Onda Verde Ecosystem: map of green innovation in Brazil

Network of collaborators

These are the partners who supported the national call for mapping the Onda Verde Insights collection:

Goals

This work aims to:

Green Wave Ecosystem Statistics

Provide the market with statistical analyses on the actors that make up the green economy, such as the number of organizations offering green solutions, their sectors of activity and their demands.

Capital Estimates

Provide estimates of the volume of capital available to finance solutions and businesses with socio-environmental and climate impact, compared to the volume of capital required by these initiatives.

Subsidies for Green Policies

Provide support, through quantitative and qualitative analyses, to guide the development of public policies aligned with Brazil's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and the Climate Plan. In addition, promote mechanisms to support green businesses.

Key Insights:

Chapter 1

Section intended for the general characterization of the ecosystem, based on data from the 928 organizations that updated their profiles on the Onda Verde Platform from August 2023 to October 2024. With this, we are able to understand information such as:

Location

53% of the organizations in the sample are concentrated in the Southeast , especially in São Paulo, where there is a greater supply of financial resources and institutional support. However, the North, with the Amazon region and especially the state of Pará, represents an important part of the ecosystem, evidencing the growth of the bioeconomy and the growing interest in the area.

Types of organization

“COP30 puts Brazil at the center of global climate attention, and we have the chance to prove that we are more than just a stage for debates: we can lead. Since the country, with 92% of global GDP, adopted the net-zero emissions target, enormous potential has opened up for innovation in strategic sectors — from the largest emitters, such as land use and agriculture, to waste and the bioeconomy. For these opportunities to materialize, we need to accelerate the green innovation ecosystem…

 

First, connect the actors in this ecosystem to patient and even concessional capital, for example, the Climate Fund. With R$10 billion available, the Climate Fund has the potential to quickly reach high-impact initiatives, prioritizing technology and practical solutions for the bioeconomy and energy transition. Transparency and agility in transfers are crucial to transform potential into results.

Second, look to the North. The Amazon bioeconomy cannot be just talk. The Amazon states are already leading players in public policy solutions and experiences, but they need to align tax incentives and prioritize infrastructure that supports startups and sustainable businesses. The region has everything it needs to attract global investors and stand out as an innovation hub at COP30.

Finally, transform COP30 into a showcase for Brazilian solutions. Local businesses need direct support to connect with international markets and show that Brazil does not just talk, but delivers. Climate leadership is about taking action, and Brazil has what the world wants: innovation, nature and the chance to be a real catalyst in the green and resilient transition.”

Chapter 2

In this section, we delved into data from 493 organizations in the ecosystem that, in 2024, answered questions related to financial data, available resources and diversity. The analysis deals with the data, as well as listening to industry experts who provided us with insights into the dynamics of supply, demand and trends for green solutions.

Characterization of the bidders

81% of organizations indicate a need for financial support , with a preference for grants, and a significant gap for lines of credit and venture capital.

IMPORTANT : The financing data collected takes into account organizations that consider themselves to be solution providers, which include not only businesses and cooperatives, but also ecosystem promoters, consultancies and other models of organizations that raise large amounts of resources and have solution offering arms.
their structure or pass these resources on to those operating at the frontline. Analyzing the financing volumes above R$100 million, we observe many of these profiles. On the other hand, the 33% that have never raised funds are, for the most part, startups and SMEs

Mechanism-based vision

In an in-depth analysis of the data, it is possible to make some interpretations between the demand of providers by type and volume of resources versus what the financiers are offering in the market. On the one hand, most of the actors in the ecosystem seem to expect to raise money or finance solutions through donations (67%, providers; 52%, financiers) . There is more disparity between the desire of financiers to work with loans (38%) and the demand of the providers (29%) .

42% of investors do not declare their average ticket size . This indicates a lack of transparency regarding average donation values, which limits the convergence between available resources and the needs of green solutions.

“The biggest obstacles to scaling up financing for green solutions are the quantitative incorporation of environmental and social factors into market analyses. The awareness process has already taken place and has been successful – much of the sector recognizes these factors. However, transforming them from qualitative to quantitative is still a challenge that creates barriers to integrating them into business models and strategies….

 

Furthermore, there is a challenge in the formation of human capital. The financial market still has a homogeneous profile in terms of academic background and training, which makes it difficult to absorb interdisciplinary knowledge. We have few climatologists, environmental engineers or forestry professionals working directly in financial operations, which makes it harder to incorporate these factors in a structured manner.

Another crucial obstacle is the lack of appropriate technology to quantify climate and natural risks. There are still no robust methodologies that reflect the impact of rising temperatures on assets and infrastructure, preventing the appropriate pricing of these risks. If this were resolved, the cost of capital would naturally reflect the socio-environmental performance of assets, favoring those with greater resilience to climate change.”

More readings you will see in the full study

“Accelerating the transition to a green economy is a matter of economic and environmental survival.
Climate innovation is the driving force behind this transformation, but for this process to gain scale, qualified knowledge is essential…

 

… Investors and companies need clear information about the opportunities and risks of this new scenario. Without solid data, it is not possible to allocate resources efficiently, identify scalable solutions or ensure that climate innovations reach their full potential. Brazil, with its vast potential in bioeconomy and nature-based solutions, is in a position to lead this global movement. But to do so, it is essential to foster access to knowledge and market insights that guide this transition in an agile and safe way.”

Our Partners

We work in collaboration with organizations and institutions committed to the climate agenda and sustainable development, including:

These partners play a crucial role in the development and implementation of the solutions and analytics presented by OV Insights.