How Sylvera Helps Carbon Project Developers Build Credibility and Unlock Funding

Carbon project developers face a familiar challenge: proving the quality and bankability of their projects to buyers and investors. Sylvera solves exactly that.

We’re a carbon ratings and data platform that helps developers unlock capital, streamline offtake agreements, and demonstrate credibility. Whether you’re a REDD+ project issuing carbon credits or a DAC company preparing to break ground, Sylvera gives you the tools and data to realise and prove market integrity.

What We Do

Sylvera provides independent Ratings, pre-issuance assessments, and access to a global network of carbon buyers and investors. We cover all project types on the voluntary carbon market (VCM)—from nature-based solutions to cutting-edge engineered removals—and our structured, evidence-based insights give developers an edge in building trust and attracting funding.

How does Sylvera aid carbon project development?

1. Platform Ratings - A quality assessment designed to due diligence an issuing project and give buyers/investors a clear quality signal.
2. Pre-issuance Solution* - A tool to ensure early stage projects are designed in line with best practice, boosting market integrity for developers and providing credibility to investors. 
3. Connect to Demand - (Via our Connect to Supply feature) a free matchmaking service that connects suppliers of carbon sequestration and avoidance credits with buyers and investors.

*To ensure our independence, we will never charge developers for Platform Ratings or Connect to Supply. However, we have recently opened our pre-issuance solution to developers looking to raise investment for their carbon credit projects before they break ground, which is a paid service.

1. Platform Ratings 

• What are they? Sylvera Ratings are independent assessments designed to signal project quality to buyers and investors. They focus on delivery risk, carbon integrity, and commercial potential.
• How are they used? Buyers use Ratings to confidently compare and select high-integrity projects. For developers, they are a way to showcase quality and get noticed—without paying a fee.‍

How we assess project quality

Each rating is derived from the holistic analysis of a project's ability to avoid or remove greenhouse gas emissions, as well as said project's additionality and permanence. We also assess co-benefits and safeguarding as a separate pillar. 

Platform Ratings Process

We aim to work with developers throughout the Ratings process, from data requirements through to Rating feedback. 

1. Data submission and Initial Review: The Assessments team reviews the documentation submitted by the developers, then identifies and requests missing documentation. 
2. Rating Development: If all key materials are present, Sylvera applies the relevant ratings framework to produce the Rating.
3. Draft Rating Shared: A draft rating is shared with the developer, who can add additional information, ask clarifying questions, and submit feedback.
4. Finalization: Once feedback is incorporated, the final rating is published to the Sylvera platform, accessible to our global client base of leading buyers and investors. 
5. Post Publication: After the Rating is published, we still welcome new documentation to help ensure the Rating is up to date. We can also provide a Rating summary on request for buyers or investor requests for the project developer.

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Ratings vs Estimated Ratings: What’s the Difference?‍

In addition to full Ratings, Sylvera offers Estimated Ratings to help buyers and investors quickly triage large volumes of projects. Both tools use the same underlying frameworks—but each is designed for different levels of depth, speed, and use case.

2. Pre-Issuance Solution

As demand for high-quality carbon credits grows, buyers and investors increasingly look upstream, seeking out promising early-stage projects—or even proposed projects—before they generate carbon credits. Yet in a market where robust supply is limited and due diligence is time-consuming, identifying credible, investable projects early is a major challenge.

For developers looking to unlock early stage capital, our Pre-Issuance Solution provides an independent risk assessment, plus a roadmap for improving quality and credibility. Initially designed for investors and buyers, this tool is now actively used by developers to attract early-stage funding and drive future carbon credit sales.

What’s Included?

• Pre-Issuance Rating: Our pre-issuance ratings include three modules, which are integrity, delivery, and value. This helps us evaluate new projects effectively.
• Quarterly Monitoring: We also provide customers with regular updates to track progress toward key milestones. This gives them confidence in carbon offset projects.
• Platform Access: Finally, we offer visibility to buyers and investors throughout the project development process via Sylvera’s extensive network.‍

Tailored for NBS and CDR ‍

We understand that no project, let alone project type, is the same. So, while the solution for both is looking to unlock financing, they differ in what we assess for delivery and value. 

Integrity Module – Forecasting Rating Potential

This module estimates the Rating a project is likely to receive at issuance, based on current design and documentation. It provides a forward-looking view of quality that helps investors and offtakers understand the project’s potential and areas for improvement. For developers, it’s a chance to stress-test their strategy and take proactive steps to strengthen credibility early on.

Delivery and Value — Tailored to What Buyers Actually Care About‍

The other two modules—Delivery and Value—dig into the questions buyers and investors tend to ask next: can this project deliver, and what’s it worth?

• For nature-based projects, that usually means understanding when credits will be issued, and what might delay them. The Value Module then links the expected Rating to our price-rating correlation, giving a sense of what the credits could sell for—essentially turning quality into commercial terms for natural climate solutions.
• For CDR projects, the focus is a bit different. Delivery is about technical and operational readiness. Is the MRV system credible? Is the delivery model realistic? Is the policy environment supportive? Value then looks at commercial potential. Can the project scale? Are costs on a clear downward path? What would it take to unlock stronger Ratings and better pricing?

Taken together, these three modules help developers make stronger projects and give buyers and investors the confidence to engage early.

Case Study: NBS Developer Secures $7M Investment

• A Latin American ARR developer needed $7M to kickstart operations.
• Used a Sylvera Pre-Issuance Rating (initially BBB–B) to attract investors.
• Energy company accelerated due diligence and committed to 65% of future credits.
• Funding was milestone-based, with quarterly monitoring reports unlocking each tranche.
• Project on track to receive an A Rating by first issuance in 2026.

3. Connect to demand 

Once projects are issuing, the challenge shifts from discovery to access. Buyers want to move quickly, compare options, and find credits that meet their specific needs—whether that’s a certain Rating, method, or vintage. This is why we built Connect to Supply, to make connecting demand with supply as easy as possible. 

Project developers with existing supply can access Sylvera's Connect to Supply platform at no cost. It’s a simple way for developers to share live offers and respond directly to demand, all within a trusted platform. No middlemen, no fees—just more efficient, more transparent transactions. This platform allows you to:

• Submit Live Offers: Respond to requests from buyers and investors looking to procure or invest in projects.
• Access Diverse Opportunities: Browse both pre-issuance and spot requests, including criteria-based opportunities (e.g., A+-rated or CORSIA-eligible projects).
• Streamline Submissions: Easily submit multiple offers for different vintages or volumes, all within a user-friendly interface.

At Sylvera, we believe in creating value for both suppliers and buyers. That’s why we offer this service free of charge—to ensure we remain independent and high-quality projects like yours have the opportunity to connect with the right partners and thrive.

Prove the quality of your carbon credits

It doesn't matter what you have in development—forestry projects, biochar projects, engineered carbon dioxide removal (CDR) projects—Sylvera can help you build credibility and secure financing.

All you have to do is submit your project design documents and let us analyze your plans. We'll then give your proposed or developed project a draft rating and work with you to improve it. After this process, a final Rating will be given, which you can use to prove project viability and land funding. (Or, if your project is already complete, sell credits generated to happy buyers.)

Request a free demo of Sylvera today to see how our tools and data can improve your project development process. 

Or, to have your project rated by Sylvera, reach out to our team here to share project data with us and initiate the assessment process.