Connecticut Innovations

Connecticut Innovations’ ClimateTech Fund invested $1.6 million in Cambium, bringing CI’s total investment to $3 million. Co-founded by Ben Christensen, Marisa Repka, and Theo Hooker—all Yale School of the Environment graduates—Cambium is a public benefit corporation that transforms local wood waste into premium building materials, using a portion of the proceeds to fund the planting of new trees. 🪵 To scale its circular economy model, the company built a digital platform that connects arborists, millers, and buyers across local supply chains, automating everything from inventory to transactions. 4️⃣ reasons why we invested: 🌳 Modernizing a legacy industry The U.S. lumber industry has long operated on a simple but wasteful formula: cut trees from forests, ship them—sometimes hundreds of miles—through a fragmented network of loggers, sawmills, and distributors, and deliver the wood to end users with little transparency and significant carbon cost. Meanwhile, cities across the country are sitting on an untapped wood supply, hauling millions of felled urban trees to landfills every year at great expense. Cambium flips this model by feeding salvaged urban trees into a tech-enabled local supply chain, transforming municipal waste into premium building materials, and then reinvesting a portion of the proceeds into planting new trees. ♻️ Turning waste into a climate solution Every year, millions of trees are removed from urban areas due to decay, disease, natural disasters, or development, and most of that wood is chipped, burned, or trucked to landfills, all of which release carbon into the atmosphere. Traditional timber harvesting compounds the problem, adding emissions through long-distance transportation and land disturbance. Cambium addresses both sides of this equation, diverting salvaged urban wood into high-value building materials and channeling a portion of revenues back into planting new trees in the communities where the wood came from. 💪 Strengthening domestic supply chains By building localized wood sourcing and manufacturing networks across the U.S., Cambium is making the U.S. lumber supply chain more resilient. The company’s model reduces dependence on imported materials—a growing concern as tariff volatility and global supply disruptions continue to pressure the construction sector—shortens transportation distances, and supports domestic manufacturing at a time when demand for sustainable building materials is accelerating. 💸 Driving economic impact Cambium Carbon is doing more than disrupting the lumber supply chain: It is also creating jobs. The company partners with municipalities, workforce development organizations, and urban forestry programs to turn wood recovery into a pathway for employment in underserved communities. Learn more about Cambium here: https://cambiumcarbon.com/ Learn more about CI's ClimateTech Fund here: https://lnkd.in/etGD_-_j

Big milestone for the CREW Carbon team. 👏 This raise is a strong signal that the market is recognizing the urgent need for solutions that can modernize critical wastewater infrastructure while delivering meaningful climate impact. Congrats to the entire crew! 💧

#ICYMI, CI portfolio company Bullish, a consumer-focused venture capital and marketing firm, announced the launch of its first-ever Operator-in-Residence (OIR) program, bringing experienced consumer leaders into the firm for six-month residencies. 💡 “Bullish has always operated at the intersection of capital and culture,” said Lindsay Kaplan, venture partner at Bullish. “This program is a direct extension of that — a way to build genuine relationships with the people closest to where the consumer is going.” 📰 Check out our full newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/ebAkaaup ‼️Don’t forget, anyone who subscribes to CI’s #ICYMI newsletter before June 1 will be entered to win a CI swag giveaway. Want to stay plugged into the ecosystem? Join our community here: https://lnkd.in/eHGTDgjs

Nearly 100 founders, investors, leaders, and friends of CI gathered on the terrace at Dandelion in Westport last week to celebrate spring and look ahead to another busy summer filled with new ideas, new partnerships, and continued innovation. 💡 From reconnecting with familiar faces to making new introductions, the evening was a reminder of the incredible community continuing to grow here in Connecticut. Grateful for the conversations, collaborations, and momentum we’re building together — and excited for all that’s ahead. ⏩

Want to stay plugged into Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem? 🚀 Join CI’s distribution list for bi-weekly ecosystem updates, job opportunities, and top stories from across our portfolio. Plus, anyone new who signs up by Monday, June 1 will be entered for a chance to win a CI swag bag giveaway. Fill out our form to subscribe and stay in the loop: https://lnkd.in/ebTRht5z See you in your inbox! 📩 #ICYMI #newsletter #connecticut #ecosystemnews #innovation #openjobs #openroles #connect

Want to stay plugged into Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem? 🚀 Join CI’s distribution list for bi-weekly ecosystem updates, job opportunities, and top stories from across our portfolio. Plus, anyone new who signs up by Monday, June 1 will be entered for a chance to win a CI swag bag giveaway. Fill out our form to subscribe and stay in the loop: https://lnkd.in/ebTRht5z See you in your inbox! 📩 #ICYMI #newsletter #connecticut #ecosystemnews #innovation #openjobs #openroles #connect

Connecticut Innovations is excited to be a sponsor of the 2026 Yale Innovation Summit, taking place May 27–28 in New Haven, Connecticut. 🏙️ As the Northeast’s largest gathering focused on innovation, the Summit brings together more than 2,500 founders, investors, researchers, and industry leaders. 💡 It’s a privilege to support such a dynamic exchange of ideas and talent. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/grGbtyZD #YaleInnovation2026

Search is evolving. With AI-generated answers reducing clicks, the traditional SEO playbook is being rewritten—and visibility, trust, and traffic are all shifting as a result. 🔎 We connected with Fractl’s Nicole Franco to break down what this means for founders and how to stay competitive in an AI-first search landscape. ⛰️ Read our interview here: https://lnkd.in/eAWNfmUY #AI #SEO #DigitalMarketing #ContentStrategy #StartupGrowth #FounderTips #SearchInnovation #MarketingStrategy

From meaningful exits to continued investment in innovation and fresh insights shaping how we think about growth and strategy, our latest newsletter reflects a strong quarter at CI. Here’s a quick look at what’s inside: ⭐ Two incredible portfolio exits—Quantum Circuits, Inc. (QCI) and Veradermics—marking important milestones for both teams and reinforcing the strength of Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem 💰 A snapshot of CI’s investment activity over the third quarter of FY2026: $6.0M invested across 15 companies and venture funds, leveraging $295.3M in outside capital 🔎 A conversation with Nicole Franco, Head of Digital PR and AI Innovation at Fractl, on The New Rules of Search, unpacking how AI is changing the way companies think about visibility, content, and growth To see the full newsletter and catch up on other happenings from CI and its companies, click here: https://lnkd.in/e28KKpQU If you aren't already receiving news from CI, sign up here: https://lnkd.in/ehyyA2cT