2026 Finalist – Katherine Keddie
Helping climate innovators turn complex science into global impact.
Katherine “Kat” Keddie is a climate tech entrepreneur, communicator, and ecosystem builder dedicated to accelerating the adoption of technologies that address the climate crisis. As co-founder of Adopter, she leads one of Europe’s first marketing companies focused exclusively on climate technology and adaptation, helping breakthrough solutions reach the investors, partners, and audiences they need to scale.
Kat founded Adopter with a clear belief: the world already has many of the technologies needed to tackle climate change, but they must be understood, trusted, and widely adopted. Adopter was created to help emerging green technologies achieve exactly that. The company works with climate tech startups, scaling businesses, accelerators, and international organisations to frame their messaging and build the digital presence needed to reach customers, investors, and talent.
Under Kat’s leadership, Adopter has supported companies across sectors including biotechnology, construction, finance, and nature-based solutions. Through strategic communication, digital marketing, and storytelling, the company has helped science-driven ventures raise funding, hire world-class teams, and form critical partnerships.
The firm’s work has contributed to the growth of technologies that cut emissions, restore ecosystems, and strengthen climate resilience.
In 2023, Adopter achieved B Corp certification, reflecting Kat’s commitment to ethical growth and sustainability. This milestone made her one of the youngest female founders to lead a B-Corp-certified company, reinforcing her belief that business success and environmental responsibility should go hand in hand.
Kat regularly mentors early-stage founders through leading accelerators including SOSV IndieBio, Conception X, and Carbon13, sharing her expertise in storytelling, marketing strategy, and venture growth. She also contributes to the ecosystem through pro-bono advisory work and digital marketing office hours, helping emerging climate companies refine their messaging and reach critical stakeholders.
Beyond her role as a founder, Kat is an active voice within the climate innovation ecosystem.
She hosts the Scaling Green-Tech podcast, where she interviews climate tech leaders, founders, and investors about the challenges and opportunities of building solutions for a net-zero world.
Her work also extends into ecosystem development: Kat and her team created the first comprehensive map of climate tech accelerators and investors in the UK, helping founders navigate the growing support landscape.
Her influence extends beyond individual ventures. Through Adopter’s partnerships and projects, Kat has helped amplify major initiatives including Earthshot Prize-related work, global NGOs, and investors working at the frontier of climate innovation. The company also contributes to global initiatives such as the Taskforce on Nature Markets, supporting efforts to shape emerging markets that deliver positive outcomes for nature and society.
At the heart of Kat’s work is a simple but powerful mission: to make the world’s most important climate solutions impossible to ignore.
By translating complex science into compelling narratives and connecting innovators with the audiences that matter, she is helping accelerate the technologies and ideas that can shape a more sustainable future.
Kat will be sharing her story at the 34th annual Inspiring Women Awards on 15th May 2026 at The Lowry Hotel. More details here.