Investment firm SHIFT announces the initial €92 million closing of its impact fund.
SHIFT Invest, a Dutch venture capital fund specializing in early-to-growth stage investments in startups addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, and natural resource depletion, has successfully raised €92m at the first close for its fourth fund. The fund aims to reach a final close of €150m.
The fund, which primarily focuses on sectors including energy, industry, mobility, food, and agriculture, has attracted institutional and European investors, including the European Investment Fund (EIF), Rabo Investments, Invest-NL, and several regional development partners. The fund is aligned with SFDR Article 9 to ensure a measurable positive environmental impact.
Based in the Netherlands and Northwestern Europe, SHIFT Invest targets companies with software, hardware, or hybrid business models, aiming to support innovations such as circular materials, precision agriculture, and smart energy technologies. Investment ticket sizes typically range from €250,000 to €4 million, with holding periods between 4 and 7 years.
Fay Kitzen, investment analyst at Invest-NL, praised SHIFT Invest as a pioneer in impact investing, entering at very early stages where risks are higher but impact potential is substantial. The fund offers both capital and strategic network support throughout the startups’ growth and exit phases.
Since its inception in 2009, SHIFT Invest has made more than 60 investments, including e-mobility and energy management platform Maxem, geothermal energy company Canopus, precision weather forecaster Whiffle, and circular packaging producer Pieter Pot. The fund is managed by Octopus.
In other news, UK pension funds have committed an additional £118m to Octopus's affordable housing fund, demonstrating a growing interest in socially responsible investments. Meanwhile, CFM and Argos Partners will manage a shariah-compliant Malaysian infrastructure fund, and Corporate backers for SHIFT Invest include Royal Schiphol Group, Wageningen University & Research, and several family offices and entrepreneurs.
The category for this news includes Funds, Social impact, Private equity, Housing and Pension funds, and Infrastructure. Although the news does not specifically mention this aspect, it also falls under the Climate & environment category due to SHIFT Invest's focus on environmental solutions.
- SHIFT Invest, known for its focus on ventures mitigating climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion, is expanding its reach by partnering with private equity firms to invest in affordable housing, striving for a sustainable and socially responsible impact.
- With an aim to support startups in energy transition technology, SHIFT Invest has attracted the attention of notable European investors, including private equity firms, to channel investments into sectors like mobility, food, and agriculture, ultimately contributing to biodiversity preservation.
- As SHIFT Invest continues to garner support from global institutions and development partners, they're leveraging technology to unlock innovations in sectors like industry and agriculture, aiming for both a measurable environmental impact and a life-changing social impact on local communities.
