Climatiq Secures €10 Million Series A Funding to Advance Carbon Intelligence and Support Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

German startup Climatiq, a prominent provider of carbon intelligence infrastructure, has announced the closure of a €10 million Series A funding round. The investment aims to enhance Climatiq’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities that automate emissions calculations for activities, products, and suppliers, thereby supporting global efforts towards sustainability and climate action aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Investment Details

• The funding round was led by Alstin Capital.
• Existing investors Singular and Cherry Ventures also participated.

Company Mission and Product Overview

Founded in 2021, Climatiq’s mission is to embed carbon intelligence into everyday business operations, enabling better decision-making that aligns with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).

1. Climatiq offers a scientifically vetted dataset comprising over 200,000 emission conversion factors.
2. The company provides intelligent APIs that integrate seamlessly with existing enterprise software, enhancing visibility of greenhouse gas emissions across business functions.
3. All methodologies and datasets are supervised by a Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), ensuring scientific rigor and credibility.

Technological Integration and Impact

Climatiq’s API-first platform embeds precise emissions data directly into enterprise software, eliminating information silos that hinder effective carbon management. This approach supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by fostering innovation in sustainable business practices.

• Integration with over 200 business operations platforms, including leading ERP and supply chain providers such as Celonis, IFS, and Siemens.
• Delivery of over one billion carbon calculations via APIs in the past 12 months to global enterprises.
• Support for a community of 30,000 sustainability professionals, researchers, and non-profits through a free offering.

Strategic Use of Funding

The newly acquired funds will be directed towards:

• Enhancing AI capabilities to automate emissions calculations for activities, products, and suppliers, addressing critical aspects of SDG 13.
• Focusing on scope 3 emissions, which include emissions from suppliers and transportation, typically accounting for 90% of a company’s carbon footprint but difficult to assess due to fragmented data and complex accounting methodologies.
• Investing in the expansion of the partner ecosystem and deepening the scientific database covering global territories and economic sectors.

Significance for Sustainable Development

Climatiq’s work is pivotal in advancing several Sustainable Development Goals by:

1. Providing reliable, scalable, and scientifically accurate emissions data that enable companies to manage carbon footprints effectively (SDG 13).
2. Embedding carbon visibility across all business functions, promoting responsible consumption and production patterns (SDG 12).
3. Facilitating innovation in enterprise software integration to support sustainable industrialization (SDG 9).

Expert Commentary

Alexander Meyer-Scharenberg, Principal at Alstin Capital, emphasized the importance of Climatiq’s infrastructure:

“CO₂ emissions have long been a real cost factor for companies due to regulation, internal carbon pricing, and investor pressure. Effective emissions management requires reliable data, scalable calculation methodologies, and the accurate attribution of emissions to business processes. Even with that in place, they need to be visible to every decision-maker in an organisation. With its comprehensive database and AI-based emission factor matching and API-integration tools, Climatiq is in the leading position to become the central infrastructure provider for emissions data.”

Conclusion

Climatiq’s recent funding milestone and technological advancements position the company as a key enabler in the global transition toward sustainable business practices. By integrating carbon intelligence into daily operations and focusing on comprehensive emissions management, Climatiq contributes significantly to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly climate action, responsible consumption, and innovation.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • The article focuses on carbon emissions management and reduction, directly relating to combating climate change.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Climatiq’s AI-driven carbon intelligence infrastructure and integration with enterprise software promote innovation in industry practices.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • By enabling companies to measure and manage emissions across their supply chains and operations, the startup supports sustainable production processes.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs

1. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into policies, strategies, and planning.
   • The article highlights embedding carbon intelligence into daily business operations, aligning with this target.
2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors.
   • Climatiq’s AI capabilities and scientific advisory board contribute to this target.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • Target 12.6: Encourage companies to adopt sustainable practices and sustainability reporting.
   • Climatiq’s platform enables companies to monitor and report emissions, supporting this target.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied to Measure Progress

1. Indicator for Target 13.2
   • Number of companies integrating carbon emissions data into business decision-making processes.
   • Use of AI-driven emissions calculations to quantify greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Indicator for Target 9.5
   • Number of enterprises using advanced technological tools (like Climatiq’s API) for emissions monitoring.
   • Volume of emissions calculations performed (e.g., over a billion carbon calculations reported).
3. Indicator for Target 12.6
   • Number of sustainability professionals and organizations using emissions data platforms.
   • Extent of emissions data coverage across products, suppliers, and activities (e.g., scope 3 emissions).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: eu-startups.com