Extantia

Ammonia is set to play a big role in the upcoming years. As we have extensively discussed before (https://lnkd.in/e4t-idSW), the market could increase by 4x by 2050, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Ammonia is nowadays mainly used for the production of nitrogen based fertilisers, notorious for their very high carbon footprint. But did you know that field emissions actually account for 58.6% of the total emissions of nitrogen fertilisers? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the production process (like the Haber-Bosch method) that’s the biggest culprit — that accounts for just 38.8% of emissions. Instead, field emissions dominate, caused by poor plant uptake, over-dosage, and microbial activity in the soil that turns surplus nitrogen into nitrous oxide (N₂O), which has 265x the global warming potential of CO₂. Why does this matter now? With Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) being fully implemented by the beginning of 2026, the pressure is on. Nitrogen fertilisers are among the affected sectors and importers will need to purchase certificates for the (production) emissions associated with these products. How do we solve this problem? That’s the big question. We will dive deeper into potential solutions next. Teaser: we are particularly interested in solutions that are tackling both emission drivers at once. If you are building in this space, please reach out to Paola Brenni. Source 👉 https://lnkd.in/d-DxJ9JG #Fertiliser #Ammonia #Nitrogen

We’re thrilled to share that our portfolio company Bloom Biorenewables has successfully closed a CHF 13 million Series A funding round led by Anaïs Ventures SA and Valquest Partners. This milestone will help scale their groundbreaking Aldehyde-Assisted Fractionation (AAF) technology, unlocking the full potential of biomass and accelerating the transition to sustainable, high-value materials. The process efficiently separates the cellulose fraction while stabilising lignin polymers and hemicellulose-derived sugars — allowing Bloom to fully valorise them for the first time. A huge congratulations to the entire Bloom team and co-CEOs Remy Buser and Florent Héroguel! We’re proud to support you on this journey. 🚀 Shoutout to the investors in this round (in addition to Anaïs and Valquest): Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Lombard Odier Investment Managers, Capital Risque Fribourg, Btomorrow Ventures, Amcor Ventures, Rosebrook, and The King Baudouin Foundation. #Portfolio #VentureCapital #ClimateAction

Scaling climate tech projects is easier said than done. Financing is tough to secure because new technologies are inherently risky — great in the lab, but uncertain in the real world. Without investments, no new technologies can be developed, creating a deadlock that stops climate solutions from reaching the market. The solution? Offtake agreements. By guaranteeing cash flow as soon as production starts, they reduce risk for investors, increase funding chances, and demonstrate market demand. But not all offtakes are created equal. In a new piece for the World Economic Forum, Yair Reem breaks down how founders can structure offtake agreements at different stages — just like Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. He also goes into of four winning offtake agreeement strategies to scale climate tech. Here is a preview: 1️⃣ Don't sell—partner. Secure key corporate partners early to co-develop and validate your tech. 2️⃣ Diversify offtakers. Avoid over-reliance on a single customer by engaging multiple buyers. 3️⃣ Design flexible contracts. Include cost caps, tiered pricing, and adaptable terms to manage risk. 4️⃣ Align agreements with offtakers’ operational cycles. Make adoption seamless by integrating with their procurement and R&D timelines. Offtakes are to climate tech what ARR is to software—they’re essential for proving market demand and unlocking investment. Start small, build trust, and work your way up to bankable agreements. Thanks to the World Economic Forum for featuring us! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eYCZkivt #Scaling #VentureCapital #Offtakes

Congrats to our portfolio company UP Catalyst for being selected as a strategic project under the Critical Raw Material Act! The European Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) designates strategic projects to boost the EU’s ability to extract, process, and recycle key raw materials while diversifying supply from third countries. In turn, these projects gain access to coordinated support from the European Commission, Member States, and financial institutions — along with a fast-track permitting process. See all the selected strategic projects here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eSHqDvqk UP Catalyst's battery-grade graphite is cost-competitive with fossil-based graphite and carbon nanotubes, climate-neutral, high-purity, and can be produced anywhere, enhancing resilience and national independence. Well done, Rait, Einar, Teele, and everyone at UP Catalyst 🚀 #CRMA #graphite #PortfolioUpdate

Previously on VCO2, our Partner Yair Reem sat down with Hugo Rauch to unpack why the green premium failed – what this means for climate tech startups today. From shifting customer expectations to new pricing strategies, Yair challenges some of the most common assumptions about selling sustainable solutions. Tune in as Yair unpacks why the green premium failed, how the green discount took its place, and what it means for climate tech startups today. Plus, discover the biggest investment opportunities and how AI can boost pricing and positioning. 📺 Watch on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ebhf-QMt 🎧 Listen to the podcast: https://lnkd.in/e5U5BgsJ Thanks to Hugo for having us at Extantia on VCO2! It’s always great to dig deep into the challenges and opportunities in this space. #VentureCapital #ClimateTech #ClimateAction

The 10th Anniversary Edition of Hello Tomorrow last week was a blast! Extantia showed up in full force, with Yair, Carlota, Nina, Paola and Fernanda making the most of the packed agenda and buzzing atmosphere. On Thursday, we had the pleasure of co-hosting a nightcap with our friends from Marble and Toyota Ventures — an ideal setting for connecting with fellow pioneers in climate and tech. Couldn’t have asked for better company than Jonny, Benjamin, Edgar, Alix, Lisa, and Jay! Thanks to everyone who attended. On Friday, Yair kicked off the Global Summit with a panel on the future of climate tech. He was joined by Rajesh (Khosla Ventures), Liza (Carbon Equity), and Laurie (At One Ventures). The conversation was raw, real, and packed with practical insights for founders and investors. Missed it? No worries – Yair summed up the top 5 takeaways here 👉 https://bit.ly/43QB3P2 A big thanks to the Hello Tomorrow crew – Arnaud, Selma, Jack – and everyone we met for making it a great week in Paris. Already looking forward to next year in Amsterdam! 🇳🇱 #HelloTomorrow #DeepTech #VentureCapital

We’re beyond proud to celebrate our portfolio company, Reverion, for securing €19.5 million in funding from the European Innovation Fund implemented by the CINEA - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency to scale the production of their reversible power plants as part of the RESILIENCE project! Reverion’s cutting-edge technology is set to make a huge impact on the biogas sector. This funding will enable the expansion of the production of innovative, reversible power plants as part of the RESILIENCE project. The project aims to scale the manufacturing of modular, container-based power plants, making a decisive contribution to the decarbonisation of the biogas sector. This expansion will also create new jobs and boost the local supply chain. Congratulations to the whole Reverion team on this important milestone! We’re honoured to support such game-changing innovation and this incredible team driving it forward – Felix, Stephan, Luis, Jeremias, Maximilian, Dr. Dora, Maximilian, Andreas. Go Reverion 💪💚 #Reverion #InnovFund #ClimatePositivePower cc. Torben, Yair, Nina, Sebastian, Joern-Carlos, Oliver, Fernanda, Ashwin, Michael, Jana, Jean, Julien, Aurianne, Roee, Dr. Christoph, Pascal

The next few weeks of March are packed with events, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Our team will be on the ground at key gatherings across Europe. Here’s where to find us: InvestEU Portal Deeptech Summit by EuroQuity - Bpifrance 📍 Paris, France, March 10 Nina will be attending this deep tech-focused event, diving into investment opportunities and innovation. She will serve as a jury member for the Women in Deep Tech & Clean Tech and Energy sessions. Hello Tomorrow – 10th Anniversary Edition 📍 Paris, France, March 13-14 A milestone year for Hello Tomorrow, celebrating a decade of deep tech innovation (congrats Selma, Arnaud, Thomas, and the entire team). Yair, Carlota, Nina, and Fernanda will be in Paris for Hello Tomorrow's key events. We’re also co-hosting an invite-only night cap on the 13th with our friends from Marble and Toyota Ventures. Yair will moderate Friday’s Global Summit opening panel on the future of climate tech. He will be joined by Rajesh (Khosla Ventures), Liza (Carbon Equity), and Laurie (At One Ventures). You don't want to miss this one! SET Tech Festival by Start Up Energy Transition 📍 Berlin, Germany, March 18 Paul and Elisabeth will be at this key gathering for energy innovators and investors. Make sure to say hi. Investor Meetup & Cleantech Showcase by Cleantech Scandinavia 📍 Berlin, Germany, March 19 Paul and Paola will be attending this event, which will spotlight the Nordic region's most promising cleantech startups. Urban Innovation Forum by Climate Tech Hub e.V. 📍 Berlin, Germany, March 20 Christian is speaking on the panel “Resilient Growth – Break Things, Fix the Planet”, where he’ll dive into how disruptive climate tech can scale solutions that truly make an impact, alongside Ludwig (Swobbee) and Ed (Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation). VentureCon Bioökonomie 📍 Munich, Germany, March 24 Elisabeth will be at this event exploring the intersection of venture capital and the bioeconomy. We look forward to have conversations that matter at events that drive impact. If you’ll be at any of these events, let’s connect. See you there!

A new era for plastic recycling is here! Extantia is proud to lead Epoch Biodesign’s $18.3M oversubscribed Series A, joined by Inditex, Lowercarbon Capital, Happiness Capital | Certified B Corp, Kibo Invest, Day One Ventures, KOMPAS VC, and others, plus a $1M grant from the UK government. Epoch is redefining plastic recycling with supercharged enzymes that break down even the toughest plastics — no high heat, no toxic byproducts, no downcycling. Instead of low-value waste, they create high-performance recycled materials that compete with virgin plastics on cost and quality. This funding will take Epoch’s breakthrough technology to the next level, scaling up operations, launching its first plant, and working with major players in fashion, automotive, and chemicals to close the loop on plastic waste. “Plastic itself isn’t the problem—it’s how we use and dispose of it. When designed, sourced, and recycled responsibly, plastic can be one of the most efficient and sustainable materials we have. And that's what Epoch is doing,” said Yair Reem, Partner at Extantia. “They aren't just developing better recycling - they're transforming the entire value chain to ensure it works for the planet, not against it.” Check out the full story on TechCrunch 👉 https://bit.ly/3DfT4vs Dive into our investment thesis by Carlota & Elisabeth to see why we’re backing Epoch 👉 https://lnkd.in/d6u6geXm Congratulations Jacob Nathan and the entire Epoch team! We are excited to support you on this mission. cc Clay, Eric, Alejandra, Germán, Sebastian, Peter, Kornel, Yair, Sebastian, Joern-Carlos, Torben, Oliver, Christian #ClimateAction #VentureCapital #Plastics

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹—𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝘁𝘀 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🔧🌍 The steel industry is at a critical turning point as it faces mounting environmental and economic challenges. Contributing 7–9% of global CO₂ emissions, steel production needs innovation and investment to achieve sustainability. In one of our recent industry briefings, we explored the challenges and opportunities of steel’s future together with Paola Brenni from Extantia. Here's what we uncovered. 👉 If you’d like to catch the whole discussion, check out the YouTube video here: https://2ly.link/2379G 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 💸 Massive investments of $1.8–2.6 trillion are required to overhaul infrastructure and modernize facilities. 💨 Green hydrogen, which could substitute fossil-derived reducing agents during production, remains costly and scarce, with only 1% of global production qualifying as "green." 🏭 70% of existing steel plants in Europe will reach the end of their lifespan by 2030, adding to the urgency of modernization. ⚖️ Regulatory frameworks, like the EU’s carbon mechanisms, increase production costs but aim to drive greener practices. 💡 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 Startups and innovators are paving the way with breakthrough solutions: • Hydrogen-free technologies to bypass the green hydrogen bottleneck. • Low-grade ore processing to reduce costs and expand resource availability. • Decoupling ironmaking and steelmaking processes, relocating energy-intensive steps in regions with abundant renewables. • Drop-in/retrofit solutions to provide smoother adoption with reduced downtimes. Interested in tech advancements in the steel industry? Bold companies like Stegra (hydrogen), Electra (electrochemical), Limelight Steel (thermal decomposition), Helios (sodium-based reduction) and many others are pushing the boundaries in this conservative sector. 👉 For more deep dives and industry insights, follow First Momentum Ventures on LinkedIn! #deeptech #minerals #steelinnovation #decarbonization #greensteel #sustainability #climatetech #advancedmaterials #industrytransformation #venturecapital #extantia #firstmomentum #deeptech #industrialtech