Ananda VC announces €73M first close of fifth Core Impact Fund

Ananda Impact Ventures has closed the first round of its fifth Core Impact Fund at €73 million. This is well above its initial €50 million target and marks the largest first close in the firm’s 16-year history. The fund is supported by both existing and new investors, including the European Investment Fund (EIF), NRW.BANK, Investcorp-Tages, Mercator Foundation, and more than 40 family offices from across Europe. With its fifth fund, Ananda Impact Ventures plans to keep supporting European founders who are building scalable, technology-driven solutions to connected social and environmental challenges.

Read our interview with Zoe Peden, Partner at Ananda VC.

Ananda’s investment approach focuses on the bigger picture rather than individual sectors. Based on its experience since 2009, the firm believes that social, environmental, and economic challenges are closely linked and are best addressed through combined, system-wide solutions instead of standalone ideas. This thinking guides its focus on business models that can create lasting impact while also delivering financial returns.

This approach is reflected in Ananda’s portfolio, which includes European founders working on deep-rooted societal and environmental issues. The firm has invested in companies such as OroraTech, IESO, and NatureMetrics, as well as businesses like Differential Bio, Resistomap, and OneDay, which apply science and education to areas including healthcare, biology, and industry.

Founded in 2009, Ananda Impact Ventures is a European impact venture capital firm that invests in early-stage, technology-based startups working on social and environmental issues. The firm currently manages €270 million across five funds and focuses on areas such as climate, healthcare, biodiversity, and social inclusion. With Fund V, Ananda continues this approach, backing early-stage technologies that aim to solve long-term challenges across Europe. Over the past 16 years and four previous funds, Ananda has built a strong track record in impact investing, including successfully returning capital from its first fund.