by the numbers
Houston ranked a top market for attracting funding for sustainability-focused startups
From a financial standpoint, Houston appears to be a sustainable environment for sustainability-focused startups.
An analysis by PromoLeaf, a retailer of sustainable promotional products, that came out at the end of last year ranks Houston fourth among U.S. cities for the average funding raised by locally based startups in the sustainability sector, according to Crunchbase data.
Per the report, the Bayou City attracts $150.7 million in sustainability funding for startups. Ahead of Houston are Salt Lake City with $204.5 million; Santa Monica, California, with $154.3 million; and Fremont, California, with $153.4 million.
PromoLeaf’s analysis features cities where at least 20 companies are focused on sustainability.
The analysis indicates Houston has 20.6 sustainability startups per 100,000 residents. Ranking first in that regard is Boulder, Colorado (115 per 100,000 residents).
While Houston trails Boulder by a long distance, it fares well among the Texas cities in the analysis:
- Austin, 26.2 sustainability startups per 100,000 residents
- Houston, 20.6 sustainability startups per 100,000 residents
- Midland, 18.8 sustainability startups per 100,000 residents
- Plano, 11.9 sustainability startups per 100,000 residents
- Dallas, 11 sustainability startups per 100,000 residents
- Fort Worth, 5.3 sustainability startups per 100,000 residents
- San Antonio, 5.2 sustainability startups per 100,000 residents
PromoLeaf says more than 21,600 sustainability startups operate in the U.S. They’re in the renewable energy, recycling and pollution control, environmental engineering, green consumer goods, and environmental consulting industries.
The analysis shows Houston has:
- 13.7 renewable energy startups per 100,000 residents
- 5.8 recycling and pollution control startups per 100,000 residents
- 3.5 environmental engineering startups per 100,000 residents
- 2.9 environmental consulting startups per 100,000 residents
- 0.70 green consumer goods startups per 100,000 residents
According to the Greater Houston Partnership, renewable energy startups leading Houston’s energy transformation include Energy Transition Ventures, Fysikes Biosolutions, Ionada, Katz Water Technologies, Pressure Corp., and Renewell Energy.
“A dynamic business climate combined with growth in venture capital funding in Houston has created fertile ground for companies of all stages aiming to power our world through the global energy transition,” the partnership says. “As the Energy Capital of the World, Houston has become a hub for startups and venture capital firms investing in the region’s energy future.”
Outside the energy sector, Houston startups like Trendy Seconds also are making their mark in sustainability. The company runs an online marketplace where women can find preowned clothing or shop for new clothing from sustainable brands.
“Our ultimate goal is to make responsible consumption super easy,” Maria Burgos, founder of Trendy Seconds, told InnovationMap last year.
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This article originally ran on InnovationMap.