Clean Energy Ventures
We believe the clean energy transition will be built by a diverse coalition of founders, investors, and technologists, and that broadening that coalition is a competitive advantage.
Our Commitment
Clean Energy Ventures was founded with a conviction that solving climate change requires the full breadth of human talent and perspective. Research consistently shows that diverse teams identify more creative solutions, manage risk more effectively, and build more resilient businesses, all qualities essential for companies navigating the long path from laboratory to commercial scale.
We take this seriously in our own organization and in the companies we back. From the founders we fund, to the operators we help recruit, to the advisors we engage, we work to ensure that the climate economy reflects diverse perspectives and experiences across the board.
This is ongoing work. We hold ourselves accountable through transparency: tracking data, sharing progress, and being honest about where we fall short.
What We're Doing
We actively seek out and support founders from underrepresented backgrounds — including women, people of color, and first-generation entrepreneurs — who are building solutions to the climate crisis. We track the diversity of our deal flow and portfolio, and hold ourselves accountable to improving.
We recruit, develop, and retain a diverse team at CEV, across investment staff, operations, and leadership. We pay equitably, conduct regular reviews of compensation, offer flexible working arrangements, and foster a culture where different perspectives are genuinely sought.
Through events, partnerships, and advocacy, we use our platform to help build a more inclusive climate tech ecosystem. We partner with organizations working to close access gaps in STEM, entrepreneurship, and clean energy careers, and ensure our networks are accessible to the next generation of climate founders.
As one of the most seasoned teams of climate tech investors in North America and Europe, we lead and participate in initiatives like Browning the Green Space, engage actively with incubators and accelerators, and publish our DEI plans and tools openly. We're working to bring more capital to diverse organizations and ensure the clean energy transition reaches the communities most affected by climate change.
We work with our portfolio companies to implement DEI best practices as they scale, providing resources like inclusive hiring playbooks and compensation benchmarking to board composition. We connect portfolio founders with recruiters and talent networks that specialize in diverse candidate pipelines.
We publish an annual Impact Report with data on portfolio company diversity, our own team composition, and the composition of our deal flow. We believe transparency creates accountability and helps the broader industry improve.
Transparency & Accountability
We invest in climate tech startups with the power to drive gigaton-scale emissions reduction and deliver strong financial returns. Our approach centers on transparency, accountability, and quantifiable climate impact. Explore our latest report that highlights:
Our revamped impact measurement methodology for more holistic and precise emission reduction estimation.
Progress on environmental and social KPIs across the portfolio, with a feature on female founders.
A breakdown of our operational and financed emissions, and how we’re addressing them through carbon removal.
How we’re helping shape the future of impact measurement through key partnerships and collaborations.
By the Numbers
42%
of CEV team members identify as women
38%
of portfolio companies have a woman co-founder
28%
of portfolio companies have a founder of color
100%
pay equity across comparable roles at CEV
* Data as of year-end 2025. Full methodology in our annual Impact Report.