Newsletter - March 2025
Welcome to the 15th edition of the AFI Ventures’ 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 €250K to €500K.
Each month in this newsletter, you'll find :
🔍 A focus or key resources on an impact-related theme
📰Our Top 15 must-read articles on the impact ecosystem🌱 Even more news from the AFI: public fundraisings, portfolio updates, and—new —where we’ve 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. Let’s dive in! 💚
🔍 Maritime Transport Decarbonation Deep Dive Our latest deep dive is setting sail next week! 🌊
Get ready for a comprehensive breakdown of the key drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the race to decarbonize maritime transport—a fast-emerging sector that’s still widely misunderstood. This report is your one-stop read to grasp the market’s fundamentals, identify pain points worth solving, and make informed investment bets in the space.
To give you a first taste, we’re sharing our exclusive startup mapping in this edition. Stay tuned for the full report! ⚓
📰 Top 15 must-read articles - What Caught Our Eye This Month newClimate Change
Norrsken launches a Brussels hub to help impact startups influence EU policymaking and access funding more effectively, said Sifted.
25 climate opportunity areas—from carbon management to climate adaptation—will define the next wave of climate innovation and investment in 2025, said Marble Studio.
Climate tech founders are increasingly frustrated—political backlash, funding uncertainty, and shifting narratives are creating headwinds, said Sifted.
Marine biodiversity is deeply impacted by economic activity—this Carbone 4 analysis proposes a framework to assess corporate pressures on ocean ecosystems.
The EU’s Omnibus proposal could hamper carbon accounting startups by delaying key regulations and creating uncertainty in the voluntary carbon markets, said Freya Pratty from Sifted.
European steelmakers are evaluating a new EU action plan to secure the sector’s future amid competition and decarbonization pressure, said Reuters.
UK emissions dropped by 3.6% in 2024—coal use fell to its lowest since 1666—yet long-term targets remain out of reach, said Carbon Brief.
Despite rising risks, water tech remains critically underfunded—Sifted explores why investors still hesitate in a $500B+ global market.
Sustainable production and consumption
Global agrifoodtech showed some signs of recovery in 2024, reaching $16 billion in funding, AI bioengineering, and supply chain resilience are emerging as key innovation hotspots, said AgFunder.
Northvolt’s financial troubles raise concerns for Europe's battery sovereignty—highlighting the fragility of cleantech industrial policy, said Freya Pratty from Sifted.
Carbon removal is gaining traction, but the SBTi warns it must complement—not replace—emissions reductions as a core climate strategy said Heatmap.
Geothermal energy could power nearly all new U.S. data centers by 2030—offering a resilient and low-carbon solution for AI’s growing energy appetite, said TechCrunch.
A new push by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to bypass FDA approval for lab-grown meat highlights the legal gray zones in the alt-protein space and reignites debate on food safety standards, said Green Queen.
Health & Social Changes
Women entrepreneurs still face major systemic barriers, but ecosystems that provide access to networks and capital are critical enablers of inclusive growth, said the GEM Global Report.
Preventive care, AI-powered diagnostics, and health equity are the top 3 trends reshaping healthcare in 2025—according to Plug and Play’s latest industry outlook.
🍃 AFI Ventures HighlightsAFI Ventures’ Investments in February
Moonwatt 🇫🇷 – (€8M / LEA Partners, Daphni, Founders Future, AFI Ventures)
Decentralized sodium-ion energy storage systems tailored for solar plants.
Investment rationale:
Booming market: Battery energy storage expected to grow 50x by 2050, reaching a $480B opportunity.
Unique architecture: 20–30% cost reduction vs existing solutions, thanks to sodium-ion tech and modular passive cooling.
Proven impact: Potential to avoid 2 GtCO₂/year by 2030 through fossil fuel displacement.
World-class team: Ex-Tesla and Freyr engineers with deep BESS expertise and strong industrial networks.
Strong demand: Early pipeline of 37 GWh by 2027 and partnerships with key solar players like EDF and Nextera.
Recent News from our Portfolio
Prolong has unveiled an innovative solution for the automotive after-sales market, aiming to transform customer experience and optimize retailer operations. Learn more
Tilt Energy has partnered with advizeo and the Métropole du Grand Paris to launch the IA Eco-Pilot program, an initiative aims to automate the management of water and energy consumption in public buildings. Learn more
Stokelp was named "Coup de cœur" in Challenges magazine's ranking of startups to watch, recognizing its disruptive potential in the logistics field. Learn more
Verley has rebranded from Bon Vivant and launched FermWhey™, a precision fermentation-derived whey protein portfolio offering enhanced functionality and sustainability for the food industry. Learn more
Kor has launched its digital health check-up application, aiming to make proactive healthcare accessible to everyone. Learn more
Nova Carbon partnered with Epsilon Composite to build a circular economy around carbon fiber, aiming for industrialization of recycled products by 2026. Learn more
Highcast deployed its energy optimization software at Constellium in Montreuil-Juigné, helping to reduce environmental footprint and electricity costs. Learn more
Bohr Energie assisted the commune of Villemur-sur-Tarn in a collective self-consumption project, enabling residents to directly benefit from local green electricity. Learn more
vorteX-io collaborated with the Adour-Garonne Water Agency to deploy a network of 150 micro-stations, enhancing real-time monitoring of watercourses in the face of climate challenges. Learn more
Estuaire published a detailed analysis of aviation emissions for 2024, providing valuable insights into the sector's evolution and airlines' sustainability indices. Learn more
Events
We were at:
JEC World from March 4th and 6th— Constantin was on-site at the world’s leading composites event, scouting what’s next and backing Nova Carbon, one of our portfolio champions.
France Digitale Tour on March 05th — Sarah joined the FDTour, connecting with some of the brightest female founders in France—celebrating and supporting inclusive entrepreneurship.
The 50 Day on March 11th — The team connected with inspiring impact entrepreneurs, reinforcing our commitment to mission-driven startups.
Deeptech Founders & VCs Meet at Ventech on March 12th — The whole team attended an evening dedicated to deeptech discussions, co-hosted with Kvanted and Matterwave, fostering exchanges with founders and investors in the sector.
Hello Tomorrow & Side Events from March 13th and 14th — Constantin and Sarah took part in this major deeptech event, strengthening our ties with the ecosystem and exploring emerging innovations.
Occitanie Invest on March 20th — Constantin connected with entrepreneurs and investors, and caught up with our amazing startup portfolio, vorteX-io and Bohr Energie.
"AI – An Energy Bomb?" Conference by Zenon on March 20th — Sarah participated in this event, exploring the growing energy impact of AI and potential technological solutions.
Nextly, join us at:
Smart Agrifood Summit in Brussels on April 2nd & 3rd — Sarah will be diving into the future of sustainable food and agtech.
HEC Launchpad Demo Day on April 4th — Constantin will be on the jury, spotting the next generation of standout founders.
ChangeNOW from April 24th to 26th — the whole AFI team will be there, so come say hi if you’re around!
Talent Wanted: Our Startups Are Building the Future
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)
ESG & Impact Manager (Full-time) - Ventech (Paris)
🤝 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. 🍃