Backing innovation that spreads the economic benefits of decarbonisation

Why Brightwild?

Tackling climate change should also build a more prosperous society for everyone. Too often, innovation has concentrated wealth and left people behind.

Brightwild exists to change that story — supporting ventures that have a climate impact and create livelihoods, reduce costs, or provide new sources of income.

Our Approach

There are several gaps in climate finance which we help address:

The first is a mismatch between where the emissions are and where the finance goes. Emissions from land use are roughly 20% but receive about 3% of finance.

Secondly, much of climate finance is invested in solutions where the benefits do not reach most people, and certainly not the middle to lower income deciles.

Lastly, the majority of climate finance is debt for big, established projects. Venture capital focuses on newer, high-risk ventures but requires equity and the possibility of big returns, which can skew towards certain outcomes. Many with the solutions we need don't fit big-project debt or the VC model.

They need affordable, flexible debt to buy kit, hire people, and fulfil orders. We aim to get catalytic capital to the front line, so climate innovation delivers jobs, income, and lower bills.

Meet the Team

We have a team with extensive experience across science, innovation, and technology.

Co-Directors & Founders

Miriam Turner and Hugh Knowles are experienced leaders and innovators who have spent their careers turning bold ideas into practical change. With backgrounds in science and innovation, they have founded and scaled both for-profit and charitable ventures, and led one of the UK's most high-profile environmental organisations. Their expertise spans strategy, innovation, governance, fundraising, and stakeholder engagement. Together, they bring a proven ability to design and finance pioneering projects, build high-performing teams, and navigate the intersection of technology, climate, and social impact.

CTO & Founder

James Golding brings over 25 years of experience leading teams at the frontier of technology and innovation. As Engineering Director at Epic Games, he shaped technical strategy, built world-class software platforms, and bridged creative and engineering disciplines to deliver globally scaled products. He has deep expertise in systems thinking, data-driven problem solving, and translating complex technology into practical tools — experience now focused on applying technological innovation to climate and social impact.