Looking to 2025: What’s next for Climate Salad

As we look towards the future, we are filled with immense pride at the journey we’ve shared over the past three years. Together, we’ve made significant contributions to the growth of Australia’s climate tech industry, helping innovative companies tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. 

From the early days of our community to the thriving network we are today, none of this would have been possible without your unwavering support, passion, and commitment. 

Since Climate Salad’s inception, we have worked tirelessly to connect, nurture, and empower Australian climate tech companies to solve global problems. 

Over the past three years, we’ve helped hundreds of startups grow, provided critical development through trade missions, and built a community of founders, investors, and advocates. As a direct result of our collective efforts, the climate tech sector in Australia has grown stronger, with more companies developing solutions to address the climate crisis. 

The industry enters a new phase 

Three years ago it was about getting it started. Now it’s about elevating it, strengthening it and scaling it. 

Three years ago we knew 12 climate tech companies. Now we have over 650 in our community with more starting every day. 

Three years ago there were only a few impact funds doing climate tech. Now climate tech is a number one interest area among Australian investors and we have ten funds with more on the way. 

Three years ago we were explaining what climate tech is. Now we have multiple accelerators, coworking spaces and big events at all levels supporting this important new industry. 

Three years ago we got 150 people to one national event. This year we will have more than 1,000 people at events all over the country. 

Three years ago we hoped this industry would show its potential. This year it showed its strength. 

2025 focus 

As we move into 2025, Climate Salad will be evolving. After reflecting on the best way to continue our impact while ensuring long-term sustainability, we’ve made the decision to implement a more streamlined, focused model. In this new phase, we will continue to support our community but in a leaner format.

Starting in 2025, Climate Salad will focus on maintaining our online community, newsletters, and webinars. These core elements will allow us to stay connected, share stories of growth, and provide opportunities for connection. This new model will be managed part-time by me.

While this does mean that our amazing team will wrap up at the end of the year and the number of programs will decrease, we hope the broader community will continue to step up and support each other in our stead. 

Gratitude for our community 

We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has been a part of this journey.

To the founders, investing years of their lives to bring these much-needed solutions to market through challenge after challenge. Your vision, belief and determination are building a new, climate-positive world. Please keep going. 

To our members and supporters who’ve jumped on a webinar, shared some news, come to an event, done an introduction or just shown your passion, thank you. You are the village we need to raise this complex organism to its full potential. 

To all of the partners who’ve contributed to accelerating the momentum, thank you for giving us a push. Especially to those who’ve put their hands in their pockets (or budgets) and made financial contributions, both big and small. This huge impact comes with a lot of love but requires a lot of work and while this was never about profit, it still has real costs. 

This includes our wonderful ecosystem supporters: Airwallex, Alberts, Austrade, Baresop, Brighte, Canva, Cecil Earth, Crestone, Everest Engineering, HAL Systems, HydGene Renewables, Hydrogen Council, Investible Climate Tech Fund, MGA Thermal, Minter Ellison, Rampersand, Samsara Eco, Startup Bootcamp, SwitchDin, Twilio, UNSW Founders, Val.Ai, x15 and Xylo Systems.

And even more love to our big supporters, some who’ve supported us every time we asked: ACS, Ashurst, Australian Ethical Investments, Callaghan Innovations NZ, CEFC, City of Adelaide, City of Melbourne, City of Sydney, DEECA Victoria, Deloitte, Future Super, GiantLeap, Global Vic, Google, Main Sequence, Microsoft, PWC, Pollination, Qantas, SpaceCubed, Stripe, The City of Wellington, Titanium Ventures, Virescent, Westpac and Wollemi Capital.

And we’ve also had some massive supporters who have really been critical in allowing us to have so much impact so quickly. These groups backed us very, very early in our journey and it’s a credit to these teams for supporting such an ambitious, raw vision. Huge thanks to our huge partners: AWS Startups Australia, Boundless Earth, Investment NSW, KPMG High Growth Ventures, LaunchVic, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and The Queensland Government.

To all those who have worked with us thank you for your contribution. And especially for our current team working really hard to wrap up the year strong, we really wouldn’t be here without you – you’re the best, thank you! 

Big finish to 2024 

While this is a significant change, our mission remains the same: to help climate tech companies grow and solve global climate problems. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together, and we look forward to continuing to support the climate tech community in this new phase. 

The team is finishing strong. By the end of 2024, we will have achieved some remarkable milestones: in October we delivered our third US Trade Mission that will open doors for Australian climate tech companies to expand into international markets. 

In December we will complete our second Global Growth Program, which has provided founders with the tools, connections, and support needed to scale their businesses globally. 

And the big finale, our fourth major climate tech event in Sydney, celebrating innovation and collaboration in the climate space. This year we’re calling it Australian Climate Tech Connect with a goal to make an enormous amount of new and growing connections. 

It all culminates in our Climate Tech Awards which we’d love you all to be at to celebrate the amazing progress we’ve all made. Tickets are limited, so get yours today. 

These achievements are a testament to the power of collaboration and the strength of the community we’ve built together. For all of this, we are deeply thankful. Thank you for being part of Climate Salad’s journey. We are excited about the future and remain committed to making a positive impact on the world.

Never miss a story: sign up to SmartCompany’s free daily newsletter and find our best stories on LinkedIn.