Carbon13
Carbon13 is a Cambridge-headquartered climate-tech venture builder that runs 8-month cohort programmes and SEIS Funds to source, finance, and support early-stage startups targeting decarbonisation at scale, serving 1,500+ founders and 100+ invested ventures across the UK and EU.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersCambridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
Carbon13 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Carbon13
- Legal name
- Carbon13 Capital Limited
- Website
- https://carbonthirteen.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Carbon13 is a Cambridge-headquartered climate-tech venture builder that runs 8-month cohort programmes and SEIS Funds to source, finance, and support early-stage startups targeting decarbonisation at scale, serving 1,500+ founders and 100+ invested ventures across the UK and EU.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Carbon13 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Tech Venture Capital & Startup Incubation
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carbon Finance & Investment Advisory (Project Finance, Funds, SPVs) (EUABADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Project-Originated Carbon Credit Marketing & Offtake (Primary Market) (EUAGAIAC), Carbon Offtake Structuring & Contracting (ERPA, Long-term Offtakes, Price Floors) (EUABADAE)
Keywords
Where Carbon13 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Carbon13 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Venture Investment Returns: Carbon13 invests £150,000 (UK) or €150,000 (EU) in selected ventures through its SEIS Funds. The investment is the first equity investment into the company, with £60,000 returned to Carbon13 to cover Phase 3 programme costs. Returns generated when portfolio companies succeed through exits or further funding rounds.
- SEIS Fund Management: Carbon13 operates SEIS Funds (SEIS Fund VIII currently) in partnership with Syndicate Room, allowing investors to access climate tech deal flow with UK government tax reliefs (50% income relief, 100% CGT and inheritance tax relief).
- Corporate Partnership Fees: Partnerships with corporate entities (Siemens Energy Ventures, Barclays Eagle Labs, Arm, Herbert Smith Freehills) for problem statements, mentorship, and investment identification. May include scholarship funding deployment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Venture Builder Programme - £150,000 investment |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Venture Builder Berlin - €150,000 investment |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Venture Accelerator - €150,000-250,000 investment |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Carbon13 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Carbon13 runs multi-month venture builder programmes (Venture Builder Cambridge and Berlin) and a Venture Accelerator that take climate tech founders from ideation through co-founder matching, validation, and acceleration to investment readiness. Selected ventures receive £150,000 (UK) or €150,000 (EU) seed investment, of which £60,000/€60,000 is returned to fund Phase 3 participation. Carbon13 also manages SEIS Funds in partnership with Syndicate Room, providing tax-advantaged investor access to the portfolio.
Product overview
Carbon13 is a climate-focused venture builder that operates multiple programmes to identify, support, and invest in climate tech entrepreneurs. The core offerings include the Venture Builder Cambridge (8-month programme for UK founders), Venture Builder Berlin (EU-focused programme), and Venture Accelerator for pre-seed startups. These programmes are complemented by SEIS Funds for investor access, and the portfolio of over 100 invested climate tech ventures. Carbon13 also produces the Climate Takes podcast for climate tech thought leadership. The company targets ventures capable of mitigating at least 10 million tonnes of CO2e per annum at scale.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Venture Builder Cambridge An 8-month structured programme delivered in three phases (Teaming, Validation, Acceleration) for a cohort of 80 UK-based individuals or founders willing to relocate. Supports founders from ideation through co-founder matching to investment readiness, with successful ventures receiving £150,000 investment (of which £60,000 is returned for Phase 3 participation). Aimed at climate tech founders targeting at least 10 million tonnes CO2e reduction per year at scale.
- Venture Builder Berlin An 8-month programme for EU-based founders combining Cambridge's entrepreneurial and academic spirit with the DACH climate tech scene. Selected ventures receive €150,000 investment, with €60,000 returned for Phase 3 programme participation. Aimed at climate tech founders in the European region.
- Venture Accelerator (Venture Launchpad) A superadvisor accelerator for pre-seed climate tech startups looking to raise their first round, working on product/market fit, go-to-market strategy, and investment readiness. Delivered remotely with one-on-one support, offering €150,000-€250,000 investment via SAFE, with Phase 1 requiring 1% in options for advisory services.
- SEIS Funds Carbon13's Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme funds (currently Fund VIII and Fund X) operated in partnership with Syndicate Room, allowing UK-based investors to access early-stage climate tech deal flow with UK government tax reliefs (50% income relief, 100% CGT and inheritance tax relief).
Quantifiable outcome
- Every startup has potential to reduce 10 million tonnes CO2e per year when at scale
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Carbon13
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Carbon13 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability12 records
Feature3 records
Carbon13 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered portfolio, flagship, key and supporting.
- Pure Capture Innovations SupportportfolioCarbon13 supported Pure Capture Innovations (portfolio company) which opened first materials research and water analysis laboratory at Oxford's Wood Centre for Innovation, developing advanced adsorbent materials for PFAS removal.
- Siemens Energy VenturesflagshipLong-standing partnership through the Female Equity Scholarship supporting female climate founders at earliest stages. Since 2023, €120,000 deployed across four rounds benefiting 26 female founders. Combines financial support with one-to-one mentoring from Siemens Energy leaders.
- Barclays Eagle LabskeyCorporate partner providing support and recognition for climate tech founders. Partner mentioned alongside Siemens Energy Ventures and others in annual review.
- ArmkeyTechnology partner providing recognition and potential technical support for climate tech ventures.
- Herbert Smith FreehillssupportingLegal and advisory partner providing pro bono or discounted legal services for climate tech startups.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
Carbon13 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Creative Destruction Lab: Science-based venture builder affiliated with multiple universities that runs cohort programmes for science and technology ventures. Has a separate climate stream (CDL Climate) that is comparable to Carbon13's deep-tech climate focus, though its overall scope is broader.
- Founders Factory: London-based venture studio and accelerator that builds and backs startups across multiple sectors including climate and sustainability. Comparable UK-based venture builder model with similar corporate partnership approach to Carbon13.
- Cyclotron Road (Activate): Fellowship programme supporting early-stage hard-tech and science entrepreneurs, originally launched at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Comparable to Carbon13 in supporting deep-tech founders and providing fellowship-level support, though Activate is more fellowship than venture builder.
Direct peers
- Greentown Labs: US-based climate tech incubator and venture studio providing workspace, mentorship, and connections for hardware-focused climate startups. Closest US analogue to Carbon13's ecosystem model, though Greentown is more hardware-incubator than founder-formation focused.
- Entrepreneur First: London-based venture builder that brings together talented individuals to form deep-tech startups, with notable focus on AI and biotech. Directly comparable to Carbon13's model of matching technical and commercial founders into early-stage ventures, with similar cohort-based structure.
- Antler: Global venture builder running cohort-based programmes that match co-founders and invest pre-seed across multiple geographies. Antler is a direct competitor to Carbon13's venture builder model, though it is sector-agnostic rather than climate-focused.
- Elemental Excelerator: US-based climate tech accelerator funding and supporting early-stage startups across energy, transportation, and circular economy. Comparable to Carbon13 in mission focus and stage, but operates a more traditional accelerator model rather than founder-formation.
- Third Derivative: Climate tech accelerator and venture fund run by RMI that launches and invests in early-stage climate ventures, with a focus on systemic decarbonisation. Directly comparable to Carbon13's mission and pre-seed investment model.
Broad incumbents
- Leap by McKinsey: McKinsey's venture builder focused on building and launching new businesses, with growing climate focus. Comparable as a structured venture builder from a major consultancy, with similar methodology and cohort-based approach.
- Stripe Climate: Climate tech funding initiative from Stripe that channels payments processing revenue into carbon removal and climate solutions, with broader portfolio investments. Comparable as a climate capital allocator, though operates at much larger scale and from a different starting point.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks1 record
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Carbon13 social profiles
Digital presenceCarbon13 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Carbon13 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Carbon13 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Carbon13 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments62 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Carbon13
What does Carbon13 do?
Carbon13 runs multi-month venture builder programmes (Venture Builder Cambridge and Berlin) and a Venture Accelerator that take climate tech founders from ideation through co-founder matching, validation, and acceleration to investment readiness. Selected ventures receive £150,000 (UK) or €150,000 (EU) seed investment, of which £60,000/€60,000 is returned to fund Phase 3 participation. Carbon13 also manages SEIS Funds in partnership with Syndicate Room, providing tax-advantaged investor access to the portfolio.
Is Carbon13 a public or private company?
Carbon13 is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was Carbon13 founded?
Carbon13 was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Carbon13 based?
Carbon13 is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Carbon13 make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Venture Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are SEIS Fund Management and corporate Partnership Fees.
Who are Carbon13's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Creative Destruction Lab, Founders Factory and Cyclotron Road (Activate). Direct peers are Greentown Labs, Entrepreneur First, Antler, Elemental Excelerator and Third Derivative. Broad incumbents are Leap by McKinsey and Stripe Climate.
Does Carbon13 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Carbon13.
What industry is Carbon13 in?
Carbon13's product category is Climate Tech Venture Capital & Startup Incubation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABADAD, Carbon Finance & Investment Advisory (Project Finance, Funds, SPVs), with a secondary code of EUAGAIAC, Project-Originated Carbon Credit Marketing & Offtake (Primary Market). Its NAICS code is 54162 and its SIC code is 6282.