Startups & Researchers

We work with researchers from universities or labs (professors, scientists or grad students) or early-stage startups who are building cutting-edge climate technologies by taking the role of business co-founders and investors. Our typical process can include assisting in company formation, shaping the business model and go-to-market strategy, recruiting the initial key customers and partners, and then forming the seed stage financing syndicate

At what stage does SPARK come in?

We specialize in collaborating closely with leading researchers to match their technology with the needs of industry. This mostly occurs when technology has been proven at the lab scale, and shows promise as a solution once made into a viable commercial product.

What does SPARK bring to the table?

We are your business co-founders

We help identify the product market fit, and build the business model & plan

We develop a compelling techno-economic analysis to support the value proposition

We recruit the initial customers that help define the go to market strategy

We form the investment syndicate for the initial seed financing

We help build the ideal team to lead the company


Ultimately, we help commercialize your technology, while you focus on furthering the technology maturity and research.

What does the SPARK engagement and investment process look like?

Our engagement is typically split into 3 phases


Phase 0 - Preliminary diligence (2-4 weeks): We evaluate the technology and company along with our corporate partners, and following a successful diligence, we will offer an engagement letter to the inventor/founder(s).


Phase 1 - Pre-seed phase (6-18 months): We start working as the business co-founder, whereas the researchers/ founders will work as technical co-founders. As business co-founders, we will drive: formation (incorporation) of the business, establishing the "product market fit", economic analysis and busness model, establishing IP and licensing to the newco, recruiting early adopter corporate partners as JDA and/or investors, recruiting of team members and executives, and syndicating initial financing


Phase 2 - Seed phase: Towards the end of Phase 1, SPARK and its partner VC funds will syndicate a series seed financing, and ensure future success by recruiting the best talent.