JLL Foundation Supports 15 Climate-Focused Startups in Its First Year

JLL Foundation, a non-profit started by the real estate giant in 2022, published its first annual report, detailing its support through loans of $2.6 million to 15 “climate-impacting” startups, according to materials form the organization.

Not all are real estate or construction focused, but many are. “All 15 companies are actively reducing greenhouse gas emissions: 53% are reducing waste; 40% are decarbonizing the building sector; 33% are reducing water consumption, and 33% are making a social impact,” the foundation wrote in a press release. “Beyond climate change mitigation, these companies are building a clean economy, creating green jobs and construction, transforming food, packaging and agricultural systems, and innovating tech to measure impact and drive change.”

The funding happens in partnership with Good Machine, “a venture studio with an extensive network of startups, investors and foundations engaged in climate change mitigation,” as the annual report stated. “Such early-stage companies frequently run out of money in between funding cycles, either because the government funding process is too slow or venture capitalists see too much risk or not enough potential return. As impact investors, our role has been to help them survive and thrive by deploying catalytic capital and through their association with the JLL brand. By reinvesting returned funds we are building a sustainable model that benefits all stakeholders.” In other words, given the loan structure, it sounds like bridge funding for startups.

Here are some of the building related startups:

15Rock — has a financial risk and valuation system to help investors, asset managers, and corporations “understand the potential upside of mitigating the effects of climate change alongside the cost of doing nothing.”

Babylon Gardens — “it designs and manufactures green roofs and walls from locally recycled plastics to promote energy efficiency and resilience” in the Mediterranean region.

Kubik — based in Kenya, the company transforms plastic waste into low-carbon buildings that are safe, durable, and affordable.

Hydronic Shell Technologies — creates modular façade panels to deliver heating, cooling, and ventilation refits, creating a new HVAC system using electric heat pumps rather than fossil fuels.

Kit Switch — makes kit components to help assemble housing units within existing structures for reuse of buildings rather than demolition and reconstruction. Currently they have three kitchen components including sink and faucet, recessed hood and induction cooktop with optional oven, and storage.

Redworks Construction Technologies — using technology initially designed for in-space manufacturing, the systems can make masonry materials from on-site soil, dust, and sand.

Tangible — has software and data to help real estate developers identify embodied carbon in materials and make choices to reduce it.