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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.
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.
Achieve abundant, reliable, low-cost, low-carbon energy.
Reduce embodied and operational carbon needed to meet our basic human need for shelter.
Tackle the biggest emitters: steel, cement, chemicals, and aluminum.
Transform heavy-duty transportation and shipping.
Build a carbon management industry and remove gigatons of CO2 in the coming decades.
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.
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.
realized GHG emissions reduction
potential GHG emissions reduced by 2050 (cumulative)†
*Impact metrics in this section rely on data aggregated and sourced from financial reports, annual reports, organizational key performance indicators, and self-reported data from the Autodesk Foundation portfolio since 2019. Portfolio organizations report on how their solutions directly impact individuals on the ground.
†Represents cumulative potential GHG emissions reduction of a set of organizations in the Autodesk Foundation portfolio through 2050. Estimates were calculated in the last five years by third-party experts in collaboration with portfolio organizations and the Autodesk Foundation.
Read the Autodesk Foundation 10 Year Anniversary Report for more details.
Explore the ways our Energy & Materials portfolio is helping accelerate the transition to a decarbonized economy.
Heirloom
Heirloom’s low-cost, scalable Direct Air Capture solution is on track to remove one billion tons of CO2 by 2035.
Image courtesy of Heirloom
Nth Cycle
Nth Cycle is eliminating waste from EV batteries and other industries with its electro-extraction recycling technology.
Image courtesy of Nth Cycle
M2X Energy
By capturing flared methane emissions from the energy sector, M2X Energy is producing value from an environmental waste.
Image courtesy of M2X Energy