Tailwind
Tailwind Futures is a Berkeley-based strategic venture fund that invests at the seed stage in B2B climate resilience technologies — spanning construction, industrial, and infrastructure tech — serving large corporations seeking to protect buildings, supply chains, and workforces from climate and geopolitical disruption.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersBerkeley, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Tailwind does
Tailwind Futures is a Berkeley-based strategic venture capital firm founded in 2023 by Emilie Mazzacurati that invests at the seed stage in B2B climate resilience technologies for corporations. The firm targets startups across construction tech, industrial tech, and infrastructure tech — spanning software, hardware, advanced materials, and infrastructure solutions — that help large enterprises futureproof buildings, infrastructure, supply chains, and workforce health against extreme weather, natural disasters, and geopolitical disruption. Its portfolio of six companies (Allium, Class 3 Technologies, Cryogenx, DexMat, FieldFactors, Hohonu) reflects this thesis across water reuse, advanced materials, climate risk modeling, and infrastructure monitoring.
The firm's primary revenue model is venture capital returns through equity appreciation and exits from seed-stage portfolio companies, supplemented indirectly by thought-leadership-driven deal flow. Rather than building proprietary technology products, Tailwind Futures has developed proprietary research frameworks — most notably the Adaptation & Resilience Taxonomy (8 themes, 35 sectors, 400+ examples) and the Adaptation & Resilience Innovation Playbook — co-developed with partners including Vibrant Data Labs, MaRS Discovery District, and Climate Resilience for All. These publications, along with the Adaptation Finance Primer and the Canadian Adaptation Innovation Playbook, function as content-led GTM assets that build category authority and inbound deal flow.
Tailwind operates from offices in Berkeley, New York, and Houston with a nine-person team led by Founding Partner Emilie Mazzacurati (ex-founder/CEO of Four Twenty Seven, acquired by Moody's in 2019), Managing Partner Arindam Bhattacharya (30+ years at SLB, most recently Managing Director of SLB Ventures), and Co-Founder & Venture Partner Katie MacDonald (ex-NYSERDA Director of Tech to Market). The firm positions itself as the only pure-play strategic venture fund dedicated to B2B climate resilience, leveraging an extensive network of corporate partners and deep operating experience across energy, infrastructure, and climate finance.
Tailwind firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tailwind
- Legal name
- Tailwind Futures
- Website
- https://tailwindfutures.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Tailwind Futures is a Berkeley-based strategic venture fund that invests at the seed stage in B2B climate resilience technologies — spanning construction, industrial, and infrastructure tech — serving large corporations seeking to protect buildings, supply chains, and workforces from climate and geopolitical disruption.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tailwind industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Climate Venture Capital
- akta.pro primary industry
- Climate Finance Strategy (CapEx planning, green finance, incentives & grants) (EUABAKAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Financial Climate Stress Testing & Portfolio Analytics (Banks, Asset Managers, Insurers) (EUABALAE), Climate Hazard & Catastrophe Modeling (Flood, Wind, Wildfire, Heat, Sea-Level Rise) (EUABALAA)
Keywords
Where Tailwind is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Berkeley
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Tailwind business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Returns: Tailwind Futures generates returns through equity investments in early-stage climate resilience startups. As a strategic investment firm focused on B2B climate resilience, it earns returns through portfolio company exits including acquisitions and IPOs.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
Tailwind product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tailwind Futures is a strategic venture capital firm that invests seed-stage capital in B2B climate resilience startups spanning construction tech, industrial tech, and infrastructure tech. The firm also develops and publishes proprietary research frameworks, taxonomies, and playbooks that map the climate adaptation and resilience investment landscape for investors, corporations, and policymakers.
Product overview
Tailwind Futures is a strategic investment firm focused on resilience technologies rather than a product company. The firm's primary offerings are research publications and frameworks for the climate adaptation investment ecosystem. Key products include the Adaptation & Resilience Innovation Playbook (a market overview mapping supply, demand, and capital trends), the Adaptation & Resilience Taxonomy (a classification framework with 8 themes and 35 sectors), the Canadian Adaptation Innovation Playbook (focused on Canada's adaptech sector), and the Adaptation Finance Primer (covering financing mechanisms for adaptation projects). The firm also publishes ongoing insights, blog posts, and reports covering market trends, resilience technologies, and investment analysis. These research products serve investors, entrepreneurs, corporations, and policymakers interested in climate adaptation and resilience.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adaptation & Resilience Innovation Playbook
Quantifiable outcome
- Adaptation and resilience demand exceeds $1.4 trillion annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Tailwind
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Tailwind technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Tailwind partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- MaRS Discovery DistrictcoreMaRS Discovery District co-developed the Canadian Adaptation Innovation Playbook with Tailwind Futures, establishing a baseline for Canada's emerging adaptech sector. The report maps public and private demand alongside startup activity and capital stack.
- Vibrant Data LabscoreVibrant Data Labs partnered with Tailwind Futures to develop the Adaptation & Resilience Innovation Playbook, providing the first-of-its-kind detailed analysis of startup activity and funding trends for adaptation startups.
- Climate Resilience for AllcoreClimate Resilience for All co-developed the Adaptation Finance Primer with Tailwind Futures, presenting potential sources of financing for climate adaptation and resilience projects with funding from the ClimateWorks Foundation.
- ClimateWorks FoundationsupportingThe ClimateWorks Foundation provided funding and support for the development of the Adaptation Finance Primer, co-developed with Climate Resilience for All and Tailwind Futures.
- Autodesk FoundationsupportingAutodesk Foundation provided funding and support for the development of the Adaptation & Resilience Taxonomy.
- Breakthrough Energy FellowssupportingBreakthrough Energy Fellows provided funding and support for the development of the Adaptation & Resilience Taxonomy.
- BattellesupportingBattelle provided funding and support for the development of the Adaptation & Resilience Taxonomy.
- Lyda Hill PhilanthropiessupportingLyda Hill Philanthropies provided funding and support for the development of the Adaptation & Resilience Taxonomy.
- Shockwave FoundationsupportingShockwave Foundation provided funding and support for the development of the Adaptation & Resilience Taxonomy.
- C2ES (Center for Climate and Energy Solutions)supportingC2ES provided peer review and support for the development of the Adaptation & Resilience Taxonomy.
- Fors MarshsupportingFors Marsh provided peer review and support for the development of the Adaptation & Resilience Taxonomy.
- ArupsupportingArup co-hosted the Built to Last: Resilience Tech and the Future of Commercial Real Estate event during SF Climate Week alongside Tailwind Futures, Class 3 Technologies, and Morrison Foerster.
- Morrison Foerster LLPsupportingMorrison Foerster co-hosted the Built to Last: Resilience Tech and the Future of Commercial Real Estate event during SF Climate Week alongside Tailwind Futures, Arup, and Class 3 Technologies.
- Foley HoagsupportingFoley Hoag hosted a Scaling Resilience: Building and Funding Adaptation Technology webinar with Tailwind Futures and other panelists including Lori Collins (GARI Group) and Jamil Wyne (Hazelwood Network).
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tailwind competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- CleanTech Open: Long-running cleantech accelerator and deal-sourcing network. Functions as a feeder ecosystem that overlaps with Tailwind's seed-stage sourcing funnel for climate and resilience founders.
- Greentown Labs: Largest climate tech startup incubator in North America. Katie MacDonald previously led partnerships there; it serves as a deal-sourcing and ecosystem node adjacent to Tailwind's portfolio funnel.
Direct peers
- Congruent Ventures: Early-stage climate tech and sustainable infrastructure venture firm. Comparable in stage (seed/Series A), sector focus on climate and resilience, and corporate partnership-driven deal sourcing approach.
- The Lightsmith Group: Climate adaptation and resilience-focused private equity/VC firm. Directly comparable to Tailwind in mandate (climate resilience investing), stage (growth/early growth), and LP base (development finance institutions and corporate strategics).
- Lowercarbon Capital: Climate-focused venture fund investing across decarbonization, carbon removal, and climate resilience. Closely comparable in early-stage climate mandate, content/thought-leadership orientation, and LP engagement model.
- Clean Energy Ventures: Seed-stage climate tech VC investing in decarbonization and climate resilience. Closely comparable stage, check size, and corporate partner co-investment model.
Regional players
- MaRS Discovery District: Canadian innovation hub that co-developed Tailwind's Canadian Adaptation Innovation Playbook. Functions as an ecosystem partner and regional deal source in Canada's emerging adaptech sector.
Broad incumbents
- Breakthrough Energy Ventures: Bill Gates-backed, multi-billion-dollar climate tech VC investing across decarbonization and resilience. Indirect competitor for resilience deals; massively larger scale and brand than Tailwind.
- Prelude Ventures: Long-established, multi-stage climate and sustainability venture firm with broader sector mandate. Comparable in climate-tech investing orientation but larger AUM and longer track record than Tailwind.
Emerging players
- Prime Movers Lab: Early-stage venture fund backing breakthrough science including climate adaptation, advanced materials, and resilient infrastructure. Overlaps with Tailwind on seed-stage resilience and advanced-materials thesis.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Tailwind social profiles
Digital presenceTailwind financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tailwind leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Tailwind funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tailwind 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 Tailwind
What does Tailwind do?
Tailwind Futures is a strategic venture capital firm that invests seed-stage capital in B2B climate resilience startups spanning construction tech, industrial tech, and infrastructure tech. The firm also develops and publishes proprietary research frameworks, taxonomies, and playbooks that map the climate adaptation and resilience investment landscape for investors, corporations, and policymakers.
Is Tailwind a public or private company?
Tailwind is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Tailwind founded?
Tailwind was founded in 2023. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Tailwind based?
Tailwind is headquartered in Berkeley, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tailwind make money?
One revenue line is on record: venture Capital Returns.
Who are Tailwind's main competitors?
Others on record are CleanTech Open and Greentown Labs. Direct peers are Congruent Ventures, The Lightsmith Group, Lowercarbon Capital and Clean Energy Ventures. MaRS Discovery District is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Breakthrough Energy Ventures and Prelude Ventures. Prime Movers Lab is listed as an emerging player.
Does Tailwind have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tailwind.
What industry is Tailwind in?
Tailwind's product category is Climate Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUABAKAG, Climate Finance Strategy (CapEx planning, green finance, incentives & grants), with a secondary code of EUABALAE, Financial Climate Stress Testing & Portfolio Analytics (Banks, Asset Managers, Insurers).