ESG and Sustainability
The rise of ESG factors in investment decision making will have a dramatic impact on returns and opportunities in the 21st century. A recent survey by LGT Capital Partners and Mercer showed that 57% of respondents believe that incorporating ESG standards into investment decisions will raise returns. Just 9% argued they reduce returns on investment.
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Revaia, Europe’s largest female-founded venture capital firm, has successfully raised €150 million ($160 million) for its second fund, Revaia Growth II. The funding was secured from sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and institutional investors across Europe, with support from existing partners like Bpifrance and new backers such as mutual insurer Carac and the European Investment Fund.
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More Stories on ESG and Sustainability
Venture Capital: ABB’s Venture Arm Invests In Wind Turbines Analytics Provider WindESCo
ABB has entered into a strategic partnership with WindESCo, a clean energy start-up, to enhance its presence in the wind energy sector. In this venture, ABB Motion has acquired a minority stake in WindESCo through its venture capital unit, ABB Technology Ventures (ATV). WindESCo, a US-based company, specializes in analytics software designed to improve the performance and reliability of wind turbines.
Artificial Intelligence: AI-Powered Sensors Aboard Satellites Help Detect Methane Leaks On Earth
Orbital Sidekick, a California-based Earth-observation startup, has launched a new constellation of microsatellites equipped with hyperspectral sensors. These satellites utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor methane leaks with unparalleled precision from space.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Neuberger Berman Unveils Climate Innovation Fund
Neuberger Berman has recently introduced the Neuberger Berman Climate Innovation fund, aiming to invest in cutting-edge climate technologies and solutions. This fund, managed by New York-based portfolio managers Evelyn Chow and Charlie Lim, is designed to maintain a portfolio of 30 to 60 global equity holdings.
Venture Capital: Growth Warrior Capital Launches Elevo, An AI-Powered Pitch Deck Generator
Growth Warrior Capital is introducing Elevo, an innovative AI-powered pitch deck generator designed to assist founders in the complex world of venture capital. Promise Phelon, the firm’s managing partner (pictured), conceptualized this tool to streamline the process of identifying promising startups that could transform various industries.
Artificial Intelligence: The Allen Institute Launches The Satlas AI Platform For Viewing Satellite Imagery
The Allen Institute for AI has unveiled Satlas, a new platform harnessing AI to analyze global geospatial data derived from satellite imagery. Satlas presently provides three monthly-updated data products:
• Marine Infrastructure: This includes the positions of offshore wind turbines and platforms.
• Renewable Energy Infrastructure: It offers positions of solar farms and onshore wind turbines.
• Tree Cover: This data reveals the tree canopy coverage percentage within 100 m² cells.
Digital Assets: Nodal Power Raises $13M For Converting Landfill Methane To Green Energy
Nodal Power, based in Utah, has successfully raised $13 million in a seed funding round for its innovative technology that converts landfill gas into energy to power Bitcoin mining centers. The company aims to reduce methane emissions from landfills by utilizing the gas for mining operations.
Venture Capital: BlackRock Amongst Investors Funding NorthVolt With $1.2B
Northvolt, while producing its first battery systems at its facility in Poland (Northvolt Dwa), has secured $1.2 billion through a convertible note to support its expansion plans in Europe and North America. This funding is an extension of a previous $1.1 billion convertible note signed in 2022. The financing includes investments from environmentally focused funds in compliance with the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation. Major investors in this round include Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO), BlackRock, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments), and OMERS.
Venture Capital: UK-Based PropTech Kamma Raises $4.6M For Decarbonizing Real Estate
UK property data and analytics company, Kamma, has secured a £3.6 million ($4.6 million) investment led by the Clean Growth Fund to further develop its property data engine. The engine utilizes advanced geospatial technology to gather and process property data, enabling the formulation of efficient strategies for achieving Net Zero in the UK property sector, encompassing both residential and commercial properties.
Digital Assets: GDA’s New 8 MW Bitcoin Mining Facility In Sweden To Run On Clean Hydro Energy
Genesis Digital Assets Limited (GDA), a prominent bitcoin mining company with a substantial hash rate, has announced a further expansion of its mining capabilities in Sweden. The new “sustainable” facility, operational since June 2023, is located in the northern part of the country and is currently equipped with an 8 MW data center.
Venture Capital: Alternative Meat Startup ENOUGH Lands €40M
Scottish startup ENOUGH, a mycoprotein producer, has secured €40 million ($43.5 million) in equity funding to expand its plant-based chicken, mince, and dairy offerings for supermarkets and fast-food chains. ENOUGH utilizes mycoprotein, derived from fungus, as a vegan protein source, intending to sell it to businesses for incorporation into their own meat products including plant-based chicken, mince and dairy. It counts Unilever and Marks & Spencer amongst its partners in food technology.
Venture Capital: Jiangsu Guoqiang Singsun Energy Technology Lands $137.4 Million in Series A+ Funding
Jiangsu Guoqiang Singsun Energy Technology, a specialized Chinese company focused on advanced tracking technology for intelligent solar plant applications, has raised 1 billion yuan ($137.4 million) in a recent funding round.
Alternative Investments/ESG: JPM AM Expands Paris-Aligned ETF Range With Two ‘Research-Enhanced’ Products
JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) has introduced two Paris-Aligned Benchmark (PAB) ETFs – the JPMorgan Global Research Enhanced Index Equity SRI Paris Aligned UCITS ETF (JSEG) and JPMorgan US Research Enhanced Index Equity SRI Paris Aligned UCITS ETF (JSEU).
Venture Capital: Chevron And Equinor-Backed Sapphire Technologies Raises $10M For Gas Turboexpanders
Sapphire Technologies, a company specializing in energy recovery systems for hydrogen and natural gas applications, has successfully raised $10 million in a Series B funding round. The primary investors in this round are Energy Capital Ventures, along with participation from Marathon Petroleum (NYSE: MPC), Chevron Technology Ventures, Equinor Ventures, and Cooper and Company.
Venture Capital: Advanced Ionics Raises $12.5M In bp-Led Series A Round
Advanced Ionics, a company pioneering innovative hydrogen electrolyzers for green hydrogen production, has successfully concluded a $12.5 million Series A financing round, with prominent support from bp ventures, Clean Energy Ventures, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (TYO: 7011), and GVP Climate.
Digital Assets: A Sustainability-Focused Spot Bitcoin ETF Launches In Europe
London-based Jacobi Asset Management has launched today Europe’s first Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) on Euronext Amsterdam, ahead of the U.S. The Jacobi FT Wilshire Bitcoin ETF, trading under the ticker BCOIN, charges a 1.5% annual management fee and is listed on Euronext Amsterdam. Fidelity Digital Assets serves as custodian, while Flow Traders acts as market maker, with authorized participants including Jane Street and DRW.
FinTech: d.light Lands $30M For Low-Cost Solar Devices In Tanzania
d.light, a global provider of affordable household products and financial solutions for low-income households, has successfully secured a $30 million securitization facility from the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group), with the potential to acquire up to $125 million of receivable assets.
Venture Capital: EDAC Labs Raises $3M Seed For Direct Air Capture Of CO2
EDAC Labs, an innovator in electrochemistry, has secured $3 million in seed funding to expand its distinctive carbon removal technology. The funding round was spearheaded by the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, renowned for investing in early-stage climate-related innovations, and supported by notable angel investors.
Alternative Investments/ESG: USCF Advisers Launch Commodity Facing ETF With Sustainable Focus
The US Commodity Fund (USCF) has introduced the USCF Sustainable Commodity Strategy Fund (ZSC), an actively managed exchange-traded fund (ETF). This fund aims to achieve overall returns by providing broad exposure to commodities in three sustainability-focused areas: agriculture, renewable energy, and electrification.
Venture Capital: Meatable Raises $35M Series B For Its Cultivated Pork Products
Dutch food tech company Meatable has secured $35 million in new funding, bringing its total funding to $95 million. The investment was led by Agronomics and joined by Dutch impact fund Invest-NL along with existing investors, such as BlueYard, Bridford, MilkyWay, DSM Venturing and Taavet Hinrikus.
Digital Assets: Bitfarms To Construct 50MW Bitcoin Mining Farm Powered By Paraguay Hydro
Bitfarms Ltd. (NASDAQ: BITF), a global Bitcoin mining company, has begun the first development phase for its 150 MW hydropower contracts in Paraguay. The company is building a 50 MW mining farm in Paso Pe, Paraguay, near its Villarrica facility. The new farm, set to be commissioned in Q1 2024, includes a 30 MW air-cooled warehouse and 20 MW of hydro-cooled miners in containers, obtained with vendor credits to reduce cash outlay.
Alternative Investments/ESG: A New ETF Invests In Loans To Veterans To Ease Their Borrowing Costs
Academy Asset Management introduced the Academy Veteran Impact ETF (NYSE Arca: VETZ) on the New York Stock Exchange during the week. VETZ’s primary objective is to generate income by investing in loans for U.S. service members, military veterans, their survivors, and businesses owned by veterans. The main purpose of this fund is to facilitate the flow of capital to veterans, resulting in lowered borrowing costs for both veterans and their families.
Digital Assets: KPMG Issues Report On Bitcoin Mining And Its Favorable Impact On The Environment
KPMG, a major accounting firm, analyzed Bitcoin’s alignment with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, highlighting its potential contributions to sustainability. The report focuses on four carbon-reduction techniques used by bitcoin mining firms.
Alternative Investments/ESG: BlackRock Unveils STOXX-50 ETF With ESG Focus
BlackRock has expanded its sustainable investing offerings with the iShares EURO STOXX 50 ESG UCITS ETF (ES50), a eurozone equity ETF listed on the Deutsche Boerse with a TER of 0.10%. The ETF tracks the EURO STOXX 50 index, including 50 large European companies that meet STOXX’s ESG criteria.
Venture Capital: Battery Energy Storage Startup Field Lands $257M Investment
DIF Capital Partners, through its DIF Infrastructure VII fund, is investing £200 million in Field, a London-based battery energy storage systems developer and operator. The investment seeks to expedite Field’s expansion and construction of a 4.5 GWh pipeline of large-scale battery energy storage projects in the UK and Western Europe, thereby bolstering the area’s renewable energy infrastructure and supporting its Net Zero objectives.