Climate tech holds a unique place within the UK’s wider tech industry. It is one of the best-funded subsectors in UK tech, but also one of the toughest areas for firms to scale to the later-stages.
It is a significant economic opportunity, but also an industry attempting to deal with the greatest global crisis the planet has ever seen, so supporting its businesses through to maturity is not simply a way to boost the country’s finances, but an existential imperative.
Part of the problem as James Byrne (pictured) – a partner at the climate tech hub and investment group Sustainable Ventures – described, is many of these companies focus on deep tech.
“The physical requirements for some of these products and development cycles can be quite significant,” Byrne told UKTN. “The finance, the length of support and the need for public sector support; it is always more challenging.”...