Good Morning
Happy 52nd weekly edition of the Green Bite! Whether this is the first edition you’ve read or your 52nd - thank you, thank you, thank you. We’ve learned so much this year with ya’ll. Here’s to many more.
What we’re reading this week:
Podcast - Elizabeth Warren and Lori Wallach on the Solar War With China
Biden’s “My Plan to Fight Inflation” (spoiler alert: it includes passing clean energy tax credits that could reduce utility bills)
Top Deals of the Week
![Nevera - Rimac Automobili Nevera - Rimac Automobili](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7a8a24cb-d5d0-4bcb-bcab-f76b7e91ab0c_2400x1350.jpeg)
Croatian electric car startup Rimac raised a $536M Series D at a $2.2B valuation led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Goldman Sachs (TC)
Menlo Microsystems, an Irvine, Ca.-based outfit that makes microelectromechanical systems switches (to increases electrical efficiency!), has raised $150 million in funding. Investors in the round include Vertical Venture Partners (VB)
Vestaron, a 17-year-old startup based in Durham, NC, that is developing biological alternatives to chemical-based crop controls using peptides, raised an $82 million Series C round. The co-leads were Ordway Selections and Cavallo Ventures (AFN)
Danish cleantech startup ZeroNorth received a $50M investment from PSG Equity to help decarbonize shipping (BW)
Regrow, a six-year-old, Durham, N.H.-based software-as-a-service company that offers farmers scenario-planning tools and calculates the environmental impact assessment of practices that are best-suited for their operations, has raised $38 million in Series B funding. Galvanize Climate Solutions led the round (R)
Upway, a year-old, Paris-based startup that sells secondhand electric bikes that have been refurbished, just raised $25 million in Series A funding co-led by Exor Seeds and Sequoia Capital. TechCrunch has more here.
NatureMetrics, an eight-year-old ESG startup based in Egham, United Kingdom, that uses DNA to monitor biodiversity and advise businesses on their OPEX planning decisions, raised a $15 million round. The investment syndicate included 2150VC.
ChargeLab, a six-year-old Toronto startup that builds software to operate and optimize EV charging equipment for fleets and commercial customers, raised a $15 million Series A round led by King River Capital (TC)
Converge, an eight-year-old London startup that reduces carbon emissions by monitoring the use of concrete on construction sites, raised a £15 million Series A round led OGCI Climate Investments, with additional capital provided by TO Ventures. Build in Digital has more here.
Lunar Outpost, a five-year-old startup based in Golden, Co., that is focused on building rovers and instruments to explore the moon and mine its resources, raised $12 million in seed funding from lead Explorer 1 Fund (A)
Planet FWD, a three-year-old, San Francisco-based startup that sells software and services to help brands assess and improve their climate impact, has raised $10 million in Series A funding. Acre Venture Partners and Congruent Ventures co-led the round (TC)
Plastic upcycling startup Novoloop raised a $10M Series A extension led by Hanwha Solutions and Taizo Sons Mistletoe (TC)
Switch Bioworks, a startup based in San Carlos, Ca., that aims to create environmentally safe fertilizer from patented microbes, raised a $4.3 million round co-led by Anthos Capital and Acre Venture Partners. Axios Pro has more here.
Foodsteps, a 1.5-year-old London startup that helps its food industry clients assess their carbon impact, water use, land use, and pollution levels, raised a $4.1 million seed round. Octopus Ventures was the deal lead (UKT)
Green Theory
Green’th Yearly
Celebrating a full year of weekly Green Bite editions, let’s take a look back on what we’ve shared. If you’re not sure where to start, perhaps pick up this piece on why it’s worth reading a climate tech newsletter. To get grounded on the basics of climate responses, learn about mitigation and adaptation. Whether we’re exploring the pitfalls of carbon offsets, setting sustainable New Year’s resolutions, or exposing the patriarchy’s tilt toward climate crisis, thank you for joining us on this journey.
Economics & Finance
For those who can’t wait to wake up and read the latest green funding rounds each Friday, the Green Theory pieces on economics and finance may pique your interest. Our piece on ethical investing received some of the highest engagement, while a dive into Jevons’ paradoxical rebound effect sets the stage for alarming repetitions of, “What happens next?” We call attention to the relationship between income and emissions, and bring suggestions for how to best donate. Game theorists ought to play with the similarities between the “Prisoner’s dilemma” and climate solutions’ political economy, and the crypto crowd can consider different monies’ emissions.
![](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd2eb40b5-685a-4a2d-946f-686f3527e6bd_483x240.png)
Novel Solutions: Unusual or Unusable?
We cherish the sparks of inspiration that fly from reimagining climate solutions. From the very first days of The Green Bite, we’ve been kicking the tires on novel solutions, such as going barefoot for the earth. Reflecting on the past year, sleep for climate justice remains a compelling reason to rest. We reinforce the need for joy amidst the climate crisis, and interrogate why some think we should dim the sun. In both more traditional energy transition pieces—such as cleantech's potential to “leapfrog” dirty development—and in stranger opportunities—like the US Military’s path to decarbonization—you can expect relevant follow-on resources within. All the while, we’re still waiting for the car that uses less energy than a bicycle. Stretching perspectives, and turning assumptions upside down, we can all work together to hone in on the best solutions.
Putting the Bite in Green Bite
Food plays a key role in everyday life, global climate goals, and evidently our weekly editions, as well. Growing and eating close to home just scratches the surface of where to look for greener food pastures, so to speak. With the bleak state of meat, now’s a great time to learn about types of alternative meat, the bottlenecks with lab-grown cuts, and some easy alt-protein recipes. If you’re still not convinced of the centrality of meat consumption in the climate crisis, at least consider the power of blending ingredients or agricultural practices in creating more resilient food systems. Embracing a global wave of vegetarianism and adopting composting as a habit present two actionable, personal opportunities to live more sustainably, among other benefits.
![Roasted Squash, Crispy Sage, and Italian Sausage Pappardelle | Field Roast Roasted Squash, Crispy Sage, and Italian Sausage Pappardelle | Field Roast](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F00006855-9bcd-4a0f-902e-943e7ec339f2_700x700.jpeg)
The Consumer Edge: Energy, EVs, and Extravagance
What will we buy? When it comes to energy, be it nuclear, whale oil, or fossil fuels, humankind historically opts for strict, narrow cost effectiveness, except in moments of acute crises. In the home and garage, electric vehicles (EVs) command much media attention, while trends in home energy efficiency and air conditioning pass largely unnoticed. Though a mere fraction compared to top sources of pollution, everything from trees to t-shirts comes with a greenhouse gas consideration, explored in pieces on Christmas trees and fast fashion, respectively. On the other end of the sustainability spectrum, aluminum presents a highly recyclable material. Above the recycling bin, on the roof, more and more homeowners look into distributed solar systems. Despite the private benefits from these energy-generating installations, spreading out energy infrastructure may enable deeper public resilience.
Current Events and Shared Burdens
Across the globe and within communities, the pulse of current events helps illuminate the burdens we share. Wildfires’ raging, unfair and inescapable dangers of pollution, and rising climate anxiety number among the collective challenges to tackle. When the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released its Assessment Report 6, detailing the scientific basis for conclusive evidence of climate change, we stressed dread’s delicateness and openings for optimism. As troops built up across Eastern European borders in early February, 2022, we analyzed energy assets and military interests, drawing closer in the looming conflict. Months later, more on gas prices and the predatory position of polluting profiteers emerged. Throughout this reporting, we maintain our newsletter free of oil sponsors, unlike the suspicious greenwashing ads in various climate other publications.
An Unconclusive Conclusion—to many more
The pleasure of writing Green Theory—and engaging in thoughtful conversations that follow—promotes enough gratitude to celebrate Tofurkey Day, the Green Bite way, much more than once every year. Between connecting carbon capture and oil extraction and climate tech with SciFi, these weekly pieces, with hope, inspire deeper questions, and ignite a hunger for more learning and discussion. Importantly, those most vulnerable to climate change often wield the least power in determining society’s course: such as women, protecting the planet and grappling with injustice in a male-dominated world. Recognize your unique position to help study and solve the climate crisis, even if only by reading and chatting today, and never give up belief in your ability to shape change. Thank you again for keeping up with The Green Bite, creating a community around our combined concern and excitement for the future of our shared home.
The Closer
A throwback to one of my all-time favorite Closers.