Vancouver startups Agora Energy Technologies and Seacork Studio are among five women-led ventures selected to receive funding from the B.C. Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy (CICE), as part of a $2.46 million investment aimed at accelerating decarbonization in Canada’s most emissions-intensive sectors.
The announcement marks the launch of CICE’s inaugural Women in Climate Tech Call for Innovation, focused on supporting hard tech solutions in transportation, construction, and bio-industrials.
Agora Energy is developing a novel system to convert CO₂ into clean electricity by integrating capture, purification, and conversion in a single step. Seacork Studio, meanwhile, is pioneering the use of seaweed to produce carbon-negative building materials—offering a sustainable alternative to traditional insulation products.
“By backing women-led climate tech ventures, we’re strengthening Canada’s economy, driving real-world solutions, and unlocking the full potential of Canadian talent,” said Sarah Goodman, President and CEO of CICE. “Solving today’s climate and energy challenges will take innovation, practical leadership, and strategic investment in technologies that can scale.”
Selected from a pool of 58 applicants, the five recipients include three additional companies, Halifax’s Gaia Refinery and Calgary’s Ayrton Energy and EnviCore.
The program’s broader goal is to close the gender gap in cleantech leadership while tackling industrial emissions. A recent report by MaRS Discovery District suggests that increasing the number of women-owned SMEs by just 10% could add nearly $200 billion to Canada’s GDP.
“Backing diverse founders isn’t charity—it’s how we win,” Goodman added. “When we bring more voices to the table, we unlock better ideas, build stronger businesses, and find smarter solutions.”
Beyond funding, CICE is building support networks for women in cleantech through programs like R2WS: Innovation with Impact – Women in Tech, aimed at strengthening community, mentorship, and access to opportunity.
To date, CICE has invested nearly $40 million into 65 innovation projects valued at over $264 million, with a growing focus on inclusive innovation and technologies that can scale to meet Canada’s climate goals.
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