Venture capital (VC) investment in biodiversity conservation plays an instrumental role in promoting climate action by fostering innovation and scalability in environmental solutions. Biodiversity conservation is fundamental for maintaining resilient ecosystems that serve as carbon sinks, mitigate climate change impacts, and sustain life on Earth. VC funding injects crucial financial resources into startups and initiatives focused on biodiversity preservation, enabling the development of groundbreaking technologies, such as reforestation drones, carbon capture methods, and sustainable agriculture practices. Here are 10 VCs focusing on biodiversity conservation you should know about in 2024.
- Lena Thiede, Co-founder and General Partner at Planet A Ventures
About Lena Thiede
Lena is co-founding partner at Planet A Ventures, a VC supporting European greentech startups. At Planet A, she is in charge of the scientific impact assessment.
Lena has over +11 years of work experience at the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). As Head of Development Cooperation in Tanzania/ East Africa she led government programmes on biodiversity and wildlife conservation as well as monitoring & evaluation. She also did environmental research for the German Advisory Council on Global Change to the German Government (WBGU), the OECD, GIZ and the Ecologic Institute.
- Matthew Mulrennan, Director of Investments at Sustainable Ocean Alliance
About Matthew Mulrennan
Matthew Mulrennan brings over 15 years of interdisciplinary experience in sustainability to his focus on biodiversity conservation investments. As the Director of Investments at Sustainable Ocean Alliance since March 2024, he is actively involved in supporting early-stage ocean health companies through the organisation and its affiliated venture fund, Seabird Ventures. Prior to this role, Matthew co-founded and served as the CEO of KOLOSSAL, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to ocean exploration and conservation, where he led expeditions to Antarctica to document deep-sea marine life and promote conservation efforts. His achievements include winning the Con X Tech prize for conservation technology prototyping and raising over $500,000 in sponsorship and in-kind donations.
- Josep Oriol, Managing Partner at Okavango Capital Partners
About Josep Oriol
Josep Oriol has extensive venture capital and senior management experience across four continents, with a notable focus on sustainability, environmental conservation, and climate change. As the Managing Partner of Okavango Capital Partners since December 2016, he directs investments in SMEs with a dedicated emphasis on sustainability, rural development, climate, and biodiversity conservation. His role as a Founding Investor and Director at BCP (BioCarbon Partners) underscores his commitment to conservation enterprise, where he has been actively involved since 2012. Previously, as a Principal at Kibo Capital Partners and Partner at Conservation Capital, Josep played instrumental roles in private equity fund management and financial investment advisory, specialising in conservation-related projects. His leadership as the Managing Director of The Lewa Wildlife Conservancy’s tourism subsidiary exemplifies his ability to drive impactful change, evidenced by a 60% increase in profit contribution within 12 months.
- Ilina Rai-Sia, Impact Investor and Founding Partner at Radicle Ventures
About Ilina-Rai Sia
Ilina Rai-Sia has an impressive career in biodiversity conservation investments, leveraging her expertise as an impact investor and Founding Partner at Radicle Ventures since November 2022. Through Radicle Ventures, Ilina directs investments towards startups that harness innovative science and engineering principles to address critical planetary health issues. Her current portfolio of over 10 mission-driven startups spans themes of climate and health, exemplifying her commitment to driving positive environmental outcomes. Prior to her role at Radicle Ventures, Ilina gained valuable experience as an Associate in Venture Capital at Unknown Group, where she provided essential business and operational support to portfolio companies, further enhancing her understanding of startup development.
- Kevin Webb, Co-founder & Managing Director at Superorganism
About Kevin Webb
Kevin Webb’s professional trajectory reflects impressive dedication to biodiversity conservation investments, as demonstrated by his role as Co-Founder and Managing Director of Superorganism since January 2022. At Superorganism, Kevin leads early-stage venture capital initiatives aimed at fostering biodiversity. Prior to this, his extensive experience as an Angel Investor underscores his commitment to supporting impactful startups, with investments in a diverse array of companies spanning biotechnology, environmental conservation, and sustainable agriculture. Notably, as Director at Webb Investment Network, Kevin played an instrumental role in nurturing promising ventures, including those focused on environmental sustainability.
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