Earth Venture Capital Named a Deep Tech VC Winner of the World Economic Forum’s Nature Returns Investor Challenge

Climate Tech Venture Capital Driving Nature-Positive Growth

Earth Venture Capital has been recognized as one of the winners of the World Economic Forum’s prestigious Nature Returns Investor Challenge, an initiative run in partnership with UpLink and Mercuria. The challenge celebrates early-stage investors reimagining how capital is deployed toward nature-positive innovation, climate resilience, and sustainable growth.

Only $2.3 billion has flowed into sustainability startups in the first half of 2025 — a staggering two-thirds drop from the same period last year. Yet, according to the World Economic Forum, a nature-positive economy could unlock over $10 trillion in new business opportunities every year by 2030, with water security investments alone projected to surpass $13 trillion in the next decade.

For Earth Venture Capital, this recognition highlights a shared belief: climate solutions need more than good intentions, they need serious capital deployment.

How Earth Venture Capital Leads as a Deep Tech VC for Climate and Nature

As a climate deep tech venture capital firm, Earth VC focuses on deep tech startups that build scalable solutions in carbon management, sustainable manufacturing, and clean energy systems. The firm invests at the early stage, bridging the funding gap between scientific innovation and market adoption.

Through this new partnership with UpLink and the World Economic Forum, Earth VC joins a global network of forward-thinking investors — including Cool Climate Collective, Mana Impact, and Wellers Impact — all driving financial innovation across nature, food, and water systems.

This recognition positions Earth VC as one of only eight winners globally, selected from 46 submissions, for its commitment to deploying capital that balances returns, risk reduction, and regenerative impact.

Earth VC’s Role in Accelerating the Nature-Positive Transition

As part of the UpLink Investor Cohort, Earth VC gains access to a global platform of change makers, with opportunities to:

• Collaborate with other leading climate investors through co-investments and knowledge-sharing.

• Connect with nature-tech innovators through the World Economic Forum’s Centre for Nature and Climate.

• Shape global discourse on financing models that de-risk and scale nature-based solutions.

This recognition reinforces Earth VC’s mission to support technologies that decarbonize industries, enhance biodiversity, and enable sustainable resource use — from carbon capture to bio-based materials and precision agriculture.

A Collective Effort for Systemic Change

The Nature Returns Challenge is part of a multi-year effort by the World Economic Forum and Mercuria to “rewire economies for a nature-positive future.” It aligns with the broader Sustainable Development Impact Meetings (SDIM25) and Climate Week NYC, where leaders and investors gathered to redefine the relationship between finance, nature, and local communities.

By joining forces with UpLink’s global innovation ecosystem, Earth VC is contributing to this shared vision — turning nature-positive ambition into measurable climate impact.

“We see this as more than an award,” said Tien. “It’s a call to action for venture capital to play a leading role in financing Earth’s regeneration.”

About Earth Venture Capital

Earth Venture Capital is a climate deep tech VC fund investing in deep tech startups that accelerate the transition toward a net-zero and nature-positive world. With a portfolio spanning Asia, Europe, and North America, Earth VC backs high-growth startups that develop scalable solutions in carbon removal, green manufacturing, and sustainable agriculture.

The firm operates with a dual mission: delivering strong financial returns while enabling measurable climate and environmental impact.

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