Best Sustainability Tech Companies in Durham, United States
The 41 best Sustainability Tech companies in Durham, United States in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Phononic.
Our analysis of 84 Sustainability Tech companies
$19.4b in tracked funding; 85% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Sustainability Tech companies in Durham
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Stage | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phononic Providing solid state thermal management solutions | $230M | 61 mo ago | 109 109 → 125 (+15%) | Tony Atti Co-Founder & CEO | Series F | 96 patents Thermoelectric cold-chain cooling systems for actively refrigerated transport containers | — |
| 2 | Trimeris Developing fusion inhibitor drugs for viral infections | $187M | 286 mo ago | 172 | Steven Skolsky CEO | Acqui-Hired | 80 patents Peptide synthesis methods and long‑acting HIV fusion‑inhibitor peptide therapeutics | — |
| 3 | Argos Therapeutics RNA-based dendritic cell therapies for cancer and infectious diseases. | $170M | 110 mo ago | 120 | — | Acquired | 243 patents Immunotherapy: dendritic cell vaccines, soluble CD83 peptides, anti‑IFN‑α antibodies, TSCM cell therapies | — |
| 4 | Viamet Pharmaceuticals Innovation hub revolutionizing healthcare, education, safety, energy, and technology with AI | $161M | 119 mo ago | 13 | Tom O'halloran Co-Founder | Acqui-Hired | 395 patents Patents concentrated in chemistry & materials | — |
| 5 | StrideBio Developer of AAV based gene therapies for rare diseases | $98M | 65 mo ago | 109 | — | Series B | 89 patents Recombinant AAV vector design, manufacturing, and gene‑therapy delivery platforms | — |
| 6 | Regrow AI-powered platform for resilient agriculture, emissions reduction, and supply chain sustainability 76Tech top 20%Moat top 22%Funding top 25%Growth top 31% All 11 signals ▾Techtop 20% Moattop 22% Fundingtop 25% Growthtop 31% AItop 35% Innovationtop 40% Producttop 49% Talentbottom 49% Marketbottom 48% Globalbottom 39% Newsbottom 21% Tech: 41 technologies across 6/8 capability areas · Cloud: Amazon S3, Amazon Web Services Moat: Editorial + unicorn rating 8/10 · Soonicorn rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 76/100 | $61M | 17 mo ago | 103 103 → 72 (-30%) | Anastasia Volkova Co-Founder & CEO | Series B | — | — |
| 7 | Istari Oncology Developer of viral vaccines and antibody drug conjugates for the treatment of cancer | $49M | 64 mo ago | 47 | Matthias Gromeier Founder | Series B | 7 patents Oncolytic chimeric poliovirus therapies for glioblastoma and intravesical bladder cancer treatment | — |
| 8 | ndustrial Provider of energy management solutions for industrial and cold chain operations | $26M | 19 mo ago | 40 | Jason Massey Co-Founder & CEO | Series B | 15 patents IoT sensor provisioning and onboarding for wireless communication networks | — |
| 9 | Opus Genetics Developer of gene therapies to treat retinal degenerative diseases 42Patents top 29%Funding top 30%Moat top 32%Innovation top 34% All 11 signals ▾Patentstop 29% Fundingtop 30% Moattop 32% Innovationtop 34% Talenttop 38% Growthtop 47% Techtop 50% Newstop 50% Globalbottom 36% Marketbottom 31% Fin. healthbottom 28% Patents: 26 patents matched (strict assignee match) · 26 filings since 2022 vs 0 in 2017-21 Funding: Raised $23.5M across 4 rounds · 4 rounds over 5 yrs (0.8/yr) rank vs industry peers · Fliar Intelligence Index 42/100 | $24M | 12 mo ago | 14 | Jason Menzo Co-Founder | Public | 26 patents Pharmaceutical eye‑drop formulations targeting mydriasis, presbyopia, and AMD treatment | — |
| 10 | Emergo Therapeutics Developer of treatment for the treatment of inflammatory diseases | $16M | 51 mo ago | 8 | Robin Deruyscher Founder | Series A | — | — |
| 11 | Plantd Provider of carbon based material for the green building community | $14M | 11 mo ago | 48 | Huade Tan Co-Founder | Series B | 5 patents Sustainable construction materials and pressing manufacturing processes for alternative building products. | — |
| 12 | BotBuilt Developer of affordable houses | $12M | 32 mo ago | 13 | Colin Devine Co-Founder and COO | Seed | 36 patents Automated wood framing, cutting, and fastener installation systems for construction | — |
| 13 | Sustaera Developer of renewable energy-powered direct air carbon capture technology | $11M | 37 mo ago | 12 | Ben Gardner CEO | Series A | 16 patents CO2 capture using solid sorbents and conductive carbon composite materials. | — |
| 14 | AQUALIS Provider of solutions for storm water management | $10M | 98 mo ago | 121 | Richard Matero CEO | Acquired | — | 5 job openings |
| 15 | Galaxy Diagnostics PCR-based Human and Animal testing for vector-borne diseases | $3M | 16 mo ago | 15 | — | Series A | — | — |
| 16 | Microgrid Labs Provider of microgrid implementation solutions | $2M | 56 mo ago | 16 | Namit Singh COO | CoFounder | Seed | 4 patents Low-cost design, control, and deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure. | — |
| 17 | AgEYE Technologies AI-powered farm management solutions provider | $2M | 21 mo ago | 23 | — | Seed | — | — |
| 18 | Arrevus Online platform providing slot games with potential rewards and trusted service | $1M | 16 mo ago | 4 | — | Acqui-Hired | 8 patents Antibacterial peptide and fusidic acid formulations for treating skin and bone/joint infections | — |
| 19 | Sirga Advanced Biopharma Discovering and developing drugs against novel targets of drug-resistant pathogens (viral, fungal and… | $888K | 121 mo ago | — | Paul Agris FOUNDER | Funding Raised | — | — |
| 20 | Mycovia Pharmaceuticals Developer of small molecule based therapeutics for the treatment of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis | $710K | 98 mo ago | 61 | — | Funding Raised | — | — |
| 21 | NALA Developer of chlorine-resistant reverse osmosis membranes | $700K | 7 mo ago | 18 | Sue Mecham Co-Founder & CEO | Series A | — | 1 award |
| 22 | Vast Therapeutics Developing breakthrough medicines for chronic respiratory diseases, improving patient lives | $300K | 91 mo ago | 12 | Nate Stasko Chief Executive Officer | Series A | — | — |
| 23 | Purillume Provider of smart LED bed light | $250K | 120 mo ago | 2 | Neeraj Lal Founder & President | Seed | 12 patents LED luminaire fixtures and lighting harp mounting hardware for energy-efficient lighting | — |
| 24 | Symmune Therapeutics Drugs for the treatment & prevention of respiratory infections and pulmonary disorders | $125K | 97 mo ago | — | David Wilfret Co-Founder & CMO | Seed | — | — |
| 25 | BreeziPro Provider of predictive maintenance technology for HVAC systems | $100K | 107 mo ago | 4 | Tim Seaton Co-Founder & CEO | Seed | — | — |
Top 12 Sustainability Tech companies in Durham
#1
Series B · Durham, New Hampshire · founded 2016 · 103 employees$60.7Mraised▾
AI-powered platform for resilient agriculture, emissions reduction, and supply chain sustainability. This is a technology company offering a climate action platform that empowers organizations to achieve sustainability goals through regenerative agriculture. The platform provides sustainability insights, rigorous scope 3 analysis, and actionable carbon reduction plans. It delivers measurable, reportable, and verifiable (MRV) progress against sustainability commitments. The company utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) and remote sensing to trace emissions, plan high-ROI sustainability investments, and report sustainability progress. It supports various sectors, including consumer goods, retail, agribusiness, and the public sector, enabling them to build resilient supply chains, meet sustainable commodity demands, and generate certified carbon assets. The platform helps turn sustainability commitments into audit-ready results, facilitating credible impact reporting and claims. It is a B2B SaaS platform.
- Mar 2025Series B—
- Jul 2023Series B—
- May 2022Series B$38M
- Aug 2021Series A$17M
#2
Public · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2021 · 14 employees$23.5Mraised▾
Developer of gene therapies to treat retinal degenerative diseases. The company is focusing on the development of AAV-based gene therapies to address mutations in genes that cause Leber congenital amaurosis. The company's drug pipeline includes OPGx-001 to target mutations in the LCA5 gene and OPGx-002 for retinal dystrophy.
- Aug 2025Grant (prize money)$1.7M
- Sep 2024Grant (prize money)$883K
- Jun 2023Seed$4.5M
- Sep 2021Seed$19M
#3
Series B · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2021 · 48 employees$13.6Mraised▾
Provider of carbon based material for the green building community
- Sep 2025Series B$22M
- Jan 2023Series A$13.6M
- Jan 2023Conventional Debt—
#4
Series A · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2018 · 18 employees$700Kraised▾
Developer of chlorine-resistant reverse osmosis membranes for water treatment. These membranes reduce biofouling, lowering operating costs and extending membrane lifespan. The technology enables efficient water reuse and reduces the environmental impact of water treatment systems. This is achieved through patented materials resistant to chlorine, allowing for effective cleaning without membrane damage. The result is lower energy consumption and reduced maintenance needs for water purification systems.
- Jan 2026Series A$10.8M
- Mar 2025Conventional Debt$1000K
- Apr 2022Conventional Debt$712.3K
- Mar 2022Seed$700K
#5
Series B · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2015 · 40 employees$25.9Mraised▾
Provider of energy management solutions for industrial and cold chain operations. The company offers an energy intensity platform designed for production-first energy management. It provides solutions for load control, temperature monitoring, and shore power. The company aims to decrease costs and increase sustainable industrial operations through its platform and services.
- Jan 2025Series B—
- Aug 2024Grant (prize money)—
- Apr 2024Series B$20.1M
- May 2021Series A$6M
#6
Series A · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2009 · 15 employees$2.6Mraised▾
Galaxy Diagnostics is an infectious disease testing company founded by researchers at NC State University College of Veterinary Medicine. The company offers PCR tests to confirm Bartonella infection and other pathogens. Its product, the Bartonella ePCR test combines proprietary enrichment culture with compassionate PCR methods to provide a highly sensitive detection test for Bartonella spp. The company offers PCR tests to detect a broad range of species within each genus of Bartonella spp, Anaplasma spp, Ehrlichia spp, Rickettsia spp, and Babesia.
- Apr 2025Series A$4.1M
- Aug 2023Series A$2M
- Sep 2018Grant (prize money)$224.9K
- Aug 2014Seed$550.8K
#7
Acqui-Hired · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2017 · 4 employees$1.4Mraised▾
Online platform providing slot games with potential rewards and trusted service. It offers a diverse selection of online slot games, emphasizing opportunities for users to potentially win rewards. The platform highlights its commitment to providing a trusted and reliable service for players. It focuses on delivering an engaging online gaming experience with a user-friendly interface, featuring options such as login, registration, and live chat support. The platform also provides resources and information related to slot games, aiming to be a comprehensive destination for enthusiasts seeking entertainment and potential financial gains. It promotes responsible gaming and encourages users to play within their means.
- Apr 2025Grant (prize money)$174.1K
- Oct 2019Conventional Debt—
- Sep 2019Seed$150K
- Dec 2018Grant (prize money)$300K
#8
Series F · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2009 · 109 employees$230Mraised▾
Providing solid state thermal management solutions. It utilizes thermoelectric capabilities of semi conductors to create products that can convert heat into electricity or use electricity to eliminate heat. Phononic has developed solid state pump which can replace compressors in high end refrigeration requirement like in labs and medical facilities.
- Jul 2021Series F$50M
- Jun 2020Conventional Debt—
- Nov 2016Series E$40M
- Sep 2016Series E$30M
#9
Seed · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2018 · 23 employees$1.8Mraised▾
AI-powered farm management solutions provider It provides AI-powered farm management solutions. It developed Smart Spectrum, an intelligent horticulture lighting system that records farm data and adjusts the light spectrum according to plant needs. also offers disease detection and inventory management solutions.
- Dec 2024Seed—
- Apr 2024Seed$515.2K
- Dec 2022Seed—
- Sep 2022Seed$1.3M
#10
Acquired · Durham, North Carolina · founded 1997 · 120 employees$169.7Mraised▾
Argos Therapeutics, previously known as Merix Bioscience, develops RNA-based autologous dendritic cell therapies for cancer and infectious disease. It uses its proprietary ARCELIS platform to 'train' the patient's dendritic cells and stimulate an in vivo tumor-specific immune response. Its lead candidate is in phase III trials for metastatic renal cell carcinoma, while another candidate (AGS-004) in combination with the latency reversing drug vorinostat, is in investigator initiated phase II clinical trials for HIV. The company has received funding from the NIH, NIAID and the Collaboratory of Research for AIDS Eradication.
- Jun 2017Post IPO$6M
- Mar 2016Post IPO—
- Apr 2015Post IPO$10M
- Apr 2015Grant (prize money)$6.6M
#11
Seed · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2017 · 13 employees$12.4Mraised▾
Developer of affordable houses
- Dec 2023Seed$12.4M
#12
Acqui-Hired · Durham, North Carolina · founded 2005 · 13 employees$160.8Mraised▾
Innovation hub revolutionizing healthcare, education, safety, energy, and technology with AI. This organization drives innovation across multiple sectors, offering solutions in healthcare, education, fire safety, energy, and technology. It provides AI training for healthcare professionals, education and skill development programs, and wealth-building strategies. The company delivers fire protection services and solutions, nuclear energy logistics, and infrastructure development. It advances satellite communications and gives back to the community through its philanthropic arm. The organization offers economic insights, premium domain expertise, and health-focused digital assets. It also provides wellness innovations and AI-driven content solutions, fostering business acumen through AI. This is a multi-industry powerhouse leveraging Artificial Intelligence to solve real-world challenges and build a legacy of innovation.
- Sep 2016Series E$12M
- Jun 2015Grant (prize money)$1.9M
- Oct 2014Series D$60M
- Feb 2014Series C$10M
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Sustainability Tech coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Climate Adaptation is moving in the United States
A read on the academic research around Climate Adaptation — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 1,953 United States-affiliated papers.
- Columbia University52
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill43
- Arizona State University42
- Texas A&M University42
- Purdue University West Lafayette35
- Flood myth4→56
- Climate change6→47
- Flooding (psychology)2→23
- Climate resilience1→16
- Flood mitigation2→14
- Flood myth50→178
- Climate change35→155
- Flooding (psychology)18→97
- Resilience (materials science)10→84
- Psychological resilience12→55
- Climate change71→449
- Resilience (materials science)17→139
- Flood myth36→158
- Psychological resilience13→115
- Climate resilience14→92
Where climate adaptation is researched across United States
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Who's filing climate adaptation patents in the United States
United States climate adaptation patent filing is cooling — 28 filings from 19 assignees (2016–2025), led by ILC Dover, Garcia Rogerio, Serralta Denset; annual filings 6→1.
- ILC Dover20
- Garcia Rogerio4
- Serralta Denset4
- Zesty AI2
- Yodock GUY1
- Mckee TONY RAY1
- Ballard Tristan1
- Cooper Matthew1
Common questions
Riya reads income statements for fun. She covers the real money in a sector — revenue, growth, who actually earns — and never met a vague claim she didn't want a number for.