A unique venture capital fund for impact-driven investors

Launched by VertueLab, a trusted climate innovation nonprofit with over 15 years of success and 60+ startups backed, Opalene offers an innovative, high-impact pathway to accelerate the climate solutions our future depends on. With inconsistent federal leadership and the downturn in venture capital for climate tech, now is a critical moment for impact investors and philanthropists to step up.

The opportunity

The Opalene Climate Capital Fund empowers investors to deploy catalytic capital—matched 1:1 by Washington State—to scale home-grown climate tech solutions with global reach.

REAL CLIMATE TECH SOLUTIONS:

Invest in companies advancing clean energy, climate resilience, carbon removal, low-emission industries, sustainable agriculture, and more.

PLACE-BASED IMPACT

Support innovation rooted in Washington communities —and contribute to local benefits like high-wage jobs and regional resilience.

COMMITMENT TO INCLUSION:

Opalene is inclusive of overlooked ventures, including those led by BIPOC, women, rural, and frontline community entrepreneurs.

PRIVATE CAPITAL, DOUBLED:

Every private dollar is matched 1:1 by the State of Washington, amplifying your impact.

BLENDED CAPITAL PATHWAYS:

Participate via equity investment, recoverable grants, regenerative grants, or mission-aligned philanthropy.

MISSION-ALIGNED RETURNS:

For foundations, the fund is suitable for Program- Related-Investment (PRI)- and Mission-Related- Investment (MRI) - with both capped and uncapped return options.

The climate crisis isn’t slowing down —and neither can we.

How it works

The fund is part of VertueLab’s place-based strategy to align innovation, capital, policy, and philanthropy to tackle the systemic challenge of climate change. It fills a critical venture capital gap for climate tech entrepreneurs in Washington.

Opalene offers a bold, blended capital approach funding homegrown climate innovation to meet the urgency of the moment.

How to participate

Private particpants have both uncapped venture capital and concessionary catalytic capital options. The public capital is provided by the state of Washingtion.

InPipe Energy created HydroXS, which transforms excess water pressure into clean energy—saving power, conserving water, and boosting system resilience.

Our experience

VertueLab has been investing in climate tech since 2011.

  • Over 60 startups funded - many are now thriving and scaling up

  • Current portfolio spans renewable energy, energy storage, energy efficiency, agtech, transportation decarbonization, and more

  • Investors include foundations, donor-advised funds, and individual impact investors

Why Washington

Washington is a national leader in climate innovation:

  • $1T economy with clean manufacturing, AI, maritime, and ag sectors Over $2B in state-level climate funding

  • Research excellence: UW, PNNL, WSU, and more

  • Existing infrastructure for energy and climate tech pilots

Lind solar farm near Spokane, Washington

Your capital. Their breakthrough.

Through Opalene, investors help entrepreneurs overcome early-stage funding gaps and bring climate technologies to market faster. From grid-scale energy storage to energy efficiency technologies and circular economy solutions, the companies we back are positioned to drive real results.

Whether you’re a venture investor, a mission-aligned foundation, or a donor seeking measurable impact, your participation helps amplify innovation with long-term benefits for climate and community.