Today: Feb 12, 2025

Climate fintech Zero launches sustainable Money App targeting eco-conscious users

What if your bank account could fight climate change? Zero, the B Corp-certified fintech, launches its sustainable money app, aiming to help Gen-Z and Millennials reduce their carbon footprint while banking. With a pre-launch valuation of £8.3 million and a Crowdcube campaign underway, Zero is making eco-friendly finance a reality.
Zero Team Members | Zero: Sustainable Money App
2 weeks ago

Zero, a Cardiff-based climate fintech, has launched its highly anticipated sustainability-focused money app. This innovative app is designed to help users reduce their carbon footprint, and presents an opportunity for people to invest in the company through its Crowdcube campaign.

With a pre-money undiluted valuation of £8.3 million, Zero aims to disrupt the financial industry and empower consumers to align their finances with their values, particularly when it comes to combating climate change.

For most of us, the link between our personal finances and the global climate crisis is far from obvious. It’s easy to assume that once our salary is deposited into our bank account, it’s simply waiting to be spent on groceries, rent, or leisure activities.

But, as Zero’s co-founder Richard Theo points out, “your money doesn’t just sit there waiting for you to unbox it and call on it when needed.” Banks take the funds in your account and pool them together, using the money to finance everything from local businesses to large-scale corporations.

While this might seem harmless, it’s a practice that often includes lending to industries that contribute to the climate crisis. According to research from campaign group Make My Money Matter, UK banks have loaned over $500 billion to the fossil fuel industry since the 2015 Paris Agreement, despite the clear scientific consensus that burning fossil fuels leads to climate change.

In fact, major UK banks like Barclays, HSBC, and Santander continue to lend billions to fossil fuel companies, hindering efforts to transition to a sustainable future.

Zero aims to change this narrative by providing consumers with the tools to understand and manage their financial impact on the planet. Their app doesn’t just analyze spending; it offers actionable insights into how users can reduce their carbon footprint and invest in sustainable solutions.

As Theo notes, “We believe that money should never be used for anything that isn’t getting us to net zero as fast as possible.”

The company’s focus on 21-34-year-olds—what they call the “Gen Zero” demographic—is rooted in the fact that this generation is more climate-conscious than any before it.

Research conducted by Zero found that 61% of people believe banks have a responsibility to contribute positively to climate change, and 59% want their bank to use their money in a way that benefits the environment.

Yet, despite this demand for sustainability, fewer than half of people believe their current bank is doing enough to tackle climate change.

B Corp-Certified Zero Rolls Out Eco-Friendly Money App to Transform Personal Finance | Zero

The Zero money app

The Zero money app is designed to make sustainability accessible and engaging. One of its most innovative features, GreenScore, scores the carbon footprint of everyday purchases based on a proprietary index.

Unlike traditional carbon calculators, which measure emissions in kilograms of CO2, GreenScore presents users with an easy-to-understand numerical representation of their carbon impact. The app also offers personalized insights and actionable recommendations to help users reduce their environmental impact.

In addition to a debit Mastercard, which allows users to make fee-free international transactions, Zero will soon integrate Open Banking to track spending across other accounts, offering a holistic view of each user’s carbon footprint. Through this data, Zero hopes to empower individuals to make more sustainable financial choices, from shifting spending habits to contributing to climate-positive solutions.

“We want to make money a force for the good of the planet,” says Theo. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between digital banking and effortless sustainability, which simply isn’t available right now.”

Zero’s unique Community Share Option Scheme sets the company apart. Instead of offering traditional equity shares, the fintech is offering 20% of the business’ value to its customers, aiming to build a community of like-minded, climate-conscious individuals.

Early users can receive 400 free Community Share Options, giving them a stake in the company and in the collective mission to fight climate change.

Theo believes that “collective action” is key to Zero’s success. By empowering its user base, the company is building a movement that goes beyond just offering a banking product—it’s creating a community committed to sustainability and fighting climate change.

User shares a pictures of his Zero card | Linkedin

The crowdcube campaign: An opportunity for investment

As Zero prepares for the next phase of its journey, the company has launched a Crowdcube campaign to raise additional funds. With a pre-money valuation of £8.3 million, the fintech is positioning itself to grow quickly, fueled by a loyal customer base and a dedicated group of investors. Theo and his team are committed to building a financial platform that will not only support individual sustainability goals but also contribute to the larger effort to combat climate change.

Despite being in its early stages, Zero has already secured impressive partnerships with industry giants such as Mastercard, Transact Payments, and Marqeta, ensuring that the app offers best-in-class features and a seamless user experience. The company is also in the process of applying for a UK banking license, which would allow it to expand its offerings, including sustainable lending products.

Zero’s app has already passed an early adopter program, with over 5,000 users helping to test and prove the product. Now, with the app available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the company is ready to take the next step. As part of their commitment to a seamless user experience, Zero plans to introduce Apple Pay and Google Pay in the coming months, along with other features designed to enhance the user experience.

With backing from industry leaders like Mastercard, Transact Payments, and Marqeta, Zero is poised to make waves in the fintech industry. The company has also secured B Corp certification, further cementing its commitment to sustainability.

As Theo explains, the launch of Zero is just the beginning. “We’ve got an exciting line-up of features, products, and services in the pipeline, and we’re only getting started. This is a long-term mission, and we’re committed to making money a force for good.”

For those looking to make a change, Zero offers a clear solution—an app that makes it easy to manage your finances in a way that supports both your goals and the planet’s.

Fabrice Iranzi

Journalist and Project Leader at LionHerald, strong passion in tech and new ideas, serving Digital Company Builders in UK and beyond
E-mail: iranzi@lionherald.com

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