The start-ups accelerating net zero

Over the last five years, we’ve seen a significant ramp up in clean energy technologies that align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and that will help individual countries develop net zero policies and achieve emissions reduction targets. This is only set to increase following COP26 which took place in Glasgow in November, the outcome of which is a clear commitment to ending fossil fuel subsidies, phasing down unabated coal, putting a price on carbon, and delivering the $100 billion climate finance commitment. The Glasgow Climate Pact will hold countries to account, with the expectation that 197 of them will report on the progress they make at COP27 next year in Egypt.

James Dyson used all his savings and developed 5126 prototypes over 15 years before he developed a bagless vacuum cleaner demonstrator that worked. Lawrence Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, struggled to make the business a success initially, mortgaging his house to keep the firm afloat before it became one of the most successful technology companies in the world.

Start-ups worth backing have a strong and novel technology, a compelling business proposition and the right team. But being a start-up founder isn’t without risk and sacrifice.

Read more from Mark Anderson, TechX Director in this month’s Sunday Times Scotland, FutureScot magazine: https://futurescot.com/tech-startups-accelerating-net-zero/