Seed Environment & Conservation Funders

Access Ventures is an innovative impact multiplier that leverages catalytic capital to drive economic prosperity, social equity, and environmental sustainability in communities. They operate as dreamers, doers, and risk-takers who use blended finance approaches to create lasting transformative change, guided by the belief that people are at the heart of any true community transformation. Their mission is to revolutionize the global investment landscape through a blended finance approach and a "one-pocket mindset," proving that financial return and social impact can coexist while improving access and agency for all. They meet complex challenges with creativity, high tolerance for risk, and willingness to be catalytic with capital, emphasizing the development of the next generation of change-makers. Access Ventures serves as a catalyst for change in the impact investing ecosystem, bridging gaps between traditional finance and social impact through their deep understanding of catalytic and blended finance strategies. With 10 years of experience empowering change, they have established themselves as community-focused impact multipliers who teach, advise, and invest in ways that yield both high financial returns and significant community impact, fostering a resilient and dynamic economy where every person can thrive.

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

AirMiners is a leading platform advancing the carbon dioxide removal (CDR) industry through community, education, and early-stage venture support. Founded in 2017, the organization brings together scientists, founders, investors, and operators to accelerate the development and deployment of carbon removal solutions. Through its Launchpad accelerator and Kiloton Fund, AirMiners supports early-stage startups building technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. The platform also operates one of the largest communities in the CDR space, helping talent, capital, and ideas converge to scale the industry.

Beyond Impact is an impact investment firm focused on accelerating the transition to a more sustainable, animal-free economy. Founded in 2017, the firm backs companies developing alternatives to animal-based products across food, materials, pharmaceuticals, and consumer goods. The firm’s mission centers on building a “kinder, cleaner, healthier world” by investing in scalable businesses that reduce environmental damage, eliminate animal suffering, and improve human health. Its portfolio targets high-growth sectors such as plant-based foods, alternative proteins, and next-generation biomaterials.

Breakthrough Energy is a climate-focused investment and innovation platform founded by Bill Gates to accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy. The organization supports cutting-edge climate technologies, policy initiatives, research, and investment vehicles designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at global scale. Breakthrough Energy works across venture investing, project financing, policy advocacy, and ecosystem development to help scale breakthrough solutions in energy, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, and industrial decarbonization.

Climate Collective is a leading innovation network that specializes in putting digital technologies to work for climate and nature at scale. They focus on connecting AI and digital tools with environmental impact, running innovation programs and building AI fluency across climate and nature nonprofits. The organization operates by connecting innovators, nonprofits, and global leaders to turn technology into lasting climate and nature impact. They accomplish this through running innovation programs, building AI fluency across climate and nature organizations, and convening sustainability leaders and technologists to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing. Climate Collective plays a crucial role in the ecosystem by bridging the gap between technology innovation and environmental impact. Their flagship AI Explorers Summit brings together 100 leaders annually and is co-hosted by major organizations like Conservation International, UNDP, and TechChange, demonstrating their significant influence in shaping how AI is responsibly deployed for climate and nature solutions.

Climate Fund Managers (CFM) is a for-profit investment manager specializing in climate finance across emerging markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The firm uses blended finance structuring to attract public and private capital for high-impact climate investments, with over USD 2 billion in assets under management and targeting an additional USD 6 billion. CFM provides complete lifecycle financing solutions for infrastructure developers, covering development, construction, and operational stages of projects. Their investment approach focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptation in areas most affected by climate consequences, delivering both environmental impact and risk-adjusted returns to investors.

The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment operates through both philanthropic grants and strategic investments to address climate change and environmental degradation. They focus on protecting and improving the health of the global environment through a dual approach of funding environmental advocacy, applied research into climate solutions, and investing in entrepreneurs building green industries and technologies. Their mission is to protect and conserve the natural environment, with communication and collaboration as top priorities to build widespread public support for preventing catastrophic climate change. The Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with five Grantham family trustees, while also working through The Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trust, a public charity with independent trustees from major environmental organizations including Rare, The Nature Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund US, and Rocky Mountain Institute. Established by Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham, the Foundation plays a significant role in the environmental ecosystem by addressing what they identify as humanity's greatest challenge - climate change and the race against time to avoid existential threats. Their impact matters because they recognize that environmental philanthropic resources are immense compared to available funding, making strategic alliances and targeted investments in both advocacy and technological innovation crucial for preventing catastrophic environmental change.

ReGen Ventures is an impact-focused venture capital firm that invests in foundational regenerative technologies designed to power a future of abundance. They focus on four core investment areas: clean energy, planetary intelligence, programmable matter, and adaptive robotics, partnering with founders who are building transformative technologies from the atomic to planetary scale. The firm operates with a mission to reimagine the world by supporting technologies that make regeneration inevitable, enabling infinite growth and prosperity on a finite planet. They take a hands-on approach with founders, providing comprehensive support that ranges from business modeling to personal wellness, emphasizing long-term sustainable returns over short-term wins. ReGen Ventures positions itself as an innovator in the investment space, paving a new path for what investments should be by focusing on root causes rather than symptoms of environmental challenges. They are building what they call a "ReGenerative Future" where climate change is reframed as an opportunity for transformation, backing founders with unreasonable ambition who alter understanding of what's possible in addressing planetary challenges.

Sea Forward Ocean Health Fund is a collaborative, multi-donor impact fund dedicated to accelerating solutions that support a healthy and thriving ocean. Administered through ImpactAssets, the fund combines impact investing, grantmaking, education, and community building to support innovative approaches to ocean conservation and restoration. Sea Forward focuses on sustainable aquaculture, biodiversity protection, climate resilience, circular economy solutions, regenerative nature-based approaches, and science-based monitoring technologies. Through both investments and grants, the fund supports entrepreneurs, nonprofits, researchers, and ecosystem builders working to address some of the most pressing challenges facing marine environments and coastal communities. Beyond capital deployment, Sea Forward serves as an ocean impact learning community, bringing together philanthropists, impact investors, scientists, conservation leaders, and innovators to foster collaboration, share knowledge, and accelerate positive change for the ocean. The fund is led by marine biologist and ocean conservation advocate Laura Francis, whose decades of experience in marine education and conservation inform the fund’s strategic approach.

SOSV is a global venture capital firm and accelerator founded in 1995, operating one of the most active deep tech and life sciences investment programs in the world. The firm runs multiple accelerator programs, including HAX for hardware and robotics, IndieBio for life sciences and biotech, and Orbit for climate and sustainability — providing intensive company-building support alongside early-stage capital. With over $1.5 billion in AUM and a portfolio exceeding 1,000 companies across more than 70 countries, SOSV occupies a distinctive position in the venture landscape: a programmatic investor that takes companies from idea stage through to growth and beyond. The firm's accelerator model means it is often the first institutional check into a company, with follow-on capability through later rounds. SOSV has a strong impact orientation across its portfolio, with climate, food systems, health, and sustainability representing a significant share of its investments. Its programs in particular have become known as launchpads for companies working on hard scientific and engineering problems that require more than capital to succeed.

Superorganism is the first venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to biodiversity. The firm invests in pre-seed and seed-stage startups developing technologies and business models that protect, restore, and regenerate nature while creating scalable commercial outcomes. Based in San Francisco and New York, Superorganism backs founders tackling biodiversity loss, climate resilience, conservation technology, regenerative agriculture, ocean health, circular economy solutions, and nature-positive innovation. Its investment strategy focuses on three core themes: addressing drivers of species extinction, advancing climate and biodiversity solutions simultaneously, and enabling breakthrough technologies that improve conservation outcomes. Through its mentor network of leading entrepreneurs, scientists, conservationists, and investors, Superorganism helps founders build companies that create an abundant future for both people and nature.