Meet George Wade, a young entrepreneur whose company, Zevero, is helping businesses tackle climate change with innovative technology. In just a few years, Zevero has grown from a startup to a global player in the carbon management space, all thanks to their use of AI to simplify the complex process of measuring, reducing, and reporting carbon emissions.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how Zevero is changing the game for businesses, why they were acquired by Level Up in 2024, and George Wade’s advice for aspiring founders in the climate-tech space.
How Zevero is Revolutionizing Carbon Management with AI
Zevero was founded in 2021 by George Wade and his co-founder, Ben Richardson, with one goal in mind: make it easier, faster, and more affordable for businesses to manage their carbon emissions. Traditional carbon accounting methods were complex and time-consuming, so Zevero created a platform to simplify the process. But they didn’t stop there—they also wanted to help businesses turn their carbon data into actionable insights.
Simplifying Data Collection and Actionable Insights
Wade explains, “We wanted to take the hard work out of data collection and give businesses tools that make a real difference.” Zevero’s platform helps businesses gather and calculate emissions data, while also identifying areas where they can reduce their carbon footprint.
The real breakthrough? Artificial Intelligence. AI allows Zevero to process vast amounts of data—from sourcing ingredients to the environmental impact of a product’s journey to the customer. For example, when working with a drinks company, Zevero doesn’t just measure emissions from the production of the can; it looks at everything that goes into making the drink. The scale of this process, often involving over 20 million records, would be impossible without AI.
Think of Zevero’s platform as an AI-powered analyst that helps businesses pinpoint their biggest sources of carbon emissions and take real, targeted action to reduce them.
From Startup to Global Success: The Zevero Journey
Zevero’s growth has been nothing short of impressive. After launching in 2021, the company quickly attracted attention for its innovative approach to carbon management. In February 2024, Zevero was acquired by Level Up, a climate-tech company based in Singapore, propelling Zevero into the global spotlight.
Expanding Global Reach and Partnerships
The acquisition by Level Up has expanded Zevero’s reach to key Asian markets, including Japan and Singapore. Wade is clear, though, that growth wasn’t the ultimate goal—building the best product was always the focus. “Our priority has always been to create a tool that’s genuinely useful for businesses and to leverage the climate expertise within our team,” he says.
Zevero’s partnerships with global organizations, such as A*STAR (Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research), have played a significant role in its global expansion. They developed a Product Carbon Footprint tool to help companies reduce emissions at the product level, a crucial step toward achieving sustainable business practices.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
“Carbon accounting is constantly evolving,” Wade explains, “and our job is to stay ahead of that curve.” Zevero is committed to adapting and improving its platform to meet the changing needs of businesses, ensuring they can keep track of their environmental impact and take action as regulations and technologies evolve.
Customer-Centric Approach: Why Zevero’s Focus on Customers Made All the Difference
One of the key reasons behind Zevero’s rapid success is its focus on customers. Wade is passionate about understanding the real challenges businesses face when it comes to carbon emissions. “We always asked ourselves, ‘How can we make it easier for businesses to understand their emissions and take meaningful action?’” he says.
By focusing on customer needs, Zevero quickly gained traction and was able to break even much sooner than expected. “We didn’t waste time on growth for the sake of growth. We focused on delivering value to our customers,” Wade says. “When you have customers, you’re not diluting your equity.”
For aspiring founders, Wade has some simple advice: “Go where your customers are.” He believes that real-world feedback is invaluable and that understanding the challenges businesses face will help you build a product that truly meets their needs.
Advice for Climate-Tech Founders: Focus on Why You’re Doing It
Wade’s passion for the environment is evident in everything he says. He and Ben co-founded Zevero because they were committed to tackling climate change. “For us, it was always about climate, and we were willing to work 16-hour days to make a difference,” Wade shares.
For any aspiring founder, especially in the climate-tech space, Wade stresses the importance of understanding why you’re doing it. It’s about the bigger picture—helping businesses reduce their environmental impact and achieve sustainability goals. Zevero’s mission to make climate action easier and more accessible has been the driving force behind their success.
A Real Difference: Working Towards Net-Zero Targets
Zevero’s work is far from over. Wade acknowledges that we have a long road ahead in the fight against climate change, but he remains optimistic. “We’ve got a big problem ahead of us, but we’re focused on helping companies reach that net-zero target,” he says.
With AI, global partnerships, and a relentless focus on impact, Zevero is well on its way to making a real difference in the fight against climate change. By enabling businesses to measure, reduce, and report their emissions, Zevero is helping create a more sustainable future, one step at a time.
Conclusion: Zevero is Leading the Way in Climate-Tech
George Wade and Zevero are prime examples of how innovation and technology can drive meaningful change in the fight against climate change. Their use of AI to simplify carbon accounting is not just smart business—it’s a critical step toward making sustainability more achievable for businesses around the world.
As Zevero continues to expand globally, it’s clear that this is just the beginning of their mission to help companies meet their climate goals. If you’re interested in learning more about Zevero’s journey and their innovative approach to sustainability, watch the full interview on TechTalks with TFN.
