The Mosambi Climate Conference (MC2), an exclusive forum for leading climate tech enablers, sought to drive innovation in climate mitigation and adaptation solutions across India and the Global South. Organized by the Climate Collective Foundation, MC2 was held on March 20-21, 2025, at the Sheraton, Saket, New Delhi. The event convened over 200 prominent figures from investment firms, development institutions, corporations, government agencies, and foundations, along with startup founders, to enhance the climate tech startup ecosystem in the region.
Inaugurating the MC2 event Nalin Agarwal, Founding Partner, Climate Collective said, “The climate crisis requires collective action. No single entity can solve it alone. We must break down silos and avoid duplicating efforts; instead, drive concrete actions toward clear outcomes. By strengthening South-South cooperation and creating conditions for a robust climate tech startup ecosystem, we can rapidly scale innovation and climate impact across the Global South.”
The conference commenced with an impactful keynote by Mr. Saurabh Kumar, Vice President – India at GEAPP, highlighting the critical need for power grid transformation. A trailblazer in clean technology—having led the UJALA scheme at EESL—Mr. Kumar outlined his vision for a digitized grid powered by digital public infrastructure (DPI) principles, aimed at enhancing grid modernization and resilience.
Later on Day 1, Mr. Uday Khemka, Vice Chairman at SUN Group and Managing Trustee at the Nand & Jeet Khemka Foundation, delivered an inspiring keynote, drawing on his three decades of advocacy for climate action. He shared insights on how AI can accelerate climate tech advancements and introduced his latest initiative, the Green AI for Learning (GRAIL) network, designed to unite AI and climate experts in advancing ClimateAI solutions.
Day 2 featured a visionary address by Mirik Gogri, Principal at Spectrum Impact, who reflected on his personal journey and commitment to tackling the climate crisis. He emphasized the power of collaboration driven by transparency, advocating for dynamically aligned interests among partners in multi-stakeholder coalitions.
Pratap Raju, Founding Partner, Climate Collective, added, “We’ve seen an explosion of innovative solutions, but deploying and scaling them is crucial. The startup process is difficult, requiring collaboration and support in areas like capacity training, fundraising, and policy research. The Mosambi Conference brings together stakeholders and enablers to facilitate collaboration and collective action. By connecting with each other, we can better address the climate crisis, particularly in the Global South.”
Panels and Discussions: Unpacking Critical Themes
MC2 hosted a series of insightful panels that delved into diverse yet interconnected topics:
- Can AI Save the Planet? Digging Deeper into the Potential of AI Technologies
This session explored how Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are revolutionizing climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. Speakers like Ruchira Shukla, Co-Founder & Managing Partner at Synapses, and Sundeep Reddy Mallu, Co-Founder & CRO at Resilience AI, highlighted real-world applications of AI in sectors ranging from agriculture to disaster management.
- Why Gender Equity Matters in Climate Tech—and How to Make It Happen
This panel brought together voices like Alexandra Khripko, Ecosystem Partnerships Manager at Third Derivative (RMI), and Sonal Shukla, Co-founder at econscious, to discuss frameworks for embedding gender equity in scaling climate solutions.
- India’s Potential in Deep Climate Tech: Where Do We Have the Edge?
Featuring speakers from IIT Madras Research Park, Third Derivative and Ankur Capital, this session identified areas where Indian startups have natural advantages, such as robust talent pools and market opportunities.
- Launch of the South-South Collective for the Climate (S2C2)
One of the highlights of MC2 was the launch of the South-South Collective for the Climate, a curated network of Enterprise Support Organizations (ESOs) fostering cross-border collaboration. Key contributors included leaders from Youthinkgreen Egypt, CleantechHUB Foundation, Climate Ventures, New Energy Nexus Vietnam, Emerging Technologies, Indian Ocean Islands Foundation, Kenya Climate Innovation Center and Climate Collective. They emphasized the collective’s role in streamlining research, fundraising, and knowledge-sharing efforts.
The event also featured roundtables designed to bring together leaders from leading organizations to anchor and guide discussions on topics of strategic importance. These diverse stakeholders discussed domain-specific challenges, opportunities, and growth strategies. The various roundtables were anchored by industry leaders, including Chetan Krishna, Head of Research & Diligence/Principal, Third Derivative; Swapan Mehra, Founder, Iora Ecological Solutions, Circular Economy; Jasprit Kaur, Climate Change Advisor, GIZ; and Amandeep Singh, Senior Analyst, Climate Policy Initiative, and others.
Fireside Chat: Startup Pavilion at COP30
In a candid fireside chat, Kapil Narula, Senior Analyst at Climate Champions Team, and Gustavo Pinheiro, Board Member at Climate Ventures, discussed the pivotal role of startups at COP30. They outlined strategies for leveraging international platforms to scale impactful solutions and influence global policy.
Highlighting the importance of collaboration in climate action, Jui Joshi, Senior Partner, Climate Collective, said, “Effective climate action requires collaboration and an ecosystem-driven approach. Our diverse network spans global and regional organizations, philanthropic and impact investment entities, multilateral institutions, and academic research institutions. We believe transformative climate solutions emerge when knowledge is shared, and innovation is democratized.”
MC2 provided actionable insights and key announcements to drive climate innovation. Strengthening local ecosystems is crucial to empowering innovators in the Global South, where fragmented networks and funding challenges persist. Policy reforms must modernize grids to integrate decentralized energy and renewable technologies. Innovative financing, such as blended finance and green bonds, can unlock capital for climate tech startups. Technology, including AI-powered risk management and blockchain-based carbon tracking, is emerging as a game-changer in tackling climate challenges.
Women entrepreneurs are pivotal in climate innovation but face systemic barriers, requiring targeted support and mentorship. India, with its strong talent pool and startup ecosystem, is poised to lead in deep climate tech sectors like renewable energy, carbon capture, and green hydrogen. The launch of S2C2 reinforced South-South cooperation for scalable solutions, while startups were encouraged to engage policymakers and leverage global platforms like COP30.
The event featured partnerships with Capital-A, Waterfield, Prime, and Third Derivative, alongside knowledge partners like GEAPP, Environmental Defence Fund, and SED Fund. Media partners included The Statesman, Jagran, The CSR Universe, ObserveNow, and TICE. Looking ahead, follow-up initiatives such as region-wide convenings and Climate Startup Week will sustain momentum, with MC2 set to return in 2026. By fostering deep conversations and diverse perspectives, MC2 has set a strong precedent for future collaboration.
