Zevero Completes Acquisition of Climate Services Firm Inhabit

Zevero adds UK-based sustainability consultancy as ESG software consolidation accelerates

Carbon management platform Zevero has completed its acquisition of Inhabit, a UK-based sustainability consultancy, expanding the company’s European advisory capabilities amid a surge of dealmaking in the ESG software sector.

The transaction gives Zevero control of Inhabit’s full portfolio of European clients, with onboarding proceeding in phases. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Regulatory pressure and investor scrutiny have turned carbon accounting into one of the fastest-growing segments of enterprise software. The global ESG software market reached $1.92 billion in 2024 and analysts project compound annual growth exceeding 12% through 2033. Broader carbon accounting software spending hit $18.6 billion in 2025, with some forecasts pointing toward $100 billion by 2034.

Zevero enters this expanding market with operations spanning more than 20 countries and a platform managing over 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent annually. The company raised $7 million in seed funding in September 2024, led by Spiral Capital with participation from East Ventures.

Deal Rationale

The acquisition advances Zevero’s strategy of pairing AI-powered automation with hands-on advisory services. Inhabit, founded in 2019 and headquartered in London’s Whitechapel district, built its business providing carbon tracking, net-zero planning, and ESG reporting to small and medium-sized enterprises including IKEA and Raspberry Pi.

George Wade, Chief Commercial Officer at Zevero, said the Inhabit team shares the company’s commitment to practical delivery. The deal enables clients to shift from consultancy-led engagement toward a structured, platform-based approach as reporting requirements tighten, he added.

Sam McKay, Co-founder and CEO of Inhabit, called the combination a natural fit. Zevero provides a platform that extends the value delivered to customers while preserving trusted relationships, McKay said.

Inhabit customers will gain access to Zevero’s carbon accounting technology, including automated data collection, visualization, and Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions reporting. Existing projects continue without disruption under the same delivery teams.

Market Consolidation

The deal arrives amid rapid consolidation across the sustainability software landscape. Diginex acquired Berlin-based Plan A in December 2025, adding roughly 1,500 customers including BMW, Deutsche Bank, and Visa. That same month, Osapiens purchased risk management startup Lucent AI following a $120 million Series B round.

Nordic ESG firm Position Green completed three acquisitions in 2025, snapping up Factlines, Greenomy, and Morescope. Diligent invested in carbon accounting provider Persefoni in October and announced plans to migrate its customers onto that platform.

The consolidation reflects intensifying competition as major technology vendors enter the market. SAP acquired UK-based carbon accounting startup Spherics in 2024. Salesforce, Microsoft, and IBM have each launched or expanded sustainability modules within their enterprise offerings.

Specialist players with proprietary emissions databases have become prime acquisition targets. Smaller firms that raised meaningful capital in earlier funding rounds now face pressure to differentiate or sell as the market matures.

Regulatory Drivers

Mandatory disclosure rules are forcing companies to professionalize their carbon accounting. The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive now covers approximately 50,000 companies, including 10,000 non-EU multinationals. The framework requires third-party-assured emissions inventories and carries fines and civil liability for misstatements.

In the United States, Securities and Exchange Commission climate rules compel large accelerated filers to report Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions starting with fiscal year 2025. California has enacted parallel requirements. The regulatory convergence has prompted multinationals to replace spreadsheet-based workflows with unified platforms capable of satisfying multiple jurisdictions simultaneously.

Asia-Pacific markets are following suit. Singapore requires climate disclosures from all listed companies beginning this year. China mandates sustainability reports from more than 300 listed entities by 2026. Japan has promoted AI-driven ESG scoring tools as part of broader decarbonization efforts.

Zevero’s multilingual platform positions the company to serve global supply chains across these emerging compliance regimes. The technology integrates life-cycle assessment methodologies alongside carbon accounting, enabling businesses to trace emissions from procurement through final delivery.

Company Background

Ben Richardson and George Wade founded Zevero in 2021 after growing frustrated with the cost and complexity of corporate carbon accounting. The pair, both 23 at the time, built a platform targeting mid-market companies priced out of traditional sustainability consulting.

The company merged with Singapore-based LEVELUP Climate Tech in early 2024, unifying operations under the Zevero brand globally. Shigeo Taniuchi, previously of LEVELUP, serves as Global CEO. Serial entrepreneur Yuya Kuratomi supports international expansion. The company maintains offices in Singapore, London, and Tokyo.

Zevero’s customer base includes Wieden Kennedy, Yakima Chief Hops, waterdrop, MOTH, Delphis Eco, and VitHit. The platform has gained particular traction in the food and beverage sector, where supply-chain emissions represent the bulk of corporate carbon footprints.

Outlook

The Inhabit acquisition positions Zevero to capture demand from mid-sized European companies facing new reporting obligations under the CSRD. The directive’s phased rollout will bring thousands of additional firms into scope over the next two years.

Institutional investors increasingly tie financing terms to emissions performance. Research indicates 24% of European retail banking customers would consider switching providers over poor ESG credentials. Asset managers overseeing more than $50 trillion in global assets have committed to net-zero portfolio targets, intensifying pressure on companies to produce auditable carbon data.

For Zevero, the deal extends a growth trajectory built on combining technology with practitioner expertise. The company plans to continue raising capital and pursuing strategic opportunities as the market consolidates further.

Carbon accounting has evolved from a voluntary exercise into a compliance imperative. Companies that invested early in measurement and reduction now hold advantages in capital markets and customer relationships. Those still relying on manual processes face mounting pressure to catch up.

Zevero is betting that mid-market companies will increasingly seek platforms that pair software automation with expert guidance. The Inhabit acquisition adds experienced practitioners to that equation, strengthening the company’s ability to deliver on both fronts.