--- title: Crowdfunding for Climate Tech Startups description: A Global Analysis and the Opportunity Ahead image: https://www.third-derivative.org/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202021-12-03%20at%2011.08.22%20AM-1.png --- [Skip to content](https://www.third-derivative.org/crowdfunding-for-climate-tech-startups#main-content) [![logo-dark](https://www.third-derivative.org/hubfs/Atomic_Third_Derivative/logos/logo-dark.png)](https://www.third-derivative.org?hsLang=en) - [Our Portfolio](https://www.third-derivative.org/portfolio) - [For Entrepreneurs](https://www.third-derivative.org/startups) - [Eligibility & Selection](https://www.third-derivative.org/startups) - [How to Apply](https://www.third-derivative.org/startup-application) - Programs & Opportunities - Innovation Cohorts & Partnerships - [Industrial Innovation Cohorts](https://www.third-derivative.org/industrial-innovation-cohorts) - [Future Industries Partnership](https://www.third-derivative.org/future-industries-partnership) - Impact Archive - [Clean Mobile Power Initiative Cohort](https://www.third-derivative.org/clean-mobile-power-initiative-cohort) - [First Gigaton Captured](https://www.third-derivative.org/first-gigaton-captured) - [Cooling Innovations](https://www.third-derivative.org/global-cooling-innovations) - [Passive Daytime Radiative Cooling](https://www.third-derivative.org/passive-daytime-radiative-cooling) - [Insights & Events](https://www.third-derivative.org/insights) - [About Us](https://www.third-derivative.org/about) - [Our Team](https://www.third-derivative.org/team) - [Careers](https://www.third-derivative.org/careers) - Our Partners - [Corporates](https://www.third-derivative.org/corporates) - [Investors](https://www.third-derivative.org/investors) - [Mentors](https://www.third-derivative.org/mentors) # Crowdfunding for Climate Tech Startups #### A Global Analysis and the Opportunity Ahead ##### By Pilar Carvajo Lucena, Weiting Li, Emma Loewen, Cheryl Webster ![hands-holding-globe-made-from-lights-iStock-2153629788-1](https://www.third-derivative.org/hubfs/hands-holding-globe-made-from-lights-iStock-2153629788-1.jpg) As we strive to spur the next generation of climate tech solutions critical for the energy transition, crowdfunding offers a unique opportunity to bridge the current $2 trillion private funding gap. Although private investing is typically catered to institutional investors, crowdfunding mechanisms can open investment opportunities to retail investors, i.e., individuals, while providing alternative funding channels to scale early-stage climate technologies. Despite experiencing rapid growth, the spectrum of challenges and opportunities for unlocking crowdfunding’s potential to support climate tech startups has not been fully understood yet. In this new report “Crowdfunding for Climate Tech Startups: A Global Analysis and the Opportunity Ahead”, RMI’s Third Derivative analyzes global trends and identifies challenges in leveraging crowdfunding to create alternative funding channels for early-stage climate tech startups. Through in-depth analysis of the crowdfunding landscape and conversations with leading stakeholders and platforms across the world, we investigated different types of crowdfunding, from equity crowdfunding to debt crowdfunding, recognized main drivers behind current investment trends, summarized key success factors, identified remaining challenges, and presented areas of opportunities to drive climate tech investments. This report represents the first attempt to develop a comprehensive understanding of the crowdfunding landscape aimed at climate tech solutions. The analysis provides valuable insights to further grow the industry and helps climate tech startups harness the opportunity to leverage this innovative tool to secure funding and accelerate their growth. We acknowledge generous support from the ClimateWorks Foundation to fund this brief. --- ***Please Allow Pop-Ups for This Site*** *To download the file or view the PDF, you need to allow pop-ups or new tabs from this site.* ***How to Allow Pop-Ups:*** - ***Chrome:** Click the blocked icon in the address bar and select "Always allow pop-ups from \[yourwebsite.com\]."* - ***Firefox:** Click the options icon next to the blocked pop-up message and select "Allow pop-ups for \[yourwebsite.com\]."* - ***Edge:** Click the blocked icon and select "Always allow.* [Download the brief](https://rmi.org/download/40751/?tmstv=1720467833) Research & Insights ## Read our latest research and insights on carbon removal below: ### [![](https://www.third-derivative.org/hubfs/skyline_sunset_optimized.jpg) December 7, 2021 Announcing First Gigaton Captured](https://www.third-derivative.org/blog/announcing-first-gigaton-captured?hsLang=en) ### [![](https://www.third-derivative.org/hubfs/Blue%20virtual%20technology%20background%20with%20lines%20and%20grids.jpeg) December 1, 2021 Three Areas of Innovation for Direct Air Capture Startups to Seize This Decade](https://www.third-derivative.org/blog/three-areas-of-innovation-for-direct-air-capture-startups-to-seize-this-decade?hsLang=en) ![logo-white](https://www.third-derivative.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Atomic_Third_Derivative/logos/logo-white.png?width=300&name=logo-white.png) Founded by [RMI](https://rmi.org/) and [New Energy Nexus](https://www.newenergynexus.com/), Third Derivative (D3) is accelerating the rate of climate innovation through our inclusive ecosystem approach, which rapidly finds, funds, and scales climate tech globally. #### Connect with us: #### About - [Story](https://www.third-derivative.org/about#story) - [Team](https://www.third-derivative.org/team) - [Careers](https://www.third-derivative.org/careers) #### Insights & Events - [Research & Insights](https://www.third-derivative.org/insights) #### Contact - [Contact Us](https://www.third-derivative.org/contact) - [Media](https://www.third-derivative.org/press) #### For Entrepreneurs - [How to Apply](https://www.third-derivative.org/startup-application) - [Eligibility & Selection](https://www.third-derivative.org/startups) #### Partners - [Investors](https://www.third-derivative.org/investors) - [Corporates](https://www.third-derivative.org/corporates) - [Mentors](https://www.third-derivative.org/mentors) - [Refer a Startup](https://www.third-derivative.org/startup-referral) #### SIGN UP FOR THE MONTHLY D3 NEWSLETTER [Sign Up](https://rmi.tfaforms.net/100) Copyright 2026. 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