ETF Partners The Intelligence Layer

The Intelligence Layer is Here
After two decades of innovation, sustainable investment is about to achieve intelligent, scalable hyper-progress. The infrastructure has been built. The deep tech has matured. Now comes the brain-work – and that’s where the real leverage lies.

Download our 20th anniversary whitepaper to discover:

• Why “weightless” innovations deliver the steepest cost curves
• The three megatrends that will define the next decade: Optimisation, Adaptation, and Abundance
• Why solar costs falling 20-24% annually changes everything
• How our portfolio company cut 0.3-0.6% of global CO2 emissions with software

Purpose Meets Performance

Our diverse portfolio demonstrates that sustainability and commercial success go hand in hand. We invest in innovative companies that successfully marry profit with purpose, creating both exceptional returns and meaningful environmental impact.

We’ve backed game-changers like:
• Riverlane – Leading the world in quantum error correction
• Open Cosmos – Building satellites that monitor deforestation, wildfire impact, and coastal erosion
• Nodes & Links – Using AI to eliminate waste in large-scale construction projects
• DeepSea – AI-based ship optimisation saving 10-15% of fuel consumption (sold to Nabtesco)

Each investment reinforces our conviction: the biggest environmental impact comes from the smartest solutions.

Hard-Won Insights from Two Decades

From our whitepaper:
“In venture capital, weight matters. Innovations based on electrons have steeper cost curves than those based on molecules.”
“Great customers make great companies. No matter how important the problem or compelling the solution, the end-market must want to embrace innovation.”
“AI today can generate 10% or more savings in typical real-world situations.”

These aren’t just theories – they’re lessons learned from navigating the 2008 financial crisis, the clean tech bubble, and building Europe’s most experienced sustainability-focused venture team.

The Future is Predictable (If You Know Where to Look)

Solar panel costs have been dropping 20-24% annually for decades. Wind turbines show 6-8% annual improvements. These aren’t random – they’re predictable trends with clear underlying logic.

What happens when solar costs just 10% of today’s price?

Twenty years ago, we saw a mountain of opportunity in the distance. Today, we’ve reached the foothills and the view is extraordinary. When energy becomes virtually free, when AI optimises every system, when quantum computers solve previously impossible problems – that’s when sustainability through innovation truly delivers.

Join the Journey

For Limited Partners

Our approach has evolved from early lessons into a refined strategy focused on the intersection of exceptional returns and meaningful impact. We’re proud to have led the development of the ‘Impact Accountability in Venture Capital’ handbook with the European Investment Fund, setting new standards for the industry.

Why ETF Partners:
• Founded in 2005 – Europe’s original sustainability-focused venture team
• Four funds raised, with proven exits
• Impact-linked carried interest structure
• Deep expertise in the intelligence layer driving modern infrastructure

Schedule a meeting -> [email protected]

For Founders
Building something that matters? We’ve spent 20 years learning what works (and what doesn’t) in sustainability innovation. If you’re creating intelligent solutions that can scale rapidly whilst delivering measurable environmental impact and commercial returns, we should talk.

We invest in high impact companies with:
• Digital-first or intelligence-layer solutions
• Clear market pull (not technology push)
• Teams that understand venture capital is about carrots, not hammers
• The potential for significant environmental leverage

Get in touch