Sustainable Times

12/12/2025

Weekly Editorial Roundup 🌟
Dive into this week’s stories from Sustainable Times, curated for those building and backing a better future:

On Profit Meets Purpose, we started our new Investor Series with Robin Grenfell Cowan who breaks down what really shapes an investor’s decision — arguing that character, clarity and honesty often outweigh flashy forecasts in early-stage investing.

We explore Chinwe Udo-Davis', Female Founder of the Year and founder of Instollar Technologies, ambitious InstallHER Initiative — a programme training women for careers in Africa’s booming solar sector.

Mater-AI secured £1.5 m to accelerate the AI-driven discovery of thermoelectric materials — turning waste heat into electricity and unlocking new efficiency frontiers.

In policy news, our breakdown of what the UK Budget actually means for investors and founders zeroes in on tax changes, ISA shifts and why EIS/SEIS reliefs could become even more central to early-stage strategies.

Find all the stories and more at Sustainable Times:
👉 https://hubs.li/Q03XZn3C0

11/12/2025

𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐞-𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬

We are proud to celebrate Chinwe Udo-Davis, CEO of Instollar and winner of the worldwide ‘Founder of the Year Award at the inaugural Sustainable Times’ RISE Awards sponsored by NatWest.

Instollar is tackling the massive gender gap in Africa's solar workforce head-on with the 'InstallHER Initiative'. aiming to train 10,000 women by 2030.

Discover the full story behind this ambitious initiative, and read how Instollar is powering a more resilient and inclusive green workforce.

Read the full feature on Sustainable Times ➡️ https://hubs.li/Q03XQZvf0

04/12/2025

Did you know 70% of the world’s energy is lost as waste heat?

Congratulations to Mater-AI for raising £1.5M in pre-seed funding to accelerate the discovery of next-generation thermoelectric materials, unlocking the potential to turn the world’s waste heat into clean power.

Their AI-driven platform designs breakthrough non-toxic materials, opening new opportunities across defence, automotive, industrial IoT and beyond.

Backed by Twin Path Ventures, Mishcon de Reya, One Planet Capital, XTX Ventures, Conception X, Angel Syndicate, Koro Capital and Tailored Solutions which will help scale their technology and build a new energy architecture where everything powers itself.

Read the full story:
https://hubs.li/Q03WCWKT0

25/11/2025

What really drives an investor’s decision?

To open the Sustainable Times Investor Series, we sat down with high net worth investor Robin Grenfell Cowan for a straight conversation about how early stage investment decisions are actually made.

Robin’s approach is grounded and refreshingly honest. He starts with the founder and the team every time. Ideas matter, but character, judgement and humility carry more weight than any forecast. As he puts it, early stage business plans are educated guesses. The real test is how a team behaves when things go wrong.
He talks openly about the importance of modesty, why ego is a deal killer, and why a simple, clear pitch deck tells him far more than a complex one. He also shares why he sometimes backs companies at idea stage, what he looks for in due diligence, and where he thinks the next wave of sustainable innovation will come from.

Robin also gives a blunt view on EIS and SEIS. Used properly, they give investors the confidence to engage earlier. Yet awareness remains low, even among those who would benefit the most.
For founders raising in 2025 and for investors who want a grounded perspective on private markets, this episode is well worth the time.

🎧 Listen to the conversation here: https://hubs.li/Q03VP4zw0

30/10/2025

We’re just one week away from the first Sustainable Times RISE Awards , and we couldn’t be more excited! ✨

What began as a bold vision to spotlight the innovators shaping a more sustainable future is now about to come to life, thanks to the incredible founders, partners, and supporters who share this mission.

We’re genuinely thrilled for everyone attending and are anticipating an unforgettable evening celebrating the pioneers proving that purpose-led business is powerful, scalable, and here to stay.

Thank you to all of our sponsors - NatWest, Cooper Parry, Shoosmiths Careers, Sustainable Wealth Group and Bamboo Connect

We can’t wait for everyone to be there.

6th November — See you soon! 🌿

27/10/2025

We're thrilled to formally announce NatWest as a key sponsor for the inaugural Sustainable Times RISE Awards!

Launching a major new celebration dedicated to the future of sustainable innovation takes genuine conviction and partnership from the very beginning. A huge thank you to NatWest, and indeed to all our initial supporters, for backing the vision and helping to make the Sustainable Times RISE Awards on November 6th a reality.

Founder of the Year 🔥
NatWest is sponsoring the Founder of the Year category, which is an excellent fit. This award celebrates the individuals who demonstrate the exceptional leadership, resilience, and sheer innovation required to build a sustainable business from the ground up.

Following a public nomination process and subsequent public vote, here are the brilliant founders who have made the final shortlist:
Pinar Akiskalioglu - TAKK - Essentials Only
Claire-Julia Hill - Gallery Les Bois
Chinwe Udo-Davis - Instollar
Oli Cook - ekko
Paul Finch and Rayan Jawad - Growth Studio

Who will take home the prize? The ultimate winner will be revealed on the night!
The Sustainable Times RISE Awards is set to be a fantastic evening celebrating the pioneers who are proving that environmental and social purpose is smart, impactful business. Make sure you've got the date locked in!

27/10/2025

The finalists for Founder of the Year at the Sustainable Times RISE Awards are....

Pinar Akiskalioglu Founder of TAKK - Essentials Only - a company providing sustainable personal care products marketed ethically.

Claire-Julia Hill Founder of Gallery Les Bois - a gallery with a mission to embed environmental responsibility into both the artwork and the gallery’s operations.

Chinwe Udo-Davis Founder of Instollar - a solar energy workforce provider working to both scale clean energy and provide employment opportunities across Africa.

Oli Cook Founder of ekko - helps financial service companies integrate sustainability into their products, giving customers a way to understand and reduce their environmental impact.

Paul Finch and Rayan Jawad Co-Founders of Growth Studio - support startup solutions to become profitable businesses through their leading accelerator programmes.

Celebrating an exceptional founder who has demonstrated leadership, resilience, and innovation in building a sustainable business.

A massive thank you to NatWest for sponsoring this category.

The winner will be revealed live on 6 November at our first awards night, with 400 investors, businesses, and startups coming together to celebrate sustainable innovation!

23/10/2025

The finalists for Clean Tech at the Sustainable Times RISE Awards are....

HutanBio- create sustainable biofuels that align the world’s increasing energy demand with the imperative to protect the planet.

Opovate - a venture builder, creating and scaling sustainable materials companies to sustain the planet by turning waste into high-performance biodegradable materials.

Planet Smart - bio-based, home compostable super absorbent polymers which deliver the same high performance absorption without microplastics.

Verv Energy - a high-resolution predictive maintenance technology that detects anomalies in how air conditioning units or heat pumps are performing.

Polymateria - provides a tailored biodegradable solution for conventional plastic packaging, aiming to stem the global plastic pollution endemic.

Bamboo Connect - supply partner for the repair, refurbishment and recycling of mobile phones and accessories for the European insurance market.

Prism Power- a leading specialist in electrical switchgear, critical power systems and power monitoring solutions.

Recycle Roots - pioneering solutions optimised for carbon capture for Biomass waste streams.

Highlighting pioneering businesses that leverage technology to combat climate change and drive environmental solutions.

A massive thank you to Shoosmiths Careers for sponsoring this category.

The winner will be revealed live on 6 November at our first awards night, with 400 investors, businesses, and startups coming together to celebrate sustainable innovation!

21/10/2025

The finalists for Green Construction at the Sustainable Times RISE Awards are....

Thoth - a sustainability consultancy helping individuals and organisations integrate environmental responsibility into their infrastructure.

Mater-Ai - using AI to discover new thermoelectric materials with superior efficiency and no toxic elements.

Eco-Cistem - environmentally friendly toilet cistern that saves water and money.

These pioneering companies are redefining sustainability through innovation, technology, and practical solutions that create measurable environmental impact.

A massive thank you to Cooper Parry for sponsoring this category.

The winner will be revealed live on 6 November at our first awards night, with 400 investors, businesses, and startups coming together to celebrate sustainable innovation!

20/10/2025

📢 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 shortlist! 📢

We're thrilled to shine a spotlight on the finalists for the 𝐁𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 at the Sustainable Times RISE Awards! These financial institutions have demonstrated exceptional commitment to funding sustainable initiatives and driving green finance solutions.

A massive thank you to bamboo connect for generously sponsoring this prestigious category.

The winner, decided by popular vote, will be revealed live at our inaugural awards ceremony on November 6th, where over 400 investors, businesses, and startups will gather to celebrate the very best in sustainable innovation.

Congratulations and good luck to the official shortlist:

Barclays Eagle Labs

British Business Bank

HSBC Innovation Banking

Lloyds Bank

NatWest

Santander

Scottish National Investment Bank

See you on November 6th!

16/10/2025

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰.

It has taken significant effort to get here. Thanks to the support of our 24,000+ strong community of investors, founders, and partners, we've powered through the process. Our team and judges have put in countless hours, diligently filtering hundreds of applications from the sustainability innovation sector. We deeply appreciate the time of our expert judging panel and the trust of our guests and sponsors, who are backing this inaugural event.

On November 6th (in three weeks), we will host 400 guests for a celebratory night: a three-course dinner, drinks, and an afterparty. This is a significant investment for us and a genuine effort to connect capital with impactful companies, while honouring the service providers who help them on their journey.

This wasn't simple, but it is a genuine moment of recognition for everyone in this ecosystem.

A special thank you to all involved in making this inaugural event happen.

14/10/2025

From AI Hype to Hard Reality

Daisy Moll from Sustainable Times attended Sifted Summit to find out what’s Shaping the Future of Climate Tech.

For anyone wanting to gauge the mood of Europe’s climate-tech sector, the Sifted Summit in London offered a clear snapshot. Run by Sifted - the Financial Times backed platform for Europe’s startups and investors - the event surfaced three themes that founders and funders in climate tech would do well to watch

Find out more:
https://hubs.li/Q03NvB3x0

For anyone wanting to gauge the mood of Europe’s climate-tech sector, the Sifted Summit in London offered a clear snapshot. Run by Sifted - the Financial Times backed platform for Europe’s startups and investors - the event surfaced three themes that founders and funders in climate tech would do...