Green Frontier Capital, a US-based venture capital fund specializing in climate tech startups in India, is confident that these innovative companies will significantly enhance sustainability not only in India but globally. Encouraged by the potential of Indian climate tech startups, the firm plans to intensify its efforts in the country by establishing a dedicated fund of up to $100 million. Founded in 2021 by Sandiip Bhammer, a seasoned professional in financial services, with a background in investment banking and equity markets, Green Frontier has already invested in 11 startups in India. The firm focuses on sectors such as agritech, foodtech, electric vehicles, and sustainable lifestyle. Some of the startups in its portfolio include BluSmart Mobility, Battery Smart Swap Station, ElectricPe (a charging aggregator), Chupps (a vegan footwear brand), Zero Cow Factory (a bioengineered milk producer), and Nutrifresh (an agritech startup).
Typically, Green Frontier invests at the early stage–seed and Series A–through three routes: direct investments, partnerships, and investment
Now it is looking to create a dedicated fund at a size of $100 million and has applied for a licence for the same.
Factors Involved
According to Bhammer, given the size of the Indian economy, the country is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gas after China and the United States.
“The country (India) is a significant contributor to, as well as a vulnerable recipient of, the adverse impact of climate change,” he remarks.
“Combating climate change is not merely a trend but an urgent necessity,” says Green Frontier’s founder,
adding that the world cannot achieve its net-zero targets unless India and China are part of the narrative.
And this is where Indian climate tech startups will play a big role–not just in India but across the globe as well, he says.
The rapid pace of urbanisation in the country has put sustainable practices under the spotlight,
especially in the areas of water conservation and combating pollution.
Climate change also has an effect on agriculture, and this also calls for resilient farming techniques.
Bhammer believes there is increased awareness and commitment towards sustainabilityespecially among the younger generation,
and this in turn could drive more businesses to adopt sustainable practices.
