AENU

AENU Ventures Research Investment Thesis and Philosophy AENU is a European venture capital firm dedicated to rewriting the venture capital rulebook to deliver high returns with high impact. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs (Dailydeal, Forto) and investors (Earlybird, Speedinvest), AENU operates as an evergreen impact fund focused on climate technology and social equality companies. The fund's core belief is that the venture capital industry must evolve to align returns with positive impact, creating value for founders, investors, and society. The AENU team is united by the ambition to drive systemic change in venture capital towards impact-driven investing, accessibility, and stakeholder alignment. They are executing against a 30-year roadmap for transformation and are certified as a B Corporation, walking the talk on their commitment to stakeholder value. Investment Strategy and Focus Areas AENU concentrates on two primary impact areas: Climate Impact (majority of portfolio) Energy transition: production, storage, distribution Carbon removal: capture, sequestration, circularity Food & AgriTech: plant-based/lab protein, regenerative farming Enabling tech: carbon/biodiversity SaaS, mobility, fintech Deep-tech moonshots and enabling technologies Social Impact Inclusive education technology (pre-school to higher education) Empowerment of underrepresented groups (diversity, equality, inclusion) Reskilling/upskilling including VR/AR learning Sustainable fintech (microfinance, insurance, social security) Each investment is assessed on impact intentionality, measurability, net-positive outcomes, interlock with core business, and meaningful scope relative to the problem being addressed. Investment Stage and Ticket Size Investment strategy: Stage: Seed and Series A primarily, occasional pre-seed for serial entrepreneurs Ticket size: €1-4 million initial investments, with follow-on capacity up to €10 million Role: Preferred co-lead or lead investor with board representation Geography: Europe with focus on DACH, UK, and Nordics Approach: Active value creation across entrepreneurial experience, impact know-how, B2B market access, and capital formation AENU focuses on early stage companies where proprietary technology with high defensibility is core to the company's DNA, spanning both software and hardware. Fund and Capital Status AENU successfully closed its first fund significantly above target: Fund size: €170 million (hard-cap closure) Target size: €140 million Fund type: Evergreen impact fund Status: Actively deploying capital with strong institutional LP base The fund's above-target close demonstrates strong LP confidence in the impact-driven thesis and track record. Team and Leadership Founders & Partners: Fabian Heilemann - Founder & CEO, former serial entrepreneur and investor Ferry Heilemann - Founder & Partner Siobhan Brewster - Partner, brings investor expertise Philip Specht - Partner Investment Team: Melina Sánchez Montañés - Principal Robert Stoecker - Principal Melusine Bliesener - Impact Investor Leo Allgoewer - Impact Investor Operations & Impact: Daniel Zakowski - CFO & Operating Partner Elena Harumi Stark - Head of Impact & Platform Michelle Piontek - Impact & ESG Analyst Ambassadors: Sebastian Steudtner (big-wave surfing world record holder) and Maya Gabeira (female wave record holder) serve as ambassadors embodying the fund's ethos of controlled risk-taking for transformative goals. The team brings together successful entrepreneurial experience, deep investor expertise, and passionate commitment to climate and social impact. Recent Activity and Market Position AENU is one of Europe's 30 most active impact VCs: Total investments: 49 companies Latest investment: January 9, 2026 (Equitable Earth - €12.6M investment in nature-based carbon projects) 2025 status: Ranked among Europe's most active impact venture investors Certification: Certified as a B Corporation 2024 Impact Report: Documented measurable impact across portfolio The fund maintains consistent deal flow and has demonstrated ability to support follow-on rounds, with recent large investments indicating strong capital availability. Value-Add and Support Model AENU provides comprehensive support beyond capital: Proprietary AENU resource hub for portfolio companies Entrepreneurial experience and operational guidance Impact methodology and measurement frameworks B2B market access and customer introduction networks Capital formation support for follow-on fundraising Active board participation and governance Access to ecosystem of impact-driven founders and investors The fund's 30-year transformation roadmap positions it as a thought leader and infrastructure provider in impact-driven venture capital.