Innovation in Action: Earth Tech: 2050 and the Future of Sustainability
Achieving net zero is essential for the planet, but intention must be matched by tangible support for climate tech SMEs. Canadian climate tech companies urgently need resources to scale and secure the capital required to expand their impact. Foresight Canada and Social Innovation Canada’s new Earth Tech: 2050 impact accelerator, led by Brittany Goldhawke, Foresight Canada’s Director of Accelerate from Anywhere and Investor Relations, is focused on equipping these ventures with the knowledge and tools they need to scale.
Earth Tech: 2050 is designed to support SMEs that individually have the capacity to reduce or remove 0.5 gigatonnes of CO2e by 2050. The program fosters partnerships, connecting innovators with industry experts and a supportive network that helps SMEs scale fast and effectively, to achieve significant climate impact by 2050. Ventures begin the program by diving deep into the unique challenges they face, identifying key roadblocks to reaching their next milestones. With these insights, Foresight brings in their Executives’ in Residence (EIRs) to tackle key scope of work for the ventures, including pilot and demonstration projects, strategic advisory services, a blend of dilutive and non-dilutive funding assistance, and curated matchmaking with industry leaders, investors, and ecosystem partners. The goal is to guide ventures from early-stage technology readiness through advanced commercialization, fast-tracking their market impact.
Goldhawke notes, “We built Earth Tech: 2050 to support ventures tackling some of Canada’s biggest climate challenges. Recognizing that no individual venture requires the same kind of support, our goal with Earth Tech: 2050 was to rather provide each venture with a niche experience grouped around their most pressing challenges. Some ventures receive full targeted support around their fundraising strategy and investor matchmaking, while others need all hands on deck to support scaleup of their pilot plant. We can bring in some of the best in our ecosystem to roll up their sleeves and get the work done for our ventures, with the goal to push these ventures towards commercial scale applications. Our ventures receive an unparalleled level of support, thanks to the funding provided by our partners at RBC, Peter Gilligan Foundation, and Bullfrog Power.”
Upon completing the nine-month program and initial pilots, ventures can continue leveraging Foresight’s ongoing support. This includes featuring their solutions on Foresight’s Cleantech Adoption Platform and participating in Innovation Challenges, all designed to drive widespread industry adoption of cleantech solutions.
Foresight understands that scaling a business is a journey—one with its ups and downs, and one that thrives with the right tools, knowledge, and advice. Earth Tech: 2050 is designed to equip ventures with the comprehensive support they need to navigate this journey. By providing strategic insights, connecting them with vital resources, and fostering partnerships within the ecosystem, the program enables cleantech innovators to overcome barriers, reach commercialization, and drive lasting impact.
