Vulnerabilities in the movement, security and cost of goods are on full display amid climate change and global conflicts. Partech launched its Partech Impact Fund to write equity checks of between €15 million and €40 million in European companies improving the resilience of global value chains for infrastructure, construction, agriculture, mobility and healthcare.
For the 40-year-old private equity firm’s first impact fund, Partech raised capital from institutional investors in Europe, the US, Asia and Australia, including German insurer Allianz, French public investment bank Bpifrance, British Business Bank, the European Investment Fund, Belgian lender KBC, Neuberger Berman, QIC and Visa Foundation.
In “one of the most challenging fundraising environments of the past decade,” Partech wrote in a statement, the fund’s final close marked “one of the largest debut impact franchise launches in Europe in recent years.”
More than money
Initial deals include French electric mobility platform Gireve, Swiss-Italian sustainable agriculture app xFarm, and UK-based FYLD, which offers AI-powered services for the infrastructure sector. Partech says such startups face “a structural gap” in Europe.
“Impact-native companies reaching commercial maturity need investors who bring more than capital,” said Partech’s Arnaud Minvielle. “They need strategic, operational and scaling capabilities typically found in private equity. Our fund was built precisely for this transition phase.”
“This new commitment reflects our shared values not only when it comes to supporting scale ups, but that purpose and returns can go hand-in-hand,” said Robert Greenwood at British Business Bank. “Together, we can help businesses to grow while creating meaningful impact in the UK and beyond.”
EIF’s Marjut Falkstedt added that the investment “reinforces our commitment to scaling European tech solutions that generate measurable social progress – from inclusion and education to health and sustainability – and to backing innovators who deliver meaningful impact for communities across Europe.”
