BeyondNetZero is a climate venture from General Atlantic (a global growth equity firm) that invests in high-growth companies developing novel climate solutions.
BeyondNetZero is a climate-focused growth equity fund launched by General Atlantic in 2021. It invests in innovative growth companies that develop climate solutions aimed at meeting or exceeding net zero emissions targets, focusing on areas like decarbonisation, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and emissions management.
Mission: BeyondNetZero was founded to invest in growth-stage companies that are pioneering scalable solutions to address climate change and accelerate the energy transition. It aims to fund innovative climate technologies and businesses that contribute directly to meeting and exceeding global net zero emissions targets.
Goals: The fund focuses on supporting companies in key areas such as decarbonisation, energy efficiency, emissions management, and resource conservation. BeyondNetZero seeks to enable durable growth businesses that not only generate financial returns but also significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help close the gap toward global climate goals. It intends to leverage General Atlantic’s global network and expertise to scale innovations that transform energy and productive systems.
Values: BeyondNetZero draws from General Atlantic’s core values including a long-term orientation, partnership culture, value-add expertise, and a global perspective. It is guided by the vision of creating purposeful, impactful growth to improve the human condition, embodying a commitment to collaboration, sustainability, and transformational change. The fund also emphasises rigorous analysis and alignment with investor net zero commitments.
BeyondNetZero was co-founded in 2021 by Lance Uggla and Lord John Browne in partnership with General Atlantic. Lance Uggla, Vice Chairman of General Atlantic and former CEO of IHS Markit, and Lord John Browne, Managing Director at General Atlantic and former Group Chief Executive of BP, jointly launched BeyondNetZero as General Atlantic’s first climate growth equity fund. The fund focuses on investing in innovative companies that develop scalable solutions aimed at meeting and exceeding net zero emissions targets. Lord Browne also serves as Chairman of BeyondNetZero, bringing deep expertise in energy transition and climate change leadership. The fund was established to leverage General Atlantic’s growth equity expertise alongside a dedicated team of climate investors and industry executives, aiming to scale high-growth businesses that combat climate change at scale. This origin reflects BeyondNetZero's strategic intent to combine the experience of proven leaders in climate, energy, and growth equity investing to seize the emerging market opportunities in decarbonisation, energy efficiency, emissions management, and resource conservation.
Lord John Browne Chairman and Co-Founder of BeyondNetZero
Lance Uggla Vice Chairman and Co-Founder of BeyondNetZero
BeyondNetZero, the climate growth fund managed by General Atlantic, focuses its investments on growth-stage companies that are innovating climate technologies with the potential to accelerate the transition to net zero. The fund targets high-growth and asset-light business models that deliver solutions in critical areas, including decarbonisation of supply chains, industrial processes, and products; energy efficiency; resource conservation; and comprehensive emissions management, measurement, storage, and removal. By supporting entrepreneurs at pivotal points in their development, BeyondNetZero seeks to scale technologies and commercial solutions capable of significantly reducing or avoiding greenhouse gas emissions. This investment approach leverages private capital to help drive a structural shift in energy and production systems across the global economy, aligning commercial success with measurable climate impact.
BeyondNetZero’s geographic scope is truly global, drawing on General Atlantic’s broad international platform and presence in major financial and business centers. The fund invests in growth-stage climate technology companies across various regions, leveraging General Atlantic’s 16 global offices, which include locations in the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. This enables BeyondNetZero to source and support high-potential businesses worldwide, targeting markets where climate solutions can have significant impact. By backing companies with scalable, technology-driven solutions, BeyondNetZero aims to accelerate the transition to net zero emissions on a global scale.
BeyondNetZero invests in growth companies providing innovative climate solutions focused on decarbonisation, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and emissions management. It targets scalable, asset-light, technology-driven businesses that demonstrate measurable greenhouse gas reductions and transparent emissions reporting in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Strong governance and ESG practices are required, with investments concentrated in regions having supportive policies, primarily within the OECD, while cautiously considering emerging markets. The fund emphasises quantitative impact metrics including progress against science-based targets and the demonstrated emissions avoidance potential of portfolio companies’ products or services.
BeyondNetZero decides who to invest in by focusing on companies that can reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions. They assess investment opportunities based on their potential climate impact, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, and alignment with recognised climate goals. Only companies meeting these standards and showing substantial positive climate impact are selected for investment. After investing, BeyondNetZero actively supports companies to meet their climate goals through engagement and governance tools. This approach ensures high-impact, tech-enabled, asset-light solutions are prioritised to help achieve net zero.
BeyondNetZero, General Atlantic's climate growth fund launched in 2021, is primarily funded through equity commitments totaling about $3.5 billion. This includes approximately $2.6 billion from external investors plus around $900 million from General Atlantic’s main growth capital program. The fund invests in growth-stage climate companies and often co-invests alongside existing investors, sometimes using debt financing as well. Notable funding sources include General Atlantic's internal capital, co-investors in fundraising rounds such as First Reserve, and minority investments in firms like Sustainable Development Capital LLP, where BeyondNetZero acquired a 24.9% stake. The fund’s capital supports investments across decarbonisation, energy efficiency, emissions management, and resource conservation sectors, aligned with General Atlantic’s strategy of backing transformational climate solutions at scale.
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BeyondNetZero’s 2024 Impact Report, released in July 2025, shows a 38% year-over-year increase in avoided emissions across its portfolio, independently verified by SYSTEMIQ. The fund continues to back high-growth climate solutions in decarbonisation, energy efficiency, emissions management, and resource conservation. Key moves include investments in Ecore International, a zero-waste rubber upcycling company, and a majority stake in ESG data provider GRESB, boosting transparency in real asset sustainability. Overall, BeyondNetZero is driving measurable, science-based climate impact at scale.
General Atlantic’s community fosters global professional connections, collaboration, and diversity, enhanced by access to a strong professional network, modern workspaces, and development opportunities. Employees benefit from programs supporting diversity and inclusion, structured career and business development resources, and robust philanthropic initiatives. Additional perks reported include comprehensive health coverage, retirement savings, professional growth support, and inclusive, supportive work culture.
The BeyondNetZero team at General Atlantic is a dedicated climate-focused investment group of experienced climate investors, advisors, and industry executives. Founded in 2021 by Lance Uggla and Lord John Browne in partnership with General Atlantic, the team combines the firm’s proven growth equity approach with deep sector expertise in decarbonisation, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and emissions management. The BeyondNetZero team works globally to identify and support growth-stage companies providing innovative solutions for climate change and the energy transition, partnering closely with founders to accelerate their impact and scale their businesses. The group has a track record of supporting companies across a range of environmental technologies and operates as an Article 9 Fund under the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, reinforcing its long-term commitment to sustainability and net-zero transformation.
Learn more on the BeyondNetZero investment team page.
1. What is BeyondNetZero?
BeyondNetZero is a climate-focused growth equity fund launched by General Atlantic in 2021. It invests in innovative growth-stage companies developing scalable solutions that support the global transition to net zero emissions.
2. What is the mission of BeyondNetZero?
The fund’s mission is to invest in pioneering companies that accelerate climate change solutions and energy transition, aiming to meet or exceed global net zero emissions targets.
3. Who founded BeyondNetZero?
BeyondNetZero was co-founded by Lance Uggla, Vice Chairman of General Atlantic and former CEO of IHS Markit, and Lord John Browne, former Group Chief Executive of BP and Managing Director at General Atlantic.
4. What sectors does BeyondNetZero focus on?
The fund prioritises investments in decarbonisation, energy efficiency, emissions management, and resource conservation, all areas critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
5. Where does BeyondNetZero invest geographically?
BeyondNetZero invests globally, leveraging General Atlantic’s 16 offices across the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America to support climate technology companies worldwide.
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