Kopa Ventures is an early-stage Venture Capital firm focusing on Europe's most innovative climate tech startups in the areas of Energy, Mobility, and Nature & Carbon Tech.
Pre- seed, Seed, Series A
Kopa Ventures is a leading early-stage venture capital firm based in Germany, founded in 2017 by renewable energy pioneer Matthias Willenbacher. The firm invests from pre-seed to Series A in innovative climate tech startups across energy, mobility, nature, and carbon sectors, supporting scalable solutions for a climate-positive economy with hands-on expertise and a strong industry network.
Mission
Kopa Ventures’ mission is to empower early-stage startups to build the best energy, mobility, nature, and carbon solutions for climate-positive change. The firm is dedicated to “Keeping Our Planet Alive,” actively tackling the world’s largest environmental problems by investing in transformative technologies and business models.
Goals
Kopa Ventures aims to:
Values
Kopa Ventures’ core values are rooted in impact-driven investment, scientific rigor, and founder empowerment. The firm believes that environmental sustainability and commercial success are mutually reinforcing, and only backs companies whose solutions can deliver real-world climate benefits. Internally, Kopa Ventures fosters a culture of openness, diversity, and entrepreneurial thinking, uniting its team around the shared goal of driving meaningful change. The company upholds high standards of ethical conduct, robust governance, and integrates ESG criteria into every investment decision. Kopa Ventures is committed to supporting diverse founding teams and scientifically sound solutions, ensuring that purpose and profit are pursued together.
Kopa Ventures was established in Germany in 2017 by Matthias Willenbacher, a renowned renewable energy entrepreneur and climate advocate. The firm was previously known as Wi Venture before rebranding to Kopa Ventures. The founding team brought together deep expertise in renewable energy, venture capital, and entrepreneurship, united by a vision to accelerate the transition to a climate-positive economy through early-stage investment in transformative technologies and business models.
Matthias Willenbacher, founder and Managing Partner, is a pioneer in the German renewable energy sector and previously co-founded juwi AG, one of Europe’s leading renewable energy companies. With a background in physics and a lifelong commitment to sustainability, Matthias has played a pivotal role in shaping Kopa Ventures’ mission, investment strategy, and impact-driven culture. His leadership is complemented by a team of experienced investors and former entrepreneurs who share a passion for supporting climate tech founders and scaling solutions for energy, mobility, nature, and carbon sectors.
The founding team’s combined vision and leadership have established Kopa Ventures as one of Europe’s first and most active dedicated climate tech venture capital firms. Their commitment to supporting entrepreneurs with capital, hands-on expertise, and a collaborative, founder-friendly approach continues to drive the firm’s mission to back the people, ideas, and technologies that will keep our planet alive.
Explore the founder’s professional journey: Matthias Willenbacher LinkedIn.
Investment Focus
Kopa Ventures invests in early-stage companies developing transformative climate technologies and solutions that address some of the world’s most urgent environmental challenges. The firm’s primary objective is to back scalable innovations that deliver measurable ecological and commercial impact, enabling positive change across industries and communities in Europe.
Geographic Scope
Kopa Ventures primarily invests in startups based in Europe, with a strong presence in Germany, Austria, Switzerland (the DACH region), and other major European innovation hubs. The firm’s distributed team in Berlin, Munich, Mainz, and London enables comprehensive market coverage and deep regional insights, supporting founders across the continent.
Sectors of Interest
Kopa Ventures focuses on a select range of climate tech sectors, prioritising companies that tackle complex environmental challenges at scale. Key areas include:
To be considered for investment, companies must meet the following criteria:
These criteria ensure that Kopa Ventures backs scalable, impactful companies capable of delivering both commercial success and meaningful benefits for the environment and society. The firm’s hands-on, founder-friendly approach and deep sector expertise help portfolio companies overcome challenges in technology validation, regulatory navigation, and market entry, accelerating their path to climate-positive impact.
Kopa Ventures employs a rigorous, founder-friendly assessment process to identify and support high-potential climate tech startups across energy, mobility, nature, and carbon sectors. The process begins with an initial screening to ensure alignment with Kopa’s mission of driving climate-positive change and supporting solutions with measurable ecological and commercial impact. Key factors assessed at this stage include the strength and diversity of the founding team, the scalability and scientific validity of the technology, market traction, and the potential for significant carbon reduction or environmental restoration.
Following the initial review, the investment team engages directly with founders to understand their business model, growth strategy, and impact metrics. Startups that progress are subject to comprehensive due diligence, which includes:
The investment committee then rigorously evaluates each proposal, often consulting external experts in climate science, engineering, and policy to validate the technology and its impact potential. This thorough and iterative process ensures that Kopa Ventures invests in startups with strong potential for lasting environmental and commercial success, supported by the firm’s deep sector expertise and collaborative network.
Kopa Ventures’ assessment approach is consistent with its commitment to responsible investment, integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria throughout the investment lifecycle. The firm maintains strict exclusion policies, avoiding sectors that conflict with its climate-positive mission, and actively supports portfolio companies in embedding best practices in sustainability, diversity, and governance.
Kopa Ventures has invested in a diverse portfolio of early-stage climate tech companies that are driving innovation and measurable impact across energy, mobility, nature, and carbon sectors. Each portfolio company is selected for its potential to deliver significant ecological and commercial benefits, with a focus on scalable solutions for a climate-positive future. Some of the most notable and operational portfolio companies include:
1KOMMA5°
1KOMMA5° is a leading provider of integrated energy solutions, including solar, heat pumps, and virtual power plants. The company enables homeowners and businesses to transition to renewable energy, reduce emissions, and participate in Europe’s largest virtual power plant network. In 2024, 1KOMMA5° raised €150 million in a pre-IPO financing round and reported €520 million in revenue, positioning itself as a market leader in the energy transition with ambitious plans for further growth and a future public listing. Visit 1KOMMA5°.
Green Fusion
Green Fusion develops AI-powered software for the intelligent control and optimisation of heating, electricity, and e-mobility systems in buildings. Their technology enables property owners to reduce heating costs and carbon emissions, supporting the decarbonisation of the real estate sector. In 2025, Green Fusion raised €12 million in Series A funding to expand its solution to 3,000 apartment buildings across Europe, and is recognised as a market leader in heating monitoring and optimisation. Visit Green Fusion.
Carbonfuture
Carbonfuture is a digital platform for high-quality carbon removal, providing end-to-end tracking, certification, and trading of carbon credits. The company supports climate projects and organisations in scaling verified carbon removal solutions, ensuring transparency and impact. In 2024, Carbonfuture closed an oversubscribed Series A round to advance its infrastructure for global carbon removal, further cementing its role in the climate tech ecosystem. Visit Carbonfuture.
Discover more successful investments: Kopa Ventures Portfolio.
Kopa Ventures is supported by a combination of private investors and institutional partners. It manages a focused investment fund, the Kopa Ventures Climate Fund, which targets early-stage climate tech startups across Europe, particularly in the areas of energy, mobility, nature, and carbon technology. This fund is structured as a private venture capital vehicle and qualifies as an Article 8 product under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, promoting environmental or social characteristics.
Key sources of capital include funds raised from private investors and institutional mandates from family offices, wealth managers, and other professional investors. Unlike some UK-based funds, Kopa Ventures does not use public market vehicles such as Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) or Enterprise Investment Schemes (EIS), but instead operates through private equity-style structures. The firm’s founder, Matthias Willenbacher, is a recognised pioneer in renewable energy, and the team leverages deep sector expertise and a strong network to support portfolio growth.
The firm’s investment team, based in Berlin, Munich, Mainz, and London, plays a central role in sourcing opportunities, conducting due diligence, and supporting portfolio companies. Kopa Ventures’ funding model, combined with its ESG integration and sector specialisation, enhances its capacity to invest across climate tech, energy transition, mobility, nature tech, and carbon solutions. All investments are subject to rigorous environmental, social, and governance (ESG) criteria, with annual reporting on sustainability metrics.
While Kopa Ventures does not operate public market vehicles, its private, impact-driven approach and strong ESG focus position it as a leading early-stage investor in European climate technology. The firm remains committed to driving measurable positive environmental outcomes and supporting high-growth, high-impact ventures across the continent.
Stages:
Kopa Ventures invests across the early-stage venture capital lifecycle, focusing on pre-seed, seed, and Series A rounds, with the ability to follow on into later growth stages. The firm typically engages at the pre-seed and seed stages, providing initial investments to support the development and scaling of high-potential climate tech startups. Its flexible investment approach allows for continued support as portfolio companies mature and expand.
Equity:
Investments are generally made on an equity basis, with initial ticket sizes typically ranging from €250,000 to €1.5 million. Larger sums are available for follow-on rounds as companies progress through subsequent funding stages. Kopa Ventures does not offer public market vehicles or tax-advantaged retail products like VCTs or EIS; instead, it operates through private, institutional-style venture capital structures. The firm’s equity investments are designed to provide both financial returns and measurable environmental impact, aligning with its Article 8 ESG mandate.
Funds:
Kopa Ventures manages the Kopa Ventures Climate Fund, a dedicated vehicle targeting early-stage climate technology startups across Europe. The fund is structured as a private venture capital fund and qualifies as an Article 8 product under the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, promoting environmental or social characteristics. The fund invests in high-growth, innovative businesses within sectors such as energy, mobility, nature-based solutions, and carbon technology. Portfolio construction is focused and selective, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technical due diligence.
Recent Developments:
Kopa Ventures has continued to expand its platform and sector reach, actively investing in transformative climate tech companies across Europe. The firm has made over 30 investments to date, with recent activity including leading rounds in energy systems optimisation, ESG platforms, and battery technology. Notable portfolio companies include Green Fusion, Daato, and LIMATICA. The team leverages its deep sector expertise, entrepreneurial background, and extensive network to provide capital, strategic guidance, and operational support to founders. Kopa Ventures remains a prominent early-stage investor in European climate technology, committed to driving measurable positive environmental outcomes and supporting the next generation of climate innovators.
Kopa Ventures is 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 drive climate-positive change, focusing on sectors such as energy transition, mobility, nature-based solutions, and carbon technology to accelerate the shift towards a sustainable future.
Kopa Ventures measures and reports impact through a rigorous framework aligned with international standards, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The firm requires portfolio companies to report annually on key sustainability metrics, such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource efficiency, and social outcomes. This data-driven approach ensures transparency and accountability, enabling both the firm and its investors to track progress and outcomes over time.
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) considerations are integrated into every stage of the investment process, from initial due diligence to ongoing portfolio management. Kopa Ventures applies a proprietary ESG assessment rooted in the Theory of Change, ensuring that each investment contributes positively to global sustainability objectives. The firm maintains a strict exclusion policy, avoiding investments in sectors such as fossil fuels, tobacco, arms, gambling, and activities linked to deforestation. Portfolio companies are required to uphold high standards of governance, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship.
Kopa Ventures works closely with founders to improve their environmental performance, offering tools, expertise, and strategic guidance to help reduce carbon footprints and enhance positive impact. The firm’s annual sustainability report provides detailed insights into the environmental and social performance of its portfolio. Through its investment strategy, Kopa Ventures supports the transition to net zero by backing technologies and business models that enable decarbonisation, resource regeneration, and biodiversity enhancement.
Kopa Ventures actively cultivates a vibrant community of founders, investors, and industry experts across Europe. The firm brings together a network of experienced entrepreneurs, sector specialists, and business leaders who share a commitment to climate innovation and sustainable growth.
Kopa Ventures organises regular events, including pitch sessions, networking opportunities, and sector-focused discussions. These gatherings foster knowledge sharing, peer learning, and direct connections between investors, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. Portfolio founders benefit from access to a broad network of advisors, industry partners, and follow-on investors. The firm provides hands-on support, mentorship, and strategic guidance to help startups navigate challenges and scale their impact.
The community is kept informed and engaged through newsletters, public updates, and active participation on professional platforms. Kopa Ventures shares insights on portfolio developments, investment opportunities, and the latest trends in climate technology and sustainability. While Kopa Ventures does not offer public market vehicles like VCTs or EIS, it enables participation from a diverse base of private and institutional investors who are aligned with its mission of driving positive environmental change.
By fostering collaboration, mentorship, and a shared sense of purpose, Kopa Ventures empowers its network and portfolio companies to deliver meaningful progress in building a sustainable future and advancing climate solutions across Europe.
Kopa Ventures is led by a highly experienced team with deep expertise in venture capital, climate technology, and entrepreneurship. United by a shared commitment to supporting the founders and innovations driving climate-positive change, the team brings together backgrounds in investment, science, engineering, and business development to provide strategic guidance and access to a broad industry network.
Leadership and Key Team Members:
Additional Team Members
Kopa Ventures’ team includes experienced professionals in investment, science, engineering, and operations, making it one of the most specialised climate tech venture teams in Europe. The team features sector specialists in energy, mobility, nature, and carbon technology, as well as professionals in portfolio support, ESG, and business development. Collectively, they provide founders with mentoring, business development support, talent recruitment, and access to a broad network of industry partners and follow-on investors.
Kopa Ventures’ multi-location presence, with offices in Berlin, Munich, Mainz, and London, enables the team to maintain strong connections across the European climate tech ecosystem and to support founders at every stage of their journey. The team’s blend of entrepreneurial experience, scientific expertise, and investment acumen positions Kopa Ventures as a leading partner for climate innovators across Europe.
Learn more about the team on the Kopa Ventures team page.
Contact
Are you an innovative founder developing climate tech or high-impact solutions in energy, mobility, nature, or carbon sectors? Discover how Kopa Ventures can support your journey by visiting: Kopa Ventures Website.
Stay updated with the latest news, events, and opportunities by following Kopa Ventures on LinkedIn: Kopa Ventures LinkedIn.
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