Climate Collective
Climate Collective is a 2021-founded US nonprofit that runs non-dilutive accelerator programs, an AI literacy training course, and flagship convenings to back AI-driven climate and nature-tech founders, nonprofits, and civic leaders across 25+ countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2021
- Headquarters—
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Climate Collective does
Climate Collective is a US-registered nonprofit organization founded in 2021 that operates at the intersection of artificial intelligence, climate technology, and nature protection. Its core function is to connect early-stage AI-for-climate founders, nonprofit and civic-society organizations, and global sustainability leaders through four accelerator programs (AI x Climate, AI x Nature, AI x Green CIVIC Tech, and Green Accountability), an online AI Literacy for Earth training course, and convenings including the AI Explorers Summit and invitation-only roundtables held during New York and London Climate Weeks. The organization provides non-dilutive catalytic grants (typically $20,000-$50,000 per team), mentorship, and investor-readiness support to grantees, and has deployed more than $4 million across 80+ projects in 25 countries since founding, with reported downstream effects of $185 million in follow-on venture funding and $10 million in additional philanthropic investment.
The organization does not develop proprietary AI technology itself; instead, it curates and accelerates AI-native climate and nature ventures and builds AI fluency among mission-driven nonprofits. Its programmatic technology stack centers on virtual accelerator infrastructure, cohort-based mentorship, published market-mapping and framework reports (Nature Tech integration guides, carbon credit quality frameworks, voluntary carbon market landscape), and convening platforms co-hosted with institutional partners such as Conservation International, UNDP, TechChange, the World Bank's Global Partnership for Social Accountability, CIVIC, Wellcome Trust, and KPMG.
Climate Collective is funded primarily through philanthropic grants and event sponsorship (Klarna, Milkywire), with grant-making and convening activity as the principal output rather than commercial revenue. Its go-to-market is community-led: it recruits global cohorts via open applications, partners with multilateral institutions for distribution and co-funding, and selects small cohorts (typically 3-9 teams per program) to maximize per-team support. The 2025 AI x Climate cohort attracted nearly 400 applications for 9 slots, and the organization has launched parallel tracks for nature (2025), civic-tech/grassroots organizations (2024), and climate-finance accountability (jointly with the World Bank), signaling a deliberate platform expansion beyond a single accelerator brand.
Climate Collective firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Climate Collective
- Legal name
- Climate Collective
- Website
- https://climatecollective.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2021
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Climate Collective is a 2021-founded US nonprofit that runs non-dilutive accelerator programs, an AI literacy training course, and flagship convenings to back AI-driven climate and nature-tech founders, nonprofits, and civic leaders across 25+ countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Climate Collective industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Tech Programs and Accelerators
- NAICS
- Environmental Consulting Services (54162)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation (BPAGAGAF), Climate Policy, Governance & NDC Support (BPADALAA), Climate & Emissions Data Management (Data Lake, Integration, APIs) (EUABAEAC)
Keywords
Climate Collective business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Grant funding and philanthropy: Climate Collective operates as a nonprofit organization. In their first two years, they provided over $4 million in catalytic grants to more than 80 projects across 25 countries. They receive support from sponsors and partners for their accelerator programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Green Accountability Accelerator Grant |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
Climate Collective product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Climate Collective operates accelerator programs (AI x Climate, AI x Nature, AI x Green CIVIC Tech, Green Accountability), the AI Literacy for Earth training program, and convening events (AI Explorers Summit and roundtables). It provides non-dilutive catalytic grants, mentorship, and global network connections to early-stage founders and nonprofits applying AI and digital tools to climate and nature challenges. The organization also publishes research reports on nature tech, carbon markets, and climate finance transparency.
Product overview
Climate Collective is an independent nonprofit organization founded in 2021 that connects innovators, nonprofits, and global leaders to turn technology into lasting climate and nature impact. The organization operates a multi-product portfolio consisting of accelerator programs (AI x Nature Accelerator, AI x Climate Accelerator, AI x Green CIVIC Tech Accelerator, and Green Accountability Accelerator), training programs (AI Literacy for Earth), convening events (AI Explorers Summit and Roundtables), and published research reports covering nature tech integration, carbon markets, and climate finance transparency. The accelerators provide catalytic grants, mentorship, and global connections to underrepresented founders applying AI to climate and nature challenges, while the AI Literacy program builds capacity among nonprofits and civic leaders to use AI responsibly.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- AI x Climate Accelerator 12-week accelerator guided by the AI x Climate Opportunity Grid that backs entrepreneurs using AI to scale practical climate solutions from optimizing solar energy deployment to forecasting flood risks. Provides catalytic grants, tailored mentorship, and investor preparation to AI-driven climate startups globally.
- AI x Nature Accelerator Accelerator providing catalytic funding, mentorship, and global connections for innovators advancing climate and nature solutions using AI. Helps refine business models, get teams investor-ready, and connect them with catalytic partners.
- AI x Green CIVIC Tech Accelerator Partnership accelerator with CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation Alliance at the World Bank that equipped 20 grassroots organizations with AI tools to enhance civic participation and bottom-up innovation in climate and nature work.
- Green Accountability Accelerator
Quantifiable outcome
- 80+ projects supported across 25 countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Climate Collective
Customer profileNamed customers11 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Climate Collective technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability8 records
Climate Collective partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Conservation InternationalcoreCo-host of the AI Explorers Summit (flagship annual convening), bringing together nonprofits, tech leaders, policymakers, and funders to set priorities and shape commitments on responsible AI for climate and nature.
- UNDPcoreCo-host of the AI Explorers Summit alongside Conservation International and TechChange. Partnership focuses on setting priorities and shaping commitments on responsible AI.
- TechChangecoreCo-host of the AI Explorers Summit, contributing technical expertise to the convening of 100 leaders during New York Climate Week.
- CIVIC: The Civil Society and Social Innovation AlliancecoreLong-term partner in pioneering the AI Literacy for Earth online training program. Climate Collective and CIVIC, along with the World Bank's global financing facility for CSOs, structured the program around global cohorts of change makers and sustainability leaders.
- World Bank Global Partnership for Social Accountability (GPSA)coreJoint partnership to leverage innovative green technology solutions for citizen engagement, transparency, and accountability in climate finance. Together they run the Green Accountability Technology Accelerator with grant funding of $20k-$50k per team.
- Wellcome TrustsupportingCo-host of London Climate Action Week Roundtable, a closed-door session with ~30 leaders exploring AI's footprint, adoption barriers, and pathways for responsible use.
- Exponential Roadmap InitiativesupportingCo-host of London Climate Action Week Roundtable alongside Wellcome Trust.
- Nature4ClimatesupportingPartner in building the nature tech sector as a core pillar of corporate sustainability, as referenced in the Integrating Nature Tech guide.
- KPMGsupportingPartner in developing the Integrating Nature Tech guide for business, helping equip companies with digital tools and frameworks to measure and manage biodiversity and nature loss.
- SerenasupportingPartner in developing the Integrating Nature Tech guide for business alongside Climate Collective, Nature4Climate, and KPMG.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Climate Collective competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Greentown Labs: US-based cleantech incubator and startup hub that runs accelerator programs and provides lab space, mentorship, and community to climate-tech founders. Directly comparable to Climate Collective as a startup-supporting climate-tech community builder focused on early-stage founders.
- Elemental Excelerator: Nonprofit climate-tech accelerator based in Hawaii that provides catalytic funding, corporate introductions, and mentorship to startups deploying climate solutions. Closely matches Climate Collective's grant-plus-mentorship accelerator model and nonprofit structure.
- Climate-KIC: EU-based climate innovation community and accelerator network backed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Comparable as a large-scale climate innovation ecosystem orchestrator running accelerators, convenings, and capacity-building programs.
- Unreasonable: Impact-entrepreneur accelerator network that runs cohort-based programs, mentorship, and capital introductions for ventures tackling global challenges. Comparable cohort accelerator structure and mission-driven founder support.
Broad incumbents
- Echoing Green: Pioneering fellowship and seed-fund nonprofit for social entrepreneurs. Comparable business model (non-dilutive catalytic capital + cohort support + leadership network), though broader across social issues rather than climate-only.
- Skoll Foundation: Philanthropic foundation funding social entrepreneurs at scale, with a portfolio of climate and sustainability ventures. Comparable as a larger, well-established climate/social grantmaking funder with a convening role in the impact ecosystem.
- Acumen: Global nonprofit impact investor and accelerator that supports entrepreneurs tackling poverty with catalytic capital and leadership development. Comparable catalytic-funding-plus-mentorship model aimed at systemically underfunded founders, similar to Climate Collective's "underserved founders" thesis.
- Techstars Sustainability track / Techstars Accelerators: Global accelerator network with sustainability and climate programs providing mentorship and seed capital to startups. Comparable as a larger, established accelerator with climate-relevant programming that competes for the same founder pool.
Emerging players
- NatureVest (The Nature Conservancy): Impact-investing arm of The Nature Conservancy deploying catalytic capital into nature-based solutions and nature-tech startups. Comparable in deploying philanthropy to unlock private capital for nature/climate ventures, similar to Climate Collective's catalytic-grant model.
Others
- Conservation International Ventures: Venture arm of Conservation International that invests in nature-tech and climate-tech startups. Directly comparable in mission focus (nature/climate tech) and is also a co-host of Climate Collective's AI Explorers Summit, making it both a partner and adjacent ecosystem player.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Climate Collective social profiles
Digital presenceClimate Collective financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Climate Collective leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Climate Collective funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Climate Collective M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments4 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Climate Collective
What does Climate Collective do?
Climate Collective operates accelerator programs (AI x Climate, AI x Nature, AI x Green CIVIC Tech, Green Accountability), the AI Literacy for Earth training program, and convening events (AI Explorers Summit and roundtables). It provides non-dilutive catalytic grants, mentorship, and global network connections to early-stage founders and nonprofits applying AI and digital tools to climate and nature challenges. The organization also publishes research reports on nature tech, carbon markets, and climate finance transparency.
Is Climate Collective a public or private company?
Climate Collective is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Climate Collective founded?
Climate Collective was founded in 2021.
How does Climate Collective make money?
One revenue line is on record: grant funding and philanthropy.
Who are Climate Collective's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Greentown Labs, Elemental Excelerator, Climate-KIC and Unreasonable. Broad incumbents are Echoing Green, Skoll Foundation, Acumen and Techstars Sustainability track / Techstars Accelerators. NatureVest (The Nature Conservancy) is listed as an emerging player. Conservation International Ventures is listed as an others.
Does Climate Collective have an API?
No public API is recorded for Climate Collective.
What industry is Climate Collective in?
Climate Collective's product category is Climate Tech Programs and Accelerators. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAM, Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAGAF, Climate Change Mitigation & Adaptation. Its NAICS code is 54162.