On July 23, Evergreen’s flagship Co_Invest Climate brought more than 250 founders, investors, corporate leaders, and ecosystem builders to the Blackhawks Fifth Third Arena in Chicago. The afternoon put Midwest climate innovation on stage, along with the people building it. The energy in the room carried urgency and optimism at once. Urgency to move real solutions forward. Optimism about the region’s talent, capital, and resolve.
Opening the Day
Tom Chi, Founding Partner at At One Ventures, opened Co_Invest 2026. He asked the room to picture a future where humanity gives back more to nature than it takes. His talk set the frame for the afternoon and grounded the day in why the work matters. In a Q&A moderated by Janet Ginsburg, we heard more of Tom’s story and how he came into this work.
Showcasing Evergreen’s Portfolio
Evergreen invests in pre-seed and seed climate tech companies based in the Greater Midwest. Founders apply through our open-access 501vc model. Twice a year, our investment team runs a rigorous diligence process and deploys catalytic capital to a select group of startups.
Co_Invest gives these founders a stage to share their innovations with other investors, corporate partners, ecosystem builders, and other founders. Here are this year’s portfolio presenters:
- Carba turns waste biomass into stable biocarbon, then buries it to remove carbon dioxide for more than a thousand years. Andrew Jones is founder and CEO.
- Air Energy builds solid-state lithium-air batteries to store more energy at less weight, opening electrification for aviation and heavy transport. Ben Drake is CEO.
- Lilac Agriculture develops a new generation of crop inoculants to improve yield and soil health while reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizer. Natalie DiNicola is CEO.
- MAREL Power Solutions rethinks power conversion with compact, three-dimensional power blocks to cut size, weight, and semiconductor use across electrification. Amrit Vivekanand is CEO.
- Kemvera converts corn ethanol into bio-based acetic acid and ethyl acetate, drop-in replacements for fossil-derived chemicals. Chern-Hooi Lim is founder and CEO.
A Founder Talk from Grid Status
Between the showcases, Grid Status founder Max Kanter took the stage. Grid Status makes real-time electric grid and energy market data accessible to everyone working on a cleaner, more reliable grid. Kanter walked through how open data helps the people building and operating the grid make sharper decisions.
mHUB Partner
Co_Invest also featured a partner company from Chicago’s mHUB community. Noah System builds an automated flushing device to remove lead, copper, and legionella from stagnant pipes and protect drinking water. Mike Sundermeier is CEO.
The Early Access Showcase
At Evergreen we believe inclusive access yields results. Through Early Access, we back clean energy founders the market often overlooks, with support from partners including Nicor Gas, U.S. Bank, and Wells Fargo’s IN2.
This year’s Early Access cohort shared their work in five minute presentations:
- Aquarry turns flooded, post-mining pit lakes into safe, measurable carbon sinks while improving water quality. Kate Murphy is Founder and CEO.
- Swinergy converts livestock manure into renewable natural gas, cutting emissions and nitrate runoff for farms and rural communities. Eugene Alvey is CEO.
- Captis Materials builds modules to turn data center waste heat into usable electricity and reduce cooling demand. Doug Williams is Founder and CEO.
- Centinel offers claims-free, parametric coverage for hard-to-insure climate risks like extended power outages. Soton (Rosanwo) Sauerland is Founder and CEO.
Closing the Day
New York Times bestselling author Jedidiah Jenkins closed Co_Invest 2026. He shared his 14,000 mile journey from Oregon to Patagonia and a simple charge: commit before you feel ready. Our founders practice this discipline every day, and the story sent the room out with purpose.
Thank You
The afternoon closed with a reception sponsored by William Blair and a room full of new connections.
Evergreen was built to last. For over a decade, we have invested where first-of-a-kind climate tech looks too risky even for venture. We move early, hold steady, and bring a connected ecosystem to bear for our founders. That is how strong founders reach the capital, networks, and support they need to build companies that move markets.
Thank you for being part of this community. We build it with you, and we are grateful for your support.
