Leafr Raises £600k to Bridge Sustainability Gap

Leafr, a London-based startup, has successfully raised £600,000 in a funding round led by Haatch VC. The company aims to bridge the gap between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and sustainability expertise. Co-founders Nick Valenzia and Gus Bartholomew leverage their consulting backgrounds to offer sustainability consultants to SMEs at a fraction of the cost of in-house teams or traditional consultancy firms. The initiative seeks to address the growing demands for compliance with sustainability regulations, especially as businesses face mounting pressure from clients and regulations. Leafr leverages a network of over 1,000 vetted sustainability experts, covering industries from retail to manufacturing. The platform is seen as a more flexible and cost-effective alternative to full-time hires, drawing parallels with the gig economy's impact on the accessibility of digital skills.