GreenTech Startup Planted Raises €5 Million to Enhance ESG Transformation Platform

Cologne-based GreenTech startup Planted has secured €5 million in seed funding to expand its AI-powered software that provides comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) management solutions. The platform covers critical areas such as materiality analysis, carbon footprint tracking, CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) reporting, and biodiversity initiatives, aiming to assist companies in achieving their sustainability goals more efficiently.

The investment round is supported by key backers including TechVision Fonds, WENVEST Capital, neoteq ventures, AWS Grundungsfonds, and Smart Infrastructure Ventures. Additionally, business angels such as Nina Kani, Felix Schurholz (Co-Founder and Managing Director of SoSafe), Frank Piotraschke (CRO of SoSafe), Arno Nonnen, and Julius Gollner (ARRtist) have also contributed to this strategic investment.

Wilhelm Hammes, CEO and Co-founder of Planted, emphasized the importance of automating sustainability processes: “We are turning the CSRD obligation into an opportunity. 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 company’s core mission is to streamline ESG-related processes, enabling firms to shift from compliance to meaningful actions.

Founded in 2021 by Wilhelm Hammes, Cindy Schuller, Heinrich Rauh, and Jan Borchert, the startup has rapidly evolved into a comprehensive ESG platform. In 2023, Jonas Quilitz joined the team as Chief Product Officer (CPO), while the recent funding round sees Julian Grunewald taking on the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO), bringing expertise in financial strategy and operations.

The company combines its software solutions with personalized consultancy to support businesses in transitioning towards sustainable operations. Services include materiality assessments, carbon accounting, decarbonization efforts, and the preparation of CSRD reports. Beyond compliance, Planted offers businesses the chance to engage in local environmental protection initiatives, such as planting company forests or contributing to forest preservation projects.

Currently, more than 350 companies, including Caritasverband Bruchsal, Senacor Technologies AG, and Insta GmbH, benefit from Planted’s platform to optimize their sustainability efforts. Dr. Ansgar Schleicher, Managing Partner at TechVision Fonds, noted that Planted’s ability to combine ecological responsibility with financial viability has proven valuable, highlighting the platform’s role in driving measurable outcomes through automation.

The ESG software market remains competitive, but Planted differentiates itself by going beyond compliance to enable holistic transformation toward sustainable value creation. According to the company, businesses utilizing the platform have often achieved a reduction in emissions exceeding 50%.

A significant aspect of Planted’s offering is its use of AI to streamline reporting under the CSRD. The software can extract relevant data from documents, identify viable reduction measures, and perform double materiality analyses, saving companies substantial time—up to 75% in some cases.

Christophe Aumaitre, Partner at WENVEST Capital, described Planted as “an intelligent solution to not only document sustainable transformation, but to actively shape it.” The combination of ESG expertise and advanced technological capabilities positions the platform as a key player in sustainability transformation.