Evergreen Climate Innovations
Model & Strategy
Evergreen Climate Innovations (formerly Clean Energy Trust) provides catalytic capital and support to early-stage startups in the Mid-Continent region of the United States working on solutions for clean energy, decarbonization, and environmental sustainability. Evergreen Climate Innovations believes in the power of entrepreneurship and innovation to conserve natural resources, protect the environment, and combat climate change. Moreover, entrepreneurship and innovation create jobs and stimulate economic development in underserved regions of the Mid-Continent region. To date, Evergreen Climate Innovations has invested in 31 portfolio companies.
Erik Birkerts has over 25 years of operational and general management experience, including project financing and strategy development for energy efficiency and clean technology companies. Erik currently serves on the board of Milbank Manufacturing, acts as a senior advisor to Metrus Energy, and serves as a board observer for multiple Evergreen Climate Innovations portfolio companies. He also serves as a Mentor for the Obama Foundation Scholars program and as an Executive Mentor for the Baumhart Scholars MBA program at Chicago’s Loyola University. He earned an MBA at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a BA with honors in Economics and International Relations from Tufts University.
IMPACT
Evergreen Climate Innovations has invested $5.3 million in 31 companies from the Midwest and has helped to create over 550 jobs since its inception in 2010.
Evergreen Climate Innovations provides catalytic capital to address Midwest capital scarcity and support to early-stage startups working on solutions for clean energy, decarbonization, and environmental sustainability. Evergreen Climate Innovations’ portfolio companies have raised $26 of additional investment for every $1 of Evergreen Climate Innovations investment.
More than half (55%) of Evergreen Climate Innovations’ portfolio companies have female or minority founders. The vast majority (68%) of Evergreen Climate Innovations’ portfolio companies are generating revenues, with 29% recognizing greater than $1 million in annual sales; Evergreen Climate Innovations has profitably exited four investments and reinvests the proceeds into new startups.
Evergreen Climate Innovations News
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DRK Foundation Advocating for Latino CommunityIn honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, DRK Managing Director Michelle De La Isla was recently featured on NBC and Telemundo to share how our portfolio…Sep 2022 -
Clean Energy Trust Elects GE and ARPA-E Alumnae to Board of DirectorsClean Energy Trust provides catalytic capital and support to early-stage startups in the Mid-Continent region of the United States working on solutions for clean energy,…Feb 2020 -
Clean Energy Trust Welcomes 4 New Portfolio Companies at 2019 Co_Invest CleantechClick here to read the full article.May 2019 -
Q&A: Clean Energy Trust’s New Leader ‘Extremely Optimistic’ About Midwest EnergyRecently, Clean Energy Trust announced that executive vice president Erik Birkerts would take over as CEO, picking up the reins from founding CEO Amy Francetic.…Dec 2015 -
Clean Energy Trust Awarded 8 Start Ups $1 Million in the Clean Energy ChallengePut on by Chicago’s Clean Energy Trust, the Clean Energy Challenge aims to seed clean energy startups and has been a launching pad for more than 60…Apr 2015
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Evergreen awarded @numattech its first outside funding in 2012. Our Impact Report explains how our patient capital… https://t.co/oceIwUy6Z2
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Big news from our friends and partners at the Spark Innovation Center in Knoxville! They and @TNAdvEnergy have part… https://t.co/IPhkOGK2bG
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If you are woman or founder of color with a startup developing innovative #climate and #energy technologies, apply… https://t.co/6SSbSBiexB
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RT @elementalexcel: 🌎📣🚨 7 DAYS LEFT to apply to #ElementalCohort12! 🌎📣🚨 Ready to make our sustainable future a reality, together? Apply TOD…
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We continue to be so proud of our good friends at @NanoGrafTech, who recently closed a $65 million funding round. L… https://t.co/RNLLfaA0Zz
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RT @EnergizeVc: The Energize team is thrilled to present our 2022 Annual Impact & ESG Report! https://t.co/MAG8HdAkTU #ESG #impact #clima…
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Applications for the 2023 @mHUBChicago Climate and Energy Tech Accelerator are now open! The application window wil… https://t.co/VpE6R2nxuw
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Where is climate and energy innovation heading in the Midwest? Read more about post-IRA trends and how Evergreen is… https://t.co/LMFpdAc5oR
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Did you know Evergreen has a YouTube channel full of insightful webinars and portfolio spotlights? Check it out her… https://t.co/pqKKgav3dN
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Next Tuesday, join the FAST Center of Illinois for a virtual event on how to draft a successful SBIR/STTR proposal.… https://t.co/Yc1Tqzmeys
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RT @mHUBChicago: Applications for the 2023 mHUB Climate and EnergyTech Accelerator are now open. The cohort is supported industry partners…
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Did you miss out on climate tech news last month? Check out Evergreen's April Cleantech Roundup for the latest ener… https://t.co/0hpgZ76W7O
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Check out this opportunity from LabStart. LabStart helps entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds commercialize clima… https://t.co/BdrIMsBjQ4
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Manuela Zoninsein and the @HelloKadeya team are combating single-use plastic water bottles with a smart, circular b… https://t.co/1hPYuNue1W
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We are honored to be a recipient of @IN2ecosystem’s 2023 Channel Partner Strategic Awards. Thank you to @NREL and… https://t.co/NeiGocSgPD
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RT @mHUBChicago: 📢 Funding Friday: Navigating Fundraising at Angel Round and Beyond 📆 Friday, May 19 🕔 2 PM ➡️ Register: https://t.co/NtZgN…
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Seeking cleantech & climate tech entrepreneurs! 🌱☀️🔋⚡ Apply to the Spark Cleantech Accelerator at the UT Research… https://t.co/EKhnzXXurL