Colombia, February 2025 — The innovative embedded carbon data provider, Connect Earth enters a strategic membership with Latin American Fintech ecosystem, Colombia Fintech. This news signals a commitment to bring sustainability data, at scale, to the financial institutions of the region.
Head over to the Colombia Fintech website to view the Spanish language variant of this announcement.
Who is Connect Earth?
Founded in 2021, Connect Earth is a London-based embedded carbon data provider with a global reach and big ambitions. This exciting startup raised $5.6 million seed round in 2023 and is beginning a new round this year. Investors are eager to see a future where embedded carbon data is fully integrated in the digital banking space.
So, what is “embedded carbon data”? Essentially, by selling into banks, Connect Earth empowers individuals and businesses with carbon footprint reporting and smart insights based on their transactions. This is delivered via world-class API technology built directly within digital banking platforms.
Customers include Tide in the UK, KBC in Bulgaria and large institutions across the UAE. Most recently, 2024 saw the launch of a carbon footprint calculator with Tide UK, a business bank that serves more than 10% of small and medium businesses in the United Kingdom.
Riding this wave of success, Connect Earth is taking on new challenges, solidifying its presence in LATAM and developing partnerships with financial institutions:
“As pioneers at the intersection of Sustainability and Finance, we believe that transactional carbon accounting is the most scalable way to measure emissions. Banks in Colombia and across LATAM are seeking reliable, innovative solutions to meet the eco-conscious customer expectations of today. We aim to bridge the gap between intent, knowledge and action to help these institutions and their customers make sustainable choices.”
— Alexander Lempka, CEO, Connect Earth
Embedded Carbon: The Future of Banking?
By deploying carbon measurement API technology within financial institutions’ digital platforms, Connect Earth supports businesses and consumers to be more aware of their impact with accurate, reliable carbon management.
“Enabling people to be more aware of their carbon footprint is — simply put — the right thing to do. Our approach is based on the highest standards of data quality and best practice methodologies, localised to specific regions. We then leverage the unique reach that financial institutions have to provide this vital information to customers. This model is just the beginning of a new era of global banking as we strive to create a sustainable economy that works for the planet and its people.”
— Josh Couchman, Head of Data, Connect Earth
As a member of Project Perseus and The Carbon Accounting Alliance, Connect Earth is advising and contributing to the business case, data quality standards and technical implementation of embedded carbon data. The team hopes to bring these insights into the ecosystem at Colombia Fintech, fostering powerful partnerships in the region.
The Colombia Fintech Ecosystem
“The entry of Connect Earth into Colombia Fintech represents a very important step towards the integration of sustainability in the fintech ecosystem of the region. Our affiliates look for innovative and responsible solutions, therefore, it is key to have a leader in carbon data like Connect Earth. We are very excited about the opportunities that this alliance can generate.”
— Gabriel Santos, Executive President, Colombia Fintech
Colombia Fintech’s mission is to facilitate a dynamic ecosystem for the development of fintech businesses within the country. The association provides resources, networking opportunities and support to promote innovation and growth in the fintech sector.
“Colombia Fintech is a highly respected institution dedicated to supporting innovators. It represents around 400 fintechs and thousands of professionals are actively engaged in this community. My ambition is to leverage this amazing opportunity to tell our story and find new markets and partners for our carbon data infrastructure proposition.”
— Andrea Clopatofsky, LATAM Lead, Connect Earth
By becoming a member of Colombia Fintech, Connect Earth starts 2025 as it means to go on: building crucial relationships at a regional level, bringing carbon insights to the global stage.
