top of page
Search

Meet One Of The Investors Investing 300 M € For Europe’s Green Deal To Become Reality — Founder Interview

Updated: Apr 8

This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024.

What Is This About?

The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) deploys €300 million in venture capital for startups advancing Europe's Green Deal. This interview with one of the fund's investors explores how they evaluate bioeconomy startups and what it takes to build a climate-focused venture portfolio at scale.

Executive Summary

  • This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.

  • The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is a venture capital fund consisting of both public and private investors.

  • We are always sharing new resources with you.

  • A startup’s journey can be tough, but it doesn’t have ́to feel like you’re alone on your quest!

  • The best way to find investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups.



New Blog


Meet One Of The Investors Investing 300 M € For Europe’s Green Deal To Become Reality — Founder Interview Startuprad.io brings you independent coverage of the key developments shaping the startup and venture capital landscape across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

This blog post first appeared first on old medium publication (https://medium.com/startuprad-io), and was moved to this blog with the relaunch of our website in summer 2024.


Executive Summary

The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is a venture capital fund consisting of both public and private investors. It focuses on driving the transformation to a bio-based, sustainable economy throughout Europe. This venture underlines the EU’s commitment to its Green New Deal and sets higher standards for venture capital projects. Backed by venture capital, those companies funded must not only demonstrate economic growth potential but also uphold principles of environmental, social, and governance through their work. This fund stands as one part of a larger and definitive effort by the EU to become carbon neutral by 2050.

If you really calculate the odds, you will never start a startup. You have to be ambitious and a bit crazy to do this.Michael Brankdkamp — Founder and GP ECBF

Subscribe Here

We are always sharing new resources with you. Find all of our options below. We want to make sure that we provide what’s best for your growing team, so please take a look at these additional ways in which can help!

When I started with ECBF during Corona, my kids came to me and asked me what I was doing. They said they counted on me to support them in their university studies.Michael Brankdkamp — Founder and GP ECBF

Our Sponsor Startupraven

A startup’s journey can be tough, but it doesn’t have ́to feel like you’re alone on your quest! Invest in others’ success with us by joining our community of entrepreneurs who build amazing things every day — no matter how big or small their ideas may seem at first glance.

The best way to find investors and cooperation partners for early-stage startups. Sign up here:

We first had a hard cap of 250 million €, but since there was so much investor demand, we lifted this to 300 m €.Michael Brankdkamp — Founder and GP ECBF

The Video Interview is set to go live on Thursday, March 16th



Find Us on Newsly

Newsly gathers the most trending web articles, reads them in a natural human voice, and showcases trending podcasts from over 80 countries. Newsly was recently selected by BestStartup.ca as one of the top 15 consumer apps in Canada and got to the top 3 daily products on Product Hunt.

Register here: http://www.newsly.me/ and use the coupon code “STARTUPRAD” to get a one-month free premium subscription.


The Audio Interview

You can subscribe to our podcasts here.


The General Partner

Michael Brandkamp (https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelbrandkamp/) is one of the three founders and General Partners of the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF). The German entrepreneur wrote and executed the business plan of High-Tech Gründerfonds (HTGF), the most active early-stage fund in Europe, investing in innovative technologies and business models since 2005. As the first managing director, he led HTGF until 2019. Michael has 25 years of experience in investment and management in the venture capital industry.


The ECBF

The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) (https://www.ecbf.vc/) is an impact investment fund. Initiated by the European Union, it contributes alongside others as a financial instrument to achieve the goals of the European Commission’s (EC) EU Green Deal.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the main investor in the ECBF with EUR 100 million. Additional funds were invested by another public investor, NRW.BANK, as well as numerous private investors such as Nestlé, Neste, Corbion, BÜFA, Koehler Group, Volkswohlbund, Hettich, Invest NL, Telos, Heino, and more.

The fund invests the available capital of 300 Mio. euros in ambitious and visionary companies that advance the bio-economy and circular economy with innovative technologies or business models and thus have a sustainable impact on the European economy. The goal is to accelerate the growth of bio-economy companies and create pan-European, global players. The goal of generating a very high return on investment is directly linked to this and is on the same level as the impact goal.

The regional focus of the investments includes the EU-27 countries and the 16-Horizon2020 associated countries.

The ECBF is looking to make 5 new investments each year.Michael Brankdkamp — Founder and GP ECBF

Current Portfolio

The current portfolio includes (amongst others) the following companies:


Pitch the ECBF

ECBFs Vision is to build up a prosperous economy realigned with nature. To get there ECBF aims to identify the most promising investment targets in the European Bioeconomy, with both good financial returns and a huge impact on the environment. Thus, ECBF is interested in connecting with entrepreneurs, investors, and business promotion stakeholders with robust business networks in the Bioeconomy:

  • Stage: Growth Stage with a tech readiness level six (TRL6). Learn more here https://acqnotes.com/acqnote/tasks/technology-readiness-level

  • Industry: Bioeconomy (Ag- & Foodtech, Blue Economy, and Forestry; Bio-based Materials; White Biotech and Bio-based Chemicals; Nutrition; Packaging; and Personal Care)

  • Ticket Size: 2 Mio. — 20 Mio.

  • Companies headquartered in EU and Horizon 2020 countries (+16 countries Tunisia, Turkiye, Israel, …)

  • How to pitch: The best way to get in contact with ECBF is to write them a mail. They are a quite small team. You can express your interest in an investment directly to the investment manager. You can find their contact details on their website in the team section. Or if you see them at an event contact them directly. Reach out by email: info@ecbf.vc


Hiring!

You can learn more about the investor, that is still hiring


Tune in to our Internet Radio Station here:


Interview with HTGF

  • Alex von Frankenberg took the job of Michael when he left. Alex leads HTGF to become Europe’s most important seed investor, just publishing their 700th startup investment. Congratulations to the HTGF team

  • Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/0KnSYikma14


Additional Information


Feedback

We are always looking for ways to make the show better. Please take this opportunity and share your feedback with us! You can also suggest topics or interview partners that you’d like featured on future episodes by leaving a comment below — we would love to hear from YOU!!!


The Interviewer

This interview was conducted by Jörn “Joe” Menninger, startup scout, founder, and host of Startuprad.io. Reach out to him:


Keep Up to Date


All Links and Show Notes

Here is our blog post:


Topics Discussed in this Interview

In this interview, we are talking about

Key Takeaways

  • The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is a venture capital fund investing €300M into startups supporting Europe's Green Deal, with both public and private investors. Originally hard-capped at €250M, investor demand pushed the fund to €300M.

  • Michael Brandkamp, formerly of HTGF (High-Tech Gründerfonds), founded ECBF during the COVID-19 pandemic. His children's questions about his work motivated him — he wanted to invest in companies that would make a real difference for the next generation.

  • ECBF focuses specifically on the circular bioeconomy — companies developing sustainable alternatives to fossil-based products, waste reduction technologies, and bio-based materials that align with the European Green Deal's climate targets.

  • The fund represents a bridge between public policy goals (EU Green Deal) and private venture capital, demonstrating how institutional investors and government bodies can co-invest to accelerate the green transition in Europe.

Atomic Answer

Entities & Ecosystem Map

People

  • Michael Brandkamp — Founder of ECBF, former HTGF managing director

  • Alex von Frankenberg — Succeeded Michael Brandkamp at HTGF, leading it to become Europe's most influential seed fund

Organizations

  • ECBF (European Circular Bioeconomy Fund) — €300M VC fund for Green Deal startups, based in Europe

  • HTGF (High-Tech Gründerfonds) — Germany's largest seed-stage investor, Michael Brandkamp's former organization

Topics

  • European Green Deal — EU policy framework driving €300M+ in bioeconomy venture investment

  • Circular Bioeconomy — Sustainable alternatives to fossil-based products and waste reduction

  • Public-Private VC — Hybrid fund model combining government and private investor capital

Relationship Map

  • Michael Brandkamp → Founded → ECBF (after leaving HTGF)

  • Michael Brandkamp → Former managing director → HTGF

  • Alex von Frankenberg → Succeeded Brandkamp → HTGF leadership

  • ECBF → Supports → European Green Deal through €300M bioeconomy investments

  • ECBF → Fund structure → Public + private investors, hard cap raised from €250M to €300M

Notable Quotes

"When I started with ECBF during Corona, my kids came to me and asked me what I was doing. They said they counted on me to support them in their future." — Michael Brandkamp, on the personal motivation behind founding a €300M Green Deal fund.

"We first had a hard cap of 250 million €, but since there was so much investor demand, we lifted this to 300 m €." — Michael Brandkamp, highlighting the strong appetite for bioeconomy investments.

Internal Links

Partner with Startuprad.io

Startuprad.io is the leading independent media platform covering startups, venture capital, and innovation across the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and Europe. We offer B2B partnership opportunities for companies looking to reach startup decision-makers, founders, and investors.

Subscribe to the Podcast

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ECBF (European Circular Bioeconomy Fund)?

ECBF is a venture capital fund investing €300 million into startups that support Europe's Green Deal. Founded by Michael Brandkamp (formerly of HTGF), it combines public and private investors to back companies developing sustainable alternatives in the circular bioeconomy — including bio-based materials, waste reduction, and fossil-fuel alternatives.

Who is Michael Brandkamp and what is his connection to HTGF?

Michael Brandkamp is the founder of ECBF and the former managing director of HTGF (High-Tech Gründerfonds), Germany's largest seed-stage investor. After leaving HTGF — where he was succeeded by Alex von Frankenberg — Brandkamp launched ECBF during the COVID-19 pandemic to channel venture capital into Europe's green transition.

How does the ECBF fund support the European Green Deal?

ECBF directly invests in startups whose technologies and business models align with the European Green Deal's climate targets. The fund focuses on circular bioeconomy companies — those replacing fossil-based products with sustainable alternatives, reducing waste, and developing bio-based materials. The €300M fund size (raised from an original €250M hard cap) demonstrates strong investor demand for green transition ventures.

About the Host

Joern "Joe" Menninger is the host of the Startuprad.io podcast and covers founders, investors, and policy developments across the DACH startup ecosystem. Through more than 1,300 interviews and nearly a decade of reporting, he documents the evolution of the European startup landscape. Follow Joern on LinkedIn.

Reach the ClimateTech and Green Investment Community

Companies building in climate technology, bioeconomy, and sustainable infrastructure use Startuprad.io to connect with founders, investors, and decision-makers across the DACH startup ecosystem. If your team is shaping the future of green innovation, explore our partnership options here: Partner with Startuprad.io

Comments

Become a Sponsor!

...
Sign up for our newsletter!

Get notified about updates and be the first to get early access to new episodes.

Affiliate Links:

...
bottom of page