2023 - Sustainable Global Economy - Short Version

Sustainable Global
Economy
Through the eyes of an
international investor
H2 2023
2
Executive Summary
$18tn $97.3bn
Investment gap to deliver the net- Amount invested globally in
zero energy transition Climate tech in 2022
$370bn $9tn - $12tn

In funding allocated by the Estimation of the climate
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) to tech market size by 2030
mitigate climate change
Source: Bloomberg (2023), Allianz Research Data (2023), McKinsey (2023), WSC Analysis (2023)
Looking at the Sustainable Global Economy from a VC perspective

The global climate crisis and the urgent need for a green transition are fueling what is being described as
the new industrial revolution and the growth of what we call the Sustainable Global Economy. As venture
capitalists, we get to sit at the forefront of this revolution. We believe we should be involved in this
revolution not only because it is necessary for the good of our planet, but also because from a purely financial
perspective it will undoubtedly see the rise of the unicorns of the future.
The green transition has been gaining significant momentum in the last few years, driven by several key
factors. Macroeconomic forces, including Europe’s energy crisis, ambitious government green initiatives (such
as the US IRA, the EU Green Deal or Japan’s GX Basic Plan), substantial technological improvements in
renewables, biomaterials, and carbon removal, and finally growing alignment in capital markets toward green
investments are coinciding to drive major change across industries while creating new ones.
There are many ways for venture capitalists to be involved, and we hope this report sheds a light as to where
and how as generalists we can also participate, without having to completely rethink our investment criteria.
There are amazing new technologies and business models and it is up to us to discover them. Software will play
a pivotal role in this Sustainable Global Economy, the way it has elsewhere, disrupting industries and powering
the green transition.
There will continue to be setbacks, hopefully not as harsh as during the last climate winter, but we believe
this new industrial revolution is underway no matter what. It is up to us to seize this opportunity.
Sector Lead Authors
Matthieu Lattes Cristina Ventura Sanjay Zimmermann Felix Winckler Blanche Ajarrista Sara Schein
General Partner General Partner Partner Venture Partner Vice President Analyst
CCO
WSC 2023 Sustainable Global Economy Report

3
Contents
Section 1 Sustainable Global Economy: An Overview 12-22
Section 2 Sector Focus 23-45
Green FinTech 24-26
Circular Economy 27-29
Carbon Management, Trading & Capture

30-32
Electric Infrastructure 33-34
Construction 35-36
AgriTech & FoodTech 37-39
Packaging & New Materials 40-42
Clean Energy 43-45

4
The Sustainable Global Economy: a new

avenue of growth for venture capital
Despite the previous boom and bust, the conditions are now right for traditional
VCs to fund the innovations needed to get us to Net Zero
It is now hopefully commonly accepted that a green transition is urgently needed. Indeed, small shifts in the
earth’s temperature have already unleashed dramatic storms, droughts, and floods to various parts of the globe,
displacing millions, deregulating ecosystems, and driving biodiversity loss. A chilling proof: the last Ice Age,
tens of millions of years ago, represented only a 5°C shift in temperature. The risks of going above 2°C are
just too high.
The good news is that after stalled efforts, there appears to be a global concerted initiative to address
climate change and fund the technologies and businesses that will help us get to Net Zero quickly.
Monthly Mean Global Surface Temperature – Land & Ocean

1.5
0.5
-0.5
-1
1880 1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020
Why now?
Regulatory pressure, combined with consumer demand for sustainable and clean alternatives, are pushing
stakeholders to rethink the way they do business while encouraging entrepreneurs to build the innovative
solutions required.
Governments around the world are pushing for major change, with the US allocating more than $370bn to
climate as part of their Inflation Reduction Act while the EU passed a ‘Green Deal’ which could see them
dedicate more than €1tn in public and private funds to mitigating climate change. Similar pieces of legislation
are being passed around the world, from Brazil’s National Plan to Japan’s GX Basic Plan or the Chinese Five
Year Plan. These measures may open up many more opportunities, which McKinsey estimates could reach $9tn
to $12tn in annual investment by 2023.
What does this mean for WSC?
We are at the very beginning of a new industrial revolution, driven by macro and micro tailwinds, which
should see the development of entirely new industries, jobs, and businesses dedicated to solving a single
problem.
Sustainability tech is becoming mainstream. That said, there is a big gap between the types of businesses that
can be funded by traditional VCs and those that will require longer-term, more infrastructure and moonshot-
based approaches. At White Star, we believe we can play here, without having to redesign our investment
strategy, by identifying the sectors and businesses that match our investment criteria.
Source: NASA (2022)

5
Climate Tech VC has had a chequered past

due to the nature of cleantech companies
Of the $25bn that VC investors poured into Climate Tech from 2006-2011,
more than 50% was lost by 2015
• Starting in 2006, growing consumer Total Capital Invested across Seed, Series A and Series B Climate
awareness, rising fossil fuel prices, and Tech startups globally ($m)1
new legislation led to Silicon Valley VC 6000
firms going all in on climate tech, with a
heavy focus on energy and renewables
5000
• By 2011, almost all of the renewable start-
ups founded in the previous decade were
shut down or about to be, driven to 4000
bankruptcy by a combination of falling
natural gas prices, inconsistent
government policies, and the credit crunch 3000
of the 2008 financial crisis
2000
1000
0
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Cleantech companies developing new materials, hardware, chemicals, or

processes tend to be poorly suited to VC investment due to the significant
capital requirements, long development timelines, and unclear exit
opportunities
Technologies take a significant amount of time to reach maturity, beyond typical VC funds’ return
requirements
SVB Climate Tech Innovation Hype Curve

Expectations
Source: Pitchbook (2023), SVB (2022) Time

Notes: 1) Includes NA, Europe and SEA
6
Yet we believe that the conditions are right for a

new sustainable global economy, funded by VC
The market and macro conditions today are ripe for outsized climate investing
returns and impact
1 - Policies and regulations: Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are

increasingly prioritising climate action and implementing policies and incentives to
accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy
2 - Corporate or consumer demand: Businesses and consumers are increasingly seeking

to be “greener”. Sustainable solutions have become central to consumers and thus to
corporates. This creates a substantially more positive market environment
3 - Capital alignment: The rise of impact investing and Environmental, Social, and
Governance (ESG) considerations in investment decision-making is a massive boost to the
sustainable global economy. In addition, governments around the world are pledging
trillions of dollars to reach net zero by 2050
4 - Tech maturity: The previous climate tech boom and bust resulted in economies of
scale, particularly in solar where prices decreased by 89% in the last 10 years. Many
climate tech companies are building on established technologies and have demonstrated
commercial viability
5 - Talent interest: The climate issue and the desire to have a career with impact is top of
mind for younger generations. These aspirations in new generations will create a
formidable pool of talent ready to innovate
6 - Urgency of the crisis: If some on the conservative side of the political spectrum are
still reluctant to recognise the issue, there is a consensus over the urgency of the matter.
Only a 5°C change in temperature was necessary to move from the glaciation age to our
current climate. With a projected 3°C change in the next 30 years the issue will become
more pressing as time passes
In keeping with WSC’s investment guidelines, it is still possible to invest in

Climate Tech if companies are able to:
Deliver solutions at Innovate on business

Leverage regulatory
price parity with models to reduce sales
environments
existing ones cycle
Hedge against macro Leverage established Ramp up revenues with

events technologies capital raises

7
We’ve created a WSC VC Investability Index

to assess sectors and subsectors of interest
The purpose of this report will be to help shed light on this burgeoning
ecosystem, looking at every single industry and identifying opportunities for
investment as a generalist venture capital fund
Scoring: Yes = 1 / No = 0
Business Model
Is this a recurring business model?
Technology Readiness
Is the existing technology ready to scale?
Margins
Are there software-like margins?
Stage
Are there revenue-generating businesses raising at Series A?
Market Size
Does the potential market size at scale correspond to our criteria ($5bn+)?
Exit Environment
Have we seen large exits in this sector ($1bn+)?
Capital Efficiency
Can these businesses achieve scale without overly diluting early shareholders?
Market Readiness
Are we seeing pull from the market and supportive regulatory regimes?
Barriers to Entry
Are there barriers to entry?
Internationalisation
Is this an internationally scalable model?
Legend
Out of Scope Work to be done Within WSC Scope

Score 0-3 Score 4-6 Score 7-9

8
And broken down the Sustainable Global

Economy into 8 sectors and 34 subsectors
Green FinTech
• Payments • Insurance / Risk Management

• Lending • Crypto
Circular Economy
• Sharing Economy • Sustainable Materials

• Product Lifecycle Management • Waste Management

• Carbon Trading & Carbon Markets • Direct Air Capture (DAC)
• Carbon Accounting & ESG Reporting • Carbon Capture from Industrial Processes
• Carbon Utilisation (CCI)
Electric Infrastructure
• Smart Grid Technology
• Energy Storage
• EV Charging Infrastructure
Construction
• Smart Buildings & Automation
• Sustainable Materials
• Prefabricated Buildings
AgriTech & FoodTech

• Picks & Shovels • Food Waste Reduction
• Precision Agriculture • Vertical Farming
• Alternative Proteins
Packaging & New Materials

• Packaging Software & Infrastructure • Waste to Value
• Biodegradable & Compostable • Bio-Materials
Clean Energy
• Solar Power • Hydropower

• Wind Power • Waste-to-energy
• Nuclear • Hydrogen

9
Our thematic approach to investing leads us

to focus on specific subsectors
WSC focuses on these key sectors undergoing rapid structural change
Climate SaaS Climate Finance

Industrial processes are increasingly reliant on software Financial innovation will be needed to fund society’s
to report, capture, or reduce emissions and become climate adaptation and mitigation, while improved data,
more sustainable hardware, and models will pioneer broad-based
spectrum insurance
Circular Economy RegTech

Reengineering of value changes will play a key role in Increasingly heavy regulatory burdens globally can
the transition to net-zero emissions, leading to structural only be addressed through software
changes to markets that accompany the technological
transition
Based on our scoring, we have identified the following subsectors as the most
investable for generalist VCs and thus WSC
Climate Circular
Climate Finance Regtech
SaaS Economy
Green Fintech
Payments ✓ ✓
Lending ✓
Insurance / Risk management ✓ ✓ ✓
Circular Economy
Sharing Economy ✓ ✓
Product Lifecycle Management ✓ ✓

Carbon Trading & Carbon Markets ✓ ✓
Carbon Accounting & ESG Reporting ✓ ✓
Smart Grid Technology ✓ ✓
Construction
Smart Buildings & Automation ✓ ✓
Agritech & Foodtech

Picks & Shovels ✓ ✓
Precision Agriculture ✓

Packaging Software & Infrastructure ✓ ✓
Source: WSC Analysis (2023)

10
Our 10-year horizon predictions for the

Sustainable Global Economy
As we look to invest in the top startups from across the globe, we believe the
following key trends will result in a growing number of opportunities within
the Sustainable Global Economy
Consumer pressure on
Racing to reach Net Zero
corporates
There is a significant amount of work to be done to Companies can no longer afford to ignore consumer
reach net zero by both reducing and removing demands when it comes to where goods come from,
carbon from the atmosphere. how they are made, packaged, and distributed and
where they end up.
As a result, we will see the proliferation of
technologies surrounding carbon emissions and The circular economy will no longer be on the
carbon measurements, from deep tech to software, fringes but will make its way into business models
across both B2B and B2C. across food and agriculture, manufacturing,
packaging, logistics, and energy.
Certain technologies may finally reach enough scale
to make substantial impacts on carbon emissions, We will see both deep tech and SaaS companies that
although this remains far away for now. recycle and repurpose materials, reduce waste, and
recirculate goods.
1.5ºC 45% 98%

Limit to temperature Reduction in Of electricity will
rises emissions by 2030 need to be carbon-
free by 2050
Changing climate and Decreasing reliance on fossil

ecosystems fuels
Nature is not the only loser in a changing climate – Renewable energy and EVs are increasingly
our built environment is not ready to sustain harsher overtaking oil and petrol cars, coal plants are being
storms, colder winters, and hotter summers. shut down, biodegradable and biomaterials are
slowly overtaking plastics.
We will see plenty of new infrastructures and
technologies to improve cities’ resilience to these Yet there is so much work to be done to fully replace
changes as well as financial and insurance fossil fuels, in terms of price parity, infrastructure,
companies that help people who have been directly and distribution.
affected.
We will see more and more businesses that tackle
grid and EV management, address methane gas
emissions, or reduce reliance on non-recyclables.

11
The sustainable global economy is picking up

speed thanks to new policies and regulations
Governments around the world have taken significant legislative and regulatory
action to support their climate and energy priorities including mandates,
subsidies and market design
The EU
The Green Deal (2019), Fit for 55 (2021) and RePowerEU (2022) programs have progressively raised the
target for emission reductions by member states.
The EU has also broadened its Emission Trading System (ETS) to include new sectors such as the
maritime and aviation sectors. In 2023, the European Commission introduced the Green Deal Industrial
Plan, offering incentives for domestic production and CleanTech.
The EU Taxonomy Regulation symbolises governments’ commitment to promoting sustainable finance
and achieving environmental and climate goals by directing private capital toward sustainable investments.
Under the SFDR, all EU financial market participants are required to disclose their ESG activities, with
funds and banks classified under articles 6, 8 or 9 based on their investments. Since its adoption in 2000
the financial industry has seen a considerable increase in “green” practices.
The US
The Inflation Reduction Act stands as the most extensive piece of federal legislation ever addressing
climate change, with an investment of $783bn in provisions centered on energy security and climate
change.
Some of the levers include tax credits like the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and Production Tax Credit
(PTC), allowing taxpayers to deduct a portion of renewable energy systems costs from their federal taxes.
The largest allocation areas are $128bn for renewable energy and grid energy storage, $30bn for nuclear
power, $13bn for electric vehicle incentives, $14bn for home energy efficiency upgrades, $22bn for home
energy supply improvements and $37bn for advanced manufacturing.
Canada
Canada has announced $60bn in clean energy tax credits and $20bn in sustainable infrastructure
investments as part of its 2023 budget.
The largest portion of the Canadian budget’s energy transition-focused investments, representing more
than $25bn through 2035, is made through the Clean Energy Investment Tax Credit.
The budget proposes a 15% refundable tax credit for investments including non-emitting electricity
generation systems.
Japan
On December 22, 2022 the Japanese government unveiled the Green Transformation (GX) Basic Policy.
It outlines regulatory, financing, and technology development priorities for the green transformation of
various industrial sectors. A key pillar of the GX Basic Policy is the support for energy transition.

1
Sustainable Global Economy:
An Overview
Sustainable Global Economy: An Overview
13
Ecosystem Highlights
$181bn $35bn
Raised by climate tech Raised by climate tech
startups in the last 3 years startups in 2023 YTD (Jan-
Aug)
685 14.8%
Mega rounds1 Share of VC funding over
the last 3 years
$7.4bn 43
Share of seed funding in the VC-backed climate tech
last 3 years unicorns2
140 +163%
Climate tech exits in 2022 Share price performance of
the top 30 public climate
tech companies since 20173
Source: PwC (2023), Pitchbook (2023), CTVC (2023)

Notes: 1) Rounds >$100m, 2) As of 2022, 3) Using the EIP Index, performance data of the overall index between 2017-2023
14
Deal activity has increased significantly

over the last couple years
Deal volumes have almost doubled in Europe and North America
Climate Tech Deal Count across Seed, Series A and Series B by Region
1,538 1,501
628
640
978
842
758
381
615 305
543 262
195
162 859 792
284
498 558
408 473
368
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023YTD 1
North America Europe Southeast Asia
While deal values are almost 3x vs. 3 years ago

Total Capital Invested in Climate Tech across Seed, Series A and Series B by Region ($m)
640
217
3,525 5,214
53 93 310
665 1,037 10,299
1,766 9,279
12 8
274 616 5,079 4,733
3,825
2,755 2,316
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023YTD 1
North America Europe Southeast Asia
Source: Pitchbook (2023)

Notes: 1) As of August 2023
15
Despite worsening market conditions,

climate tech VCs continue to raise funds
Climate Tech VCs are raising more funds that ever
Number of Climate Tech funds raised by Climate Tech VCs globally1
66
60
54
25
20 21
13
9
2
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023YTD
LPs have increased appetite to invest into to Climate Tech Funds

Value of funds raised by Climate Tech VCs globally ($m)
11,864 11,556
7,954
7,001
3,579
813 870 813
2
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023YTD

Notes: 1) Includes NA, EU and SEA, 2) As of August 2023
16
VC funds fall within 4 broad categories when

looking at Sustainability
Classification of VC Investors: here we will use Sustainability and Climate
Tech interchangeably
Climate Specialists: climate general thesis across 7 climate verticals (e.g. energy, mobility,
food & agriculture, construction, carbon)
Vertical Specialists: single vertical focus within climate (e.g. energy, mobility etc.)
Deeptech: frontier, hard science technologies to address climate
Generalist: predominantly enterprise or consumer software, with opportunistic climate

investments
Climate Generalist
Vertical Specialist DeepTech
Source: CTVC (2023), WSC Analysis (2023)

17
Active early-stage Climate Tech funds have

raised over $13bn in AUM
Select Top Climate Specialist VC funds in order of AUM
Deal
Investor Founded HQ AUM ($) Stage Top Deals
Count
2015 5.0bn Seed / Series A 190
2015 2.0bn Series A / B 180
1994 1.5bn Seed 2,466
20181 1.1bn Seed – Growth 50+
2010 500m Seed / Series A 389
2021 €350m Seed 13
2013 €300m Series A / B / C 4
2020 312m Series A 16
2017 €130m Seed / Series A 61
2020 €110.8m Seed / Series A 22

Notes: 1) Includes the CleanTech Fund I, ClimateTech Fund II and the Sustainability Venture Fund
18
So far ClimateTech has proven resilient to

the downturn
Early-stage valuations remain resilient amid market downturns
% Change in Median Post-Money Valuation by Series Globally 2021 – 2023YTD1
Climate Tech Other Tech

61%
44% 44%
36%
17%
13%
5%
-29%
-42% -45%
Median Post- Seed Series A Series B Series C Series D
Money $12m $45m $125m $240m $1,209m
Valuation
2023YTD
$13m $45m $81m $270m $492m
Most sub-sectors saw boosted valuations from 2022 to H1-2023

Median Post-Money Valuation per Sub-Sector
Sub-sector 2022 H1-2023 % Change
Carbon Capture &

23.4 22.3 -4.5%
Management
Electric 24.1
21.0 +44.0%
Infrastructure
AgriTech &
20.8 24.1 +15.9%
FoodTech
Packaging &
22 32.0 -10.9%
New Materials
Clean Energy 30.8 44.3 +17.1%
Construction 18.3 19.8 +8.3%
Circular Economy 14.2 22.0 +45.2%
Financing & Fintech 14.5 18.0 +27.4%
Source: Pitchbook (2023), SVB (2023)

Notes: 1) As of August 2023
19
Most of the funding is going to Clean Energy,

where there are the most exit opportunities
Clean Energy, AgriTech & FoodTech, and Electric Infrastructure led overall
funding
H1-23 Funding per Subsector
$3.1bn
$3.9bn
Financing &
$0.3 Fintech
bn
Carbon
$0.3 Capture &
bn Management
$2.3bn
$6.0bn $3.2bn $0.2 Construction
bn
Packaging & New Materials and Clean Energy led count of exits
Count of climate exits across M&A and IPO since 2020 by sub-sector
913
869
596
391
Packaging & New Materials Clean Energy Circular Economy AgriTech & Foodtech
2020 2021 2022 2023 H1
Electric infrastructure Carbon Capture & Management Construction Financing & Fintech

20
The exit environment is picking up, which is

key to the long-term viability of the ecosystem
Climate tech exit activity has increased 70% YoY in the last two years, led by
large energy companies and private equity firms
57% 63%
Of exits from 2020 to February Of climate tech acquisitions
2023 were M&A transactions since 2020 were driven by
corporate buyers
289 $400bn
Climate tech companies have In total EV from the last
exited via M&A, SPAC, and three years’ disclosed exits
IPO since 2020
Large climate tech exits across key climate verticals since 2020
IPO 2023 M&A 2022 M&A 2020
[NASDAQ: NXT] $638m Acquired by BP (LON: BP) Acquired by Waste

raised at $4.9bn for $4.1bn Management for $4bn
M&A 2023 M&A 2022 M&A 2022
Acquired by EDP Acquired by Cargill for

Acquired by Jera for €1.6bn
Renováveis for €600m £775m
Source: Climate Tech VC (2023), Pitchbook (2023)

21
Corporate M&A from energy companies is

driving overall exit count
Corporates are the most active acquirers of climate tech companies
Count of acquisitions by acquirer type
105
27 26
Corporate Private Equity Startup Developer
The most active acquirers are energy companies, followed by financial

institutions
Most active acquirers of Climate Tech companies by count since 2020
Shell 7
Ara Partners 6
BP 5
Xpansiv 4
Schneider Electric 4
Blackrock 4
Brookfield Renewable Partners 3
BorgWarner 3
Nasdaq 3
Source: CTVC (2023)

22
Select Top ClimateTech Unicorns
$11.8bn Valuation
High-quality lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles
and energy storage systems
$5.0bn Valuation
Renewable energy supplier, offering affordable and
sustainable energy solutions to customers
$4.0bn Valuation
Farmer-to-farmer agronomic information network to
help farmers in the management of their data and gain
insights from each other
$3.8bn Valuation
Simplify the solar design and sales process through the
development of their cutting-edge cloud-based
platform
$1.0bn Valuation
Developing modular, vertical farming systems that can
be installed in supermarkets, restaurants, and
warehouses

2
Sector Focus
Sector Focus: Green FinTech
24
Green FinTech
Green FinTechs can deliver the innovative power that financial institutions lack by
leveraging big data and AI, and reducing costs and friction
$1.7bn 75%
Raised by Green FinTechs in H1- Of banking CEOs believe their
23 future growth is determined by
their ability to shift to a low
carbon economy
$2.4tn $53tn
Raised for green bonds globally In AUM for global ESG assets by
as of Jan-23 to support 2025
sustainable projects
ESG and sustainability have become increasingly important to financial institutions. From
carbon offsetting through payments, lending and investing into sustainable projects, to trading
carbon, to risk analysis management and insurance, we are seeing increasingly innovative
financial engineering to address environmental and sustainability challenges.
This is an area of sustainable technology that lends itself well to VC investments, given the
asset light nature of these businesses. That said, VCs should be aware of the growing
regulatory burdens these businesses face, especially against greenwashing.
Technology WSC Score Notes

Payments 7 Easy to build
Lending & Green Investing 7 Consumer demand
Insurance / Risk Management 7 Software play
Crypto 5
Source: KPMG (2023), Worldbank (2023), Barclays (2023), WSC Analysis (2023)

25
Technologies & Subsectors
Score: 7
Payments
Consumers and companies need tools and infrastructure that enable them to make sustainable spending
decisions. The next wave of innovation for payments companies are tying transactions to carbon offsetting.
Tailwinds Challenges
+ Consumer demand + Growing transaction costs
+ Ease of implementation + Lack of transparency from off-setting initiatives
+ Already competitive market
Score: 7
Lending & Green Investing
Debt plays a major role in the green economy. The majority of heavy sustainability projects, such as solar
panels or wind turbine installations are financed with debt. Sustainability-linked lending skyrocketed from
$5bn in 2017 to $120bn in 2020.
+ Many new policies and incentives are put in place to + Green bonds may have lower yields
encourage green investments, including the issuance of WSC VC concerns
+ ”Greenwashing” Investability Index: 7
green bonds
+ Institutional investors, including pension funds and asset
managers, are increasingly interested in sustainable and
responsible investment options
Score: 7
Insurance and Risk Management
Climate change affects insurance underwriting due to the prevalence of natural disasters in some regions.
Innovations include climate projections; artificial intelligence and satellite monitoring; and insurance products,
helping businesses assess climate-related risks and minimise losses.
+ The rising frequency and severity of climate-related + Difficulty of risk assessments
events, such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, are + Lack predictability for pricing
driving demand for insurance and risk mitigation + Increasing loss ratios as prevalence of natural disasters
solutions grow

26
Score: 5
Crypto and Blockchain
Most serious crypto companies in the climate space are centered around carbon credits, like Switzerland’s
Toucan, which tokenises credits on blockchain. Blockchain can be a useful technology to prevent fraud and
provide more transparency in carbon trading.
+ Transparency and traceability of transactions is facilitated + Some blockchain networks, particularly proof-of-work
by blockchain technology networks are criticised for their high energy consumption
+ Blockchain networks often face scalability issues

Sector Focus: Circular Economy
27
Circular Economy
Software can solve for the 3 Rs: reducing, reusing, recycling, which are key
aspects of sustainability and reducing overall emissions
2.1bn $4.3tn
Tonnes of waste dumped in Additional economic output
landfills every year created by the circular economy
by 2030
1 Truckload 9.3bn
Of textile waste is discarded each Tonnes of CO2 emission that can
second be avoided by 2050 by
implementing circular economy
strategies
Our economy operates under a 'take-make-waste' system. In a circular economy, a

fundamental requirement is that the materials re-enter the economy at the end of their use.
The shift from a linear to a circular system is at the heart of the circular economy concept.
The sharing economy and second-hand market represent the most advanced sectors of the
circular economy, largely thanks to major platform shifts (e.g. mobile, e-commerce, logistics),
with some focusing on the optimization of goods’ usage and promoting the idea of access
over ownership.

Sharing Economy 7 Proven success
Product Lifecycle Management 7 WSC experience1
Sustainable Materials 5
Waste Management 2
Source: Ellen MacArthur Foundation (2022), WSC Analysis (2023)

Notes: 1) WSC portfolio includes 900.care offering refillable hygiene products
28
Score: 7
Sharing Economy
The sharing economy, exemplified by services like Uber and Airbnb, and the growth of secondhand market
platforms such as eBay and Vinted, play a vital role by efficiently utilising resources and promoting product
reuse.
+ The sharing economy encourages the idea of access over + Market saturation
ownership + Low margins
+ Maturity and proven economic viability of these business + Limited barriers to entry
models
Score: 7
Product Lifecycle Management
Technologies that improve product design and lifecycle management, or products that are easier to
disassemble and recycle and using data analytics to optimise the use of resources.
+ Commercial value of imbedding recyclability in product + Disrupts existing supply chain and infrastructure
manufacturing WSC VC Investability Index: 7
+ Can lead to cost optimization in manufacturing process
Score: 5
Sustainable Materials
Startups are developing new materials that are more sustainable and have a lower environmental impact, such
as bioplastics, biomaterials, and recycled materials.
+ Increasing awareness of environmental issues and + Disrupts existing supply chain and infrastructure
resource depletion is driving demand for materials that
have a lower environmental footprint

29
Score: 2
Waste Management
Startups are working on advanced recycling technologies to reduce waste, recover valuable materials, and
create a circular economy from waste streams.
+ Regulations and standards are being implemented to + Supply chain and infrastructure complexity
promote responsible waste management, recycling, and + Achieving profitability
waste reduction

Sector Focus: Carbon Management, Trading & Capture
30

Carbon capture and management are intertwined, with a growing demand for direct
carbon capture as companies seek to reduce emissions
14% $2.7tn
Potential reduction in greenhouse Global carbon credit market by
gas emissions from carbon 2028
capture by 2050
$250bn $6.1bn
Growth expected by the carbon- Raised by carbon capture &
offset market by 2025 management startups in the last 3
years
Carbon capture and management technologies are crucial in combating climate change. To
prevent a 5°C global temperature increase by 2050, we must reduce emissions and remove
220 gigatons of CO2 from the atmosphere.
While technologies within Direct Air Capture are still in their infancy and require significant
investments to scale, carbon trading and offsetting technologies are mature and ready to scale.

Carbon Trading & Carbon Markets 8 Market that can be improved
Carbon Accounting & ESG Reporting 7 Attractive SaaS models
Carbon Utilisation 6
Direct Air Capture 3
Direct Capture from Industrial Processes 3
Source: C2ES (2023), Globe News Wire (2023), WSC Analysis (2023)

31
Score: 8
Carbon Trading & Carbon Markets
Carbon markets, established in the 90s following the Kyoto protocol have matured significantly. Polluters can
purchase credits to offset their emissions, tradable on open markets. Each credit equals one ton of CO2
equivalent.
+ Emissions and carbon trading has become an established + Oversaturated market
practice
+ Governments are reducing caps and demanding more
transparency on emission levels
Score: 7
Carbon Accounting & ESG Reporting
Software enabling companies to generate carbon emissions and ESG compliance reports.
+ Carbon reporting mandatory in the EU for specific + Oversaturated market
companies WSC VC Investability Index: 7
+ New regulations coming into place including the SECR
policy where carbon emissions reporting is mandatory
Score: 6
Carbon Utilisation
Exploring ways of utilising captured carbon such as converting it into useful products including fuels,
chemicals, and building materials.
+ Government support + Capital intensive projects primarily financed by
governments or oil and gas companies

32
Score: 3
Direct Air Capture (DAC)
DAC technologies extract CO2 directly from the atmosphere through various chemical approaches which
include solid DAC and liquid DAC. Solid DAC captures CO2 on the surface of a filter, while liquid DACs
systems involve passing air through a chemical solution.
+ Government support + Must demonstrate efficiency at scale
+ Can be deployed around the world + Massive industrial projects requiring large investments
(e.g., Climeworks have raised over $700m but remains
unprofitable)
+ Most expensive application of carbon capture
Score: 3
Carbon Capture from Industrial Processes (CCI)
Capturing carbon emissions from industrial processes, such as cement and steel manufacturing, power plants
or oil and gas production.
+ Strong interest from oil and gas companies to finance + Requires significant capital to deploy
such projects WSC VC Investability
+ Must demonstrate Index: 7
efficiency at scale
+ Criticised for providing a “free pass” for oil and gas
companies to continue drilling

Sector Focus: Electric Infrastructure
33
The pressing need for better grids, better storage, and better electricity
management systems can be solved with software
50% 70x
Of cars will be electric by 2035 Will be needed in a net zero
world than we currently have
today
90% $40bn
Decrease in the price of Lithium- Went to investments in battery
ion battery in the last 10 years storage in 2023
The coming years will require a substantial increase in electricity supply, driven primarily by
booming EV sales. As renewable energy and EVs gain momentum, the auto battery and
energy storage markets are expected to grow at a 25%+ CAGR over the next decade. The
widespread adoption of EV charging could lead to a 15% – 50% increase in peak electricity
demand on local grids, requiring costly grid updates.
We believe software can address many of these issues. Energy creation and storage now goes
hand in hand with software to help optimise loads at peak times, redistribute to the grid, and
automatically rebalance how energy flows through our grids.

Smart Grid Technology 9 Interesting SaaS companies
Energy Storage 6
EV Charging Infrastructure 6
Source: IEA (2023), Goldman Sachs Research (2023), US Department of Energy (2022), Reuters (2023), WSC Analysis (2023)

Sector Focus: Electric Infrastructure
34
Score: 9
Smart Grid Technology
As the energy system decentralizes and becomes more intermittent, startups are developing software platforms
and services to optimize energy use, reduce costs and improve grid reliability. Emerging spaces are Virtual
Power Plants (VPPs) and Distributed Energy Resources (DERs).
+ Ageing grid infrastructure requires renovation + Renovating grid infrastructure requires public authority
+ Reduction in cost of installation and increase in energy intervention
cost incentivizing individual homeowners to become + Complexity around interconnection with the grid by
energy producers energy systems “behind the meter”
+ Slow sales cycles
Score: 6
Energy Storage
Energy storage spans various sizes, from small vehicle batteries to large grid systems like the Tesla Megapack.
While Lithium-ion batteries dominate, promising alternatives include the use of rust in new iron batteries,
sodium-ion batteries and liquid metal batteries.
+ Considerable reduction of cost (price per Kwt of energy + Highly competitive market
stored with lithium ion battery has dropped by 97% since WSC
+ China’s VC Investability
raw material dominance Index: 7 graphite and
in lithium,
1991) battery anode materials
+ US and EU legislation is cutting red tape, providing tax
credits and public subsidies
Score: 6
EV Charging Infrastructure
With the rising popularity of EVs, the need to improve EV batteries and charging infrastructure is growing. A
promising new market is emerging, focusing on building charging networks and charging solutions.
+ Many regulations are put in place to subsidize the sale of + EV battery space is dominated by incumbents
EV by consumers + EV charging networks requires contracting with public
+ In 2022 the Zero Emission Government Fleet authorities
Declaration, requires governments to reach 100% zero + Low margins
emission vehicles in public procurement

Sector Focus: Construction
35
Construction
Despite the physical nature of the built environment, the sector leverages
software to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency
40% 30bn
Of annual world CO2 emissions Tonnes of concrete made every
year
$300bn 1 NYC
Market size of the global green Built every month for the next 40
construction market years
The sustainable construction sector has experienced rapid growth in response to the demand
for eco-friendly construction materials. Among various construction materials, concrete is the
most crucial due to its significant global consumption, second only to water. Concrete
accounts for 8% of human-made CO2 emissions, highlighting the urgent need for more
sustainable alternatives.
Other emerging technologies include enhancing building energy efficiency through software
and connected devices, which can tap into consumer markets.

Smart Buildings & Automation 8 Software + Consumer play
Sustainable Materials 4
Prefabricated Buildings 1
Source: Globe News Wire (2023), WSC Analysis (2023)

Sector Focus: Construction
36
Score: 8
Smart Buildings & Automation
Building automation systems can help reduce energy consumption by controlling heating, cooling, and lighting
systems.
+ Consumer demand for IoT and smart homes + Competitive market
+ Growing energy costs + High upfront costs
+ Government regulations and standards pushing for more + Integrating various components and systems (e.g.,
efficient energy systems HVAC, lighting, security)
+ Compatibility issues and the need for skilled technicians
Score: 4
Sustainable Materials
Companies are developing sustainable building materials that have a lower environmental impact than the
highly CO2 emitting cement and concrete. These new materials could be new biomaterials or reused materials.
Organic materials, like hemp, are now being used for isolation.
+ Governments and municipalities are implementing + Sustainable materials may have a higher upfront cost
regulations and standards that encourage or require the compared
WSC to VC
traditional materialsIndex: 7
Investability
use of sustainable construction materials, such as energy + Supply chain issues and raw material availability
efficiency requirements, green building certifications, and + Competition from traditional materials
building codes
Score: 1
Prefabricated Buildings
Prefabricated construction involves building sections of a building off-site and then assembling them on-site.
This is an area where 3D printing is playing an interesting new role. This reduces construction waste and can
speed up the building process.
+ Speed and efficiency + High upfront costs (green premium)
+ Design flexibility

Sector Focus: AgriTech & FoodTech
37
AgriTech & FoodTech

Food production remains a key focus for VC funds given its close ties to
climate issues and the need to feed a growing global population
70% 26%
Increase in food production Of annual world CO2 emissions
needed to feed the world come from the food industry
population by 2050
$260bn 1/3
Estimated global FoodTech Of all food produced is lost or
market size in 2022 wasted, costing the global
economy close to $940bn each
year
A transition toward greener practices in agriculture and food manufacturing is critical, given
that the current food system contributes to a third of CO2 emissions worldwide, consumes
70% of freshwater usage, drives 80% of global deforestation, and results in approximately
one third of global food production going to waste.
Technological advancements combined to consumer demand for sustainable, healthy,
affordable, and safe food options have led to the emergence of large unicorns in this space.
Some solutions are more capital intensive than others, especially within alternative proteins,
which saw substantial investment but has not reached global scale.

Picks & Shovels 9 Many asset light businesses
Precision Agriculture 7 Interesting AI and software play
Alternative Proteins 5
Food Waste Reduction 4
Vertical Farming 4
Source: Eurostat (2023), Agfunder (2023), Statista (2023), Our world in data (2019), WSC Analysis (2023)

38
Score: 9
Picks & Shovels
The infrastructure and software supporting AgriTech companies as they expand throughout the the value chain.
+ Market maturity and readiness in adopting new software + Competitive and saturated market
+ Slow sales cycles
Score: 7
Precision Agriculture
New technologies are being developed to improve the efficiency and sustainability of farming practices, such
as using drones, sensors, and AI to monitor crops and optimize inputs.
+ Reduces the need for excessive water, fertilizers, + Significant initial investment in hardware, software, and
pesticides, and other resources equipment
WSC VC Investability Index: 7
+ Optimise crop yields and productivity + Farmers may exhibit resistance to adopting new
technologies
Score: 5
Alternative Proteins
There is a growing trend towards alternative proteins, such as plant-based and lab-grown meat, as consumers
become more interested in sustainable and ethical food choices.
+ As the global population continues to grow, alternative + Tough to scale
proteins offer a potential solution to food security + Low margins
+ Increasing awareness of environmental and ethical + Distribution challenges
concerns related to traditional livestock farming has led
to a growing demand

39
Score: 4
Food Waste Reduction
Startups tackling food waste through new uses for products that would otherwise be discarded, such as turning
'ugly' produce into snacks or converting food waste into biofuels.
+ Some governments and regions are implementing + Supply chain and infrastructure complexity
regulations and initiatives to encourage food waste + Low margins
reduction
+ Growing consumer demand
Score: 4
Vertical Farming
With the rise of urbanization and the need to produce more food with less land and water, vertical farming is
becoming increasingly popular. Most of these companies are using LED lighting and hydroponics to grow
crops in stacked layers in urban environments.
+ Resource efficient using significantly less land and water + Reliance on artificial lighting and climate control systems
than traditional farming methods that are energy-intensive and sensitive to energy price
+ Enables year-round production fluctuations
+ High upfront costs
+ Tough to scale

Sector Focus: Packaging & New Materials
40

Sustainable packaging innovation is on the rise, with software firms playing a
key role in advancing manufacturing and packaging design
380m $917bn
Tonnes of plastic produced Global packaging market size in
annually, 50% of which are for 2019, reaching $1tn by 2024
single-use items
9% $57.9bn
Of global plastic waste is Market size of the global e-
currently recycled commerce packaging industry
In 2019, global plastic packaging production exceeded 360m metric tons, making up a
$917bn industry. By 2050, plastic production is projected to triple and will account for one-
fifth of global oil consumption. This poses significant environmental challenges and calls for
a major shift in packaging practices, while the large market size also makes it an attractive
sector for investors.
Emerging packaging startups are actively developing sustainable, efficient, and consumer-
friendly solutions using advanced materials and technologies to foster a circular economy.

Packaging Software & Infrastructure 8 Pick and shovels play
Biodegradable & Compostable 5
Waste to Value 5
Bio-Materials 5
Source: Plastics Ocean International (2023), OECD (2023), Smithers (2020), WSC Analysis (2023)

41
Score: 8
Packaging Software & Infrastructure
The manufacturing of new materials requires infrastructure to scale up research but also to help consumers
navigate this new packaging market.
+ Market maturity and readiness in adopting new software + Already competitive and saturated market
Score: 5
Biodegradable & Compostable
Several startups are focused on developing packaging materials that are biodegradable and compostable. These
bio-materials generally produces flexible packaging made from plant-based materials (for example mushroom
or seaweed).
+ Regulation are favoring sustainable materials vs. single- + Technologies are in the early stages of scaling
use plastics WSC remains
+ Distribution VC Investability
an issue Index: 7
+ Consumers are increasingly seeking products made from + Low margins
sustainable materials
Score: 5
Waste to Value
Startups are also developing packaging materials made from waste materials, such as compostable plant-based
materials, and biodegradable plastics from food waste.
+ Commercial value of imbedding recyclability in product + Technologies are just beginning to scale
manufacturing + Distribution remains an issue
+ Can lead to cost optimisation in manufacturing process + Low margins

42
Score: 5
Bio-Materials
Rapidly growing sector focused on developing and commercialising innovative materials as alternatives to
traditional materials derived from fossil fuels. The main areas of research are Bioplastics, Bio-based Textiles,
Biomimetic Materials, Bio-based Composites.
+ Increasing awareness of environmental issues and + Technologies are in the early stages of scaling
resource depletion is driving demand for materials that + Distribution remains an issue
have a lower environmental footprint + Low margins

Sector Focus: Clean Energy
43
Clean Energy
Clean energy is achievable but will require hefty investments in new
technologies and infrastructure, beyond the traditional VC scope
73% $2tn
Of emissions are created by Investment required to get carbon
energy use free electricity for the US grid by
2035
89% 80%
Decrease in the price of solar Surge in capacity for solar and
energy in the last 10 years wind power by 2026
The renewable energy market is growing significantly thanks to cost competitiveness,

supportive policies and rising demand. Renewables are finally more cost-effective to produce
than fossil fuels. In 2022, wind and solar power generated 22% of the EU's electricity,
overtaking gas for the first time. In the EU, renewables now account for nearly 40% of total
electricity generation.
Direct energy production lends itself more to infrastructure-type investments due to the long-
term nature and capital intensity of these projects. That said, investors are monitoring
Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings in these sectors for designing solar field infrastructure
and optimising engineer deployments.

Solar Power 5 Potential SaaS opportunities
Wind Power 5
Nuclear 5
Hydropower 5
Waste-to-Energy 5
Hydrogen 4
Source: S&P Global (2021), Lightsourcebp (2023), McKinsey (2022), WSC Analysis (2023)

44
Score: 5
Solar Power
The solar industry has considerably matured in the last decade, with innovative technologies making solar
energy more affordable and accessible, while software is coming in to reduce inefficiencies, help design
infrastructure, monitor plants, and support engineers.
+ Price has decreased by 89% in the last decade + Market is dominated by large industrials
+ Capacity is growing steadily
+ US and EU legislation is cutting red tape, providing tax
credits and public subsidies
Score: 5
Wind Power
Wind turbines technologies have advanced significantly, primarily by increasing turbine size for greater
energy generation. Innovations are also improving the efficiency and reliability of wind turbines, including
vertical axis wind turbines, bladeless turbines, and offshore wind farm models.
+ US and EU legislation is cutting red tape, providing tax + Criticised for their visual impact on land
credits and public subsidies WSC
+ Offshore VC
wind Investability
farms that requireIndex:
shallow7seabeds
+ Governments are investing in offshore wind farms
Score: 4
Nuclear
Nuclear energy has progressed slowly, with most technologies relying on fission. Despite major investments
like ITER, progress in fusion has been limited and attention is turning to Modular Reactors (SMRs), Molten
Salt Reactors (MSRs) and new Fusion Energy approaches.
+ Proven and reliable technology + Lack of significant breakthrough in fusion
+ US and EU legislation is cutting red tape, providing tax + European governments have reduced research due to
credits and public subsidies public pressure
+ Capital intensive projects

45
Score: 5
Hydro Power
This category includes dams and tidal turbines. Hydro energy stands out as the most predictable source of
energy, being the only renewable option capable of consistently providing reliable energy.
+ Proven and reliable technology + Capital intensive projects
+ Constant + Requires specific land available
Score: 5
Waste-to-Energy
Waste-to-Energy technologies cover various methods for converting waste materials into energy, including
incineration, gasification, pyrolysis, and anaerobic digestion.
+ Proven and reliable technology + Not entirely clean
WSC
+ Limited VC Investability Index: 7
profitability
Score: 4
Hydrogen
Hydrogen, abundant in the universe, is a superior clean energy alternative for energy generation and storage,
used in a variety of applications including transportation, heating and power generation and serves as an
energy storage medium.
+ Ability to use existing fossil fuel infrastructure + Limited natural hydrogen availability
+ Versatility in energy applications + Green hydrogen production is challenging and costly
+ Supported by new government regulations + Storage and production involve significant energy loss

46
Climate Tech – a Timeline

There is a large gap between awareness of climate change and action, and after
a first attempt, we are entering a new era of climate tech VC
1938 – First proof that global temperatures are rising
1954 – The birth of the solar cell
1958 – First proof that CO2 levels are rising and fossil fuels are to blame
1967 – Earth’s changing climate modelled for the first time
1985 – Lithium-ion battery is invented
1988 – The intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is established
1994 – First climate change legislation comes into force
1997 - Kyoto Protocol - First climate treaty to reduce carbon emissions
2000 - Clean Tech 1.0 as Silicon Valley VCs march into the sector
2008 - Great Financial Crisis and climate tech crash
2015 – Landmark international Paris agreement reached to cut carbon
2021 – Scientists predict world will reach 1.5°C of warming by 2040
2022 – Clean Tech 2.0


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Sustainable Global

$370bn $9tn - $12tn

Looking at the Sustainable Global Economy from a VC perspective

Sector Lead Authors

WSC 2023 Sustainable Global Economy Report

Section 1 Sustainable Global Economy: An Overview 12-22

Section 2 Sector Focus 23-45

Green FinTech 24-26

Circular Economy 27-29

Carbon Management, Trading & Capture

Electric Infrastructure 33-34

AgriTech & FoodTech 37-39

Packaging & New Materials 40-42

Clean Energy 43-45

WSC 2023 Sustainable Global Economy Report

The Sustainable Global Economy: a new

Monthly Mean Global Surface Temperature – Land & Ocean

What does this mean for WSC?

Source: NASA (2022)

WSC 2023 Sustainable Global Economy Report

Climate Tech VC has had a chequered past

Cleantech companies developing new materials, hardware, chemicals, or

SVB Climate Tech Innovation Hype Curve

Source: Pitchbook (2023), SVB (2022) Time

Yet we believe that the conditions are right for a

1 - Policies and regulations: Governments and regulatory bodies worldwide are

2 - Corporate or consumer demand: Businesses and consumers are increasingly seeking

In keeping with WSC’s investment guidelines, it is still possible to invest in

Deliver solutions at Innovate on business

Hedge against macro Leverage established Ramp up revenues with

WSC 2023 Sustainable Global Economy Report

We’ve created a WSC VC Investability Index

Out of Scope Work to be done Within WSC Scope

WSC 2023 Sustainable Global Economy Report

And broken down the Sustainable Global

• Payments • Insurance / Risk Management

• Sharing Economy • Sustainable Materials

Carbon Management, Trading & Capture

AgriTech & FoodTech

Packaging & New Materials

• Solar Power • Hydropower

WSC 2023 Sustainable Global Economy Report

Our thematic approach to investing leads us

Climate SaaS Climate Finance

Circular Economy RegTech

Carbon Management, Trading & Capture

Agritech & Foodtech

Packaging & New Materials

Source: WSC Analysis (2023)

WSC 2023 Sustainable Global Economy Report

Our 10-year horizon predictions for the

1.5ºC 45% 98%

Changing climate and Decreasing reliance on fossil

Source: WSC Analysis (2023)

WSC 2023 Sustainable Global Economy Report

The sustainable global economy is picking up

Source: WSC Analysis (2023)

Source: PwC (2023), Pitchbook (2023), CTVC (2023)

Deal activity has increased significantly

2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023YTD 1