Cologne-based green tech startup Planted has received €5 million Seed financing to advance its ESG software.

Founded in 2021, Planted offers an AI-supported ESG platform that supports companies in their sustainability transformation – from materiality analysis, carbon accounting, decarbonisation and local environmental protection projects to the final report in accordance with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). 

The market for ESG software is highly competitive. In addition to meeting regulatory requirements, Planted supports decarbonisation – often with a reduction in emissions of more than 50 per cent. 

Customers can also get involved in local environmental protection efforts, such as planting mixed forests. 

Planted uses advanced AI technologies to implement the CSRD. For example, the software can extract specific data from documents, identify suitable reduction measures and highlight impacts, risks and opportunities in the double materiality analysis. This saves users up to 75 per cent of their time. 

“We are turning the CSRD obligation into an opportunity,” says Wilhelm Hammes, CEO and co-founder of Planted. 

“Instead of spending months on CO₂ measurement and reporting, we automate these processes. This allows companies to focus their resources on effective measures, such as decarbonisation.” 

The investment is backed by TechVision Fonds, WENVEST Capital, neoteq ventures, AWS Gründungsfonds, and Smart Infrastructure Ventures, as well as business angles Nina Kani, Felix Schürholz (CO-Founder & MD SoSafe), Frank Piotraschke (CRO SoSafe), Arno Nonnen and Julius Göllner (ARRtist). 

“Through smart automation, Planted combines ecological responsibility with economic success – and makes sustainability measurably profitable,” says Dr Ansgar Schleicher, Managing Partner of TechVision Fonds. 

Christophe Aumaître, Partner at WENVEST Capital, says: 

“Planted offers companies an intelligent solution to not only document sustainable transformation, but to actively shape it.” 

Lead image: Planted. Photo: uncredited.