New to Amazon’s Sustainability Accelerator programme for 2024, The ClimateTech Pilot Challenge supports 15 start-ups innovating sustainable technology.
Amazon is on a mission to seek out and support the best up-and-coming businesses driving sustainability innovation.
Back for its third year, The Amazon Sustainability Accelerator is a four-week programme designed for start-ups across Europe. In 2022, the focus was on consumer products, and in 2023, a second cohort—recycling tech—joined the initiative.
In 2024, a new initiative is being trialled alongside the consumer products cohort—The ClimateTech Pilot Challenge.
“We love finding the ways major companies can work with leading start-ups creating the future,” says Ezra Konvitz, Director & Head of Accelerators at Founders Intelligence.
“The incredible start-ups and technologies that are part of the Pilot Challenge cohort give cause for hope—if we can help them find the best ways to work with Amazon’s scale, we’ll achieve a game-changing impact.”
Start-ups chosen from the hundreds of applications can expect to engage with Amazon’s Sustainability, Climate Pledge Fund, and Climate Pledge Friendly teams, attend workshops, receive mentorship, and get £10,000 worth of AWS Activate Credits.
This year’s expanded Amazon Sustainability Accelerator is a partnership with EIT Climate-KIC, Europe’s leading climate innovation agency, and innovation strategy consultants Founders Intelligence, part of Accenture.
The ClimateTech Pilot Challenge
The 15 selected start-ups in the new climate technology-specific start-up programme will gain access to expert-led workshops, specialised mentorship, a tailored curriculum, and a network of entrepreneurs in the sustainability sector.
New to the programme is the opportunity to pitch to Amazon, with the goal of trialing in Amazon’s European operations. Three of the start-ups will be selected for the additional programme, with potential investments ranging from £50,000 to £2m (US$63,560 to US$2.5m).
Zak Watts, Amazon’s International Director of Sustainability:
“I’m so excited to welcome 15 ambitious start-ups to join the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator this year, including our first-ever Climate Tech Pilot,” said Zak Watts.
“The scope of businesses involved means we can support even more entrepreneurs to reach their potential. Not to mention the one-of-a-kind opportunity to test their technology directly with parts of Amazon’s business. It is our mission for the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator to be the best programme of its kind in the world for entrepreneurs to pioneer and scale cutting-edge sustainable solutions.”
The 15 Start-Ups Selected for the Amazon Sustainability Accelerator Climate Tech Pilot Challenge
Circular Economy:
- ACS Clothing: Europe’s largest circular fulfilment fashion hub for brands and retailers, and winners of the Kings Award for Excellence in Sustainable Development (2023).
- Breathe Batteries: Specialists in increasing electric vehicle and consumer electronics battery charging speed and life expectancy. Volvo Cars recently invested in Breathe to cut charging time for its next generation of electric vehicles by 30%.
- Spareka: All-in-one home repair specialists sourcing spare parts for home appliances and providing on-demand specialist support for repairs.
- Circu Li-Ion: Brings urban mining to life through an automated upcycling platform for end-of-life batteries.
- Twaice: Tools that analyse and forecast the lifecycle, faults, and safety risks of battery systems, with customers including Audi and Daimler (Mercedes-Benz).
Energy in Buildings:
- Cheesecake Energy: Pioneering green energy storage technology, turning renewable sources like solar and wind into reliable on-demand power.
- Phaidra: AI virtual operator for industrial applications, optimizing local control systems to reduce energy consumption.
- Unbound Potential: New battery technology for long-duration energy storage, providing efficient and sustainable renewable energy storage solutions.
- Raicoon: AI-powered software that optimizes solar farm operations, increasing power output and reducing operational costs.
- HT Materials Science: Innovative heat transfer fluids for heating and cooling systems that save costs and reduce energy consumption.
Packaging:
- Hipli: E-commerce packaging provider offering reusable bags that can be sent back for cleaning and reuse.
- RePack: Enables retailers to ship products in returnable bags that can be sent back from any postbox.
- Re-Zip: Reusable packaging with customer rewards for returning, such as vouchers.
- Opopop: Reusable packaging made from surplus waterproof textile materials.
- KIUD: Durable packaging made from 100% textile fibres, reducing water consumption, CO2, and land use compared to cardboard.