Let‘s scale all available climate technologies
Only by scaling highly innovative climate tech startups can we still meet the climate targets in time.
About us
Our Mission
Tech for Net Zero is an independent network of leading start-ups, scale-ups, and investors in Germany and the DACH region. The initiative develops innovative financing instruments and policy frameworks to accelerate the scaling of breakthrough technologies in energy, industry, and resilience. It improves access to growth capital, fosters market demand, and creates a regulatory environment that supports transformative innovation.
By doing so, Tech for Net Zero not only strengthens the competitiveness of Germany as an industrial hub, but also enhances security, economic resilience, and future readiness. Given the available talent, technologies, and resources, speed, focus, and consistent execution are crucial. The initiative serves as a reliable partner for founders, investors, and policymakers—building structures that efficiently mobilize private and philanthropic capital to support the market entry and growth of new industrial start-ups.
The network currently counts around 90 members with an aggregate market value of approximately €16 billion. Founding partners include Breakthrough Energy (Bill Gates), 1.5°Ventures, and the German Energy Agency (dena).
Members
Tech for Net Zero is a network of founders of climate tech startups as well as venture capital investors with a clear climate focus. Tech for Net Zero is additionally supported by a network of think tanks, research, science, and industrial players.
Recent Publications
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What Denmark’s Hippie Teachers Can Teach Us About Financing Climate Tech
Read article: What Denmark’s Hippie Teachers Can Teach Us About Financing Climate TechWhat do Denmark’s hippie teachers have to do with financing climate tech? A look into the past shows that unconventional approaches, collective thinking, and new ways of mobilizing capital can be decisive in advancing the technologies of tomorrow – a perspective highly relevant for today’s investors and foundations.
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How new energy storage technologies can unlock low-cost and resilient energy for Germany
Read article: How new energy storage technologies can unlock low-cost and resilient energy for Germany„Only by aligning competitiveness, energy security, and decarbonization – and underpinning them with clear investment guardrails – can the energy transition succeed in a way that is both economically viable and politically supported.“ Dr. Tobias Lechtenfeld, Executive Director of Tech for Net Zero
Initiatives
The Climate Tech Resources for Founders provide founders with a knowledge base on topics such as Offtake Agreements, Grants, First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) and Next-of-a-Kind (NOAK), Lifecycle Analysis (LCA), Climate Tech Business Models, Techno Economic Analysis (TEA) and our Climate Movers Database. Resources are added on a rolling basis.
Tech for Net Zero provides operational support for Climate Tech Founders and seeks to collect relevant information and guidance for innovators.
The Community of Practice for Industry Heat seeks to drive the decarbonisation of industrial heat with a strategic focus on enhancing energy and climate resilience in Europe. The holistic approach includes the four strategic components (1) industry network, (2) financing solutions, (3) renewable electricity and (4) policy and regulations.
Tech for Net Zero connects relevant actors in the field of industrial heat to accelerate the sector’s decarbonisation.
The Energy Resilience Leadership Group (ERLG) is a multi-stakeholder initiative led by Breakthrough Energy and Siemens Energy that brings together corporate CEOs, political leaders, financial institutions, and startups at the technology frontier. The Group was launched at the 2023 Munich Security Conference with the goal to enhance Europe’s energy resilience by rapidly bringing emerging climate technologies to scale.
Tech for Net Zero provides operational support to ERLG and brings the perspective of innovative climate startups to potential partnerships.
Team
Tobias Lechtenfeld
Executive Director of Tech for Net Zero and Partner at 1.5° Ventures
Lea Saurin
Program Coordinator of Tech for Net Zero
Alliance Chair
Ann Mettler
Former Director-General, European Commission
Corinna Enders
Chairwoman of the dena Management Board
Are you interested in joining our mission?
We are constantly looking for talented and motivated people who share our vision: to create a climate-neutral future through groundbreaking technologies. If you are looking for a challenging and fulfilling role that will have a positive impact on the future of our planet, then Tech for Net Zero is the right place for you.
Powered by
Super Climate e.V.
Initiated by 1.5° Ventures and dena with support from
Breakthrough Energy
Tech for Net Zero was founded in 2021 as a joint initiative by the German Energy Agency (dena) with Breakthrough Energy and 1.5° Ventures, since beginning of 2025 powered by Super Climate e.V.. The goal is to address existing barriers to the creation, scaling and growth of climate tech startups in order to facilitate meeting the climate goals. Tech for Net Zero engages with policymakers, financiers, industry and academia to bring breakthrough climate technologies to market and scale, via faster funding and a better enabling environment.