Skip to content

Eight Envirotech Startups to Watch

Posted 9 May 2023

The only way to truly get to net zero is through innovating in existing industries, creating new business models and considering the environment as a business stakeholder. Recovery from the pandemic presents a renewed opportunity for the UK to become the global hub for sustainable technologies, founded on advanced digital solutions. 

Digital Catapult is committed to innovating a greener future, and runs a number of accelerator programmes dedicated to supporting startups working on ‘greentech’ or ‘cleantech’ to get their products and services market and investment ready. 

Our Director of Sustainable Industry Dr David Pugh is part of the judging panel for EnviroTech 50 in 2023. The annual ranking celebrates the UK’s most innovative startups, scaleups and established firms creating original technology for green energy, to protect the environment and boost sustainability. Fifty organisations have been selected for the shortlist and Dr David Pugh has selected eight startups from the longlist as his ‘envirotech’ startups to watch.

Here are our eight envirotech trailblazers:

  1. measureable.energy
  2. Climate X
  3. UrbanTide
  4. Greyparrot
  5. Cattleeye
  6. Recycleye
  7. Circulor
  8. Emsol
16-9_WomanGreenRectangle-1

1. measurable.energy

Reading-based startup, measurable.energy aims to eliminate wasted energy in buildings with the power of machine learning. Their product can not only prevent unnecessary CO2 emissions but also reduce electricity bills by at least 20%.

Winner of multiple awards and part of our Machine Intelligence Garage programme in 2022, measurable.energy raised a Series A funding of £4.5 million in 2023 to fuel their next stage of growth.

2. Climate X

By quantifying how different climate change pathways could result in extreme weather events, Climate X is helping organisations increase resilience against the impacts of climate change. The London-based startup has raised a total of £5.2 million in funding, including a £4.1 million seed funding round led by CommerzVentures and A/O PropTech in March 2022.

As part of the Machine Intelligence Garage programme, Climate X has benefited from additional compute power, access to NVIDIA DGX, valuable AWS credits, and ethics consultations to expand product offering and meet customer demand. 

3. UrbanTide

One of the earlier participants in our flagship AI programme Machine Intelligence Garage, UrbanTide has been leveraging the power of AI for over a decade. Headquartered in Edinburgh, the startup delivers the software for Smart Cities, creating more liveable communities for everyone, from energy and transportation to housing.

 

 

4. Greyparrot

Recognised as one of six technology startups to watch in 2022 at the 2021 Digital Catapult Awards, Greyparrot is a startup that uses AI-powered computer vision to monitor, audit and sort waste at scale, thereby reducing waste and increasing recycling rates.

Listed in the World Economic Forum’s 100 most promising global technology providers in 2021 and part of Machine Intelligence Garage, Digital Catapult has supported to pitch Greyparrot’s solution to more than 100 investors. As a result, Greyparrot secured over £2.7 million in seed funding in 2020, followed by £11 million in its Series A in 2022. Greyparrot has since secured £10.1m ($12.8 m) from Netherlands-based Bollegraaf Recycling Solutions.

 

5. Cattleeye

Crowned with The Royal Dairy Innovation Award, Cattleeye provides insights for livestock farmers and the wider supply chain. Their monitoring technology will increase farming efficiencies and improve animal welfare. Having joined our Machine Intelligence Garage in 2020, the video analytics platform powered by deep learning then raised its seed round of $2.5 million in 2021.

6. Recycleye

Installed in locations across Europe and the United States, London-based startup Recycleeye is deploying advanced machine learning, computer vision and robotics to the global waste management industry. Recipient of several awards and a member of cohort 9 of our Machine Intelligence Garage, Recycleeye has recently raised $17 million in its Series A funding round.

7. Circulor

Expanding throughout EMEA, NA, and APAC, Circulor has developed a blockchain platform enabling businesses to monitor and track the origin and quality of raw materials in their supply chain, including dynamic tracking of CO2 emissions.

One of the 37 winning projects under the Digital Supply Chain Competition receiving £18 million funding, the London-based startup raised £20.5 million in its Series B round last year.

8. Emsol

Supported by real world data, EMSOL provides a B2B air and noise quality sensor and analytics platform which enables businesses to identify the root causes of pollution.

While taking part in the Future Networks Lab Challenge, its team has also adapted its technology for the workplace in response to the pandemic. Currently, the award-winning startup is working with the NHS, construction, retail and waste management.

Envirotech Startups and Digital Catapult

Digital Catapult is committed to supporting the growth of startups that will shape a greener future. Through our technical and business expertise, we are helping these startups to get their products and services market and investment ready, and to make a positive impact on the environment. The eight startups we have highlighted – measurable.energy, Climate X, Urban Tide, Greyparrot, Cattleeye, Recycleye, Circulor, and Emsol – are all working towards a more sustainable future by leveraging the power of AI, machine learning, computer vision, and blockchain technology. By supporting these startups and others like them, we can help to drive the growth of the greentech and cleantech industries, and to create a brighter, more sustainable future for us all. You can find out more about the support we provide to startups and scaleups here

Discover our support for startups and scaleups

Contact us
David Pugh Square

David Pugh

Director of Sustainable Industry