What Do Energy VCs Actually Look For?

About this opportunity

Raising capital for an energy startup today means passing a far sharper filter than it did two years ago, and few founders get an honest look at what that filter actually tests for. Venture capital in energy has matured fast - grid, storage, industrial decarbonisation, mobility and buildings are all drawing serious capital, but the bar for what gets funded keeps rising. Understanding exactly what an active investor is screening for, and where the strongest opportunities sit today, has never mattered more. Join @Joseph Goodman, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at VoLo Earth Ventures, for a candid conversation on how an early-stage energy investor evaluates companies, the mistakes founders make most often, and where he's seeing real opportunity across the sector right now. Time & Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2026 @ 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM CET Platform: Live here on Circle  Cost: FREE for registered participants What You'll Learn How VCs Evaluate Energy Transition Deals What Joseph and VoLo Earth Ventures look for before writing a check in grid, storage, and industrial decarbonisation The most common mistakes founders make when pitching in these sectors Where the opportunity is today, where capital is flowing across mobility, buildings, and the wider energy transition landscape Reasons for optimism about where energy transition investment is headed Who Should Attend Energy transition and climate tech founders raising capital Corporate sustainability and innovation professionals Investors and fund managers focused on energy transition Why Attend Joseph brings a rare, active investor's perspective to the sectors driving the energy transition today. This is a direct, practical look at what actually gets funded, told firsthand by someone making those calls, not a recycled fundraising playbook. About Your Host @Joseph Goodman, PhD, is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at VoLo Earth Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Snowmass Village, Colorado, investing in early-stage companies accelerating the energy transition. Since launching in 2021, VoLo Earth Ventures has backed 48 companies across energy, grid infrastructure, industrial systems, mobility, and buildings, combining first-in capital with hands-on, technical guidance to help founders scale real-world decarbonization solutions. 4WARD's Corporate Partnerships Support 4WARD works with startups and scale-ups across the ecosystem to provide: Direct introductions to corporate innovation teams and partnership programs Peer connections with founders navigating similar enterprise partnership challenges Visibility across a 20,000+ member global network Practical, experience-led guidance on positioning for corporate pilots and collaborations Click: https://4ward.earth/consulting for more 4WARD Resources for Founders and Investors Click https://4ward.earth/vcs to learn more about our climate and sustainability investor database for startups trying to find investors. Understanding what investors look for isn't optional, it's the difference between a raise and a pass. Register now to hear it straight from someone writing the checks. Speak or Facilitate at a 4WARD Event? If you have something worth sharing with 20,000+ climate professionals across 100+ countries, we'd love to hear from you Practical, experience-led guidance on positioning for corporate pilots and collaborations - whether that's an online event presentation or facilitating a monthly Climate Connect breakout group. Apply here: https://circle.4ward.earth/c/ask-the-community/we-re-looking-for-climate-connect-facilitators-apply-now Connect and Move the World Forward The only way we get there is together. After this event, reach out to 3-5 members - start a conversation, find out what they're building, see where you can collaborate. Find the right people faster with our matchmaking tool: https://4ward.earth/matchmaking Registration is required. Space is limited to ensure an interactive experience. Hosted by 4ward.