The climate technology sector is experiencing unprecedented growth, with billions of dollars flowing into innovative solutions designed to combat climate change and create a more sustainable future. However, despite the critical importance of diverse perspectives in solving complex global challenges, women-led startups continue to face significant funding gaps. Of the $33.5 billion invested in climate tech startups in the United States through three quarters in 2024, only $135.8 million went to female-founded startups, highlighting a stark disparity that doesn’t reflect the innovation and potential these companies represent.

Yet despite these challenges, women entrepreneurs across North America are building groundbreaking companies that address everything from carbon capture and renewable energy to sustainable materials and circular economy solutions. These female founders are not only developing cutting-edge technologies but also approaching climate challenges with unique perspectives that often result in more holistic and community-focused solutions. The following eight women-led startups represent the diversity and innovation that characterizes this emerging sector, demonstrating how female leadership is driving meaningful progress in the fight against climate change.

“This partnership with CICE will enable us to refine and optimize our CRB prototype, bringing us one step closer to demonstrating a scalable and cost-effective energy storage solution.” — Agora Energy Technologies

Agora Energy Technologies

Agora Energy Technologies is an innovative electrochemical engineering company located in Vancouver, B.C., advancing a ground-breaking CO2 based battery technology namely the CO2 Redox Flow Battery (CRB). This revolutionary technology represents a dual approach to climate action by both storing renewable energy and actively utilizing carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise contribute to atmospheric warming. The company’s technology enables efficient implementation of renewable energy while simultaneously mitigating industrially emitted CO2, creating what they call “direct CO2 conversion to energy” or CCE.

The company was recently selected among five women-led ventures to receive funding from the B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE), as part of a $2.46 million investment aimed at accelerating decarbonization in Canada. Agora’s approach addresses two critical climate challenges simultaneously: the need for better energy storage solutions to support renewable energy adoption and the urgent need to find productive uses for captured carbon dioxide. Their flow battery technology is particularly suitable for grid and microgrid applications, making it a scalable solution for communities transitioning to renewable energy sources.

Check out their website for more information.

Seacork Studio

Seacork Studio represents an innovative approach to sustainable materials, focusing on developing cork-based alternatives to traditional materials that contribute to environmental degradation. The Vancouver-based company was among the women-led ventures selected to receive funding from CICE’s $2.46 million investment program, recognizing its potential to contribute significantly to Canada’s decarbonization efforts. The company specializes in creating sustainable materials from cork, which is harvested without harming trees and represents one of nature’s most renewable resources.

The startup’s work addresses the growing demand for sustainable alternatives to plastic and other petroleum-based materials across various industries, from packaging to construction. Cork’s natural properties make it an ideal material for applications requiring insulation, water resistance, and durability, while its production actually benefits the environment by maintaining cork oak forests that serve as carbon sinks. Seacork Studio’s innovations demonstrate how traditional materials can be reimagined and scaled to meet modern sustainability challenges while supporting ecosystem preservation.

Check out their website for more information.

Ayrton Energy Inc.

Ayrton Energy Inc. is another women-led venture that received funding through CICE’s inaugural Women in Cleantech program, positioning itself as a significant player in Canada’s clean energy transition. The company focuses on developing advanced energy storage solutions that address one of the most critical challenges facing renewable energy adoption: the intermittent nature of solar and wind power. Ayrton Energy’s technology aims to provide reliable, long-duration energy storage that can help stabilize electrical grids as they integrate increasing amounts of renewable energy.

The company’s approach to energy storage goes beyond traditional battery technologies, exploring innovative solutions that can store energy for extended periods without the degradation issues that plague conventional systems. This long-duration storage capability is essential for creating truly renewable-powered electrical grids, as it allows excess energy generated during peak renewable production periods to be stored and used when the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. Ayrton Energy’s work represents a crucial piece of the puzzle for achieving a fully decarbonized energy system.

Check out their website for more information.

EnviCore Inc.

EnviCore Inc. stands among the women-led cleantech ventures selected for CICE funding, focusing on environmental remediation and sustainable waste management solutions. The company develops technologies that address contaminated sites and industrial waste streams, turning environmental liabilities into opportunities for restoration and resource recovery. EnviCore’s approach represents a shift from traditional waste management paradigms toward circular economy principles that view waste as a resource rather than a problem to be disposed of.

“The support from CICE will be instrumental in advancing our technology from a lab-scale prototype to a field-demonstrated solution” — EnviCore

The company’s innovative technologies address some of the most challenging environmental cleanup scenarios, including contaminated groundwater, industrial soil remediation, and hazardous waste processing. By developing more effective and sustainable remediation techniques, EnviCore helps communities and industries address legacy environmental damage while preventing future contamination. Their work is particularly important as climate change intensifies environmental challenges and increases the urgency of cleaning up contaminated sites that could become more problematic as weather patterns become more extreme.

Check out their website for more information.

Gaia Refinery Ltd.

Gaia Refinery Ltd. rounds out the five women-led companies funded through CICE’s cleantech program, bringing innovative approaches to chemical processing and materials recovery. The company focuses on developing sustainable alternatives to traditional chemical refining processes, which are typically energy-intensive and generate significant environmental impact. Gaia Refinery’s technologies aim to create more efficient, lower-impact methods for producing essential chemicals and materials while reducing waste and emissions.

The company’s work addresses the fundamental challenge of decoupling chemical production from environmental damage, developing processes that can produce necessary materials with dramatically reduced carbon footprints. This approach is crucial as the world transitions to a sustainable economy, since many essential products require chemical processing, and finding cleaner production methods is essential for achieving overall emissions reductions. Gaia Refinery’s innovations demonstrate how even traditional heavy industries can be reimagined to support rather than undermine environmental goals.

Check out their website for more information.

Verdant Earth Technologies

Verdant Earth Technologies focuses on soil carbon sequestration and regenerative agriculture technologies, addressing the critical intersection between food production and climate change. The company develops precision agriculture solutions that help farmers implement practices that not only maintain crop yields but actually improve soil health and increase carbon storage in agricultural lands. Their technology platform combines soil sensors, data analytics, and targeted interventions to optimize carbon sequestration while supporting productive farming operations.

The company’s approach recognizes that agriculture can be either a significant contributor to climate change or a powerful tool for mitigation, depending on how it’s practiced. By providing farmers with the tools and knowledge to implement regenerative practices, Verdant Earth helps transform agricultural land into a carbon sink while maintaining the economic viability of farming operations. Their work is particularly important given that agriculture accounts for a significant portion of global greenhouse gas emissions and that improved soil management could sequester substantial amounts of atmospheric carbon.

Check out their website for more information.

CleanO2 Technologies

CleanO2 Technologies, founded by Janice Tran, represents an innovative approach to carbon capture and utilization that turns building heating systems into carbon dioxide removal devices. The company’s technology captures CO2 from building exhaust systems and converts it into useful products, including soaps and other consumer goods. This approach addresses carbon emissions at their source while creating economic value from what would otherwise be waste, demonstrating the potential for circular economy approaches to climate solutions.

The company’s technology is particularly innovative because it can be retrofitted into existing buildings, making it a scalable solution that doesn’t require entirely new infrastructure. By capturing carbon dioxide where it’s produced and immediately converting it into useful products, CleanO2 creates a distributed carbon capture network that could significantly reduce urban emissions. Their approach also demonstrates how climate solutions can create new business opportunities and revenue streams, making environmental action economically attractive rather than just environmentally necessary.

Check out their website for more information.

Planetary Technologies

Planetary Technologies, co-founded by Moira Zellner, is developing ocean-based carbon removal technologies that address climate change at the massive scale required to make a meaningful impact. The company’s approach involves using ocean alkalinization to enhance the ocean’s natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This process not only removes CO2 but also helps counteract ocean acidification, addressing two critical climate impacts simultaneously.

The company’s technology represents one of the few approaches that could potentially remove carbon dioxide at the gigaton scale needed to meaningfully impact global atmospheric CO2 levels. By working with natural ocean processes rather than against them, Planetary Technologies offers a solution that could be both environmentally beneficial and economically viable. Their approach also demonstrates the importance of nature-based solutions in addressing climate change, showing how human technology can enhance rather than replace natural systems for maximum environmental benefit.

Check out their website for more information.

Conclusion

These eight women-led startups represent the innovation, diversity, and determination that characterizes the emerging climate technology sector in North America. From advanced energy storage and carbon capture to sustainable materials and regenerative agriculture, these companies are developing solutions that address climate change from multiple angles while creating economic opportunities and supporting community resilience. Despite receiving only a fraction of available climate tech funding, these female founders are proving that women-led companies can deliver the breakthrough technologies needed to address our most pressing environmental challenges.

The success of these startups also highlights the importance of supporting diversity in climate innovation. Women entrepreneurs often bring different perspectives, priorities, and approaches to problem-solving, resulting in solutions that are more inclusive, community-focused, and holistic in their approach to sustainability. As the climate technology sector continues to grow and mature, ensuring that women entrepreneurs have access to the funding, mentorship, and support they need will be crucial for developing the full range of solutions needed to address climate change effectively and equitably.

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