The Rise of Climate Queens: Women Transforming Climate Tech

On March 8, we celebrated International Women’s Day, a moment to reflect on the invaluable contributions of women in all fields. At Ostara, we are privileged to collaborate with women founders, investors, and policymakers driving innovation in the climate-tech space. Time and again, we see that women bring a deep sense of ownership and an unwavering commitment to sustainability, making them exceptional leaders.

This month, we take a step back from our usual sector-focused deep dives to explore a critical question: Is gender equality intertwined with climate innovation? We delve into the history of women in climate and climate tech, examining their impact and the path forward. Where have we been, and where are we headed? Let’s find out together.

Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Women in Climate are a vital part of the broader Women in STEM movement, yet their representation in the workforce remains disproportionately low. According to the Global Gender Gap Report (2024), women comprised only 28.2% of the STEM workforce across 40 economies, despite making up nearly half (47.3%) of total employment in non-STEM fields.

Representation of women in STEM vs non-STEM fields globally

Source: WEForum

India has the highest number of female STEM graduates globally, yet only 27% transition to and sustain careers in STEM due to societal biases, caregiving duties, and workplace barriers—highlighting a persistent “leaky pipeline.” Programs like Women in Science and Engineering – Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (WISE-KIRAN) and Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI) support women in STEM, but long-term retention remains a challenge. To position India as a leader in STEM and climate innovation, a comprehensive strategy—policy reforms, inclusive workplaces, mentorship, and cultural shifts—is crucial to not just attract but empower women to thrive and lead.

Why is it important to have women in climate:

Women and girls face disproportionate climate impacts but are also key drivers of climate solutions. Their roles as farmers, workers, consumers, activists, and leaders position them at the forefront of both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Challenges Women Face in Climate Change:

• Heightened Vulnerability: Climate change disproportionately impacts women, especially in rural areas, as they rely on natural resources for survival and make up the majority of the world’s poor.
• Severe Risks: Women and girls account for an estimated 80% of climate-displaced individuals, face higher disaster mortality, disrupted healthcare, and greater exposure to gender-based violence.

Women as Environmental Stewards:

• Key Environmental Stewards: Women, especially in developing countries, produce up to 80% of food and lead in sustainable agriculture, reforestation, and biodiversity conservation.
• Impact of Equality: Providing women equal access to land, credit, and technology could boost farm yields by 20–30%, feed 150 million more people, and reduce deforestation.

Women Strengthen Climate Resilience:

• Pillars of Resilience: Women perform 2.5 times more unpaid care work than men, take on extra burdens during crises, and lead in disaster response and recovery.
• Excluded from Decision-Making: Despite their critical role in resilience-building, women remain largely absent from disaster policymaking.

Women as Agents of Change:

• Driving Climate Action: Women lead climate movements, shape consumer choices, and influence sustainable business practices, with gender-diverse companies excelling in environmental governance.
• Policy & Industry Impact: Countries with more women in parliament adopt stronger climate policies, while women make up 40% of the solar energy workforce, far surpassing their presence in fossil fuels at 22%.

Women in Climate-Tech: The Journey so far

India’s climate tech sector is rapidly expanding, with over 600 startups driving innovation in green technology, renewable energy, and waste management. Notably, 39% of these startups are led by women directors, and nearly half originate from tier-two and tier-three cities, highlighting a decentralized push toward sustainability. However, funding remains a critical barrier—globally, women-led startups received less than 3% of VC funding in 2023. Gender biases in investment and risk perception further limit access to capital, underscoring the need for inclusive financing to unlock the full potential of women in climate tech.

Superwomen leading the way in Climate Tech

Climate Founders

Women leaders in climate tech are revolutionizing renewable energy, clean mobility, and carbon finance. From Cindy Taff’s geothermal storage to Inna Braverman’s wave energy, they are scaling game-changing solutions. Entrepreneurs like Maria Eugenia (Abatable) and Annalee Bloomfield (Sustain.Life) are reshaping carbon finance, while Vaishali Sinha (ReNew) drives large-scale decarbonization. Their leadership proves that diversity fuels climate innovation.

Cindy Taff is the CEO of Texas-based geothermal energy startup Sage Geosystems. Under her leadership, the company has been working to connect what could be the world’s first geopressured geothermal storage to the grid—a target it hopes to hit by the end of this year. This comes after successfully testing what it has dubbed its “earthen battery” technology, for which it raised $17 million in Series A funding in February 2024.

Tiger New Energy, co-founded by Nicole Mao and Yiwei Zhu, is supporting clean mobility in Bangladesh by combining high-quality and durable batteries for electric rickshaws with a network of battery-swapping stations.

KrossLinker, founded by Gayathri Natarajan, Elmira Soghrati, Phd alongside Dr. Mahesh Nathan, scientists in Singapore, the startup makes a variety of aerogel-based thermal insulation products. Its vision was to drastically reduce energy consumption by making advanced insulation materials affordable and accessible. It’s cold chain packaging solutions for pharmaceuticals, for example, enable the safe and effective transportation of temperature-sensitive vaccines and drugs with less energy use for refrigeration.

Maria Eugenia is a co-founder of Abatable, a carbon procurement platform that connects project developers to corporates and capital providers for carbon offtake agreements. Abatable was founded in 2021 and received funding from Y Combinator, Blue Bear Capital, and Global Founders Capital.

Inna Braverman, CEO of Eco Wave Power, a leading onshore wave energy technology company that developed a patented, smart and cost-efficient technology for turning ocean and sea waves into green electricity. The company raised a $3 million (Dec-24) initiative to finance its first commercial wave energy project in Portugal, taking a step forward in sustainable energy transition.

Vaishali Sinha, CEO of ReNew, a leading decarbonization solutions provider and the first Indian clean energy company to list on Nasdaq (Nasdaq: RNW). With 16.3 GW of commissioned and pipeline utility-scale projects, they are a global company with strong Indian roots.

Annalee Bloomfield is the CEO at Sustain.Life, the carbon accounting platform empowering small and medium-sized enterprises to take impactful climate action. The startup announced that it has raised $16 million in seed funding in Feb 2023.

Alison Dring, CEO, is the Founder of Made of Air Climate, a startup turning waste biomass into carbon negative materials. Their materials are composed of carbon sequestered from the atmosphere and can be applied to many building and consumer product applications.

Melina Laboucan-Massimo, founder and Executive director of Sacred Earth Solar, which empowers frontline Indigenous communities with renewable energy.

Clementine Chambon, Co-founder & Director at Oorja Development Solutions, a Farming-as-a-Service company based in India, focused on providing agricultural services powered by solar energy. Oorja’s mission includes scaling up access to clean energy, displacing diesel fuel, and reducing CO2 emissions.

Sneha Shanbhag, Co-Founder at Carboform Inc, has been instrumental in advancing innovative solutions related to carbon capture and sustainable materials.

Investment / Policy and other Roles

These leaders are driving climate innovation, finance, and policy. Neha Manaktala (J.P. Morgan) and Anna Lerner Nesbitt (Climate Collective) expand climate finance, while Christie Burley (ReWorld) and Helan Whiteley (Women+ in Climate Tech) champion inclusivity. Sneha Shanbhag (Carboform) and Sue Satyro (Innovatree Carbon Group) pioneer carbon capture, proving that funding, strategy, and collaboration are key to scaling solutions.

Olena Kholodova, Head of Climate Solutions at Manifest Climate, is a climate change strategy and disclosure expert with a background in financial and management accounting across Europe and North America. At Manifest Climate, she leads a team of climate advisors, helping businesses translate climate risks and opportunities into actionable strategies for a low-carbon economy. Her journey from business controller to sustainability leader was driven by a passion for integrating ESG into financial strategies, leading her to pursue a master’s in environmental studies. As a CPA, CMA, she plays a key role in shaping climate strategy and disclosure in the financial sector.

Christie Burley, Co-founder at ReWorld, is a sustainability expert with a focus on conservation, decarbonization, and regulation, having worked with UNEP, international non-profits, and the private sector. As a WEF Global Shaper, she co-founded ReWorld™, a leader in sustainable waste solutions, driving zero-waste initiatives and circular economy innovations.

Helen Whiteley, Founder of Women+ in Climate Tech, a global group launched January 2021 with the goal of promoting diversity in climate innovation for a successful and just transition. Helen has been a powerful advocate for women in climate tech, amplifying underrepresented voices through mentorship, strategic networking, and thought leadership.

Maryam Golnaraghi, Director, Climate Change & Environment at The Geneva Association is a leading expert in climate resilience, risk management, and decarbonization, with a 25-year career spanning senior roles in the private sector, public sector, and the UN. As Director of Climate Change and Environment at The Geneva Association, she collaborates with global insurance leaders to drive climate solutions. A former UN Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction, she has advised governments, corporations, and even President Clinton.

Sue Satyro, Head of Carbon Solutions at Innovatree Carbon Group, focuses on securing funding, fostering strategic partnerships, and consulting on carbon removal projects within voluntary carbon markets.

Anna Lerner Nesbitt, CEO at Climate Collective

Anna is a strategic sustainability leader with two decades of experience driving decarbonization through technology, investments, and partnerships. As CEO of Climate Collective, she fosters an innovation ecosystem that accelerates climate solutions. She also advises startups and nonprofits, shaping high-impact initiatives for a more sustainable future.