Cusp Capital invests in leadity

Hamburg-based startup leadity, provider of a software platform for ESG and CO₂ management in SMEs, has gained VC investor Cusp Capital as a new financing partner. The investment follows a phase of strong growth: in recent years, leadity has increased its customer base fivefold and now serves more than 600 SMEs from over 20 industries.

ESG solution specifically for SMEs

Since it was founded in 2019, leadity has been offering an AI-supported, modular platform that covers sustainability strategy, climate accounting, supply chain analysis and reporting in a single system. It is based on the PDCA logic (Plan-Do-Check-Act), which is familiar from the quality management of many SMEs. Data and measures only need to be recorded once and can be used multiple times.

Industry-specific modules and well-known customers

To date, leadity is the only European company with over ten industry-specific ESG solutions, ranging from construction, food and beverages to hotels and sports clubs. Customers such as AUNDE, Klüh, Borussia Mönchengladbach and the Bitburger Brewery Group are already using the platform to make ESG certificates visible in tenders and projects.

leadity has grown profitably and built up its customer base in five years with just 1.5 million euros in funding. This efficient development has also convinced Cusp Capital, which is now supporting the next growth steps as an investor specializing in ESG and SMEs.

Expansion plans for the coming years

The company plans to increase its customer base fivefold again over the next three years. Growth will be driven by 20 additional industry solutions, expansion in the areas of supply chain compliance and decarbonization as well as a large-scale marketing campaign for the first time. To this end, leadity is cooperating with partners such as REMONDIS, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Develey, LichtBlick, GETEC, Deutsche Bank and the Mittelstandsverbund.

The platform is continuously being developed and adapted to new regulatory requirements. Partners such as Sparkasse provide practical examples of financing and funding. leadity is ISO 27001 certified and works with recognized calculation methods for carbon footprints. There are also close links with the Center for Sustainable Corporate Governance (ZNU) at Witten/Herdecke University and over 100 partners from the fields of consulting, auditing and certification.