As the harsh effects of climate change continue to affect nations globally, the challenge of revolutionizing carbon-heavy industries is one we can no longer ignore.

It's a huge undertaking. We've relied heavily on centralized energy systems for decades—huge plants, transmission lines, and gas pumps—that to steer away from seems impossible to most. Fortunately, the current is changing.

On the frontlines: founders and startups challenging how we obtain, produce, and distribute power, proving that the biggest shifts start from the smallest of what-ifs. 

These movers understand that the complexity of the energy transition requires a different approach—one that doesn't start with massive overhauls, but with grounded experiments, and real-world learning.

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Why starting small works

Energy is one of the hardest systems to transform as it requires something deeper than just replacing the technology we've known for years. It requires questioning more than what will replace fossil fuels, but how.

The IEA stated that, alongside government policies, consumer choices will play a huge role in transforming the energy sector and, in turn, making huge strides when it comes to reducing the effects of climate change. Big entities set the direction, but it’s often local, smaller-scale ideas that unlock real momentum.

This is where startups and founders thrive. They identify problems—live them, and experience the challenges firsthand. They talk to homeowners worried about rising utility bills, to businesses dealing with unreliable grids, to communities left behind by centralized energy models.

It's through connecting with communities that transform solutions that would normally be out of inaccessible or too expensive for most, into ones that could be within their reach. By grounding innovation in lived realities, startups create solutions that are agile and resilient, designed within the context of real communities and the changing world.

When those small solutions succeed, they become proof that the energy shift is possible.

And we’re already empowering the right people to make it happen.

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Building for realities on ground

In the Philippines, residential solar adoption has long been seen as either too expensive or too complicated for the average household. Permitting processes, financing hurdles, and a lack of consumer education made it difficult for families to even consider installing panels on their rooftops.

Solviva Energy recognized this gap, both in technology and customer experience. Understanding current pain points based on Filipinos' experience with electricity, Solviva pivoted into Rent-To-Own Solar, making solar energy attainable for Filipino homeowners who would otherwise be left out of the transition.

Hitting the road soon is Voltai. Aiming to help businesses seamlessly transition into more affordable, sustainable energy, Voltai provides an end-to-end solution for delivery and logistics with reliable EV motorcycles, large networks of battery-swapping stations, and dedicated after-sales support to solve reluctance with technology and how to sustain it.

These ventures may be solving very different problems, but the approach is strikingly similar. They’re proving that starting small doesn’t mean thinking small. Instead, it allows them to refine their models, build trust, and create systems that are scalable, resilient, and truly impactful.

In both cases, the tech wasn’t the hero. The approach was.

What both Solviva and Voltai demonstrate is that the future of energy won't come in a one-size-fits-all solution. Every market, community, and sector carries its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. A point of view that may be overlooked by big names in the energy industry.

Where problem-solvers are welcome

When founders approach climate and energy challenges not just as tech problems but as human ones, they create ventures that go beyond disruption—they build lasting solutions that work in real context, for real people. When these solutions take flight, they begin to transform the systems around them.

This is what drives us and makes our ventures different. We work with founders who aren’t just creating greener solutions focused deeply on creating what's next in renewables but also increasing access to energy, building climate resilience, and enabling communities to thrive on their terms along with it.

Through every venture we back, we move closer to a future where clean energy isn’t just a global ambition—it’s a lived reality, made possible by bold ideas that dared to start small.

Where we're headed

The Philippines has seen significant growth in ventures focused solely on providing more renewable energy sources as a response to the growing effects of climate change. Investments dedicated to decarbonizing the country are at an all-time high, proving not just the need but the incredible potential in the Philippines' capacity to make the shift.

While government policy has yet to urge the transition even further, the momentum is already building on the ground. Policy or capital serve as catalysts, but what’s needed most are bold ideas, founders ready to make an impact, and teams ready to build.

Changing the energy industry is tough. Now more than ever, it needs more problem-solvers willing to ask hard questions, rethink old systems, and experiment until better solutions are made.

This is where 1882 Energy Ventures steps in. We exist to back founders early, support them, and help them scale ideas that not only work but are built to last. In a space as urgent and complex as energy, starting small isn’t just the strategy—it’s where the real work begins.