Aclima Receives Investment from Microsoft Climate Fund & Others

Addressing climate change and pollution represents a worldwide challenge, but effective responses will originate at the community level.

Despite this clear need, many communities currently lack the necessary tools to monitor emissions and pollutants with the precision required for targeted planning and impactful solutions.

Aclima, a startup established a decade ago by Davida Herzl, aims to resolve this issue and has recently secured $40 million in new funding from both strategic and institutional venture capital sources to support its continued expansion.

“Our platform allows for highly localized measurement. We quantify greenhouse gases alongside regulated air pollutants. We utilize sensor networks, combining mobile sensing through vehicle fleets with a comprehensive backend system,” Herzl explained. 

Current government-subsidized air quality monitoring systems are often expensive and lack the detailed, neighborhood-level data that communities require to effectively tackle pollution concerns.

“A standard air quality monitoring station typically costs between $1 million and $2 million. Here in the Bay Area, a regulator can access all of this data for the entire region for less than $3 million,” Herzl stated. 

Aclima’s technologies are currently in use throughout California, with significant customer bases among municipalities in the Bay Area and San Diego. 

The company provides two primary services: an enterprise-level software product designed for regulators, specialists, and businesses seeking to understand and manage their greenhouse gas emissions and polluting activities, and a freely accessible tool for public use.

A further source of revenue comes from collaborations with companies such as Google, which integrates Aclima’s sensors into its mapping vehicles to gather climate and environmental data alongside geographical information.

“Many large organizations are now making substantial investments in understanding their emissions profiles and prioritizing reductions based on data analysis,” Herzl noted.

The company’s data also empowers communities to address systemic inequalities in areas disproportionately affected by industrial pollution.

For example, West Oakland has leveraged Aclima’s data to formulate community intervention strategies aimed at reducing pollution in areas most impacted by the region’s industrial activity.

“The interconnected challenges of climate change, public health, and environmental justice demand enduring solutions,” Herzl said in a statement. “Measurement is crucial for developing solutions and tracking progress. With this group of investors, we are increasing our ability to support both new and existing customers and partners in their climate action efforts.”

Following this new funding round, led by Clearvision Ventures, the fund’s founder and managing partner, Dan Ahn will join the company’s board of directors.

“Aclima is the clear leader in a vital and developing field of data and standards at the intersection of climate, public health, and the economy,” Ahn stated. “Both governmental bodies and industry will require Aclima’s essential data and analytics to assess and accelerate progress in reducing emissions.”

Additional investors in Aclima’s latest funding round include the corporate venture arm of sensor manufacturer Robert Bosch, which recognizes the company as a key element in its efforts to utilize sensor data to combat climate change. 

“Aclima has created a comprehensive mobile and stationary sensor network that generates billions of measurements regarding our most critical resources each week,” says Dr. Ingo Ramesohl, managing director of RBVC, in a statement. “Bosch develops and delivers connected solutions for a smarter future across transportation, home, industrial, and numerous other sectors. Aclima’s achievements in connected environmental sensing are remarkable. Together, we can accelerate Aclima’s capacity to assist customers in taking decisive, data-driven climate action.”

Microsoft is also a key investor, providing backing through one of the initial direct investments from the Microsoft Climate Innovation Fund. 

“We launched our Climate Innovation Fund earlier this year to promote the development of environmental sustainability solutions grounded in the best available science,” said Brandon Middaugh, director, Climate Innovation Fund, Microsoft, in a statement. “We are encouraged by Aclima’s innovative approach to mapping air pollution sources and exposures at a hyperlocal scale and the potential implications for making data-informed environmental decisions that prioritize climate equity.”

Other investors contributing to Aclima’s portfolio in this round include Splunk Inc., GingerBread Capital, KTB Network, ACVC Partners, and the Womens VC Fund II. Current shareholders participating in the round are Social Capital, Rethink Impact, Kapor Capital, and the Schmidt Family Foundation, the company announced in a statement.