$2.46M in new funding backs five women-led climate tech startups in BC

Five women-led climate tech ventures have secured a combined $2.46 million from the B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE). The funding—part of CICE’s inaugural Women in Climate Tech Call for Innovation—is aimed at accelerating climate hard tech solutions in sectors that are notoriously difficult to decarbonize: transportation, construction, and bio-industry.

“Solving today’s climate and energy challenges will take innovation, practical leadership, and strategic investment in technologies that can scale,” said Sarah Goodman, president and CEO of CICE. “By backing women-led climate tech ventures, we’re strengthening Canada’s economy, driving real-world solutions, and unlocking the full potential of Canadian talent.”

The five companies were selected from 58 applicants based on their potential to deliver meaningful, scalable climate and economic impact. Agora Energy Technologies is working on a breakthrough process that turns carbon dioxide into clean electricity by combining capture, purification, and conversion in a single step. Calgary-based Ayrton Energy is developing hydrogen storage solutions that can be deployed using existing fuel infrastructure. EnviCore, based in Alberta, is reprocessing industrial waste into low-carbon cement alternatives. Vancouver’s Gaia Refinery is building modular, plug-and-play systems to enable carbon removal at scale in bio-industrial settings. And Seacork Studio, also in Vancouver, is creating carbon-negative building materials from locally harvested seaweed.

These ventures aren’t just solving technical challenges—they’re reshaping the narrative around who gets to lead in climate innovation.

CICE points to research from MaRS Discovery District showing that increasing the number of women-owned SMEs by just 10 percent could add an estimated $198 billion to Canada’s GDP. “Backing diverse founders isn’t charity—it’s how we win,” said Goodman. “When we bring more voices to the table, we unlock better ideas, build stronger businesses, and find smarter solutions. This is especially true in climate and energy, where the challenges we face are complex and deeply connected. But Canadians know how to solve hard problems, by working together, thinking long-term, and investing in innovation that creates jobs, grows our economy, and protects what we all share.”

CICE say their commitment to inclusive climate innovation extends beyond capital. Through programs like R2WS: Innovation with Impact–Women in Tech, the organization aims to help women founders build the networks and community needed to grow. “Breakthrough technologies don’t scale in isolation,” the organization notes.

So far, CICE has invested $39.7 million into 65 projects with a combined project value of more than $264 million. The Women in Climate Tech initiative is the latest step in ensuring that Canada’s innovation economy includes—and benefits from—all of its talent.