JLL Foundation, a non-profit started by the real estate giant in 2022, published its first annual report, detailing its support through loans of $2.6 million to 15 "climate-impacting" startups, according to materials form the organization.

Not all are real estate or construction focused, but many are. "All 15 companies are actively reducing greenhouse gas emissions: 53% are reducing waste; 40% are decarbonizing the building sector; 33% are reducing water consumption, and 33% are making a social impact," the foundation wrote in a press release. "Beyond climate change mitigation, these companies are building a clean economy, creating green jobs and construction, transforming food, packaging and agricultural systems, and innovating tech to measure impact and drive change."

The funding happens in partnership with Good Machine, "a venture studio with an extensive network of startups, investors and foundations engaged in climate change mitigation," as the annual report stated. "Such early-stage companies frequently run out of money in between funding cycles, either because the government funding process is too slow or venture capitalists see too much risk or not enough potential return. As impact investors, our role has been to help them survive and thrive by deploying catalytic capital and through their association with the JLL brand. By reinvesting returned funds we are building a sustainable model that benefits all stakeholders." In other words, given the loan structure, it sounds like bridge funding for startups.