- Bend is a fintech startup, launched in 2022, that automatically offsets carbon emissions through corporate spending.
- The platform tracks spending, calculates the carbon footprint of each transaction, and funds verified climate projects to offset emissions.
- Backed by investors like Y Combinator, Bend simplifies sustainability for businesses by integrating seamlessly with their financial systems.
Corporations have long been criticized for their massive carbon footprints, but what if the simple act of spending money could be transformed into a force for good?
Enter Bend, the fintech startup that's turning business expenses into an engine for climate action.
Co-founded in 2022 by Ted Power and Thomas Constantine Moore, Bend is revolutionizing how companies think about sustainability by embedding automatic carbon offsets into every financial transaction.
Turning Every Dollar into a Climate Hero
Bend operates on a straightforward yet powerful idea: track the carbon emissions of every dollar spent and offset those emissions automatically.
By integrating with corporate financial systems, Bend allows businesses to seamlessly fund certified carbon offset projects, transforming every purchase into a meaningful step towards reducing their environmental impact.
Bend doesn't require companies to reinvent the wheel or overhaul their processes.
Instead, it merges climate action with the routine flow of business transactions, making it easier for corporations to step up their environmental game without a second thought.
The Mechanics Behind Bend’s Climate Power
So how does Bend accomplish this?
It is accomplished by weaving carbon offsets into the fabric of corporate spend management.
Bend’s platform tracks spending, calculates the carbon emissions of each purchase, and immediately offers businesses the chance to offset them through trusted, high-quality climate projects.
These projects include reforestation, renewable energy, and other initiatives verified by leading environmental standards.
The real magic lies in Bend's transparent, real-time dashboard, which allows companies to precisely monitor their climate contributions.
There is no guesswork, just data-driven insights into how their spending is reducing carbon in the atmosphere. It’s finance but with a green twist.
Funded to Fuel a Greener Future
Bend’s unique approach quickly attracted attention from Y Combinator as part of its Summer 2022 cohort, where it garnered a $2.5 million pre-seed investment.
Leading climate-focused venture firms like Climate Capital were among the early backers, recognizing Bend's potential to disrupt both fintech and climate tech.
In fact, the platform's success and potential were highlighted in a TechCrunch feature in May 2023, which underscored how the startup is using corporate spending as a lever for environmental good.
Sustainability, Simplified and Supercharged
Unlike traditional carbon offset programs that require businesses to take several additional steps, Bend has made sustainability effortless.
By integrating with existing corporate financial systems like credit cards and accounting software, the platform tracks every transaction and calculates the associated carbon emissions in the background.
Bend offers flexible pricing models to cater to a range of business sizes, from startups to larger corporations.
Companies can scale their carbon offsets based on their size, goals, and spending patterns. Whether it's a small firm taking its first step towards sustainability or an enterprise with more ambitious climate targets, Bend offers a tailored solution.
What’s Next for Bend?
As corporations worldwide face growing scrutiny over their carbon emissions, Bend is perfectly positioned to help them meet both regulatory requirements and consumer expectations for more sustainable business practices.
The fintech startup’s ability to automate and scale carbon offsets gives it a strong competitive edge as more companies seek out sustainable finance solutions.
“We have some really awesome early customers,” said Ted Power, co-founder and CEO of Bend.
With its flexible approach and the ability to directly link spending to environmental impact, Bend is ready to expand its influence in both the climate tech and fintech sectors.
The road ahead is bright—and decidedly green—as more companies realize that their dollars can indeed make a difference.
Edited By Annette George
