Climate Lab
Venture Lab | Climate Lab
The daily lives of 3.3B people are highly vulnerable to climate change. We believe innovative technology can play a key role in building climate resilience.
Our Focus
Explore, pilot and invest in first-of-a-kind climate tech to build resilience in emerging markets
Vehicles
We run open calls for proposals to democratize access to grant (non-dilutive) capital for entrepreneurs and startups.
Currently, there are no open calls available. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to hear about future funding opportunities.
Esta convocatoria invita a startups en Colombia a desarrollar soluciones tecnológicas que ayuden a comunidades vulnerables a prepararse, adaptarse o recuperarse frente a impactos climáticos. Las iniciativas seleccionadas recibirán hasta USD 40.000 en financiamiento. Postula antes del 9 de febrero de 2026.
This call for proposals invites early-stage startups in Colombia to develop tech-enabled solutions that help vulnerable communities prepare for, adapt to, or recover from climate shocks. Selected ventures will receive up to $40,000 in equity-free funding, technical assistance, and access to Mercy Corps Ventures’ global partner and investor network. Apply by February 9, 2026
Ecosystem Insights
We aggregate and analyze all the data received in our calls for proposals, and publish (anonymized) ecosystem insights for the benefit of the startup community.
As climate-driven water challenges intensify, Mercy Corps Ventures launched a global call to fund tech solutions improving water efficiency, access, and infrastructure for vulnerable communities. We received 243 applications from 48 countries—uncovering powerful trends in innovation across AI, IoT, purification, smart irrigation, and more. This blog shares what we learned and where the most promising solutions are emerging.
Mercy Corps Ventures’ Climate Tech Facility drew 400+ applications from 50+ countries, revealing where early-stage climate innovators are focusing and the opportunities shaping a climate-resilient future.
Launches
Emerging from our open calls, we work with our pilot partners to co-create first-of-a-kind pilots. Our pilots aim to de-risk innovation and crowd-in new capital towards impact investing. We transparently share our pilot designs and learning agenda so you can follow along with the progress.
Mercy Corps Ventures and Resilience AI are piloting AI-powered, building-level climate risk mapping with artisan communities in India to test whether localized climate intelligence can improve risk awareness and help small businesses prepare before climate shocks disrupt their livelihoods.
Mercy Corps Ventures, in partnership with Salicrop, is testing a non-GMO seed priming technology in Baja California to enhance tomato resilience under heat and saline stress, helping smallholder farmers improve yields and adapt to growing water scarcity.
In partnership with Lilliput Technologies Ltd., this pilot tests biodegradable coatings to protect coffee seedlings in Costa Rica from heat and water stress, improving early plant survival and helping farmers strengthen climate-resilient coffee production systems.
In partnership with Artifields, this pilot uses satellite and drone data to redesign rainfed fields in Mexico improving water retention, reducing runoff, and helping smallholder farmers build climate-resilient production systems.
Mercy Corps Ventures is partnering with Satellites on Fire to pilot an AI-powered wildfire prediction model in Misiones, Argentina. Using satellite imagery, real-time data, and local knowledge, it will forecast fire spread to enable faster response, protect ecosystems, and build climate resilience.
Endlines
In line with Impact Measurement & Management best practices, we transparently share successes and failures from our pilots, alongside key data. We hope that others can learn from our experiences, and use these case studies as proof points for further scale-up.
Mercy Corps Ventures, in partnership with Acres of Ice, piloted Automated Ice Reservoirs (AIRs) to store winter water as ice and release it during critical sowing periods, improving water access and helping mountain communities adapt to glacier loss.
Mercy Corps Ventures shares new results from scaling a blockchain-enabled anticipatory cash transfer model in Kenya, showing how faster, more frequent payouts can improve financial resilience for pastoralist households facing climate stress.
In Kenya, Mercy Corps Ventures and Farm Star piloted a mobile-based solution delivering AI-powered weather forecasts and farming advice to smallholder farmers. Reaching 63 farmers—70% of them women—the pilot saw 80% reporting higher yields, with 97% applying the guidance received. Results point to strong demand and potential for scale, especially as 80% of participants lacked good alternatives.
