Newsletter - April 2025
Welcome to the 16th edition of the AFI Venturesโ newsletter.
As a reminder, AFI Ventures (fund managed by Ventech) is an impact VC fund that invests in pre-seed/seed startups with a strong environmental and social ambition, producing a systemic change. We invest once a month in France & Europe tickets ranging from โฌ250K to โฌ500K.
Each month in this newsletter, you'll find :
๐ A focus or key resources on an impact-related theme
๐ฐOur Top 15 must-read articles on the impact ecosystem๐ฑ Even more news from the AFI: public fundraisings, portfolio updates, andโnew โwhere weโve been spotted (at events) & where you can catch us next, plus a job board featuring open roles at our amazing startups.
More insights, more opportunities, more ways to connect. Letโs dive in! ๐
๐ Zoom on the French regional VC and BA clubs ecosystemWeโve put together a comprehensive mapping of 72 early stage venture capital funds and business angel clubs investing across the regions of France ๐.
This tool is designed to help startups find the right regional investors and provide venture capital funds with a clearer view of the local investment ecosystem.
๐ Explore the full Airtable mapping to discover the funds and clubs leading the way in regional investment.
๐ฐ Top 15 must-read articles - What Caught Our Eye This Month newClimate Change
โFrance could unlock โฌ50 billion annually by 2050 through carbon dioxide removal, leveraging nature-based solutions, emerging technologies like DACCS and BECCS, and its maritime assets, according to BCG
As Northvolt seeks a buyer amid bankruptcy, potential acquirers include Volkswagen and Asian battery giants like CATL, though political sensitivities and financial challenges complicate the process, according to Sifted
Europe's energy crisis, marked by high prices and import reliance, could catalyze a climate tech breakthrough if the continent accelerates investment in clean energy and industrial innovation, according to Carbon Equity
โFrench biodiversity startups are emerging with solutions in water management and green supply chains, driven by regulatory pressures and the growing demand for nature-based innovations, according to Les Echos
Trumpโs new tariffs on solar panels, batteries, and wind components are disrupting global supply chains and raising costs for climate tech companies, according to The Green Techpreneurโ
โThe Nature Tech Collective, in collaboration with Conservation International, has launched a global biodiversity sector map categorizing over 600 organizations to streamline innovation and investment in nature tech
French greentech startups are proliferating, yet face declining funding, highlighting a disconnect between entrepreneurial momentum and investor support, according to Les Echos
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is emerging as a transformative tool for biodiversity monitoring, offering non-invasive, scalable, and cost-effective methods to assess ecosystems, according to an IMD podcast
โBill Gates's Breakthrough Energy has shut down its European policy team, including director Ann Mettler, to redirect funds toward global health initiatives following U.S. aid cuts, leaving a significant gap in EU climate tech advocacy, according to Sifted
Sustainable production and consumption
The EU Commission has pledged to develop a protein diversification strategy to boost domestic plant protein production and reduce reliance on imports, but MEPs are urging for more concrete actions and clear timelines, according to Green Queen
โA 20-year global review finds aquaculture has improved feed efficiency and food securityโespecially in Asiaโbut still faces sustainability challenges from marine feed reliance, climate risks, and underutilized ecosystem services, according to Nature
โAgrifoodtech investment in developing markets surged 63% to $3.7 billion in 2024, defying global trends, with India, Mexico, and Vietnam leading the growth according to AgFunderNews
Health & Social Changes
โIFAD's 2025โ2031 strategy aims to bolster rural resilience by integrating climate adaptation, environmental protection, and biodiversity conservation, with a focus on empowering women and small-scale farmers, as outlined in the Climate, Environment and Biodiversity Strategy 2025โ2031
โThe UK's fastest-growing healthtech startups in 2025 include Lindus Health, Healthtech-1, Flo Health, Scan.com, and Bit Bio, reflecting a surge in AI-driven innovation across clinical trials, diagnostics, and personalized care, according to Sifted
โUK startup Phytoform is using AI and CRISPR to develop climate-resilient crops like browning-resistant potatoes and high-yield tomatoes, aiming to revolutionize sustainable agriculture, according to BusinessGreen
๐ AFI Ventures HighlightsAFI Venturesโ Investments in February
Ed.AI ๐ซ๐ท โ (โฌ1.7M / AFI Ventures, Ring Capital, Evolem, Kima Ventures, Super Capital)
AI-powered assistant that helps teachers grade faster and deliver personalized learning content.
Investment rationale:
Huge time-saver: Automates grading for teachers, freeing up 5h/week and enabling personalized student support.
Strong founder-market fit: Second-time founder who sold LeLivreScolaire to Hachette (โฌ30M+ exit), deeply embedded in the EdTech ecosystem.
Tech & trust combo: Proprietary OCR+LLM pipeline with human-in-the-loop validation to ensure quality and build teacher confidence.
Powerful GTM: Early traction with 2 academies (100 teachers, 30k student copies) and large-scale campaigns planned with LeLivreScolaire.
Mission-driven impact: Targets the 160M hours of grading done each year in France to empower teachers and boost academic outcomes for students.
Recent News from our Portfolio
Finres' climate adaptation work in agriculture featured in Franceโs new national adaptation plan (PNACC). Their collaboration with I4CE on assessing adaptation needs, costs, and benefits in agriculture was recognized in the government's official roadmap. Learn more
โTilt Energy received the "Energy Flexibility" award at the 2025 Perifem Awards for its AI-driven platform optimizing electricity usage in commercial buildings.โ Learn more
Inarix has deployed its AI-powered barley variety recognition technology across all Malteuropโs North American sites, marking a major advancement in grain quality control through smartphone-based analysis. Learn moreโ
โClimeFi has initiated Analyst Rating coverage on Deep Skyโs Alpha project, providing institutional buyers with forward-looking insights into the scalability and credit quality of one of the most ambitious DAC initiatives to date. Learn more
Revcoo has launched a fundraising campaign to develop a new COโ capture demonstrator with ten times the capacity of its current pilot, advancing its cryogenic CarbonCloudยฎ technology for industrial decarbonization. Learn moreโ
โStokelp was named a โCoup de cลurโ in Challenges magazineโs 2025 โ100 startups to invest inโ list, recognizing its disruptive potential in the logistics field. Lean more
โERS has appointed Judith Simon as Chief Operating Officer, bringing her extensive leadership experience from Verra and Fortune 500 companies to scale operations and expand carbon certification methodologies. Learn more
Kor has been selected for the 2025 Google for Startups Growth Academy: AI for Health program, recognizing its AI-powered platform that offers personalized health check-ups and continuous medical support to promote proactive healthcare. Learn more
โGreen PRAXIS has partnered with WWF to launch a bioacoustics pilot project in Walmath, utilizing AI to monitor forest biodiversity, and has also entered a three-year collaboration with AEW to integrate advanced environmental analysis into the management of AEW's European real estate assets. Learn more (1) (2)
Nova Carbon has partnered with SUEZ to advance carbon fiber recycling, aligning with EU directives to enhance circular economy practices in industries like automotive and aerospace, while also appointing Denis Ferrer-Goyeneche as Director of Industrialization to scale operations and expand carbon certification methodologies. Learn more (1) (2)
Highcast has partnered with Plattard in Villefranche-sur-Saรดne to optimize electricity consumption and reduce energy costs and carbon footprint, with insights integrated into its platform to support Plattard's long-term energy strategy. Learn more
Estuaire has introduced a new API that enables airlines and airports to integrate real-time climate impact data into their operations, facilitating informed decision-making for emission reductions. Learn more
Events
We were at:
Smart Agrifood Summit in Ghent on April 2nd & 3rd โ We had the opportunity to meet the Belgian Agrifood Ecosystem with startups, investors and experts. Sarah discovered impressive farm and food labs designed to support startup growth.
ChangeNOW from April 24th to 26th (and its side events) โ Constantin and Sarah attended the ChangeNOW event and its various side events. A big thank you to everyone who joined us at our side event with AENU.
Nextly, join us at:
Hack Summit in Lausanne on May 15th & 16th โ the whole AFI team will be there. Excited to meet everyone in the European climate tech ecosystem!
Talent Wanted: Our Startups Are Building the Future
New job offers:
Aerospace data Scientist/Engineer - Estuaire (Paris)
Customer Success Engineer - Estuaire (Paris)
They are still looking for a:
Senior Software Engineer - Tilt Energy (Paris)
Chief of Staff (Internship) - Tilt Energy (Paris)
Founder Associate (CDI or Freelance) - Elsee (Paris or remote)
Founder Associate (Internship) - Elsee (Paris or remote)
๐ค Our TeamCharles Fourault - charles@afi.ventures
Constantin de Chaudenay - constantin@afi.ventures
Sarah Laznowski - sarah@afi.ventures
Romain Garrigue - romain@afi.ventures
Don't hesitate to reach out if you're an impact entrepreneur or just interested in any of these topics. ๐