Cogo
Cogo helps people and small businesses take climate action, one transaction at a time. Their platform connects financial and accounting data to carbon insights, emissions tracking tools and personalised tips on how better spending decisions can improve your carbon footprint.
Fund: Te Pae ki te Rangi & Awhi
Transaction Summary
Fund: Awhi | Te Pae ki te Rangi
Date Invested: April 2018 (Pre-seed) | October 2023 (Bridge)
Instrument: Equity Investment, Convertible Note
IRIS+ Category: Pollution | Pollution Prevention - SaaS
Why We Invested
Most people understand that their choices affect their carbon footprint. Few have the data to act on it precisely, at the moments that matter. Cogo started by closing that gap, embedding carbon measurement directly into digital banking platforms through actual spend data combined with activity data for greater accuracy.
The business has since redirected its focus. Cogo now centres on household electrification: helping individuals and whānau move away from fossil fuel-dependent appliances and systems toward electric alternatives. Measurement remains part of the offering, but the intervention is more direct. Electrification is one of the highest-impact changes a household can make, and Cogo makes it actionable.
For individuals, the case is practical as much as environmental. Lower running costs, reduced emissions, and a clearer path to a home that isn't dependent on gas or petrol. Cogo provides the data and the nudge to make that transition easier to start.
Measuring What Matters
Problem:
Most households remain dependent on fossil fuel-based appliances and systems, contributing to ongoing emissions despite growing willingness to change. The barrier is rarely intent; it's access to clear, actionable information about what to switch, when, and why it's worth it.
What:
Household electrification support, helping individuals transition away from fossil fuel-dependent systems toward electric alternatives, with carbon measurement underpinning the process.
Who:
Households seeking to reduce their emissions through electrification, supported by spend-based data and actionable insights delivered through digital platforms.
How Much:
Scale: households that have engaged with Cogo's electrification tools.
Depth: households that have completed electrification upgrades because of Cogo's insights and support.
Duration: ongoing emissions reductions as electrified households replace fossil fuel use across their lifetime.
Contribution:
Cogo embeds electrification guidance at the point where household financial decisions are already being made, making the transition more accessible than standalone tools or one-off advice can.
Impact Risk:
Access doesn't guarantee action. Households may engage with Cogo's platform without completing electrification upgrades, particularly where upfront costs remain a barrier.
Impact Measures:
CO2e reduced through household electrification. Number of households completing electrification upgrades through Cogo's platform.
