VC, Venture Builder / Venture Studio

Kiko Ventures

Niche focus:
Cleantech
Address:
2nd Floor, 3 Pancras Square, King’s Cross, London N1C 4AG
Overview

Kiko Ventures is an evergreen venture investor focussed on cleantech/ climatetech that backs businesses that will support the return to a regenerative world,

Size of investment
Funding stage
Visit website

Kiko Ventures

About

Kiko Ventures is one of the leading and most active climate tech and cleantech venture capital investors in the UK and Europe, headquartered in London as part of the FTSE 250-listed IP Group. Founded in 2022, the firm is led by a team of experienced investors, scientists, and entrepreneurs with deep expertise across engineering, technology commercialisation, and environmental innovation. Kiko Ventures partners with pioneering startups and scaleups developing transformative technologies and disruptive business models that address the world’s most urgent climate and sustainability challenges, including decarbonising energy, advancing resource efficiency, and enabling a regenerative future.

Kiko Ventures operates as an evergreen investment platform, deploying permanent capital that provides the flexibility to invest with conviction across every stage of a company’s growth, from seed to late stage. The firm exclusively backs science-based, IP-rich companies whose core focus is improving planetary sustainability, supporting the transition to a low-carbon, circular economy. Kiko’s portfolio features companies commercialising breakthrough solutions in areas such as renewable energy, carbon capture, sustainable materials, smart energy management, and the circular economy.

Kiko Ventures is recognised for its commitment to responsible investment and long-term partnership, often supporting technically complex and high-impact opportunities that many traditional investors avoid. The firm’s approach is underpinned by a mission to create new possibilities for a regenerative future, combining financial discipline with a strong focus on measurable environmental impact.

Mission, Goals, and Values

Mission


Kiko Ventures’ mission is to invest in the science, ideas, and technologies that will accelerate the transition to a regenerative, low-carbon future. The firm is dedicated to backing founders and businesses that address the world’s most urgent climate and sustainability challenges, with a focus on solutions that can deliver transformative environmental impact and long-term commercial success. Kiko Ventures believes that the most successful companies of the future will be those that create positive outcomes for the planet, people, and future generations, while generating strong financial returns.

Goals

Kiko Ventures aims to:

  • Identify and invest in pioneering science-based startups and scaleups with the potential to transform industries and tackle global climate challenges at scale.

  • Foster innovation and entrepreneurship by supporting ambitious founders with flexible, evergreen capital, deep sector expertise, and access to a global network of scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

  • Support the commercialisation and scaling of breakthrough technologies in climate tech and cleantech, including renewable energy, carbon capture, sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and circular economy solutions.

  • Build strong alliances and partnerships across the climate innovation ecosystem to share knowledge, drive collaboration, and accelerate the adoption of impactful solutions.

  • Deliver both environmental and financial returns, ensuring that investments contribute to long-term sustainability and create lasting positive impact for the planet and society.

Values


Kiko Ventures’ core values are rooted in responsible investment, scientific rigour, and long-term thinking. The firm believes that sustainability and commercial success are inseparable, and only supports companies whose solutions have the potential to deliver real-world impact by addressing climate and environmental challenges. Internally, Kiko Ventures fosters a culture of openness, fairness, and entrepreneurial spirit, uniting its team around the shared goal of driving meaningful change. The company upholds the highest standards of ethical and responsible conduct throughout its operations, with robust governance and a commitment to ESG integration and diversity.

These principles are reflected in Kiko Ventures’ commitment to supporting not only commercial ventures but also broader community and industry initiatives that advance positive environmental outcomes. As part of IP Group, Kiko Ventures integrates ESG considerations into every stage of its investment process, ensuring that purpose and profit are pursued together, and that every investment contributes to a regenerative, sustainable future.

Founders and Origin Story

Kiko Ventures was established in London in 2022 as a dedicated climate tech and cleantech investment platform, launched by IP Group, a FTSE 250-listed investment firm. The founders, Robert Trezona, Jamie Vollbracht, and Arne Morteani, brought together extensive expertise in science-based innovation, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, united by a vision to back transformative companies that address climate change and drive planetary sustainability.

Robert Trezona, a founding partner, has played a pivotal role in shaping Kiko Ventures’ strategy and growth. With a background as a hydrogen and fuel cell scientist and a long-standing commitment to cleantech innovation, Robert has overseen the platform’s focus on commercialising breakthrough technologies fundamental to the net zero transition.

Jamie Vollbracht, also a founding partner, has been instrumental in building Kiko Ventures’ reputation as a leading investor in high-impact climate tech companies. With deep sector knowledge and a passion for supporting entrepreneurs, Jamie has helped steer the firm’s investment philosophy, focused on long-term value creation and environmental impact.

Arne Morteani played a key role in the early development of Kiko Ventures, bringing over two decades of experience in the cleantech ecosystem. Previously a partner at a traditional venture capital firm, Arne’s expertise in climate tech investing and his commitment to regenerative capital have helped lay the foundations of Kiko’s long-term vision.

In 2022, the founding partners launched Kiko Ventures with the support of IP Group, establishing an evergreen capital model that enables the firm to provide flexible, long-term support to science-based companies at every stage of growth. The team’s combined vision and leadership have positioned Kiko Ventures as one of Europe’s most active and influential climate tech investors. Their commitment to supporting entrepreneurs with capital, expertise, and a collaborative culture continues to drive the firm’s mission to back the people, ideas, and technologies that will change the world.

Explore the founders’ professional journeys: Robert Trezona LinkedIn, Jamie Vollbracht LinkedIn, Arne Morteani LinkedIn.

Investment Focus

Kiko Ventures invests in companies developing transformative technologies and solutions to address the world’s most urgent climate and sustainability challenges. The firm’s primary objective is to back science-based, scalable innovations that deliver measurable environmental and commercial impact, supporting the transition to a regenerative, low-carbon future.

Geographic Scope
Kiko Ventures primarily invests in companies based in the UK and Europe, but also considers opportunities globally. The team leverages IP Group’s international network and has a distributed European presence, with its main base in London. Kiko’s flexible capital structure allows it to support ventures with broad relevance and scalability across international markets.

Sectors of Interest


Kiko Ventures focuses exclusively on climate tech and cleantech, prioritising companies that tackle complex environmental challenges at scale. Key areas include:

  • Renewable Energy: Technologies for clean power generation, storage, and grid integration

  • Energy Efficiency: Smart home solutions, heat pumps, and energy management systems

  • Carbon Capture and Utilisation: Direct air capture, carbon-to-fuels, and industrial decarbonisation

  • Sustainable Materials: Innovations in circular economy, waste reduction, and low-carbon manufacturing

  • Advanced Mobility: Clean transport, autonomous systems, and electrification

  • Green Hydrogen: High-efficiency production and applications for industrial decarbonisation

  • Circular Economy: Reusable packaging, resource efficiency, and waste avoidance.

Investment Criteria

To be considered for investment, companies must:

  • Demonstrate potential for significant environmental or commercial impact, with a core focus on planetary sustainability

  • Have a clear and credible business model and growth strategy, often with a minimum viable product or proven concept

  • Be science-based and IP-rich, with enduring technological advantages that can outlast market cycles

  • Fit within Kiko Ventures’ investment stage, from seed through Series B and beyond, with flexibility to support later-stage and public market opportunities

  • Align with Kiko’s mission-driven approach, valuing both financial returns and positive environmental outcomes

Kiko Ventures’ evergreen capital model enables it to be a long-term partner, supporting companies throughout their growth journey and providing the flexibility to invest with conviction at every stage.

This approach ensures that Kiko Ventures backs scalable, impactful companies capable of delivering both commercial success and meaningful benefits for the planet and society.

Assessment

Kiko Ventures follows a rigorous, multi-stage assessment process designed to identify and support high-potential ventures in climate tech and cleantech. The process begins with an initial screening of each opportunity to evaluate alignment with Kiko’s mission to back science-based companies delivering significant environmental and commercial impact. Key factors assessed include the calibre of the founding team, the maturity and defensibility of the technology, market traction, and the potential for global scalability.

Following the initial review, the investment team engages directly with founders to understand their business model, growth strategy, and funding needs. Opportunities that pass this stage undergo comprehensive due diligence, including technical validation (often with input from external scientific advisors), market analysis, financial review, and legal assessment. The investment committee then rigorously evaluates each proposal, consulting sector specialists and external experts as needed to validate technology and impact potential. This thorough and iterative process ensures that Kiko Ventures invests in companies with strong potential for lasting climate impact and commercial success, supported by the firm’s deep sector expertise and evergreen capital model.

This assessment approach is consistent with Kiko Ventures’ commitment to responsible investment, including integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations throughout the investment lifecycle. The firm maintains strict exclusion policies, avoiding sectors such as fossil fuels, tobacco, arms, and gambling, and actively supports portfolio companies in embedding best practices in sustainability and governance.

Notable Portfolio Companies

Kiko Ventures has invested in a range of operational, greentech-focused companies that exemplify its mission to back science-based, high-impact solutions for climate and planetary sustainability. 

AirForestry

AirForestry uses electric-powered drones to thin forests from the air, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional forestry methods. This technology minimises ground damage, promotes biodiversity, and supports carbon sequestration, directly contributing to climate mitigation. AirForestry is operational and recently closed a significant seed funding round to further develop its technology. Visit AirForestry.

tado°

tado° develops smart thermostats and home energy management solutions that help households reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Its products integrate with various heating and cooling systems, enabling users to optimise energy use and lower their environmental footprint. tado° is active, with recent funding and product launches in 2025. Visit tado°.

Mixergy

Mixergy provides intelligent hot water tanks that integrate with renewable energy sources, improving energy storage and efficiency in homes. The company’s solutions help reduce energy bills and carbon emissions, supporting the transition to net zero. Mixergy is operational, has expanded its team, and was awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation in 2025. Visit Mixergy.

Discover more successful investments: Kiko Ventures Portfolio.

Funding Sources

Kiko Ventures is funded exclusively by IP Group, a FTSE 250-listed investment firm. The platform operates as an evergreen investment vehicle, meaning all capital comes from IP Group’s balance sheet rather than from a mix of private investors, institutional partners, or public market vehicles. The initial fund size is $450 million (approximately £375 million), making Kiko Ventures one of the largest dedicated climate tech investors in Europe.

Kiko Ventures’ evergreen model allows returns from successful exits to be recycled into new investments, supporting a continuous cycle of funding without the constraints of fixed-term fund vehicles. This structure provides exceptional flexibility and strong alignment with entrepreneurs, enabling Kiko to support companies throughout their entire growth journey.

All capital is provided by IP Group, with no external limited partners or public fundraising. This independence from external investor mandates allows Kiko to focus on long-term impact and to invest in high-conviction opportunities, including venture creation, direct investments, and select fund investments.

As part of IP Group, Kiko Ventures benefits from the scale, stability, and credibility of a major listed investment firm. This backing enables Kiko to deploy significant capital and to act as a reliable partner for founders and co-investors in the climate tech ecosystem.

Kiko Ventures’ evergreen, IP Group-backed funding model enables it to act as a long-term partner to climate tech innovators, providing the scale, flexibility, and stability needed to drive transformative impact in the sector.

Investment Details

Stages:
Kiko Ventures invests across the full venture capital lifecycle, from seed to Series B and beyond. The evergreen structure allows the team to support companies at any stage, including later growth rounds and even public capital markets. Kiko can also create new ventures and invest directly or indirectly through selected funds.

Equity:
Investments are typically made on an equity basis. Kiko Ventures is capitalised to invest from several million pounds at seed and Series A, with the ability to provide larger sums as companies scale. The platform is designed to deploy around £200 million over five years, with flexibility to follow on in later rounds and to support portfolio companies for the long term.

Funds:
Kiko Ventures operates a single, evergreen fund structure, rather than multiple closed-end funds. The fund, valued at $450 million, is dedicated to climate tech and cleantech investments. There are no EIS or VCT products, and no external fundraising rounds. All investments are made from the IP Group-backed platform, ensuring a unified and consistent investment approach.

Recent Developments:
Since its launch in 2022, Kiko Ventures has rapidly expanded its portfolio, investing in companies across renewable energy, carbon capture, sustainable materials, and advanced mobility. Notable recent investments include Mixergy (Series C, March 2025), Mantle8 (Seed, February 2025), and AirForestry (Seed, October 2024). The team has a track record of backing category-defining companies such as Ceres Power, First Light Fusion, and Oxbotica. Kiko’s flexible capital model and deep sector expertise position it as a leading investor in the European climate tech landscape.

Kiko Ventures’ evergreen, IP Group-backed funding model enables it to act as a long-term partner to climate tech innovators, providing the scale, flexibility, and stability needed to drive transformative impact in the sector.

Impact

Kiko Ventures is deeply committed to delivering measurable environmental and social impact alongside strong financial returns, embedding responsible investment principles across its portfolio and operations. The firm’s mission is to back companies that put the planet, people, and future generations first, with a focus on climate tech and cleantech sectors to accelerate the transition to a regenerative, low-carbon economy.

Kiko Ventures measures and reports impact through a rigorous framework aligned with international standards, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The firm actively engages portfolio companies on their environmental performance, such as carbon reduction, resource efficiency, and circularity, and provides them with tools and expertise to maximise their positive impact. Kiko’s approach includes setting clear impact objectives for each investment and tracking progress against key performance indicators throughout the investment lifecycle.

The firm maintains a strict exclusion policy, avoiding investments in sectors such as fossil fuels, tobacco, arms, gambling, and activities that conflict with its mission and values. Kiko Ventures requires portfolio companies to uphold high standards of governance, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship. Through its investments in renewable energy, carbon capture, sustainable materials, and circular economy solutions, Kiko Ventures contributes to accelerating the net zero transition and building a more sustainable future.

Kiko Ventures integrates impact considerations into every stage of the investment process, from due diligence to ongoing portfolio management. The team works closely with portfolio companies to embed ESG best practices, track progress, and report on outcomes. This holistic approach ensures that Kiko Ventures not only delivers financial value but also drives positive change for society and the planet.

Community

Kiko Ventures actively cultivates a dynamic community of founders, investors, and climate tech experts across the UK, Europe, and internationally. The firm brings together a network of scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders who share a commitment to backing companies that drive climate action and planetary sustainability.

Kiko Ventures hosts regular events, including pitch sessions, networking opportunities, and sector-focused discussions. These gatherings connect founders with experienced advisors, corporate partners, and fellow innovators, providing mentorship, knowledge sharing, and peer learning. Portfolio founders benefit from access to Kiko’s extensive network, including the broader IP Group community, which offers guidance and support as they scale their businesses.

The firm shares updates, research, and opportunities through newsletters and active engagement on LinkedIn, keeping its community informed about portfolio news, investment opportunities, and the latest developments in climate tech and sustainability.

By bringing together like-minded individuals and fostering an environment of collaboration, mentorship, and support, Kiko Ventures empowers its network and portfolio companies to drive meaningful progress in building a regenerative, low-carbon future.

The Team

Kiko Ventures is led by an experienced team with deep expertise in climate tech, cleantech investment, science, and technology commercialisation. United by a shared commitment to backing the people, ideas, and technologies that will accelerate the transition to a regenerative, low-carbon future, the team combines backgrounds in venture capital, engineering, materials science, and entrepreneurship to provide founders with strategic guidance and access to a broad industry network.

Leadership and Key Team Members:

  • Robert Trezona - Founding Partner 

Robert Trezona is a founding partner of Kiko Ventures and sits on the investment committee, setting the firm’s investment strategy. With a background as a hydrogen and fuel cell scientist, Robert has over two decades of experience in cleantech innovation and investment. He is recognised for his hands-on approach with founders and his focus on commercialising breakthrough technologies fundamental to the net zero transition.

  • Eva Kirkby Leary – Venture Consultant
    Eva Kirkby Leary brings experience in venture consulting and supports the Kiko team in identifying and evaluating new climate tech opportunities.

  • Monika Burniston – Executive Assistant
    Monika Burniston provides executive support to the Kiko Ventures team, ensuring smooth operations and coordination across the firm.

  • Arne Morteani – Senior Advisor (Former Founding Partner)
    Arne Morteani is a senior advisor to Kiko Ventures and was one of the firm’s founding partners. With more than 20 years of experience in the cleantech ecosystem and a prior role as a partner at a leading European climate-focused VC firm, Arne has helped shape Kiko’s early vision. Although he stepped back from day-to-day operations in 2025, he continues to support the team in an advisory capacity.

  • Ben Murphy – Investment Director
    Ben Murphy is an investment director at Kiko Ventures, based in Stockholm. He has over 14 years of experience across carbon capture, agritech, smart energy systems, and wind technologies. His career includes roles at Google, the European Commission, and the Carbon Trust. Ben also represents Kiko Ventures on the Cleantech for Europe initiative, contributing to policy engagement and ecosystem-building.

  • Arielle Schacter Secondé-Kynnersley – Investor
    Arielle Schacter Secondé-Kynnersley is an investor at Kiko Ventures focused on supporting innovative climate technologies. She previously spent five years at Barclays, where she co-founded the Sustainable & Impact Banking team. Arielle holds a master’s degree in environmental management from Yale and brings both financial and scientific insight to her work with founders.

Additional Team Members:

The Kiko Ventures team includes professionals with backgrounds in engineering, science, operations, and venture capital. With a distributed presence across Europe and a main base in London, the team benefits from the scale and resources of IP Group. Collectively, they provide strategic support to founders through mentoring, business development, and technical guidance, as well as access to a global network of scientists, entrepreneurs, and policy experts.

Learn more about the team on the Kiko Ventures team page.

FAQs

  1. What is Kiko Ventures’ investment strategy?
    Kiko Ventures invests in science-based, high-impact companies addressing climate change and planetary sustainability. The firm uses an evergreen capital model, supporting companies from early to late stages with a long-term, flexible approach.

  1. What sectors does Kiko Ventures invest in?
    Kiko Ventures focuses exclusively on climate tech and cleantech, including renewable energy, carbon capture, energy efficiency, sustainable materials, circular economy, and industrial decarbonisation.

  1. What does Kiko Ventures look for in founders?
    Kiko Ventures seeks mission-driven founders with deep technical expertise and a strong commitment to solving climate challenges. Teams with experience in scaling innovative solutions are especially encouraged.

  1. What stage does Kiko Ventures invest in?
    Kiko Ventures invests from seed to Series B and beyond, with the flexibility to support companies at any stage, including later growth rounds.

  1. What is the typical investment size?
    Kiko Ventures typically invests from several million pounds at seed and Series A, with the ability to provide larger sums as companies grow.

  1. What support is available to portfolio companies?
    Beyond capital, Kiko Ventures offers strategic guidance, operational expertise, and access to a global network of scientists, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.

  1. Where is Kiko Ventures based?
    Kiko Ventures is headquartered in London, UK, at 2nd Floor, 3 Pancras Square, King’s Cross, London, N1C 4AG.

  1. When was Kiko Ventures founded?
    Kiko Ventures was launched in 2022 by IP Group as a dedicated climate tech investment platform.

  1. How can I apply for funding or get in touch?
    You can contact Kiko Ventures or submit your pitch through the firm’s official website. Stay updated with Kiko Ventures’ latest news and opportunities by following them on LinkedIn.

Contact

Are you an innovative founder developing climate tech or high-impact solutions in technology, health, fintech, or consumer sectors? Discover how Kiko Ventures can support your journey by visiting: Kiko Ventures Website.

Stay updated with the latest news, events, and opportunities by following Kiko Ventures on LinkedIn: Kiko Ventures LinkedIn.

Explore more UK opportunities for greentech investment at Adopter’s Greentech Investors Map.

illustration of Earth