Sustainability no longer sits on the sidelines of business strategy. Investors, regulators, and consumers demand that companies integrate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into daily operations. While large corporations build compliance systems, agile startups lead the way with groundbreaking solutions. These young companies combine purpose with profit, showing how innovation can address climate change, social equity, and transparent governance.
Below are ten ESG-focused startups making waves across the globe, each transforming how businesses and individuals create measurable impact.
1. Novisto – Reinventing ESG Reporting
Novisto, a Canadian startup launched in 2019, delivers a powerful platform for ESG data management. Traditional ESG reporting often traps companies in fragmented spreadsheets and inconsistent standards. Novisto fixes this by offering a structured system of record—much like accounting software for financial data.
Large organizations use its platform to gather emissions numbers, governance metrics, and diversity statistics in one place. The system ensures audit-ready data, reduces human error, and aligns with global regulations. By simplifying a once-painful process, Novisto empowers corporations to focus on improving performance rather than chasing compliance paperwork. Its growth reflects the rising demand for ESG accountability in boardrooms worldwide.
2. Greenly – Carbon Accounting at Scale
Paris-based Greenly turns complex carbon accounting into an accessible digital service. Companies plug in financial transactions, electricity bills, cloud usage, or supply-chain invoices. Greenly’s algorithms translate those numbers into carbon footprints across Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions.
Executives use its dashboards to identify hotspots, set reduction targets, and measure progress against international frameworks like the GHG Protocol. The platform also guides companies toward decarbonization strategies, such as shifting suppliers or optimizing logistics. Greenly demonstrates that accurate measurement drives action. Without reliable emissions data, corporations cannot achieve net-zero goals. Greenly gives them the tools to act decisively.
3. Exowatt – Solar Power for the AI Era
Exowatt, a U.S.-based energy startup, engineers modular solar energy and storage systems designed for heavy power users like data centers. Its system uses mirrors and lenses to concentrate sunlight, store the energy as heat in specialized materials, and convert that heat into electricity when needed.
This model solves a core challenge of renewables: solar power does not shine at night. Exowatt’s storage technology allows continuous clean energy delivery, making it ideal for facilities running 24/7 artificial intelligence workloads. By reducing reliance on fossil-fuel backup generators, Exowatt not only cuts emissions but also stabilizes energy costs for customers. Its rapid scaling shows how renewable energy innovation can match the pace of digital transformation.
4. Yayzy – Carbon Transparency in Your Wallet
London-based Yayzy connects finance and climate action. Its mobile app links directly to users’ bank accounts and credit cards. Every time a consumer makes a purchase, Yayzy calculates the carbon emissions associated with that transaction. Buy an airline ticket, and the app shows the carbon load. Shop locally, and it highlights the lower impact.
The company also provides APIs for banks and fintech firms. These partners embed carbon tracking directly into digital wallets and financial dashboards. Consumers no longer spend blindly—they see the climate impact of each choice in real time. This transparency encourages responsible consumption and nudges people toward greener lifestyles. By weaving ESG thinking into everyday spending, Yayzy turns awareness into action.
5. SensorUp – Stopping Methane Leaks
Methane packs more than 25 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide. SensorUp, a Canadian startup, builds software that helps oil and gas companies monitor and reduce methane leaks. Its Global Emissions Management System (GEMS) integrates data from satellites, ground sensors, inspection drones, and industrial control systems.
The platform pinpoints leaks quickly, allowing field crews to act before emissions spiral out of control. It also ensures companies comply with international protocols and voluntary frameworks such as the Oil and Gas Methane Partnership. By marrying sensor data with analytics, SensorUp addresses one of the fastest ways to slow climate change. The startup proves that digital tools can tackle even the dirtiest parts of the energy sector.
6. Pachama – Protecting Forests with AI
Pachama combines satellite imagery, machine learning, and carbon markets to protect forests. Its system verifies whether carbon offset projects genuinely preserve or restore tree cover. Traditional carbon credits often face criticism for poor transparency. Pachama solves this by producing real-time, verifiable data that investors and corporations can trust.
Beyond verification, Pachama also connects companies with forest conservation projects that generate high-quality offsets. This ensures that money flows to initiatives that actually deliver carbon sequestration and biodiversity benefits. The startup demonstrates how advanced technology can restore credibility in carbon markets while safeguarding critical ecosystems.
7. Olio – Sharing Food, Saving Communities
Food waste contributes to both hunger and greenhouse gas emissions. UK-based Olio built a community app that allows neighbors and local businesses to share surplus food instead of throwing it away. A family with leftover bread lists it on the app, and someone nearby picks it up. Retailers with excess inventory distribute it through volunteers rather than sending it to landfills.
This approach reduces waste, feeds people, and builds stronger communities. Olio proves that ESG innovation does not always require deep tech. Sometimes, the combination of a simple idea with digital scale produces massive impact. By attacking waste at its source, Olio champions both environmental and social progress.
8. Blueland – Cleaning Without Plastic
Blueland, based in the United States, transforms how households use cleaning products. Instead of buying plastic bottles filled with diluted formulas, consumers purchase Blueland tablets and reusable containers. Add water at home, and the tablet turns into a full bottle of cleaning solution.
This small change eliminates millions of single-use plastic bottles. It also reduces shipping emissions since tablets weigh far less than traditional cleaning liquids. Blueland demonstrates that sustainable design can compete directly with mainstream consumer goods. The startup’s rapid rise shows that customers embrace products when they combine convenience, affordability, and eco-consciousness.
9. Too Good To Go – Beating Waste with Commerce
Too Good To Go, a Danish startup, attacks food waste by connecting restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores with consumers. Businesses list unsold food nearing expiration. Consumers buy “surprise bags” at steep discounts, receiving fresh products at a fraction of the cost.
This model keeps edible food out of landfills while helping families stretch their budgets. The app now operates in dozens of countries, saving hundreds of millions of meals each year. Too Good To Go proves that businesses can profit while solving a pressing global issue. Waste reduction and commerce can align perfectly when designed with creativity.
10. Spain’s ESG Innovators – Next Generation Leaders
At the South Summit in Madrid, five Spanish startups emerged as leaders of the future ESG economy:
- Captoplastic removes harmful microplastics through patented filtration systems.
- Altrove biofabricates textiles with microorganisms, creating sustainable alternatives to cotton and polyester.
- Pyratex designs advanced fabrics from renewable raw materials for the fashion industry.
- Lumio develops platforms that optimize renewable energy consumption for businesses.
- Methanol Reformer builds hydrogen generators powered by methanol, offering cleaner fuel for industries and transport.
Together, these startups attracted millions in investment. They represent the diversity of ESG innovation, from circular economy materials to renewable energy and clean fuels. Spain positions itself as a hub for sustainability entrepreneurship with these pioneers leading the way.
Why These Startups Matter
Each startup takes direct action against the biggest ESG challenges. Novisto and Greenly arm corporations with trustworthy data. Exowatt and SensorUp tackle emissions through hardware and energy systems. Yayzy, Olio, Blueland, and Too Good To Go engage consumers in their daily lives, shifting behavior toward sustainability. Pachama restores forests and credibility in carbon markets. Spanish innovators push boundaries in materials and clean energy.
They all prove that ESG innovation thrives at the intersection of profit and purpose. They raise millions in funding not because of charity but because investors recognize long-term value in solving global problems.
Looking Ahead
- Regulation will tighten. Startups like Novisto and Greenly will scale as ESG reporting becomes mandatory in more jurisdictions.
- Energy innovation will accelerate. Exowatt and SensorUp will deploy their systems at industrial scale to serve high-demand clients.
- Consumers will demand transparency. Yayzy, Olio, Blueland, and Too Good To Go must sustain user engagement to keep momentum.
- Nature and materials will gain focus. Pachama and Spain’s cohort will secure partnerships with brands and governments eager to show real environmental leadership.
The ESG revolution no longer sits in theory. These startups prove that bold ideas, executed with discipline, can rewire economies for sustainability. Their impact stretches from boardrooms to kitchens, from forests to city streets. By leading with technology, creativity, and mission, they chart a future where business growth and planetary health align.
Also Read – Why 90% of Food-Tech Startups Fail?