How To

Advisory Boards and why every climate start-up needs one

Why should your climate/cleantech start-up or scale-up have an advisory board before you start your fundraising campaign, or even at all? How to create one? Greenbackers Managing Partner, Robert Hokin, shares thoughts on how and why this should matter to your executive team. I was recently asked by an enterprising fintech start up to join […]

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Is your pitch deck killing your chances for cleantech investment?

Here at Greenbackers, we can review between 10-20 pitch decks a week, that’s a LOT over the course of a year. But we see far too many fail to, in our view, really make a compelling case to invest. So we developed a guide for what you need to really need include to stand out […]

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About data rooms – why have them, what to include and what not to…

[Updated for 2024 by Robert Hokin, Greenbackers Managing Partner]. It is well recognized that data rooms are indispensable in the M&A process. They create just as much value to start-ups raising capital, so you should be ready-to-go with your data rooms BEFORE pulling the trigger to start your fundraising. Not convinced? Need some reasons why? […]

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The First of a Kind (FOAK) playbook: How to hire the right team

First-of-a-kind climate tech brings with it many challenges. So how do you build a team that can get you over those hurdles?  By Freya Pratty of Sifted; edited and added to by Greenbackers Managing Partner, Robert HokinThis article is second part of input funding and building first-of-a-kind climate tech. First-of-a-kind climate tech brings with it many challenges, […]

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The Scottish Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Guide

Being a Scottish registered business ourselves, Greenbackers is committed to supporting cleantech in Scotland in every way possible. Scotland is the great place to start and scale your business or to come to establish your business as an international gateway to Europe. To help you find your way, here is a great resource for you: […]

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The First of a Kind (FOAK) playbook: How to secure offtake agreements

Offtake agreements may not sound all that sexy, but they’re central to getting capital-intensive climate and clean tech off the ground By Freya Pratty of Sifted; edited and added to by Greenbackers Managing Partner, Robert Hokin Securing an offtake agreement for a First of a Kind (FOAK) technology or project in the climate sector can […]

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Women Founders in climate/cleantech – how to apply to the Astia Program

Greenbackers recognises that some of the today’s most impactful high-growth companies are led by inclusive teams with women leaders. Factual evidence and statistics indicate that women-founded startups generate more revenue per euro invested [European Women in VC 2021 Report], companies with more women in executive roles are 25% more likely to be profitable [European Women in VC 2022 Report], […]

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Government launches new free management course for small businesses

This week the Government has launched Help to Grow: Management Essentials, a new, free, bite-sized online course to help small businesses grow.  Delivered by the Government in partnership with the Chartered Association of Business Schools, Help to Grow: Management Essentials covers the essential business concepts required to unlock growth through short videos featuring practical tips and […]

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15 Key Questions Venture Capitalists Will Ask When Considering Your Cleantech Startup

Robert Hokin, Managing Partner at Greenbackers provides guidance on what questions VCs usually ask when on the hunt and evaluating new cleantech investments. Are you a founder with a compelling technology business and thinking about, kicking off or even struggling with a fundraising round? We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch! And check out […]

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Want to capitalise off America’s $369bn climate bill? Here’s how.

The Inflation Reduction Act is the largest climate package in history! So how can US and Non-US startups get a piece of the largest climate bill on the planet? Here are some tips and takeaways from founders, investors and consultants in getting to grips with this. No need to move your HQ if you are […]

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Shortcuts that Venture Capitalists use to screen start-ups and why they matter

An average venture capitalist meets approximately two new companies per day, 250 days per year. That’s 500 potential investments every year. Plus, VCs also receive thousands of cold emails, unsolicited pitch decks, even the occasional pitch in an elevator. […]

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Licensing Technology – more than a contract.

By John Steedman, Partner, Greenbackers

The subject of a licensing business model arises frequently when a process technology is developed and the owner wishes to speed up monetisation of their Intellectual Property (IP) without substantial capital funding.[…] […]

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