UK banking giant Barclays has entered into a collaboration with London-headquartered AI start-up ExpectAI to pilot the company’s flagship Una platform, designed to help small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs better understand and act on their sustainability performance.
The Una platform uses data and artificial intelligence to create digital twins of SME operations, generating actionable insights aimed at improving sustainability outcomes while supporting business efficiency and profitability.
Founded in 2021 by founder and CEO Anand Verma, ExpectAI focuses on providing SMEs with visibility into their carbon profiles, tailored energy-efficiency recommendations, and access to verified solution providers and funding partners.
Writing on LinkedIn, ExpectAI says Una “is the world’s first AI-driven climate action platform built specifically for small and mid-sized businesses”.
“It gives you an instant view of your carbon footprint and turns it into a clear, tailored climate action plan — prioritising the steps that save money, improve efficiency, and strengthen profitability,” the company says.
Barclays has confirmed that testing of ExpectAI’s Una platform will begin in early 2026, using publicly available information. The pilot will explore how AI-powered insights could be applied to support UK-based businesses in translating sustainability efforts into tangible commercial benefits.
In a statement, the bank says: “The testing will assess the potential of the platform to create value for UK-based businesses, including how AI-powered insights could translate sustainability opportunities into measurable improvements in productivity, cost efficiency and competitiveness.”
Daniel Hanna, Group Head of Sustainable and Transition Finance at Barclays, adds: “Our ambition with this initiative is to support the development of an emerging climate tech business and help our clients understand the connection between sustainability and business value creation.”
The collaboration with ExpectAI aligns with Barclays’ broader sustainability strategy, as outlined in its Barclays Transition Update published in July. The update reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to working towards becoming net zero by 2050.
—————————————————————————————————
About Innovation Streets:
Welcome to InnovationStreets.com! Get the latest insights from the finance and technology industries. Discover industry updates on fintech innovations, regulatory developments, industry insights, events, and collaborations between banks, insurers, and fintechs. A platform for C-level executives to submit thought leadership content for their peers. Subscribe for updates!
