AENU: A Pioneer in Climate Impact Venture Capital

AENU is an innovative venture capital fund that specializes in financing early-stage Climate Tech and social impact companies in Europe. Founded by brothers Fabian and Ferry Heilemann, who are already known for founding and selling the coupon platform Dailydeal to Google, AENU aims to drive systemic transformations in the venture capital industry.

Mission and Values

AENU is driven by the vision of replacing traditional financial capitalism with "Impact Capitalism," where not only financial returns but also comprehensive social and ecological impacts are the focus. The company believes that new technologies and modern business models can significantly contribute to climate protection and improving quality of life[2][4].

Investment Strategy

AENU focuses on investments in areas such as the energy transition, carbon capture, food and agricultural technology, construction, and education. The fund primarily invests in seed and Series A stages, with occasional investments in the pre-seed phase for teams of serial entrepreneurs. Investment tickets range from 1 to 4 million euros, with AENU preferring to act as a co-lead or lead investor with board representation[2][4].

Sustainability Goals and Initiatives

AENU has established clear sustainability criteria that are continuously reviewed and updated by its own impact team. Investments must have the potential to avoid or remove at least 100 megatons of CO2 or improve the well-being of at least ten million people. Additionally, secondary KPIs are focused on technologies for biodiversity and the restoration of natural resources such as water and soil[4].

Team and Network

The AENU team consists of experienced investors, former unicorn founders, and dedicated climate activists. Notable investors include E.R. Capital and the CEOs of companies like Tier, Forto, and Skype/Atomico, as well as a number of German family offices. The management team was recently expanded by Siobhan Brewster and Melina Sánchez, who bring their expertise from Macquarie, Amplifier, and Impact First[3][5].

Future Vision

AENU aims to lead the change in the venture capital industry and invite the entire ecosystem to participate in impact-oriented investments. The fund aims to raise around 500 million euros for sustainable startups by 2026 and has already raised 100 million euros in the first round, which was oversubscribed by 60 percent[3][5].

With its evergreen fund structure and focus on long-term stakeholder alignment, AENU sets new standards in the venture capital industry and works to shape the future of impact capitalism. By closely collaborating with other impact investors and participating in initiatives like the Germany Chapter of ImpactVC, AENU contributes to strengthening the local and global impact investing community[4][5].

AENU is more than just a venture capital fund – it is a movement aimed at fundamentally changing the way we think about capital and impact.

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