Founded in 2020/2021, the fund focuses on two areas: food and nutrition as well as energy and resources. It was established during the Corona pandemic. The founding team's goal: to generate returns not only with capital but also to create a better future.
Behind it are around 50 investors, from business angels with 100,000 euros to the European Investment Fund with 25 million euros. Peter Dorfner knows that not every company in the portfolio will ultimately be successfully sold. A few must generate multiples of the invested capital. Therefore, the fund relies on broad diversification: many investments, usually with an initial investment of up to two million euros and the option to invest further in later financing rounds.
Crucially, it's not just about returns. The fund has defined three impact goals: CO₂ reduction, resource protection, and the improvement of human and animal life. “We only invest in companies with a positive impact,” emphasizes Peter Dorfner.
In addition to capital, the fund brings three things to the table: its network of customers, suppliers, and business partners, which lends credibility to young companies, support in team building through a seat on the advisory board, and regular exchanges with the founders. The third lever is the business model. Those who love their product often forget that a solution must be economically sustainable in the long term to create real impact, Dorfner reports from experience.
An example is Vegdog from Munich. The company offers plant-based dog food. Since 2020, the fund has been supporting the company, from selecting production partners to financing and team expansion. Vegdog now achieves its annual revenue from back then in less than a week. The impact is primarily measured by sales and reach, as only products that customers actually buy can survive. “Anything else would be more philanthropic,” says Peter Dorfner.
