Mushroom+ and four other climate startups join Carbon 13 accelerator for growth phase

Five climate tech startups have been selected for Carbon 13's new 12-month Growth Phase, including Mushroom+, a Manchester-based company using molecular engineering to boost mushroom protein content tenfold without genetic modification. The other ventures are Climingo, which benchmarks weather forecasts to help organizations cut emissions and improve resilience; Algaenic, which turns harmful algal blooms into sellable biomass; HexSeed Technology, developing lab-grown diamond coatings for semiconductors; and Viridys Bio, building biosensors that detect plant stress early. All five received pre-seed backing through SyndicateRoom's Carbon 13 SEIS Fund. Carbon 13 says the cohort reflects a shift where investors expect more progress at pre-seed stage. The accelerator's new 12-month Growth Phase aims to help these startups move from idea to scaling faster. For anyone tracking early-stage climate tech in the UK, this cohort covers alternative protein, climate data, water remediation, advanced materials, and precision agriculture. Worth watching how these companies perform through the growth phase and whether they can secure follow-on funding.