To accelerate the transition to a more resilient, clean and just global economy, climate tech’s most promising entrepreneurs need capital to grow. As it announces the close of its new Fund II, Systemiq Capital pledges to continue backing the best in early-stage climate tech innovation.
Systemiq Capital has confirmed the $70m first close of its second fund, targeting $200 million to continue backing early-stage climate tech entrepreneurs. This will build on the success of Fund I, which launched in 2018 and has since deployed $30m of capital and achieved three exits.
Boosting capital for systems change
A big part of what makes the fund special is its core investment areas. It aims to back the firms that can build the systems underpinning a safer planet and stronger economy. This translates into an exceptionally dedicated focus on food and material production; on transportation; on how we finance these activities; and how we deal with the environmental impacts.
Another key strength is its connection to the system change company from which it evolved. Systemiq Capital, while fully independent, connects its entrepreneurs to Systemiq’s wider ecosystem. This enables them to access deep knowledge of the trends shaping their sector, support navigating the shifting international regulatory environment, and help in forging relationships with industry peers as well as partners across government and civil society.
Continuing Systemiq’s early-stage investment success
Identifying and investing in pioneering companies that can benefit people and the planet has been core to Systemiq’s vision of system change from the start, with success stories like NatureMetrics. Incubating those early-stage projects always been about much more than a strategic investment: it’s about plugging them into a network of global business leaders, policy-makers and climate experts, and seeing their positive climate impact scale and grow faster.
Since 2018, Systemiq’s investment team have invested $30m in 19 early-stage climate companies. We’re delighted that, as Systemiq Capital, they are continuing that success story, and taking it to the next level as a dedicated and unique climate-tech VC fund.
”We are thrilled at the appetite we’ve seen for Fund II. The strong message from our backers is that we’re filling a major gap in the investment landscape.
Irena SpazzapanPartner
Joining Systemiq in the venture are three global experts in sustainability and investment. Paul Polman led consumer goods multinational Unilever, and has served on the High-Level Panel that developed the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Systemiq’s co-founder Jeremy Oppenheim is a former World Bank Economist and experienced angel investor who built McKinsey’s global sustainability operations for over 20 years. And Irena Spazzapan is a former Goldman Sachs commodities executive who, as a Partner at Systemiq, has led its early-stage investment practice.
“We are thrilled at the appetite we’ve seen for Fund II”, says Irena “This is capital for systems change, and the strong message from our backers is that we’re filling a major gap in the investment landscape.”
“The level of talent and innovation among climate tech entrepreneurs right now is immense but we know that, as they face the challenges of commercial scale-up, their network of experts, advisors, peers and policy-makers can be as vital as the financing. Systemiq Capital is uniquely placed to identify outstanding early-stage companies and position them in this wider ecosystem for success.”
