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☆ This climate startup is challenging Tesla in the race to electrify big rigs
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Big rigs make up just 10% of the vehicles on the road, but they account for nearly 30% of total vehicle carbon emissions. Now one startup, California-based Range Energy, is focused not on the tractor but the trailer. said Ali Javidan, CEO of Range Energy. "When I push this button to activate the system, the trailer follows me," Javidan said as he demonstrated the system. Range Energy has raised $31.5 million so far, and it is backed by R7, UP.Partners, Trousdale Ventures and Yamaha Motor Ventures.

Persons: Ali Javidan, Javidan, Ricky Souza, Souza, There's, Tyler Engh, Engh, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Volvo, Freightliner, Tesla, Range Energy, Energy, Northern, Trousdale Ventures, Yamaha Motor Ventures, CNBC Locations: California, United States, Northern

☆ Stratospheric, AI-enabled robotic cameras on balloons could help you get your insurance claim check faster
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

New technology, however, using drones, artificial intelligence and weather balloons aims to modernize and accelerate that process. Near Space Labs, a Brooklyn, New York-based startup, invented "Swifts," or stratospheric, AI-enabled robotic cameras that fly on weather balloons. The giant weather balloons fly twice as high as airplanes cruise. Insurance and reinsurance companies, like Swiss Re, are using Near Space to help them understand and price risk. In addition to Third Sphere, Near Space Labs is backed by Crosslink Capital, Wireframe Ventures, IAG Firemark Ventures, Toyota Ventures and Leadout Capital.

Persons: Helene, Milton, Rema Matevosyan, Matevosyan, Shaun Abrahamson, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Space Labs, Labs, Swifts, Insurance, Swiss, Crosslink, Wireframe Ventures, IAG Firemark Ventures, Toyota Ventures, Leadout, CNBC Locations: Brooklyn , New York

☆ How one startup is making cleaner asphalt by decarbonizing natural gas
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-08 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"Modern Hydrogen produces clean hydrogen without renewable power. We can do this because we split apart natural gas into clean hydrogen and solid carbon," said Tony Pan, CEO of Modern Hydrogen. Natural gas is a cleaner fuel than oil, but it still emits harmful carbon dioxide when burned. Clients put the Modern Hydrogen system, which looks like a large box, where they would normally use their natural gas. Modern Hydrogen is backed by Gates Frontier, At One Ventures, National Grid Partners, NextEra Energy, Miura Group and Irongrey.

Persons: Tony Pan, Chris Kroeker, Pan, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Monolith, Natural Gas, Gates Frontier, One Ventures, National Grid Partners, NextEra Energy, Miura Group, National, CNBC Locations: Seattle, U.S, Canada, Japan, Long, , New York, New York

☆ Startups are using ‘rock dust’ to make agriculture carbon friendly
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Agriculture is responsible for more than 10% of global carbon emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. But while agriculture is a massive carbon offender, it could now be part of a solution, as startups are trying new ways of using nature to save itself. Startups like Lithos, UNDO Carbon and California-based Eion are experimenting with several types of carbon-absorbing rocks that can accomplish what lime does while permanently removing carbon from the atmosphere at the same time. "We apply a rock dust onto farms, and that helps farmers condition the soil or make the soil better for improvements," said Anastasia Pavlovic, CEO of Eion. "Then over time, that manages to secure and sequester carbon, permanently removing it from the atmosphere."

Persons: Anastasia Pavlovic, Eion, " Pavlovic, Dan Prevost, Prevost, Elon, Pavlovic, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, Farmers, Eion, Midwest, CNBC Locations: California, Norway, Mississippi, Illinois

☆ How one climate startup aims to use AI to protect the power grid
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

As fires intensify in the western United States, utility companies are on the front lines, working to protect the power lines that serve millions of customers. And as the frequency of fires and severe storms increases, so does the amount of technology that utility companies use to keep things running. National Grid, which services customers in much of the northeast, is both a client of and investor in AIDash through its venture capital arm, National Grid Partners. In addition to National Grid Partners, AIDash is backed by Duke Energy , Edison International, Shell Ventures, Lightrock and SE Ventures. As part of the green transition, and as more industries make the switch to all-electric power, grid capacity and reliability will become even more vital.

Persons: Abhishek Singh, AIDash, Singh, Andre Turenne, Turenne, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: CNBC, Grid, National Grid Partners, AIDash, Duke Energy, Edison International, Shell Ventures, Ventures, National Grid Locations: United States, U.S, California, AIDash, United Kingdom, New York, Massachusetts

☆ This water treatment startup is already a unicorn, and has $225 million in VC funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-27 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

While it might seem like humans and animals consume most of the world's water, heavy industry uses up to half of it. That's why business sectors are looking for new ways to recycle water, especially in the face of increased drought. The global water and wastewater treatment market is expected to reach half a trillion dollars by the end of this decade, according to Statista. "Other technologies can recover maybe 50 to 60% of water, but we can recover 99% of water," Govindan said. It claims to save 1.7 billion gallons of water daily, or the amount consumed by 48 million people.

Persons: Prakash Govindan, Anurag Bajpayee, Govindan, Gradiant, Mark Danchak, Warburg Pincus, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, MIT, BMW, Pfizer, Adnoc, General Innovation Capital Partners, G Investments, Clearvision Ventures, CNBC Locations: Statista, Veolia, Boston

☆ This startup will sell methane-eating microbes to Whole Foods
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-13 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

While some companies are trying to reduce methane emissions, others are trying to capture and remove it as it's produced. These naturally occurring microscopic organisms live in the soil and eat methane as food for survival. Much like yeast that eats sugar in bread and produces substances that make it rise, mems eat methane and produce fertilizer. This would mitigate methane emissions and enable the grocery company to make climate-friendly claims for their milk and other products. In addition to Cavallo Ventures, Windfall is backed by Prelude Ventures, Amazon Climate Pledge Fund, Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Mayfield.

Persons: Josh Silverman, I've, Silverman, We've, we've, Brett Morris, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Investors, Cavallo Ventures, Foods, Prelude Ventures, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, CNBC Locations: California, Mayfield

☆ This cement startup says it goes beyond net zero to true zero carbon emissions
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

"By decomposing minerals at ambient temperature using electrochemistry, it actually allows us to use minerals that contain calcium for cement that aren't limestone, and that's what makes us true zero as opposed to net zero," Ellis explained. Its One Boston Wharf Road will be the largest net zero office building in the city, with Sublime cement in the ground floor public space. Its venture capital backers are Lower Carbon Capital, Engine Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, Prime Impact Fund, Siam Cement Group and MCJ Collective. For perspective, about 90 million tons of cement are produced in the U.S. per year. "This is a first-of-a kind process, and we're competing with a technologies that have been scaled to a million tons per year plus for, you know, decades.

Persons: Leah Ellis, Ellis, they'll, Yanni Tsipis, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Systems, Sublime Systems, WS Development, Sublime, U.S . Department of Energy, Carbon, Engine Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, Impact Fund, Siam Cement Group, MCJ, CNBC Locations: Fortera, Massachusetts, Boston, Portland, U.S

☆ Food startup Hungryroot uses AI to reduce waste, a major climate offender
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-07 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Food waste is so prolific in the U.S. that roughly one-third of the amount produced ends up in landfills rather than stomachs. A recent study published in the journal Science found food production accounts for 26% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Food delivery services like HelloFresh, Blue Apron and EveryPlate reduce that somewhat by sending consumers what they need for specific recipes. The company says its processes help lead to 80% less food waste at its facilities compared with a traditional supermarket. In addition to Lightspeed, Hungryroot is backed by L Catterton, Crosslink Capital, Karp Reilly and Lerer Hippeau.

Persons: Ben McKean, Hungryroot, Jeremy Liew, They've, L, Karp Reilly, Lerer, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: CNBC, Investors, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Crosslink Locations: U.S, York, Brussels

☆ This startup helps plants talk to farmers, reducing pesticides and agricultural waste
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

What if plants could talk to farmers and tell them when they're distressed? That would not only help the plants but also reduce the amount of agricultural waste that threatens the planet's health. Now companies like SatAgro, Climate FieldView, and a California-based startup called InnerPlant are working to reduce agricultural waste. From that signal, farmers know what to treat, meaning they don't waste money on chemicals, which are over-applied by up to 30%, Aronov said. In addition to Bison Ventures, InnerPlant is backed by John Deere, MS&AD Ventures, UpWest VC and Bee Partners.

Persons: Shely Aronov, Aronov, InnerPlant, Tom Biegala, John Deere, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Food, Agriculture, Bison Ventures, InnerPlant, AD Ventures, UpWest, Bee Partners, CNBC Locations: California, North America, South America

It recently unveiled what it calls Vitruvius, an AI program that helps consumers design custom homes online and get the plans, making the process cheaper and faster. Vitruvius can recall every design and possibility it's ever seen, according to Ballard. Though other AI models have gotten into hot water for potential copyright infringement, Ballard said he isn't concerned in this case. "I have no doubt that tools like this are going to change the way that we do things." Ballard said the implications of AI in architecture extend beyond just consumers looking to save on architecture fees.

Persons: Vitruvius, Jason Ballard, Ballard, It's, Leonardo Guzman, Gina McAndrews, I've, McAndrews Organizations: Southwest Locations: U.S, Ballard, Austin , Texas

☆ This startup claims its new homes will generate more energy than they use
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Solar panels and energy-efficient appliances help cut emissions, but more needs to be done to improve building construction. That's what some prefab homebuilders like Dvele, Clever, and a California-based startup called Aro Homes are doing. "The excess renewable energy that we generate after 16 years, that offsets all the carbon that was used to build the home," said Carl Gish, CEO of Aro Homes. "We're not aware of any other home builders in the United States that are building homes as environmentally friendly." Gish points to four critical elements: First, Aro claims to use the most sustainable materials possible, like more timber and less concrete.

Persons: Carl Gish, We're, Gish, Aro, Scott Brady, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Aro Homes, Innovation, Western Technology Investment Fund, Stanford University, CNBC Locations: California, United States, Aro

☆ Look inside this startup's self-propelled RV, as camping goes electric
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The $50 billion travel trailer industry is finally hitching up to the electric vehicle ecosystem. As more Americans move to electric cars, the trailer industry has to evolve because the towing runs down the battery quickly. The drag on battery power can make towing an RV long distances with an EV prohibitive. In addition to UpHonest, Pebble is backed by Lightspeed and Vision Plus. With the solar and battery power, the Pebble makers say it can live off the grid for seven days, without propane or a generator required.

Persons: Bingrui Yang, Ellen Ma, Yang, —, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Pebble Mobility, Mobility, Apple, UpHonest, Lightspeed, Vision, CNBC PRO Locations: Winnebago, California

☆ This startup CEO claims he can completely decarbonize the cement industry
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Brimstone Energy, a California-based startup, is one of several companies trying to reduce the carbon emissions from the production of cement, which accounts for about 8% of global carbon emissions. Unlike limestone, however, the silicate rock contains no CO2, so there are no such emissions associated with the production process. Last July it received certification that its product is essentially the same as Portland cement. Not only does the silicate rock Brimstone uses not emit carbon, it actually absorbs carbon. "Ultimately, our plan, our goal would be to develop a credibly lower-cost process to make Portland cement at scale.

Persons: Cody Finke, Finke, Cooper, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Brimstone Energy, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, DCVC, Fund, S2G Ventures, CNBC Locations: California, Portland

☆ This startup is helping the ocean absorb more harmful carbon emissions
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-22 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The ocean, often likened to the lungs of the planet, is the world's largest natural carbon sink. Now, companies such as Equatic, Captura, Running Tide and a startup called Ebb Carbon are using new technology to restore ocean chemistry and speed up its natural abilities. "We're restoring the balance in the ocean chemistry and enabling the ocean to absorb CO2 and convert it to a safe stable form," said Ben Tarbell, co-founder and CEO of Ebb Carbon. "Right now, there are very large voluntary carbon markets, large corporations willing to pay to remove carbon from the atmosphere to offset emissions in other parts of their business. In addition to Prelude, Ebb Carbon is backed by Evok Innovations, Congruent Ventures and Propeller.

Persons: it's, Ben Tarbell, Tarbell, Gabriel Kra, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: Ebb, Ventures, Prelude Ventures, Evok, CNBC Locations: Sequim Bay, Washington

☆ EverestLabs is using robotic arms and A.I. to make recycling more efficient
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Until now, determining what exactly is in the vast mess of garbage that arrives at recycling plants has been a dirty and difficult job. Now, companies such as AMP Robotics, Machinex, Recycleye and a California-based startup called EverestLabs are using AI and robotics to do just that. "Because of AI, because of the robotic arms, we have seen plants recover 10, 20, 30% more than what they have been doing previously," said JD Ambati, CEO of EverestLabs. "They have been losing millions of dollars to the landfill, and because of AI, they were able to identify the value of the losses and deploy robotic arms to capture that." Add to that robotic arms, which he says recover the packaging three to four times more effectively than humans.

Persons: Ambati, Tom Outerbridge, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: AMP Robotics, Labor, SMR, Translink Capital, NEC, Future, Sierra Ventures, Morado Ventures, Xplorer, CNBC Locations: California

☆ This Black-owned startup is fixing and learning from broken EV charging stations
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

With electric vehicle adoption accelerating, so too is the need servicing public charging stations. Unlike fixing an old gas pump, some companies are using technology to both service and learn from the stations, to improve EV charging technology. More than one-quarter of public EV charging stations were found to be nonfunctioning, according to a survey done in California by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and Cool the Earth, an area nonprofit. barely three years ago and says the company is now servicing EV charging stations across 17 states. That data set can be helpful to network providers, EV and charging station manufacturers, plus governments, according to Terry.

Persons: Terry, ChargerHelp, it's, Vaughn Blake, Lisa Rizzolo Organizations: EV, University of California, Smart, Central, Duke Energy, Southern, Southern California Edison, Blue Bear, Energy Impact Partners, JFF Ventures, Exelon Foundation, Autodesk Foundation, CNBC Locations: California, Berkeley, Central Los Angeles, Southern California

☆ This kitchen composter turns your leftovers into chicken feed
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

More than one-third of the food produced in the United States is never eaten, and all that wasted food is contributing to global warming. Rogers, who also co-founded Nest smart home systems, says Mill differentiates itself among kitchen composters by keeping food as food… turning it into chicken feed. Not only does it reduce waste in landfills, but the goal is to reduce the amount of chicken feed that needs to be produced, thereby reducing those carbon emissions as well. "We sell our feed to farmers as an ingredient to chicken feed, which actually helps subsidize the membership," Rogers said. "There are millions of people that already compost across the United States.

☆ Plant-based salmon startup capitalizes on rising interest in fake seafood
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

While the plant-based burger wars have been waging for several years now, plant-based fish is just in its infancy. As demand for seafood alternatives grows, so too do names like Plantish, Sophie's Kitchen, Gardein, Good Catch and Toronto-based startup New School Foods, which specializes in plant-based salmon. But unlike most plant-based meat products, which are precooked, ground and often formed into patties or nuggets, this is whole and raw. He noted that unlike fake meat, which is usually more expensive than the real thing, fake fish could be cheaper for consumers since the cost of real fish has skyrocketed. In addition to Lever VC, New School Foods is backed by Blue Horizon, Hatch, Good Startup, Alwyn Capital and Joyance Partners.

☆ Saudi Aramco backs Brooklyn-based startup turning ammonia into fuel
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

New technology and new companies are working on turning ammonia into hydrogen to power tractors, trucks and even ships. The technology enables the on-board "cracking" (or decomposition) of ammonia into hydrogen, which is then sent into a fuel cell to power a vehicle. "We are partnering a lot with industry stakeholders in shipping and heavy manufacturing in heavy industries. One of Amogy's investors, Saudi Aramco, is the largest petroleum producer in the world, but sees ammonia as part of its future. In addition to Saudi Aramco, Amogy is backed by Amazon 's Climate Pledge Fund, AP Ventures, SK Innovation and DCVC.

☆ Airbnb launches platform allowing renters to host apartments, partnering with major landlords
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Diana Olick | In Dianaolick | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Airbnb is partnering with several major landlords and management companies to list designated apartment buildings where renters are allowed to offer short-term sublets on the site. To start, Airbnb is showcasing 175 apartment buildings in more than 25 major markets, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Seattle and Phoenix. The platform will help tenants host their rentals, and help the buildings attract tenants who may want to host. Apartment buildings can also charge the primary tenant a fee of up to 20% of the price of each Airbnb use. "We are collaborating with Airbnb on this innovative approach to participate in the 21st century sharing economy in a thoughtful way."

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