The groups on the short list given below represent the best groups in the world seen by the VEC in the correponding areas:

• Biochar Solutions, USA
• Biorecro, Sweden
• Black Carbon, Denmark
• Carbon Engineering, Canada
• Climeworks with ETH Zurich, Switzerland
• Coaway, USA
• Full Circle Biochar, USA
• Global Thermostat, USA
• Kilimanjaro Energy, USA
• Savory Institute, USA
  
• Smart Stones, Netherlands

Sir Richard Branson is founder of the Virgin Group that, with its around 200 companies in over 30 countries, has now expanded into leisure, travel, tourism, mobile, broadband, TV, radio, music festivals, finance and health.

In February 2007, he has announced the Virgin Earth Challenge, the $25 million prize to encourage the viable technologies that will result in the net removal of anthropogenic, atmospheric greenhouse gases. Currently, through the Virgin Green Fund Sir Richard Branson with partners are investing in renewable energy and resource efficiency.