Green Builders of Tomorrow

Is your start up helping to accelerate the Government's path to Net-Zero? Want to raise awareness of your start up across the UK and in the Middle East? If so, this competition is for you!

After hosting the Global Investment Summit and COP26, the Department for International Trade (DIT) is continuing to build on its commitment to help tackle climate change. DIT is partnering with Octopus Ventures, the venture capital arm of Octopus Investments, to launch a national competition for early-stage companies looking for venture capital investment.

This competition aims to identify and empower UK start-ups that support the Government's objectives to build back better, support green jobs, and accelerate the path to Net-Zero, propelling the UK to become a global leader in renewable energy, sustainability and agricultural technology. It is a journey of unprecedented proportions and one that Octopus Ventures is taking with us.

 

Our Green Builders of Tomorrow will receive:

• Access to The Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum - the premiere international gathering of government, industry, and thought leaders to set the energy agenda for the year. This year's Forum will focus on pathways to Net-Zero;
• Return flights and accommodation to the UAE, plus a 3-day investor facing programme of events;
• Promotion to a highly curated audience of international Venture Capitalists, Corporate Venture Capital investors, influencers, and wider tech ecosystems; and
• Promotion through wider DIT media channels, and our judges’ networks.

 

To be considered for the competition, entrants must match the criteria listed and complete a registration form, which can be found by following the link below. Once submitted, a member of DIT’s Venture Capital Unit will provide further details.

Start-ups will be supported throughout the application process, to ensure they have the best chance to succeed. 

 

Start-up criteria:

• A compelling investment proposition for non-UK investors
• UK headquarters and operations
• Seeking to raise over £2m in the next three quarters
• At least one active client or pilot
• Able to demonstrate market traction
• Actively contributing to the UK Government's ambition to achieve net zero
• Avaliablity to travel between 28-30 March 2022

 

Once submissions have been received, a joint UK-UAE panel of industry experts will review the cohort and name DIT’s Green Builders of Tomorrow. 

If you would like to be considered for this unique opportunity, please register by clicking on the button below by 25 February 2022.

 

Register

 

DIT's Venture Capital Unit

The Department for International Trade's Venture Capital Unit secures long-term relationships with global Corporate and Venture Capital investors, attracting investment into UK companies and engagement with the vibrant UK ecosystem.

We promote the UK’s world class investment ecosystem, present leading start-ups at our sector-specific showcase events, organise roundtables at our Embassies and introduce pre-screened companies to known investors via sector brochures and single deals.

In the past three years, the Venture Capital Unit has facilitated £3bn of VC investment into UK start-ups. In addition, we encourage and support investors to establish a physical presence in the UK.

Our experienced team works directly with over 200 Corporate VCs, over 100 VC funds globally, matching interest and ambition with UK opportunities. 

 

Octopus Ventures

Octopus Ventures is a collective of experts and individuals. Disparate world views and diverse skill sets, yet with a shared purpose; to invest in a world that we, and future generations, can be proud of.

Their belief is that you can build a better tomorrow by investing in it. Yet for Octopus Ventures, investment is multi-dimensional, and will always be about more than just money. It means giving time, energy and focus, committing to a cause; to a belief, to optimism.

With offices in London and New York and a network than spans from San Francisco to China, Octopus Ventures is one of Europe’s largest and most active venture capital investors.

Their specialist investment teams deploy more than £200 million ever year, from Seed to Series B, across five areas where they see the maximum potential for growth, innovation, and impact: health, fintech, deep tech, consumer and B2B software.

In total, Octopus Ventures backed over 140 teams, some of whom have gone on to join forces with the world’s largest businesses including Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Twitter.