ImpactAlpha

Batteries are a vital commodity powering everything from electric vehicles to drones and satellites. But as anyone with a smartphone knows, batteries have a limited life and degrade over time. London-based Gaussion spun out of the University College London in 2022 to advance its magnetic technology that makes lithium batteries charge faster while prolonging their useful life. Gaussion raised £21 million ($28 million) in a round led by UK-based investors AlbionVC and BGF.

Swedish industrial conglomerate SKF Group launched SKF Ventures late last year to back early and growth-stage companies in industrial innovation, manufacturing optimization and sustainability. It aims to build a pipeline of future business opportunities from the outside in.

Greetings Agents of Impact! In today’s Brief: Feeling the heat at London’s climate week The climate opportunity in ‘growth markets’ Propelling Africa’s deeptech startups past proof of concept Drone-based reforestation in Latin America Extreme heat at London Climate Action Week kicks off a scramble to adapt. London Climate Action Week opened with what the British call a “marmalade dropper.” Things got even stickier from there.

The old model for global health – whether you loved it, hated it, or both – is over. Full stop. As foreign aid budgets contract, a heated debate is underway about what the new model should look like. Already a few points are clear: Donors will no longer call the shots. Countries will be in the driver’s seat, spending their own resources and setting their own priorities. And a new approach is needed for financing, as quickly as possible. As the dust settles, two seeming contradictions have emerged.

Argentine climatetech startup ReForest Latam, which uses drones to restore degraded ecosystems, has snagged an investment from Mercy Corps Ventures, the impact investing arm of global development organization Mercy Corps. Based in Buenos Aires, ReForest creates biodegradable seed capsules containing native seeds, microorganisms, and biostimulants that are dispersed by drone in hard-to-reach landscapes.

Tunisia-based Open Startup launched a decade ago as an entrepreneurship competition for university students. It has evolved into an accelerator for African deep tech startups. The accelerator is launching Openers First, its first special purpose vehicle, which aims to raise $3 million to support startups in health, climate, artificial intelligence, blue tech, agtech, energy and insurance, and get past the proof of concept stage.

Last week confirmed what we already knew: there is no shortage of solutions to avert the worst of climate change. As I set out on my first London Climate Action Week kicking off on the summer solstice, I did not plan for events about extreme heat to be cancelled…due to extreme heat. London’s transport systems struggled. Schools had to close.

KKR & Co. Inc., headquartered in New York City, is a leading global investment firm that offers a variety of financial services, including alternative asset management, capital markets, and insurance solutions. Founded in 1976 by Henry Kravis and George R. Roberts, KKR manages investment funds focusing on private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate, credit, and venture capital.

The Clean Energy Group (CGC) is a nonprofit investment firm focused on financing and originating projects related to clean energy, water, and resilient infrastructure. CGC collaborates with both public and private sectors to close financing gaps and mobilize private capital into projects that yield substantial economic and environmental impact.

Phenix Capital Group is a leading impact investment consultancy based in Amsterdam. Founded with a vision to harness the power of institutional capital for social good, the company aims to end poverty, protect the environment, and ensure prosperity for all. Phenix Capital supports institutional investors, asset owners, and fund managers in creating a significant impact with their capital through annual global conferences and convenings.