SHIFT4GOOD completes its first closing over €100m to invest in sustainable mobility start-ups

Shift4Good, the first global independent venture capital fund with an environmental impact dedicated to sustainable mobility, announces the first closing of Shift4Good Fund 1 with major institutional partners and companies in the mobility sector based in Europe and Asia, including Groupe Renault, the European Investment Fund (EIF) through its new European investment program InvestEU and Bpifrance. It also counts amongst its investors various mobility players (major suppliers or equipment manufacturers) as well as Family Offices and entrepreneurs who wish to actively participate in the success of sustainable mobility start- ups. Given that the transport of people and goods has a carbon impact of 8 billion tonnes each year, Shift4Good focuses on sustainable mobility and the circular economy, with a fundraising target of €300 million. This investment fund, classified as SFDR «Article 9», meets the strictest sustainability criteria in the European taxonomy.

Co-founded by Matthieu de Chanville, Sébastien Guillaud, Yann Marteil and Thierry de Panafieu, four French investors with a background in venture capital and mobility, Shift4Good is an independent French management company, with offices in Paris and Singapore and certified by the AMF.

Shift4Good brings to entrepreneurs, with the most promising projects in the sustainable mobility sector, a bespoke and global solution to enable them to become world champions. This covers in-depth sector knowledge, financing coupled a with tailor-made support, and a collaborative ecosystem fully mobilized to provide responses to the climate emergency.

Shift4Good will invest in approximately thirty start-ups over the next five years in Series A and B, two-thirds in the European Union and one-third in the rest of the world, with a focus on Southeast Asia. These investments aim to accelerate their development, enable them to become international champions and thus contribute, through their innovations, to reducing the carbon footprint of the mobility sector.

The first two investments will be announced in October.

Yann Marteil, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Shift4Good reacts: “Shift4good is very proud of this closing and to have such prestigious and committed partners. Beyond the 3 major investors (Renault, Bpifrance, EIF) we appreciate the support of equipment manufacturers such as Motul or major players in Automotive Services such as major French and European dealers. This closing will allow us to launch our support programs for entrepreneurs committed to developing sustainable mobility solutions, making it possible to contribute to reversing the climate trend (knowing that almost 30% of CO₂ emissions in Europe come from mobility). The abundance and quality of the deal flow illustrate that there are bold and profitable solutions to offer sustainable mobility”.

Luca de Meo, CEO of Renault Group says: “The creation of Software République had already demonstrated our desire to work in an open ecosystem and in collaboration with start-ups that innovate to create the mobility of tomorrow. Renault Group’s commitment to Shift4Good reinforces this momentum. Our combined expertise in carbon-free mobility and the circular economy will enable us to support high-potential projects, particularly in France. Alongside renowned players such as Bpifrance and the EIF, we will come to accelerate innovations at the service of the energy transition”.

Luc Julia, Chief Scientific Officer of Renault Group, in charge of the Software République, and sponsor of Renault Group investment in Shift4Good, is adding: “Renault Group is particularly proud to contribute to the launch of Shift4Good. Together, we will allow entrepreneurs to succeed, by leveraging corporate investors and a wide network of experts and business partners, in a collaborative ecosystem – as with the Software République – and this way address the climate challenge with bold solutions”.

Benjamin Paternot, Executive Director of Bpifrance, in charge of the Funds of Funds activity adds: “Bpifrance, as the French Climate Bank, is proud to contribute to the launch of the Shift4Good fund, which will provide innovative sustainable mobility start-ups with the necessary resources to finance their growth and become world champions dedicated to the ecological and energy transition. Since 2017, Bpifrance has subscribed €400 million in funds designed to support the growth and transformation of companies playing a key role in addressing the climate emergency”.

Alain Godard, Managing Director of the European Investment Fund adds: “The EIF and the EIB Group are fully mobilized to ensure the success of the commitments of the European Green Pact and the new InvestEU program. It is absolutely essential that players like Shift4Good can find financial partners in Europe capable of supporting them on a massive scale in these innovative and risky projects for large-scale economic transformation”.

Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for the Economy, says: “InvestEU makes an important contribution to innovation in sustainable mobility by bringing out new carbon-neutral modes of transport. I am delighted that, through this investment, InvestEU is supporting the decarbonisation of a sector which has a crucial role to play in ensuring the green transition”.