This Wednesday, we had the privilege of participating in the High-Level Foundation Roundtable, focused on advancing the #ClimateTech ecosystem in Germany. The main narrative centered around the need for increased support from German foundations and government bodies in investing in Climate Tech #FOAK (First of a Kind) facilities, underscoring the potential of German Climate Tech to lead globally.
A highlight of the event was engaging in discussions with Bill Gates and Robert Habeck, sharing insights and exploring avenues for fostering innovation in the sector. Our CEO Stephan Herrmann advocated for the establishment of a FOAK fund that merges debt and equity financing to support startups, especially those establishing production facilities.
The conversations emphasized the importance of public de-risking to stimulate private investment and the need for loan guarantees to aid Climate Tech startups in scaling their operations. It was a momentous opportunity to align our goals with broader policy and foundational support, inviting government and foundations to back initiatives that create jobs and stimulate growth.
Thanks for the inspiring and productive discussions to all organizers and involved parties, amongst others Energy Resilience Leadership Group, BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Bundesministerium der Finanzen, UnternehmerTUM, KfW Capital , DTCF | DeepTech & Climate Fonds, TURN2X, H2SITE, KRAFTBLOCK, ecoLocked, Stifterverband, Karl Schlecht Stiftung , Max-Planck-Förderstiftung, Siemens Stiftung, Stiftung Mercator GmbH, Vector Stiftung, Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, HFO Henkel Family Office e.V. and Haniel Stiftung.