Amsterdam’s impact investor The Sharing Group (TSG) has acquired a strategic minority stake in Leafcloud, a Dutch provider of sustainable cloud services. Leafcloud’s servers return residual heat to institutions like swimming pools and care centres.
Both companies aim to offer a Europe-wide cloud service with a positive environmental impact.
Transforming the digital infrastructure for cloud, AI
Research by The Shift Project shows that software and cloud computing contribute three to four per cent of global CO2 emissions, surpassing global aviation emissions, with AI developments expected to increase these emissions.
Amsterdam’s Leafcloud addresses this by placing cloud infrastructure in buildings that use the released heat to heat water, reducing gas consumption.
This approach helps organisations lower their CO2 footprint and comply with the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), which requires companies to report and reduce their environmental impact.
TSG acquired a minority stake in Leafcloud to improve the sustainability of its hosting portfolio and that of other market players.
Henri de Jong, CEO of The Sharing Group, says, “Leafcloud is set for exponential growth. We are delighted to support the company and its ambitions to set a green European standard in cloud services. In addition, all services of The Sharing Group, such as Mijndomein and Greenhost, will start using this state-of-the-art platform in the near future.”
Leafcloud aims to support the EU’s goal of storing data within European borders. By focusing on privacy, sovereignty, and sustainability, Leafcloud provides a European alternative to cloud computing.
David Kohnstamm, founder and CSO of Leafcloud, adds, “We are excited to welcome this strategic partner. Together with The Sharing Group, Leafcloud will be able to make its products even more accessible and expand to more locations.”
“This will allow us to heat even more buildings with the residual heat from our cloud infrastructure and offer customers a fast, user-friendly, and truly sustainable cloud solution.”
Brief about The Sharing Group
The Sharing Group is a family of tech companies focused on sustainable sharing of goods and services. Operating in the technology, energy, and mobility markets, it includes brands like Mijndomein, MyWheels, and EnergyZero.
Founded in the Netherlands, the company is expanding across Europe, prioritising social impact and environmental reduction from creative hubs in cities such as Rotterdam, Lelystad, and Amsterdam.
In recent developments, TSG increased its stake in Drop Mobility to a majority share, aiming to accelerate the startup’s growth. The company also invested in Dutch startup HomeZero and led the investment round in Vienna-based e-carsharing company ELOOP.
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