In this episode of the Investment Climate Podcast, host Alex Shandrovsky interviews Jonas von den Driesch of SHIFT Invest, a Dutch impact venture capital fund that recently launched its fourth fund with a first close of €90M. Jonas discusses SHIFT Invest's recent €8M Series A investment in Food Forecast, an AI-driven platform that optimizes bakery production to reduce food waste. He explains the timeline and thesis behind the investment, as well as the cultural nuances of European venture capital, such as the practice of running external due diligence after a term sheet has been signed.

SHIFT Invest focuses on combating climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource depletion by investing in startups in the Food & Ag, Energy, Mobility, and Green Industries sectors. With a goal of leading or co-leading Seed and Series A rounds, SHIFT invests across Northwestern Europe and targets ownership stakes of 10%-20%. The fund combines growth capital with deep impact expertise and a long-term commitment to support early-stage environmental entrepreneurs on their sustainability journey.