Patagonia to Award Grants to Environmentally Responsible Startups

Patagonia has set a new venture capital fund, $20 Million & Change, to support startups that share the company’s eco-focused philosophy.

rose_marcario_patagonia_01
Photo by Robert Houser: Rose Marcario, when she was COO and CFO of Patagonia, 2010, www.businessweek.com

Early-stage companies that focus on energy, food, water or waste will receive grants of different amounts of money ranging from $500,000 to $5 million. The startups are required to have at least $1 million in revenue or capitalization, reports Businessweek. The sum of the grant will depend on the scope and needs of the particular business. The funds will be spent on equity investments, minority and majority partnerships, as well as joint ventures.

The name of the fund is inspired by the idea that the starting amount, $20 million, can initiate the positive shift and potentially “change the way business is done.”

So far, the company hasn’t shared how it will select the startups—through a competition or from the list of companies created by Patagonia’s team. It is also unclear whether the company will provide grants solely for the US startups, or include international companies as well.

We believe in our company’s long-term vision around the environment and areas we want to make change in. We know there are great entrepreneurs out there with really great ideas and resources and they could be the next Patagonia. We want to invest in an eco-startup and company with the same values around the environment as us,” commented Rose Marcario, CEO of Patagonia Works.

With this move, the outdoor apparel brand is strengthening its “green” commitment—as part of its ongoing environmental support, Patagonia annually donates 1% of its profits to grassroots environmental nonprofits to help them develop and achieve profound results. The other initiatives include the Common Threads sustainability program and Organic Exchange, a nonprofit group created to increase global sales of organic cotton apparel.