Supporting emerging low-carbon technologies with catalytic funding and global reach.
Catalytic funding
Expert mentorship & industry partnerships
Global outreach & tailored engagement
Scaling carbon solutions across the globe
What if carbon dioxide wasn’t just the problem, but the solution?
That’s the bold idea behind CarbonX 2.0, launched by Tencent and its global partners in December 2024. Building on its first iteration in China, the programme expanded worldwide to scout and support startups, researchers, universities, and innovators developing breakthrough solutions in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), carbon removal, and long-duration energy storage.
The mission is to empower pioneering teams to move beyond theory and into practice, building and scaling first-of-their-kind pilot projects in real industrial settings, incubating high-potential startups, and driving capacity-building initiatives that can push the frontiers of climate action.
To make this possible, CarbonX 2.0 brings together a robust ecosystem of partners across industries, including the Impact Hub Network. Partners like China Resources, Conch Cement, and HBIS Group are also helping reimagine industrial processes, while consumer leaders including McDonald’s China, PepsiCo, and Unilever—through the CarbonXmade consortium—are turning captured carbon into the products of everyday life.
The next frontier of
low-carbon innovation
Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)
Extracting historic emissions from the atmosphere, with pilot projects underway in Kenya.
Long-Duration Energy Storage (LDES)
Supporting 100-kilowatt pilots in the Maldives, delivering more than six hours of renewable storage to strengthen grids.
CCUS for the Steel Industry
Advancing next-generation carbon capture for one of the hardest-to-abate sectors, with pilots in Serbia.
CarbonXmade Consortium
Turning captured carbon into new materials, chemicals, and consumer products with partners like McDonald’s China, PepsiCo, and Unilever.
Our role: From scouting to amplification
When Tencent set out to take CarbonX 2.0 beyond China, the vision was not just to run a programme, but it was to establish Tencent as a global innovator at the forefront of carbon solutions. Importantly, they needed to get the best applicants from across the globe, tackling real problems with scalable carbon solutions. To achieve this, they needed a partner with deep local roots and global reach.
With our worldwide Impact Hubs, partners, and communities, we helped Tencent connect directly with innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers, and universities—ensuring that the programme reached the right people in the right places. More than just amplifying awareness, we also helped position Tencent as a leader in driving carbon innovation on the global stage.
Scouting and Impact communications results
applicants around the globe
audiences reached
amplification partners
Our strategy combined scale with precision:
Direct scouting
Identified and engaged over 100 high-quality applicants through our carbon and climate solution networks.
Amplification campaign
Adapted global messaging to resonate with local audiences, amplifying Tencent’s leadership in carbon innovation and generating 500+ applications.
Targeted outreach
Engaged directly with universities, research institutes, VCs, and startups, creating a pipeline of high-quality applicants.
Interactive engagement
Delivered 6 global and regional Q&A sessions, sparking dialogue, building trust, and creating excitement around the programme.
Our partners in change
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SPICE
SPICE
Grapes of Change
Grapes of Change
ELEVATE
ELEVATE
voices of impact
voices of impact
SUPR Lab
SUPR Lab
SoTecIn Factory
SoTecIn Factory
Ready to collaborate?
Join us in supporting underrepresented founders who are turning bold ideas into community-driven solutions and creating a more inclusive future.