CHICAGO – December 9, 2021 - Clean Energy Trust, nonprofit climate technology investor, announced today that it has changed its name to Evergreen Climate Innovations (‘Evergreen’). The new name prominently features the organization’s unique investment approach, its focus on climate solutions, and its emphasis on innovation in support of its mission of bringing impactful climate technologies to market.
Clean Energy Trust was founded in 2010 when much of its work focused on clean energy: wind, solar, biofuels, and batteries. Those sectors are still critical but today the organization is also working with innovations beyond electrons and fuels. They are seeing advancements in technologies for recycling and reuse, sustainable agriculture, water conservation, and advanced materials, among others. Climate innovations now touch every industry and sector of the economy. Their name needed to reflect their role in this broad transition.
Additionally, the new name speaks to Evergreen’s 501vc® Investment Fund, a revolving evergreen investment approach, capitalized with philanthropic dollars, that enables Evergreen to recycle its investment returns to generate compounding impact. The 501vc® Investment Fund provides a sustainable resource stream for early-stage startups while offering a high impact opportunity for philanthropic donors to be part of the climate solution.
“Our decision to rebrand comes at a pivotal moment in history as we urgently work to solve and innovate for climate change. Even though investing in climate technologies is increasing in popularity, critical early-stage climate solutions continue to be underfunded and undersupported. Evergreen Climate Innovations continues and strengthens Clean Energy Trust’s longtime work addressing the capital and support gap that exists for early-stage climate tech companies in the Greater Midwest,” said Erik Birkerts, Chief Executive Officer at Evergreen Climate Innovations. “This rebrand prepares us for the next chapter and provides us with the opportunity to further amplify opportunities for the climate tech innovation ecosystem that we have spent over a decade cultivating.”
“The Evergreen Climate Innovations rebrand captures our mission driven work and highlights our commitment to climate innovation and entrepreneurship, strengthening our effort to expand and implement impactful climate solutions,” said Amy Francetic, Board Chairwoman at Evergreen Climate Innovations and co-founder of Clean Energy Trust in 2010 with Nick Pritzker and Michael Polsky. “Our broader reach will allow us to raise our profile in the philanthropic community to develop critical new alliances to ensure that Evergreen continues to evolve, grow, and support startups while continuing to deliver environmental, economic, and social impact.”
As part of its rebrand, Evergreen also announced a new logo and website, www.evergreeninno.org, reinforcing its commitment to advancing climate innovation and expanding access to such innovation across the Greater Midwest region of the United States.
Evergreen invests in startups developing innovative solutions with the potential to make outsized impacts on the climate emergency and related environmental and sustainability challenges. These companies create jobs and drive economic development. View Evergreen Climate Innovations’ portfolio of early-stage climate technology startups with Midwest roots at www.evergreeninno.org/portfolio
About Evergreen Climate Innovations
Evergreen Climate Innovations, formerly Clean Energy Trust, provides catalytic capital and support to entrepreneurs and startups that bring impactful climate technologies to market. The nonprofit pioneered its 501vc® Investment Fund to align philanthropic and corporate contributions to deliver environmental, economic, and social impact. Evergreen advances and expands access to innovation across the Greater Midwest and cultivates an ecosystem of investors, donors, and collaborators. For over a decade, Evergreen Climate Innovations has invested in startups that have raised $41 for every $1 invested. Learn more at evergreeninno.org
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Media Contact
Amy Yanow Fairbanks, Communications & Content Manager
Evergreen Climate Innovations, formerly Clean Energy Trust
amy@evergreeninno.com
www.evergreeninno.org
