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Google announced a partnership with Stegra to support the operation of a large-scale green hydrogen-based steel plant in Sweden, with an expected reduction in production emissions of up to 95% compared with conventional blast furnaces. Google will receive environmental attribute certificates linked to up to 91,000 metric tons of the plant’s output in its first year, to use in reducing the carbon footprint of data center construction.
Crunchbase is tracking eight startups that could go public within the next six months, at a time when the IPO window appears narrower despite 2026 reaching record levels, supported by SpaceX’s offering. The list includes companies in artificial intelligence, financial technology, consumer health, cryptocurrency, and green technology.
Crunchbase data reveals that startup funding in real estate technology remains well below 2019 levels and the pandemic peak, despite approaching the 2025 total. Investors’ attention is now focused on artificial intelligence, construction technology, real estate operations, and transaction infrastructure that can prove cost reductions or time savings.
Michael Barnard analyzes the mass-balance problem in hydrogen production through methane pyrolysis: each tonne of hydrogen produces about three tonnes of solid carbon. Even a steel plant designed to consume both products together could leave 80 to 90% of the carbon in need of other markets.