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We invest in cutting-edge companies across Europe that are changing the world.
We are driven by the belief that innovation offers compelling answers to the most pressing problems facing the world – achieving sustainable prosperity.
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We are driven by the belief that innovation offers compelling answers to the most pressing problems facing the world – achieving sustainable prosperity.
Comments Off on ETF Partners Newsletter – Issue #36
It’s that Friday feeling! 🚨 We’ve just published the latest edition of our newsletter which is jam-packed with cutting-edge insights into the future of sustainability, the trends impacting the climate-tech industry, and a spotlight on the innovations driving the sector forward.
Featured in this month’s update are:
♻️ A brand-new episode of ‘Sustainability Talks’ featuring Maryam Golnaraghi, Ph.D., PhD, the Director of Climate Change & Environment at The Geneva Association, the global association of insurance companies.
♻️ Our Managing Partner, Patrick Sheehan’s thought-provoking interview with Real Deals.
♻️ Our latest Medium blog on the key areas we are focusing on for this year.
And from across our portfolio:
♻️ GenPhoenix featured in Vogue Business.
♻️ TravelTime joining forces with BT Group.
♻️ Zeelo on the acquisition of school transportation and transport safeguarding software Kura.
♻️ Basemark included on the esteemed TechTour Growth50 List.
♻️ Intigriti on the launch of its Vulnerability Disclosure Program in partnership with The Coca-Cola Company.
♻️ Normative.io CEO Kristian Rönn on the Digital Supply Chain podcast.
♻️ Dexter Energy’s CCO Hubert Penn shares a thought-provoking piece on the short-term power trading landscape.
♻️ Fairly Made®’s insightful article on traceability’s critical role in the fashion industry.
Read all these stories and more in the latest edition of our newsletter HERE.
Comments Off on Wirepas and the Silicon Labs’ EFR32FG23 Sub-GHz SoC are taking on India’s Smart Metering Challenge
The Indian government has embarked on an ambitious journey to modernise its power grid system, with a strong commitment to sustainability and technological innovation. This initiative is set to transform the country’s energy landscape, aiming to minimise losses and enhance both operational and financial efficiencies.
A pivotal element in this process is the implementation of smart meters, devices renowned for their ability to provide precise energy usage data and enable efficient energy management. Our portfolio company Wirepas, a global leader in IoT connectivity solutions, alongside their partner Silicon Labs, are at the forefront of this transformative initiative.
With their extensive expertise in smart meter technology, they are well-equipped to address the multifaceted challenges associated with this vast modernisation project. Their innovative solutions will undoubtedly play a crucial role in turning this ambitious vision into reality, contributing significantly to the country’s sustainable development goals.
To learn more about this exciting venture and the impact it’s set to make, check out the link HERE.
Comments Off on CSDDD, explained: the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive
“The time when businesses could ignore their #SupplyChain impact is drawing to a close.”
With the introduction of the EU’s #CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive), businesses worldwide will face more stringent #sustainability standards, including a clear pathway to #netzero.
Our portfolio company, Normative.io, has penned an insightful article shedding light on the CSDDD. It provides a comprehensive analysis of what this directive means for businesses and offers practical steps towards ensuring compliance.
The disruption and challenges in global supply chains, heightened by the ongoing pandemic, have emphasised the urgent need for sustainable, resilient, and close-to-home supply chains. Furthermore, the increasing focus on corporate climate pledges necessitates a reevaluation of supply chain impacts.
As we navigate these shifting landscapes, understanding regulatory changes like the CSDDD becomes crucial. It’s time to rethink our approach to supply chains, not just as cost and efficiency drivers, but as a significant component of our sustainability commitments.
Comments Off on The story behind Open Cosmos’s remarkable success rate
Success stories are often the highlight reel of a journey that is punctuated by trials, errors, and learning from failure. One such inspiring journey is that of Rafel Jorda Siquier, the dynamic CEO and Founder of our portfolio company, Open Cosmos.
Open Cosmos has become synonymous with success in the space industry, but it didn’t happen overnight. It took courage, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in their mission to democratise space. The story behind Open Cosmos’s 100% success rate is a testament to this.
Rafel’s journey with Open Cosmos began in 2015, and since then, he has been at the forefront of making space more accessible. His vision has propelled Open Cosmos to become a Harwell Space Cluster Success Story, and his leadership has led to Open Cosmos securing $50 million in Series B funding.
Not only has Open Cosmos launched successful satellites like MANTIS and PLATERO, but they have also attracted investment from a myriad of distinguished global investors, further cementing their place as one of the fastest-growing companies in the satellite sector.
Make sure to watch this video where Rafel shares the story behind Open Cosmos’s remarkable success rate. It’s not just a tale of a company’s success, but a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and the pursuit of a vision.
Read more about satellite missions HERE and watch the video HERE.
Comments Off on Zeelo acquires Kura to accelerate growth and profitability
Big news from the Zeelo HQ today!
Our portfolio company Zeelo, the leading global transit-tech company, has acquired UK-based Kura, a specialist in school transportation and transport safeguarding software.
The acquisition comes on the heels of their recent $14M fundraising announcement and further accelerates Zeelo’s profitability in the UK.
On the announcement of the acquisition, Sam Ryan, Co Founder & CEO of Zeelo said ‘After our recent $14M fundraise announcement, I’m delighted to be sharing the news of further growth through the acquisition of Kura. We were impressed with the world class technology and the high quality service delivery provided by the Kura team. Their complimentary business model will further accelerate our profitability in the UK. This is the first of many M&A opportunities that will play an important role in our growth strategy as we continue to scale in the UK and US markets.’
Congratulations to the teams at Zeelo and Kura from everyone at ETF Partners.
Comments Off on TravelTime joining forces with the renowned BT Group!
Our portfolio company, TravelTime, known for its revolutionary technology in location data, is joining forces with the renowned BT Group! 👏
With TravelTime’s API, BT is set to elevate its operational efficiency by optimising workforce, fleet, and inventory management like never before. In other words, they’re turning the dial up on productivity and sustainability, and we couldn’t be more excited about what this means for the future
We’re incredibly proud to be part of this journey with TravelTime and BT, and we can’t wait to see where this partnership will lead. Congratulations to both companies from all of us at ETF Partners.
Comments Off on Progress over perfection: Is Coach modelling a path for fashion transformation?
Sustainability never goes out of style, and we’re thrilled to see our portfolio company, GenPhoenix, in the spotlight. Their partner, Coach, was recently featured in Vogue Business, highlighting the use of GenPhoenix’s recycled materials. This collaboration significantly reduces the carbon footprint of Coach’s final product, emphasising the importance and impact of sustainable practices.
We couldn’t agree more with these wise words in the article from Coach’s Joon Silverstein:
“We can’t just improve the system we already have. We have to rethink it.”
Comments Off on UK’s largest asset inspection – Coptrz and TEXO in partnership with our portfolio company, Flyability
It is always gratifying to witness our portfolio companies apply their innovative solutions to make a meaningful impact in the real world. A great example of this is a recent project by Coptrz and TEXO in partnership with our portfolio company, Flyability. Together, the companies have successfully executed the UK’s largest asset inspection.
The venue for this landmark project was none other than the Leadenhall Building. Known as one of the most iconic skyscrapers in central London, it presented an exceptional opportunity to demonstrate the potential of drone technology in industrial inspections. Using drones didn’t just facilitate a thorough inspection of this colossal structure, but it also resulted in substantial cost savings. The project saved an impressive £300,000, underlining the financial benefits of integrating advanced tech solutions into traditional processes.
This venture goes beyond showcasing the power of innovation. It highlights the importance of sustainability and how technology can contribute to greener practices. By using drones, we avoid the environmental impact associated with more traditional methods of skyscraper inspections.
Experience the ingenuity of this project firsthand by watching the video HERE.
Comments Off on The Coca-Cola Company, has officially launched its Vulnerability Disclosure Program in partnership with our portfolio company, Intigriti!
We’re thrilled to share some remarkable news from our portfolio company, Intigriti. The global beverage giant, The Coca-Cola Company, has officially launched its Vulnerability Disclosure Program in partnership with our portfolio company, Intigriti!
In an effort to bolster their digital security infrastructure, Coca-Cola is leveraging Intigriti’s robust worldwide network of ethical hackers. These skilled professionals will work diligently to identify potential vulnerabilities within Coca-Cola’s systems, helping the company stay ahead of any potential threats.
This collaboration signifies Coca-Cola’s proactive approach to cybersecurity and highlights the importance of ethical hacking in today’s digital age. It’s not just about identifying weaknesses; it’s about transforming these vulnerabilities into strengths, ensuring the protection of consumer data and maintaining trust!
Comments Off on Episode 17: In Conversation with Maryam Golnaraghi, Director of Climate Change & Environment at The Geneva Association
We’re thrilled to announce a new episode of the Sustainability Talks podcast! In this episode, we had the privilege of hosting the insightful Maryam Golnaraghi, Director of Climate Change & Environment at The Geneva Association, the global association of insurance companies.
With a 25-year career spanning executive leadership, entrepreneurship, and advisory roles in private and public sectors, Maryam is a seasoned expert. Recognised on prestigious lists like the ‘Most Influential on Climate Change’ and ‘Top 100 Influencers in Resilience,’ she brings a wealth of experience. She has advised U.N and government officials including former U.S president Bill Clinton and has influenced climate policy at the very highest levels.
In this episode, Maryam joins our managing partner Patrick Sheehan for a lively and in-depth conversation about her fascinating journey into the realms of sustainability and the transformative projects she has spearheaded.
Listen below or on your favourite podcast platform HERE
About Maryam Golnaraghi
Over the last 25 years, Maryam’s career has spanned working as a senior executive, founder& entrepreneur and serving on advisory boards in private and public sectors and the United Nations. She has launched, led and managed transformative climate change initiatives and multi-stakeholder partnerships with systemic impacts, to enable transitioning to a resilient low-carbon economy. In 2020, Maryam was included on the list of 20 ‘Most Influential on Climate Change’ by InsuranceERM and among the top 100 influencers in the world on ‘Resilience’ by The Leaders’ Magazine.
Since 2015, Maryam is the Director of Climate Change and Environment at The Geneva Association, the strategic international think tank, whose members are CEOs of 90 largest insurance companies, globally. Working with corporate boards and CEOs, regulatory and standard-setting bodies, fintech and insurtech firms, governments and policymakers, she leads strategic initiatives to innovate and scale up insurance industry’s contributions as risk managers and investors to transitioning to a resilient low-carbon economy. Currently, her work is focused on,
• Innovating methodologies for forward-looking climate risk assessment and scenario analysis for the insurance sector and implications for future financial regulations and standards disclosure;
• Implications of climate litigation risk on insurance and financial companies;
• De-risking new technologies for net-zero transitioning of carbon-intensive economic sectors and new infrastructure systems;
• Innovating risk transfer solutions for managing extreme weather risk; expansion of sustainable insurance markets; applications of nature-based systems in risk management.
From 2004 to 2014, Maryam was the Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction Program at the World Meteorological Organization, where she headed up and built an international program and led major initiatives with 40+ governments for development of their national polices, institutional and operational capacities in climate and disaster risk management. Maryam was actively involved in the formulation and implementation of international framework agreements for disaster risk reduction and the UN climate change agreements. She developed the initial concept of demand-driven climate information services and data policies to enable private-sector access to publicly-funded, climate data and modelling for decision-making support.
Following the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, she served as an adviser to former U.S. President Clinton in his capacity as the UN Special Envoy on Tsunamis. She negotiated international agreements and coordinated activities that enabled the development and dissemination of tsunami alerts to all countries in less than five minutes.
From 1997 to 2004, as founder and CEO of Climate Risk Solutions, Inc. the first climate risk analytics and advisory firm, headquartered in Boston, USA, she delivered innovative climate-risk assessment and risk management solutions to companies in the energy, agriculture and financial sectors and the U.S. government.
Maryam mentors high-tech start-ups with climate risk analytics and net zero transition focus. She serves on a number of executive and advisory boards of companies, governments, centers of excellence and multi-lateral organisations, and is a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Her work is regularly featured by platforms such the Economist Climate Summit, Responsible Investor, ClimateAction, Risk.net, InsuranceERM, among others.
She has authored numerous internationally referenced reports on climate change as well as a book, “Partnerships in Multi-hazard Early Warning Systems” (Springer-Verlag).
Maryam holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from Cornell University, an MS in Applied Physics and a PhD in Physical Oceanography from Harvard University after which she served as a senior research fellow at the Harvard Business School.
Comments Off on Venture Views: ETF Partners’ Patrick Sheehan discusses how sustainable investment can beat the downturn
We’re thrilled to share ETF Partners’ first piece of coverage for 2024! 💥
Our Managing Partner, Patrick Sheehan, recently shared insights on the power of sustainable investment in a thought-provoking interview with Real Deals.
In this engaging discussion, Patrick delves into how sustainable investment strategies can not only weather economic downturns but also emerge stronger. He also touches on the megatrends that could shape the industry in the new year, from ESG to AI, and how Europe is now in a much better position than it was a decade ago.
At ETF Partners, we believe in the transformative potential of sustainability through innovation. Patrick’s insights offer a glimpse into the innovative approaches shaping the future of investment. 🌱
Comments Off on Climate tech, profitability and digital intelligence: ETF Partners’ predictions for 2024
🌍 As we step into 2024, ETF Partners is more committed than ever to our mission: sustainability through innovation. We’re confident that purpose-driven investments can create a synergy between profitability and planetary well-being. Here are some of the key areas we’re focusing on for this transformative year:
1️⃣ Sustainable Climate Tech Growth: With renewable energy and AI integration on the rise, we’re thrilled about the future. Startups like our portfolio company, Dexter Energy, are trailblazers in this space, enabling grid balancing and accelerating the energy transition.
2️⃣ Digital Intelligence: Companies like Normative.io, another star in the ETF Partners portfolio, are leveraging digital technologies to address urgent needs, combining advanced data processing with a sustainability focus to help organisations accurately report their carbon emissions.
3️⃣ Purposeful AI: This year, it’s all about meaningful use of AI. Our portfolio company, Net Purpose, exemplifies this by using AI to equate sustainability and ESG achievements with financial data. Uniquely, Net Purpose is enabling investors to gain both a fiscal and impact-focused view on organisations. Following the success of Net Purpose, we are looking for startups that can leverage AI creatively to produce scalable impact that can eventually change an industry.
4️⃣ Food and Waste: Following COP28, food production has been recognised as a crucial area for sustainable development. With Phenix leading the charge, we’re looking at digital solutions to reduce food wastage and carbon emissions.
5️⃣ Space Tech in Climate Innovation: The fusion of AI, data analytics, and space technology is opening new avenues for sustainable advancements. AI is playing a significant role in Earth Observation, enabling intelligent and responsive solutions to climate challenges. A prime example from our portfolio, Open Cosmos, leverages this integration to create a shared satellite infrastructure and a cloud-based platform that addresses Earth’s problems using satellite data.
This year, let’s continue to invest in, and build, a sustainable future for all. Here’s to the European founders who are at the forefront of building a greener, more sustainable world. 🌱
For more insights on our journey and the trends shaping our future, make sure to read our Medium blog HERE.
