Climate KIC is teaming up with Entrepreneurship Support Organisations (ESOs) worldwide to level up how climate entrepreneurs are trained and supported. Through its EIT-funded programme, partner organisations gain practical tools, knowledge and connections to better support startups in bringing climate solutions to market.
Participating organisations include DARE Innovations, which supports scientists, innovators and startups in building scalable, investment-ready businesses, and ORCA Evolution, which provides education and consulting to help businesses and startups transition towards sustainable and climate-neutral models.
In a recent video, partners from the two organisations share their experiences of collaborating with Climate KIC and how the programme has strengthened their work.
Sharing Expertise to Create Impact
For participants, one of the most valuable aspects of the programme was access to Climate KIC’s methodologies and practical experience.
Johannes Naimer Stach, General Manager of ORCA Evolution, describes Climate KIC as ‘one of the leading organisations in Europe, if not in the world,’ highlighting its extensive experience in supporting organisations working with climate-focused startups.
We appreciated most that Climate KIC kind of opened its books and said, this is how we do this, this is how we create impact through our entrepreneurship programme, these are our tools. We show you exactly how we do it, you can learn from it, you can copy it.
Johannes Naimer Stach, General Manager of ORCA Evolution
Climate KIC’s hands-on approach enables partner organisations to adapt proven methods to their own contexts, strengthening their ability to support innovators bringing climate solutions to market.
Building a Community of Climate Support Organisations
Beyond tools and training, the programme also fosters a sense of shared purpose among participating organisations.
Partners emphasise the value of connecting with peers facing similar challenges. As Dora Marsvolgyi, Founder, DARE Innovations notes, the programme helped her realise 'that we’re not alone in this journey and some of the challenges that we have, all the others have.’
These connections extend beyond the programme itself. Participants highlight ongoing collaboration opportunities, including the potential to build consortia and support startups in finding local partners.
Expanding Perspectives on Climate Innovation
The programme also broadens how organisations approach climate innovation. Stach speaks about how his organisation was initially focused on areas such as mitigation, adaptation and the circular economy but Climate KIC introduced additional perspectives, including social sustainability and inclusion.
This wider lens helps them better understand the complex needs of climate entrepreneurs and the ecosystems in which they operate.
For DARE Innovations, the experience built on existing work with startups while deepening expertise. ‘We could raise our expertise,’ Andrea Koszti, Executive Assistant, DARE Innovations, explains, adding that the programme has improved their understanding of climate entrepreneurs ‘better than ever before.’
Supporting the Next Generation of Climate Entrepreneurs
By strengthening the capabilities of ESOs, Climate KIC is helping to scale the support available to climate innovators, contributing to a stronger, more connected ecosystem for climate entrepreneurship.
As partners continue to apply and share what they have learned, the impact of the programme extends beyond individual organisations – supporting the development and growth of climate solutions across Europe and globally.
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