Tech Nation, have launched a brand new programme for companies that help reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to Net Zero by 2050. With the aim to help scale UK tech that is working towards a more sustainable future, Net Zero 1.0 is open to digital tech or hardware businesses which help the UK reduce greenhouse gas emissions directly or indirectly.
Digital Minister, Caroline Dinenage said: “The UK is at the forefront of the cleantech revolution and we are committed to making sure the sector has the right conditions to grow and help us achieve our climate change goals.”
“I know how dynamic and effective our tech firms can be at tackling global challenges. So I encourage any entrepreneur with a vision for a greener world to apply and help to build a cleaner and more sustainable future.”
Gerard Grech, Chief Executive, Tech Nation, the growth platform for tech companies, comments: “Climate change should not be tackled by international governments alone. Technology and entrepreneurship have a huge role to play in dealing with such a global environmental issue. The green tech sector has grown substantially and is well-positioned to take on this challenge, making a significant difference to our future. We want to ensure UK tech companies have the tools to be able to drive and scale this innovation, helping the UK meet its net zero targets by 2050 or sooner.”
Net Zero 1.0 – A greener future
The Net Zero programme is a government-backed initiative; the first of its kind to support tech that is building a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future, and contributing towards the UK’s net zero goals. It will be supported by leading experts, investors and founders.
The judges selecting companies to join the programme include Hayden Wood, CEO, Bulb, Pippa Gawley, Founder and Director, Zero Carbon Capital, Mark Hodgson, Chief Business Officer, Cervest, and Tom Adeyoola, NED, Verco.
Net Zero Programme Lead Zheela Qaiser commented “This is an important opportunity for Tech Nation to support meaningful and mission-driven work in the pursuit of climate change goals in the UK and globally. We are seeking scaling tech businesses that demonstrate entrepreneurship and dynamism to tackle the biggest challenge that we face to our future. We’ve opened up applications to a broad range of sectors so encourage any tech businesses that are contributing toward this mission to apply.”
The Net Zero programme comes at a crucial time for the UK tech sector, as it looks to contribute to the UK’s recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 has highlighted the role played by technology to aid a green recovery in both the short and long term. It’s an important moment to build back better.
We are looking for digital, hardware or biotech companies which operate across key sectors including electricity & energy, transport & mobility, agriculture, food systems, manufacturing and building technology. Companies may directly contribute to net zero, with emission reducing and carbon capture technologies or may contribute indirectly by changing consumer behaviour, or increasing efficiencies.
To qualify for the programme, companies must:
- Be at funding stage/backing from pre-Seed – Series A
- OR If revenue focused, generating annual revenues below £1.5m
- Have at least one active client or pilot
- Be able to demonstrate market traction
- Have an ambition to scale
- Be headquartered in the UK
The programme will run for 6 months and will cover key scaling challenges specific to the sector. As with all of our growth programmes, Tech Nation takes no equity stake in participating companies.
If this fits your company profile, apply now.