Climate Ventures fast-tracks early-stage cleantech innovators
Vancouver, CANADA – June 8, 2021. The Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) and Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre today announced they are partnering to support the growth of Climate Ventures, an initiative that fast-tracks the success of early-stage innovators developing and implementing solutions to the climate crisis.
Through this joint initiative, CSI and Foresight will collaborate on national programs and challenges to support the development and scale up of climate solutions. Climate Ventures will formally bring Foresight’s flagship cleantech programs to Ontario.
Since CSI launched Climate Ventures in 2018, it has accelerated 139 early-stage ventures that earned and raised $33M and supported 400 jobs while participating in its programs and have gone on to create much more impact.
Under this new partnership, Climate Ventures will provide support in four ways:
- Accelerate the growth of climate and cleantech ventures.
- Connect climate and cleantech ventures with peers, advisors, mentors, partners, customers, investors, and funders.
- Scale solutions by matching ventures with industry challenges.
- Fund by leveraging private capital through matchmaking initiatives that engage early and later-stage investors.
The strengths of the partners are well aligned: CSI brings nearly two decades of leadership in social innovation, including numerous climate programs, and Foresight brings expertise leading on cleantech programs.
“We have great respect for CSI’s work; they were a natural choice for a partnership that expands Foresight’s reach and impact across Canada, most significantly to build on our initiatives in Ontario,” says Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight. “Collaboration is essential for Canada to really make an impact on the global cleantech stage, and I’m confident this collaboration will significantly increase Canada’s ability to energize innovation to combat the climate crisis.”
“At the Centre for Social Innovation, collaboration has always been in our DNA,” says Tonya Surman, CEO of CSI. “By bringing together our social innovation expertise and networks, combined with Foresight’s leadership in cleantech, we are propelling Climate Ventures forward. And given the urgency of the climate crisis, collaborations such as these are key for creating impact as rapidly and effectively as possible.”
The Climate Ventures joint initiative will be led by Executive Director, Barnabe Geis, who was instrumental in launching Climate Ventures in 2018.
“As Canada looks to build back better and to tackle the climate crisis, we know that there is little time to spare,” says Geis. “We need to build more effective and inclusive climate solutions and cleantech ecosystems that are capable of supporting innovators at every stage and scaling solutions. Together, our growing community is rising to this challenge, and we are excited for the work ahead.”
About Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre
Foresight is Canada’s cleantech ecosystem accelerator. Foresight supports the identification and validation of cleantech opportunities and the successful commercialization of solutions. We bring together industry, government, academia, investors, and innovators to address today’s most urgent climate issues and support a global transition to a green economy. Find out more at www.foresightcac.com and follow on Twitter @ForesightCAC.
About CSI
The Centre for Social Innovation catalyzes and supports social innovation in Toronto and across Canada. We create community workspaces, accelerate emerging enterprises and develop new models with world-changing potential. Learn more at www.socialinnovation.org and follow us on Twitter at @csito.
Media contact:
Elizabeth Thorsen
604-260-0200
