The Lightsmith Group
The Lightsmith Group is a New York-based growth equity firm founded in 2017 that invests in climate adaptation and resilience companies, managing an inaugural $186M fund (CRAFT) focused on supply chain and infrastructure resilience, with institutional LPs led by the Green Climate Fund.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Lightsmith Group does
The Lightsmith Group is a New York-based sustainable private equity firm founded in 2017 (with the firmography-derived founding year of 2016 reflecting the period of initial concept development) that pioneered the dedicated investment category for climate adaptation and resilience (A&R). The firm invests growth equity into companies providing technologies, products, and services that help society and the economy adapt to unavoidable climate impacts. Its investment focus has narrowed to two priority areas — Infrastructure & Energy Resilience and Supply Chain Resilience — following nearly a decade of market analysis, with a portfolio that spans real-time supply chain visibility (Tive, Parsyl), satellite-AI infrastructure monitoring (AiDash), climate-resilient healthcare (Beep Saúde), hydropanel water production (SOURCE Global), precision agriculture (Solinftec), and food supply chain resilience (WayCool Foods).
The firm's product offering is structured around three investment vehicles and a set of proprietary frameworks. CRAFT (Climate Resilience and Adaptation Finance and Technology-transfer facility), the firm's flagship $186 million fund (closed January 2022 via a Luxembourg-domiciled SCSp RAIF), is the first private equity fund dedicated to climate resilience and adaptation. SCALE (Systemic Capital for Adaptation Localization and Expansion), launched November 2025, is a next-generation integrated adaptation platform targeting over 100 startups, supported by $6.1 million in grants from GEF, DFC, USAID, and Norway. ASAP (Adaptation SME Accelerator Project), operated in partnership with Village Capital, is an accelerator and SME directory for adaptation companies in emerging markets. Underpinning these vehicles are three proprietary methodologies: the CRISP framework (co-developed with MSCI Sustainability Institute, Bezos Earth Fund, ClimateWorks Foundation, and GARI), the Impact Measurement System (IMS), and the ASAP Adaptation Solutions Taxonomy, alongside an Environmental & Social Management System aligned with IFC Performance Standards.
Lightsmith's revenue model follows the standard alternative-asset structure: management fees on committed capital during the investment period and carried interest on exits above an 8% preferred return hurdle. The $186 million CRAFT fund was anchored by a $46 million Green Climate Fund commitment (the largest investor), with additional commitments from PNC Insurance Group, The Rockefeller Foundation, EIB, AIIB, KfW, Nordic Development Fund, the Government of Luxembourg, Kinneret Group, and Caprock Impact Partners. The fund carries EU SFDR Article 9 classification, supporting access to European sustainable-finance capital. Distribution is direct-to-institutional, supplemented by thought-leadership channels including UN Climate Conference participation, the GARI Working Group (300+ investors), and the FASTR roundtable convened with the UK Cabinet Office and Willis Towers Watson.
The Lightsmith Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Lightsmith Group
- Legal name
- The Lightsmith Group
- Website
- https://lightsmithgp.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Lightsmith Group is a New York-based growth equity firm founded in 2017 that invests in climate adaptation and resilience companies, managing an inaugural $186M fund (CRAFT) focused on supply chain and infrastructure resilience, with institutional LPs led by the Green Climate Fund.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Lightsmith Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Resilience Private Equity
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Energy & Sustainability / Climate Growth Equity (FSANACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK), Carbon Finance & Investment Advisory (Project Finance, Funds, SPVs) (EUABADAD), Sustainability, ESG & Climate Risk Advisory (BPAHAJAH), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA)
Keywords
Where The Lightsmith Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Lightsmith Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Fund Management - Management Fees: Lightsmith Climate Resilience Partners SCSp RAIF is a private equity fund. Standard private equity model with management fees on committed capital during investment period and carried interest on investment returns above preferred return.
- Fund Management - Carried Interest: Performance-based carried interest from successful exits of portfolio companies in the Climate Resilience Partners fund, typically 20% of profits above an 8% preferred return hurdle.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Institutional Investment in Climate Resilience Fund |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Lightsmith Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Lightsmith Group is a private equity investment firm that invests growth-stage capital in companies providing solutions for climate adaptation and resilience. It manages dedicated climate resilience investment funds (notably the $186 million Lightsmith Climate Resilience Partners / CRAFT fund) and the SCALE adaptation investment platform, deploying capital into Infrastructure & Energy Resilience and Supply Chain Resilience companies globally. The firm supplements capital with active board partnership, a Technical Assistance Facility, and proprietary impact frameworks.
Product overview
The Lightsmith Group operates as a growth equity investment firm rather than a software product company. Its core offerings consist of investment vehicles and advisory frameworks: CRAFT is the firm's flagship $186 million climate resilience and adaptation fund; SCALE is an integrated adaptation investment platform targeting 100+ startups; ASAP is an accelerator program supporting adaptation SMEs in emerging markets. These offerings are supported by proprietary frameworks including the CRISP investment methodology, an Impact Measurement System aligned with SDGs, an Environmental & Social Management System based on IFC standards, and a Technical Assistance Facility for deployment support in developing markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CRAFT (Climate Resilience and Adaptation Finance and Technology-transfer facility) / Lightsmith Climate Resilience Partners The firm's flagship growth-equity fund investing in growth-stage technology companies addressing climate change impacts across infrastructure, energy, supply chain, agriculture, water, and health sectors. Targets institutional investors including development finance institutions, foundations, and impact-oriented asset managers.
- SCALE (Systemic Capital for Adaptation Localization and Expansion) An integrated climate adaptation investment platform targeting over 100 startups in the climate adaptation space, with funding from GEF, DFC, USAID, and the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- ASAP (Adaptation SME Accelerator Project) Grant-funded initiative to build an ecosystem for SMEs in emerging markets providing climate adaptation technologies, products, and services. Includes a public SME Directory with over 100 companies and an Accelerator Partnership Program running climate accelerators in Africa, Asia, and Latin America with Village Capital.
- Technical Assistance Facility Grant-funded deployment support program addressing barriers to climate adaptation technology rollout in developing countries and emerging markets. Focuses on de-risking market entry and demonstrating business cases for A&R technologies, particularly in Lower Income Countries and SIDS.
Quantifiable outcome
- A&R market segments grew from $170 billion (2017) to $480 billion (2024), representing ~20% CAGR
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use The Lightsmith Group
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Lightsmith Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Lightsmith Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Conservation InternationalcoreConservation International is a key strategic partner supporting the SCALE program and the broader adaptation investment platform. Conservation International uses science, policy, and partnerships to protect nature that people rely on, founded in 1987 and working in more than 30 countries.
- Aga Khan Foundation KenyaminorPartnership with WayCool Foods and Aga Khan Foundation Kenya to implement Technical Assistance Facility project with goal to build climate resilience for 18,000 smallholder farmers.
- MSCI Sustainability InstitutecoreCo-developed the CRISP framework in partnership with MSCI Sustainability Institute, Bezos Earth Fund, ClimateWorks Foundation, and GARI for identifying and evaluating A&R companies.
- Bezos Earth FundcoreCo-developed the CRISP framework in partnership with MSCI Sustainability Institute, Bezos Earth Fund, ClimateWorks Foundation, and GARI.
- ClimateWorks FoundationcoreCo-developed the CRISP framework in partnership with MSCI Sustainability Institute, Bezos Earth Fund, ClimateWorks Foundation, and GARI.
- Global Adaptation & Resilience Investment (GARI) Working GroupcoreJay Koh is Founder & Chair of GARI, a group of over 300 private investors and stakeholders gathering to discuss climate adaptation investment impacts and risks. GARI is an official partner of the UN Secretary General's A2R Climate Resilience Initiative.
- Village CapitalcoreVillage Capital partners with Lightsmith to run the ASAP (Adaptation SME Accelerator Project) Climate Accelerator programs in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Village Capital has supported more than 1,400 early-stage entrepreneurs since 2009.
- Race to ResilienceminorGARI working group is a partner of the UN Race to Resilience initiative launched at COP26.
- COP26 Unit of the UK Cabinet OfficeminorCo-convened the FASTR (Finance for Adaptation Technologies & Solutions Roundtable) during London Climate Action Week 2020.
- Willis Towers WatsonminorCo-convened the FASTR roundtable. Willis Towers Watson co-conceptualized the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment (CCRI).
- Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment (CCRI)minorCCRI was conceptualized by Willis Towers Watson, World Economic Forum, Global Commission on Adaptation, and UK Government. CCRI has 50+ members working to integrate physical climate risks in investment decision-making.
- Macquarie's Green Investment GroupminorCo-convened the FASTR roundtable. Green Investment Group is a specialist in green infrastructure principal investment and project development.
- Global Commission on AdaptationminorCo-convened the FASTR roundtable. GCA advances bold actions to help communities and countries become more resilient to climate-related threats.
- World Resources InstituteminorCo-convened the FASTR roundtable. WRI is a global research organization with over 1,000 experts working on climate, energy, food, forests, water, cities, and ocean issues.
- Global Center on AdaptationminorCo-convened the FASTR roundtable. GCA works as a solutions broker to accelerate adaptation action in partnership with public and private sector.
- UN Development ProgrammeminorCo-convened the FASTR roundtable. UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations resilient to climate crisis.
- UN Environment Programme Finance InitiativeminorCo-convened the FASTR roundtable. UNEP FI is a partnership between UNEP and global financial sector to mobilize private sector finance for sustainable development.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Lightsmith Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Generate Capital: Generate Capital is a sustainable infrastructure investment firm providing debt and equity financing for climate and resilience projects. Like Lightsmith, it targets growth-stage companies in climate solutions, and serves as a direct comparable in the climate-focused growth equity space.
- Galvanize Climate Solutions: Galvanize Climate Solutions is a dedicated climate-focused investment firm (backed by the Bezos Earth Fund) that deploys capital across climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. Like Lightsmith, it is purpose-built for climate investing with proprietary frameworks and strong DFI/policy relationships.
- Pegasus Capital Advisors: Pegasus Capital Advisors is a sustainability-focused PE firm that served as the accredited entity for the Green Climate Fund's $46M commitment to Lightsmith's fund. It invests across climate solutions, sustainable agriculture, and natural resources, making it a directly comparable sustainability PE peer.
Broad incumbents
- TPG Rise Climate Fund: TPG Rise Climate is a multi-billion dollar climate-focused fund from major alternative asset manager TPG. It invests in climate solutions including adaptation and resilience, but as part of a broader portfolio spanning energy transition, mobility, and sustainable fuels, making it a broad incumbent rather than a focused peer.
- KKR Global Climate Strategy: KKR's Global Climate Strategy invests across climate solutions including adaptation, with billions in AUM and a multi-strategy approach. As a megafund incumbent entering climate adaptation, it competes for deals and LP capital but at fundamentally different scale than Lightsmith.
- Brookfield Climate Transition Investments: Brookfield Climate Transition Investments is part of Brookfield Asset Management's climate-focused platform, spanning infrastructure, renewables, and transition assets. It overlaps with Lightsmith in infrastructure & energy resilience but operates as part of a much broader alternatives platform.
- The Carlyle Group Climate Investments: Carlyle Group is a global alternative asset manager with growing climate exposure and where Lightsmith co-founder Jay Koh previously worked as a Principal. While Carlyle has far broader scope, its climate infrastructure and energy transition funds overlap with Lightsmith's adaptation thesis.
Emerging players
- Equilibrium Capital: Equilibrium Capital is a sustainable infrastructure and climate solutions investment firm with growth-stage funds targeting controlled environment agriculture, water, and climate resilience. It overlaps with Lightsmith in climate adaptation but focuses on a narrower infrastructure subset.
- Obvious Ventures: Obvious Ventures is a venture and growth-stage firm investing in world-positive companies across climate, health, and sustainability. It shares Lightsmith's climate adaptation exposure but operates primarily at earlier stages and with a venture-stage model.
- Prime Movers Lab: Prime Movers Lab invests in breakthrough scientific startups addressing climate, energy, and resilience. While earlier stage than Lightsmith, it shares focus on transformative adaptation and resilience technologies and represents an emerging player in the same capital stack.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Lightsmith Group social profiles
Digital presenceThe Lightsmith Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
The Lightsmith Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Lightsmith Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The Lightsmith Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Lightsmith Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments10 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Lightsmith Group
What does The Lightsmith Group do?
The Lightsmith Group is a private equity investment firm that invests growth-stage capital in companies providing solutions for climate adaptation and resilience. It manages dedicated climate resilience investment funds (notably the $186 million Lightsmith Climate Resilience Partners / CRAFT fund) and the SCALE adaptation investment platform, deploying capital into Infrastructure & Energy Resilience and Supply Chain Resilience companies globally. The firm supplements capital with active board partnership, a Technical Assistance Facility, and proprietary impact frameworks.
Is The Lightsmith Group a public or private company?
The Lightsmith Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Lightsmith Group founded?
The Lightsmith Group was founded in 2017. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Lightsmith Group based?
The Lightsmith Group is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Lightsmith Group make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Fund Management - Management Fees are the primary driver. The others are fund Management - Carried Interest.
Who are The Lightsmith Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Generate Capital, Galvanize Climate Solutions and Pegasus Capital Advisors. Broad incumbents are TPG Rise Climate Fund, KKR Global Climate Strategy, Brookfield Climate Transition Investments and The Carlyle Group Climate Investments. Emerging players are Equilibrium Capital, Obvious Ventures and Prime Movers Lab.
Does The Lightsmith Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Lightsmith Group.
What industry is The Lightsmith Group in?
The Lightsmith Group's product category is Climate Resilience Private Equity. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAG, Energy & Sustainability / Climate Growth Equity, with a secondary code of BPAHACAK, Sustainability & ESG Consulting. Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.