Improving How We Tackle Global Challenges by Funding the Projects That Matter

With capital and attention largely focused on fast-moving industries, early-stage startups and social enterprises risk being overlooked

Some of the most promising solutions to climate change, social inequality and global health challenges may already exist — yet many struggle to obtain the funding needed to become established.

One reason for this is that capital often flows toward sectors that are perceived as more “cutting-edge”, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and deep tech。

Crunchbase, the data platform, estimates that nearly a third of all global venture funding went to AI-related companies in 2024, making it the most heavily funded sector today. Meanwhile,