Ex-Meta CTO raises $250M climate fund as others retreat
What's the deal? Gigascale CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, founded by former Meta chief technology officer Mike SchroepferDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, has raised a $250M fund focused on climate technology. The fund launches at a time when many investors are pulling back from climate-focused ventures, making it a notable contrarian bet.
Why now? The climate tech sector has seen a cooldown in recent years as investors shifted attention toward AI and other trending sectors. Schroepfer appears to be betting that this retreat has created an opportunity — lower valuations and less competition for deals in a space where the underlying demand for decarbonisation solutions continues to grow.
What could go wrong? Climate tech investments often require long time horizons and heavy capital expenditure before generating returns. With many peers stepping away from the sector, Gigascale could face challenges attracting co-investors for later-stage rounds. Policy shifts and changing government incentives also remain a persistent risk for climate startups.
The signal: A high-profile tech executive launching a major climate fund while others retreat suggests conviction that the sector's fundamentals remain strong despite shifting sentiment. It echoes a classic venture playbook: invest when others are fearful. If climate tech rebounds, early movers in this quieter funding environment could see outsized returns.
Read more: TechCrunch · citybiz
