🌍 Daria Saharova's World Fund Launches €300M First Fund to Back Climate Tech Founders
FemWealth Issue #152
Hi FemWealth Friends,
In today’s edition: Daria Saharova’s World Fund launched its €300M first fund to back climate tech founders; co-led by Danae Sterental, Westbound Equity Partners raised $100M for its second fund to invest in companies founded by underrepresented people of color; Celine Halioua’s Loyal raised $45M for its first longevity drug for dogs; and more in women-led startups and VC.
Get in touch at femwealth@substack.com.
In the Spotlight 🌍
Co-founded by Daria Saharova, Berlin-based World Fund closed a €300 million first fund to back climate tech founders. It is one of Europe’s biggest climate funds.
The firm aims to make 25 to 30 investments in European startups focused on decarbonization. Some of its portfolio companies include IQM Quantum Computers, Space Forge, Planet A Foods, Juicy Marbles, ENOUGH, CustomCells, Cylib, aedifion, and Ecoworks.
The fund’s LPs are the European Investment Fund, KfW Capital, Wachstumsfonds, Bpifrance, PwC Germany, NRW.BANK, Ignitis Group, the U.K. Environment Agency Pension Fund, Wiltshire Pension Fund, and Erste Plavi.
The VC firm also has offices in Munich, Cologne, and Amsterdam.
Read more here, here, and here
FemWealth Favourites ❤️
Hippocratic hits $500mn valuation as tech investors seek new bets in AI - Co-founded by Kim Parikh (SVP Data and Content), Hippocratic AI is on a mission to develop a Large Language Model (LLM) for healthcare. The Palo Alto, California-based startup secured $53 million in Series A funding. Premji Invest and General Catalyst led the round. SV Angel, Memorial Hermann Health System, and existing investors also joined.
Dog Longevity Startup Loyal Secures $45 Million in Funding (WSJ Pro $) - Founded and led by Celine Halioua, Loyal aims to bring its first longevity drug for dogs to market. The San Francisco-based biotech startup raised $45 million in Series B. Bain Capital Ventures led the round, joined by Valor Equity Partners and returning investors Khosla Ventures, First Round Capital, and others.
TigerEye founders build on prior startup experience to create business simulation tool - Co-founded and led by Tracy Young, TigerEye is a business simulation engine that helps companies predict their future. The US company raised $35 million from Y Combinator, Initialized Capital, and Next47.
Anima secures $12M in Series A led by Molten Ventures - Co-founded by Rachel Mumford (COO), Anima offers a healthcare management platform for providers. The London-based startup secured an oversubscribed $12 million Series A led by Molten Ventures. Existing investors Hummingbird Ventures, Amino Collective, and Y Combinator also participated.
Hydraloop raises €10.5 million for water recycling technology - Co-founded by Sabine Stuiver, Hydraloop designs, sells, and manufactures grey water recycling systems that ensure sustainable water management by reducing water use by 45 percent. The Leeuwarden, Netherlands-based company raised €10.5 million in Series B funding from investors including Invest-NL, NV NOM, and Amavi Capital.
Euno raises $6.25 million in Seed funding for data model governance platform - Co-founded and led by Sarah Levy, Euno helps data teams in large organizations manage data governance. The Israeli startup raised a $6.25 million Seed round led by 10D, joined by INT3.
Investors Back Cauldron’s Plans for Global Network of Precision Fermentation Facilities to Tune of $6.25M - Co-founded by Michele Stansfield, Cauldron Ferm is building a global network of precision fermentation facilities to help develop, prove and commercially scale new products and ingredients. The Australian startup raised a $6.25 million Series A round led by Horizons Ventures. SOSV, In-Q-Tel, and previous investor Main Sequence also joined.
Rails launches with $6.2M round for its decentralized FTX alternative - Co-founded by Megha Bambra, Rails is a decentralized crypto exchange. The startup raised $6.2 million in a round led by Slow Ventures. CMCC Global, Round13 Capital, and Quantstamp also contributed.
Crypto Compliance Platform Keyring Raises $6M to Unlock DeFi for Institutions - Co-founded by Mélodie Lamarque, Keyring provides compliance tools to institutions for blockchain transactions. The London-based startup raised $6 million in a funding round co-led by Gumi Cryptos Capital and Greenfield Capital. Motier Ventures, Kima Ventures, UDHC Finance, and Eberg Capital also participated.
Swedish BLIXT sparks innovation with €5 million seed funding for software-controlled electricity technology - Co-founded by Charlotta Holmquist, BLIXT is developing a solid-state circuit breaker and voltage control system to support the efficiency and reliability of the grid. The Sweden-based company raised €5 million in Seed funding from Union Square Ventures and Energy Revolution Ventures.
Senisca Ltd raises £3.7m seed money - Co-founded by director and CSO Lorna Harries and led by Sarah Cole, Senisca Ltd develops RNA senotherapeutics that target the process of cellular aging. The Exeter-based university spin-out raised £3.7 million in Seed funding from investors including Emerging Longevity Ventures, QantX, R42 Group, Trend Investment Group, Apex Ventures, and Lifespan Vision Ventures.
UK startup to roll out robot-built “lego” houses in the US and Europe - Co-founded and led by Mollie Claypool, Automated Architecture (AUAR) is automating the construction process of timber houses by using robots in small production facilities. The UK-based company raised £2.6 million in a round led by venture studio Miles Ahead.
Stanhope AI raises £2.3M for neuroscience-driven AI - Led by Rosalyn Moran, Stanhope is building Active Inference-based AI solutions. The UK-based company raised £2.3 million in a round led by UCL Tech Fund with participation from Moonfire Ventures, Rockmount Capital, and angel investors.
Poseidona is removing invasive algae from oceans and turning it into food - Co-founded by Sònia Hurtado and María Cermeño, Poseidona develops sustainable food technology by using an invasive seaweed and algal side-streams to make proteins. The Barcelona-based startup raised €1.1 million ($1.19 million) in Pre-Seed funding. Faber led the round, joined by Dozen Investments, Sprout & About, ProVeg International, and WA4STEAM (Women for STEAM).
Co-founded by Adrienne Belyea Prentice (CEO) and Claudia Naim-Burt (COO), Keep Company provides support to employees with caregiving responsibilities. The US startup raised $1.2 million in funding from Techstars, Idea Fund Partners, VEST Her Ventures, Pixel Perfect Ventures, TEDCO, and Inspire Access. (via Fortune Termsheet)
Farm to Feed is cutting food loss and creating data platform to better farming outcomes - Co-founded by Claire Van Enk, Anouk Boertien, and Zara Benosa, Farm to Feed aggregates farm produce, including imperfect crop products, and sells them to businesses like restaurants and food processors. The Kenya-based agritech startup raised $1 million in equity and grant funding from Catalyst Fund, Renew Capital, Bayer Foundation, Mercy Corps AgriFin, IFC Tech-Emerge, DEG develoPPP, RAIN Challenge, the GSMA Innovation Fund, and angel investors.
PE, VC & Fund of Funds: Westbound Raises $100 Million To Invest In Black, Latin And Diversity-Minded Founders - Co-led by Danae Sterental, Westbound Equity Partners (formerly Concrete Rose) is a Palo Alto, California-based venture capital and private equity fund. It raised $100 million for its second fund to back companies founded by underrepresented people of color.
Greensphere Capital raises £66.3M for Gaia Sciences Innovation Fund - Led by Managing Partner Divya Seshamani, specialist investment advisor Greensphere Capital raised £66.3 million in conditional capital for its Gaia Sciences Innovation fund. It will invest in startup, spin-out, and scale-up businesses providing products and services tackling biodiversity loss and climate change.
Inspirational Quote ✨
“Trust is the confident relationship with the unknown.” - Rachel Botsman, Author of “Who Can You Trust?”
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Until next time,
Anamaria
Founder & Writer of FemWealth