Funding
Energy & Materials
Energy & Materials
Catalyzing innovations that avoid, reduce, and remove greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate the transition to a decarbonized economy
Image courtesy of Heirloom
The opportunity for decarbonization
The opportunity for decarbonization
Exponential growth has driven atmospheric carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas emissions to their highest levels in millennia. Our Energy & Materials portfolio of startups and funds is at the forefront of decarbonizing Autodesk industries with breakthrough technology and business model innovation. Our Theory of Change illustrates how our investments are decoupling economic growth from emissions across construction and manufacturing industries to avoid, reduce, and remove global GHG emissions to maintain warming below 1.5°C.
Investment focus sectors
We invest across five sectors essential to decarbonizing our customer value chains, prioritizing solutions where Autodesk's design and make expertise can accelerate adoption and growth.
Energy
Achieve abundant, reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy.
Buildings
Reduce embodied and operational carbon needed to meet our basic human need for shelter.
Industry
Tackle the biggest emitters: steel, cement, chemicals, and aluminum.
Mobility
Transform heavy-duty transportation and shipping.
Carbon removal
Build a carbon management industry and remove gigatons of CO₂ in the coming decades.
Our low-carbon portfolio
Our low-carbon portfolio
Our portfolio of startups and impact funds is primarily focused on the United States, which is one of the largest emissions contributors. We have a presence in Asia and Europe through funds and portfolio operations. In addition to capital, our portfolio has access to Autodesk resources through in-kind support including technology, training, pro bono consulting, storytelling, and networks.
Portfolio impact
We target early-stage (seed to Series A), technology-driven ventures for whom our investments can de-risk their technology and business models. We prioritize sectors where our design and make expertise is particularly beneficial, namely next-generation energy production, electrification of heavy transportation, low-carbon materials innovation, building and industrial efficiency, and CO₂ removal.
2.8 million metric tons CO₂e reduced
2.8 million metric tons CO₂e reduced
In 2025, the Energy & Materials portfolio achieved 2.8 million metric tons CO₂e emissions reduced* *Based on data that were self-reported by portfolio organizations.
Read the Autodesk Foundation FY26 Impact Report for more details.
Impact in action
Heirloom
Restoring balance
Restoring balance
Heirloom’s low-cost, scalable Direct Air Capture solution is on track to remove one billion tons of CO2 by 2035.
Nth Cycle
Recycling precious metals
Recycling precious metals
Nth Cycle is eliminating waste from EV batteries and other industries with its electro-extraction recycling technology.
M2X Energy
Reducing GHG emissions
Reducing GHG emissions
By capturing flared methane emissions from the energy sector, M2X Energy is producing value from an environmental waste.
The change we’re accelerating
The change we’re accelerating
Learn more about our Theory of Change and how our investments accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.
Image courtesy of Prime Coalition
