Proxima Fusion Raises €20M Seed to Accelerate Timeline to Fusion Power 
DeepTech & Climate Fonds

We are creating the next generation
of technology champions in
Germany and Europe.


Find out more
Our mission

As an anchor investor, we support deep-tech and climate-tech companies on their long-term growth path. 

The DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF) is a new investment fund active in the field of ground-breaking technology (deep tech), financed with funds from the “Zukunftsfonds” and the ERP Special Fund. We invest together with private investors such as family offices, foundations, private companies and business angels who have a long-term investment horizon and focus on the sustainable growth of their investments. The fund invest in the technology champions of tomorrow, helping to create the next technology-based generation of Germany’s “Mittelstand”. In doing so, we are strengthening the long-term competitiveness of the German economy. A total investment volume of up to EUR 1 billion is earmarked for the DTCF over the next years.

Strong technology companies based in Germany and Europe 

Our fund is the right partner for entrepreneurs running innovative deep-tech and climate-tech companies whose business models are characterized by a longer development cycle and high financial requirements. We want to offer these companies a long-term growth perspective in Germany and Europe, including a joint journey to capital market readiness.

million euros of investment
per company
Large, relevant
network
Long-term
growth
years of experience in
fund management

DeepTech & Climate Fonds –
Building bridges between
long-term-oriented investors,
Germany’s “Mittelstand” and
growing deep-tech companies.

Focused on the next generation of technology champions

As a matching partner, we provide financing to growing deep-tech and climate-tech companies with validated business models that have the potential to become global market leaders. We offer support as a long-term growth partner and anchor investor, helping to lay the foundation for your long-term independence. We invest up to EUR 30 million per company. On top of this, our private partners also take up a stake. For deep-tech and climate-tech company entrepreneurs, we are an experienced sparring partner. This is particularly true for companies considering an IPO as a strategic option. The DTCF also finances “buy & build” strategies and offers existing shareholders an exit opportunity. Professionalism, transparent processes and quick decision-making define our day-to-day work as well as technology expertise and transaction experience.

Examples of sectors we invest in:

Industry

Computing

Climate

Life sciences

Next Generation

Industry

Industry 4.0 / IoT
Robotics
Sensor Technology
Additive Manufacturing
Next Generation

Computing

Artificial Intelligence / Big Data
Quantum Technology
Blockchain
Cyber Security
Next Generation

Climate

New Energy / Smart Grid
eMobility / Storage
Smart City / Smart Home
Food-/ Agtech
Next Generation

Life Science

New Materials
Industrial Biotech
Medtech / Digital Health
Diagnostics
If your deep-tech sector is missing, please contact us!
Background information on the DTCF

Q&A

What is the lifetime of the fund?

The fund targets a lifetime of at least 25 years.

What is the investment focus of the DeepTech & Climate Fonds?

The fund is particularly focused on companies ranging from traditional deep-tech areas such as industry 4.0/IoT, robotics, AI, quantum computing, blockchain and process automation, to companies with a tech-based business model from sectors such as digital health, new energy, fintech, smart cities and certain areas of the biotech industry. In addition, we’re also looking for innovative deep-tech companies that will disrupt other markets.

How much does the DeepTech & Climate Fonds invest in each company?

As a co-investment fund, the DeepTech & Climate Fonds only invests together with private investors. Investments made through the DTCF comprise a mix of private (at least 30%) and public (up to 70%) funding. The investment amount is limited to a maximum of EUR 30 million per company over the entire company lifetime. In the first financing round, DTCF invests at least EUR 1 million.

What kind of equity stake is the DTCF targeting?

The DTCF will always hold a minority stake of less than 25% of voting rights, similar to all other public investment funds.

Who is a suitable co-investor?

In terms of private investment, there are a wide range of potential investors such as evergreen funds, listed investment companies, foundations, family offices, private companies and business angels, who intend to make a long-term investment commitment. The potential co-investor will also enter the round together with us.

Who takes investment decisions at the DeepTech & Climate Fonds?

The managing directors of the DeepTech & Climate Management GmbH make a final decision on the investment that is made “pari-passu” with the private lead investor.

Our portfolio
Xolo
Xolo develops and produces printers that enable volumetric 3D printing using xolography and photoinitiators. The technology, which can be used for various materials, reduces production times while increasing surface quality. 
Vemcon
Vemcon is a developer and manufacturer of control systems for work machines and has developed a “CarPlay” for excavators. This enables better cooperation between man, machine and material, higher efficiency and thus indirectly less energy consumption.
Fernride
Fernride is the leading platform for autonomous trucking and offers a seamless transition to automation through leading human:machine collaboration. By combining telematics and autonomous driving technology, Fernride is already used in factory logistics, distribution centers and container logistics.
eze
eze.network is a charge point operator in public spaces. Based on the principle of “Charging made EZE”, e-cars can be easily charged wherever they are parked. EZE is already the leading operator of charging points in most major German cities.
Kipu
The start-up develops compressed algorithms that are required for the operation of extremely powerful quantum computers. Customers from the pharmaceutical, chemical, logistics and financial sectors can already run highly complex processes on existing quantum hardware. This will radically shorten the time to market for quantum computers.
Membion
The company develops and produces membrane bioreactor (MBR) modules for wastewater treatment. With the multi-patented technology, municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant operators can meet the growing demands on water quality and significantly reduce operating costs.
Proxima Fusion
The Munich-based start-up is building on the pioneering W7-X experiment in Germany and is developing the world’s first QI stellarator power plant using high-temperature superconductors. The declared aim is to tap into the universe’s ultimate energy source in order to generate continuous and reliable emission-free energy.
Our team

Your partner and value developer

Our team is committed to building bridges between long-term-oriented investors, Germany’s “Mittelstand” and growing deep-tech and climate-tech companies. We work in various roles to ensure the success of our investments. In our roles as networkers, scientists, or engineers, we rely on our own personal entrepreneurial experience.

Tobias Faupel
Managing Director
Tobias Faupel
Managing Director
Tobias Faupel, a former managing director at BASF subsidiaries and medium-sized companies, is in his element when it comes to customers and sales concepts. But being an engineer he is also passionate about deep-tech topics. He has a transaction track record at all stages of a company’s life cycle due to his own start-up experience and roles held at Deutsche Bank and High-Tech Gründerfonds. As Managing Director of DeepTech & Climate Fonds he was actively involved in setting up.
Markus Düttmann
Principal
Markus Düttmann
Principal
Markus Düttmann is driven by a passion for technological innovation, with a keen interest in areas like Software Infrastructure, Open Source Software, Robotics, and Quantum Tech.
He brings to DTCF his valuable venture capital experience gained at Nauta Capital (with a B2B Software focus), Runa Capital (a leading European deep-tech VC), and Entrepreneur First. His background also includes a stint as a Data Scientist at Zalando’s early machine learning team and founding the successful Berlin-based AdTech pioneer, realzeit.
Markus holds a PhD in Physics from the prestigious Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society and the TU Berlin. He joined the DTCF team as a Principal in March 2024.
Cristina Doumitrachko
Investment Analyst
Cristina Doumitrachko
Investment Analyst
Cristina joins the DTCF team as an Investment Analyst. During her master’s degree in process engineering, she gained experience at both Covestro and Evonik. Due to her involvement in starting a climate tech start-up, she has extensive knowledge. At DTCF, she will be responsible for analyzing investment opportunities and providing support along the entire investment process.
Lena Stache
Investment Analyst
Lena Stache
Investment Analyst
Lena brings a wealth of experience in early-stage ventures capital. Her investment experience spans different sectors but with a particular emphasis on B2B startups and climate tech. During her time at UVC and Capnamic Lena gained expertise in analyzing deep tech startups. She is interested in developments in the field of quantum technologies in particular.
Tobias Weissgerber
Investment Manager
Tobias Weissgerber
Investment Manager
Tobias brings with him a wealth of experience in venture capital investments and innovation management. Before joining us, he worked as a Venture Development Manager at PwC and as a Venture Capital Investor at Montan-Ventures-Saar GmbH. With a background in electrical engineering and a passion for innovation management, Tobias is well-equipped to support our portfolio companies with their growth and development. Tobias has a deep understanding of technical innovations and their potential for disrupting industries. He is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs and helping them turn their ideas into successful businesses.
Anke Gratz
Senior Investment Associate
Anke Gratz
Senior Investment Associate
Anke is a convinced investor in innovative green technologies, drawing on her deep experience in the energy industry. Before joining DTCF, she was a senior project manager in the strategy team at Vattenfall, where she was responsible for decarbonization and business development projects and gained transaction experience. Previously, she advised energy companies on digitalization and innovation, in the field of electromobility, and on organizational growth topics at Accenture Strategy & Management Consulting. Anke also has a good eye for ideas with business potential and impact through her studies in economics with a focus on energy economics and supports founders in making a valuable contribution to decarbonizing our economy.
Dr Torsten Löffler
Investment Director
Dr Torsten Löffler
Investment Director
Dr. Torsten Löffler is as enthusiastic about corporate strategy as he is about deep tech. The physicist, who holds numerous patents, also founded a measurement technology start-up and held senior positions at a number of technology companies. As part of the High-Tech Gründerfonds hardware team, he was responsible for investments in industrial hardware and software companies, including successful exits. As Authorised Signatory, Torsten is now a part of the investment team at the DeepTech & Climate Fonds, which he was actively involved in setting up.
Luca Fischer
Junior Analyst
Luca Fischer
Junior Analyst
Luca stands out for his experience in high-growth startups. During his studies at WHU, he gained experience in business development at Enpal and as a Founders’ Associate at PLANT B. He is passionate about climate tech startups and sees them as key to combating climate change. Luca’s passion for these technologies excelled in his extracurricular involvement with the SensAbility Impact Summit, where he was part of a team organizing annual conferences on sustainable and social entrepreneurship. As of August 2023, Luca is working as a Junior Analyst at the DeepTech & Climate fund.
Jana Kutter
Operations
Jana Kutter
Operations
Jana is DTCF’s executive assistant. She gained experience at both the IT startup yes.com AG in Cologne and at Calm/Storm Ventures in Vienna. She is used to the dynamic VC environment and has the necessary know-how. At DTCF, she is responsible for smooth processes and the rapidly growing team, thereby supporting the entire investment process.
Dr Elisabeth Schrey
Managing Director
Dr Elisabeth Schrey
Managing Director
Elisabeth Schrey has always been fascinated with innovations and their impact on our lives. Before working for DTCF, she was responsible for investments and portfolio support at btov Partners, Matterwave Ventures and Tech Vision Fund focusing on Industrial Tech. She is driven by intellectual curiosity and business acumen. With a background in Industrial Engineering, she centered her PhD thesis on Innovation Management within the field of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. Since February 2023 she takes over the role as managing director at DeepTech & Climate Fund.
Jonas Sommer
Investment Manager
Jonas Sommer
Investment Manager
Jonas Sommer is passionate about supporting outstanding companies on their growth path. Prior to DTCF, he worked as a venture capital investor at b2venture (btov Partners) with companies such as TextCortex, 1Komma5Grad, CalvinRisk, Decentriq, LatticeFlow and DeepL. Prior to venture capital, he gained operational experience as a Data Scientist at Palantir Technologies and participated in their IPO. Prior to that, he was one of the first employees at Munich-based start-up Parkdepot. He holds degrees in Economics and Physics from LMU Munich, Peking University, and UC Berkeley. Since July 2023, Jonas Sommer has been an investment manager at the DeepTech & Climate fund.

Send us your investment enquiry

If you’re interested in securing investment from DTCF, please fill out our online form with all the relevant information. It’s the easiest way to get the ball rolling – both for you and us. 

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