NextSTEP is the only venture capital fund in Italy fully committed to clean tech investments at both pre-seed and seed stages, focusing on reducing ecological footprints through efficient use of natural resources, cutting emissions and minimising waste. The fund is now investing in the growing clean tech sector, which is rapidly attracting attention and investments across Europe.
In 2024, NextSTEP closed the first five major investments in UK-based startups, totaling £490,000, and plans to invest more in the following months. In particular, NextSTEP focuses on innovative ventures emerging from startup incubators, accelerators, universities, and research centres, supporting talents and the enterprising spirit of students and young innovators.
NextSTEP's top five cleantech investments over the last 18 months include:
The First Element - a pioneer British startup for clean energy solutions, developing Smart Tank technology which enables the safe and scalable generation of green hydrogen.
Nina Energy - a British-Ecuadorian startup that transforms agricultural waste into solid biofuels and biochar, offering sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, delivering diverse secondary products like biochar, torrefied biofuels, and liquid products, enriching soil, reducing CO2 emissions, and providing sustainable energy solutions for various sectors.
ClearWatt - easy-to-use app, enhanced by a proprietary ML-powered algorithm (patent pending) that accurately measures and certifies EV range and battery health. ClearWatt’s unique GPS-based approach eliminates third-party data limitations and enables OEM and telematics-agnostic deployment, ensuring maximum coverage and rapid scaling. ClearWatt EV Health Reports provide detailed advanced performance metrics, fostering trust between buyers and sellers throughout the entire sales process.
Algapelago - pioneering the development of sustainable seaweed-based products aimed at revolutionising regenerative agriculture and beyond.
Pulpatronics – transforming RFID technology with metal-free and chipless tags designed to protect natural resources, eliminating the need for metal components, simplifying manufacturing, reducing costs and cutting CO2 emissions significantly, saving 2,400 kg of CO2 for every million tags produced.
“We are immensely proud of the milestones achieved in 2024” said Claudio Colombo, Managing Director of NextSTEP. “Our commitment to identifying and supporting emerging initiatives that contribute to a better planet not only fosters their growth but also reinforces our dedication to a sustainable and innovative future. As we look ahead, our vision remains clear: to expand our efforts in discovering and investing in UK-based startups and projects that drive meaningful and lasting change. This is just the beginning—we are determined to deepen our investments and build even stronger, impactful connections between Italy and the UK.”
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