Scaling Climate Solutions - Navigating the Transition from First-OAK to Nth-OAK

​Join IFM Investors, along with Carbon Limiting Technologies (CLT), Cambridge Consultants, HSBC, Ineratec, Innovate UK, Just Climate, and Microsoft for an insightful discussion on what makes climate tech opportunities attractive to investors from early-stage to growth, and beyond.

​This session will delve into the evolution of scale-up risk for companies, exploring what VCs seek during the pilot phase, what growth investors require for the first commercial-scale facility (First-OAK) facility and the wider deployment beyond (Nth-OAK). Learn how to seamlessly transition from one stage to the next and discover the metrics and tools that define a strong investment case. Equip your team for success with practical insights from industry experts.

​Discussion Points:

• ​Credit and Infrastructure Capital: Understand what role credit and infrastructure capital can play in developing FOAK and NOAK projects, and in supporting start-ups developing these projects.

• ​Blended Finance: Hear about the work Innovate UK and CLT have undertaken on the key funding challenges and potential solutions

• ​Key Risk Factors: Understand the critical risks investors face when addressing the “missing middle.”

• ​Venture, Growth vs. Credit: Explore the distinctions amongst venture, growth and credit investments, including the prioritisation of valuation versus cash flow profitability, and upside potential versus downside protection.

• ​Top Priorities: Identify the top three priorities for investors at early and growth stages and learn how founders can navigate common pain points effectively.

​Agenda:

​1 to 1:30pm: Registration

​1:30 to 2:15pm: Discussion on work by Innovate UK and CLT on Blended Finance. Presented by Christopher Tchen, Chairman, Carbon Limiting Technologies and Sarah Gordon, Visiting Professor in Practice, Grantham Research Institute at LSE

​2:30 to 3:30pm: Panel discussion on Scaling Climate Solutions

​Moderator:

​Sidd Bhat, Executive Director, IFM Investors

​Speakers:

​Birk Teuchert, Head of Corporate Finance, Ineratec

​Catherine Joce, Sustainability, Cambridge Consultants

​James Lockyer, Climate Innovation Fund, Microsoft

​Martin Richards, Global Head of Climate Tech, HSBC Group

​Tushar Kumar, Partner, Just Climate

​3:30 to 5pm: Networking drinks

​Dream Outcome: 

​Attendees will gain:

• ​A deeper understanding of the nuanced approaches amongst VC, Growth and Credit investors.

• ​A tactical and strategic toolkit for founders preparing for fundraising, including key stakeholder identification, org chart priorities, and capital stack strategies.

​Who Should Attend:

• ​Founders with capital-intensive business models.

• ​VCs and other investors interested in understanding peer approaches to de-risking.