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Sustainable IT and Climate Tech News 30 January 2025: Agilitas Channel Research; Sightline Funding; NZTC Accelerator and More

January 30, 2025 by Joe Panettieri

Here is today’s sustainable IT services and climate tech news, research and analysis -- written for technology partners, green IT service providers, CIOs, chief sustainability officers (CSOs) and climate accounting professionals.

A. Sustainable IT, Talent, Partnerships and Green Tech Alliances

1. Channel Research: Sustainability remains a core focus for businesses across the channel, according to research from Agilitas. After a slump in 2022 and 2023, the number of companies setting sustainability as a priority is increasing again, the research found.

2. Microsoft Azure - Data Center Challenges: Microsoft shares fell 5% in late trading on January 29, 2025 after the tech giant reported fiscal Q2 results that topped Wall Street's expectations, though its Azure cloud unit fell short of forecasts, SeekingAlpha reported. Among the apparent challenges: Microsoft can't build data centers quickly enough to keep up with customer demand.

3. Partnership - Asset Performance Management: Schneider Electric and MaxGrip are partnering to promote industrial asset performance management services and technologies.

4. Executive Leadership: Microsoft veteran Brian Rybarik has been named the new chair of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Washington State Standard reported. Rybarik previously oversaw Microsoft's environmental sustainability team. 

5. Executive Leadership: UL Standards & Engagement has hired sustainability and U.S. government veteran Jeff Marootian as president and CEO.

6. Software: Arcadia has launched software to help customers address utility bill management, energy procurement decisions, and sustainability reporting.

7. Launch: HPX Group has launched Materra Consulting, an ESG consulting business.

8. OpenAI vs. DeepSeek: OpenAI is investigating whether DeepSeek illegally leveraged OpenAI's model to train DeepSeek, the Financial Times reported.

9. DeepSeek Reaction: Anthropic's CEO was baffled as to why DeepSeek news caused Nvidia's stock to drop.

10. Financial Services: Climate fintech startup Zero has launched its sustainability-focused money app alongside a new Crowdcube campaign targeting a pre-money undiluted valuation of £8.3 million, FinTech Futures reported.

B. Sustainability M&A, Climate Tech Investments, Funding and Green IT Business Launches

1. Accelerator: Eleven startups will join the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC) accelerator for emerging companies in the clean energy sector, EnergyVoice reported. Related: See list of accelerators focused on sustainability startups.

2. Funding - Data Center Energy Efficiency: Venture capital firm Emerald Technology Ventures has invested in NLM Photonics, a startup that helps to "bring energy-efficient, high performance electro-optic modulation technology to AI, data centers, quantum computing, and more." Other investors include Oregon Venture Fund, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd., Pack Ventures, StoryHouse Ventures, and other existing NLM investors to support NLM’s vision.

3. Funding: Sightline has raised $5.5 million in seed funding to further build data tools for a climate platform. The Westly Group and Molten Ventures co-led the round, joining existing investors such as AccelR8, Red Sea Ventures, John Doerr, and Tom Steyer. Early customers include HSBC, Southern Company, BHP, Galvanize Climate Solutions, and the US Department of Energy.

4. Potential Funding: SoftBank may invest up to $25 billion in OpenAI, the Financial Times reported. Chatter about the potential investment surfaced one week after OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle announced Project Stargate -- a $500 billion startup that will seek to build AI data centers powered by renewable energy.

5. M&A - EHS Software and Clinical Software: Cority has acquired Meddbase, a developer of cloud software for occupational medicine and enterprise medical practice management. Cority, owned by private equity firm Thoma Bravo, develops EHS and sustainability software.

6. M&A - Battery Technology: Volvo Cars is acquiring full control of NOVO Energy AB from Northvolt. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

7. M&A - Environmental Monitoring: CogneSense, backed by private equity firm L Squared Capital Partners, has acquired Sonitus Systems, a provider of environmental noise, air quality, and vibration monitoring solutions. The seller was Hidden Brain.

C. Regional and Global Sustainability Policies and News

1. United States - Boston, Massachusetts Net Zero Buildings: The Boston Zoning Commission approved a “net zero” requirement for new buildings after rejecting the requirement in 2024, The Boston Globe reported. The 8-3 vote cleared the final hurdle to enact the measure, which mandates that future real estate developments have net zero carbon emissions as soon as they open, or their owners will face fines. The rule applies to projects formally proposed to the city beginning in July 2025, the report said.

2. United Kingdom - Cloud Services Competition Concerns: The United Kingdom may investigate Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft’s Azure cloud unit amid various competitive concerns.

D. Sustainable IT and Green Technology Conference Calendar

  1. Cleantech Forum North America 2025 (January 27-29 in San Diego, California)
  2. Seminole Tribe of Florida Renewable Energy and Sustainability Conference 2025 (January 27-29, Hollywood, Florida)
  3. Sustainability Forum Middle East 2025 (January 28-29, Kingdom of Bahrain)
  4. EV Charging Infrastructure Summit North America: East (January 28-29, Atlanta, Georgia)
  5. Complete Calendar of Sustainability Conferences

E. Previous Updates & Future News

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