background image

illuminem Community Celebration: a Record-breaking Funding Round and Looking Ahead


Please watch our Community celebration (cool) video!

It is our greatest joy to announce and celebrate with our community
the successful closing of our first investment round, securing over €2 million from 20+ top climate investors. illuminem has thus achieved the highest valuation for an early-stage climate company in Italy (where we've based our operations) and the most participated climate funding round of 2024, featuring 5 VCs, a top accelerator (Techstars), and over 15 executives from leading climate companies.

A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone in our community who made it possible. We eagerly look forward to sharing the exciting next steps with you! 

Foto Carosello Page 0001
Photo: special moment at illuminem community celebration


A Milestone Financing Round
illuminem’s first financing round is participated by: 

  • 5 Venture Capital Firms: BlackWood (Denmark), Fortino Capital (Belgium), Genesis Venture (Greece), Sustainable Impact (Dubai), Eden Ventures (Italy).

  • 1 leading accelerator: Techstars (USA, which is also the world's foremost early-stage investor).

  • 15+ leading figures in the climate space, such as the CEOs and CSOs of South Pole (world's leading climate company, Switzerland), Vestas (world's leading wind company, Denmark), Tikehau Capital (world's leading climate fund, France), BCG (world's leading climate strategy consultancy, USA), Carbonsink (top carbon project developer, Italy), Magaldi (top thermal energy company worldwide, Italy), and TAQA (top 10 utility company worldwide, UAE). 

This diverse and influential group of supporters not only underscores the growing belief in our mission but also highlights our potential to drive meaningful change from within the sustainability sector.

An Unforgettable Celebration in Venice
To commemorate this milestone, we hosted a special celebration in the enchanting city of Venice on the 19th and 20th of July.

The event kicked off with a warm welcome from public authorities, including the Deputy Mayor of Venice, Simone Venturini, the Presidency of the Veneto Region, the Presidency of the Tuscany Region, and Italy’s Chamber of Deputies. They shared inspiring words of encouragement, highlighting the importance of companies like illuminem in driving forward the agenda of sustainability and innovation.

The celebration continued with a heartfelt moment as Angelo Bonelli, Spokesperson of Green Europe, Susan Ellicott, former BBC correspondent, and Omar Alshogre, a world famous human rights activist, took the stage to read a powerful poem by Alex Langer, bringing a reflective and poignant touch to the event. This moment was a beautiful reminder of “why we are here” and “where we come from”. Read the poem here

Thereafter, illuminem’s Founders shared the story of our journey and outlined our future ambitions. Nicolas, our Chief Growth Officer, narrated the remarkable growth we've experienced over the past year, reaching the milestone of over 350,000 users on our platform

Our “CEO”, Andrea, articulated the broader vision of the company, outlining ambitious plans for expanding our impact, fostering deeper community engagement, and setting new standards in the industry.

Markos, our Chief Product Officer, unveiled our latest innovation, the world’s first Sales Navigator in Sustainability, designed to scale climate solutions. The event was the perfect opportunity to present how illuminem’s new product works, enabling sellers to access quality leads using tailored sustainability insights and data.

To wrap up the presentation, Maria Vittoria, our Chief Legal Officer, introduced some of the key figures behind our success, inviting on stage Bastian Larsen, Founder & CEO of BlackWood, Silvia Pugi, Managing Partner & Investor of Eden Ventures, and Alessandro Villa, Partner of Osborne Clarke.

We hosted a thought-provoking webinar titled “The Future of Sustainability Jobs” featuring 3 renowned illuminem Voices namely, Vaitea Cowan, Co-Founder of Enapter (leader in green hydrogen technology and Earthshot Prize recipient); Elena Morettini, Global Head of Sustainable Business at Globant (the world’s fastest growing IT brand worldwide); and Renat Heuberger, Co-Founder of South Pole, who also served as the moderator. The discussions offered invaluable insights into the evolving landscape of sustainability professions, highlighting both challenges and opportunities in this critical field.

The evening was an exquisite blend of networking and celebration, set against the backdrop of Venice's timeless beauty. Attendees engaged in vibrant discussions, exchanged ideas, and formed new connections, further solidifying the bonds within our community.

A Spectacular Finale at the Redentore Festival
The festivities continued on Saturday evening, culminating in a spectacular display of fireworks during the Redentore festival—one of Europe's grandest celebrations. It was a magical moment, as our community gathered once more to marvel at the dazzling lights and reflect on the incredible journey we have shared.

This event was not just a celebration of our achievements but a testament to the strength of our community and our shared commitment to a sustainable future. As we look forward, we are filled with excitement for the path that lies ahead and immense gratitude for the passionate and dedicated community that walks beside us.

We eagerly anticipate many more milestones and celebrations together, as we continue to innovate and lead in the sustainability sector.

Foto Carosello Page 0002

Foto Carosello Page 0003


Check out the video summary of our unforgettable event here!

Did you enjoy this illuminem voice? Support us by sharing this article!
author photo

About the authors

illuminem's editorial team - delivering the most effective, updated, and comprehensive access to sustainability & energy information.

Follow us on Linkedin, Instagram & Twitter

author photo

Andrea Gori is an entrepreneur & global expert in sustainability, green tech and energy transition. He is the founder & "Chief Earth Officer" (CEO) of illuminem.com. Previously, he served as BCG's Global Green Champion, delivering projects on sustainable investments around the world. He has been awarded one of Italy's Leading Innovators of 2023 and Angel List’s Top Startups in Europe. His latest TEDx, where he explores the challenges and solutions for effective ESG implementations, is recognized as "the most-watched talk in Italian on sustainability". 

author photo

Nicolas Vecchioli is a climate quitter who is passionate about the power of innovation to solve the big challenges of our time. He has experience in strategy consulting at BCG, private equity at The Carlyle Group, venture capital at Global Founders Capital and policy-making in the cabinet of the French Minister for Digital Affairs Cedric O. He holds degrees from the London School of Economics and HEC Paris.

author photo

Markos Chrysikopoulos is a sustainability expert, strategist and engineer. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at illuminem. He has spent the last 9 years working as a strategy consultant at one of the largest sustainability consulting firms globally (BCG), as well as a technology project manager (Credit Suisse) and a software engineer (Infineon Technologies) across New York, Dubai and London. He holds a Master’s degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering.

author photo

Maria Vittoria Bassetto is a co-founder at illuminem managing both legal and operational aspects of the company, thanks to her legal background from Bocconi University and 5 years of experience at a leading Italian law firm. With a strong affinity for startups and their ecosystem, she ensure seamless day-to-day operations, leveraging her expertise to drive organizational efficiency.

author photo

Vilhelmiina Vulli is the Head of Media at illuminem. She devises comprehensive communication strategies, managing content creation, and nurturing the vibrant community of illuminem Voices, which stands as the world's largest and premier expert network in sustainability. With over a decade of experience in marketing, analytics, and SaaS product development, Vilhelmiina blends her expertise to communicate with purpose and drive positive change. Her approach underscores her commitment to fostering a sustainable future through strategic communication and community engagement.

author photo

Angelo Bonelli is the Spokesperson of Green Europe since July 2021 and a Member of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, representing Imola since October 2022. He previously served in the Chamber from 2006 to 2008 for Lazio 1. Bonelli has held significant roles such as President of the Green Party and Regional Assessor for Environment in Lazio. He was a Regional Councillor in Lazio and a candidate for Mayor of Taranto in 2012. Bonelli has been active in Italian politics since 1990.

author photo


Vaitea Cowan is a co-founder of Enapter, a leading company specializing in hydrogen energy solutions. She is a Board Member at Hydrogen Europe and a TED speaker. She has contributed to the World Economic Forum's Global Innovators community and was recognized as one of Forbes 30 Under 30 in 2020.

author photo

Susan Ellicott is a climate journalist, former BBC television correspondent and political writer for The Times in Washington, DC. She has made appearances on CNN, ABC News, and was a frequent guest on "Politically Incorrect".

author photo

Omar Alshogre is a Syrian refugee, public speaker, and human rights activist. He currently serves as the Director for Detainee Affairs at the Syrian Emergency Task Force. Omar is widely recognized for his efforts to raise awareness about human rights abuses in Syria, drawing from his harrowing personal experiences of torture and starvation during three years of detention by the Syrian government. His recognition as a leader on the international human rights scene led him to speak at the US Senate and the UN Security Council.

author photo

Alexander Langer is considered one of the fathers of European environmentalism, known for his work as a journalist, peace activist, politician, translator, and teacher. He gained recognition in the 1970s as a prominent peace and environmental activist in Italy and in the Balkans. Langer's influence grew nationally as a member of the Federation of the Greens, and he served as a Member of the European Parliament from 1989 until his passing in 1995.

author photo

Elena Morettini is the Global Head of Sustainable Business at Globant, a native digital multinational company. She is a PhD geoscientist and a passionate expert in energy and sustainable tech.

author photo

Renat Heuberger is the co-founder and Senior Adviser of South Pole, a carbon finance consultancy. He has been engaged as a social entrepreneur in the fields of sustainability, climate change and renewable energies since 1999. Before founding South Pole, Heuberger co-founded and acted as the CEO of the myclimate foundation.

author photo

Giacomo Cozzio is a Founder's Associate at illuminem, crucial in shaping the company's strategy. He holds a degree in Business Management from Bocconi University and has experience in Unicredit Corporate Banking. Giacomo's expertise includes investment strategies and client relations. His commitment to sustainable business practices is driven by his passion for nature and the outdoors.

author photo

Maria Rugamer is the Head of illuminem Voices, working to nurture our vibrant community of Thought Leaders, which stands as the world's largest and premier expert network in sustainability. Holding a degree in History and Politics from the University of Oxford, she is passionate about sustainable business and financing.

Other illuminem Voices


Related Posts


You cannot miss it!

Weekly. Free. Your Top 10 Sustainability & Energy Posts.

You can unsubscribe at any time (read our privacy policy)