Contrarian Ventures Climate Tech VC: Founder Application Window

Summary

Contrarian Ventures (Lithuania-based climate VC) is actively seeking climate tech founders across Europe and Israel at pre-seed/seed stage for EUR 1-4M cheques. The firm has published explicit investment criteria and an open pitch-deck submission portal for founders who believe they don't fit standard filters.

Score breakdown

Evidence

“We back climate tech founders across Europe and Israel at the earliest stages... EUR 1-4m ticket size. If you think that this is not right and we should really take a look at your pitch deck, just go ahead and upload it here.”

What changed on the page

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FOUNDERS FIRST. CLIMATE ALWAYS.
NO EGOS. JUST GREAT PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXCEPTIONAL FOUNDERS.
FIXING CLIMATE IS HARD. WE ARE YOUR ALIGNED PARTNER.
Building technology to reverse climate change is not an easy task. It requires patience, persistence and determination. You’re not just building a company – you’re solving the world’s most complex problem.
Every journey is unique, but one thing is constant: you’re in the driver’s seat, setting the course.
We aim to be your first cheque and first-choice partner.
We’re playing long-term games with long-term people – solving for long-term impact.
OUR ALIGNMENT WITH YOU.
Economics
Climate change is an existential risk and the great economic opportunity of our lifetimes. You get this. You are building breakthrough tech that is economically superior; outcompeting the status quo on all fronts, with sustainability at the core of it.
scale
You’re not here for incremental change. Scale and scale alone fixes climate. You’re building tech that scales and reshaping industries, reaching millions, opening new markets and setting new global standards.
purpose
This isn’t the latest fad or flavour of the month. You’re solving the hardest technical problems or creating markets that don’t exist yet in climate. You chose this path not because it’s trendy or a quick flip, but because it’s the only problem worth devoting your time.
CHANGE
As climate change brings opportunity, so does flux. You believe the world is in constant flux – being rebuilt bit by bit, atom by atom, through breakthrough technologies at the edge of what’s possible and yet to be imagined.
BUILT FOR FOUNDERS. COMMITTED TO CLIMATE.
Contrarian Ventures was founded in 2017 long before “climate tech” was cool. We’re not playing for headlines. We’re playing for outcomes. We’ll be around until the job is done.
We don’t look for consensus. We don’t seek approval. We’re driven by conviction. Being right and contrarian is where we thrive.
We show up every day with the same energy and ambition as our founders.
THE FOUNDERS.
Listen to what our founders have to say about us. They’re the true testament to our work.
David Trainavicius, Douglas Geist
Tommy Ricketts, Sebastien Cross
Joe Beaudin, Andreas Slettvoll, Gaute Gamst
Mina Nada, Michael Johnson, Arwin Soetanto
Jan-Willem Rombouts, Sandra Trittin, Bert Claessens
We back founders - learn more about them here.
what we look for.
We back climate tech founders across Europe and Israel at the earliest stages - before it’s obvious, before it's crowded.
what
Climate Tech
WHERE
Europe & Israel
STAGE
Pre seed/Seed
TICKET SIZE
EUR 1-4m
THE PLATFORM BUILT FOR FOUNDERS.
We’re not just building (another) investment firm. Whether it’s landing a big customer, raising your next round or positioning you as an industry leader – we’ve got your back.
From ecosystem events and awards to data-driven scaling frameworks – our full-stack climate platform is built with the founder in mind.
energy tech summit
We built Europe’s go-to event for climate founders – from scratch. What started as a gathering of friends and partners in a small room has grown into what it is today. Energy Tech Summit now brings together thousands of the world’s top climate founders and funders in Bilbao each year.
climate brick
We co-built The Climate Brick – the missing manual for scaling climate tech. Our practical blueprint is grounded in deep research: 100+ interviews, 3000+ companies, and over 15,000 data points. The Brick maps out seven key sector-specific scaling journeys and their milestones.
climate 50
We launched Climate50, the definitive ranking of the world’s boldest climate tech investors. It brings visibility, transparency, and signal to the global climate investing ecosystem.
GROWTH MEETS CAPITAL
We built a space where deals get done. No fluff, just best-in-class 100 climate founders and growth investors gathering to make deals happen. It’s where capital meets conviction.
INTERESTED IN JOINING FORCES? LET'S TALK
Hmmm… The stars don’t seem to be aligned for our cooperation at this point. Here’s why: Our focus is entirely on climate tech (excl. Food & Agriculture).But wait!!! If you think that this is not right and we should really take a look at your pitch deck, just go ahead and upload it here. We’ll get back to you.
Hmmm… The stars don’t seem to be aligned for our cooperation at this point. Here’s why: We invest in European start-ups, but at the core, we back entrepreneurs.But wait!!! If you think that this is not right and we should really take a look at your pitch deck, just go ahead and upload it here. We’ll get back to you.
Hmmm… The stars don’t seem to be aligned for our cooperation at this point. Here’s why: Our focus is entirely on climate tech (excl. Food & Agriculture) founders in Europe and Israel.But wait!!! If you think that this is not right and we should really take a look at your pitch deck, just go ahead and upload it here. We’ll get back to you.
This is promising!
We would like to take a closer look at what you’re doing. Click below and upload your pitch deck. We’ll get back to you real soon.

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