Gaia Energy Impact Fund II launches

Schneider Electric, Capelan, Capital Croissance, and Investisseurs & Partenaires (I&P) have teamed up with Gaia Impact Fund to launch the Gaia Energy Impact Fund II. The venture capital fund has been established to specialize in the energy transition in Africa and to support entrepreneurs with a high environmental and social impact. With a focus on sustainable development, the fund seeks to identify and invest in promising entrepreneurs that are dedicated to addressing the challenges of energy access, climate change, and environmental degradation in Africa.

The Gaia Energy Impact Fund II has been launched with a keen awareness of the energy access challenges that Africa faces. As a result, the fund has been established as an investment vehicle that adheres to the strict impact standards outlined in Article 9 of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). The inclusion of Article 9 in the fund's investment strategy is a testament to its commitment to promoting sustainable development in Africa while maintaining a high level of transparency and accountability. The fund targets €80 million in commitments and seeks to unite an innovative coalition of entrepreneurs, families and family offices, businesses, and institutional investors who are committed to balancing financial returns with social and environmental impact.

Schneider Electric and Capelan will each contribute €15 million to the Gaia Energy Impact Fund II. In addition, the fund will benefit from the expertise and technical support of Investisseurs & Partenaires, who bring extensive knowledge of the African continent. The fund aims to provide electricity access to 4 million people, create 20,000 jobs, and save 4 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.

The Gaia Energy Impact Fund II will invest between €500,000 and €5,000,000 in equity and quasi-equity in about twenty early-stage or growth phase enterprises. The fund will focus on investments in the areas of energy access, productive use of energy, electric mobility, new energies, and enabling technologies. The majority of these investments will be targeted at enterprises operating in Africa, with up to 15% of investments allocated to other emerging nations. Through these investments, the fund seeks to support and accelerate the growth of innovative, impactful startups that are committed to advancing sustainable development in Africa and beyond.