Earthshot Ventures Grant

About this grant

Earthshot Ventures is a venture fund launched in 2021 by Elemental Excelerator (operating as Elemental Impact), designed to deliver market-leading financial returns while generating significant positive climate impact. The fund invests in entrepreneurs building technologies across energy, industry, food and agriculture, nature, water, and transportation sectors. Elemental takes a four-pronged approach: providing catalytic capital that fills critical gaps and de-risks projects; offering tailored wrap-around coaching spanning policy engagement, workforce development, and capital raising; fostering local partnerships with schools, farmers, homeowners, government agencies, and workforce providers; and mobilizing investors, project funders, and customers to build the collaborative ecosystem needed for scale. As a nonprofit investor with over 17 years of experience, Elemental focuses particularly on first-of-a-kind and early commercial projects where market failures leave gaps that traditional capital does not fill. For every dollar Elemental invests, portfolio companies unlock an additional $110 in follow-on funding, totaling $11.8 billion, and companies backed by Elemental are approximately 2.5 times more likely to survive from early to late commercial stages than those that were not.

Eligibility

Applicants must be exceptional entrepreneurs solving pressing environmental challenges. The fund focuses on companies developing technologies across energy, industry, food and agriculture, nature, water, and transportation. There is no explicit geographic restriction stated on the page, though Elemental maintains offices in Honolulu, New York City, Washington DC, and San Francisco, suggesting a US orientation. The fund targets early-to-commercial-stage companies where catalytic capital can de-risk projects and attract follow-on investment.

How it's scored

Applications are assessed based on the strength of the entrepreneur and the potential for significant environmental and local impact. Elemental also considers whether the company addresses a market failure, particularly for first-of-a-kind or early commercial projects. Strategic fit across the focus sectors and the potential to attract follow-on funding are additional factors, consistent with Elemental's investor mobilization approach.

Key requirements

• ✓Company must demonstrate significant positive climate impact alongside market-leading financial return potential
• ✓Specific investment thesis, stage preferences, and cheque size not publicly disclosed; applicants should contact fund directly
• ✓Venture-stage companies (not grants or non-profit funding)

Recent past awardees

Knowing who's won the last rounds tells you whether you're in the strike zone.

• Fervo Energy
• Nth Cycle
• Glacier
• Capture6

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for Earthshot Ventures?

Eligibility covers organisations in GLOBAL; startup, sme. See the eligibility criteria above for the full conditions.

Relevant sectors

About this sector

Renewable energy funding covers solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and bioenergy, from early research to grid-scale deployment. Public money tends to back demonstration, grid connection and access to energy in emerging markets, while procurement notices buy installation, operation and maintenance. Calls often ask for proof of resource assessment, permitting progress and local partners.