Eco Ventures Counsel

What is Eco Ventures Counsel (“EVC”)?

EVC is a new legal pro bono programme through which leading law firms provide top-quality free full-service legal support, and a leading IP firm provides bespoke IP support, to eligible early-stage greentech ventures (collectively, “Eco Ventures”) across the UK in annual cohorts.  Cohort 1 launched in May 2025, supporting 21 ventures. Cohort 2 launches in November 2025.

What are the benefits of the programme for Eco Ventures?

• Twelve months of top-quality free full-service legal support, helping Eco Ventures to create robust companies by: (i) implementing strong corporate governance and employment practices; (ii) understanding and protecting IP; and (iii) negotiating commercial contracts and pre-seed/seed fundraising rounds, to name but a few.
• Bespoke IP support from a leading IP firm including a free IP health check and advice on steps for the Eco Venture to take to improve its IP position.
• Visible support from leading law / IP firms will boost Eco Ventures’ professional credibility.
• Learn how to deal with lawyers and corporate stakeholders generally.
• Can be inspired by, learn from and network with like-minded change-making Eco Ventures.
• Option to apply to join future annual cohorts.

Which Eco Ventures are eligible to apply?

Early-stage ventures who:

- have a primary mission of improving/saving our planet through their solution (which can be a product or a service; also, it doesn’t matter which greentech sector they focus on, e.g.

• Sustainable Materials and Manufacturing, including Built Environment;
• Clean Energy, Efficiency and Mobility;
• Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage;
• Circular Economy and Packaging;
• Agritech, Watertech and Foodtech; or
• Climate Finance and Intelligence;

- have received valuable external support, e.g. being connected to a UK university innovation hub, incubator, accelerator, venture builder/studio or makerspace/workspace (each, a “Supporting Organisation”) or having received equity funding from angel/VC investors or Innovate UK/Scottish Enterprise grant funding;

- are pre-Series A (ventures can be registered companies or not yet registered);

- are (i) pre-revenue or (ii) commercially launched and generating revenue; and

- are sole founders or part of a co-founding team.

What is the application process?

• Application submission: applications may be submitted from Friday 1 August to Sunday 24 August 2025.
• Application review: applications will be reviewed (and interview booking invitations will be issued) from Monday 25 August to Friday 5 September 2025.
• Interviews: selected applicants will be invited to book and attend a video interview from Monday 8 September to Friday 26 September 2025.
• Recommendation: EVC will recommend shortlisted Eco Ventures to its member law firms from Monday 29 September 2025 to Friday 3 October 2025 for inclusion in EVC Cohort 2.
• Decision: EVC and its member law firms will decide by Friday 31 October 2025 which interviewed Eco Ventures to accept into EVC Cohort 2.
• Notification: applicants will be informed by Monday 3 November 2025 whether they are invited to join EVC Cohort 2.
• Cohort 2 launch: the annual cohort launches w/c 3 November 2025 and runs for 12 months.