Meet One Of The Investors Investing 300 M € For Europe’s Green Deal To Become Reality
Executive Summary
The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is a venture capital fund consisting of both public and private investors. It focuses on driving the transformation to a bio-based, sustainable economy throughout Europe. This venture underlines the EU’s commitment to its Green New Deal and sets higher standards for venture capital projects. Backed by venture capital, those companies funded must not only demonstrate economic growth potential but also uphold principles of environmental, social, and governance through their work. This fund stands as one part of a larger and definitive effort by the EU to become carbon neutral by 2050.
If you really calculate the odds, you will never start a startup. You have to be ambitious and a bit crazy to do this.
Michael Brankdkamp — Founder and GP ECBF
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When I started with ECBF during Corona, my kids came to me and asked me what I was doing. They said they counted on me to support them in their university studies.
Michael Brankdkamp — Founder and GP ECBF
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We first had a hard cap of 250 million €, but since there was so much investor demand, we lifted this to 300 m €.
Michael Brankdkamp — Founder and GP ECBF
The Video Interview is set to go live on Thursday, March 16th
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The Audio Interview
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The General Partner
Michael Brandkamp (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbrandkamp/) is one of the three founders and General Partners of the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF). The German entrepreneur wrote and executed the business plan of High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), the most active early-stage fund in Europe, investing in innovative technologies and business models since 2005. As the first managing director, he led HTGF until 2019. Michael has 25 years of experience in investment and management in the venture capital industry.
The ECBF
The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) (https://www.ecbf.vc/) is an impact investment fund. Initiated by the European Union, it contributes alongside others as a financial instrument to achieve the goals of the European Commission’s (EC) EU Green Deal.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the main investor in the ECBF with EUR 100 million. Additional funds were invested by another public investor, NRW.BANK, as well as numerous private investors such as Nestlé, Neste, Corbion, BÜFA, Koehler Group, Volkswohlbund, Hettich, Invest NL, Telos, Heino, and more.
The fund invests the available capital of 300 Mio. euros in ambitious and visionary companies that advance the bio-economy and circular economy with innovative technologies or business models and thus have a sustainable impact on the European economy. The goal is to accelerate the growth of bio-economy companies and create pan-European, global players. The goal of generating a very high return on investment is directly linked to this and is on the same level as the impact goal.
The regional focus of the investments includes the EU-27 countries and the 16-Horizon2020 associated countries.
The ECBF is looking to make 5 new investments each year.
Michael Brankdkamp — Founder and GP ECBF
Current Portfolio
The current portfolio includes (amongst others) the following companies:
- Peel Pioneers: http://peelpioneers.nl/home-en/
- ProLupin: www.prolupin.de
- Aphea.Bio: https://www.aphea.bio/
- Nuritas: https://www.nuritas.com/
- Elicit Plant: https://www.elicit-plant.com/en/
- InOvo: https://inovo.nl/
- Protix: https://protix.eu/
- Biosyntia: https://www.biosyntia.com/
- Trapview: https://trapview.com/
Pitch the ECBF
ECBFs Vision is to build up a prosperous economy realigned with nature. To get there ECBF aims to identify the most promising investment targets in the European Bioeconomy, with both good financial returns and a huge impact on the environment. Thus, ECBF is interested in connecting with entrepreneurs, investors, and business promotion stakeholders with robust business networks in the Bioeconomy:
- Stage: Growth Stage with a tech readiness level six (TRL6). Learn more here https://acqnotes.com/acqnote/tasks/technology-readiness-level
- Industry: Bioeconomy (Ag- & Foodtech, Blue Economy, and Forestry; Bio-based Materials; White Biotech and Bio-based Chemicals; Nutrition; Packaging; and Personal Care)
- Ticket Size: 2 Mio. — 20 Mio.
- Companies headquartered in EU and Horizon 2020 countries (+16 countries Tunisia, Turkiye, Israel, …)
- How to pitch: The best way to get in contact with ECBF is to write them a mail. They are a quite small team. You can express your interest in an investment directly to the investment manager. You can find their contact details on their website in the team section. Or if you see them at an event contact them directly. Reach out by email: info@ecbf.vc
Hiring!
You can learn more about the investor, that is still hiring
Tune in to our Internet Radio Station here:
Interview with HTGF
- Alex von Frankenberg took the job of Michael when he left. Alex leads HTGF to become Europe’s most important seed investor, just publishing their 700th startup investment. Congratulations to the HTGF team
- Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/0KnSYikma14
Additional Information
- Follow ECBF on Crunchbase: https://www.crunchbase.com/organization/european-circular-bioeconomy-fund
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The Interviewer
This interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder, and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:
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Topics Discussed in this Interview
In this interview, we are talking about
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