Climate Week NYC Highlights European Startups’ Expansion
Climate Week NYC, which took place from September 20 to 27, 2026, saw a strong presence from European companies. At a special event organized by Swissnex, eight Swiss climate startups pitched their ideas to potential investors. Additionally, a Lithuanian delegation focused on securing deals in the grid and agricultural technology sectors, and TechUK coordinated a visit for British climate firms.
Two attendees shared that they were inspired to come to the U.S. due to the increasing number of funding opportunities, customer bases, and favorable regulations available in the country.
Investment Trends in Climate Tech
CMBLU Energy, a long-duration energy storage company based in Alzenau, Germany, successfully raised €50 million in the first phase of its Series C funding round, with support from Samsung Ventures and STRABAG SE. This investment boosted the company’s valuation to over €1 billion, making it Germany’s first non-lithium battery startup to achieve unicorn status, and bringing its total funding to over $160 million.
CEO Constantin Eis, who attended Climate Week in New York, commented, “The availability of capital and the push for long-duration energy storage solutions is significant in the U.S., and we want to take full advantage of it.”
This perspective is shared by several in the industry. Ian Hogarth, a partner at Plural, noted that long-duration storage remains a critical challenge in the transition to renewable energy, while supporting the Dutch iron-air battery startup Ore Energy.
Urte Zahn, CEO of Re-Fresh Global, also highlighted the need for global outreach as her company turns textile waste into industrial materials using enzymes. Re-Fresh has secured €1.1 million in its pre-seed funding round. Zahn explained, “With our customers, partners, and investors scattered around the globe, staying in Europe isn’t practical. New York offers a unique concentration of corporations, authorities, investors, and experts in one location.”
A Strategic Shift to the U.S.
CMBLU and Re-Fresh are not alone in making these moves; much of their planning was already in place. At the Swiss ClimateTech Showcase, part of the Climate Collider initiative by Swissnex and Innosuisse, eight Swiss startups, including biochar company BCHAR and geothermal driller Borobotics, showcased their innovations.
A group of UK climate tech firms also visited the U.S. to engage with investors, businesses, and customers during the latter part of September. Lithuanian companies in the energy and agtech sectors participated as well, such as InSoil, which recently secured a €120 million credit facility from Pollen Street Capital to establish partnerships in America.
While European founders emphasize that their U.S. expansions are strategic rather than permanent departures, this trend highlights a crucial point for Europe’s climate tech landscape. As U.S. funding, customer access, and regulatory encouragement attract European innovators, policymakers back home are under growing pressure to foster competitive domestic markets or risk losing their most promising climate solutions to other shores.
