As we all know, the need for disruptive green technologies is ever-growing due to the immense pressure we humans put on biodiversity and rapid climate change. Innovative thinking and novel technologies are key and part of the required actions. However, to bring technological solutions – with significant impact – to the market, capital is required. This is where SHIFT Invest comes in.
Turning investments into impact
It is an early-stage investor that typically invests in the concept stage, Seed, and Series A rounds in the sectors including food & agriculture, clean (bio-based) technologies, circularity, and smart materials. The fund is managed by New Balance Impact Investors (NBI). NBI manages five venture capital funds, backed by an experienced team of investment professionals and entrepreneurs.
SHIFT Invest has raised an additional €23M in the second close of its new VC fund SHIFT III. This takes the total raised fund to €70M, making SHIFT Invest to be the largest seed & early-stage impact investor in the Netherlands. Through its investments, SHIFT strives to create environmental impact alongside a financial return.
SHIFT III’s first close was in February 2020, which included investors Rabo Corporate Investments, family offices, Dutch regional development funds, Wageningen U&R, and other universities, as well as successful startup entrepreneurs.
In the latest round, SHIFT welcomes new investors such as the European Investment Fund and Corbion, in order to back more ambitious entrepreneurs and create more impact.
Alain Godard, Chief Executive of the European Investment Fund, says: “Climate change is on top of the agenda also for the financing world. The European Investment Fund fully supports the development of a European environmentally-conscious VC ecosystem, which can stimulate the emergence and market introduction of groundbreaking innovation with a positive and fundamental impact on climate and the environment. Such an ecosystem could significantly contribute to societal and economic change.”
SHIFT started its first impact fund in 2009 and has invested in companies such as Protix, ChainCraft, and Vandebron among others.
Image credits: Luigi Giordano/Shutterstock
