The 53 most promising climate tech startups of 2023, from AI robotics to soil carbon sampling, according to top VCs

• Many of the innovations needed to slash carbon emissions may not have been invented yet.
• Insider asked investors which climate tech startups are doing well in 2023.
• They named 53 companies working on everything from AI robots and energy to soil carbon sampling. 

Climate tech, which encompasses everything from sustainable materials and financing for farmers to e-bikes and carbon accounting software, has not been immune to the tech slow down. 

The category raised $35.5 billion in venture capital so far this year, per PitchBook, showing a steady decline from last year’s annual total of $58.5 billion and 2021’s record $63.5 billion. 2021 is widely considered an outlier. 

But as society increasingly realizes it must race to net zero greenhouse gas emissions, climate tech continues to spark interest from VCs. After all, half of the reductions needed to hit climate goals are “going to come from technologies that we don’t yet have,” US climate envoy John Kerry said in 2021.

Energy has emerged as a major category in 2023. There have been a slew of large funding rounds in the space, including $2.1 billion in equity and debt and a $1.2 billion convertible note for battery makers Verkor and Northvolt, respectively; $1 billion for battery recycling company Redwood Materials; and $880 million for energy infrastructure developer and investor Generate. 

A range of smaller plays are also catching the eyes of investors, including circularity in food waste, new funding mechanisms for nature restoration, and space tech that can be used to verify carbon credit projects or predict wildfire risk. 

Insider asked top VCs which climate tech startups were hot this year. Each investor was asked to name two companies, one from their firm’s portfolio, meaning they are investors in the company; and one outside of their portfolios, meaning neither they nor their firms have an ownership stake. Some VCs named several startups. All valuations were supplied or confirmed by the companies unless otherwise noted.

Check out the 53 startups below, in alphabetical order.