A new climate tech support programme for Scottish companies has been launched with the aim of addressing sector-specific needs for the country’s climate startups and tech founders.

The Powering the Future programme will be based in Glasgow and delivered by Sustainable Ventures, supported by the Barclays Eagle Labs, and will initially provide thirty companies with tailored support and help drive investment opportunities.

The scheme, which will launch in partnership with Glasgow City Innovation District (GCID) and the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, plans to work with Scottish climate tech companies from all stages of development, from early idea through to scaleup.

Tech firms will receive support ranging from access to Sustainable Ventures’ Spark platform, which features a curriculum for founders to access venture development tools, as well as an opportunity to connect with other climate tech SMEs and experts. 

Sustainable Ventures said the programme will offer advice across key business topics to help startups accelerate from innovation to commercialisation, spanning everything from developing initial business plans, to supporting technological innovation and scaling strategies.

“Climate tech start-ups face steep hurdles on the path to scale, often navigating capital-intensive infrastructure development, significant funding gaps, and complex market adoption barriers,” said Garry Boyle, regional development associate for Scotland at Sustainable Ventures.

“We are delighted to be working with Scottish and Glasgow climate tech entrepreneurs to provide them with the specialised resources and support to help their ventures successfully scale and deliver the solutions needed for a greener future.”

The project’s goal is not only to grow Scottish climate tech businesses, but to create more investment and commercialisation opportunities in Glasgow, with the programme culminating in a showcase event where the climate techs will have the opportunity to pitch to relevant stakeholders across the Glasgow City Region.

Recommended reading

• New Climate Tech-focussed Venture Studio Launches in Aberdeen
• £1BN UK-Qatar Climate Tech Partnership Agreed
• Glasgow Uni to Develop Climate Change Sensor Network

Alisdair Gunn, director of GCID, said: “We’re proud to be delivering the climate tech SME support programme in partnership with Sustainable Ventures – a major step in scaling Glasgow’s position as Scotland’s leading hub for climate tech innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Recent figures show that climate tech startups are enjoying something of a boom as interest from private investors has grown for firms innovating at the intersection of climate, finance, and digital technology, with a report from PwC last year finding a 24% increase in climate tech investment, totalling £4.5 billion in 2024. 

In February, data from CommerzVentures found that investment in climate fintech startups outperformed overall venture funding last year, raising $2.7 billion (£2.1bn), 17% more than in 2023.