Key takeaways from the roundtable at MWC25

Here are five key takeaways from the panel discussion on “U.S. & Spain Scaling Climatetech”:

1. Scaling in the U.S. vs. Europe
   • Companies like Climatize and BeChained expanded to the U.S. due to regulatory advantages and a stronger innovation culture.
   • The U.S. crowdfunding market is more streamlined under a single SEC regulation, whereas Europe has 27 different regulators.
   • BeChained sees the U.S. (markets and investment landscape) as more open to risk-taking and digital innovation compared to the slower adoption pace in Europe.
2. Differences in Decision-Making & Client Behavior
   • U.S. mid-size companies move faster in adopting innovation, prioritizing financial impact and competitive advantage.
   • European firms take a more cautious, long-term approach, with longer sales cycles and bureaucratic hurdles.
   • Regulatory differences influence how companies position themselves in each market.
3. Political & Regulatory Landscape for Climatetech
   • Climatize is shifting away from federal funding in the U.S. due to political uncertainty, re-focusing on state-level grants instead.
   • States like California, Oregon, and Washington are leading in GHG reduction policies, pushing corporate adoption of energy efficiency solutions.
   • EU regulations are still slow and bureaucratic, which can hinder innovation and scaling compared to the U.S.
4. Fundraising Challenges & Climate Investment Trends
   • In the U.S., “climate” has become a politically sensitive term, leading some investors to shift their focus from “climate tech” to themes like energy security, supply chain resilience, and AI-powered automation.
   • AI in manufacturing remains attractive to investors, and those already committed to cleantech/climatetech investment are sticking to their thesis despite macroeconomic uncertainties.
5. Future Strategy & Talent Considerations
   • BeChained will focus on U.S. and Nordic expansion, leveraging AI to automate energy efficiency operations.
   • European talent remains a strong advantage due to lower costs and high expertise, but relocation to the U.S. is complex due to visa constraints.
   • The key to scaling is shortening sales cycles and breaking market barriers, whether through automation, regulatory navigation, or targeted market entry strategies.

Closing Thought:

Start-ups need to keep on fighting to provide benefits for their clients and smartly focus articulation to mitigate the impact from Regulations or Administration transitioning