German family dynasties back Carbon Equity: ‘Climate tech investing is no longer niche’

Three impact-focused family offices from Germany – 2MS Hinderer, Aurum Impact, and Elemental Beteiligungs – have joined Carbon Equity as shareholders as part of a €15m private equity round.

“These are established German business families, with a track record spanning decades,” Saskia Bruysten, Partner and Co-founder at Carbon Equity’s international branch, told Impact Loop. “Their confidence shows us that climate tech investing is no longer a niche…it’s a strategic asset class.”

Several other entrepreneurs and some of Carbon Equity’s existing investors, including BlackFin Capital Partners and 4impact capital, also joined the round.

Who are the new shareholders?

2MS Hinderer is the family office of German investor Michael Hinderer, a founding partner of Apax Partners, one of the world’s largest private equity firms, and chairman and co-founder of 1KOMMA5°. Michael manages the fund alongside his daughters Marie Hinderer and Stella Hinderer.

Up next is Aurum Impact, the impact‑investment arm of Germany’s Goldbeck Group family office. Founded in 2023, it is led by Miki Yokoyama and Jan Hendrik Heihoff. It deploys patient capital into both early‑stage startups and venture funds, with a focus on climate, energy, circularity economy, and social equity.

Lastly, Elemental Beteiligungs is the investment vehicle of Swiss industrial heir and prominent film producer Marc Schmidheiny. The fund is run by managing partner Stephan Hahn.

‘A vote of confidence’

Bruysten said that the backing of these prominent German family offices was a “strong sign” for the company.

“It’s a vote of confidence,” she added. “And it’s a signal to the market that we’re an established player.”

Founded in 2021 by Jacqueline van der Ende, Carbon Equity is not a VC or fund manager itself, but a fund-of-funds platform. It curates a portfolio of leading climate tech funds (e.g. Energy Impact Partners, AENU, 2150, World Fund) and lets individuals co-invest through its platform.

Through its funds, Carbon Equity has already invested €350m in over 30 climate tech funds, supporting more than 250 climate tech companies worldwide – from German climate tech unicorn 1KOMMA5° and Sunfire to KoBold Metals, backed by Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos via Breakthrough Energy Ventures.

In April, Carbon Equity announced a final close of its third climate tech fund after it raised €107m from 460 private and institutional investors.