Nysnø invests in venture fund for more sustainable cities

2150 is a European venture investor who invests in companies with technologies that solve sustainability challenges in the real estate and construction industry. Nysnø Climate Investments and co-investor Ferd each invest 8 million euros in 2150`s first fund Urban Tech Sustainability Fund I.

The world’s cities play a crucial role in the climate change we are now facing. According to the UN, urban environments and urban activities are responsible for about 75% of global CO2 emissions, and consume over two-thirds of the world's energy. The enormous climate footprint is primarily due to suboptimal planning and infrastructure, as well as the fact that most buildings still use fossil fuels to meet their energy needs. But the cities can also be part of the solution. By finding new ways to plan, build, manage, and operate the world’s cities, we can achieve enormous greenhouse gas cuts.

2150 invests in start-ups with innovative technologies that help make cities more efficient and climate-friendly – from new building materials, automation and sensor technology that make buildings more efficient, to smart energy solutions, micro-mobility, and other critical infrastructure.

“Today, half of the world's population lives in urban areas, and it is expected that this will increase to two thirds by 2150. With this follows enormous climate challenges. By investing in scalable and sustainable climate technology that handles many of the challenges of the cities of tomorrow, 2150 contributes with tangible solutions in one of the sectors that contributes most to climate change”, says Lars Hvam, Investment Director for funds at Nysnø Climate Investments.

The fund invests globally with a main emphasis on Europe, and has included Norway as one of its strategic focus areas because of the volume of interesting companies focused on sustainability that are coming out of the region. 2150 has partnered with Norwegian and Nordic advisers who will help search for companies with solutions that city planners, property developers and local authorities can use.

2150 consists of a partner quartet with solid interdisciplinary experience from the real estate industry, upscaling of technology companies and venture capital investments. In addition, the team has recruited several international advisers consisting of experts in architecture, urban planning, sustainability, technology, and politics, including the world-renowned architect Bjarke Ingels.

“2150 has impressed us in several areas. The team is well put together and has significant international experience. In addition to having many good investments on their merit list, the team has put solid work into the fund's sustainability strategy. We believe that the portfolio companies by 2150 will create a significant positive impact and financial return, and we hope we can contribute along the way”, says Erik Bjørstad, Investment Director at Ferd Impact Investing.

"Our Investments into companies such as Carbon Cure, Nodes & Links, Normative and Aeroseal indicate that we are well on our way to backing the future of infrastructure technologies to facilitate sustainable cities. Technologies that we are currently focused on include heating and cooling of buildings, urban air pollution and efficient construction technologies, and we foresee that these will be major areas for investment in the years to come. We’re grateful for the backing of all our LPs to help us achieve our mission of positively impacting the built environment to help safeguard the planet’s future", says Jacob Bro, Partner and co-founder at 2150.

Through investing in 2150's Urban Tech Sustainability Fund I, Nysnø and Ferd contribute to increased access to growth capital for Norwegian technology companies operating in a sector that will be important for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, Norway strengthens it`s position in smart cities, an area in which we have already come a long way.

Nysnø Climate Investments and Ferd Impact Investing are investing a total of approx. 160 million kroner (16 million euros), which brings the total assets to 238 million euros. Other investors include NREP, Christian Augustinus Industries, Fredensborg, Novo Holding and the Danish Government’s investment fund Vækstfonden.

Contact

Lars Hvam, Investment Director at Nysnø Climate Investments, lars@nysnoinvest.no, +47 986 84 372

Erik Bjørstad, Investment Director at Ferd Impact Investing, ebj@ferd.no, + 47 920 40 989

About Nysnø Climate Investments
Nysnø Climate Investments (Nysnø) is the Norwegian state's climate investment company. We invest in companies that provide profitable and smart solutions to the challenges of climate change. Through total assets of NOK 2.4 billion, Nysnø invests in renewable energy, digital technologies, resource efficiency, sustainable consumption, and the circular economy. Nysnø is headquartered in Stavanger and is owned by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. For more information see www.nysnoinvest.no/en/

About Ferd Impact Investing

Ferd Impact Investing invests in early-phase companies with the potential both to have a positive impact on the climate and environment, and to generate a robust risk-adjusted financial return. We primarily invest through funds and other forms of complementary and resource-efficient partnerships. We concentrate on three sectors in which Ferd has a strong position and significant expertise: Renewable energy, proptech and aquaculture. Read more about Ferd Impact Investing and our investments here: www.ferd.no/en/impact-investeringer/

About 2150

2150 is a venture fund that invests in technology companies that accelerate sustainable development in construction, real estate, and urban development. 2150's investment mission focuses on major unresolved issues that encompass all elements of the built environment, from the way our cities are designed, constructed, and run, to the way people live, work and are cared for. Read more about 2150 here: www.2150.vc