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§ Venture Capital · Washington, DC, USA
Climate FinTech platform providing non-dilutive debt financing and fractional CFO services for US climate startups and SMBs.
Enduring Planet is a Portland, Oregon-based financial technology platform that provides non-dilutive debt financing and fractional chief financial officer services to climate-focused startups and small businesses across the United States. The firm specializes in revenue-based loans and grant advances, offering essential working capital to companies operating in climate mitigation, adaptation, carbon removal, and agricultural technology sectors. To date, the organization has deployed nearly $25 million in loan capital across 53 portfolio companies and currently serves over 40 clients through its dedicated financial planning and strategy division. The enterprise is backed by a syndicate of 16 investors, including recognizable venture capital firms such as Climate Capital, Portland Seed Fund, and Keiki Capital. Enduring Planet was founded in 2021 by former Meta executive Dimitry Gershenson, former SIMA Funds executive Erin Davis, and Joshua Krafchin.
Enduring Planet has raised $5.0M across 1 funding round.
Enduring Planet has raised $5.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Enduring Planet has raised $5.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Enduring Planet's investors include Climate Capital, KD Venture Partners, Keiki Capital, Portland Seed Fund, Susquehanna Foundation.
# Enduring Planet: A Financial Services Company, Not a Technology Company
Enduring Planet is a financial services company, not a technology company. It provides working capital financing and financial advisory services to climate entrepreneurs, rather than building software or hardware products.[1][2]
Enduring Planet's mission is to ensure every climate entrepreneur has the capital they need to succeed.[2] The company operates as a non-dilutive financing provider for climate startups and small/medium-sized businesses across the US, offering two primary services: Grant Advances (rapid financing against government grants and contracts) and Fractional CFO services (financial planning, analysis, and advisory support).[1][2][4]
The company addresses a critical inefficiency in climate finance: entrepreneurs with government grants or contracts often face cash flow challenges while waiting for disbursements. Enduring Planet bridges this gap by providing fast, founder-friendly capital without requiring personal guarantees, collateral, or equity dilution.[5] This positions the firm as a financial intermediary within the climate tech ecosystem rather than a technology innovator.
Enduring Planet was founded in 2021 by three co-founders with deep experience in climate finance.[1][5] Dimitry Gershenson (CEO, Portland-based) and Erin Davis (COO, Washington D.C.-based) both spent over a decade working at the intersection of climate and finance. Gershenson previously provided catalytic capital to financial intermediaries like Sunfunder and Lendable, while Davis built SIMA, an impact fund manager offering credit products to clean energy companies in emerging markets.[2] Joshua Krafchin serves as Chief Technology Officer and is based in Oakland, California.[5]
The company launched initially with a focused product—loans against government grants—and has since expanded to include loans against government contracts and fractional CFO services.[5] As of 2024, the company had raised approximately $4.9 million from investors including K Street Capital, Avesta Fund, Cerulean Ventures, Resolute Ventures, Dangerous Ventures, Portland Seed Fund, and E8 Angels.[5]
Enduring Planet operates within the climate finance infrastructure layer—a critical but often overlooked segment of the climate tech ecosystem. While venture capital and grants fund innovation, Enduring Planet addresses the working capital gap that prevents climate startups from executing on their missions.
The company is riding two major trends: the acceleration of climate tech investment and the growing recognition that non-dilutive capital is essential for founder-friendly growth. Government funding for climate solutions (through programs like the Inflation Reduction Act) has created a new class of well-capitalized startups that need operational financing—precisely Enduring Planet's target market.[5]
By removing friction from climate startup financing, Enduring Planet indirectly strengthens the broader ecosystem by allowing founders to retain equity, maintain control, and focus on product development rather than fundraising. The company also serves as a connector between climate entrepreneurs and venture investors, amplifying its influence beyond pure lending.
Enduring Planet is well-positioned to become a critical infrastructure provider in climate finance. As government climate spending continues and more startups receive grants and contracts, the demand for rapid, non-dilutive working capital will only increase. The addition of Fractional CFO services signals an evolution toward becoming a comprehensive financial operating partner for climate SMBs—a model that could expand significantly if the company scales its advisory team.
The key question for Enduring Planet's future is whether it can maintain its founder-friendly positioning while scaling profitably. If successful, it could reshape how climate entrepreneurs access capital, proving that speed, simplicity, and alignment with founder interests can compete with traditional venture debt and bank lending.
Enduring Planet has raised $5.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $5.0M Debt / Pre-Seed in May 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 2022 | $5M Debt Financing | — | Climate Capital, KD Venture Partners, Keiki Capital, Portland Seed Fund, Susquehanna Foundation | Announced |