Revent Launches $100M Impact Investment Fund

Revent Closes €100 Million Fund II for Planetary and Societal Health Startups

Despite claims to the contrary, the importance of environmental and societal factors continues to be recognized. This is evidenced by the recent announcement that European venture capital firm Revent has successfully closed its second fund, totaling €100 million ($109 million). The fund will be dedicated to investments in startups focused on “planetary and societal health.”

Fund Origins and Investment Philosophy

Founded in Berlin in 2021 by Otto Birnbaum and Lauren Lentz, Revent operates on the principle that ambitious entrepreneurs are increasingly motivated to establish businesses that contribute to positive societal change. This, in turn, is expected to generate substantial value.

While geopolitical shifts since 2021 may have altered perceptions of “progress,” Revent has secured significant backing from a diverse group of Limited Partners (LPs) for its new fund.

Key Limited Partners

The investor base includes prominent German entities such as the Otto Group, Goldbeck, Wepa, Oetker, Beiersdorf, and Hymer. Furthermore, a number of European technology founders have committed capital.

Notably, the European Investment Fund has also increased its investment in Revent’s second fund, demonstrating continued confidence in the firm’s strategy.

Investment Focus Areas

According to Lentz, the fund will prioritize startups operating in key areas like energy transition, industrial decarbonization, healthcare, climate solutions, economic empowerment, and workforce reskilling.

Portfolio Performance and Growth

Since its inception, Revent has invested in 26 companies. “A significant portion are within climate tech, with others in health tech and empowerment sectors,” Lentz stated. “Our portfolio has performed exceptionally well, with several companies attracting follow-on investment from leading general funds.”

Revent consistently positions itself as a performance-driven fund that generates long-term value through investments in planetary and societal health. Initially, this approach faced some skepticism, with questions raised about why the firm didn’t solely identify as an impact or climate fund.

However, Lentz believes that the current macroeconomic climate validates this positioning, allowing Revent to effectively articulate the value proposition of investing in essential, long-term transitions.

European Resilience and Strategic Positioning

Revent’s LPs demonstrate a long-term investment horizon. Lentz noted that they are not deterred by current events in the U.S., but rather view them as a catalyst for Europe to assert its values and invest strategically in these critical areas.

She anticipates increased capital allocation towards re-industrialization, European sovereignty, and defense initiatives. A rise in specialized funds targeting these sectors is also expected.

“Europe is now at a point where it needs to define its identity, with technology and innovation playing a central role,” Lentz explained. “Capital will naturally flow in support of this direction.”

Expanding Team and Global Reach

The Revent team is now geographically distributed across Berlin, London, and Paris, with a venture partner based in San Francisco to enhance its global network.