Ananda raises 65 million euros

The VC's new impact fund is thus already well filled, and the venture capitalist is now increasing the target amount to up to 100 million euros.

Impact venture capitalist Ananda has raised 65 million euros, completing the first closing of its fourth fund. The money comes from the European Investment Fund (EIF), the British organization Big Society Capital and several family offices. With this sum, Ananda has exceeded its own expectations and increased the fund's target volume from 75 million euros to between 90 and 100 million euros.

Founded in 2009, the venture capitalist focuses on start-ups that are dedicated to ecological and social innovation and develop new solutions for topics such as sustainability. "Ten years ago, it was an immature market," says Florian Erber, who launched the fund together with Johannes Weber, and shares his assumptions as to why the impact theme is finding investors more easily today: "One observation is that the younger generation is entering the workforce at the same time and expecting employers to provide a sense of purpose. This means that companies like our portfolio companies that are committed to positive impact have a head start in attracting great talent."

Ananda employees are often founders themselves, so they know the process behind it and also support their portfolio companies on issues such as diversity, equity, mental health and carbon reduction, as Zoe Peden, Principal at Ananda, explains.

Investors were happy to entrust their money to the venture capitalist, as Alain Godard, CEO of the European Investment Fund, says: "Ananda Ventures is a true pioneer with a strong track record in the growing impact investing market in Europe. The fact that we have now invested for the third time in a row is testament to the team's expertise and know-how."