Category: How To

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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Is your pitch deck killing your chances for cleantech investment?

Here at Greenbackers, we review around 20-30 pitch decks a week, that’s well over 1000 per year. We see far too many fail to, in our opinion, really make a compelling case to invest. According to INC Magazine research, statistically, only 1% of ALL pitch decks secure venture capital funding. Part of this equation, of […]

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

Why have a data room for your funding round? It is well recognized that data rooms are indispensable in the M&A process. What is less well known is that they create just as much value to start-ups that are raising capital. The successful modern start-up is increasingly turning to data rooms for a number of […]

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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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How (NOT) to make a video pitch for cleantech investment!

Robert Hokin, Manager Partner, Greenbackers

We here at Greenbackers have been recommending, recording and reviewing video pitches for quite some time now, we’re big believers. It’s an important weapon for deepening investor engagement. There’s a whole industry springing up around this, but we’ve seen some self-made ones that are good too! […]

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UK EIS & why it STILL matters for UK Climate Tech Start-ups and Scale-ups

[Updated from original post April 2022.] HMRC’s EIS (and SEIS) scheme is a great way for UK based early-stage businesses to attract potential investors and accelerate their growth. For any UK technology business, NOT to have it excludes you from an entire class of early stage invesestors: mainly UK angels, Angel Syndicates and EIS funds. […]

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Greenbackers Inside Track: Do’s and Don’ts of Raising Climate Tech Venture Capital

While there seems to be more capital available than ever in the climate arena, the majority of businesses still struggle to access it. Greenbackers Managing Partner, Robert Hokin, shares some top tips in how to stack the deck in your favour. Unfortunately, there is no sure path to getting an automatic ‘Yes’ with term sheet […]

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Greenbackers’ Robert Hokin on 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? 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 their advisory board. While […]

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