How Deep Is Your Tech? We published Our First ESG Report.

2024 marked a milestone year for the DeepTech & Climate Fonds: the publication of our first-ever ESG Report. As an early-growth investor backing Europe’s next generation of deeptech and climatetech companies, we aim not only to scale transformative technologies but to do so responsibly, transparently, and with measurable impact. This report establishes our baseline—the starting point from which we will track how our portfolio evolves environmentally, socially, and in governance practices over the coming years.

Building an ESG Foundation From Day One

The start of the report provides an overview of how we built the foundation for ESG work inside DTCF. It was a year dedicated to establishing processes: mapping our own environmental footprint, formalising ESG responsibilities within the team, and developing policies and frameworks that ensure consistent, high-quality evaluation across our portfolio.
As a public growth investor, our role extends beyond capital. We see ESG as a strategic lever—one that helps founders anticipate regulatory changes, build trust with customers, and set up robust internal processes before scaling. The 2024 report captures that groundwork and turns it into a clear baseline for future improvements.

Strong ESG Momentum Across Our Portfolio

One of the most encouraging findings in our report is the level of ESG engagement already happening across our portfolio. Many companies have started implementing circular-economy principles, tracking energy and emissions data, or building diverse and resilient teams. For an early-growth deeptech investor, this kind of insight is invaluable. It helps us understand where our companies are leading, where targeted support can accelerate impact, and how we as DTCF can play an active role in shaping responsible scale-up pathways.

Two case studies highlight this momentum. French biotech company Abolis demonstrates how biotechnology can replace petrochemicals in industrial production while operating on 80% renewable energy and building strong diversity in leadership. Meanwhile, German battery recycling startup cylib showcases ESG in action at industrial scale, leveraging 100% renewable electricity in its pilot plant and achieving up to 90% material recovery through a proprietary recycling process. These examples show what it looks like to embed ESG early while still pushing the boundaries of technological innovation.

Outlook: Deepening Our Commitment

Looking ahead, ESG will remain a central pillar of our work. Refining our data collection, broadening portfolio coverage, and supporting founders in operationalising ESG as part of their growth strategy will stay a major part of our work.
Our ambition is to move from establishing a baseline to driving meaningful year-on-year improvement—both within DTCF and across the companies we back. As deeptech and climatetech play an ever more critical role in Europe’s industrial and climate future, integrating ESG will be essential to building strong, resilient, and globally competitive technology champions.

Download and Read the full report

Download our ESG Report 2024 (PDF)