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Sustainability Subscribed Europe
Scaling climate-focused startups leveraging usage-based and dynamic pricing models to increase access to sustainable services and solutions.
About the Program
The Sustainability Subscribed Europe program will support ten climate-focused startups leveraging usage-based and dynamic pricing models to increase access to sustainable services and solutions.
Supported by Zuora, the program will deliver investment-readiness training to founders, allocate non-dilutive funding, and enhance support for circular economy and customer-centric businesses across Europe. Additionally, founders will join Village Capital’s extensive regional network of over 250 sustainability-focused mentors, investors, and startup leaders.
Problem Statement
Europe is warming twice the global rate, leading to extreme weather events like heat waves, wildfires, and severe water scarcity, particularly in Southern Europe. Vulnerable groups – such as low-income communities, older adults, and migrants – are disproportionately affected, with rural farmers facing economic losses and households struggling with energy poverty. Urgent climate solutions are essential, and entrepreneurs with firsthand experience are uniquely positioned to create scalable innovations that help communities adapt and thrive.
As we recruit for this program, we’re seeking climate-focused startups leveraging usage-based and dynamic pricing models to increase access to sustainable services and solutions.
Meet the Cohort
BNS Worldwide
BNS Worldwide (Chatteris, United Kingdom) is a biotech company focused on developing sustainable solutions for reusing fresh food waste. They leverage natural antimicrobial compounds to extend the shelf life of fresh produce without fungicides, offering an eco-friendly solution for food preservation.
Advisory Board
Valerie J.
Zuora, Chief People Officer
Rachael Claudio
Zuora, Senior Director of Social Impact
Simon Blunn
Zuora, SVP & General Manager EMEA
Anders Norlin
Nvise, Strategic Advisor
Adrian Thrash
Anthology Ventures, Managing Partner
Patrice Molinari
Investor, Fund Manager
Cecile Sevrian
TIIME, Co-Founder
Federik Kehler
South Pole, Director Denmark & Senior business Development Manager - Digital Climate Solutions
Who should apply?
We are seeking solutions that:
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions in key sectors like energy, transportation, and agriculture.
Increase access to clean energy and utilities through renewable technologies and energy efficiency.
Extend product life spans by shifting ownership to manufacturers, reducing waste and resource use.
Deliver sustainability insights with advanced data analytics for informed decision-making.
Lower the carbon footprint of food, water, transport, and infrastructure via innovative approaches.
Promote climate justice for low-income and marginalized communities across Europe.
Develop and implement carbon removal technologies to address existing emissions.
Eligibility
Eligibility requirements include:
Legal incorporation as a for-profit entity.
Headquartered or with operations in Europe.
Market-based solution that tackles the challenges above.
Have a minimum viable product (MVP) and raised less than $3M in equity.
Have at least one full-time founder based in Europe.
Have meaningful customer or business validation (not limited to revenue; it can also be successful pilot studies, number of users, and/or strategic partnerships).
Program Benefits
Financial Analysis
Chat with an investment analyst who will coach you 1:1 on building a financial model, identifying unit economics, and using financial metrics.
Media Exposure
Get featured on Village Capital’s program website and other collateral.
Mentorship
Build 1:1 connections with investors, strategic partners, and potential customers.
Non-dilutive funding
All selected startups will receive a non-dilutive participatory stipend, and the top two peer-selected startups will each be awarded a USD 25K non-dilutive grant to further scale their solutions and drive positive environmental change.
Program Summit
Participants will be invited to join our in-person summit in London to meet directly with the Zuora team and select mentors and investors.
Training
Our curriculum is tailored to help your company identify early milestones and prepare for your next round of capital.
Program Timeline
November 11
Applications open
December 9
Applications close
January 10
Cohort announced
Program workshops
January 2025 - March 2025
April 2 - 3, 2025
In-person Summit
The Latest
Musthad, Fornax, and Solumar Selected by Peer Startups to Receive Grant Funding
London, UK (April 17, 2024) – Village Capital has announced that Musthad, Fornax, and Solumar were selected by their peers as the most investment-ready startups in the Sustainability Subscribed Europe 2025 program, supported by Zuora.
Village Capital Expands Partnership With Zuora to Accelerate Europe-Based Climate Startups Leveraging Dynamic Pricing Models
London, UK (November 8, 2024) – Village Capital and Zuora, are expanding a three-year partnership with the launch of Sustainability Subscribed Europe, an accelerator program designed to scale climate-focused startups leveraging usage-based and dynamic pricing models to increase access to sustainable services and solutions.