Leading European venture capital firm 360 Capital announces the first closing of its €140M climate tech fund, 360 LIFE II. Classified as an Article 9 under SFDR regulations, 360 LIFE II aims to reach its target of €200 million by engaging key industrial partners and institutional investors. At the helm of 360 LIFE II will be partners Cesare Maifredi, Alexandre Mordacq, Alessandro Zaccaria and Thomas Nivard
A2A, as anchor investor and industrial partner, has allocated €40 million, continuing the path initiated with the launch of 360 LIFE I in 2020—where it served as the only investor with a commitment of €25 million. This initiative further extends the Group’s investment strategy, dedicated to advancing new technologies in the circular economy and energy transition.
CDP Venture Capital, through the International Fund of Funds and the Green Transition Fund – PNRR, which utilizes resources allocated by the EU under the NextGeneration EU initiative, has committed a total of €44 million as a financial anchor investor to support the establishment of the new fund.
The fund also includes, at closing, De Nora as anchor investor and industrial partner with a commitment of €10 million and Bpifrance as institutional partner.
360 LIFE II aims to invest in pan-european Series A and B startups focused on three key areas: energy transition (e.g. renewable energy, energy storage, hydrogen), circular economy (e.g. waste reduction, blue economy, natural resource protection) and urban sustainability (e.g. pollution reduction, net-zero solutions, smart infrastructure).
“We are particularly pleased to support the first closing of 360 Life II, a new vehicle that marks a crucial step toward accelerating Italy’s green transition,” comments Cristina Bini, Head of Indirect Investments at CDP Venture Capital. “This investment reflects our commitment on two fronts: attracting leading international venture capital funds to invest in Italy, further stimulating our growing ecosystem, and promoting innovative and sustainable solutions in line with the need to address global environmental challenges and create a positive impact for future generations. We firmly believe that the combination of capital and expertise can serve as a vital driver for the emergence of new sustainability-focused enterprises.”
Paolo Dellachà, Chief Executive Officer of De Nora, says: “I am pleased to announce that our company has decided to become a strategic industrial investor in a new European venture capital fund dedicated to the climate tech sector. This initiative represents a crucial step for us, as we firmly believe that it is essential to increasingly open up to innovation in order to tackle the climate challenges that our planet is facing. De Nora has much to offer in terms of knowledge and expertise in this area. With our investment into this fund, we aim to create a favorable ecosystem that fosters collaboration and exchange between large companies and emerging startups”.
Established in 1997, 360 Capital has built a reputation as a pioneering venture capital firm within Deep Tech and Climate Tech domains. With a portfolio that includes high-growth companies like Exotec (France’s first industrial unicorn), Preligens (acquired by Safran), and Alsid (acquired by Tenable), the firm has completed 28 exits since 2018. With offices in Paris and Milan, 360 Capital has a portfolio of over 60 companies and a team of over 25 professionals.
With the investment in 360 LIFE II, A2A confirms its collaboration with 360 Capital and strengthens its role as a key player in the Italian and European innovation ecosystem, aiming to support new startups in the climate tech sector, in line with the goals of the 2035 Industrial Plan focused on ecological transition as a choice for sustainable competitiveness.
By investing in 360 LIFE II and working closely with the 360 Capital team, De Nora aims to identify and enhance disruptive technologies in the climate tech sector, developing industrial and R&D synergies, and further strengthening its contribution to the innovative growth of the sectors in which it operates.