Joseph Schiarizzi

Solarpunkvc.com

Solarpunk VC invests at the earliest stages in companies with novel ideas that fit the solarpunk ideology, focusing on sustainability, climate solutions, and overlooked environmental innovations. They write small checks to help founders with first patents, initial sign-ups, and prototypes.

Check Size

Not specified

Stages

Pre Seed, Seed

Focus Areas

Climate Cleantech, Energy, Biotech

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Investment Thesis

Solarpunk VC invests in the belief that thousands of new businesses focused on viable solutions are necessary to solve humanity’s major contemporary challenges—otherwise civilization faces destruction. They envision a future where technology empowers people equitably to solve humanity’s hardest problems, while also embracing low-tech sustainability approaches. Their philosophy balances technological innovation with practical, often overlooked solutions that prioritize environmental and social impact.

What Sets Them Apart

Explicitly rejects 'false solutions' like carbon offsets, as stated in their blog post 'Say NO to false solutions'
Embraces both high-tech and low-tech approaches—'While we are tech enabled, we acknowledge that low-tech is often better'
Focuses on overlooked, underestimated ideas (e.g., community composting over meal delivery, micro-mobility over electric cars, decentralized networks over mega media)
Provides early-stage support including help with patents, user acquisition, and prototypes, not just capital
Rooted in punk ideology including anarchism, anti-consumerism, and anti-authoritarianism