your specific stage and sector. Use fund matching to find your top 10-15, approach those first, collect feedback, then go wider. Going to every fund simultaneously without qualifying first burns bridges and dilutes the urgency that helps close a round.

How is DryPowder different from building a VC list on LinkedIn or Crunchbase?

The fund list you build on LinkedIn or Crunchbase is roughly the same list every other founder is building. DryPowder adds three things a manual search cannot: deployment signals (which funds have recently closed new vehicles and are actively writing checks), AI thesis matching (which of the 20 pre-seed climate tech funds actually fits your specific startup, ranked by fit), and verified partner contact details. The goal is 15 targeted, thesis-aligned pitches instead of 150 generic ones.