In a climate tech market defined by uncertainty and shrinking risk appetite, SGS’ acquisition of Sami lands like a quiet statement of defiance. It suggests that while many are retreating, some are doubling down on the future of carbon accountability and sustainability innovation.
The deal brings Sami’s carbon accounting and ESG software under the wing of Swiss-based SGS, a global powerhouse in testing, inspection, and certification operating 2,500+ labs and facilities across 115 countries. Roughly 45 Sami employees and more than 1,500 corporate customers will now become part of SGS’ fast-expanding sustainability portfolio. Financial details remain undisclosed, but the move reflects a deliberate strategy: sharpening SGS’ role in the verification and climate compliance ecosystem, especially after its recent acquisition of Aster Global Environmental Solutions earlier in 2025.
Dozens of climate tech startups this year are fighting for capital and customers, forced into shutdowns, distressed sales or pivots as geopolitical shifts shake confidence. The U.S. federal government’s rollback of climate policies since President Donald Trump’s second term began in January 2025 has weakened investor appetite, creating what some analysts call a “funding winter” for sustainability innovation.
And yet, the market fundamentals tell another story. The carbon footprint management sector is projected to grow from $13.8 billion in 2024 to $103.4 billion by 2034, a staggering 22.3% CAGR. Companies know regulatory pressure is rising globally, regardless of who holds political power, and they are running out of runway to delay credible transition plans.
That’s why this acquisition matters now: SGS is betting on climate infrastructure when many others are backing away. Sami’s platform and consulting services, already used by partners like KPMG, Bureau Veritas, Wavestone, Ekodev and Axa Climate, bring real operational capacity, not just climate storytelling. In a market where transparency and verification are quickly becoming mandatory, not aspirational, the merger feels like a positioning move ahead of the next wave of climate regulation.
If there’s a lesson to draw, it’s this: climate tech isn’t dying, it’s maturing. Weak companies may fall away, but strategic players are quietly building the scaffolding of the next decade’s sustainability economy.
