VC

Zouk Capital

Niche focus:
Infrastructure, Technology and Sustainability
Address:
26 Ives St, London SW3 2ND
Overview

Zouk Capital invest in opportunities emerging at the intersection of infrastructure, technology and sustainability

Size of investment
Funding stage
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About Zouk Capital

Zouk Capital, founded in 1999 by Samer Salty and based in London, invests in infrastructure, technology, and sustainability with a focus on renewables, EV charging, and climate tech. Managing funds like the £420m UK Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund, it backs high-growth companies while embedding ESG to deliver both financial returns and positive environmental impact.

Missions, Goals and Values

  • Missions
    • Invest at the intersection of infrastructure, technology, and sustainability to address pressing environmental and social challenges.
    • Enable the transition to a sustainable, net-zero economy by supporting scalable digital and infrastructure solutions.
    • Drive resource efficiency, decarbonisation, and electrification of transport and power networks in Europe and the UK.
  • Goals
    • Develop and scale platforms and businesses that deliver a measurable positive climate, social, and economic impact.
    • Accelerate widespread adoption of clean technologies, especially EV charging, renewable energy, and climate tech, to support national and global net-zero ambitions.
    • Foster innovation and launch new companies addressing real-world sustainability challenges.
    • Achieve attractive capital gains for investors while embedding ESG principles in every investment.
    • Contribute to recycling, circular economy, and smart agriculture sectors by funding high-impact projects in these spaces.
  • Values
    • Sustainability: Deep-seated, long-term commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible investment.
    • ESG Integration: Environmental, social, and governance factors are at the core of every decision and investment.
    • Value Creation: Deliver genuine value-add and support for portfolio companies through collaborative partnership, innovation, and expertise.
    • Social Equity: Invest with a view towards improving community outcomes, resource access, and inclusivity.
    • Integrity: Operate with transparency, responsibility, and high standards of professionalism across all investments and partnerships.

Founders and Origin Story

Zouk Capital was founded by Samer Salty, who serves as the Managing Partner. With nearly 30 years of experience spanning private equity, investment banking, and technology, Samer has built a unique platform at the intersection of technology and sustainable infrastructure. His vision was to create a fund manager that not only generates economic value but also integrates sustainability as a core principle in every investment. Samer’s long-standing commitment to sustainability has been embedded into Zouk’s DNA, making ESG a central focus across the firm’s investment strategies. Under his leadership, Zouk Capital has evolved into a fund manager dedicated to supporting mission-driven companies that deliver scalable environmental and social impact through technology and infrastructure investments. The firm was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in London.

Follow the founders professional journey here.

Investment Focus

Zouk Capital specialises in investments at the crossroads of infrastructure, technology, and sustainability. Their infrastructure portfolio focuses on renewable energy and environmental projects such as decarbonising transport and power networks, sustainable housing, and circular economy initiatives, mainly across Europe and the UK. In technology, Zouk supports innovative climate tech companies offering scalable digital solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation, with geographic reach extending to Europe, the US, and Africa. ESG principles are integral to their investment approach, enabling them to generate strong financial returns while fostering significant environmental and social impact.

Geographic Scope

Zouk Capital is primarily based in London, United Kingdom. The firm manages investments focused mainly across Europe and the UK, particularly in renewable energy, clean infrastructure, and environmental projects. Additionally, Zouk's technology investment track extends its geographic reach to include the US and Africa, supporting technology-enabled companies delivering sustainable environmental and social impact. While headquartered in London, Zouk Capital's investment scope and portfolio activities have a global dimension through its involvement in various regions including Europe, North America, and Africa via portfolio companies and projects. This geographic breadth aligns with their strategy of driving sustainable growth at the intersection of infrastructure, technology, and sustainability.

Sectors of Interest

Zouk Capital’s sectors of interest span renewable energy, environmental infrastructure, and climate technology. Within renewable energy, they focus on solar power, wind, battery storage, and waste-to-energy projects. Their environmental infrastructure investments include sustainable transport, smart grids, recycling, circular economy initiatives, and energy-efficient housing solutions. On the technology side, Zouk targets climate tech innovations such as decarbonisation technologies, clean mobility, sustainable agriculture, and impact-driven fintech solutions. These sectors align with their mission to promote sustainability and combat climate change while delivering strong financial returns.

Investment Criteria

Zouk Capital’s investment criteria focus on opportunities at the intersection of infrastructure, technology, and sustainability that address urgent environmental and social challenges. They prioritise investments in renewable energy and environmental infrastructure sectors, favoring platform-level projects over individual assets. Key criteria include proven technology or operational scalability, strong management teams, and clear pathways to decarbonisation, such as through transport and power network electrification, waste-to-energy, and circular economy initiatives. For climate tech investments, Zouk looks for companies with commercially validated products and revenues, poised for rapid growth, that deliver scalable solutions for climate change mitigation and adaptation. ESG integration is essential, with investments required to align with sustainable development goals and demonstrate measurable environmental and social impact. The firm actively manages risk by engaging hands-on in financing, construction, and operational phases to unlock value and optimise asset performance. Investments are typically held for three to five years, with exit strategies including IPOs or trade sales.

Assessment

Zouk Capital evaluates prospective investments through a rigorous and holistic assessment process centered on sustainability, impact, and financial performance. They utilise a bespoke Sustainable Impact Assessment Methodology that measures each investment’s alignment with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles and its potential contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). ESG considerations are integral from the initial due diligence phase through to investment committee review and ongoing portfolio management. The assessment also reviews the scalability, commercial viability, and the management team’s capability to execute the business plan. Financial returns are evaluated alongside measurable environmental and social impact, ensuring investments drive both value creation and positive sustainability outcomes. The team’s hands-on approach includes active involvement in financing, construction, and operation to optimise asset performance and mitigate risks. Ultimately, investments must meet Zouk’s standards for sustainable innovation, commercial traction, and impactful outcomes to receive approval.

Notable Portfolio Companies

Taulia: A San Francisco, based leader in working capital technology, providing a SaaS platform that transforms inefficient supply chain finance into streamlined, tech‑enabled optimisation strategies. Serving a global network of over 2 million businesses and processing more than $500 billion annually, Taulia empowers buyers and suppliers to choose when to pay and get paid, unlocking liquidity and growth. Trusted by major enterprises like Airbus, AstraZeneca, Nissan, and Vodafone, Taulia is one of the fastest‑growing platforms in supplier financing, e‑invoicing, and supplier portals. Visit Taulia

Zest: Zest is accelerating electric vehicle adoption across the UK by rapidly expanding a network of fast chargers in locations where people park for extended periods, such as shopping centers, leisure spots, and workplaces. Focused on removing financial and operational barriers for landowners, including enterprises, parking operators, and local authorities, Zest delivers end-to-end solutions from charger planning and installation through to ongoing maintenance. With a skilled engineering team and commitment to renewable energy and local suppliers, Zest is driving accessible public charging infrastructure to support the transition to a sustainable net-zero carbon future. Visit Zest

Workable: A leading talent acquisition SaaS platform designed to empower ambitious SMBs worldwide with an all-in-one recruiting cloud solution. Originating as a self-service applicant tracking system, Workable has evolved to offer a comprehensive, feature-rich platform complemented by proprietary AI-enabled sourcing tools that streamline candidate discovery. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in London, Boston, and Athens, Workable aims to disrupt the $270 billion recruitment agency market by automating core recruiting functions and delivering an intuitive user experience. Visit Workable

Discover more successful investments here.

Funding Sources

Zouk Capital’s funding sources primarily include institutional investors such as pension funds, insurance companies, family offices, and sovereign wealth funds. They also manage capital from government-backed initiatives, like the UK’s HM Treasury Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund, and collaborate with strategic corporate partners through co-investments. The firm’s investment funds attract commitments from investors motivated by both financial returns and sustainable impact, reflecting Zouk’s focus on clean infrastructure and climate technology. Through active management and industry expertise, Zouk leverages these diverse funding sources to support high-growth companies and projects that advance a low-carbon economy.

Investment Details

Investment Stage: Expansion Stage Businesses

Equity: Equity investments; focused on growth and scaling projects/companies in infrastructure and technology for the sustainable economy.

Funds:

  • Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF): £420m flagship fund backed by UK Government to develop UK EV charging.
  • Infrastructure Fund II: €220m, invests in wind, solar, waste, geothermal, hydroelectric, batteries, and biomass in late-stage development projects across the UK and Europe.

Impact

Zouk Capital places strong emphasis on impact, embedding sustainability and ESG principles at the core of every investment. Their bespoke Sustainable Impact Assessment Methodology rigorously measures the environmental and social value of investments, ensuring alignment with global goals like the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Zouk’s longstanding commitment to ESG, integrates impact assessment into investment decisions and ongoing portfolio management. Their investments focus on driving meaningful progress in climate change mitigation, renewable energy, resource efficiency, and social benefits. Recognised for their leadership in ESG, Zouk aims to generate financial returns alongside substantial positive environmental and societal outcomes, reflecting a deeply ingrained culture of sustainability throughout the firm.

Community

Zouk Capital stands out in the sustainable investment space for its strong sense of community, which extends well beyond traditional fund management. For entrepreneurs and businesses, this means gaining access to a dynamic network of industry leaders, peers, and partners focused on innovation and sustainability. The firm’s collaborative workspaces and curated events foster connection and knowledge exchange, creating an environment conducive to business development and growth. By prioritising the intersection of infrastructure, technology, and sustainability, Zouk Capital’s community provides valuable resources, mentorship, and strategic opportunities, ensuring members benefit not just from funding, but from ongoing support and a rich pool of expertise essential for driving success in the digital and sustainable economy.

The Team

The team at Zouk Capital is composed of experienced investors with expertise across various sectors and geographies, focused on driving investments in the sustainable economy. They include professionals with backgrounds in investment banking, engineering, finance, and sustainability, who bring deep knowledge in technology and infrastructure. The team is passionate about clean energy and climate technology, managing investments that span renewable energy projects, EV charging infrastructure, and digital infrastructure. Zouk Capital's team is dedicated to combining economic value with sustainable principles, with a strong culture of collaboration and commitment to a greener, cleaner future. Their diversity includes roles from investment analysts and managers to partners and financial controllers, all contributing to Zouk’s mission of sustainable investment and impact. The team’s multifaceted expertise and shared passion for sustainability underpin their leadership in the transition to a net-zero economy.

Learn more about the team here.

FAQs

1. Who founded Zouk Capital and when?

Zouk Capital was founded in 1999 by Samer Salty, who remains the Managing Partner, bringing decades of experience in private equity, investment banking, and technology.

2. What is Zouk Capital’s geographic focus?

Headquartered in London, Zouk primarily invests in Europe and the UK but also supports technology-driven sustainability companies in the US and Africa, giving its portfolio a global dimension.

3. Which sectors does Zouk Capital invest in?

Zouk targets renewable energy, environmental infrastructure, and climate technology.

4. What investment funds does Zouk manage?

The £420m UK Treasury-backed Charging Infrastructure Investment Fund (CIIF), helping expand EV charging in the UK, and the €220m Infrastructure Fund II, focused on renewable energy projects across Europe.

Contact

Are you an innovative greentech founder seeking funding? Discover how Zouk Capital can support your journey by visiting the: Zouk Capital Website.

Stay updated with the latest news and opportunities by following Zouk Capital on LinkedIn.

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

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