European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)

How can farmers make smarter decisions with ultra-localized weather data? 🌦️🌾 Our portfolio company Weenat is revolutionizing agricultural practices with cutting-edge meteorological and agro-tech solutions. By providing farmers with precise, spatialized #weather data, Weenat empowers them to optimize irrigation, enhance water resource management, and protect their crops. 🚜💧 #Water is one of the most valuable resources in agriculture, yet its efficient use remains a significant challenge. With climate patterns becoming increasingly unpredictable, farmers need accurate, real-time data to make informed decisions. Weenat’s innovative hardware and software solutions ensure that irrigation is not just efficient but ultra-precise, helping to preserve natural resources while maximizing yields. 🌱📊 At ECBF, we are proud to support Weenat in its mission to make farming more resilient, sustainable, and data-driven. The future of agriculture is smart, and Weenat is leading the way! 🚀 #agtech #smartfarming #sustainability #venturecapital

Good Reads Recommendation incoming! 🌍 In the latest issue of Venture Capital Magazin, Michael Brandkamp, Managing Partner at ECBF, shares his insights on how innovation in bioeconomy and sustainability is unlocking new market opportunities. The transition from a fossil-based to a bio-based circular economy is not just a necessity – it’s a tremendous market opportunity. At ECBF, we are committed to accelerating this shift by investing exclusively in growth-stage companies that drive innovation in bioeconomy and sustainability. With €300 million at our disposal, we have already completed 17 out of 30 planned investments – and we’re not stopping there! 🚀 Despite market fluctuations, one thing remains clear: Bioeconomy is the future for climate goals, biodiversity, and economic success. We believe in startups that create impact and foster resilient value chains, biodiversity, and sustainable food systems. 💪🏻 This year, we’re focusing on new investments in agriculture, food, and packaging – because enabling innovation means building the markets of tomorrow. ⚡️ In the latest issue of Venture Capital Magazin, Michael Brandkamp, Managing Partner at ECBF, shares his insights on how innovation in bioeconomy and sustainability is unlocking new market opportunities. Let’s drive the sustainable transformation together! 🌍♻️ Interested in the whole interview? Link to the article is linked below.👇 #bioeconomy #transformation #sustainability #ecbf #venturecapital #ESG #investing https://lnkd.in/dpDJ2-tt

Dear Food Ingredient Startups, 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁-𝗶𝗻-𝘂𝘀𝗲 (𝗖𝗜𝗨) 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗜𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 🏹 🍳 In the FoodTech team at ECBF, our focus is on companies at the forefront of B2B ingredient innovation and we are proud backers of REDUCED, Nuritas, PeelPioneers - a #FoodTech500 company to name a few. Over the past few years, we have spoken with companies making 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗶𝗻𝘀, 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗳𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝘁𝗲𝘅𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁. Yet, even with these advancements, I've personally seen startups face tough challenges and difficult decisions, while investors are keen to find promising opportunities in this space. 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗖𝗜𝗨 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: Sure, there are many factors to consider when assessing an investment's potential, but I believe that cost-in-use (CIU) is the key metric that really deserves deeper analysis, especially early in the process. From one ref call to another, I can confirm that 𝗖𝗜𝗨 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗜𝗨: A NEW ingredient might cost more upfront compared to an existing one, but you often need less of it, or less of other ingredients. By breaking down the NEW and OLD recipe into detailed P&L-like style, where each ingredient's cost and amount used is clearly outlined, you can effectively compare the cost of NEW recipe with the OLD one. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗪𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘇𝗲 𝗖𝗜𝗨: 🔢 I have seen many startups handle this internally – so that is really the starting point (cc: revyve, Meala Foodtech, Chromologics and others). 🥼 When assessing an investment case at ECBF, we often collaborate with formulation experts who assess CIU, but also qualitative factors like ease of use/formulation, which I think are important aspects that are frequently overlooked. 📞 I also suggest gathering insights directly from customers who have implemented the ingredients in their products to understand their views. Yes, the initial CIU will most likely be high, but once we have that piece of information, we can start to justify this premium. Could the NEW ingredient enable better labeling, health benefits, or improved taste? If sustainability is the MAIN selling point, I often question the actual impact, as most of these ingredients are used in very minuscule quantities to make an impact. 𝗠𝘆 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 for companies and investors alike, embracing CIU analysis early is essential. It can decisively inform your initial market targeting strategy. 𝙇𝙚𝙩 𝘾𝙄𝙐 𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙜𝙪𝙞𝙙𝙚 - 𝙢𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙚𝙙 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙨𝙨. Ps. Picture for showcase. Also, who puts ricotta on avocado toast?! Pps. Thanks to Marie Asano for editing 😊 European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF)

I love the posts from HackSummit. As you know I am not one prone to reposting with long messages but this one I'd like to take as a "call to action": 👉 Let's be honest, we don’t have a lack of great technology neither ideas. We have a commercialization problem in Europe. 🎓 Europe is home to some of the world’s best universities, and researchers in the world. 🌎 Europe performs very well in sustainability and inclusion. It has lower CO₂ emissions per capita, high social mobility, and strong welfare systems. ➡️ FYI Fertile grounds for Climate Tech! 🙌 💚 💚 🔴 And yet—when it comes to scaling technology, we’re falling further and further behind... A thought-provoking McKinsey report (Securing Europe's Competitiveness Sept. 2002, link below): 📉 European companies invest 40% less in R&D than their U.S. counterparts-The tech sector alone accounts for 60% of the growth gap and 75% of the R&D gap between the regions. 💰 Market Valuation Disparity: In 2000, U.S. and European firms had similar valuations ($8T vs. $7T). By 2021, U.S. firms' total market value had grown to $46T, whereas Europe’s reached only $21T, with U.S. tech giants like Apple, Microsoft, and Google driving the difference. ⚠️ The result? A €2T–€4T economic opportunity at risk by 2040—1% of GDP growth lost annually. My thoughts on what we could do: 💡 Go beyond seed funding. We’re great at producing early-stage innovation but need to double down on later-stage capital to build global category leaders. 💡 We need a mindset shift. U.S. investors embrace “fail fast, scale fast.” European VCs tend to de-risk too early. That mindset needs to shift—starting from VCs AND LPs. 💡 Push for a more coherent and uniform playing field across the continent. Regulation and fragmented markets slows us down. A good example in the U.S. is the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980. This legislation allows universities to retain intellectual property rights to inventions developed with federal funding, providing a strong incentive for commercialization. There is no pan-EU equivalent...maybe time for one? ....Your Thoughts? https://lnkd.in/dpttGJCM

Thanks to VentureCapital Magazine for their coverage of our impact evaluation report. This positive result illustrates the importance of the #bioeconomy for Europe and we are proud to have mobilised this capital together with the other investors. To quote our Michael Brandkamp: "The bioeconomy is not an option. It is a must." #bioeconomy #vc #EU #europe #wemobilizecapitalfortransformation #transformation

Studie belegt: European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) nimmt zentrale Rolle im Ökosystem ein Mit 16 Investments in 10 europäischen Ländern hat der European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) erhebliches privates Kapital mobilisiert: Das Verhältnis des durch den ECBF mobilisierten Kapitals zum Ankerinvestor European Investment Bank (EIB) beträgt 12,3x. Zu diesem Ergebnis kommt eine Studie von Technopolis Group, die zur Evaluation des Fonds in Auftrag gegeben wurde. Der Marktanteil des ECBFs wird laut dieses Impact Evaluation Reports auf 15 % geschätzt. 📊 Die Studie hebt die zentrale Rolle des Fonds in der europäischen #VentureCapital-Landschaft hervor. Als einer der ersten VC-Fonds, der sich ausschließlich auf #Wachstumsunternehmen in der (zirkulären) #Bioökonomie konzentriert, investiert der ECBF mit einem Fondsvolumen von 300 Mio. EUR gezielt in Unternehmen mit innovativen und nachhaltigen Lösungen. Seine Investitionen unterstützen beispielsweise Unternehmen wie Protix, SQIM, Heura Foods, Aphea.Bio, Elicit Plant, Nuritas und Paptic Ltd. 🌳 Der Fonds schließt eine entscheidende Finanzierungslücke für biobasierte Innovationen, insbesondere für Wachstumsunternehmen, die für generalistische Venture Capital-Investoren oft zu komplex sind. Die investierten Start-ups entwickeln nachhaltige Produkte und Technologien, die sowohl umweltfreundlich als auch wirtschaftlich vielversprechend sind. Neben dem Kapital profitieren sie auch von dem Netzwerk des ECBFs, der Branchenexpertise sowie der strategischen Beratung, was für weitere Finanzierungsrunden hilfreich ist. ➡️ „Der European Circular Bioeconomy Fund setzt auf nachhaltige Innovationen, die nicht nur ökologische, sondern auch wirtschaftliche Chancen bieten. Wir glauben fest daran, dass die Bioökonomie in Zukunft den Wohlstand in Europa sichern wird. Mit unserem Engagement in innovative Start-ups fördern wir nicht nur den Übergang zu einer biobasierten Wirtschaft, sondern schaffen auch langfristige Werte für Investor:innen, Gesellschaft und Umwelt", sagt Dr. Dirk Saßmannshausen, CFO & Managing Partner des ECBFs. Weitere Infos zur Studie gibt es im Kommentar 👇 cc: Cornelia Mann Michael Brandkamp Karin Hofelich

Thank you Urs Moesenfechtel and Plattform Life Sciences for your interest in our point of view. ♻️ 💚 #sustainablefinance #vc #marketinsights #ECBF #insectprotein #EUregulation

120 European VC Partners Backing ClimateTech 💶 Who's writing the checks in Europe to fund and scale Climate Tech? The market in Europe is maturing, fuelled by founders and investors willing to take on bold, industrial-scale projects. Meanwhile, a thriving ecosystem of universities and innovation hubs are cultivating the next wave of transformative ideas. And at the heart of this growth is a powerful climate capital stack, a mix of funding sources driving the transition forward. So whether you're fundraising or soon to be, we've built a list of 120 VC Partners in Europe to know. → We have only included 1 Partner per VC Fund - of course most VCs have many more, so we encourage you to get to know each of the VC funds beyond the name we mention below. Get to know 120 Partners in Europe from: Mudcake 2150 Course Corrected AENU Astanor Capagro Clima Now Counteract Demeter Emerald Technology Ventures Extantia firstminute capital FoodLabs Giant Ventures Icos Capital Grey Silo Ventures Inclimo Climate Tech Fund Alantra KOMPAS VC Kost Capital Lightrock LUMO Labs Marble Marvelous - Deeptech Fund and Catalyst for Climate Solutions MSM fund (Mustard Seed Maze) Oyster Bay Management GmbH Partech Planet A Ventures Plug and Play Tech Center PT1 Shift4Good Speedinvest SquareOne Venture Capital Techstars Transition Unigestion Unovis Asset Management Unruly Vanagon Verve Ventures Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/e2sBwfSM 🤝 Plus meet many of them at the HackSummit in Lausanne this May 15-16.

🚀 EU Greenlights Mealworm Powder for Food – What’s Next for the Insect Industry and Investors? 🦗🍞 Big news for the bioeconomy! As of February 10, 2025, the EU has approved UV-treated mealworm powder for use in bread, pasta, and pastries. But is this really a game-changer for the insect protein industry? 🤔 In our, Plattform Life Sciences, latest interview, Stéphane Roussel, Partner at European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF), shares his insights on: ✅ The challenges of scaling insect-based food 🏗️ ✅ Why Black Soldier Fly (BSF) is leading the market 🦠 ✅ Consumer acceptance hurdles in Western markets 🍽️ ✅ How insect protein will likely take off in animal feed rather than human food 🐟🐔 💡 Despite financial struggles for early pioneers, the industry isn’t done yet! Strategic investments, operational efficiencies, and policy support could drive long-term success. 🔗 Read the full interview here: [see link in comments] What’s your take? Will insect-based ingredients become mainstream? Drop your thoughts below! ⬇️ #InsectProtein #Bioeconomy #FoodInnovation #SustainableFood #Mealworms #EUApproval #Investment #CircularEconomy Thanks to Cornelia Mann from #ECBF Michael Brandkamp

Banking on Europe’s Green Future After years of trailing behind the US in ClimateTech funding, Europe took the lead in 2024, securing $38.8 billion — a 45% year-over-year increase. With a maturing market, world-class talent, and a growing focus on cost-cutting innovations, Europe’s Climate Tech sector is entering a new era. We caught up with 10 VC Partners to learn why they see Europe as a ClimateTech powerhouse, with: Yair Reem at Extantia Philip Specht at AENU Susanne Fromm at Vanagon Daniel Niemi at Atlantic Labs Dr. Till Stenzel at SET Ventures Lukas Weber at Verve Ventures Nadav Steinmetz at Climate First George Darrah at Systemiq Capital Doerte Hirschberg at Climentum Capital Marie Asano at European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) Hear from the VC Partners at: https://lnkd.in/e2sBwfSM