World Fund

“Electric aviation isn’t just possible but profitable” - that’s the view of World Fund portfolio founder Ivor van Dartel, CEO of VÆRIDION.  ✍ Senior Forbes Contributor Gaurav Sharma visited VÆRIDION HQ in Munich to see how Ivor and the team are building a certified electric microliner to deliver affordable, zero-emission flights by 2030. ✈️ Vaeridion recently completed a crucial European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Pre Application Contract for its electric microliner, and has already secured its first customers in Denmark, Benelux and Germany. The company is scaling its product development and team, and we’re proud to be supporting them as they work to create a regenerative future! 🌍 Link in comments👇

💡 We are ready to launch our latest White Paper: Green Computing in the AI Era - and we’re opening the event to our ecosystem! 🌍 The AI revolution is here, with breakthroughs in quantum, neuromorphic, and optical computing. While these innovations drive progress, scaling them risks intensifying the climate crisis. Green power alone won’t be enough - we must rethink AI’s carbon footprint. 📢 That’s why World Fund, Intel Ignite, and Dealroom.co have joined forces to map the innovators tackling computing’s carbon footprint. We’ll unveil our full report at an exclusive event in Munich on April 1st. This is a curated event - we welcome investors, startups, researchers, and policymakers driving the future of computing, including: Semiconductor (chip) material advancements, Computing innovations and Software improvements reducing AI’s carbon footprint. We’re also excited to feature Inés De Vega, Joshua Western, Anastasiia Nosova, Daria Saharova, Orla Browne, Markus Bohl, and more among our speakers! Join us to explore the next wave of green computing innovation! 💚⚡ Registration link in comments 👇

Celebrating the incredible women who make it all happen. Happy International Women’s Day from World Fund! 💜✨

📊 Although female entrepreneurs demonstrate strong market potential, they still receive only a fraction of available funding. The data is clear: it’s time to invest more in women-led innovation. The recently launched Female Innovation Index 2025 by Female Foundry and Dealroom.co highlights both progress and persistent challenges for female entrepreneurs in Europe. In 2024, female-founded startups in Europe raised €5.76 billion across 1,305 deals - a 12% drop from 2023, mirroring the overall decline in European VC funding (-11%). 📉 Less capital in the market shouldn’t mean even less for women. 📈 Yet, female-led startups in deep tech are proving their strength, accounting for 33% of all venture capital raised by women in Europe. We want to give a well-deserved shoutout to our female portfolio founders Lilian Schwich, Evoléna de Wilde d'Estmael and Dr. Sara Marquart for their fantastic work, and to our brilliant team: Daria Saharova, Dr. Nadine Geiser, Larissa Skarke, Morgan Sheil, Veronica Fresneau, Theresah Kissmann, Cara Reuner, Ophélie Laurin 🙌 Let’s change the numbers! Who’s in?! Report link in comments👇

We’re thrilled to welcome Sebastian Lindner-Liaw as an Investment Research Analyst!🎊🌍 Sebastian brings a strong technical foundation in engineering and electrification, having gained experience at Rivian, Trek Bicycle, and BMW Group. With degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Earth Sciences, along with a Master’s in Engineering for Sustainable Development, he is deeply passionate about driving positive change through impactful climate technologies. If you get excited about these topics too, he’d love to connect! Outside of work you will find Sebastian seeking adventures in the mountains or on his bike - or maybe even both at once 🚵🏔️ Welcome to the team, Sebastian ! 🙌

Deep Tech: Taking the Next Leap 🚀 At TECHARENA last week, during the panel on deep tech Kelly Chen (NATO Innovation Fund (NIF), Erkki Keldo (Estonian Minister of Economy & Industry), and our own Morgan Sheil (World Fund) joined moderator Maeve Campbell to discuss how deep tech - including AI, renewable energy, biotechnology, and quantum computing - can solve fundamental challenges and drive climate and geopolitical resilience. Key takeaways: 🔹 Deep tech innovations are crucial for climate action, energy security, and technological resilience 🔹 Scalability and commercial viability remain challenges, requiring strong public-private collaboration 🔹 Europe must boost investment and cross-border cooperation to stay globally competitive Thank you TECHARENA for having us! Looking forward to the next edition 🙌 Photo credits: Camilla Svensk, TECHARENA

We’re thrilled to announce that Ophélie Laurin has joined our team in Munich as Senior Investment Analyst! 🎊🌍 Ophélie brings a strong background in sustainable energy, investment, and climate tech, with a keen focus on how European deeptech can drive decarbonisation. 👩🎓 With degrees in Biology, Political Science, and Finance, she blends scientific insight with financial expertise - perfect for tackling the intersection of technology, policy, and investment. 🔎 Before joining World Fund, Ophélie gained experience in climate tech and energy investing at ENGIE Rassembleurs d'Energies, a corporate impact fund focused on sustainable energy. She also worked in private equity, further strengthening her investment expertise. Most recently, she was in investment banking in London at Morgan Stanley, handling M&A, IPOs, and large-cap transactions across transportation and infrastructure. Outside of work, she enjoys running, pilates, museums, and cooking - can’t wait to see her skills in action! Great to have you on board, Ophélie! 🙌

🔬 PhD students this is for you : 9 Deep Tech VCs - 9 Fellows - 1 Initiative 🔬 Are you a PhD student considering building a startup or joining a VC? This unique initiative matches 9 selected Fellows with 9 Deep Tech VCs for an unforgettable research partnership and kick-starting a community of outstanding entrepreneurial scientists. Program Highlights: ✔️ 3 months (May-July 2025), 8-10 hours per week, €3,000 stipend ✔️ 1 Fellow works with 1 Deep Tech VC on 1 Research or Incubation Project Hybrid model, work remotely with in-person events ✔️ Expert-led sessions, startup visits, exclusive mentorship, and networking opportunities ✔️ Participating VCs: First Momentum Ventures, Vsquared Ventures,Possible Ventures, World Fund, Visionaries Tomorrow, BlueYard Capital, Leitmotif, APEX and Spacewalk VC 🌟 Who Should Apply Open to outstanding scientists currently working on their PhD in a technical field, based in Munich, or able to commute to Munich for in-person sessions. 📅 Application Deadline: 15th of March 2025. Link in comments 👇

🇪🇺 Strengthening European Resilience: A call to act fast! 🇪🇺 World Fund, Kaya Partners, and Worthwhile Capital Partners have published an in-depth White Paper about “The Importance of Climate Tech for European Resilience”. The paper outlines key actions for policymakers, businesses, and investors to drive resilience through climate tech. 📖 Read more below and explore the full report for actionable insights 👇 🔗 Link in comments

At World Fund, we believe in the power of democracy and the importance of every voice. Our decisions today shape our future. 🗳️ Let’s make sure our voices are heard. Go vote!