EUR 350 million for clean technologies labeled by the Solar Impulse Foundation

The Solar Impulse Foundation, initiated by serial explorer and clean technology ambassador Bertrand Piccard, accelerates the development of cleantech solutions which protect the environment by supporting the creation of two investment funds, a growth & buyout strategy with Rothschild & Co and Air Liquide, and a venture capital strategy with BNP Paribas. All investments will be evaluated by the Solar Impulse Efficient Solutions Label.

The BNP Paribas Solar Impulse Venture Fund will aim to invest EUR 150 million in high potential growth startups involved in the ecological transition, with the objective of accelerating their development and significantly changing their scale. The geographic scope will include Europe and the US, with initial ticket sizes ranging from EUR 1 million to 5 million. Target sectors will include clean energy, sustainable food and agriculture, circular economy, clean water and sanitation, smart cities, sustainable mobility, and industrial innovation. Numerous Swiss start-ups have been awarded with the Solar Impulse Label. In 2021 alone eleven companies were selected by the Foundation.

BNP Paribas has been an investor in startups which have an impact on energy transition since 2016. In Switzerland BNP Paribas has already invested in DEPsys. BNP Paribas will continue to support cleantech startups, committing EUR 75 million of its own capital to this new vehicle. The fund will benefit from the expertise and network of the dedicated venture capital team that has invested for BNP Paribas’ own account for the past five years and will replicate the investment model successfully deployed until now.

EUR200 million for growth and buyout investments

Rothschild & Co’s Merchant Banking business, together with industrial company Air Liquide through ALIAD, its venture capital arm, plans to put in place a EUR 200 million growth & buyout platform. The growth and buyout strategy, led by Rothschild & Co’s Merchant Banking business, aims to invest 80% of its capital in growth and buyout opportunities, and up to 20% in late-stage venture in companies demonstrating a positive measurable impact on the environment and society across Europe. The key investment themes will focus on clean energy, sustainable food and agricultural production & consumption, water and waste management, smart cities and clean mobility. The Fund will capitalize on Rothschild & Co’s deep network and history of long-term value creation through its investment business, as well as ALIAD’s long-standing expertise in technology venturing.

Bertrand Piccard, Founder and Initiator of the Solar Impulse Foundation, said: “We’ve proven that over 1000 profitable solutions exist to protect the environment, but the companies providing these technologies need professional investment to grow. To help them, we’ll be partnering with reputable institutions with whom we have long-standing relationships and are willing to embark with us on this pioneering journey. We will show that investing in new and clean technologies makes both economic and ecological sense, fostering qualitative growth rather than just the quantitative growth we see today.”