WovenEarth Ventures

WovenEarth Ventures is a women-led venture capital fund-of-funds focused on early-stage climate tech startups in the United States. Its mission is to provide investors with risk-managed, diversified exposure to the rapidly growing climate technology sector by investing in multiple early-stage climate tech venture funds, which in turn back hundreds of startups working on decarbonization and sustainability solutions. The firm targets attractive, risk-adjusted returns while advancing climate impact across sectors such as energy, water, agriculture, wildfire management, digital solutions, transportation, built environment, carbon removal, and climate intelligence[1][2][3][6].

Founded in 2023 by Jane Woodward, a seasoned energy investor and Stanford adjunct faculty member with over 35 years of experience, WovenEarth leverages her deep network and expertise to curate a portfolio of 13+ early-stage climate tech fund managers. These managers include both generalists focused on broad decarbonization and specialists targeting specific climate tech verticals. The firm also offers co-investment opportunities alongside its underlying fund managers and fosters a collaborative community for limited partners to share insights and deepen their understanding of climate tech investing[1][2][6].

Core Differentiators

• Fund-of-Funds Model: Provides broad exposure to 300+ early-stage climate tech companies through investments in 13+ venture funds, reducing risk compared to direct startup investing[1][6].
• Women-Led Leadership: Led by Jane Woodward, whose 35+ years of energy investing and Stanford teaching create a unique blend of expertise, network, and judgment[1][2][6].
• Domain and Generalist Focus: Invests in both generalist funds and domain-specific funds covering critical climate tech areas like water, agriculture, wildfire, and digital decarbonization[1][2].
• Community and Education: Offers workshops and forums for LPs to engage with fund managers and explore decarbonization themes, enhancing investor knowledge and collaboration[6].
• Risk-Managed Access: Designed to lower barriers for institutional and impact investors seeking entry into early-stage climate tech, a complex and technical sector[1][2][6].

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

WovenEarth Ventures is positioned at the intersection of growing institutional interest in climate tech and the urgent global need for decarbonization. By acting as a bridge between investors and early-stage climate startups, it addresses the challenge of high risk and technical complexity in this sector. The timing is critical as climate tech innovation accelerates due to technological advances, policy shifts, and market demand for sustainable solutions. WovenEarth’s approach helps channel capital efficiently into the "greenhouses" where startups are sprouting, thus accelerating the development and scaling of climate solutions[1][5][6].

Quick Take & Future Outlook

WovenEarth is currently expanding, with its first fund closed at $152 million and a second fund targeting $300 million. Its future trajectory involves scaling its portfolio, deepening thematic investments in climate tech verticals, and continuing to build its community of investors and fund managers. As climate urgency intensifies and capital flows increasingly prioritize sustainability, WovenEarth’s model of diversified, risk-managed access to early-stage climate innovation positions it to be a key player in shaping the clean technology venture ecosystem and driving impactful climate solutions[1][8].

In summary, WovenEarth Ventures offers a unique, expert-led pathway for investors to participate in early-stage climate tech, balancing risk and impact while fostering a collaborative ecosystem that supports the growth of transformative clean technologies.