GreenTech Founders: Tough Times in the US, Bright Spots in Europe

For GreenTech founders, the U.S. is looking less and less like the land of opportunity. Just last week, President Trump pulled the plug on Denmark’s Ørsted $9.4 billion offshore wind project in Rhode Island, citing “national security” concerns.

He also promised to ban new wind and solar projects, dismissed renewables as a “scam,” and at the same time cheered on fossil fuel mining and unregulated, energy-guzzling tech like AI.

If you’re building in the climate space, that’s the kind of news that knocks the wind right out of your sails. And that’s before we even talk about tariffs—on steel, aluminum, solar panels, batteries… even German wine.

A quick reality check

According to the German GreenTech Monitor 2025, around 3,000 German GreenTech startups are doing business in the U.S. Until recently, there was political momentum for collaboration— former US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, during her visit to TechQuartier last year, explicitly called for stronger U.S.–German ties in GreenTech. That momentum is dead under the new administration.

Pictured: Former US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen during a meeting with German GreenTech startups in 2024.

Meanwhile, Europe is picking up the slack. Germany continues to position itself as a GreenTech powerhouse, with startups strongly focused on hardware (36%), patents (33%), and university-driven innovation.

The not-so-great news

Venture funding has slowed. EU cleantech investment dropped to €1.8 billion in Q1 2025—that’s 18% down from the previous quarter and 20% below the 2024 average. It’s the weakest quarter since late 2020.

Every rainbow needs both sunshine and rain, right?

Even with a funding dip, political and regulatory support in Europe is stronger than ever. Initiatives like the Net Zero Industry Act, the Clean Industrial Deal, and national programs (like Germany’s big push for industrial decarbonization) are actively boosting domestic clean tech.

That means: plenty of incentives, stable long-term policies, and a real commitment to scaling innovation right here at home.

And GreenTech investment isn’t disappearing—it’s just resting. Climate science (and the weather outside our window) keeps reminding us why these solutions are urgently needed.

Proof it’s happening

Take ecoligo for example. Earlier this year, sustainable investor Mirova backed the Berlin-based solar developer with $10 million (€9.75m) to expand rooftop solar projects in Vietnam. Ecoligo also runs a platform that lets everyday people invest in solar projects worldwide, offering returns between 5–8%.
👉 ecoligo.com

Reasons to stay positive

• GreenTech expansion equals regional growth, job creation, and infrastructure upgrades. By 2030, clean energy sectors are projected to create millions of new jobs across both cities and rural regions.

• The global GreenTech market is expected to triple in value by 2030, with governments, businesses, and consumers all pushing toward sustainability.

So keep calm, keep fundraising, and keep building solutions. Just… maybe don’t look across the Atlantic for a few years.

Recharge with us

Meet more GreenTech founders at the IMPACT FESTIVAL. It’s going to feel like a big group hug for the soul.